What I’ve been reading:
"On Anger" by Seneca
Besides Seneca’s most widely read work, "Letters to Lucilius," his other writings that survived have been collected under the title "Dialogues."
On Anger is one of the essays found in Dialogues.
Anyone who has read Seneca or any work of Stoic philosophy will have an idea of what Seneca had to say about anger.
Anger is not an emotion that should be controlled, he says. It should, since it is fundamentally wicked, be destroyed.
If we are really able to completely eradicate anger from our hearts and minds, that’s another question. However, since Seneca was the most realistic of the great Stoics in that he recognized how far even the best people are from a Stoic ideal, I think he would appreciate our effort to be less angry, even if we don’t manage to completely destroy this emotion.
What I’ve been listening to:
"Real Zen for Real Life" by Bret W. Davis, PhD
Most conservative people in the west, especially older generations, associate the word "Zen" with the 1960s and 1970s hippie movement, young people who don’t want to work, and drugs.
Those who are more in tune with the times but equally close-minded associate Zen with upper-class folks who do yoga, eat $20 smoothie bowls, and use the words "spiritual" and "spirituality" way too often.
However, in East Asia, Zen is associated with discipline and conservatism.
I am saying this to point out that, if you grew up in the west, it’s only natural to not have a clear idea of what Zen is unless you actually start studying it.
"Real Zen for Real Life" is a course taught by a philosophy professor, Bret W. Davis. It is produced by The Great Courses and available on their platform, as well as on Audible.
Besides being a philosophy professor, Davis is also a Zen teacher and practitioner, having spent 13 years living in Japan and studying Zen.
I am still in the early stages of this course, but it was clear from the very first lesson that professor Davis is a great lecturer. As I’ve already expected, it is valuable to have someone who is fluent in both Western philosophy and the teachings of Zen because he is able to make connections between the two seemingly different worlds as well as point out some major differences.
So far, I would highly recommend this course.
What I’ve been thinking about:
I’ve heard more fascinating and inspiring life stories in the comment section and DMs of my instagram page and by having heart-to-heart conversations in real life than I did in any book I’ve read or interview or podcast I’ve listened to.
What we call ordinary people are not ordinary at all. When given a chance to say what’s on their mind and heart, all people have something interesting to share.
And, lately, I find myself being more and more inspired by the stories of those not so ordinary people.
So if my opinion is worth something, I would urge you to look around you and pay attention. Maybe some of your closest ones still haven’t had the chance or courage to share their whole life story with you. Or maybe you meet someone who would prove much more interesting than they look if given the opportunity to share who they truly are.
Give "ordinary" people a chance to show how extraordinary they are. Because you deserve the same, and it has to start somewhere.
Thank you for reading.
Stay strong, love life, and never feel sorry for yourself.
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People are rarely ordinary! 🙌🏼👏🏼