The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Day 41
November 22nd - The Glass is Already Broken.
"Fortune falls heavily on those for whom she's unexpected. The one always on the lookout easily endures."
-Seneca, On Consolation to Helvia, 5.3
From the Author:
"There is a story of a Zen master who had a beautiful prized cup. The master would repeat to himself, 'The glass is already broken.' He enjoyed the cup. He used it. He showed it off to visitors. But in his mind, it was already broken. And so one day, when it actually did break, he simply said, 'Of course.'
This is how Stoics think too. There is supposedly a true story about Epictetus and a lamp. He never locked his house, and so his expensive lamp was stolen. When Epictetus replaced it, he replaced it with a cheaper one so he could be less attached to it if it were stolen again.
Devastation - that feeling that we're absolutely crused and shocked by an event - is a factor of how unlikely we considered that event in the first place. No one is 'wrecked' by the fact that it's snowing in the winter, because we've accepted (and even anticipated) this turn of events. What about the occurances that surprise us? We might not be so shocked if we took the time to consider their possibility"
Over the years I've had my car in the driveway, for several months at a time, left unlocked regularly over night or when I'm not at the house. It, nor it's contents, were ever stolen. I've had my car broken into on two occasions, though. Both when the car was locked, though not in my driveway.
I feel like theres a point there of not having a fear, worry, or expectation for an event of this type to occur - to have something stolen or broken - if you can let go of attachment, or fear of losing the thing you're attached to.
I'm not saying the act of locking your house or car puts into the universe a frequency of "oh I hope no one breaks a window and steals my stuff", more that theres a feeling of surrender, and acceptance that something may already be broken or stolen.
I put out an frequency of safety, security for my person and belongings, and free passage for my movements and words. I believe that only good things happen. But I accept that I own nothing that I cannot defend, and that if something is broken or lost, I can repair or replace it, depending on the significance of the object.
Shevacai
npub19u…wgppv
2023-11-22 14:42:37
Author Public Key
npub19ut4lep53ax69ks406zdzxd4zewgg4v3trnyw20lqzck89r33wls3wgppvPublished at
2023-11-22 14:42:37Event JSON
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"content": "The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\n\nDay 41\n\nNovember 22nd - The Glass is Already Broken.\n\n\"Fortune falls heavily on those for whom she's unexpected. The one always on the lookout easily endures.\"\n\n-Seneca, On Consolation to Helvia, 5.3\n\nFrom the Author:\n\n\"There is a story of a Zen master who had a beautiful prized cup. The master would repeat to himself, 'The glass is already broken.' He enjoyed the cup. He used it. He showed it off to visitors. But in his mind, it was already broken. And so one day, when it actually did break, he simply said, 'Of course.'\nThis is how Stoics think too. There is supposedly a true story about Epictetus and a lamp. He never locked his house, and so his expensive lamp was stolen. When Epictetus replaced it, he replaced it with a cheaper one so he could be less attached to it if it were stolen again. \nDevastation - that feeling that we're absolutely crused and shocked by an event - is a factor of how unlikely we considered that event in the first place. No one is 'wrecked' by the fact that it's snowing in the winter, because we've accepted (and even anticipated) this turn of events. What about the occurances that surprise us? We might not be so shocked if we took the time to consider their possibility\"\n\nOver the years I've had my car in the driveway, for several months at a time, left unlocked regularly over night or when I'm not at the house. It, nor it's contents, were ever stolen. I've had my car broken into on two occasions, though. Both when the car was locked, though not in my driveway.\n\nI feel like theres a point there of not having a fear, worry, or expectation for an event of this type to occur - to have something stolen or broken - if you can let go of attachment, or fear of losing the thing you're attached to.\n\nI'm not saying the act of locking your house or car puts into the universe a frequency of \"oh I hope no one breaks a window and steals my stuff\", more that theres a feeling of surrender, and acceptance that something may already be broken or stolen. \n\nI put out an frequency of safety, security for my person and belongings, and free passage for my movements and words. I believe that only good things happen. But I accept that I own nothing that I cannot defend, and that if something is broken or lost, I can repair or replace it, depending on the significance of the object.",
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