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Buddhism and Epictitus. Nathan Hieb Gabe Pilla Jon Williams. Buddhism. Based on teaching of S iddhartha Gautama Began sometime in the 5 th century BCE Many Buddhists show their devotion by chanting, bowing, and pilgrimage
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Buddhism and Epictitus Nathan Hieb Gabe Pilla Jon Williams
Buddhism • Based on teaching of Siddhartha Gautama • Began sometime in the 5th century BCE • Many Buddhists show their devotion by chanting, bowing, and pilgrimage • Goal is to achieve nirvana, and escape what is seen as a cycle of suffering and rebirth
Epictetus • Greek stoic philosopher (AD 55 – AD 135) • He spent his youth as a slave in Rome • Early on in life, Epictetus found a passion for philosophy, and with permission of his wealthy owner, Epictetus studied Stoic philosophy under Musonius Rufus, as a slave, which allowed him to rise in respectability as he grew more educated • Philosophy is a way of life, not just a belief • Fate controls our lives and thus actions are beyond our control
4 Noble Truths • Life is suffering • Suffering is caused by desire • The end of desire is the result of reaching nirvana • In order to do this follow the 8 fold path
Suffering in Stoicism • Suffering is the result of trying to control what you do not have control over • Individuals are responsible for their own actions, which they can examine and control through rigorous self-discipline • “I have lost nothing that belongs to me; it was not something of mine that was torn from me, but something that was not in my power has left me.”
8-Fold Path • Dṛṣṭi : viewing reality as it is, not just as it appears to be • Saṃkalpa : intention of renunciation, freedom and harmlessness. • Vāc : speaking in a truthful and non-hurtful way • karman: acting in a non-harmful way • Ājīvana : a non-harmful livelihood • Vyāyāma : making an effort to improve • Smṛti : awareness to see things for what they are with clear consciousness, being aware of the present reality within oneself, without any craving or aversion • Samādhi : correct meditation or concentration
Stoicisms Dichotomy • those things in our power (prohairetic things) • those things not in our power (aprohairetic things) • That alone is in our power, which is our own work; and in this class are our opinions, impulses, desires, and aversions. What, on the contrary, is not in our power, are our bodies, possessions, glory, and power. Any delusion on this point leads to the greatest errors, misfortunes, and troubles, and to the slavery of the soul
Similarities • Buddhism calls for self-denial and personal calm as the path to heavenly enlightenment. Stoicism, similarly, calls for self-denial, but for the different reason of achieving peace on earth and being content • Both have a form of belief in the golden rule or middle path
Differences • Buddhism is very metaphysical while stoicism is based on the material world and our control over it • Buddhism views the world as evil in itself while stoicism views the world as a good thing • Stoicism does not require faith while Buddhism does. • Buddhism deals with matters of spirituality and divinity while stoicism does not