"The world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the ways of the world"--- Old Buddhist Saying
When one is rational, practical, whatever, is one truly heartless? Is that what one is doing when one is doing the right thing?The strong, the sensible thing?
It is not that stoicism is above and beyond pain or grief. It in fact is the realisation and acceptance of the 'Big Plan' that one has no control over. And this has nothing to do with whether one is spiritual, religious or an atheist. Even when one lacks faith (or what is the popular idea of faith), in true stoicism over loss, over pain, in hardships, one is exemplar of true faith. If nothing else, for the want of a better word, faith in the human condition, with all its connections and failings. And therefore I believe that the true stoic is all heart. A braver heart maybe but still all heart... :)
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
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