What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

Marcus Aurelius died in a cold, dark place, but his last words shined bright with a message of hope: “Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.” He delivered these words not to a beloved, but to a guard of the night’s watch in his military camp near the frontline of war. We know quite a bit about the death of Marcus Aurelius. We have descriptions of his demeanor. There are records of his final deeds and words. We, the readers of history, have the advantage of retrospection. So, in this article, let us study Marcus Aurelius’ death to see if we learn something about life. We’ll look back together at how this man, the last of the great Stoics and great Roman Emperors, returned to nature in harmony with virtue and reason—how he died as any good Stoic lives. 

 

“Do not act as if you were going to live ten thousand years. Death hangs over you. While you live, while it is in your power, be good.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (paid link)

This post contains affiliate links, which help us keep the blog afloat. Click here for more information.

A mosaic-style image of Marcus Aurelius mounted on a horse in Rome to represent an article on the death of Marcus Aurelius

How did Marcus Aurelius die?

 

It was 180 AD, nearing the end of winter at the front of a brutal war with northern tribes in what is modern-day Vienna. It was there that Marcus contracted the Antonine plague. War and disease. These were the chief executioners that killed millions during Marcus’ lifetime. So throughout his life, beginning with the loss of his father when he was just three, Marcus had become familiar with death. He outlived eight of his thirteen children. He lost his wife of thirty-five years. 

 

Accounts of his final six days tell us that he faced the end with calm and indifference. But we also know that this acceptance didn’t come naturally to Marcus. It wasn’t an inherent quality he was born with. As a boy, he once wept over the death of his beloved tutor so uncontrollably that those involved in his early grooming to become emperor questioned whether he was fit for the title. 

 

So, as with all of us, he learned from experience. With each loss, he gained perspective. He had many opportunities to see and feel, first hand, what his Stoic teachers taught: that to accept death is to free oneself. To accept death is the highest use of reason, and to the Stoics, to live with reason was the ultimate goal. 

 

Nature bestowed upon us the gift of reason. It’s the gift that gives us agency. It allows us to choose to circumvent base desires and instead choose the more difficult path towards the greater good. It allows us to stare down fear and move forward despite it. Since death is among the most certain of all things, accepting it is among the most reasonable of choices.

 

Do not say of anything, ‘I have lost it,’ but rather, ‘I have given it back.’ Has your wife died? You have given her back. Has your child died? You have given him back. Have you lost your home? You have given it back. ‘But…,’ you may retort, a bad person took it. It is not your concern by what means something returns to the source from which it came, for as long as the source entrusts something to your hands, treat it as something borrowed, like a traveler at an inn.” – Epictetus, The Manual (paid link)

Memento mori life tracker

The death of Marcus Aurelius: practicing until the end

 

Marcus didn’t just passively accept his failing health in those final days. He continued to practice and display virtue. He was practicing wisdom when he asked his physicians to describe in great detail each of his symptoms and how the disease was slowly choking his organs. He wanted to lean into the truth. 

 

Upon seeing his reflection in a porcelain mirror, he engaged in an old Stoic practice of imagining his predecessors staring back at him. He visualized the decayed faces of his adopted father and grandfather. Again, he leaned into his fate, rather than distracting himself from it. 

 

At one point in those final days, surrounded by his remaining children and closest advisors, he suddenly lost consciousness mid speech. His physicians were able to rouse him, and, upon waking, he found some of his children crying hysterically, fearing that he had just passed. Seeing this reminded him of the times that he, too, violently wept over the losses of those he loved. But even in this moment of unsurpassed weakness, he had the courage and wisdom to redirect the room toward forward momentum. He urged them not to lament the inevitable. Instead, he directed them to focus on what would be his final mission. 

 

Related article: Summary of Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations: The Most Popular Parts

A mosaic-style image of Marcus Aurelius on horse-back to represent an article on the death of Marcus Aurelius

Justice until the end 

 

Marcus’ only remaining son, Commodus, was seemingly just days, or even hours, away from succeeding Marcus as Emperor of Rome. But this passage to power would not be a smooth transition, not without taking the correct precautions. 

 

Marcus had seen Commodus falling in with the wrong crowd. He knew his son was not sufficiently resistant against the unhealthy passions of fear and desire. Commodus feared death and desired the comfort of warm baths awaiting him back in Rome. 

 

So Marcus laid there on his deathbed, having just nearly succumbed to a permanent loss of consciousness, to find his closest allies and family members weeping helplessly. He had them swear that they would look after Commodus, that they would keep him away from those tempting him towards the easy path of comfort and pleasure. 

 

It was imperative that Commodus remain at the warfront to oversee its nearing end. Returning back to Rome with the war’s end within sight would signal weakness to Rome’s enemies, emboldening more of them to join the fight. At home, it would signal to the Senate that the new emperor was unfit to rule, which would lead to power-grabs, instability, and, likely, civil war. 

 

So despite his frailty and declining faculties, Marcus held strong onto his final act of justice, which was to put an end to the war and reduce the likelihood of further suffering among all those under his care. He called meetings with his most trusted officials to order them to push Commodus in the right direction. He counseled Commodus on the vital importance of his next moves. 

 

As he neared even closer to the end, he did all he could within his sphere of influence to make the world a better place—to act, despite being bedridden, with courage, justice, and wisdom. His failing body was no longer under his control, and to that, he acquiesced.

 

Related article: Master The Art Of Acquiescence For Resilience & Perspective

Life lessons from the death of Marcus Aurelius

 

So we must approach death the same way we ought to approach life. We should seek truth and take steps to uphold that truth in our speech and actions. We should embrace fate in all its glorious mystery. We should always choose the path, no matter how arduous, towards peace and reconciliation. 

 

We prepare for death by living. If we live a long life of genuine commitment to upholding values and virtues, then we’ll know what to do when death approaches. Afterall, the final days are days not unlike any other day. There will be things to say. Things to do. Choices to make.

 

We may see ‘memento mori’ quotes on social media and think that Stoicism is morbid—that Stoics are nonchalant about death. But ultimately, Stoicism teaches us to live with forward momentum, propelled by our intimate understanding of the finite nature of everything, promoting as much positive change along the way as we can. The lessons learned over the course of a life lived this way will grant us the skills to not only accept death when it comes, but to live it—to experience what is ultimately a return to nature, a return to our source. 

 

“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.” – Marcus Aurelius, Meditations (paid link)

Credits: 

I relied heavily on the book How To Think Like A Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson (paid link) when researching this article.

Introduction To Stoicism And Mindfulness

If you're new to mindfulness or Stoicism, we hope you'll find these articles written as introductory resources useful. We aim to answer questions like "What is mindfulness?" and "How can I begin practicing Stoicism?" We hope something here will set you off on your...

Improve Your Focus With Mindfulness- And Science-Based Protocols

I’ve said this before, but I feel it’s important to lead with it here: mindfulness is not a means to an end. Mindfulness is a means to a means—a way of waking up to life. Without mindfulness, so much of life escapes us. Without mindfulness, we’re governed by impulses...

Where Buddhism And Modern Psychology Converge On Mental Wellness

When the average non-Buddhist westerner thinks of Buddhism, they often think of meditation, kindness, and monks with shaved heads in orange robes. But what lies beneath these surface-level artifacts is profound understanding. Few wisdom traditions have delivered as...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

Marcus Aurelius died in a cold, dark place, but his last words shined bright with a message of hope: “Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.” He delivered these words not to a beloved, but to a guard of the night’s watch in his military camp near the...

Zen Meditation: How To Stop And Reflect For Wisdom 

  What if there was a way you could train your wisdom and insight? No tools or equipment required. No books to read. No classes to attend. All you’d need is a few minutes each day. Such a means of building a wider perspective and developing clear insight exists....

Right Mindfulness & Right Concentration Of The Eightfold Path

If I were to define Zen Buddhism, I would do so in two four-word sentences:   Absolute attention is prayer. Compassion for all beings.   “Zen teaches nothing. It merely enables us to wake up and become aware. It does not teach; it points. The truth of Zen is...

