it is true , i have done both , and the it is a fact that less is more , untill a point , it is nice to have food , a roof and something to wear , and money to pay the bills , but afther that , being healty , work with my are and ingaging with life and other human beings is enought :)
Without exaggeration, you had a role in saving my life from chronic depression and self demise with this video and the one about the benefits of isolation. Thank you very much!
Epicurus completely changed my mentality. I remember when I wanted to wear designer clothes and drive an expensive car. Currently, I could care less what people think of me. I only care what I think of myself.
Epicureanism and Stoicism may be direct competitors, but I think you could implement elements from both philosophies into your life without much confliction.
@@divinejacobmathew1503 I don't see it this way at all, as someone who attempts to practice Stoicism. I also use elements of Epicureanism and Buddhism too. But I do not see Stoicism alone as living a life only to be endured. It alone can be used for happiness too.
@divinejacobmathew1503 As someone who tries to practice stoicism, I don't think it's only about "enduring". I accept the fact that life is full of hardships and that I can't control things outside of my mind. But by accepting these things, I can let go of my fear and my anger and deal with it in a healthier way. And being at peace with myself is happiness. For example: today I bought a new pan and later found out that I paid a higher price. I could have gotten mad, but I thought to myself "I have a good quality pan now and don't have to wait for delivery. Also, it's much easier to refund it if it turns out to be low quality." When I wanted to take the bus home, it was cold and raining, I didn't have a jacket and had to wait for the bus for 20 minutes because I missed the first one. I could have gotten angry and thought something like "Why me? Could this day get even worse? My weekend is ruined! I'm cold, I want to go home NOW!" Of course I got annoyed for a moment, but then I thought to myself "Hey, another bus will come soon enough and I have a safe shelter so I don't get wet and freeze even more. So is it really worth getting angry about missing one bus?" Stoicism isn't just about enduring pain but to not let emotions cloud your judgement and not them dictate your thoughts and behavior.
I almost clicked out after 38 secs in this video, almost misunderstood "how could he say we only need to pursue pleasure and avoid pain? it's exact opposite to stoicism!", i'm glad i didn't leave in ignorance and got this beautiful understanding
I enjoyed an Epicurian day today, as I do most days. While most people were bustling around the shops buying “stuff” for Christmas, I picked a salad from my garden and then enjoyed it for my dinner - bliss. Then I had a chocolate from the box a friend gave me a couple of weeks ago. Now I’m knitting a pullover from yarn I spun myself from a fleece the shepherd didn’t want. As I count my blessings today, I feel wealthy and privileged - I have a modest home, just enough income for life’s essentials, a productive vegetable garden, and useful skills to keep my hands busy. Living with the rhythms of nature really is the only way to live an authentic life.
I have been incredibly blessed to enjoy your content for years now, and I want to tell you thank you so much because it had a profound effect on my life. This particular video, however, is by far one of your best. I believe it can change peoples lives as it has touched mine very much I thank you so much and thank you for all the hard work you’ve done . Namaste!
Thank you for your generosity and nice to see you've enjoyed this video in particular. Epicurus' philosophy made quite an impression on me. Anyway, thank you for the support and compliments!
this is what True Philosophy is living a simple life with friends that are true to themselves making a garden and have philosophical convos, bonding,farming,cooking,eating together, playing musics, i imagine the ideal lifestyle, pleasure is the only good.
Love this way more than the stoics this is actually forward moving positive and has goals respects individual desire and will rather than resignation to the universe
Only philosophy that is not convoluted and emphasises that the truth lies in simplicity. His views on death are quite interesting too, his quote "Death is nothing to us" is one of my favorites.
I've agreed with pretty much everything here except for "death doesnt affect the living". I agree that the living are not the one's who died, however a loss of a friend or those close to you still hurts, whether it be death or moving or a friendship breaking. The death does hurt the living, not because it is death, but because someone they cared for is gone. The reason why death is greater grieved than moving away or leaving is because there truly is no chance of seeing them again.
According to ajahn bhrahmawamso he tells life is like a concert and after a concert you don't cry. Cherish the sweet memories with him and don't cry. I think that's wisdom we need to achieve
@@asankabandara8853 In that case I think my problem is that I do cry. At the end of a large project or amazing movie, or a wonderful con there is a little empty feeling in my stomach. A mourning of sorts that it's over. Ending have always felt bittersweet to me, no matter the type. And unlike cons or movies there's no chance to relive the joy next year if the person who you enjoyed is dead and gone.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
How telling that your piece on my favourite philosopher is 11:11 long… the man was an Angel in waiting, whether he believed in the afterlife or not. Thank you
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
@@jonhohensee3258 Because he was the advocate for the saying: " - The one who has lived in silence has lived well!" Not exactly what the world of today in general would like as a mantra.
I'm the type of person that does understand that happiness is not about having the fanciest car or the prettiest clothes, but I'm also not the type of person that can go against the rest of society and create my own path. It's kind of hard to do that in this rigid society, and I also care a great deal about what others think of me. I've been deprived of safe and healthy relationships during my childhood and therefore making people like me is the most important thing to me, so I do my best to not seem "too weird". But people are so obsessed with short-term pleasures and superficial thing nowadays, that I feel highly incompatible with most people. They seem to think that thinking deeply and enjoying the simple things in life is kind of silly, but I think that it's the most important part of life.
