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Diogenes and the Cynics are worth studying for any person interested in Stoicism. Stoicism often feels like a moderated form of Cynicism, and Epictetus often in

Diogenes and the Cynics are worth studying for any person interested in Stoicism. Stoicism often feels like a moderated form of Cynicism, and Epictetus often invoked the Cynics in his teachings.

ddalex 4y ago
Also Marcus Aurelius.
vram22 4y ago
Epictetus is great. I like this saying which I think is attributed to him (words are from memory, actual may be different): "Practice yourself in little things, for heaven's sake, and thence proceed to greater."
- Abishek_Muthian 4y ago
  As a person with disability, "Enchiridion of Epictetus"[1] helped me a lot. > If you say "I will only be happy if I never get sick" , then, being mortal, when you inevitably fall ill, you will also be unhappy. > it is in the nature of humans to get sick, which means it is outside of your control, which means you shouldn' t let it upset you. > Disease is an impairment of the body, not of the mind, unless the mind so chooses. Lameness is a disability of the body, not of the mind, unless the mind so chooses. Whenever something bad happens, remember that it might be an impediment to something else, but never to your true self - your mind. Since Epictetus was born into slavery and was crippled(either from birth or due to punishment from slavery), Those with health issues can easily relate to his wisdom. [1] Free, legal download of Enchiridion with illustrations - https://1231047546.rsc.cdn77.org/the_enchiridion_epictetus_by_thomas_eliot.pdf https://1231047546.rsc.cdn77.org/the_enchiridion_epictetus_b... .
  - vram22 4y ago
    Good one, thanks for sharing, and rings true, except for the last clause of the quote: >but never to your true self - your mind. Advaita (Vedanta) would beg to differ, and say that your true self is the witness (sakshi) of both the body and mind, and of the world through them. :)
    - vram22 4y ago
      Good deep meta-link for Advaita (posted by me a few days ago in another thread), the Prasthana Trayi: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34202984 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34202984

Diogenes and the Cynics are worth studying for any person interested in Stoicism. Stoicism often feels like a moderated form of Cynicism, and Epictetus often invoked the Cynics in his teachings.

ddalex 4y ago

Also Marcus Aurelius.

vram22 4y ago

Epictetus is great. I like this saying which I think is attributed to him (words are from memory, actual may be different): "Practice yourself in little things, for heaven's sake, and thence proceed to greater."

Abishek_Muthian 4y ago
As a person with disability, "Enchiridion of Epictetus"[1] helped me a lot. > If you say "I will only be happy if I never get sick" , then, being mortal, when you inevitably fall ill, you will also be unhappy. > it is in the nature of humans to get sick, which means it is outside of your control, which means you shouldn' t let it upset you. > Disease is an impairment of the body, not of the mind, unless the mind so chooses. Lameness is a disability of the body, not of the mind, unless the mind so chooses. Whenever something bad happens, remember that it might be an impediment to something else, but never to your true self - your mind. Since Epictetus was born into slavery and was crippled(either from birth or due to punishment from slavery), Those with health issues can easily relate to his wisdom. [1] Free, legal download of Enchiridion with illustrations - https://1231047546.rsc.cdn77.org/the_enchiridion_epictetus_by_thomas_eliot.pdf https://1231047546.rsc.cdn77.org/the_enchiridion_epictetus_b... .
- vram22 4y ago
  Good one, thanks for sharing, and rings true, except for the last clause of the quote: >but never to your true self - your mind. Advaita (Vedanta) would beg to differ, and say that your true self is the witness (sakshi) of both the body and mind, and of the world through them. :)
  - vram22 4y ago
    Good deep meta-link for Advaita (posted by me a few days ago in another thread), the Prasthana Trayi: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34202984 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=34202984