The Three Jewels Of The Tao: Embracing The Way Of Water

Well, the first challenge in understanding the Tao is its definition. Translated literally, 'The Tao' means 'The Way'. The very first verse of this ancient teaching warns that it’s useless to try to define or name The Tao: The Tao that can be toldIs not the eternal...

21 Human Performance Tips For Busy People

To say my life is busy is an understatement. Writing this blog is my passion. I wouldn’t trade it for the world. But writing the blog, two weekly newsletters, and a book is a tall order. There is no team, there are no editors, web developers, graphic designers, or...

Thich Nhat Hanh & The Zen Practice Of Stopping

Thich Nhat Hanh was a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet and teacher, historically known as the ‘father of mindfulness’. Nhat Hanh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.   He was exiled from South Vietnam in 1966 after...

Save up to 40% on books on Stoicism

Explore our curated collection of the top-rated and latest books on Stoicism.

Memorialize your commitment

Explore our collection of Stoic coins and other apparel.

Spread the word and share the love 🙏

If you enjoyed this article, consider sharing it with your friends and followers on social media. Your support means the world to us. 💖 Click on the social share icons below and let others discover the insights, tips, and inspiration you found here. Together, we can create a community of like-minded individuals who practice mindfulness and Stoicism.

👉 Remember, a simple click can make a big difference!

Thich Nhat Hanh & The Zen Practice Of Stopping

Thich Nhat Hanh & The Zen Practice Of Stopping

Thich Nhat Hanh was a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, peace activist, prolific author, poet and teacher, historically known as the ‘father of mindfulness’. Nhat Hanh was a major influence on Western practices of Buddhism.

 

He was exiled from South Vietnam in 1966 after expressing opposition to the war and refusing to take sides. In 1967 Martin Luther King Jr. nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize. Nhat Hanh established dozens of monasteries and practice centers and spent many years living at Plum Village which he founded in 1982 in France, traveling internationally to give retreats and talks.

 

He promoted deep listening as a non-violent solution to conflict and raised awareness of the interconnectedness (interbeing) of all elements of nature. He coined the term engaged Buddhism; a non-violent practice of speaking out against war, systemic racism, and poverty.

 

Theravada Buddhism vs Mahayana Buddhism (Zen)

 

In Buddhism there are many schools of thought and practice. However, the two most practiced schools are Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism. 

 

In Theravada, the goal is to practice in order to become an enlightenment being or arhat, whereas in the Mahayana tradition the ideal person is a bodhisattva, a compassionate being who follows the Eightfold Path in order to help others. 

 

This person is not caught by anything, even theories or teachings. This is the path of all Zen Buddhists such as Thich Nhat Hanh. In essence, the path itself is the goal. The suffering in the world can be overwhelming: poverty, disease, war, injustice, global warming. But we have to respond. Each of us can contribute to the sanity of the world. We can tend to ourselves and tend to others. In doing so, we discover the role of the bodhisattva. However, we can’t tend to others if we don’t tend to ourselves.

 

From the Deer Park Monastery at Plum Village 2004

 

Nhat Hanh begins his teaching with the following poem:

 

I have arrived

I am home.

In the here,

In the now.

I am solid,

I am free,

In the ultimate I dwell.

This post contains affiliate links, which help us keep the blog afloat. Click here for more information.

Thich Nhat Hanh smiling

Thich Nhat Hanh on how to rest

 

At the end of the day, we want to have a restful and healing sleep. We want to rest and we want to stop. However, our bodies and our minds have inherited and developed a strong habit energy. Both our body and minds want to keep going—to run. We don’t know how to stop.

 

We must meditate and rest both the mind and the body at the same time; for the body contains the mind and the mind contains the body. The body and the mind inter-are. We have neglected our bodies, filling it with toxins and not resting. Our body has a very strong habit energy. Our minds are stuck in the past and the future. Usually this manifests as ruminating on painful memories and/or anxiety about the future. So, essentially we do not know how to find comfort and healing in the present moment. 

 

Yesterday is only a dream

And tomorrow but a vision.

But today well-lived

In the present moment

Makes all our yesterdays 

Full of beautiful memories

And all our tomorrows

Visions of hope.

 

We need to stop and rest to allow our wounds to heal. We have to practice resting by focusing on our in-breath. This practice can be used in four positions of the body: sitting, walking, standing, or lying down. We focus on our in- breath and say to ourselves: I have arrived/ I am home/ I don’t need to run anymore.

Memento mori life tracker

Habit energy: Mind and body

 

A man is galloping at breakneck speed on his horse and it appears as if he is going somewhere on an important and urgent mission. Another man standing along the side of the road shouts, ‘Where are you going?’ and the man on the horse yells, ‘I don’t know, ask the horse.’

 

Our minds are like that—we are on a runaway horse, not living in the present, unable to concentrate. Our minds are going full speed and our bodies are disconnected from our consciousness.

 

This is why stopping is crucial in the Buddhist tradition. If we are unable to stop, unable to rest we can’t achieve much. The practice of stopping is called Samatha (sha-ma-ta). While practicing, you are not searching for anything at all, completely at ease in the present moment. It sounds easy but it requires a strong will and practice.

 

The habit of running is very strong in us in both our body and our mind. We may have inherited it from our parents, our grandparents. Perhaps they did not know how to stop. So we must have awareness and a strong will to stop running- to allow our mind and bodies to relax.

 

However, no matter how hard we try we will not succeed without insight.

Thich Nhat Hanh with Martin Luther King Jr

Thich Nhat Hanh on meditation

 

Vipassana Meditation, often referred to as Insight Meditation is needed. Nhat Hanh refers to this as looking deeply to acquire insight. And the insight which he is referring to is that what we are looking for is already here, right here, right now, in the present moment. 

 

Vipassana is the other wing of the bird. Samatha (the desire to stop and rest) and Vipassana (insight) are the two wings of the bird that help us to stop and to rest. And through insight we learn that everything is already there. You already are what you want to become, namely a buddha. Some Buddhist schools refer to this as basic goodness. Others, like the Vietnamese tradition, would refer to it as buddhanature. Without this insight, no matter how hard you strive, you cannot stop.

 

The second meaning of Samantha is healing. We may have some wounds in our body, chronic pain, diabetes, lung or heart disease. 

 

We may also have deep wounds in our souls, in our consciousness: despair, depression, anger, anxiety, shame or guilt.

 

And we have come with all these wounds in our body and in our consciousness. We want to heal. And healing is possible with the practice of stopping. If you don’t know how to stop running then healing cannot take place. 

The art of resting

 

When you breathe in, you breathe in such a way that makes healing possible, because with your in-breath, there is no fighting or struggling. Your in-breath is an expression of arrival. You don’t need to run. If your in-breath is like that, it relieves all tension allowing your body and mind to relax. If a difficult emotion arises, don’t struggle to make it go away. Instead embrace it with your in-breath. It will pass. When your in-breath has the capacity of stopping it is very pleasant. 

 

You have faith in your in-breath. You don’t have to have faith in the Buddha or God. Nature has the power to heal. When you cut your finger and there is some blood, you don’t panic. Why? Because you believe the body has the capacity to heal the wound. We have to believe that the body has the capacity to heal itself. The only thing we have to do is allow our body to heal. 

 

Thich Nhat Hanh on stopping

 

When an animal in the forest is wounded she knows the art of stopping, of Samatha. She finds a place in the forest that is quiet and she lies down. She doesn’t think about running after another animal. She trusts in the body’s capacity to heal itself. 

 

We humans used to have that capacity of trusting our bodies to heal. We have lost it. We panic very easily. We run to the doctor, do a lot of tests. And we medicate and live our lives in fear, in panic. All we need to do is to rest. But we don’t know how to rest anymore. And resting is the ground of healing. 

