Page 38 - DINQ MAGAZINE SEPTEMBER 2020 EDITION

Continued from page 12 his literary works, in effect sacrificing
dox a fortune. Given the privileged posi- Tolstoy is to follow his lead and recog-
Church he had grown up in. He tion in which Tolstoy started his life, nize that the best way to challenge our
adopted a revolutionary brand of his personal transformation, if not assumptions and prejudices, and devel-
Christianity based on spiritual and complete, still deserves our admira- op new ways of looking at the world, is
material austerity. He gave up drink- tion. to surround ourselves with people
ing, smoking, and became a vegetar- whose views and lifestyles differ from
ian. He also inspired the creation of 6. Become a craftsman Tolstoy recog- our own. In Resurrection, he pointed
utopian communities of simple, self- nized that striking a balance between out that most people - whether they are
sufficient living, where property was mind and body was an essential part politicians, businessmen or thieves -
held in common. These "Tolstoyan" of his creative process. He not only "instinctively keep to the circle of
communities spread around the regularly put down his pen to guide a those people who share their views of
world and lead Gandhi to found an horse-drawn plough across the fields, life and their own place in it". Cosseted
ashram in 1910 named the Tolstoy but kept a scythe and saw leaning up within our peer group, we may think it
Farm. against the wall next to his writing perfectly normal and justifiable to own
desk. In his last years, when writers two homes, or to oppose same-sex
5. Beware your contradictions This and journalists came to pay homage to marriage, or to bomb countries in the
new, simpler life was not without its the bearded sage, they were always Middle East. We cannot see that such
struggles and contradictions. Tolstoy surprised to find one of the world's views may be perverse, unjust, or un-
famously preached universal love most famous authors huddled over his true, because we are inside circles of
yet was constantly fighting with his cobbling tools making a pair of boots. our own making.
wife. Moreover, the apostle of If Tolstoy were here today he would
equality was never able to fully no doubt suggest we get some craft The challenge is to spread our conver-
abandon his wealth and privileged into our lives rather than grant so sational wings and spend time with
lifestyle. He lived until old age in a much of our leisure time to tweeting those whose values and experiences
grand house with servants. But in and texting. contrast with our own. Our ultimate
the early 1890s he managed - task, Tolstoy would advise us, is to
against his family's wishes - to relin- 7. Expand your social circle The most journey beyond the perimeters of the
quish copyright to a huge portion of essential life lesson to take away from circle !!

38 “ኢትዮጵያ ለዘላለም ትኑር ” ድንቅ መጽሔት - መስከረም 2012