Traditional Stoicism

I love this quote from Marcus' Meditations.
It shows the poet in him.
A powerful Emperor, who, thanks to #Stoicism, saw and appreciated the beauty in the perfect processes of Nature.
If what is happening does not seem perfect, look again.

#marcueaurelius #meditations #stoicism #meditations3.2

In this entry from his #Meditations, Marcus starts his day with the practice of premeditation malorum, meaning the "pre-meditation of evil". Originally part of Cyrenaic philosophy, the #Stoics adopted it for its ability to allow us to plan for & deal with things when they go "wrong" #stoicism

#Stoicism teaches us that the Universe has an innate intelligence that gives rise to all things, & moves forward ceaselessly cause and effect.

Our minds are a spark of this intelligence, & so the Universe has granted us the ability to understand & live in harmony with the Universe.
#marcusaurelius

That's so kind! Thank you ☺️

Seneca, advisor to Emperor Nero, and famous Stoic philosophy, produced an extensive portfolio of work, from plays, to speeches, to philosophy. Stoicism allowed Seneca to maintain his inner peace during many trying times at the whims of the unstable and cruel Emperor Nero.

#stoicism #seneca #nero

No worries at all! (As we say in Australia) It's a pleasure sharing the Stoics' wisdom with the Stoic community 😊

Epictetus, born a slave & abused by his master, would overcome the circumstances dealt to him by Fortuna (fate) to open his own school of Stoic philosophy. The harsh circumstances of his upbringing pack a sobering punch of credibility to his Stoic teachings.

#stoicism #epictetus #philosophy #stoic

Marcus Aurelius, known as the "Last good emperor of Rome", was the most powerful man on Earth, in command of huge armies & unfathomable riches. Despite his privileged position, he lived a humble & good life, in accordance with Universal Nature & Providence.

#stoicism #marcusaurelius #philosophy

Thank you for all the time and love you have put into your podcast. It's such a great and approachable resource for Stoicism. Our community is so lucky to have such hard working and intelligent people within in.

Interested in the great ancient minds behind Stoicism?
Take a look at the story of Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, below. Read about the fateful storm that shipwrecked Zeno off the coast of Greece, eventually leading him to develop Stoicism.
#stoicism #philosophy #zenoofcitium #fate #stoic

He would have loved the 60s 😌

In Marcus Aurelius' personal diary called "Meditations", he shows his complete trust in Nature & Fortuna (fate). When you come to realise that Nature knows what's best for itself, that you are a part of Nature, & that you must align yourself with Nature, you will be on your way to peace. #stoicism

The Stoics compare life to a banquet: don’t drool over the dishes as they pass. Enjoy the company, take what’s offered, and if no food comes your way, that’s perfectly fine too! The most important thing is to keep your serenity from being disturbed. #stoicism #stoic #philosophy #marcusaurelius

The Stoic Egg metaphor, sometimes represented as a Stoic Orchard, was developed to emphasise how all areas of study in Stoicism (Physics, Logic & Ethics) rely on & reinforce one another, giving Stoicism the powerful coherence and robustness which has allowed it to survive over 2000 years. #stoicism

Stoic journaling was a practice utilised by Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, & other famous Stoics. Daily self-reflection cultivates wisdom, virtue, and resilience. By examining one’s thoughts & actions, individuals can align with Stoic principles, leading to a more intentional and tranquil life. #stoicism

Exactly! Those who think Stoicism preaches what the modern English definition of the word means are sadly mistaken. Stoicism is a nuanced, intelligent, & rational philosophy that embraces the healthy processing of emotions. Rationality is sacred in Stoicism. Processing emotions = rational = sacred!♥️

Did you know “Stoicism” gets its name from “Stoa Poikile,” meaning “Painted Porch” in ancient Greek? This was where Zeno of Citium and his followers gathered in Athens to share & develop their philosophical ideas, eventually founding the Stoic school of thought. #stoicism #philosophy #ancientgreece

The Stoic disciplines and virtues are intimately connected to one another. They emerge from the Stoic areas of study. See key in diagram! Read about the disciplines and virtues in my previous posts 😊

#Stoicism #Stoic #TraditionalStoicism #Seneca #epictetus #StoicWisdom #MarcusAurelius #philosophy

7. I also think belief in Providence is a crucial step in achieving tranquility of mind. We have to trust that the Nature from which we came also has the best interests of Nature at heart. And we have to be humble in understanding that our non-virtuous desires do not factor into this nature.

6. And once we come to understand it, (which takes a lot of time and is an never ending process of deepening of understanding), the things that happen to us can be astutely discerned as neither good or bad, and our belief system internalises this fact. Then, your mind can rarely be disturbed.

5. It's essentially the scientific understanding of cause and effect. The difference, however, is that the cause is not random, but rather a perfect expression of Nature's inherent and perfect intelligence. We share a spark of this perfect intelligence & as such we have the ability to understand it.

4. I also don't think Providence is counter to a modern understanding of physics. Providence is the interweaving of the divine will of Nature and our free will to respond to Providence however we choose. Our response in turn influences the next materialisations of Providence.

3. I have come to believe that Providence must be the correct reality of our universe. It was a gradual shift in my belief system, not a sudden epiphany. And at the end of the day, living in accordance with a Providence benefits the world much more than living in accordance with atoms. So why not?

2. Originally I was a total scientific materialist thinking the universe must just be a happy accident and that life was also an accident. However, life seems to perfect, too profound to have just been an accident. Marcus Aurelius says you either believe in Providence or in atoms (soulless universe)

Providence was the hardest thing for me to get my head around too. The more I looked at the complexity of the world around me, the more I felt there must be some self organising principle to the cosmos. A principle that works against the thermodynamic principle of entropy.

Three great podcasts about Stoicism:

1. Stoicism on Fire
The most accurate & factual source of information about Traditional Stoicism I have found. AKA: Your Stoic Bible!

2. The Walled Garden
A "big tent" approach.

3. Practical Stoicism
Great for actionable advice.

#stoicism #philosophy #stoic

"Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one." - Marcus Aurelius

Embody these virtues as best you can & you will be well on your way to well-being & peace of mind.

#stoicism #marcusaurelius #seneca #epictetus #philosophy #traditional #western #grecoroman
#ancientrome #roman

The four foundational disciplines/areas of enquiry of traditional Stoicism. They are SO important to your practice! 🙌

#stoicism #marcusaurelius #seneca #epictetus #philosophy #traditional #western #grecoroman
#ancientrome #roman

Physics, Logic & Ethics are the three interconnected studies which have granted Stoicism it's cohesiveness and stability through thousands of years.

#stoicism #marcusaurelius #seneca #epictetus #philosophy #traditional #western #grecoroman #ancientrome #roman

What is Stoicism? 🤔

#stoicism #marcusaurelius #seneca #epictetus #philosophy #traditional #western #grecoroman #ancientrome #roman