 

“There was a man so displeased by the sight of his own footsteps, that he was determined to get rid of both by running away from them. But every time he put his foot down, there was another step, and his shadow kept up with him without the slightest difficulty. He thought he must not be running fast enough, so he ran faster and faster and faster, without stopping, until he finally dropped dead of exhaustion. He failed to realize that if he merely stepped into the shade, his shadow would vanish, and if he sat down and stayed still, there would be no more footsteps.” – Chuang Tzu

 

Final thoughts

 

Our minds are stuck in the past and in the future, so we are not fully alive. Come home to yourself, to the here and now. And you will be in touch with the wonders of life. The miracles of life are only available in the present moment. Then you are fully alive, fully present. With our worry and anxiety of the future and the regrets of the past, we are not living. We cannot tend to ourselves, let alone tend to others. There are three events in a person’s life: birth, life, and death. We are not aware of being born, we die in pain, and we forget to live.

 

Related articles: 

 

Thich Nhat Hanh quotes on mindfulness

 

Summary of How To Fight by Thich Nhat Hanh

 

Thich Nhat Hanh Walking Meditation

The Three Stoic Disciplines: Desire, Action, and Assent

Stoicism is a guiding framework in my life, but so is business. I can think of no better school of thought than business when it comes to manifesting ideas into reality—big, complex ideas. Schools of business and businesses in practice are fountains of knowledge when...

Introduction To Stoicism And Mindfulness

If you're new to mindfulness or Stoicism, we hope you'll find these articles written as introductory resources useful. We aim to answer questions like "What is mindfulness?" and "How can I begin practicing Stoicism?" We hope something here will set you off on your...

Improve Your Focus With Mindfulness- And Science-Based Protocols

I’ve said this before, but I feel it’s important to lead with it here: mindfulness is not a means to an end. Mindfulness is a means to a means—a way of waking up to life. Without mindfulness, so much of life escapes us. Without mindfulness, we’re governed by impulses...

What Is Modern Stoicism? An Introduction & Essential Practices

In the eyes of some, the people I’m about to introduce don’t belong in a discussion about modern Stoicism. None of them are self-proclaimed Stoics. But they do display extreme commitment to the four Stoic virtues: courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice.   ...

Where Buddhism And Modern Psychology Converge On Mental Wellness

When the average non-Buddhist westerner thinks of Buddhism, they often think of meditation, kindness, and monks with shaved heads in orange robes. But what lies beneath these surface-level artifacts is profound understanding. Few wisdom traditions have delivered as...

How To Speak Like A Stoic

If you’ve mastered the art of peaceful speech, then it is likely that you have a very firm grasp over your guiding principles. If you have mastered the art of the pause in speech, then it is likely that you have clear convictions and great self-confidence. Truthful,...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

Marcus Aurelius died in a cold, dark place, but his last words shined bright with a message of hope: “Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.” He delivered these words not to a beloved, but to a guard of the night’s watch in his military camp near the...

Zen Meditation: How To Stop And Reflect For Wisdom 

  What if there was a way you could train your wisdom and insight? No tools or equipment required. No books to read. No classes to attend. All you’d need is a few minutes each day. Such a means of building a wider perspective and developing clear insight exists....

Memento Vivere: How To Live With Agency, Gratitude & Engagement

Antipater is a lesser-known Stoic, yet he was head of the school during a period that saw Stoicism extend to public life. Stoic philosophers were sent on diplomatic missions. Some advised kings. But Antipater’s contributions brought Stoicism closer to home. He was...

Spread the word and share the love 🙏

If you enjoyed this article, consider sharing it with your friends and followers on social media. Your support means the world to us. 💖 Click on the social share icons below and let others discover the insights, tips, and inspiration you found here. Together, we can create a community of like-minded individuals who practice mindfulness and Stoicism.

👉 Remember, a simple click can make a big difference!

Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi: 16 Practical Lessons On Self-Mastery & Peace

Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi: 16 Practical Lessons On Self-Mastery & Peace

Shi Heng Yi’s speech embodies calm and strength. Watching his Ted talks or his interviews, you see that he emanates both humility and confidence. He speaks slowly, thoughtfully, and deliberately. Balance is a core pursuit of The Mindful Stoic, so I was immediately captivated by Shi Heng Yi because of his aura of balance between hardness and softness. The Shaolin culture to which he belongs is one of warrior monks, which is an interesting challenge to the stereotype of monks who mostly meditate and study. In this article, we’ll share 16 practical lessons from Shi Heng Yi divided into themes of self-mastery and peace. We’ll provide a brief bio and description of the Shaolin tradition. Finally, we’ll leave you with some salient Shi Heng Yi quotes. 

 

Who is Shi Heng Yi? 

 

Shi Heng Yi is the leading headmaster of the Shaolin Temple Europe, which is a Buddhist monastery. His mission is to pass on to others the Shaolin tradition, which is a marriage of martial arts and Buddhist practices. The Shaolin Temple invites disciples to train in these arts. Yi hopes that those who master the Shaolin way will share their knowledge with the people they meet in everyday life, spreading the benefits of Shaolin even further. Shaolin culture is an artful tradition rooted in Buddhism, with flavors of Taoism, Confucianism, and manifestations of martial arts, traditional medicine, and calligraphy. The original Shaolin temple in China is the birthplace of this 1500-year-old physical and spiritual expression of Buddhism.

This post contains affiliate links, which help us keep the blog afloat. Click here for more information.

Painting of Shi Heng Yi water training

Shi Heng Yi on Self-Mastery

 

  • The most powerful knowledge out there is the kind that lets you see for yourself what you are capable of.

 

  • We must examine opposite ends of the spectrum when we seek balance. If we desire comfort we must also know discomfort. If we seek relaxation then we must also understand stress. Knowing both sides draws a complete map with which we can navigate towards balance more capably.

 

  • Discipline is freedom because the quality of our lives can only be determined by our actions. But, these actions cannot be unrestricted. If we begin acting freely simply because we believe in our right to freedom, being unfaithful to those we love, or overindulging in sensory pleasure, then we feed the destructive side of human nature. Structure and restrictions actually foster freedom because they help us realize that happiness comes from within and it is not dependent on anything external.

 

  • Writing your plans, ambitions, and goals is necessary if they are to benefit others. If kept locked away in your mind, others cannot see what you have to offer. Manifest your thoughts on paper. If not for yourself, then do it for others.

 

  • If you cannot handle the little things like writing down your goals on a piece of paper or keeping your living space clean, then you cannot handle the big things. The small things matter.
Memento mori life tracker

Shi Heng Yi on success

 

  • When deciding whether to spend energy pursuing something, many of us make this mistake: we don’t contemplate it. Contemplate means to literally sit in silence and think deeply. We must ask ourselves and really visualize the answer to the question Where will this lead me if I begin to invest energy into it? Often, we know how to rank-order priorities and make decisions. But, how often do we truly contemplate our moves before we make them?

 

  • There are two ingredients required to ensure success in all your endeavors. The first is to make your intention to benefit others or improve the world around you, and to never forget this intention. The second is to focus on the process and go about the day-to-day work diligently.

 

  • Directly approaching what you want is the wrong way. If you want freedom, for example, you must explore structure and discipline. If you can find freedom within the discipline then you have found true freedom. To approach what you desire head on is to take a one-sided approach. There are always two sides that make up a whole, and we cannot have one without the other. Relaxation and tension belong together. Success and failure belong together.
Painting of Shi Heng Yi performing Shaolin exercises

Shi Heng Yi on mindfulness

 

  • Cultivating mindful awareness throughout the day lengthens the day. When we’re aware, it’s as if the mental camera takes more pictures. We have richer memories and experiences when we’re aware. One effect of this is that time slows down. Crucially, mindful awareness increases our ability to make adjustments. When our mood begins to turn sour, we recognize it and adjust.

 

  • How can we become more disciplined? It starts with a plan. Write a simple, easy-to-execute plan, and stick to it absolutely. This means commitment, which is critical because the nature of the mind is to wander, to explore variety. The commitment grounds the mind onto a singular point of focus.

