#meditating philosopher

[castilestateofmind]

"Asceticism traditionally consisted in values such as mastery over one-self, self-discipline, autonomy, and the leading of a unified life".

-Julius Evola

[philosophors]

“If it is not right, do not do it; if it is not true, do not say it.”

— Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”

[pratchettquotes]

"What's a Zen?" he said.

The Fool's bells tinkled as he sorted through his cards. Without thinking, he said: "Oh, a sub-sect of the Turnwise Klatch philosophical system of Sumtin, noted for its simple austerity and the offer of personal tranquillity and wholeness achieved through meditation and breathing techniques; an interesting aspect is the asking of apparently nonsensical questions in order to widen the doors of perception."

"How's that again?" said the cook suspiciously. [...]

The Fool hesitated with a card in his hand, suppressed his panic and thought quickly.

"I'faith, nuncle," he squeaked, "thou't more full of questions than a martlebury is of mizzensails."

The cook relaxed.

Terry Pratchett, Wyrd Sisters

[epicforwards]

“You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”

― Marcus Aurelius

[phi-los-o-pher]

It’s not what you think, it’s how you think it.

[yume-fanfare]

my brother shouldve been an enstars character

[wisdom-and-such]

“Let one mold himself in accordance with the precepts he teaches…”.

Section 12: verse 3

Dhammapada (oldest surviving sayings attributed directly to the Shakyamuni Buddha).

(This version translated from the Pali Cannon by Ananda Maitreya).

[tmarshconnors]

“Not to assume it’s impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it’s humanly possible, you can do it too.” 

Marcus Aurelius was a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher.

Born: 26 April 121 AD, Rome, Italy

Died: 17 March 180 AD, Sirmium

[memento-mori-stoicism]

Master Your Life: 9 Stoic Rules from Marcus Aurelius #stoicismo

[eyeoftheheart]

“The world is a living being - one nature, one soul. Keep that in mind.”

― Marcus Aurelius (2002). “Meditations: A New Translation”, p.46, Modern Library

[ryteu]

Sestina de Amicita

How might I understand how some could love

Those countless parts of me I learned to loathe?

Despite the guiding stars of dearest friends,

The smoke of bridges back to family

Stings my eyes, turns my climb to seeming waste,

And deems my budding boughs as of no worth.

By Nature’s law, even the seed bears worth

Enough to warrant from Earth the love

For growth when lost ‘mid most desolate waste

Alone, though the fated soil it may loathe.

And while still formed from far-flung family,

Those twisted shoots shall shape a keep for friends.

Now unfurl blazoned banners of our friends—

Brave beacons for those halls of greatest worth—

Flanged with faded faded fetters of family;

Yet, not even the grandest hall of love

From Fate is safe; great love may turn to loathe,

And lay bright halls and all their joys to waste.

Amid such ruin, rot, most tragic waste,

Live still in haunting visage ghosts of friends,

Who ling’ring on long silent now must loathe

The one who surely saw them of less worth

Than they deserve, wasting instead that love

On voids devoid of friend or family.

I neither heat nor chill toward family

Feel; rather, like young flowers late frost would waste,

I recoil, shrink, hide in my bulb the love

I long but cannot give, e’en unto friends.

And so goes all semblance of my worth;

In mired mind, I myself begin to loathe.

I wander darkling down the path I loathe,

Sense stung with grief for failing family

And friend; worst, I twist their and my own worth,

Transposing all our happy days to waste.

Grief spurs anew! Through such abuse, my friends,

By you I swear your lasting grace to love!

My worth springs forth from what I cast as waste

To find for me a family of friends;

Thus shall all I loathe fall away to love.

[philosophors]

“Because a thing is difficult for you, do not therefore suppose it to be beyond mortal power. On the contrary, if anything is possible and proper for man to do, assume that it must fall within your own capacity.”

— Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations”

[thesnacken]

I'm too tired to srticulate it well but like.

Its a bit of a cruel gift that I continue to find how deep my capacity for grief really is. Nothing has happened, per se, I just. Keep realizing it. I groeve and mourn for so many great and small things all the time. I'm not wallowing in it, really, but its there. My capacity for it feels bottomless.

I'm sure thay sounds terribly sad and hopeless, but... I think I'm happy that its true? I hope that it helps me appreciate the things that come before it. I hope it drives me forward.

[epicforwards]

"If they are wise, do not quarrel with them; if they are fools, ignore them." -- Epictetus

[lostinmac]

Mirrored Mind (2005)

Dir. Gakuryū Ishii

[turiyatitta]

The Paradox of Unconditional Love

From Relative to Ultimate SelfIn the pursuit of understanding love, especially unconditional love, we encounter a profound dichotomy between our relative self and our ultimate self. This journey from dualistic thinking to a non-dualistic state of being offered a rich terrain for philosophical exploration.#### Relative Self: The Duality of Love and JudgmentThe relative self operates in a world of…