Stoicism and Buddhism: A Comparative Analysis
Attraction to those close to you catches you in its currents; Aversion to those who oppose you burns inside; Indifference that ignores what needs to be done is a black hole. Leave your homeland — this is the practice of a Bodhisattva.
Cato hated excess. He hated finery. He hated luxury. He thought to indulge such things was weakness and stupidity. And so what did Cato think of his brother who was far less strict about these things? He loved him. In fact, he worshiped him.
It’s important to remember: The Stoic has strict standards. We have strong opinions on what’s right and what isn’t. But…and this is a big but…we have to be understanding and forgiving of those who have been, as Marcus Aurelius writes, cut off from truth.
Stoicism and Buddhism are two ancient philosophical nd spiritual traditions that have captivated the minds of countless individuals over centuries. While they have distinct cultural origins and historical backgrounds, a closer examination reveals intriguing similarities and differences in their core principles and approaches to life. In this essay, we will explore these two philosophies and shed light on their fundamental ideas, ultimately highlighting the common ground and disparities that define them.
**Stoicism:**
Stoicism, originating in ancient Greece, is a philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium around 300 BCE. It places a significant emphasis on rationality and virtue as the means to attain a tranquil and content life. Several fundamental tenets characterize Stoicism:
1. **Virtue as the Highest Good:** Stoics believe that the highest good is living in accordance with virtue. The four cardinal virtues of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance are essential in guiding human actions.
2. **Acceptance of What Is Beyond Control:** A core Stoic teaching is the acceptance of things that are beyond one's control. Stoics argue that inner peace is achieved by recognizing and accepting that external events are beyond one's power, while one can control their own thoughts and actions.
3. **Emotional Resilience:** Stoics advocate for emotional resilience through reason and self-discipline. They view destructive emotions, such as anger and fear, as hindrances to a tranquil life and emphasize the importance of maintaining emotional equilibrium.
4. **Detachment from Material Possessions:** Stoicism encourages individuals to detach themselves from material possessions and not be attached to external outcomes or circumstances.
5. **Compassion and Justice:** While Stoics maintain strict standards and opinions about what is right, they also promote the development of a rational and compassionate attitude towards others, placing a strong emphasis on justice and fairness.
**Buddhism:**
Buddhism, founded by Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, in ancient India, is both a spiritual and moral philosophy that aims to address the problem of suffering and guide individuals toward enlightenment and liberation from suffering. Buddhism's key principles include:
1. **The Four Noble Truths:** Central to Buddhism is the recognition of suffering as an inherent aspect of human existence. The Four Noble Truths acknowledge the existence of suffering, identify its cause as attachment and desire, propose the possibility of cessation, and outline the Eightfold Path as the means to achieve liberation from suffering.
2. **Detachment from Desires:** Buddhism places a strong emphasis on detachment from desires and attachments as the primary source of suffering. By letting go of attachment to material possessions and craving, individuals can attain a state of equanimity.
3. **Mindfulness and Meditation:** Buddhism teaches the practice of mindfulness and meditation as essential tools for gaining insight into one's own mind and emotions. These practices help individuals transcend attachment to emotions and desires.
4. **Compassion and Loving-Kindness:** Buddhism promotes compassion (karuna) and loving-kindness (metta) as crucial virtues, encouraging the alleviation of suffering not only in oneself but also in all sentient beings.
5. **Karma and Rebirth:** Buddhism emphasizes the concept of karma, which suggests that one's actions have consequences. While Stoicism focuses on the present moment, Buddhism is concerned with the accumulation of good or bad karma, leading to different states of existence in the cycle of birth and death (samsara).
**Comparative Analysis:**
Both Stoicism and Buddhism share some fundamental principles despite their differing cultural origins. Notable points of comparison include:
1. **Emotional Control:** Both philosophies advocate for control over one's emotions. Stoics aim for emotional resilience through reason and self-discipline, while Buddhism teaches mindfulness and meditation to gain insight into and transcend emotions.
2. **Detachment:** Both philosophies emphasize detachment, whether from material possessions (Stoicism) or desires and attachments (Buddhism) as a means to find inner peace.
3. **Compassion:** While Stoics emphasize rational and compassionate attitudes toward others, Buddhism places significant importance on compassion and loving-kindness as virtues to alleviate suffering.
4. **Acceptance:** Stoicism teaches the acceptance of things beyond one's control, whereas Buddhism extends this idea to include the acceptance of the impermanence of all things.
However, they also differ in key ways:
1. **Virtue vs. Enlightenment:** Stoicism centers on the pursuit of virtue and living in accordance with it, while Buddhism is primarily concerned with attaining enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of suffering.
2. **Karma and Rebirth:** Buddhism incorporates the concepts of karma and rebirth, which Stoicism does not address.
3. **The Role of Desire:** Stoicism acknowledges the importance of controlling desires, while Buddhism posits that desires are the root cause of suffering.
**Conclusion:**
In conclusion, Stoicism and Buddhism are two profound philosophical and spiritual traditions that offer valuable insights into human existence, the pursuit of inner peace, and the cultivation of virtues. While they have distinct philosophical and cultural backgrounds, their shared emphasis on emotional control, detachment, and compassion reveals common threads in their teachings. By understanding and appreciating the principles of both Stoicism and Buddhism, individuals can draw upon a broader range of wisdom to navigate the complexities of life, seeking personal growth, self-awareness, and a path toward a more fulfilling and meaningful existence. These philosophies continue to inspire and guide individuals in their quest for a balanced and harmonious life.