 

  • There were times in Chinese history where martial arts were banned. This is because a person who can express themselves both verbally and physically cannot be controlled.

 

Shi Heng Yi on finding peace

 

  • A warrior monk is both a warrior and a monk. Perhaps they are a warrior at their core, but their external behavior is peaceful. They choose to be peaceful and are skillful at peace, but the ability to protect themselves and their loved ones is always present. 

 

  • Being unshakable means being at peace with yourself. More specifically, there is nothing anyone can add nor subtract from you. You are not inflated by compliments nor are you torn down by criticism. When you enter a room, you know what to do, and others can sense this. This is unshakable.

 

  • Yi refers to intense physical exercise as a practice of relaxation. Of course, the exertion itself is not relaxing, but because we face the tension, we can know relaxation more intimately afterwards. Also, Yi believes that intense physical exercise is necessary for a strong mindset. He explains that exercise brings out a fire—our animal instinct. If we sit too much, then the fire may burn, but it will be channeled into your head and manifest itself as negative emotion, such as anger. When the fire manifests itself in the body, we learn about our true nature. 

 

  • Rather than having a concrete definition of who you want to become or what you want to achieve, have a direction. Define a direction, a path, and follow it diligently. This is better than a strictly-defined outcome because a direction can lead you to unexpected places whereas a concrete outcome usually leads to disappointment.

Shi Heng Yi on finding the light

 

  • To find light in darkness, we must open our senses. This is because figurative darkness is much like literal darkness; we can’t see. We can’t see a way out. Relying on our eyes in such darkness is not enough. We need to get in touch with our other senses—to really feel things out—to find our path towards the light. Darkness is nothing more than a closed perspective. The practical approach to finding a new perspective is to spend a lot of time outdoors, under sunlight, and increase physical activity. 

 

We hope you enjoyed our interpretation of some of Shi Heng Yi’s most practical lessons. His perspective that we must use hardness to find softness is one that we can all incorporate more into our lives to find not only balance, but also greater understanding about ourselves. It’s funny how some ancient Eastern philosophies, such as Taoism and Buddhism, turn out to be consistent with modern science. Meditation and exercise are two examples of this. There is a mountain of scientific evidence showing that meditation and exercise are essential for mental and physical health. Yi’s emphasis on physical exercise as a means of self-discovery and self-mastery is profound, practical, and accessible to all of us. To learn more about Shi Heng Yi, click here to check out his official website.

 

We’ll leave you with some quotes from Shi Heng Yi. 

 

Shi Heng Yi quotes

 

“There are two mistakes along the way to Self-Mastery: Not starting it and not going all the way.”

 

“Freedom goes hand in hand with your ability to restrict yourself.”

 

“To regain control, we must train the mind to be more present, to live in the here and now, and to find the answers within ourselves, to perceive every moment as it is, and feel the subtle changes within, to continuously work on it. That is the essential practice.”

 

“It’s not important what you mean by your words. It’s important how the other person understands what you just said.”

 

Save 46% on Deep Work by Cal Newport

The Three Stoic Disciplines: Desire, Action, and Assent

Stoicism is a guiding framework in my life, but so is business. I can think of no better school of thought than business when it comes to manifesting ideas into reality—big, complex ideas. Schools of business and businesses in practice are fountains of knowledge when...

Introduction To Stoicism And Mindfulness

If you're new to mindfulness or Stoicism, we hope you'll find these articles written as introductory resources useful. We aim to answer questions like "What is mindfulness?" and "How can I begin practicing Stoicism?" We hope something here will set you off on your...

Improve Your Focus With Mindfulness- And Science-Based Protocols

I’ve said this before, but I feel it’s important to lead with it here: mindfulness is not a means to an end. Mindfulness is a means to a means—a way of waking up to life. Without mindfulness, so much of life escapes us. Without mindfulness, we’re governed by impulses...

What Is Modern Stoicism? An Introduction & Essential Practices

In the eyes of some, the people I’m about to introduce don’t belong in a discussion about modern Stoicism. None of them are self-proclaimed Stoics. But they do display extreme commitment to the four Stoic virtues: courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice.   ...

Where Buddhism And Modern Psychology Converge On Mental Wellness

When the average non-Buddhist westerner thinks of Buddhism, they often think of meditation, kindness, and monks with shaved heads in orange robes. But what lies beneath these surface-level artifacts is profound understanding. Few wisdom traditions have delivered as...

How To Speak Like A Stoic

If you’ve mastered the art of peaceful speech, then it is likely that you have a very firm grasp over your guiding principles. If you have mastered the art of the pause in speech, then it is likely that you have clear convictions and great self-confidence. Truthful,...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

Marcus Aurelius died in a cold, dark place, but his last words shined bright with a message of hope: “Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.” He delivered these words not to a beloved, but to a guard of the night’s watch in his military camp near the...

Zen Meditation: How To Stop And Reflect For Wisdom 

  What if there was a way you could train your wisdom and insight? No tools or equipment required. No books to read. No classes to attend. All you’d need is a few minutes each day. Such a means of building a wider perspective and developing clear insight exists....

Memento Vivere: How To Live With Agency, Gratitude & Engagement

Antipater is a lesser-known Stoic, yet he was head of the school during a period that saw Stoicism extend to public life. Stoic philosophers were sent on diplomatic missions. Some advised kings. But Antipater’s contributions brought Stoicism closer to home. He was...

Spread the word and share the love 🙏

If you enjoyed this article, consider sharing it with your friends and followers on social media. Your support means the world to us. 💖 Click on the social share icons below and let others discover the insights, tips, and inspiration you found here. Together, we can create a community of like-minded individuals who practice mindfulness and Stoicism.

👉 Remember, a simple click can make a big difference!

A Modern Day Example Of Stoicism: Yeonmi Park, Courage Exemplified

A Modern Day Example Of Stoicism: Yeonmi Park, Courage Exemplified

Much is said and written about the ancient Stoics because founders and trailblazers are well remembered by history. However, the modern world is not without its unique challenges and hardships against which the teachings of Stoicism can be employed to live with dignity. These contemporary challenges and those who handle them with exceptional grace are perhaps more relevant to us than teachings from Roman imperial or ancient Greek times. Articles beyond this one featuring a modern day example of Stoicism will be recurrent but infrequent on our blog, because it will be hard to find modern Stoics who measure up to the person featured in this article.

 

Yeonmi Park is a North Korean defector and human rights activist who has endured unthinkable suffering to enable herself to tell her story today. Having long since escaped tyranny and slavery, she continues to embody courage by speaking out against the current and ongoing atrocities committed by the North Korean regime. 

 

Let’s learn and take inspiration from her story, which we will attempt to organize along the lines of the 4 Cardinal Stoic Virtues: Courage, Temperance, Wisdom, and Justice. 

Courage 

 

Courage appears first here because it defines Yeonmi’s story. As a young girl growing up in North Korea, lack of food was the cornerstone of her daily life. In her book, In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey To Freedom, she recalls having to forage in the mountains for edible plants. She tells the story of her mother traveling to another region, a journey of months and uncertain return, while leaving her and her older sister to fend for themselves. The girls, both under the age of thirteen, were left a small sum of money. As kids do, they spent the money unwisely on treats, leaving them with virtually no food or resources for several weeks. 

Her childhood was set against the backdrop of starvation and death. Now, years later, in retrospect, she is horrified that she felt no sympathy when she crossed a young man begging for food while his intestines leaked from his body. This lack of sympathy is not evidence of a fundamental flaw in her character. Rather it was the norm of the collective mentality in her country. Suffering and death, especially as a result of starvation, was so ordinary that it blended into the daily landscape just as cars and passersby do in a bustling city.

This post contains affiliate links, which help us keep the blog afloat. Click here for more information.

