This is something I feel is lacking in my own groping towards Stoic ... wisdom? enlightenment? I don't even know the right term.
You have spoken of your dream of creating a school of Stoicism. I've wondered why that couldn't take the form of a collegiate major in Stoicism, one that could be replicated across many institutions and even be made available to folks like me who have long since left academe behind.
It has also crossed my mind that "modern" Stoicism, especially given its affinity with CBT, lends itself to a quasi-religious model (and I use the term with all sorts of caveats) in which like-minded prokoptons could meet regularly (weekly?) in a spirit of fellowship, ideally under the guidance of a latter-day Epictetus, to deepen their understanding of Stoic philosophy.
Of course, this notion is rife with risks. Who would shepherd these "congregations"? I have sampled several of the wannabe Stoic leaders and you are the only one with who I'm feel entirely comfortable.
A very edifying reading. Citizens of the US could learn much from Stoicism rather than responding at every roadblock in life, including death, with profuse anger or resistance.
Listening to this is so inspirational and only brings a smile. It’s like the excitement we get from a protagonist who is the underdog of a dramatic film or book, who chooses the best action in a circumstance that seems surprising to us, all within healthy frame of mind that we are tad bit envious of Envious because how many of us would react so supremely to such a situation? Sometimes I think we have an inner voice that implores or importunes you to find a solution where you will be upset and rant and complain. These “inner voices” of old ways not the best of us need to fade. Absolutely inspirational and a joy to hear. Powerful. My smile transcends down through thousands of years. 😊
I had read of this one and planned to have lunch in Aricia this summer but had to postpone my visit.
Aricia (for the old Romans; Ariccia currently) lies just south of Rome on the Via Appia. Agrippinus had a villa there but it could easily have been on his way to exile: most banishments were to destinations in Greece and Asia Minor and the normal way to get there from Rome is to take the Via Appia (*) to Brindisi and then a boat to Greece.
Aricia is in the Alban hills between two crater lakes, easy to reach by train (**) and close to Ciampino, Rome's low-cost airport. The villages in the Alban hills are green and posh and because of the altitude (>400 m) and the lakes, very nice in summer.
(*) there are four of these roads leading out of Rome: the Via Appia running east is the best known. The Via Aurelia (built much before Marcus Aurelius and, I believe, only linked bc of the same family) runs N/W along the Lazio/Latium and Tuscan coast towards Pisa; the Via Salaria runs north across the peninsula towards the Adriatic and the Via Tiburtina/Via Valeria runs straight across towards the Adriatic in Pescara. The Via Tiburtina starts a short walk from the Termini station and at nr 6, there's one of the best gelateria's of Rome. It probably wasn't there in Agrippinus's day.
(**) you could walk over the Via Appia but there's normally a lot of traffic and it's almost 30 km from central Rome (there are parts of the Via Appia that are nice to walk, though)
"Proper training." Aye, there's the rub.
This is something I feel is lacking in my own groping towards Stoic ... wisdom? enlightenment? I don't even know the right term.
You have spoken of your dream of creating a school of Stoicism. I've wondered why that couldn't take the form of a collegiate major in Stoicism, one that could be replicated across many institutions and even be made available to folks like me who have long since left academe behind.
It has also crossed my mind that "modern" Stoicism, especially given its affinity with CBT, lends itself to a quasi-religious model (and I use the term with all sorts of caveats) in which like-minded prokoptons could meet regularly (weekly?) in a spirit of fellowship, ideally under the guidance of a latter-day Epictetus, to deepen their understanding of Stoic philosophy.
Of course, this notion is rife with risks. Who would shepherd these "congregations"? I have sampled several of the wannabe Stoic leaders and you are the only one with who I'm feel entirely comfortable.
A very edifying reading. Citizens of the US could learn much from Stoicism rather than responding at every roadblock in life, including death, with profuse anger or resistance.
Often think this is the best short story out there, not to knock Chekhov, Carver, Trevor or any other master of the form!
Listening to this is so inspirational and only brings a smile. It’s like the excitement we get from a protagonist who is the underdog of a dramatic film or book, who chooses the best action in a circumstance that seems surprising to us, all within healthy frame of mind that we are tad bit envious of Envious because how many of us would react so supremely to such a situation? Sometimes I think we have an inner voice that implores or importunes you to find a solution where you will be upset and rant and complain. These “inner voices” of old ways not the best of us need to fade. Absolutely inspirational and a joy to hear. Powerful. My smile transcends down through thousands of years. 😊
Beautiful passage. I just didn't understand what is the meaning of "returning what is not our own". It's not clear to me in the passage. Thank you
I kinda prefer lunch myself. Don't want to die; know I'm gonna; prefer not to spoil lunch by dwelling on the inevitable.
Camus on Sisyphus: “Imagine Sisyphus happy!” “Amor fati”?!
And “Thy will be done...” Matthew 6, Luke 11
I had read of this one and planned to have lunch in Aricia this summer but had to postpone my visit.
Aricia (for the old Romans; Ariccia currently) lies just south of Rome on the Via Appia. Agrippinus had a villa there but it could easily have been on his way to exile: most banishments were to destinations in Greece and Asia Minor and the normal way to get there from Rome is to take the Via Appia (*) to Brindisi and then a boat to Greece.
Aricia is in the Alban hills between two crater lakes, easy to reach by train (**) and close to Ciampino, Rome's low-cost airport. The villages in the Alban hills are green and posh and because of the altitude (>400 m) and the lakes, very nice in summer.
(*) there are four of these roads leading out of Rome: the Via Appia running east is the best known. The Via Aurelia (built much before Marcus Aurelius and, I believe, only linked bc of the same family) runs N/W along the Lazio/Latium and Tuscan coast towards Pisa; the Via Salaria runs north across the peninsula towards the Adriatic and the Via Tiburtina/Via Valeria runs straight across towards the Adriatic in Pescara. The Via Tiburtina starts a short walk from the Termini station and at nr 6, there's one of the best gelateria's of Rome. It probably wasn't there in Agrippinus's day.
(**) you could walk over the Via Appia but there's normally a lot of traffic and it's almost 30 km from central Rome (there are parts of the Via Appia that are nice to walk, though)
“Accepto fati.” An amazing teaching! And difficult to learn and do.