You don't have to prove nothing to NOBODY. Not even to yourself. Sometimes you practice your ethics by the book and it's insufficient for certain given people to love you correctly. You are forced to prove...something according to environment people that compose it and if common sense conscience friendly principles & morals values are not enough you got the wrong people around you. Hard lesson but take it from me a victim of autism squizo affective paranoid ADHD undiagnosed til I was 18 and ADHD not discovered til I was 40(roughly) but received comments based on incoherence.... I went ethics by the book...then you have to be emotionally tough & get used to their uncivilized garbage...no way felipe....WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET...my wholesome ethics is 1st of course People want to get from you not give to you. THEY ABUSE when you have a heart to give
@@ecelsozanato5603 They hate who they can't exploit plus thinking ill is just a way for them to feel better about themselves and their conscience bothering them they are trying to shut up & sooner or later their hearts harden....we don't want to be desired or gain interest of people like that because it will be their interest anyway (only serving ours enough to keep us hooked)
Beautiful and expensive things can be amazing depending upon HOW you enjoy them and WHO you enjoy them for. To look at something beautifully made like a vase or a drawing or a fine garment is a tribute to its maker, and the more expensive it is, the more likely it is that the person who made it did so with love, and that they were fairly remunerated. You are also keeping alive the traditions of their craft, which can die so easily.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
Another thought provoking video, very philosophical, very engaging, and has helped me in the dilemma that I have been having for a few weeks now. Once again, much thanks for sharing this, and creating it. Steve UK
Reminds me of Daoism. It is interesting that the Greek philosophies and the Asian philosophies reached many of the same conclusions in regard to life. Excessive desire leads to suffering.
Your videos are enormously beneficial and helping more people than you know. All of your content is well researched, produced and narrated. I am sure I speak for many when I say Thank You! 😃
As a person with personality based anhedonia and a somehow implanted believe by others that pleasure is bad and pointless, it was very useful for me to hear this. Instead of the philosophies that abolish pleasure
Even though I'm an old subscriber, I just want to say that I'm so lucky to have found your channel Einzelgänger! I've been in deep depression the past few years and wanting to end my life but maybe the universe sent me on this channel to not to, ever since I knew Stoicism and your video on Albert Camus' Life is Absurd, I suddenly became okay, i don't know how but maybe your voice kinda healed me too and I'm really thankful for that, thankful to have finally found my cure, Einzelgänger. ♥️
I've been an epicurean for the past three years without knowing it. I'm glad there are others out there happy to be content :) Thank you for this video
Literally half of the time when I'm just on my phone in idle I get a notification telling me of a new video you have uploaded. It is a sign from the Gods that I must stop sitting idly!
Without even expecting, this video made my day better. I was grumpy about the chase of money but realized that I have a lot around me. I am abundant and have enough stuff to meet my daily needs.
Einzelgänger, your videos are truely wonderful and inspiring! Thank you so much for all your efforts! At most I enjoy the pieces you made aboút Taoism - maybe because that's the philosophy I probably lean most toward ... / I am currently reading your book "Unoffendable" and I am moved and impressed by the very personal way you chose to make your points. So: Keep going & thanks again - you produce tremendously great stuff, which is a light within a great sad sea of nonsense, stupidity and bullshit, which is around us ... !
Einzelgänger i just wanted to deeply thank you for making this video , see i'm having some craving troubles lately that diverted me from some necessary work that i have to do but now i guess that i'll need to tame those cravings with healthier food , anyway i just wanted to thank you for giving me a new perspective on pleasure ,anyways like your videos and wish you nothing but the best
Exactly! One can find pleasure in living a life of virtue. I don't think anything we do can be taken out of the pleasure/pain dynamic. It's how we are wired by evolution
@@weed3950 The Garden was Epicurus' school. He allowed women and slaves to attend there when none else did. I love him because of that and because his philosophy is just beautiful and Amazing!
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
I find stoicism more practical in life than epicurism cause there are lots of troubles and pain in the world so where you can find pleasures in these moments, but as to stoic they suggest many helpful tools such as: indifference, memento Mori, virtues etc.
I don't feel you can find pleasure in pain ,well not as it happens or immediately afterwards but maybe in the future you can look back and see that the painfull event caused some good by making you grow or causing something good to happen ,anyway I know that painfully events and hardship will happen at anytime in my life so therefore my philosophy is to accept this and deal with them in a way that causes the least amount of suffering possible or don't make the situation any worse than it is.
This philosophy really resonates on me. I can totally relate to Epicurus' point of view, however I think a relevant amount of people don't agree with that. According to Epicurus, man only needs to fulfill his natural and necessary desires to be happy, such as food and shelter. Nonetheless, half of the world's population (or even more) live under the poverty line and does not have neither food security nor basic goods/services. How can we remain idle while so much people are suffering because they can't even get bread on their table each day? If wealthy people and middle class people gave up on vain desires, the world's population would be assured natural and necessary desires and we could as well live in harmony with nature. This would ensure everyone's dignity and set the foundation for a world community that raised its consciousness to the Universe.
it's like sacrificing one's live/energy for the live's that suffering from the world's challenges so that the one who are suffering can feel the happiness of stable life, while the one who's helping them sacrifice their time/energy, what i mean their fortunes This question's my mind why middle/rich people help the miserable one's when the miserables one's still chose to exist on this world even the world is cruel to them for intances, when one family know that the is world is cruel to them and life is a challenge then why they reproduce, when they know the sad fact of life i'm confused, it's like blessed people help's the miserable one and the miserable one's overcome the suffering and have stable life and continues to grow until to become rich/middle and then the next generation benefit from the one's who make's sacrifice throught their life that who sacrifice their, time,energy, and happiness and what we call desires I want to continue this but i guess no one will read it cause i'm just a wonderer who learns/from other people's point of view If someone want's me to speak my mind Give me some feedbacks i will return
What's good are those people who keep by your side even when you left theirs. Even when you feel no obligations to them, you still know they will have your back. Commitments. These are what is good.
Enzel I just had to say I've been watching you for quite a while now and your content just keeps getting better and better. I really appreciate the work you're doing. It gives me very simple yet insightful teachings and mindsets in life that are invaluable. It has changed my life. Keep it up my guy!
We are taught to seek hedonistic pleasure and totally lose the true self in that search. No amount of external validation can fill the void of unfulfilment, only introspection can. Only by knowing can pleasure be joyful.
the words carry so much power and i love listening to these powerful words which can make power shift in the perspectives. Love you......alottttt, stay in abundance and contentment always.