Painted portrait of Yeonmi Park to represent a blog post of modern day examples of Stoicism

A modern day example of Stoicism

 

The above descriptions only scratch the surface when it comes to the horrible details of her life as a young girl growing up in North Korea. I present them here not to disturb you unnecessarily, but to provide some context to better understand her motivation for escaping North Korea. When she was only thirteen years old, she and her mother escaped the authoritarian regime into China. The escape itself was a harrowing and incredibly dangerous event. The borders of North Korea are laced with landmines and guards who don’t ask but shoot. The only way out for her was by crossing a frozen river. 

 

But, sadly, her arrival in China did not mark the beginning of her freedom. She spent the next several years as a slave. Partly spurred by China’s former one-child policy, there is a disproportionate number of young single men who cannot find wives because there are too few women. This leads to a large demand for what are essentially female sex slaves who are sold to be the wives of farmers. North Korean defectors often fall into the cranks of this dark system.

 

She endured separation from her mother, rape, continued malnutrition, and overall hopelessness. Yet, she never gave up on life. If this isn’t a shining modern day example of Stoicism and the Stoic virtue of courage, then I don’t know what is.

Memento mori life tracker

Temperance

 

In simple terms, the Stoic virtue of temperance is the resistance against desire. In a rather sad way, it must have been easy for Yeonmi to practice temperance as a young girl. Rather, it was impossible not to act with temperance in a certain sense, because when your primary objective is to feed yourself, you cannot pursue material objects of desire. In another sense, there are no material objects of desire in North Korea.

 

The man who purchased and kept Yeonmi for several years in China was a gambler. He lost money to the extent that he was unable to feed Yeonmi. He eventually came to realize that he was unfit to maintain this dominant and unjust position and decided to set Yeonmi free. Reunited with her mother and a small group of other North Korean defectors, she embarked on the next stage of her journey toward freedom. 

 

The safest way to complete the escape from the tyrannical regime of North Korea is through Thailand. This is also the most expensive way and was therefore not an option for Yeonmi’s group. Instead, they would traverse the Gobi Desert with the hope of reaching Mongolia. They braved temperatures of minus forty and risked getting lost in a desert with no supplies. Against all odds, they arrived in Mongolia where they were subsequently imprisoned and subjected to psychological torture. 

 

There was still much to endure at this point to make it to South Korea and ultimate freedom. For the sake of brevity, I will skip those details. 

 

A modern day Stoic travels difficult roads

 

How does this relate to the Stoic virtue of temperance? After arriving in South Korea, daily life continued to be a struggle. Although Korean is technically a common language between the North and the South, the two dialects are practically very different. She had no idea of concepts such as human rights or homosexuality, to name just a few. Even the word ‘suffering’ had little meaning to her. This is because these words do not exist in North Korean vernacular. Despite even these most basic challenges, Yeonmi chose to do difficult things. Most people in her situation would have settled for a basic job and a tiny apartment. Yet she decided to study. She had virtually no education, so she had to begin with basic grade school-level learning and eventually earned a high school equivalent in just one year. 

 

Yeonmi describes how even though she had gone through hell to escape starvation, she studied so hard during her years in South Korea that she would go without food to the point of becoming clinically malnourished. She bravely entered into the ultra-competitive Korean university system, where she studied criminal justice. She completed her degree among the top third of her class. This is a modern day example of Stoicism and the Stoic virtue of temperance because she resisted the easy path toward comfort (a basic job) and pursued something that was incredibly difficult and valuable.

Wisdom

 

Yeonmi displays the Stoic virtue of wisdom through her path to practicing compassion and empathy. This is no small feat for someone who at one time walked by a dying man without any second thought. Imagine having to learn even basic things like what a movie theater or laundromat is. Now think how challenging it would be to learn complex concepts like justice and empathy. She not only learned these concepts but she manages to tell her story today despite the real threat of lethal reprisal from the North Korean regime. She does this not to sell books but because she wants to inspire discussion and eventual change of what is arguably the worst human atrocity of the twenty-first century.

 

On one podcast appearance, she breaks into tears when describing how she eventually came to realize something profound about good and evil. When reflecting on how her gambling owner in China was able to acknowledge that he was doing something wrong by keeping her without the means to provide her with basic care, she discovered that there is no such thing as pure evil. Through this man, she realized that all humans are capable of drifting in and out of various degrees of good and evil depending on their circumstances. 

 

Justice

 

The Stoic virtue of justice is about bettering oneself not for the benefit of oneself but for the advancement of the community. It’s about making the world a better place. Yeonmi is now living in the United States where she regularly speaks and writes about the horrific conditions that millions of North Korean people endure each day. She courageously tells her story to get people to think about this black spot of humanity. It’s a courageous act not only because her story is rife with trauma and pain (which is an understatement), but also because there is a real threat that the North Korean regime could have her assassinated for the unwelcome attention she brings to their grotesque existence. 

 

She bravely draws attention to the fact that China bears most if not all of the responsibility when it comes to propping up and allowing the continued existence of this brutal and inhumane regime. This is an inspiring modern day example of Stoicism and the Stoic virtue of justice because she undergoes incredible suffering and effort to promote positive change in this world in what is perhaps the saddest and least hopeful tragedy of our time.

A painted portrait of Yeonmi park to represent an article on how she exemplifies Stoicism

A modern Stoic inspires

 

Yeonmi’s story resonates for me personally not only for its human and Stoic elements, but also because I lived in South Korea for nearly six years. I experienced first-hand how wonderfully bright, resilient, and self-sacrificing Korean people are. It is beyond tragic that just a few dozen kilometers from Seoul there are tens of millions of ‘other’ Koreans who are deprived of the most basic human rights. This is a serious loss of human potential and beauty for this world. 

 

I strongly encourage you to follow Yeonmi park on Twitter (@YeonmiParkNK) and retweet some of her content. I have not done her incredible story justice here, so please check out her book In Order To Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey To Freedom for her full story told in her own words. 

Why The Name ‘The Mindful Stoic’? Finding Balance

I’ve been asked a few times why I named this blog The Mindful Stoic. When I first started the blog, my answer to this question was not well formulated. Back then, I knew that mindfulness was a life-changing practice because practicing it had changed my life. I...

How To Speak Like A Stoic

If you’ve mastered the art of peaceful speech, then it is likely that you have a very firm grasp over your guiding principles. If you have mastered the art of the pause in speech, then it is likely that you have clear convictions and great self-confidence. Truthful,...

Calm Superpower: How To Act Calmly In Any Situation

It was a clear November day in Dallas. Tires screeched under the force of a heavy car turning too fast. The force of the turns and rapid acceleration was suffocating to Lyndon B. Johnson, who stared at the car floor just centimeters away from his face, with the full...

Ambitious Habit Energy & Finding Rest Anywhere

Thich Nhat Hanh, Zen Buddhist monk and renowned peace activist, writes about habit energy, describing it as the habitual chasing after the future in our thoughts—a blockage of our ability to be in the present moment. If you have ambitions, dreams or aspire to change...

Premeditatio Malorum: A Practice For Resilience

Our lives are controlled by external factors. When we fail to anticipate this, we suffer. The ancient Stoics were acutely aware of this. In fact, they developed an epithet for practitioners of Stoicism to keep at arm’s length to remember this crucially important...

How To Breathe With Intention To Reduce Stress

It sounds funny to talk about ‘discovering breathing’ since we have all done it from the moment of birth. But breathing is like dreaming. It yields its spiritual treasure only when we practice the unnatural discipline of bringing into consciousness what has normally remained unconscious. The beauty of experimenting with intentional breathing is that it requires no belief, no faith, no dogma, no authority…

How To Manage Expectations About Life

Are you where you want to be in life today? Does your bar for success and happiness continue to rise just a bit further out of reach with each passing year? We all love to ‘should on ourselves’. We all wrestle with expectations; whether it’s in comparison with distant...

