Discourse 27: Regarding On The Good Which Abides

Seneca Letter 27 On The Good Which Abides

Required Reading: Letter 27: On The Good Which Abides

“Of this one thing make sure against your dying day—let your faults die before you die.”

In Seneca’s 26th letter to Lucilius, he starts off by trying to convince him that it is okay for wiseman; a man pursuing philosophy, to admonish another; a friend; for if and when he does, it is as if the former is admonishing himself; using the latter as a sounding board; a mirror to correct his or her own faults. 

This is not a bad thing considering that a philosopher choses his friends wisely; he or she doesn’t have too many friends—acquaintances he made tolerate; but friends, are few. Hence, he watches himself closely; paying utmost attention to his mind; his thoughts his soul; for he knows that ultimate Good abides in it. He is in perpetual pursuit of “everlasting and peace-giving joy”; knowing that when he finds it, all other things are superfluous.

Thus he states “…you must yourself lavish all your waking hours, and all your efforts, if you wish the result to be accomplished. This matter can not be delegated to someone else.” As a philosopher, you can not take lightly the daily diligence that comes from studying. Of all the things that can be bought, Philosophy is not one of them! For she is FREE! No price is ever enough to warrant. She will be yours only and no one else’s. Money can not buy her; the price paid is Time, Concentration, Thought.

All of which reside in the individual and not from someone else. You and you alone MUST pay the price! The joy of wisdom must be yours and yours only. You can not experience it vicariously—through another wise man! EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO THE BANQUET—Kings and paupers alike! Now, should you allow anyone else to enjoy this pleasure? Take this from you? I think Not!

Begin today to anticipate the good which abides in you. It is not not outward display of wealth—wealth does not equate to wisdom; it is a part of it; a minute product of it. Consider all of the WISE MEN; do you know what was the stance on wealth? Well, let Epicurus tell us “Real wealth is poverty adjusted to the law of nature.” Let the law of nature direct us—its wealth is a quiet one; farewell. 

Word of the day:
Virtue (noun): moral excellence; goodness; chastity; good quality (The Oxford American Desk Disctionary and Thesaurus 2nd Edition).

Quotations:
“Listen to me, therefore, as you would if I were talking to myself. I am admitting you to my inmost thoughts.”
“I keep crying out to myself: “Count your years, and you will be ashamed to desire and pursue the same things you desired in your boyhood days.”
“Away with those disordered pleasures, which must be dearly paid for; it is not only those which are to come that harm me, but those which have come and gone.”
“…regret remains even after the pleasures are over. They are not substantial, they are not trustworthy; even if they do not harm us, they are fleeting.”
“But there can be no such good except as the sould discovers it for itself within itself.”
“Virtue alone affords everlasting and peace-giving joy…”
“No man is able to borrow or buy a sound mind; in fact, as it seems to me, even though sound minds were for sale, they would not find buyers, Depraved minds, however, are bought and sold everyday.”
“for some persons the remedy should be merely prescribed; in the case of others, it should be forced down their throats.”

Questions:
1) Are you open to advice? Good; who do you listen to for advice?
2) Have you come to terms with pursuing wisdom over wealth?
3) Do you believe that either wealth = wisdom or poverty = wisdom?

Activities:
1) Find someone whose advice you will determine to live your life by.
2) Think about and write down the bare essentials you believe you could survive upon.
3) Determine today to follow wisdom over all else!

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