Simplicity: Benedict of Nursia: Enough Is Enough

Benedict of Nursia (d. 547) built his Rule around the principle of sufficiency -- having enough but not excess. He wrote: "We believe that for the daily meal, whether at the sixth or ninth hour, two cooked dishes will suffice at every table, and if fruit or fresh vegetables are available, a third may be added. A generous pound of bread shall suffice for the day." Benedict's specifications may seem quaint, but the principle is profound: define "enough" and be content.

The Rule of St. Benedict also addresses possessions: "No one may presume to give or receive anything without the abbot's permission, or to have anything as his own -- nothing at all." This was not deprivation but liberation. When the community provided what was needed, individual members were freed from the anxiety of acquisition and accumulation.

Practical application: For one week, define "enough" for one area of your life: food, clothing, entertainment, or spending. Set a clear boundary and observe it. Notice the difference between need and want. Benedict teaches that contentment is not natural but learned, and that learning it requires intentional limits.