I used to like Epicurus but I find that he is essential saying to avoid the highs and lows of life by living a balanced, measured existence. To me, the greatest pleasures available in this world are experienced after exertion, discomfort, even calamity. For example, try this exercise: Take off your shoes and socks. Okay, now what? Take off your shoes and socks after walking 20 miles. Contrary to what Epicurus is teaching, we should actually invite pain and seek out adversity for the simple reason that pleasure hides from us. We cannot directly seek it out. I will add that his philosophy assumes that people know what they desire. Nothing can be further from the truth. Former Garden Dweller
it is not a complete philosophy by today's standards, just makes some extremely valid points and points out mistakes that are still made to this day; I think we should invite some measure of discomfort to achieve performance and vitality and not lead an ascetic life; also eating bread and olives is possibly what ruined his health
why are you walking 20 miles? If it is to do something meaningful, well, great. Of course, the meaning is in your mind and is your choice. You sound like an adrenaline junkie and that is your choice. Life has plenty of ups and downs and some of us don't need to create artificial ones. The idea is to be like a candle or light bulb burning at a modest rate for a longer period vs. burning at full strength for a short while. Perhaps it is simply a matter of personality and maybe there is no right or wrong way. I choose to save most my energy for matters I cannot avoid and think this prolong my mental and physical energies. Marathon runners often do NOT live longest while people who exercise slowly doing essential tasks for many hours a day do live longest. Attaining goals does lead to happiness and a bit of contentment, but I'd say those goals should be well-chosen - perhaps goals that have longer-lasting effects. If you feel the need to climb a mountain or run a marathon, it seems to me that your other life goals aren't strong enough. For example, maybe you fear running a successful business so choose the easier path of running a marathon, one where failure is less likely and less painful.
Amazing video! It made me really think deeply about death. Thank you for an amazing video, man! You are always working hard on your videos and they are always of high quality. Keep it up 💪
I thought epicurean are pleasure seeking individuals while Stoics are pleasures shunning individual, however today i found out the true meaning of epicureanism. I have been prositalised to an epicurean
Sandy Stoicism isn’t about shunning pleasure, it’s the idea that life is not about seeking pleasure and living your life not in the contestant pursuit of happiness will allow you to be a better person, doing the right thing over doing what you want to do.
What is right thing ? What is right for you may not be for me. The universe we live in doesn't have right or wrong it just has facts. The Stoics care about virtuous behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans are all about avoiding pain and seeking natural and necessary pleasure. I prefer to take good parts from both to make my life happy and meaningful. There are parts like depending on friends and accepting the status quo which I shun from both philosophy.
@@sandeepvk "What is right thing????" Think that you are 80 years old, ready to leave this world for good, at this time you having regrets like everyone else. So what kind of regrets do you have? You never married? You never married the right person? You never make kids? You never travel to different places? You treated people badly???? This is the easiest way to find what is right according to you.
@@JohnPap21 Those are all regrets due to missed opportunities. Maybe another 80 year old would have regrets about being married to someone he does not love anymore, and would have the desire to live again his life alone. The right thing does not exist outside of basic respect among people: that's the problem with stoicism, being a better person doesn't automatically make you happy. Seeking pleasure, on the other hand, will.
@@justthunderbolt40 Missed oportunities? What do you mean? Regrets = when its your own fault. If you lost a good job because they didn't pick you its not your fault so you have no regrets. You are not that bright as i can see.
I find no problem in agreeing with a great deal of his philosophy regardless of the athiestic aspects which are, after all, presumptions on his part. For instance, I agree that it is vitally important that we live in the present regardless if it is our only manifestation or not. My belief in an afterlife as central to my Catholic faith does not cause me to reject all the sensible and genuinely gratious tenets of Epicurus's philosophy. In fact, many teachings are quite similar: moderation, self-control, anti-materiasim, a relationship with the natural world, friendship. The ancient philosophers weren't about getting people to follow everything they said or wrote. They were more philanthropists who offered their ideas as options and sometimes much-needed medicine for their fellow human beings.
@@lovepeaceisneverguaranteed7385 i mean no hate,but wisdom comes with knowledge and experience, tho i respect your opinion religion has few aspect that make people wise but not what experience and research/knowledge can give.
@@lovepeaceisneverguaranteed7385 why is it always "read the bible", i was telling you what makes a man wise nothing else didnt tell you to go read something or do something, plus i didnt say religion is not knowledge i said it has limited knowledge compared to reading many books on many subjects and doing experiments in real life.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
even though i agree so much with these insights i cant help but feel worry and regret all because of an idea of a successful life that is not even my idea. its internalized in me subliminarly. its like the idea of my parents being ashamed of me is the worst case scenario
" I am neither a masochist nor a sadist. I have not come to religion to torture myself; just the opposite has been the case. In fact, I have never come to religion. I have simply been enjoying myself, and religion has happened just by the way. It has been a consequence. I have never practiced the way religious people practice, I have never been in that type of search. I have simply lived in deep acceptance of whatsoever is the case. I have accepted existence and myself, and I have never been in any mood to change myself. Suddenly, the more I accepted myself, the more I accepted existence, a deep silence descended upon me, a bliss. In that bliss, religion has happened to me. So I am not religious in the ordinary sense of the word. If you want to find a parallel, you will have to seek it somewhere other than in religion. I feel deep affinity with a man who was born two thousand years before in Greece. His name was Epicurus. Nobody thinks of him as religious. People think that he was the most atheistic man ever born, the most materialistic ever born; he was just the opposite of the religious man. But that is not my understanding. Epicurus was a naturally religious man. Remember the words ′naturally religious′; religion happened to him. That′s why people overlooked him, because he never went to seek. The proverb: eat, drink and be merry, comes from Epicurus. And this has become the attitude of the materialist. But Epicurus, in fact, lived one of the most austere of lives. He lived as simply as nobody has ever lived. Even a Mahavir or a Buddha were not so simple and austere as Epicurus - because their simplicity was cultivated; they had worked for it, it had been a practice. They had thought about it, and they had dropped all that was unnecessary. They had been disciplining themselves to be simple. And whenever there is discipline, there is complexity. There is a fight in the background, and the fight will always be there in the background. Mahavir was naked, nude; he had renounced all - but he had renounced. It was not natural. Epicurus lived in a small garden. The garden was known as Epicurus′ garden. He had no academy like Aristotle, or a school like Plato; he had a garden. It seems simple and beautiful. A garden seems more natural than an academy. He lived in the garden with a few friends. That seems to be the first commune. They were just living there, not doing anything in particular, working in the garden, having just enough to live. It is said that the king once came to visit... And he had been thinking that this man must be living in luxury because his motto was: Eat, drink and be merry. ′If this is the message,′ the King thought, ′I will see people living in luxury, in indulgence.′ But when he arrived he saw very simple people working in the garden, watering trees. The whole day they had been working. They had very few belongings, only enough to live. And by the evening, when they were there having dinner, there was not even any butter; just dry bread and a little milk - but they enjoyed it as if it were a feast. After the dinner, they danced. The day was over and they offered a thanksgiving to the existence. And the King wept - because he had always thought to condemn Epicurus in his mind. He asked, ′What do you mean by saying, "Eat, drink and be merry?"′ Epicurus said, ′You have seen. For twenty four hours we are happy here. And if you want to be happy, you have to be simple - because the more complex you are, the more unhappy you become. The more complex the life, the more misery it creates. We are simple not because we are seeking God, we are simple because to be simple is to be happy.′ And the King said, ′I would like to send some presents for you. What would you like for the garden and your community?′ And Epicurus was at a loss. He thought and thought and he said, ′We don′t think that anything else is needed. Don′t be offended; you are a great King, you can give everything - but we don′t need. If you insist, you can send a little salt and butter.′ He was an austere man. In this austerity, religion happens naturally. You don′t think about God, there is no need to; life is God. You don′t pray with folded hands towards the sky; it is foolish. Your whole life, from the morning until the evening, is a prayer. Prayer is an attitude: you live it, you don′t do it."
