210815 What I learned in my studies this morning

Morning reflection 

Builds lifetime advantages. 

Consistency thrives. 

Daily Stoic:

Seneca is kindly offering a defined goal here. 

But how do I know what good judgment is? How can I know if I'm making the right choice? Are my actions worthy through intent or consequence? 

The Stoics reply that results are more important. 

Should I be on the side of the angels, yet act in such a way as to cause harm to others, to society, or to my virtue, my goal has nothing to do with it.  If I cause harm, I am mistaken.  Though I mean well, if I cause harm, I must accept the consequences and make it right. Discernment and foresight are crucial for me to work on. 

And consistency.  Good people practice good judgment as an inviolate rule; I cannot be virtuous in pieces. 

Meditation:

Seneca, On a Happy Life (De Vita Beata), opening lines

Daily Shakespeare:

Macbeth | Act 5 Scene 6

From Letters from a Stoic by Seneca, Letter LIV:

Today's lesson is death. 

Seneca was an asthmatic from childhood. Remarking on recent bouts with the lack of breath, he likens it to a rehearsal of death: Death has been trying to steal his breath away his entire life, but hasn't won yet. 

What follows is classic Stoic doctrine on how we should consider Death. 

We've been here before: before we were born, we didn't exist; after we die we will not exist. What's the difference? 

Did it bother us not to exist before birth?  The time before we are born is a locked room for us.  We are, all of us, unaware of any torment from the beforetime — no one recalls such a feeling — therefore, having the same state of (non)existence after Death holds no terror for the wise man. 

The Sage understands Death's role in the world.  Wisdom would have us ready to accept it when it comes.

We need not accelerate the process, nor assist it when it can be avoided, but once it is here, knowing that we've been in this position before allows us to accept it with grace and equanimity.