MOAB — Cave-dwelling Daniel Suelo is one of many across the planet who happily live without money.
The vagabond philosopher known as the “Peace Pilgrim” walked 25,000 miles across North America for nearly three decades beginning in the 1950s, living without shelter or food until it was offered.
India’s wandering monks, or sadhu, number several million and are widely respected as holy men who have abandoned all material attachments.
Heidemarie Schwermer of Germany recently penned a book about her life without money and gave all her earnings away.
Mark Boyle, a pen-pal of Suelo’s and fellow “freegan,” just finished a year-long experiment of living moneyless in England. A publisher asked Boyle to write a book about his penniless year.
Trouble is, Boyle says, the book contract comes with pay.
Suelo has wrestled with the same dilemma. A publisher recently offered Suelo a book deal but balked when Suelo asked that he not be paid and the book be made available for no cost.
So, now an author is interviewing Suelo and writing his story.
Boyle plans another tack: He will use all proceeds from his book to establish a moneyless community based on his “freeconomy” philosophy.
Like Suelo, Boyle says the more he gives, the more “organically and miraculously” his needs are met.
“I would write about difficulties about freely giving, freely receiving, but haven’t had any of note,” Boyle says.
Suelo and Boyle regularly blog about their lives and ponderings, using computers at local libraries.
Suelo’s blog (at ) has nearly 800 followers.
He doesn’t harbor some extreme dream that the world will follow his lead by abandoning money and moving into caves. He does, however, hope his path will stir “incremental change” and that maybe more people will embrace a simpler life without what he calls “our addiction to money.”
“I do this to show that we are in a culture that believes our happiness comes from things outside ourselves, rather than within,” he says. “You can be happier with less.”
Jason Blevins: 303-954-1374 or jblevins@denverpost.com