We seem to be programmed to desire more, fighting against that feeling is what we are trying to achieve through Enlightenment, if there is such a thing.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
I've never wanted to be famous or rich honestly, its so much to keep up with. I honestly just want to live by nature, work little to focus on what makes me happy, have food and have shelter, I dont care the kind. I live in a huge city and it can be mentally draining, but I try my best to live mindfully and in the present as much as I can
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven). If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
Epicurism seems very close to Buddhist teachings in a way when it comes to non-attachment to the material possessions and simple pleasures of simply having little or being.
"The more simply we live, the more we enjoy luxury when we encounter it" ....a beautiful thought
EMS 76 definitely
Uhhh, no. Simple people don't care for luxury.
it is true , i have done both , and the it is a fact that less is more , untill a point , it is nice to have food , a roof and something to wear , and money to pay the bills , but afther that , being healty , work with my are and ingaging with life and other human beings is enought :)
This phrase really moved me.
Luxury doesnt really impress me.
The fact that he lived in harmony with his ideas and that he practiced what he preached is admirable.
Yes, I agree
really? i suppose living by ur words is so rare that comments like this get 100 likes
@@neonbelly4 yes
....and?
@@neonbelly4 genuinely rarer than unicorns.
Without exaggeration, you had a role in saving my life from chronic depression and self demise with this video and the one about the benefits of isolation.
Thank you very much!
You can do it! 💪🏼 I believe in you
I hope you’re doing better at this time
I hope you are doing better. It is the same with me friend.
@@lukelim5094 how are you guys doing now? Honest reply please
How is everyone now?
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
Epicurus completely changed my mentality. I remember when I wanted to wear designer clothes and drive an expensive car. Currently, I could care less what people think of me. I only care what I think of myself.
How's it holding up? I want the TRUTH only. Answer without guilt.
If you have implemented this really in your life you have won dear friend
@@yokakeshinowakane it's holding up great
@@Breakaway-ic5gj I am on the same journey friend. It feels amazing!!
Epicureanism and Stoicism may be direct competitors, but I think you could implement elements from both philosophies into your life without much confliction.
Epicureanism is the "what;" Stoicism is the "how." 😉
@@wargriffin5or epicurean when life must be enjoyed. Stoic when life must be endured. P.S I stole this comment 😂
@@divinejacobmathew1503 I don't see it this way at all, as someone who attempts to practice Stoicism. I also use elements of Epicureanism and Buddhism too. But I do not see Stoicism alone as living a life only to be endured. It alone can be used for happiness too.
I also think it is hard to have true happiness with creating virtue and doing deeds for your family and loved ones. This part is more of a Stoic idea
@divinejacobmathew1503 As someone who tries to practice stoicism, I don't think it's only about "enduring". I accept the fact that life is full of hardships and that I can't control things outside of my mind. But by accepting these things, I can let go of my fear and my anger and deal with it in a healthier way. And being at peace with myself is happiness.
For example: today I bought a new pan and later found out that I paid a higher price. I could have gotten mad, but I thought to myself "I have a good quality pan now and don't have to wait for delivery. Also, it's much easier to refund it if it turns out to be low quality." When I wanted to take the bus home, it was cold and raining, I didn't have a jacket and had to wait for the bus for 20 minutes because I missed the first one. I could have gotten angry and thought something like "Why me? Could this day get even worse? My weekend is ruined! I'm cold, I want to go home NOW!" Of course I got annoyed for a moment, but then I thought to myself "Hey, another bus will come soon enough and I have a safe shelter so I don't get wet and freeze even more. So is it really worth getting angry about missing one bus?"
Stoicism isn't just about enduring pain but to not let emotions cloud your judgement and not them dictate your thoughts and behavior.
The secret of happiness is not in seeking more but in developing the capacity to enjoy less.
"enjoy more with less"
@@Cococokieful "enjoy the little more"
We implement both Stoicism and Epicureanism into our lives. Stoicism saved my life and Epicureanism gave me the motivation to be happy.
9:51
"Even thou Epicurus lived on water, breed, and olives most of the time; Occasionally, he deeply enjoyed a slice of cheese."
And he died of kidney stones 🤷
@@feyisthey your point?
@@passchallenge idk I might've been high
@@passchallenge maybe I meant he thought he was living healthily with that diet but that diet (possibly) eventually led to his death so that's ironic
@@feyisthey “idk I might’ve been high” 3 month-later response is one of the best youtube responses I’ve seen
Greek philosophers are awesome.
Epicurus formula: happiness=nature +food+shelter+ socialize- fear.