Amor Fati Explained: Turning Life’s Trials Into Triumphs

The meaning of amor fati is nestled inside this short story: There was an old farmer who had a herd of horses. One day, the horses broke through the fence and the whole herd ran off into the wild.  On hearing the unfortunate news, the old farmer’s neighbor came over...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

Vipassana Meditation: Understanding Impermanence, Suffering, And No-Self

Vipassana meditation (pronounced Vip-ah-sha-nah), also known as Insight Meditation, is a traditional form of Buddhist meditation that focuses on developing mindfulness and self-awareness. By practicing Vipassana, meditators gain insight into three core teachings of...

The Way Of Chuang Tzu & Four Practices Of Taoism

The Way Of Chuang Tzu & Four Practices Of Taoism

Who was Chuang Tzu? He was a champion of the individual, he drew lines in the sand against established power structures, and he often used humor and colorful paradox to convey his teachings. He was an influential Chinese philosopher who lived around the 4th century BC. Chuang Tzu (or Zhuangzi) was a key contributor to what is known as a golden age of Chinese philosophy. He wrote (although scholars debate exactly which portions he wrote himself) a book known by his name, the Zhuangzi, which is one of a few fundamental texts of Taoism. Let’s explore the man, the way of Chuang Tzu, and a few fundamental practices of Taoism. 

 

Taoism, the philosophical school with which Chuang Tzu is most associated, was not a predominant one during his time. In fact, Taoism had not yet evolved into the balance of forces, the emphasis of flow, or the fidelity to one’s own nature as we know it today. The prevalent philosophical school of Chuang Tzu’s time was Confucianism, one that he openly criticized with humor and wit.

 

The way of Chuang Tzu: Embracing one’s own true nature

 

Chuang Tzu saw absolute power as a problem, and promoted the idea that individuals have the right to seek their own salvation. This emancipation of the individual and self-expression were central tenets of his school of thought. Chuang Tzu rejected the position that the human spirit is fundamentally evil, as was held by philosophers planted atop the power structure who believed that the only way to overcome our tainted essence was through brutal rule. 

 

Chuang Tzu’s primary objection to this idea is rooted in the fact that absolute rulers essentially attempt to tame or harness the true nature of all aspects of creation. He famously rejected positions of power when offered to him. He likened political positions to a sacrificial ox, decorated in lavish garments, but ultimately trapped inside the temple once the gates close behind him.

This post contains affiliate links, which help us keep the blog afloat. Click here for more information.

Stone statue of an Asian philosopher representing a blog post about the way of Chuang Tzu

The subtle, mystical and sophisticated thought of Chuang Tzu has left an indelible mark on Chinese culture and the Chinese character itself. There is little doubt that this type of thinking and culture that Chuang Tzu espoused had a transformative effect on Taoism and later Zen Buddhism in China, Korea and Japan. This influence was one that received a highly hypothetical and conservative Indian Buddhism and molded it to coexist with humor and criticism. Many scholars credit these qualities of Taoism for having influenced and evolved into Zen Buddhism

 

What did Chuang Tzu believe?

 

Peace of mind comes not from the absence of conflict but rather from the acceptance of it. There will always be hurdles along the path of life. Most of us are at war with reality. Problems will come our way. If there were no mountains to climb, then the world would only be an arid desert, void of all life. This does not mean that we should not work toward solving problems that come our way. Quite the opposite is true. 

 

We need the courage to change the things we can, but also acceptance of what we cannot change—and the wisdom to know the difference. And wisdom is key here. How do we acquire this wisdom? By getting to know ourselves and the world around us and paying close attention to our experiences. Chuang Tzu taught that ‘when the mind is still, the whole universe surrenders.’

Memento mori life tracker

The way of Chuang Tzu: Flow

 

Chuang Tzu is known for many things. His rejection of logic and his embrace of eclecticism and his sense of humor are among them. However, I’d like to touch on one idea that is closely associated with the man and with Taoism practices. The idea is encapsulated in the phrase ‘wu-wei’, which is usually translated as ‘actionless action’ or ‘non-doing’. Chuang Tzu provides us with a brief passage to describe this concept: 

 

“Heaven produces nothing,

Yet all life is transformed;

Earth does not support, 

Yet all life is sustained,

The Emperor and the king take actionless action, 

Yet the whole world is served.”

 

To peel away the oxymoronic layers of this concept, we can see underneath a prescription to take no action that is not in accord with nature. To peel away yet another layer, we see that it means action without struggling against the idea of action. Doing the dishes is not a difficult activity. Yet when we are tired from a long day of other tasks, the dishes may seem daunting. We may struggle against the idea of doing the dishes rather than flowing with the nature of the water, soap, and the gentle movement our bodies generate.

Smiling stone statue of a philosopher to represent an article about the life and the way of Chuang Tzu

An imperfect, contemporary label for ‘wu-wei’ is flow state. This is the condition that you have likely experienced one time or another. You get lost in your work and the output of your effort just seems to happen. Among athletes in particular this is also called ‘the zone’. It is characterized by a loss of awareness of time, not thinking about the activity as it is being performed, and a spontaneous creativity.

 

Four practices of Taoism

 

Like most ancient writing on Taoism, it is difficult to discern who developed these four practices of Taoism. Some attribute them to Lao Tzu. Some maintain that Lao Tzu was a fictional character. Either way, they are not dissimilar to the Four Stoic Virtues, in that they serve as moral signposts for living life in accordance with nature. Here are four principles of Taoism:

 

Kindness

 

Kindness in words creates confidence;

Kindness in thinking creates wisdom;

Kindness in giving creates love. 

 

Essentially, being gentle means giving up the need to be right; being kind is more important than being correct and asserting your own beliefs. When we are gentle, we stop trying to dominate others and instead live in harmony with others. Empty your boat!

 

Natural Serenity

 

When pure sincerity (authenticity) forms within, it is outwardly realized in other people’s hearts. Without being authentic, we can’t live in harmony. Being swayed by outside forces makes us lose sight of who we really are and who we want to be. By accepting the truth about ourselves and others, we not only find peace in this life but we can help others along their paths as well.

 

Reverence For All Life

 

Living in the moment brings you a sense of reverence for all of life’s blessings. Chuang Tzu believed that respecting all forms of life was essential for harmony: “All creation and creatures are equally important and they require equal respect.” Trying to dominate and control life only leads you away from harmony and balance. You can’t find peace in the midst of a struggle for control. A truly spiritual perspective tells us that love is freedom.

 

Supportiveness

 

Be supportive, but let go of the outcome, even when it comes to helping others. Just like the other practices of Taoism, supportiveness applies to everything and everyone, including ourselves. It allows us to come from a healthier place and be there for others who might need help along their own path.

 

This comes naturally to everyone, but society—the cold conditioning we’ve received as adults and our modern culture—teaches us something different. Sink or swim—everyone for themselves. But supporting others and ourselves brings about the highest happiness.

The way of Chuang Tzu in his own words

 

Mindfulness and the Eastern philosophy that has developed and propagated it are drawn upon fundamentally in the writing of The Mindful Stoic blog. I thought it would be entertaining to explore the life of an influential and colorful figure of Eastern thought. I hope I was able to provide a very brief presentation of Taoism and the characteristics thereof that evolved into current schools such as Zen Buddhism. When philosophical teachings on how to operate within the human condition are passed down and remain after millenia, I think they’re worth exploring and sharing. I’ll end by sharing some Chuang Tzu quotes. 

 

For more on Taosim and Chuang Tzu check out our article 13 Principles For Practicing Taoism or the books The Way Of Chuang Tzu by Thomas Merton, The Book Of Chuang Tzu by Martin Palmer and Elizabeth Breuilly, or the Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu.

 

If a man is crossing a river

And an empty boat collides with his own skiff,

Even though he be a bad-tempered man,

He will not be angry.

But, if he sees a man in the boat,

He will shout for him to stay clear.

If the shout is not heard, he will shout again 

And yet again, and begin cursing. 

And all because there is somebody in the boat.

Yet, if the boat is empty

He would not be shouting and not be angry.

 

If you can empty your own boat 

Crossing the river of the world,

No one will oppose you, 

No one will seek to harm you.

