5 ms·

Cicero, like many other philosophers of antiquity, places ultimate value on the goal of 'a life well-lived'. In this essay, he basically says 'old age is fine,

Cicero, like many other philosophers of antiquity, places ultimate value on the goal of 'a life well-lived'. In this essay, he basically says 'old age is fine, if you lived a good life beforehand', and hedges by saying death's no big deal. Which is, of course, rubbish. That's not really how life works: rewards rarely follow your efforts to live a good life. There are often no rewards at all; a life of diligent savings can disappear in an instant, physical fitness can end with cancer, faithfulness can end in bitter disappointment. Attempting to 'optimize' your life, your finances, your career often put you in places you never wanted to be. The Buddhists come closer to what life is really about: life is not a journey, it's a dance. And you can dance anytime; old age can be joyous anytime you choose to dance--you don't need a 'good life' preceding it to make it good. Or, TL;DR: All you ever have in life is this one moment, right now.

dint 6y ago
Can you recommend readings about the Buddhist take on this?
- gratalis 6y ago
  Mediums and messengers resonate differently for different folks at different times but I find these resources helpful: https://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/1/ https://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/1/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gil+fronsdal https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gil+fronsdal https://fiveinvitations.com/about-frank-ostaseski/ https://fiveinvitations.com/about-frank-ostaseski/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+ostaseski https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+ostaseski
l332mn 6y ago
Buddhism is closer to Stoicism than you think. There's plenty of suttas where the Buddha explains how virtuous behavior leads to good outcomes to you even in this life (like high regard among your peers), and even material rewards (like wealth). All good outcomes ultimately boil down to virtuous behavior. This is the workings of Karma, one of the most central concepts in Buddhism. In Buddhism, rewards follow virtuous behavior by necessity, and if not in this life, then in the next. It's really odd of you saying that for Buddhism, life a "dance". This is really not what Buddhism is about. Sounds more like Nietzsche to me (an anti-buddhist). Buddhism is about virtue, the four noble truths and following the noble eight-fold path. 'old age is fine, if you lived a good life beforehand' - this truly rings true in Buddhism, as your actions in this life determines your place of rebirth in the next.
- stakkur 6y ago
  >>It's really odd of you saying that for Buddhism, life a "dance". This is really not what Buddhism is about. Alan Watts--who had a thing or two to say about Buddhism--disagrees with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
  - l332mn 6y ago
    That video doesn't support your statement at all. Besides, I don't think Alan Watts is an authoritative source on Buddhism regardless.
    - stakkur 6y ago
      Neither are you or I. We're just expressing opinions. Like Cicero.
      - l332mn 6y ago
        But you did try to back your claim with a source when challenged on this point, didn't you? Clearly we're not simply "expressing opinions" here.
deleted 6y ago
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dint 6y ago

Can you recommend readings about the Buddhist take on this?

gratalis 6y ago
Mediums and messengers resonate differently for different folks at different times but I find these resources helpful: https://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/1/ https://www.audiodharma.org/teacher/1/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gil+fronsdal https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=gil+fronsdal https://fiveinvitations.com/about-frank-ostaseski/ https://fiveinvitations.com/about-frank-ostaseski/ https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+ostaseski https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=frank+ostaseski

l332mn 6y ago

Buddhism is closer to Stoicism than you think. There's plenty of suttas where the Buddha explains how virtuous behavior leads to good outcomes to you even in this life (like high regard among your peers), and even material rewards (like wealth). All good outcomes ultimately boil down to virtuous behavior. This is the workings of Karma, one of the most central concepts in Buddhism. In Buddhism, rewards follow virtuous behavior by necessity, and if not in this life, then in the next. It's really odd of you saying that for Buddhism, life a "dance". This is really not what Buddhism is about. Sounds more like Nietzsche to me (an anti-buddhist). Buddhism is about virtue, the four noble truths and following the noble eight-fold path. 'old age is fine, if you lived a good life beforehand' - this truly rings true in Buddhism, as your actions in this life determines your place of rebirth in the next.

stakkur 6y ago
>>It's really odd of you saying that for Buddhism, life a "dance". This is really not what Buddhism is about. Alan Watts--who had a thing or two to say about Buddhism--disagrees with you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERbvKrH-GC4
- l332mn 6y ago
  That video doesn't support your statement at all. Besides, I don't think Alan Watts is an authoritative source on Buddhism regardless.
  - stakkur 6y ago
    Neither are you or I. We're just expressing opinions. Like Cicero.
    - l332mn 6y ago
      But you did try to back your claim with a source when challenged on this point, didn't you? Clearly we're not simply "expressing opinions" here.

deleted 6y ago

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