[MD] My belief

[Ham Priday]

Ron --


> Ham had asked me about my beliefs, currently, my beliefs
> center on Greek stoic ideals, one maxim in particular, one of Epictetus.
>
> Whoever then would be free, let them wish for nothing, let them
> decline nothing. some things may be influenced some things we may
> not, therefore it is important to focus on those experiences which we
> may control. To allow those experiences we can not control to take
> our attention leads to misery blaming both gods and men,
> we become enslaved by them.
>
> To focus on those experiences which we may control exercises
> our power in our reality.

Thanks for shedding some light on your personal belief system.  The Stoicism 
of Epictetus is fine, as far as it goes, and your quotation reminds me of 
Buddha's admonition that Desire is the root of all human suffering. 
Properly understood, however, desire is an expression of our Value, and it 
can bring great joy to our lives if we use it to nourish our 
value-sensibility.  For example, if human beings in the 15th century had 
chosen not to attend to "those experiences we cannot control", would science 
and technology have ever developed?  If we "free our minds" and "wish for 
nothing", how can we protect ourelves against enemies and the adversities of 
nature?

Life is the struggle of all creatures to survive and flourish.  Man is 
equipped with the reason and value sensibility to control his environment, 
establish workable moral systems, and acquire the knowledge to enhance his 
health and living conditions.  None of this can occur if we resign ourselves 
to contemplating our navels and refuse to deal with the responsibilities and 
frustrations of the experienced world.  Likewise, philosophy cannot advance 
if philosophers refuse to tackle the paradox of existence and man's role in 
the universe.

I much prefer the Epicurean philosophy to stoicism.  Epicurus said: "It is 
impossible to live a pleasant life without living wisely and well and justly 
(agreeing "neither to harm nor be harmed"), and it is impossible to live 
wisely and well and justly without living a pleasant life."  Epicureanism 
has a bad rap today, having been falsely portrayed as advocating gluttony 
and self-indulgence. Moderation -- the "balanced life" -- is good and safe, 
but we cannot escape the struggle or the fact that man must live by "the 
sweat of his brow".  We need pain and anguish to remind us when something is 
wrong with our "being in the world",  but it is unwise to isolate ourselves 
from the challenges and pleasures of living life fully.

Anyway, those are my thoughts.  Thanks for yours.

Regards,
Ham