Required Reading: Letter 17: On Philosophy And Riches
“If you wish to have leisure for your mind, either be a poor man, or resemble a poor man.”
That statement if read casually will miss the true meaning; for it states one should voluntarily choose to be poor in order to have leisure or peace of mind. I write this as one who to some degree is okay with the “things” I have managed to acquire thus far. Not so long ago, I had the desire to have a five-acre-estate, five luxury cars; five million dollar home with furnishings from the ends of the earth, a private ten-seater jet; and $100,000,000 million in the bank!
But as I pursued wisdom, all those desires slowly began to fade; I’m experiencing a rebirth of mind and spirit so glorious that nothing seems to matter anymore. Nothing meaning the wants and cares of life; the feeing of being so financially secure, that worry and fear do not exist anymore; yet all of this is not necessary for wisdom trumps it all! For with wisdom, the call is to live simply; to act as nature does; and living simply as the teacher states, is voluntary poverty.
It is the way of life in which although you have all and more, yet, you choose to live simply. You dress only with what is necessary to stay warm, and comfortable for the season; you eat not to gluttony or to the eye’s desire; but you curb hunger regardless of if it’s only a few spoonfuls; you take the pains of bringing the body and all its desires into subjection to the mind.
We all have the fear of not having enough; working hard so as to store up for retirement; for security, yet, as we pursue these things we should not neglect philosophy. For nothing is guaranteed that we can indeed achieve or if we do, that said storage would last. There is always “the moth who destroys”; always the fear of loss whether it be in the markets or just by making wrong financial decisions.
There are no guarantees that we can even live to enjoy such storage; yet there is ALWAYS A GUARANTEE that the study of wisdom assures us; that if we chose her above all else first in our series of choices, she and only she alone can give us that peace of mind that is necessary with or without wealth! Farewell.
Word of the day:
Succour (noun): aid, assistance, esp. in time of need (The Oxford American Desk Dictionary and Thesaurus 2nd Edition).
Quotations:
“Take my advice; call wisdom into consultation; she will advise you not to sit forever at your ledger.”
“Riches have shut off many a man from the attainment of wisdom; poverty is unburdened and free from care.”
“You retort: “I wish to acquire something to live on.” Yes, but learn while you are acquring it.”
“There is no reason why poverty should call us away from philosophy—no, nor even actual want. For when hastening after wisdom, we must endure even hunger.”
“How much greater is the promise of the prize of everlasting liberty, and the assurance that we need fear neither God nor man! Even though we starve, we must reach that goal.”
“Will any man hesitate to endure poverty, in order that he may free his mind from madness?”
“Therefore one should not seek to lay up riches first; one may attain to philosophy, however, even without money for the journey.”
“Is philosophy to be the last requisite in life—a sort of supplement? Nay, your plan should be this: be a philosopher now, whether you have anything or not.”
“Wisdom offers wealth in ready money, and pays it over to those in whose eyes she has made wealth superfluous.”
“The acquisition of riches has been for many men, not an end, but a change of troubles.” -Epicurus.
Questions:
1) Are you currently wealthy? Do you have a considerable amount of money saved up?
2) Do you worry about loosing it? Do you check the balance every hour, daily?
3) Can you picture yourself living without it? How do you feel? Are you sickened by the thought? Or are you a bit indifferent.
Activities:
1) Calculate an amount of money based on your minimal lifestyle that would be Enough.
2) Set your retirement account up to meet this over a period of ten years.—(Important: forget about checking it daily!)
3) Read/Study Philosophy (begin with this blog: letters and books recommended) everyday.