Thank you for sharing
"More than expectation we need appreciation these days"
The best chef is an empty stomach.
Hunger is the best spice
'bhog mitho' in nepali literally translates to hunger delicious
The way to man's heart is his stomach you gonna say epicurus said too ha?!
Not really, on empty stomach one can eat anything , not literally eating anything.
Nice
I almost clicked out after 38 secs in this video, almost misunderstood "how could he say we only need to pursue pleasure and avoid pain? it's exact opposite to stoicism!", i'm glad i didn't leave in ignorance and got this beautiful understanding
I enjoyed an Epicurian day today, as I do most days. While most people were bustling around the shops buying “stuff” for Christmas, I picked a salad from my garden and then enjoyed it for my dinner - bliss. Then I had a chocolate from the box a friend gave me a couple of weeks ago. Now I’m knitting a pullover from yarn I spun myself from a fleece the shepherd didn’t want. As I count my blessings today, I feel wealthy and privileged - I have a modest home, just enough income for life’s essentials, a productive vegetable garden, and useful skills to keep my hands busy. Living with the rhythms of nature really is the only way to live an authentic life.
That was a beautiful video. Great job laying out the different levels of pleasure.
Thank you!
Keep up the videos dude! What you're doing is amazing.
Thank you, Lucas :)
I have been incredibly blessed to enjoy your content for years now, and I want to tell you thank you so much because it had a profound effect on my life. This particular video, however, is by far one of your best. I believe it can change peoples lives as it has touched mine very much I thank you so much and thank you for all the hard work you’ve done . Namaste!
Thank you for your generosity and nice to see you've enjoyed this video in particular. Epicurus' philosophy made quite an impression on me. Anyway, thank you for the support and compliments!
The OP delivers a back-handed compliment. No, Epicurus beats stoicism. Thank you to the author.
this is what True Philosophy is living a simple life with friends that are true to themselves making a garden and have philosophical convos, bonding,farming,cooking,eating together, playing musics, i imagine the ideal lifestyle, pleasure is the only good.
Love this way more than the stoics this is actually forward moving positive and has goals respects individual desire and will rather than resignation to the universe
Only philosophy that is not convoluted and emphasises that the truth lies in simplicity. His views on death are quite interesting too, his quote "Death is nothing to us" is one of my favorites.
I've agreed with pretty much everything here except for "death doesnt affect the living". I agree that the living are not the one's who died, however a loss of a friend or those close to you still hurts, whether it be death or moving or a friendship breaking. The death does hurt the living, not because it is death, but because someone they cared for is gone.
The reason why death is greater grieved than moving away or leaving is because there truly is no chance of seeing them again.
According to ajahn bhrahmawamso he tells life is like a concert and after a concert you don't cry. Cherish the sweet memories with him and don't cry.
I think that's wisdom we need to achieve
@@asankabandara8853 In that case I think my problem is that I do cry. At the end of a large project or amazing movie, or a wonderful con there is a little empty feeling in my stomach. A mourning of sorts that it's over. Ending have always felt bittersweet to me, no matter the type. And unlike cons or movies there's no chance to relive the joy next year if the person who you enjoyed is dead and gone.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
Been binge watching these in quarantine. Learning so many valuable lessons. Thank you!! May Peace be Upon Everyone 🙏🏽❤️✨
Now use them in practice! That's the hardest step but will fulfill your life the most :).
He welcomed women and slaves to his lectures and to participate in his projects. He was remarkable for his embrace of people others ignored or abused.
How telling that your piece on my favourite philosopher is 11:11 long… the man was an Angel in waiting, whether he believed in the afterlife or not.
Thank you
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
An overlooked philosopher that doesn´t get much attention in our time. I wonder what he would have thought about social media.
He was sadly labeled as Hedonist when Christianity raised.
How do you know he doesn't get much attention?
@@jonhohensee3258 Because he was the advocate for the saying: " - The one who has lived in silence has lived well!" Not exactly what the world of today in general would like as a mantra.
@@renehenriksen1735 - That proves absolutely nothing.
@@jonhohensee3258 Have you ever seen an atom?
Im not be Able to explain how Thankful I am finding this channel. Thank you! From the bottom of my heart ❤️
This has touch my soul. This has enlighten my vision.
I'm the type of person that does understand that happiness is not about having the fanciest car or the prettiest clothes, but I'm also not the type of person that can go against the rest of society and create my own path. It's kind of hard to do that in this rigid society, and I also care a great deal about what others think of me. I've been deprived of safe and healthy relationships during my childhood and therefore making people like me is the most important thing to me, so I do my best to not seem "too weird". But people are so obsessed with short-term pleasures and superficial thing nowadays, that I feel highly incompatible with most people. They seem to think that thinking deeply and enjoying the simple things in life is kind of silly, but I think that it's the most important part of life.
You don't have to prove nothing to NOBODY. Not even to yourself.
Sometimes you practice your ethics by the book and it's insufficient for certain given people to love you correctly. You are forced to prove...something according to environment people that compose it and if common sense conscience friendly principles & morals values are not enough you got the wrong people around you.
Hard lesson but take it from me a victim of autism squizo affective paranoid ADHD undiagnosed til I was 18 and ADHD not discovered til I was 40(roughly) but received comments based on incoherence....
I went ethics by the book...then you have to be emotionally tough & get used to their uncivilized garbage...no way felipe....WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET...my wholesome ethics is 1st of course
People want to get from you not give to you. THEY ABUSE when you have a heart to give
The problem of what others think about ourselves is that it is completely out of our control. So taught Epictetus.
@@ecelsozanato5603 They hate who they can't exploit plus thinking ill is just a way for them to feel better about themselves and their conscience bothering them they are trying to shut up & sooner or later their hearts harden....we don't want to be desired or gain interest of people like that because it will be their interest anyway (only serving ours enough to keep us hooked)
Beautiful and expensive things can be amazing depending upon HOW you enjoy them and WHO you enjoy them for. To look at something beautifully made like a vase or a drawing or a fine garment is a tribute to its maker, and the more expensive it is, the more likely it is that the person who made it did so with love, and that they were fairly remunerated. You are also keeping alive the traditions of their craft, which can die so easily.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
Another thought provoking video, very philosophical, very engaging, and has helped me in the dilemma that I have been having for a few weeks now.