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Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Black Sails, 18th Century CE RPF
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Eleanor Guthrie/Woodes Rogers, Eleanor Guthrie/Max (mentioned), Eleanor Guthrie & Richard Guthrie, Sarah Whetstone Rogers/Woodes Rogers, Eleanor Guthrie/Charles Vane (mentioned)
Characters: Woodes Rogers, Eleanor Guthrie, Samuel Buck, William Dampier, Thomas Dover, Stephen Courthney, Joseph Guthrie (mentioned), Thomas Rogers (mentioned), Sarah Whetstone Rogers
Additional Tags: WTF Kombat 2023, Don't copy to another site, Drama, Romance, Historical Inaccuracy, Nightmares, Canon-Typical Violence (mentioned), Dead People, Flashbacks, Blood and Gore
Summary:
Дурное дело видеть смысл в чьей-то смерти, но раз уж так случилось, думает Вудс, нельзя допустить, чтобы все было зазря.
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hii! im trying to get over my phobia of bugs, so i decided i would try and see the good side of them :]
if its okay, could you share with me some of your favourite facts about bugs, and/or some cool images of bugs? no pressure, though! ^_^
oh, i'm so happy and proud of you anon! as a very avid bug lover, i always love hearing people try to be more open to them, even just slightly!!
a few fun facts:
a single dung beetle can move about 1141 times it's own weight! it's like if a human pulled SIX double decker buses, all on their own!
male stoneflies are like, the gym guy of the bug world - sometimes they'll do pushups as a way to impress a potential mate!
male giraffe weevils use their looong necks to fight eachother, much like actual giraffes!
some tarantulas have been found to essentially keep frogs as pets! the spider will offer safety and protection to frogs while a frog will eat any insects that may try and attack the spiders eggs!! (this habit has also been seen in some other spider species too!)
and here's some photos!!
rosy maple moth (dryocampa rubicunda), also known as the great silk moth! this species is a small north american moth. it's recently surged in popularity due to it's adorable colours and tiny size, even having plushies made after it!
sources: image one, image two
humming bird hawk moth (macroglossum stellatarum) is named for it's resemblance to the humming bird as they feed on the nectar of tube shaped flowers using their long proboscis while staying in the air. this species is found across temperate areas of eurasia such as portugal, japan and spain!
sources: image one, image two
cecropia moth (hyalophora cecropia), aka a giant silk moth is the largest native moth found in north america! their wing can even span up to five-seven inches (13-18 centimeters) wide!
source: image one, image two
the peacock spider (maratus volans) is a jumping spider native to australia (my country!!) with only one species residing in china! much like the bird they're named after, peacock spiders will display their bright feathers as a mating technique, paired with a dance! it is widely believed that females will kill a male if they find their dance unsatisfactory but this is fortunately, for the men, untrue! she will instead ignore him or move her abdomen side to side to display her disinterest. the maratus sarahae (first image) is one of the largest species! image two is a maratus azureus!
source: image one, image two
sabertooth longhorn beetle (macrodontia cervicornis) are some of the largest beetles in the world! it spends most of it's life in a larval stage which can last up to 10 years!! after which it will only live a few more months in which it will reproduce. sabertooth larvae are planted under the bark of dead or dying softwood trees as they will burrowing inside it!
source: image one, image two
i hope this was enjoyable!! i had a lot of fun doing this hehe
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"(...) As armas nucleares que hoje proliferam pelo mundo e que tanto nos aterrorizam são apenas um fraco reflexo externo dos instrumentos internos de destruição que trazemos no coração. Se fôssemos sábios deveríamos nos aterrorizar como as bombas nucleares internas de ilusões estocados em nós mesmos. Precisamos nos perguntar honestamente: o que motivou a sociedade moderna a criar armas nucleares capazes de destruir todos os seres vivos do planeta ? Quem ou o quê realmente tememos? Quem é o nosso verdadeiro inimigo? Temos que descobrir como desarmar os instrumentos mortais suicidas da raiva, inveja, orgulho, ganância, instabilidade mental, desejo e ignorância em nosso coração. Primeiro precisamos reconhecer que possuímos um precioso corpo humano, um veículo que nos permite fazer o que quisermos nesta vida. Possuir um corpo humano como o nosso é, nos níveis externo, interno e secreto, uma oportunidade fantástica, que não deve ser desperdiçada. Se soubermos usá-la de uma forma positiva poderíamos praticar a Autocura Tântrica Ngalso momento após momento, e chegar à autocura completa - o estado de Buda - no curto período de uma vida. No entanto, se usarmos este corpo de uma forma negativa, trilhando o caminho da escuridão interna, cada momento poderá contribuir para nosso suicídio pessoal e planetário. Podemos escolher NGAL - ir da escuridão para a escuridão e da luz para a escuridão - ou SO - da escuridão para a luz o da luz para a luz. A decisão é nossa. Ao compreendermos a preciosidade de nosso veículo físico, deixaremos espontaneamente de tratá-lo como uma máquina e desenvolveremos um Genuíno interesse por cuidar dele e começar a aprender a usá-lo de uma forma positiva. Como disse, no século X, o mahasiddha budista indiano Saraha:
"Neste corpo estão os rios sagrados, o sol, a lua e os lugares de peregrinação. Nunca encontrei outro templo tão pleno de bem-aventurança quanto meu próprio corpo. "
(Lama Gangchen Rinpoche)
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