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This reminded me of 5 daily remembrances from Buddhist cannon. 1. I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing. 2. I am sure to become ill; I cannot avoid i

This reminded me of 5 daily remembrances from Buddhist cannon. 1. I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing. 2. I am sure to become ill; I cannot avoid illness. 3. I am sure to die; I cannot avoid death. 4. I must be separated and parted from all that is dear and beloved to me. 5. I am the owner of my actions, heir of my actions, actions are the womb (from which I have sprung), actions are my relations, actions are my protection. Whatever actions I do, good or bad, of these I shall become the heir. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upajjhatthana_Sutta https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upajjhatthana_Sutta

swyx 3y ago
how depressing. what do they have to say about what joy to derive from life?
- reedf1 3y ago
  If truth is depressing to you - looking inward and handling your feelings towards the inevitable will probably be beneficial.
- quickthrower2 3y ago
  That is just a start. Now read the selfish gene. But seriously it can be the opposite of depressing. Instead of hating getting old, you realise it is like hating that the sky is blue and then you can enjoy it.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- 63 3y ago
  I think this is a valid critique. One of the primary reasons I dislike stoicism is that reminding myself at every passing moment that I'm going to lose everything I love is awfully depressing. Certainly there is a place for it, particularly around forming and working toward long term goals, but I believe there's also a place for hedonism and escapism and good humor. I don't think that pursuit of rational truth is the goal of being alive.
  - weikju 3y ago
    I think though the point is to accept these realities. Once you do, you can move past them, past the constant worries and actually enjoy what life has to offer, what every moment has to give. You don't focus on these realities and stop there. You move past them, with a clearer mind.
- vekker 3y ago
  It's just reality. Both Buddhists and stoics say it's better to deal with it as it is, rather than putting your head in the sand. Buddhists celebrate and actively cultivate joy (pīti, a stimulating and joyful mental factor that you develop through meditation). For lay people, any wholesome kind of joy derived from life that doesn't lead to craving and addiction is also considered good.
- becquerel 3y ago
  That joy is transient and ultimately in its transience a cause for suffering. Perfectly fine if you take it for what it is, but not something to cling to. 'Life is suffering' is kind of the whole deal of Buddhism - first, it teaches you to recognise how bad the problem really is, then gives you mechanisms for solving it (detachment).
- pulpfictional 3y ago
  These are things to remember so you can decide and live that. Putting things in perspective, highilighting what you shouldn't take for granted. If those sentences are grim then those are things you value.
- nelblu 3y ago
  I don't think it's depressing. It is the reality of life. It is a constant reminder that you must enjoy life today and don't wait for that perfect day. I find it anti depressing because it motivates me to do more today.
- johnofthesea 3y ago
  I was born with sort of disability. From relatively early age I was presented with the reality that I would have to have heart surgery later in life. So I have tried to enjoy life till that moment. And then the moment came. It was not that bad and, even if I'm not Wout Van Aert, I can still enjoy things like bike commuting. I do not consider my self unlucky but privileged. It is not ideal but it is how it is. I'm not waiting for afterlife.
- flangola7 3y ago
  We don't need everything wrapped in American toxic positivity.
- gambiting 3y ago
  I don't see that as depressing at all. I find that once you accept that human life and health aren't limitless, it allows you to enjoy every day a lot more than when you think that the days are unlimited. Everything you do and own exists in this time and space which you also temporarily occupy - enjoy it while it lasts, because it will end at some point. It's not depressing, it's more like giving you permission to enjoy life and material things to the fullest while you can.
- lazycog512 3y ago
  these are joyous things
- captainbland 3y ago
  I suppose the implication is to enjoy what you can before those things take hold, or during them as best you can if that's the hand you're dealt with. To me this implies the importance of a work/life balance. Working with the hope that it will pay off later has to be traded off with the knowledge that your later life may be inherently less joyful or may not even happen.
- r00fus 3y ago
  The buddhist philosophy (bumper sticker: compassionate skepticism) is very much about joy and reducing suffering. But being ignorant of your likelihood to grow old/ill and eventually die is not a recipe for joy either.
zokier 3y ago
> 1. I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing. It's unfortunate fact though that there is rather large chunk of people who do not get to grow old. In the same vein there are people who will not get ill anymore before their death.

