Avoiding the normal, everyday stresses of life, with the hopes of discovering inner-peace and happiness, is fruitless and, in truth, harmful to that inner-peace.
That’s like saying one is an accomplished martial artist… but they’ve only watched videos, hopped about their living room, never trained in a dojo/dojang/kwoon, or never been in an actual fight.
Essentially, one who was doing that would be deluding themselves, which is out of touch with reality, not a Stoic practice…
… and naught but a balm for one’s ego.
So, when we look through our mind’s eye, seeking images of serenity, and what arises in our inner-vision are Buddhist monks, tranquil mountainside temples, and remote retreat centers… we’re looking in the WRONG place for lasting, adamantine peace.
Look to the roadside. Traffic jams. Crying children. Never-ending piles of laundry. Look to moments washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. Look to the quotidian…
… because it is in these stressful (or just everyday) situations where inner-peace is needed most.
In my younger days, a friend of mine and I owned a dojang and we taught Hapkido/HanMuDo. I used to tell my students, “Train for the fight you’re going to be in, or at least the one you THINK you’ll be in.”
No matter where we flee to and conceal ourselves, challenges WILL find us. No matter what we’re faced with, it’s our judgements of situations that create irritation or peace.
So, practice with diligence.
Judge with wisdom.
Act with virtue.
Repeat.
(See y’all tomorrow)
That’s like saying one is an accomplished martial artist… but they’ve only watched videos, hopped about their living room, never trained in a dojo/dojang/kwoon, or never been in an actual fight.
Essentially, one who was doing that would be deluding themselves, which is out of touch with reality, not a Stoic practice…
… and naught but a balm for one’s ego.
So, when we look through our mind’s eye, seeking images of serenity, and what arises in our inner-vision are Buddhist monks, tranquil mountainside temples, and remote retreat centers… we’re looking in the WRONG place for lasting, adamantine peace.
Look to the roadside. Traffic jams. Crying children. Never-ending piles of laundry. Look to moments washing dishes, or mowing the lawn. Look to the quotidian…
… because it is in these stressful (or just everyday) situations where inner-peace is needed most.
In my younger days, a friend of mine and I owned a dojang and we taught Hapkido/HanMuDo. I used to tell my students, “Train for the fight you’re going to be in, or at least the one you THINK you’ll be in.”
No matter where we flee to and conceal ourselves, challenges WILL find us. No matter what we’re faced with, it’s our judgements of situations that create irritation or peace.
So, practice with diligence.
Judge with wisdom.
Act with virtue.
Repeat.
(See y’all tomorrow)
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