 

When the heart is right, ‘for’ and ‘against’ are forgotten.

 

Silence is a great source of strength.

To the mind that is still, 

the whole universe surrenders.

 

Nothing is softer or more flexible

than water yet, 

nothing can resist it.

 

Nature does not hurry,

yet everything is accomplished.

How To Care Less About What Others Think Of You

There’s nothing quite like the flames of adversity for forging new realizations about oneself. I’m writing this shortly after emerging from one of my job’s peak periods. It wasn’t my first of these short bursts of high intensity and pressure. It was a period of about...

Amor Fati Explained: Turning Life’s Trials Into Triumphs

The meaning of amor fati is nestled inside this short story: There was an old farmer who had a herd of horses. One day, the horses broke through the fence and the whole herd ran off into the wild.  On hearing the unfortunate news, the old farmer’s neighbor came over...

How To Manage Expectations About Life

Are you where you want to be in life today? Does your bar for success and happiness continue to rise just a bit further out of reach with each passing year? We all love to ‘should on ourselves’. We all wrestle with expectations; whether it’s in comparison with distant...

13 Principles For Practicing Taoism

What is Taoism? The confusing aspect for many is its definition. Many religions teach philosophy and dogma. But Taoism and Zen stand this tendency on its head. The first chapter of the Tao Te Ching simply states that that the Tao is indefinable—teaching that each...

Mindfulness And Distraction: The Gardener Removes The Weeds

The essence of mindfulness is to shine as much awareness onto each moment as possible, and to notice the stimuli in our immediate surroundings. This beholding of the present moment, cupped precariously in our hands like water from a spring, is the closest we’ll ever...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

Living Mindfully Requires Grit And Discipline

Living mindfully is not always easy. We spend a third of our lives sleeping and most of us spend another third working. This already puts us at a deficit of time and energy remaining for living life. There’s little we can do about the lack of time. We need to work and...

8 Ways To Be Humble And Confident

“It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.” This quote comes to us from the legendary Muhammad Ali. It’s not hard to find other quotes of his just like this—oozing with in-your-face, unapologetic confidence and swagger. This conspicuous confidence serves...

Deepen Your Mindfulness Meditation Practice

Mindfulness is always now. It may sound trite, but it’s true. The reality of your life is always now and to realize this, and experience it, can be liberating. But, we spend most of our lives forgetting this truth—running from it, repudiating it. We somehow manage to...

How To Switch Off After Work

Many of us are forced to process immense amounts of information everyday at work. Even more of us still are working at jobs that don’t align with our core values. In other words, very few people have the luxury of doing something they truly love. With all the stress,...

Spread the word and share the love 🙏

If you enjoyed this article, consider sharing it with your friends and followers on social media. Your support means the world to us. 💖 Click on the social share icons below and let others discover the insights, tips, and inspiration you found here. Together, we can create a community of like-minded individuals who practice mindfulness and Stoicism.

👉 Remember, a simple click can make a big difference!

The Story Of The Buddha & The Human Condition

The Story Of The Buddha & The Human Condition

According to most accounts, the Buddha started out in life as a wealthy prince named Siddhartha. His father, the king, indulged him in every luxury imaginable while keeping all signs of human suffering outside the palace walls hidden away from him. But one day, Siddhartha slipped past the palace guards and ventured out into the real world where, to his dismay, he observed abject poverty, a sick man, and a dead man. He had no idea that humans got sick and died! It was a shock to him; so much so, that he silently slipped away into the night, leaving all his wealth and his luxurious lifestyle, his wife and child behind him, in search for answers to the human condition.

 

How much is myth and how much is truth we shall never know, but his teachings were recorded, at first orally, and then written down and expanded on over the millennia. He did seem to find fundamental answers to the questions of how to transcend the inherent suffering of being human, or what is often referred to as ‘the human condition’.

 

Suffering and the human condition

 

On his quest to find a solution to the problem of suffering inherent in the human condition, the Buddha first encountered a guru in the forest. This guru underwent deep meditation in order to block out his bodily senses and mental formations and find a great stillness within; supposedly merging his inner being or soul with the soul of the universe. In essence, the practice was to cease bodily and mental states in order to acquire an inner calm.

 

The Buddha was very good at it; so good, in fact, that his guru offered him his own position as leader of a group of like-minded souls in search of truth and inner peace. However, the Buddha became dissatisfied with this approach. He found that when he came out of his meditative state, the problems of being human and the inevitability of suffering still remained. So, he abandoned this path and moved on in his quest.

 

Austerities

 

Next, he joined a group of five ascetics or renouncers. They believed in punishing the body to burn off bad elements of their souls, using extreme measures for the purpose of expanding the soul to the size of the universe, and thus attaining enlightenment, which at the time meant freeing themselves from the endless cycle of samsara; the endless cycle of re-birth and death. The Buddha engaged in this practice for six years. He sat in the blazing heat of the sun for hours on end, walked around naked, and he ate only one grain of rice a day. It is said that he could feel his backbone through his stomach.

The human condition and Buddha nature

Finally, the Buddha found that the physical pain was actually clouding his mind, instead of bringing him clarity, or any form of release from suffering. In fact, he concluded that the austerities weren’t providing him with a solution to suffering; rather they were making him suffer even more. So he abandoned the path of self-denial by eating a bowl of rice porridge, disappointing and angering his five fellow renouncers. Six years of penance had all come to nothing.

 

Radical moderation

 

What he attempted next was something new. A middle way between self-indulgence and the rigours of self-mortification. Moderation would be his radical new approach from now on. The Buddha’s change of tact would bring a greater clarity to his examination of the human condition. The Buddha came to believe that our minds determine what kind of experiences we have. Throughout history, many others have acknowledged this fundamental truth (especially the Stoics).

 

Using his meditation skills, he examined the internal workings of his own mind. And what the Buddha discovered contradicted the assumptions people held about the permanence of the ‘soul’, or of the self. He realized that the external world, as we experience it, was constantly changing and that we were constantly changing too! Our material form (body), our feelings, our perceptions, our mental formations, and our consciousness were all in perpetual flux. In Buddhism, this is called impermanence. Therefore, all efforts to identify a permanent self were futile, because a permanent or independent ‘self’ did not exist. Furthermore, identification with the self as a completely isolated entity caused suffering. This is why the Buddha said, ‘Nothing is to be clung to as ‘I, me, or mine.’

 

The Buddha had this realisation and came to believe that the idea of a permanent self was not the solution to the problem of the human condition but instead, was the root of human suffering, because it made us selfish and self-absorbed.

 

The delusion of an independent self

 

The idea of a permanent self created insatiable cravings that enslaved us to transient, earthly concerns and kept us trapped in samsara. To rid oneself of this deep-seated delusion of independent self was the way to liberation. That realisation would allow one the freedom to not be caught in the ‘I, me, or mine’ which is really the fundamental cause of suffering. The Buddha came to believe that there is a way or path to overcoming suffering. His teaching would be based on rediscovering our true nature, which is referred to as ‘non-self nature’.

 

Memento mori life tracker

If we could extinguish the delusion of self, we could see things as they truly are and our suffering would end. We have, then, the capacity to take control over our own lives. He realised that there is a plasticity to our minds and character and that living in the world with the right attitude is fundamentally empowering. He was saying, ‘know yourself and the world is yours’, like the other great thinkers of his time: Socrates, Lao Tzu, and Confucius. It is cognitive psychology twenty-five centuries before the term was invented.

 

A scientific take on the human condition

 

Carl Sagan writes, “Our brain compares, synthesises, analyzes, and generates abstractions. We must figure out much more than our genes can know. That is why the brain library is some ten thousand times larger than the gene library. Our passion for learning, evident in the behaviour of every toddler, is the tool for our survival. Emotions and ritualised behaviour are built deeply into us. They are part of our humanity. But they are not characteristically human. Many other animals have feelings. What distinguishes our species is thought. The cerebral cortex is a liberation. We need no longer be trapped in the genetically inherited behaviour patterns of lizards and baboons. We are, each of us, largely responsible for what gets put into our brains, for what, as adults, we wind up caring for and knowing about. No longer at the mercy of the reptile brain, we can change ourselves.”

