Spirituality Lesson 8 - Different Spiritual Philosophies

Spirituality - Lesson 8 – Different Spiritual Philosophies There are in existence at this moment in time, in the year 2013, numerous paths of wisdom and enlightenment available for humans to study. The various spiritual philosophies have names such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Paganism just to name a few. Humans can manifest different perceptions of various philosophies due to cultural diversity. People are raised under unique social conditions with laws and belief systems than can vary widely. Perceptions and perspectives of truth, justice and morality can change over time. Pyrrho of Elis was a philosopher who lived from 360 to 275 BCE and is credited with being the first Skeptical philosopher. His doctrines were recorded by his pupil, Timon of Philus who wrote "No assertion can be known to be better than another .Pyrrho traveled with Alexander the Great whose influence initiated several centuries of cultural exchange between Greece and Central Asia as well as Eastern Asia. Another person named Sextus Empiricus who lived from 160 to 210 AD was also a skeptical philosopher. His philosophical work is the most complete surviving account of ancient Greek and Roman skepticism. Sextus advises that humans should suspend judgment about virtually all beliefs, in other words, humans should neither affirm any belief as true nor deny any belief as false. Sextus Empiricus goes on to say that we can affirm claims about our own experiences, feelings and sensations. The philosophy of skepticism has influenced many belief systems in existence today. Cynicism is also a philosophy that has influenced many systems of belief. A man named Antisthenes who had been a pupil of Socrates is regarded as the founder of Cynic philosophy. He lived in Greece from 445 to 365 BCE and he advocated living a very simple ascetic life in accordance with moral excellence. It is believed that Antisthenes greatly influenced another man named Diogenes of Sinope who lived in Greece from 412 to 323 BCE. Diogenes is also considered to be a founder of Cynic philosophy and a very colorful character. According to some historical accounts he lived in the marketplace and his dwelling place was a large ceramic jar. It was recorded that he often scorned the philosophies of Plato. He criticized and challenged the established customs and values that people in his time held dear .He was reported to have written several books but none of his writings have ever been recovered. A pupil of Diogenes was named Crates of Thebes who is also regarded as a Cynic philosopher. Crates lived from 365 to 285 BCE. Crates cynic philosophy was to live in agreement with nature and unshackle one's self from any needs which are the results of conventions of society. He believed that false judgments of value can cause negative emotions and result in a person being vicious in character. Crates was a teacher of Zeno of Citium who was the founder of the Stoic school of philosophy. Stoicism advocates using reason as a means of overcoming negative destructive emotions and achieving self control and fortitude during periods of conflict in one's life.  Zeno's philosophy of stoicism taught that virtue or positive character traits exist with reason.  Conversely, vice or negative character traits can only exist with the rejection of reason. Another person named Marcus Aurelius wrote his perspectives of stoic philosophy in a series of personal notes known as Meditations. Marcus Aurelius lived from 121 AD to 180 Ad and was known as the last of the Five Good Emperors of Rome. He described how he found harmony in the midst of conflict by following Nature as a source of guidance and inspiration. He wrote that rationality and clear mindedness allow one to live with harmony and tranquility in the soul. My favorite quotation from Meditations is….. If you are pained by any external thing, it is not this that disturbs you but your own judgment about it. And it is within your power to wipe out this judgment now. The last philosophy that I believe has influenced humans for many centuries is Epicureanism. Epicurus was a Greek philosopher who lived from 341 to 270 BCE. Epicurus believed that avoidance of pain can bring happiness. He taught that pleasure can be obtained by living modestly and by gaining knowledge of the workings of the world and the limits of one's desires. He placed emphasis on the pleasures of the mind rather than on physical pleasures. He advised seeking knowledge to rid one's self of religious fears and superstitions. Epicurus affirmed the idea that all humans have free will. At the time Epicurus lived, many Gods and Goddesses were believed to exist and were worshiped and feared by many people. Epicurus did not deny the existence of any God or Goddess. He simply broke from god fearing and god worshiping philosophies and traditions that were common in Greece during that time period. He did affirm that religious activities and rituals can be a useful way to contemplate the positive qualities or attributes humans living in that time period believed Gods and Goddesses possessed. Epicurus affirmed that laws that do not contribute to human happiness are not just. According to the philosophy of Epicurus the basic ingredients in the recipe for happiness are the absence of pain, freedom from fear and tranquility in the mind. The spiritual philosophies of Skepticism, Cynicism, Stoicism and Epicureanism continue to influence human perceptions of truth, justice, morality and happiness. The philosophies I mentioned here are but a small fraction of the spiritual philosophies that have influenced and will continue to influence humans throughout time. As a Universal minister I feel it is my role to act as a guide for others so that they can become aware that unique spiritual philosophies exist and all of these philosophies have value. Respectfully submitted by Rev. Susan K. Bowers