Required Reading: Letter 15: On Brawn And Brains
“If you are studying Philosophy, it is well.”
Seneca’s fifteen letter is packed with proper physical wisdom; he goes right in to tell Lucilius (You) that it is best to train the soul than train the body. But how does one really go about training the mind versus training the physique? The mind has no outward display; there are no curves, no lean muscle to gain approval that are so numerous when it comes to the body.
But how many hours do we spend in the gym everyday? Sometimes twice a day for an hour a piece? We look beautiful don’t we? I have my lean muscle mass; I think it comes from genetics though; but may I say in thanks and appreciation to the teacher for mentioning, most is owed a great deal to Fasting. For the last twenty-five years, I have fasted every Friday til noon and once a year will do a full month and at other times a full week of fasting.
Don’t know why I started this discipline but I must say it is one of the greatest things I have done in my life; for it allows me to subject the body; discipline my cravings; deny the urge for food and drink and most certainly give me clarity of mind!
Do I work out? Of course I do; please do. But do not live to! Carve out a time in your day for such simple exercises as suggested by Seneca as in running, jumping ropes, walking, push-up and sit-ups etc.; keep precious your time and give more to philosophy than excercising.
How would you know when you have reached the level of mind over body? It is when you only have thirty minutes to spare in your day and you have to choose whether to study philosophy or exercise; if the desire for studying is more than that of exercising, you are well on your way and we can gladly say when we meet each other or a fellow sojourner “If you are studying Philosophy, it is well and I am well!” Farewell.
Word of the day:
Effrontery (noun): impudent audacity; insolence, impertinence, arrogance, brass, nerve (The Oxford Amercan Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus 2nd Edition).
Quotations:
“Without Philosophy the mind is sickly, and the body, too, though it may be very powerful, is strong only as that of a madman or a lunatic is strong.”
“The mind must be excercised both day and night, for it is nourished by moderate labour, and this form of exercise need not be hampered by cold or hot weather, or even by old age.”
“The fool’s life is empty of gratitude and full of fears; its course lies wholly toward the future.” -Epicurus
“Fix a limit which you will not even desire to pass…”
“…why should I demand of Fortune that she give rather than demand of myself that I should not crave?”
“For what end should I toil? Lo, today is the last; if not, it is near the last.”
Questions:
1) Do you work out? How many times a week? For how long each time; an hour, 30 minutes, less?
2) What exercises do you primarily do? Is running included? Do you need to exercise at a gym? Or could you do 20 minutes at home? Outside etc.
3) Do you study Philosophy everyday? What times of the day? Morning, Afternoon, Night? For how long? At least an hour?
Activities:
1) Begin to run, walk (speedwalk if possible) everyday, morning, afternoon or evening for 15 – 30 minutes; alternate by jumping ropes, push-ups, and sit-ups.
2) Begin to Fast at least once a week; pick up a copy of The Miracle of Fasting by Bragg and put into practice.
3) Study Philosophy at least one hour every day; read Seneca’s Letters and info suggested by this blog.
