Building upon many years of privately shared thoughts on the real benefits of Stoic Philosophy, Liam Milburn eventually published a selection of Stoic passages that had helped him to live well. They were accompanied by some of his own personal reflections. This blog hopes to continue his mission of encouraging the wisdom of Stoicism in the exercise of everyday life. All the reflections are taken from his notes, from late 1992 to early 2017.
The Death of Marcus Aurelius
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Wisdom from the Bhagavad Gita 7
49. Work with desire is verily far inferior to that performed with the mind undisturbed by thoughts of results. O Dhananjaya, seek refuge in this evenness of mind. Wretched are they who act for results.
50. Endued with this evenness of mind, one frees oneself in this life, alike from vice and virtue. Devote yourself, therefore, to this Yoga. Yoga is the very dexterity of work.
51. The wise, possessed of this evenness of mind, abandoning the fruits of their actions, freed forever from the fetters of birth, go to that state which is beyond all evil.
52. When your intellect crosses beyond the taint of illusion, then shall you attain to indifference, regarding things heard and things yet to be heard.
53. When your intellect, tossed about by the conflict of opinions, has become immovable and firmly established in the Self, then you shall attain Self-realisation.
Arjuna said:
54. What, O Keshava, is the description of the man of steady wisdom, merged in Samâdhi (Concentration)? How, on the other hand, does the man of steady wisdom speak, how sit, how walk?
The Blessed Lord said:
55. When a man completely casts away, O Pârtha, all the desires of the mind, satisfied in the Self alone by the Self, then is he said to be one of steady wisdom.
56. He whose mind is not shaken by adversity, who does not hanker after happiness, who has become free from affection, fear, and wrath, is indeed the Muni (Sage) of steady wisdom.
57. He who is everywhere unattached, not pleased at receiving good, nor vexed at evil, his wisdom is fixed.
58. When also, like the tortoise its limbs, he can completely withdraw the senses from their objects, then his wisdom becomes steady.
—Bhagavad Gita, 2:49-58
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