Abstract
In today’s increasingly interconnected world, people are able to gain access to information about a variety of religions and philosophies—ancient and contemporary, from East to West, etc. Over time, the influence of Buddhism amongst the global population has become widespread. However, the same cannot be said for a philosophical way of life known as Stoicism. Yet, in many respects, the ideas and practical methods of each tradition are quite similar. For example, in the Dhammapada, one of the canonical Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha urges his followers not to yield to anger, as doing so would contribute to the evil in the world. Seneca, one of the three Stoic “Greats,” likewise denounces anger, comparing it to flame which, by its very nature, will develop into an uncontrollable fiery conflagration. In this paper, I bring to light some of the practical benefits of Stoic spiritual exercises, first by revealing their similarities to Buddhist exercises, e.g. simple meditative practice, and second, by arguing for their practical effectiveness.
Presenters
Raman SachdevAssistant Professor of Philosophy, Division of Social Science, Minot State University, North Dakota, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
Buddhism, Stoicism, Meditation, Spiritual Exercises
