Quote from Deleted user on April 2020, 6:50 pm

Seekers Forum: Living Without a Net: Timeless Wisdom for Thriving in Crisis

April 4, 2020

NOTES*

 

Stoicism

• Began Greece 3^rdcentury
• A school of thought/philosophy that deals with how individuals keep balance/sanity in hard times
• The path to happiness (eudaimonia)is to the accept moment as it is, do our part in nature’s plan, work together to bring out the best

 

Three man proponents:

• Epictetus(Greek, born a slave, crippled)
• Seneca (Roman, exiled under Claudius, Nero forced him to commit suicide)
• Marcus Aurelius(Roman philosopher/emperor during Antonine Plague 165 to 180 AD)
• All three suffered during difficult times and needed applicable practices
• Advocated preparing for future hard times during good times, practicing misfortune to ease the shock of change

 

Spiritual practices:

1. Seneca: Set aside time to practice simplicity (which he called “poverty”), face want, practice going without so we are not surprised when things taken away, imagine worse-care scenarios to challenge fears. We can be in present moment and be grateful. Choose not to be harmed and you won’t feel harmed. Don’t feel harmed and you won’t be = power of choice

 

2. Attitude is everything: see ourselves free and we are free, don’t feel like victims, turn an obstacle upside-down so it’s a force of good, every event is an opportunity to build character (ask yourself: What can I learn?), teachable moments (per Obama),

Impediment to action actually advances action (Marcus Aurelius) = paradox and profound truth

 

3. Everything is ephemeral. Life’s brevity intensifies its sweetness. Ego shrinks away from this truth. It can be a relief that things are fleeting. This makes it less traumatic. Earth is not moldering, static, dead. Fear and harm are not the same. Fear is about possible future harm. Everything passes, even worse-case scenarios. Loss and fear should not be surprising.

 

4. Zoom out and look from higher vantage point = Plato’s view. Imagining all people and situations reminds us how small we are. Everyday concerns are absurd. Ask yourself: How am I exaggerating truth of situation? Deflates ego and expands awareness so you can take humble place in human drama. Move way from trick mirror that blows things out of proportion.

 

5. Memento mori= the practice reflecting/contemplating on death, advocated by Socrates. Philosophy = love of truth. Death is awakener that sweetens life, encourages gratitude. Don’t waste time judging and comparing self and worrying about things. Pandemic brings universal death/mortality together for first time. Could we use this to break away from tribalism and wake up?  Awakening, of course, starts with ourselves. Stop looking outward and make inner transformation.

 

6. Ask yourself: Is this within my control? According to Epictetus, the chief task of life is to examine what is in our control and what is out of our control, what we can change and what we can’t.  Don’t fret about stuff outside control. Ask: what parts of my day are in control and what parts not?

 

7. Journal daily. Not a record of facts but reflection. Prepare for day ahead, reflect on past, remind self of priorities and learnings.

 

8. Amor fati= Love everything that happens/love of fate. Associated with Nietzsche. In Meditations(one of best philosophical works of our time), Marcus Aurelius talks about finding things about your situation today. We can bear unbearable. Love even painful parts of life because they make you grow. “Entrepreneur your spiritual life” and figure out what you can learn. Make this an opportunity for learning, awakening, growth.

Writing prompt:

 

How can I practice amor fate during this time of crisis? What do I need help accepting?

 

*Please note that these are in my words and interpretation, not verbatim what was said by Mark 😀