Once again, much thanks for sharing this, and creating it. Steve UK
Reminds me of Daoism. It is interesting that the Greek philosophies and the Asian philosophies reached many of the same conclusions in regard to life. Excessive desire leads to suffering.
Philosophy of Pleasure: It Feels Good
Your videos are enormously beneficial and helping more people than you know. All of your content is well researched, produced and narrated. I am sure I speak for many when I say Thank You! 😃
i agree. thank you einzelganger!
As a person with personality based anhedonia and a somehow implanted believe by others that pleasure is bad and pointless, it was very useful for me to hear this. Instead of the philosophies that abolish pleasure
Beautiful video, touches inner core among us. Thank you for bringing this to us: all hail technology.
Vincit qui patitur.
He who endures, wins.
That's the ninja way!
🇭🇹🤔
Wins what, they can come at you with black magic and you will never know who sent the voices at you.
The Dude Abides.
Even though I'm an old subscriber, I just want to say that I'm so lucky to have found your channel Einzelgänger! I've been in deep depression the past few years and wanting to end my life but maybe the universe sent me on this channel to not to, ever since I knew Stoicism and your video on Albert Camus' Life is Absurd, I suddenly became okay, i don't know how but maybe your voice kinda healed me too and I'm really thankful for that, thankful to have finally found my cure, Einzelgänger. ♥️
I've been an epicurean for the past three years without knowing it. I'm glad there are others out there happy to be content :) Thank you for this video
Literally half of the time when I'm just on my phone in idle I get a notification telling me of a new video you have uploaded. It is a sign from the Gods that I must stop sitting idly!
Without even expecting, this video made my day better. I was grumpy about the chase of money but realized that I have a lot around me. I am abundant and have enough stuff to meet my daily needs.
Condolences man! Take your time we look forward to your return. All the best!
i love this video. i keep coming back to it every few months just to keep me in line with what really matters in life. thank you!:)
Einzelgänger, your videos are truely wonderful and inspiring! Thank you so much for all your efforts!
At most I enjoy the pieces you made aboút Taoism - maybe because that's the philosophy I probably lean most toward ... / I am currently reading your book "Unoffendable" and I am moved and impressed by the very personal way you chose to make your points.
So: Keep going & thanks again - you produce tremendously great stuff, which is a light within a great sad sea of nonsense, stupidity and bullshit, which is around us ... !
Einzelgänger i just wanted to deeply thank you for making this video , see i'm having some craving troubles lately that diverted me from some necessary work that i have to do but now i guess that i'll need to tame those cravings with healthier food , anyway i just wanted to thank you for giving me a new perspective on pleasure ,anyways like your videos and wish you nothing but the best
"The pleasure depends upon your philosophy on life."
Exactly! One can find pleasure in living a life of virtue. I don't think anything we do can be taken out of the pleasure/pain dynamic. It's how we are wired by evolution
I am learning a lot from your channel. Thanks for these videos on Philosophical topics🙏
Take me to your Garden and show me your wisdom till all of my years are done dear Epicurus!
lia Fuentes you can visit our place!
Valuable wisdom to be precise😅
May i visit your place?
Btw, what's this place?
Btw, this was for the Peepal Farm guy
@@weed3950 The Garden was Epicurus' school. He allowed women and slaves to attend there when none else did. I love him because of that and because his philosophy is just beautiful and Amazing!
x.x
The great thing and irony about Epicurus was that he did not believe in God but he lives a holy life. Thank you for the video!
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
he believed in god, he just thought humans shouldn't worry of think about it.
I find stoicism more practical in life than epicurism cause there are lots of troubles and pain in the world so where you can find pleasures in these moments, but as to stoic they suggest many helpful tools such as: indifference, memento Mori, virtues etc.
You can find pleasure in daily troubles by changing your attitude towards them.
@@elenavash.5749 Exactly.
troubles and pain spark growth and change
I don't feel you can find pleasure in pain ,well not as it happens or immediately afterwards but maybe in the future you can look back and see that the painfull event caused some good by making you grow or causing something good to happen ,anyway I know that painfully events and hardship will happen at anytime in my life so therefore my philosophy is to accept this and deal with them in a way that causes the least amount of suffering possible or don't make the situation any worse than it is.
thanks einzelganger! yes Epicurus is and will be one of the greatest masters.
This philosophy really resonates on me. I can totally relate to Epicurus' point of view, however I think a relevant amount of people don't agree with that. According to Epicurus, man only needs to fulfill his natural and necessary desires to be happy, such as food and shelter. Nonetheless, half of the world's population (or even more) live under the poverty line and does not have neither food security nor basic goods/services. How can we remain idle while so much people are suffering because they can't even get bread on their table each day? If wealthy people and middle class people gave up on vain desires, the world's population would be assured natural and necessary desires and we could as well live in harmony with nature. This would ensure everyone's dignity and set the foundation for a world community that raised its consciousness to the Universe.
it's like sacrificing one's live/energy for the live's that suffering from the world's challenges so that the one who are suffering can feel the happiness of stable life, while the one who's helping them sacrifice their time/energy, what i mean their fortunes
This question's my mind why middle/rich people help the miserable one's when the miserables one's still chose to exist on this world even the world is cruel to them
for intances, when one family know that the is world is cruel to them and life is a challenge then why they reproduce, when they know the sad fact of life
i'm confused, it's like blessed people help's the miserable one and the miserable one's overcome the suffering and have stable life and continues to grow until to become rich/middle and then the next generation benefit from the one's who make's sacrifice throught their life that who sacrifice their, time,energy, and happiness and what we call desires
I want to continue this but i guess no one will read it cause i'm just a wonderer who learns/from other people's point of view
If someone want's me to speak my mind
Give me some feedbacks i will return
Wow so incredible, Thanks for these incredible Ideas from Epicurus!
What's good are those people who keep by your side even when you left theirs.
Even when you feel no obligations to them, you still know they will have your back.
Commitments.
These are what is good.
