马可·奥勒留(马可·奥勒留)从未打算为后代出版他的冥想;相反，他是本着做一个更好的人的精神来写这些文章的。如果我要从他的例子中吸取任何一个在我的生活中建立韧性的想法，那就是把我的哲学写下来，思考它，并留意我写它的精神，以指导我的日常选择。

Somehow MA avoided the edict that absolute power corrupts absolutely. This is a lesson less easily translated as few people today have absolute power – though there are examples. For most philosophers, however, this has the corollary that MA could focus his thought on his duties as emperor and leader to his community. This is a practical takeaway for the best relationship of individual well-being and the larger community's interest, stay within your role.

但我们如何确定自己的角色呢?什么时候改变最好，什么时候坚持到底?这个问题，就像韧性一样，是马云在他的冥想中回答的一个问题。

我期待着拉查纳对这些问题的见解，以及世界上第一本禁欲自助手册中更多的现代启示。莱因霍尔德·尼布尔的《宁静的祈祷》总结了许多斯多葛学派的思想，这些思想一直流传到我们现在的思想中。

"Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."- Reinhold Neibuhr.

The tricky part is, not being a Roman emperor, what exactly is possible when changing. Though it would be cool to be emperor of all things (Czar?), our modern standard of living far exceeds that of any Roman emperor. Much of that standard is derivative of technology and privilege that can't be controlled or undone without more courage and hardship than I have been willing to bear so far in my life. Marcus Aurelius never had to face that dilemma. So I can't take his exact path as an example for my own. However, this much I can handle; to live below my means for personal satisfaction, meditate upon my life, and make the most of my opportunities to make those thoughts a reality.

Presumably, Ms. Kamtekar knows something of Marcus, in so far as she has written of Plato. And is occupied with philosophy. I suppose many of us are stoics at heart. We pretty much have to be so, in order to weather these tumultuous times. As a pragmatist (at heart), my stance follows the old AA credo. You may know it: changing what one can;leaving the rest alone and knowing the difference. As a practical matter, this old duck's back has been wet before, and, sooner or later, any additional water runs off. Stoicism is really akin to other disciplines, many older, and most aimed at knowing inner peace; keeping one's blood pressure manageable and avoiding avoidable violence. (PT has, admirably, addressed non-violence among many topics.)

Stoicism is not very fashionable in our fast-paced, extreme-laden world. We just can't make time for it
但是，对我们中的一些人来说，它仍然是值得反思的东西。或者，一面褪色的镜子……

参见史密斯在上面的评论re: the serenity prayer. I missed it on first reading. Sorry, Tim.

I like #28a. "Neither play king nor prostitute."

我怀疑马可·奥勒留很难积极参与到我们现在的文化中来。我想他可能会选择成为一个流浪者。我几乎可以想象他背着双肩包，里面塞着一两本好书(加缪?艾伦·瓦?威廉·布莱克?)，然后乘火车。我们只希望公牛队抓住他的时候不要粗暴对待他……他们可能真的很刻薄，而且当宙斯神父穿着流浪汉的衣服来到我们面前时，大多数人都认不出他来……

Did Marcus Aurelius actually live his life in any way at all according to Stoic principles? I mean, he engaged in brutal wars trying to maintain or expand the Roman Empire as far as possible, right? He inflicted enormous misery on many people including slaves. And as a dictator, he probably was constantly annoyed and infuriated by his own bureaucrats, the masses, everyone else. He might have been a wannabe Stoic but was probably a miserable Stoic in his actual behavior.
Greg Slater
ps - does any at philtalk actually read these comments?

...And this leads me to the question: can anyone who actually strives to accomplish anything at all in the real world actually live like a Stoic? I mean, fine for some contemplative philosopher to talk about it, because he's not interacting with the world, has no ambition, accomplishes nothing. But a human actually trying to accomplish something in the real world, interacting with others who he cannot control except by force, I don't think can ever live by Stoic principles. He (or she, they, whatever) can only 'aspire to Stocism', but never in any real way live by it. Meanwhile, they live the horrific, stressful, frustrating, infuriating, angst-ridden world like the rest of us....(by the way, that's called the 'Human Condition' - you can't escape from the Human Condition, no matter how much you try. Sorry.) Show me a true (practicing) Stoic, and I'll show you someone who never accomplished a goddamn thing...
Greg Slater

Couple questions for the philosophers:

1.按照斯多葛主义的原则行事真的能让你减少压力吗?或者更多(因为它似乎会排除任何形式的野心?
2. Name one actually 'practicing' Stoic in the history of the World (who actually thought and acted according to the Stoic principles and mindset)?

3. (most important) - are you guys gonna ever take calls again? If so, when? If not, why not? (by the way, a good Stoic would allow live phone calls from listeners)

Thanks,
Greg Slater

Stoic Paradox - Could Hitler have been a Stoic?
因为这完全取决于你如何定义“好”，等等，这是我们每个人可以决定的。

如果不是因为疼痛，我可以接受被狮子吃掉……

Please compare and contrast Stoicism and Zen Buddhism. Thanks.
Is a Stoic like Zen Buddhist who actually wants to accomplish something in the world?
Thanks,
Greg Slater

How about this for a synopsis: "Only rich people or philosophers can afford to be Stoics. The rest of us have to suffer the horrible stress of the rat race and the human condition, the 'being eaten by the lion' on a daily basis.

This reminds me of the old joke:

一个禁欲主义者，一个禅宗佛教徒，一个守誓者的成员，还有一头狮子走进酒吧。一场激烈的枪战接踵而至……"

...but I can't remember the rest of it. Could you remind me how the rest of it goes?
Thanks,
Greg Slater

Just for grins:
...the lion, being unarmed and pacifist, waited until the smoke cleared and had lunch.