swyx 3y ago

how depressing. what do they have to say about what joy to derive from life?

reedf1 3y ago
If truth is depressing to you - looking inward and handling your feelings towards the inevitable will probably be beneficial.
quickthrower2 3y ago
That is just a start. Now read the selfish gene. But seriously it can be the opposite of depressing. Instead of hating getting old, you realise it is like hating that the sky is blue and then you can enjoy it.
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
63 3y ago
I think this is a valid critique. One of the primary reasons I dislike stoicism is that reminding myself at every passing moment that I'm going to lose everything I love is awfully depressing. Certainly there is a place for it, particularly around forming and working toward long term goals, but I believe there's also a place for hedonism and escapism and good humor. I don't think that pursuit of rational truth is the goal of being alive.
- weikju 3y ago
  I think though the point is to accept these realities. Once you do, you can move past them, past the constant worries and actually enjoy what life has to offer, what every moment has to give. You don't focus on these realities and stop there. You move past them, with a clearer mind.
vekker 3y ago
It's just reality. Both Buddhists and stoics say it's better to deal with it as it is, rather than putting your head in the sand. Buddhists celebrate and actively cultivate joy (pīti, a stimulating and joyful mental factor that you develop through meditation). For lay people, any wholesome kind of joy derived from life that doesn't lead to craving and addiction is also considered good.
becquerel 3y ago
That joy is transient and ultimately in its transience a cause for suffering. Perfectly fine if you take it for what it is, but not something to cling to. 'Life is suffering' is kind of the whole deal of Buddhism - first, it teaches you to recognise how bad the problem really is, then gives you mechanisms for solving it (detachment).
pulpfictional 3y ago
These are things to remember so you can decide and live that. Putting things in perspective, highilighting what you shouldn't take for granted. If those sentences are grim then those are things you value.
nelblu 3y ago
I don't think it's depressing. It is the reality of life. It is a constant reminder that you must enjoy life today and don't wait for that perfect day. I find it anti depressing because it motivates me to do more today.
johnofthesea 3y ago
I was born with sort of disability. From relatively early age I was presented with the reality that I would have to have heart surgery later in life. So I have tried to enjoy life till that moment. And then the moment came. It was not that bad and, even if I'm not Wout Van Aert, I can still enjoy things like bike commuting. I do not consider my self unlucky but privileged. It is not ideal but it is how it is. I'm not waiting for afterlife.
flangola7 3y ago
We don't need everything wrapped in American toxic positivity.
gambiting 3y ago
I don't see that as depressing at all. I find that once you accept that human life and health aren't limitless, it allows you to enjoy every day a lot more than when you think that the days are unlimited. Everything you do and own exists in this time and space which you also temporarily occupy - enjoy it while it lasts, because it will end at some point. It's not depressing, it's more like giving you permission to enjoy life and material things to the fullest while you can.
lazycog512 3y ago
these are joyous things
captainbland 3y ago
I suppose the implication is to enjoy what you can before those things take hold, or during them as best you can if that's the hand you're dealt with. To me this implies the importance of a work/life balance. Working with the hope that it will pay off later has to be traded off with the knowledge that your later life may be inherently less joyful or may not even happen.
r00fus 3y ago
The buddhist philosophy (bumper sticker: compassionate skepticism) is very much about joy and reducing suffering. But being ignorant of your likelihood to grow old/ill and eventually die is not a recipe for joy either.

zokier 3y ago

> 1. I am sure to become old; I cannot avoid ageing. It's unfortunate fact though that there is rather large chunk of people who do not get to grow old. In the same vein there are people who will not get ill anymore before their death.