211026 What I learned in my studies this morning

Share loving-kindness.

Metta, through the world to you.

Give love in all things.

Daily Stoic:

For Stoics, all three aim toward one goal: living a life in accordance with Nature.  

Other philosophical schools examined these themes for different reasons.  Aristotelians and others made much of exploring the world and categorizing its bits and pieces.  They made elaborate logical frameworks to judge and prove their thoughts.  They looked at different methods of determining right and wrong and spent untold pages explaining them.

Stoics covered these same topics with a pragmatic eye toward discovering the best way to live a good life.

I've studied these other philosophies — Epicureans, Cynics, Skeptics, Aristotelians, Platonists, scholastics, deontologists, teleologists, utilitarians, etc. — and, while they often fascinated me, they always left me feeling empty.  They stimulated my mind, but never moved my soul.

Studying Stoicism (and Zen), gathering wisdom from every source I can find, I have a better grasp on a course I should follow to improve myself and to live a better life.  It helps me learn better ways to serve others and try to make the world a better place.

I want to live morally, with wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice.  I want to live in accordance with Nature and follow virtue in all things.

I want to follow Nature, identified with Tao, and find my right place in the world.  I want to flow through the chaotic paths of the world and revere all life.

I want to live rationally, in the real world, questioning my assumptions and motives so that I act according to what exists rather than what I think or wish existed.  I want to align my will with the world and make wise decisions.

Today's Meditation:

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Today's Meditation II:

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Today's Mediation III: