Required Reading: Letter 14: On The Reasons For Withdrawing From The World
“…but Philosophy is peaceful and she minds her own business.“
Wow! How can I even begin this summary? The words; every sentence, is so potent with sagacity! Yet, one must take heed and absord the teaching for it is truly medicine for the soul!
Seneca cautions to limit the desires; the cravings of the body “we should conduct ourselves not as if we ought to live for the body, but as if we could not live without it.” Quite simply, the body is a vessel for the soul or spirit; the true being is within; it is that one we should live for. Adorn the body? Yes, of course; but don’t relish in it.
For if we consider the body supreme, we are led here and there to please it; to make it do our bidding wherein we expose ourselves to unnecessary fears; three of which Seneca retorts: first, the fear of want, second, the fear of sickness and third, the fear of persons, institutions overpowering us!
In his estimation, the last of the fears is the most aggressive and humiliating; for one can see publicly how one stacks against others who parade their so-called “power and riches”. It is without question a few; perhaps the wise who upon coming into wealth or power wouldn’t show off! We see it in the homes we live; the apparel and accessories we adorn; the lifestyle etc. We become “above” human when afforded these by Fortune. This extends to those born into wealth and power or those who come into it. Very seldom is there a calming of the soul; the reflection of whether this makes the man or the man makes it!
A tempting order; yet, this does not only apply to the Rich and Famous; it goes for many of men who desire such a lifestyle. As a philosopher, it is your safe haven to know these things exist and deliberately live your life with guards up so as to protect you from Self and others who due to the negative feeling that wealth solicits can not control themselves and could bring harm to you as well.
Live a life of quality not quantity; acquire few and rare things of value of course but make no show of them. Live among your neighbors as you rise in stature, wealth and power but be not an outlier. “Isn’t this too much?” I hear you say “This Philosophy stuff?” Well, will you have it any other way? Is the goal not to live among those who aren’t on the Search in safety? Imagine living without and acquiring all of these things which fear breeds from yourself and others?
Quite frankly, the fear is not worth it; hence, “Philosophy should be practiced with calmness and moderation” As Seneca continues “I cannot gurantee you this more than I can guarantee good health…” Yet, the practice of good health is better than not. He closes beautifully with a quote from Epicurus or Metrodorus “He who needs riches least, enjoys riches most.” Farewell.
Word of the day:
Paraphenalia (noun): miscellaneous belongings, equipment, accessories. (The Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus 2nd Edition.)
Quotes:
“He will have many masters who makes his body his master…”
“Virtue is held too cheap by the man who counts his body too dear.”
“We should cherish the body with the greatest care; but we should also be prepared, when reason, self respect, and duty demand the sacrifice, to deliver it even to the flames.”
“So the wise man will never provoke the anger of those in power; nay, he will even turn his course, precisely as he would turn from a storm if he were steering a ship.”
“We should therefore look about us, and see how we may protect ourselves from the mob. And first of all, we should have no cravings like theirs; for rivalry results in strife.”
“Again, let us possess nothing that can be snatched from us to the great profit of a plotting foe. Let there be as little booty as possible on your person.”
“If you are empty-handed, the highwayman passes you by: even along an infested road, the poor may travel in peace.”
“Let us withdraw ourselves in every way; for it is harmful to be scorned as to be admired.”
“The wise man will not upset the customs of the people, nor will he invite the attention of the populace by any novel ways of living.”
Questions:
1) Do you suffer from the three classes of fears in the text?
2) Which one is more dominant in this stage of your life? Why?
3) Do you desire to be Rich or to have Enough?
Activity:
1) List all of your current fears.
2) Group them into the three classes mentioned.
3) List an amount that would be Enough for savings as well as daily living expenses i.e your lifestyle.