 

It is important to clarify the notion of non-self nature. It is not denying that you exist but rather denying that you are an intrinsically independent entity. You cannot just ‘be’ by yourself; rather you have to ‘inter-be’, a word coined by Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. The nature of our world, our universe, our reality, is that nothing can exist without every other thing existing.

 

The first part of Buddhist meditation is asking ourselves the basic question: ‘Who am I?’ This practice is meant to help us see beyond the ‘illusion’ or ‘delusion’ of a separate and permanent self. Are we totally separate from the natural world and all other beings? Is our self, as we perceive it, fixed and permanent, or are we always changing? The Buddha found answers to all these questions.

 

The Four Noble Truths

 

At the moment of his awakening at the foot of the Bodhi tree, the Buddha declared, ‘How strange—all beings possess the capacity to be awakened, to understand, to love, to be free—yet they allow themselves to be carried away on the ocean of suffering.’ He saw that night and day we are seeking what is already there in each of us. In Buddhism, it is referred to as Buddha nature or awakened nature. After his awakening under the Bodhi tree, the Buddha sought out his five former renouncers. At first, they rejected him with scorn, but soon they could see that a fundamental change had occurred in him. What he revealed to them was revolutionary.

 

The human condition and Buddha

He had simplified the solution to the problems of the human condition into what he called the Four Noble Truths:

 

The First Noble Truth simply stated that human suffering was inevitable. ‘There is suffering’. To be human is to suffer. We all experience it.

 

The Second Noble Truth identified the causes of suffering: craving, delusion and ignorance.

 

The Third Noble Truth was the critical step. The Buddha taught that since there was an identifiable cause for suffering, then there had to be an identifiable method for ending human suffering. 

 

The Eightfold Path

 

The Fourth Noble Truth was the path to the end of suffering, what the Buddha called the Eightfold Path: The Fourth Noble Truth was a systematic approach to the end of human suffering, which is often referred to as dukka, meaning the dispelling of ignorance and the liberation of the mind. Mindfulness is the one element of the path unifying and informing all the others. The eight practices are:

 

Wise thought | wise view | wise speech | wise action | wise effort | wise livelihood | wise concentration | wise mindfulness

 

Mindfulness is the unifier

 

Each of these practices contains all the others. They are different aspects of a unified whole. Thich Nhat Hanh writes, ‘When Right Mindfulness is present, the Four Noble Truths and the Seven other elements of the Eightfold Path are also present.’ By living in the present moment and actually ‘living’ our lives rather than constantly ‘judging’ our lives, judging all of our experiences as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ (grasping and aversion); by living in the present moment in real time rather than living in the past and/or the future, we can alleviate much of our own suffering as well as the suffering of others. The Buddha emphasized compassion as well as integrity and wisdom.

 

The Buddha and his followers mapped out an actual practice in order to overcome human suffering. This is often called Mindfulness. There are many self-help gurus today, who tell us that we need to live in the present moment and that our attitude is important in cultivating better lives. However, they do not actually lay out a practical method for achieving these goals. The Buddha did. Anyone who has seriously tried meditative practices, like sitting meditation, walking meditation, and trying to live mindfully, knows how extremely frustrating it can be. But, I will tell you from my own experience, that although difficult, it is well worth the effort.

 

Cultivating the seeds of our Buddha nature

 

The Buddha also believed that beauty and goodness are always there within each of us (often referred to as Buddha nature or basic goodness). This is the basic teachings of the Buddha. A true spiritual teacher is one who encourages us to look deeply in ourselves for the beauty and the love that we are seeking. The true teacher is someone who helps you to discover the teacher in yourself. According to the Buddha, the birth of a human being is not a beginning but a continuation, and when we’re born, all the different kinds of seeds—seeds of goodness, of cruelty, of awakening—are already in us.

We do not have to believe in reincarnation or previous lives in order to understand this. Even if we only believe in science, of our own genetic codes, we can see that we have inherited many seeds. Whether the goodness or cruelty in us is revealed depends on what seeds we cultivate, our actions, and our way of life. Buddhist mindfulness practices and its emphasis on compassion, integrity, and wisdom can help us cultivate seeds that not only alleviates our own suffering, caused by delusion and ignorance, but also the suffering of others.

 

The map of the human condition

 

The Buddha had no instruments other than his own mind to work with and chose to look deeply into the nature of birth and death and the inevitability of human suffering. He learned through extreme effort to stabilize his own mind in order to look deeply into the universe and the vast array of interconnected phenomena within it. The Buddha and his followers explored the nature of mind and the nature of life. Their efforts led to remarkable discoveries. The Buddhists successfully mapped out a guide or map which is quintessentially human; aspects of the mind that we all have in common as humans, regardless of our beliefs or cultural backgrounds.

 

These discoveries can be explored by anyone, anytime, anywhere and we can learn for ourselves what is to be found. Therefore, we all have the ability to become our own teachers, which is exactly what the Buddha suggested and taught from the beginning.

 

The Three Stoic Disciplines: Desire, Action, and Assent

Stoicism is a guiding framework in my life, but so is business. I can think of no better school of thought than business when it comes to manifesting ideas into reality—big, complex ideas. Schools of business and businesses in practice are fountains of knowledge when...

Introduction To Stoicism And Mindfulness

If you're new to mindfulness or Stoicism, we hope you'll find these articles written as introductory resources useful. We aim to answer questions like "What is mindfulness?" and "How can I begin practicing Stoicism?" We hope something here will set you off on your...

Improve Your Focus With Mindfulness- And Science-Based Protocols

I’ve said this before, but I feel it’s important to lead with it here: mindfulness is not a means to an end. Mindfulness is a means to a means—a way of waking up to life. Without mindfulness, so much of life escapes us. Without mindfulness, we’re governed by impulses...

What Is Modern Stoicism? An Introduction & Essential Practices

In the eyes of some, the people I’m about to introduce don’t belong in a discussion about modern Stoicism. None of them are self-proclaimed Stoics. But they do display extreme commitment to the four Stoic virtues: courage, temperance, wisdom, and justice.   ...

Where Buddhism And Modern Psychology Converge On Mental Wellness

When the average non-Buddhist westerner thinks of Buddhism, they often think of meditation, kindness, and monks with shaved heads in orange robes. But what lies beneath these surface-level artifacts is profound understanding. Few wisdom traditions have delivered as...

How To Speak Like A Stoic

If you’ve mastered the art of peaceful speech, then it is likely that you have a very firm grasp over your guiding principles. If you have mastered the art of the pause in speech, then it is likely that you have clear convictions and great self-confidence. Truthful,...

Karma In Buddhism: Sowing The Seeds Of Love

In modern times, we use the word karma in many ways. ‘Ain’t karma a bitch’—meaning what ‘Goes around, comes around.’ It can also refer to the Golden Rule from the Hebrew and Christian Bible: ‘Do unto others what as you would have them do unto you.’ But, in the context...

What The Death Of Marcus Aurelius Teaches Us About Life

Marcus Aurelius died in a cold, dark place, but his last words shined bright with a message of hope: “Go to the rising sun, for I am already setting.” He delivered these words not to a beloved, but to a guard of the night’s watch in his military camp near the...

Zen Meditation: How To Stop And Reflect For Wisdom 

  What if there was a way you could train your wisdom and insight? No tools or equipment required. No books to read. No classes to attend. All you’d need is a few minutes each day. Such a means of building a wider perspective and developing clear insight exists....

Memento Vivere: How To Live With Agency, Gratitude & Engagement

Antipater is a lesser-known Stoic, yet he was head of the school during a period that saw Stoicism extend to public life. Stoic philosophers were sent on diplomatic missions. Some advised kings. But Antipater’s contributions brought Stoicism closer to home. He was...