“How much time he saves who does not look to see what his neighbor says or does or thinks.”

– Marcus Aurelius

Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/marcus_aurelius_148751

     “If evil be spoken of you and it be true, correct yourself; if it be a lie, laugh at it.”

– Epictetus

Source: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/epictetus_385654

     “Don’t worry if other’s treat you unfairly.  As long as you treat them with fairness, there will be no fault of your own.”

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 59)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

     A farmer was working in his field when a stranger approached him.  The traveler asked, “What kind of people live in the next town?”

     Without pausing from his work the farmer replied, “What kind of people lived in the town you just left?”

     “They were horrible,” the traveler said waving his hand for emphasis.  “People were dishonest, selfish, and inconsiderate.”

     Looking up, the farmer shook his head, “I’m sorry to say that’s probably what you’ll find in this town, too.”

     The stranger moaned and walked away.

     Late in the same day another man happened down the same road.  When he saw the farmer he called out, “What kind of people live in this next town?”

     Without looking up the farmer returned with a question, “What kind of people lived in the town you just left?”

     “They were thoughtful, friendly, and kind,” the traveler beamed.  “I hated to leave them.”

     The farmer put down his hoe, extended his hand and smiled.  “I’m pleased to say that is about how you’ll find folks here,” he said.

     The traveler returned the smile, shook the farmer’s hand and headed toward his new home.

Based on an American folktale, from the book, Stories for the Journey, by William R. White.

Source: http://desperatepreacher.com/resources/dps_form_results/jn17_1.htm

     “Even if the world doesn’t happen the way you want it, at least your thoughts and emotions should happen the way you want them to.”

― Sadhguru, Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy

Source: https://www.facebook.com/sadhguru/posts/10154905442064146

     On the subject of the moral upbringing of children, the Master once had this to say:

     “When I was a teenager, my father warned me about certain places in the city.

     He said, ‘Don’t ever go into a night club, son.’

     ‘Why not, father?’ I said.

     ‘Because you’ll see tings that you shouldn’t.’

     “This, of course, aroused my curiosity.  And at the first opportunity I got I went into a night club.”

     The disciples asked, “And did you see something you shouldn’t have?”

     “I certainly did,” said the Master.  “I saw my father.”

– Anthony de Mello, More One Minute Nonsense

     “If there’s something you don’t like done to you, you should never do it to someone else, even if they did it first.”

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 59)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

     “If someone treats you unkindly and you treat them the same, then you are no better than they.”

— Excerpted from The Truth as I See It: A Collection of Spiritual Writings by Adam Soto (p. 59)

 

Copyright 2018 Golden Rule Independent Publications

Question: Your writings seem very Stoic.  How familiar are you with Stoicism?  Could you explain Stoicism in a nutshell?

Answer: Sure.  As far as the Stoics go, I find them very practical.  They have a strong sense of right and wrong and living a life of virtue.  They stress living in accordance with nature or reality, realizing that some things are in our control and others are not (internal things = in our control, external things = mostly out of our control).  They practice mastery of the self, especially our attitudes and emotions and anything internal.  They concentrate on seeing the positive in every situation, and using anything negative as an opportunity for growth.  If you’re interested in learning more on Stoicism, check out these sources, just to name a few:

• The Art of Living: The Classical Manual on Virtue, Happiness and Effectiveness by Epictetus and Sharon Lebell

• The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday (Also a website: https://dailystoic.com

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism

     “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.”

– Dan Millman, Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book that Changes Lives