🖼️ Monday Muse
The Monday Muse is a weekly collection of reminders, insights, and maxims on the art of living. The term “muse” has two meanings: (1) a state of deep thought; and (2) a source of inspiration. May the following (in a small way) be a source of contemplation, insight, and wisdom to live your highest good.
📌 Perennial Reminder(s)
The American philosophy professors Meghan Sullivan and Paul Blaschko (previous podcast guests) on the essential human task:
In ancient Greek, a telos is an aim that gives meaning and direction to an activity. For teleological creatures like us, finding the right life goals, and figuring out how to accomplish them, is the essential human task. Aristotle thinks we are like archers, always trying to fix a far-off target in our sights.
He called the goal eudaimonia—The Good Life.
Other ancient philosophers describe this fundamentally human task as ‘joining up your circles’—joining your short-term plans with more essential goods; your present moment with your past and future; your own life with the lives of others around you; your current desires with a vision for how your life will all fit together into a coherent and meaningful whole. […]
Source: The Good Life Method
📜 Perennial Maxim(s)
The French writer Voltaire (1694—1778) on choosing your state of mind:
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💡 Perennial Insight(s)
The American philosopher and translator Nic Bommarito (a previous podcast guest) on dealing with harsh truths:
Impermanence can be easy to accept as an abstract, intellectual idea, but death makes it personal and tangible. One day each of us will stop breathing and be separated from everyone and everything we care about. …
These reflections can seem pretty grim. That’s why it’s important to remember their role in the larger context of Buddhist practice. They help us to get used to harsh truths about how the world is and change our habitual responses to accommodate those truths. In this sense, it’s a bit like when a therapist helps their patient work through unpleasant realities in order to better deal with them. […]
Source: Seeing Clearly: A Buddhist Guide to Life
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W. Bertolotti
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