Mind-blowing that such profound ideas have existed before thousands of years! Advances in science or technology doesn't mean we have more happiness
i have recommended your videos to so many friends and patients.... thank you
Enzel I just had to say I've been watching you for quite a while now and your content just keeps getting better and better. I really appreciate the work you're doing. It gives me very simple yet insightful teachings and mindsets in life that are invaluable. It has changed my life. Keep it up my guy!
Many thanks for posting. The importance of hedonism in our daily life should never be underestimated. 💗💗💗
1:55
Too much pleasure is pain.
In the long run it's like that
One of my fav vids on YT. Thank you.
Thank you, this was really insightful.
We are taught to seek hedonistic pleasure and totally lose the true self in that search.
No amount of external validation can fill the void of unfulfilment, only introspection can. Only by knowing can pleasure be joyful.
9:17 full body chills!
Absolutely Loved this & agree wholeheartedly. TY very much.
Thank you Dearly
Glad to finally see something on Epicurus here. Thanks.
I love your channel ! It's always so informative. Thank you.
the words carry so much power and i love listening to these powerful words which can make power shift in the perspectives. Love you......alottttt, stay in abundance and contentment always.
You made that trigger in my mind I desperately needed
Wonderful little talk that was mate.. Lifted me up.
Awesome video. I've always liked Epicureanism over Stoicism. Thanks for the video.
Thank you for the video. I'm an epicurean and I think this philosophy makes a lot more sense than the stoicism.
But how much pleasure is enough?
after this, I consider not to buy my next rolex watch
Instead maybe buy some nice steaks, invite some friends and have a good evening
@@TheMusicLauncher how about doing both! Buy a less expensive Rolex AND invite your loved ones for a few great times together 🙏
yaman mo boy
I used to like Epicurus but I find that he is essential saying to avoid the highs and lows of life by living a balanced, measured existence. To me, the greatest pleasures available in this world are experienced after exertion, discomfort, even calamity. For example, try this exercise:
Take off your shoes and socks. Okay, now what?
Take off your shoes and socks after walking 20 miles.
Contrary to what Epicurus is teaching, we should actually invite pain and seek out adversity for the simple reason that pleasure hides from us. We cannot directly seek it out.
I will add that his philosophy assumes that people know what they desire. Nothing can be further from the truth.
Former Garden Dweller
it is not a complete philosophy by today's standards, just makes some extremely valid points and points out mistakes that are still made to this day; I think we should invite some measure of discomfort to achieve performance and vitality and not lead an ascetic life; also eating bread and olives is possibly what ruined his health
"I find that he is essential saying to avoid the highs and lows of life by living a balanced, measured existence."
That is stoicism, not Epicurus
why are you walking 20 miles? If it is to do something meaningful, well, great. Of course, the meaning is in your mind and is your choice. You sound like an adrenaline junkie and that is your choice. Life has plenty of ups and downs and some of us don't need to create artificial ones. The idea is to be like a candle or light bulb burning at a modest rate for a longer period vs. burning at full strength for a short while. Perhaps it is simply a matter of personality and maybe there is no right or wrong way. I choose to save most my energy for matters I cannot avoid and think this prolong my mental and physical energies. Marathon runners often do NOT live longest while people who exercise slowly doing essential tasks for many hours a day do live longest. Attaining goals does lead to happiness and a bit of contentment, but I'd say those goals should be well-chosen - perhaps goals that have longer-lasting effects. If you feel the need to climb a mountain or run a marathon, it seems to me that your other life goals aren't strong enough. For example, maybe you fear running a successful business so choose the easier path of running a marathon, one where failure is less likely and less painful.
Thank you for making insightful videos!
Amazing video! It made me really think deeply about death. Thank you for an amazing video, man! You are always working hard on your videos and they are always of high quality. Keep it up 💪
I thought epicurean are pleasure seeking individuals while Stoics are pleasures shunning individual, however today i found out the true meaning of epicureanism. I have been prositalised to an epicurean
Sandy Stoicism isn’t about shunning pleasure, it’s the idea that life is not about seeking pleasure and living your life not in the contestant pursuit of happiness will allow you to be a better person, doing the right thing over doing what you want to do.
What is right thing ? What is right for you may not be for me. The universe we live in doesn't have right or wrong it just has facts. The Stoics care about virtuous behavior and living according to nature, while the Epicureans are all about avoiding pain and seeking natural and necessary pleasure. I prefer to take good parts from both to make my life happy and meaningful. There are parts like depending on friends and accepting the status quo which I shun from both philosophy.
@@sandeepvk "What is right thing????"
Think that you are 80 years old, ready to leave this world for good, at this time you having regrets like everyone else. So what kind of regrets do you have? You never married? You never married the right person? You never make kids? You never travel to different places? You treated people badly????
This is the easiest way to find what is right according to you.
@@JohnPap21 Those are all regrets due to missed opportunities. Maybe another 80 year old would have regrets about being married to someone he does not love anymore, and would have the desire to live again his life alone. The right thing does not exist outside of basic respect among people: that's the problem with stoicism, being a better person doesn't automatically make you happy. Seeking pleasure, on the other hand, will.
@@justthunderbolt40 Missed oportunities? What do you mean? Regrets = when its your own fault. If you lost a good job because they didn't pick you its not your fault so you have no regrets. You are not that bright as i can see.
I find no problem in agreeing with a great deal of his philosophy regardless of the athiestic aspects which are, after all, presumptions on his part. For instance, I agree that it is vitally important that we live in the present regardless if it is our only manifestation or not. My belief in an afterlife as central to my Catholic faith does not cause me to reject all the sensible and genuinely gratious tenets of Epicurus's philosophy. In fact, many teachings are quite similar: moderation, self-control, anti-materiasim, a relationship with the natural world, friendship. The ancient philosophers weren't about getting people to follow everything they said or wrote. They were more philanthropists who offered their ideas as options and sometimes much-needed medicine for their fellow human beings.
Thank you. I love your voice.
All wisdom is already given, already there, somewhere. We just have to know how to look for it
Religion is the wisdom
edit:my mom told me that so dont hate me lol.
@@lovepeaceisneverguaranteed7385 i mean no hate,but wisdom comes with knowledge and experience, tho i respect your opinion religion has few aspect that make people wise but not what experience and research/knowledge can give.
@@brahimmoussa1645 so basically religion is not knowledge in many ways pls read the bible..
@@lovepeaceisneverguaranteed7385 why is it always "read the bible", i was telling you what makes a man wise nothing else didnt tell you to go read something or do something, plus i didnt say religion is not knowledge i said it has limited knowledge compared to reading many books on many subjects and doing experiments in real life.
@@brahimmoussa1645 are u atheist?
Pleasures r so vast and many peopl get lost in it thats why samll pleasures r a big deal✌
Epicureanism is simply the most perfect philosophy in the history of mankind and will continue to be through the centuries.
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
It was a wonderful summerize. Thanks a lot man.
This is super therapeutic, this is life.
Thank you for yet another priceless video
Love your videos helps me alot with my mental health ❤
What a great video! Thanks mate
love the syncronicity of the time 11:11 of your video duration
Simplicity creates happiness
even though i agree so much with these insights i cant help but feel worry and regret all because of an idea of a successful life that is not even my idea.
its internalized in me subliminarly. its like the idea of my parents being ashamed of me is the worst case scenario
Einzelgänger please make a video called "How to keep in touch with your Euphoria for Stoics" or "How to not let your ego get carried away"
" I am neither a masochist nor a sadist. I have not come to religion to torture myself; just the opposite has been the case. In fact, I have never come to religion. I have simply been enjoying myself, and religion has happened just by the way. It has been a consequence. I have never practiced the way religious people practice, I have never been in that type of search. I have simply lived in deep acceptance of whatsoever is the case. I have accepted existence and myself, and I have never been in any mood to change myself. Suddenly, the more I accepted myself, the more I accepted existence, a deep silence descended upon me, a bliss. In that bliss, religion has happened to me. So I am not religious in the ordinary sense of the word. If you want to find a parallel, you will have to seek it somewhere other than in religion.
I feel deep affinity with a man who was born two thousand years before in Greece. His name was Epicurus. Nobody thinks of him as religious. People think that he was the most atheistic man ever born, the most materialistic ever born; he was just the opposite of the religious man. But that is not my understanding. Epicurus was a naturally religious man. Remember the words ′naturally religious′; religion happened to him. That′s why people overlooked him, because he never went to seek. The proverb: eat, drink and be merry, comes from Epicurus. And this has become the attitude of the materialist.
But Epicurus, in fact, lived one of the most austere of lives. He lived as simply as nobody has ever lived. Even a Mahavir or a Buddha were not so simple and austere as Epicurus - because their simplicity was cultivated; they had worked for it, it had been a practice. They had thought about it, and they had dropped all that was unnecessary. They had been disciplining themselves to be simple. And whenever there is discipline, there is complexity. There is a fight in the background, and the fight will always be there in the background. Mahavir was naked, nude; he had renounced all - but he had renounced. It was not natural.
Epicurus lived in a small garden. The garden was known as Epicurus′ garden. He had no academy like Aristotle, or a school like Plato; he had a garden. It seems simple and beautiful. A garden seems more natural than an academy. He lived in the garden with a few friends. That seems to be the first commune. They were just living there, not doing anything in particular, working in the garden, having just enough to live.
It is said that the king once came to visit...
And he had been thinking that this man must be living in luxury because his motto was: Eat, drink and be merry. ′If this is the message,′ the King thought, ′I will see people living in luxury, in indulgence.′ But when he arrived he saw very simple people working in the garden, watering trees. The whole day they had been working. They had very few belongings, only enough to live. And by the evening, when they were there having dinner, there was not even any butter; just dry bread and a little milk - but they enjoyed it as if it were a feast. After the dinner, they danced. The day was over and they offered a thanksgiving to the existence. And the King wept - because he had always thought to condemn Epicurus in his mind.
He asked, ′What do you mean by saying, "Eat, drink and be merry?"′
Epicurus said, ′You have seen. For twenty four hours we are happy here. And if you want to be happy, you have to be simple - because the more complex you are, the more unhappy you become. The more complex the life, the more misery it creates. We are simple not because we are seeking God, we are simple because to be simple is to be happy.′
And the King said, ′I would like to send some presents for you. What would you like for the garden and your community?′
And Epicurus was at a loss. He thought and thought and he said, ′We don′t think that anything else is needed. Don′t be offended; you are a great King, you can give everything - but we don′t need. If you insist, you can send a little salt and butter.′
He was an austere man.
In this austerity, religion happens naturally. You don′t think about God, there is no need to; life is God. You don′t pray with folded hands towards the sky; it is foolish. Your whole life, from the morning until the evening, is a prayer. Prayer is an attitude: you live it, you don′t do it."
Thank you.
We seem to be programmed to desire more, fighting against that feeling is what we are trying to achieve through Enlightenment, if there is such a thing.
Thank you for making this video
2:03 : What is the name of that painting? It's lovely.
One of my favourites other than the "How Epicurus Keeps Calm" video
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
@@thereisnonegoodbutgodjohn363 I’m an orthodox Christian, why you preaching to me
Excellent presentation !!
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
One of your best vids imo 👌👌
I've never wanted to be famous or rich honestly, its so much to keep up with. I honestly just want to live by nature, work little to focus on what makes me happy, have food and have shelter, I dont care the kind. I live in a huge city and it can be mentally draining, but I try my best to live mindfully and in the present as much as I can
The issue at hand is sin and God’s nature of being just. Sin brings suffering (the pleasure is short term, and the suffering is long term-on earth and in hell forever). God brings Righteousness (may have short term suffering followed by long term pleasure- on earth and in Heaven).
If you love yourself repent of your sins (lying, hatred, unforgiveness, sexual sins, taking the Lord’s Name in vain, stealing, dishonouring your parents etc) & believe in Jesus for forgiveness of sins. (Jesus died on the Cross as a sacrifice and defeated death by rising from the dead)
Epicurism seems very close to Buddhist teachings in a way when it comes to non-attachment to the material possessions and simple pleasures of simply having little or being.
This channel is so beautiful