Philosophy: The Ancient Path to Spiritual Health and Freedom

Ancient philosophy seeks wisdom for self-transformation, offering a path to freedom, spiritual healthiness, and the good life through internal success.

### Philosophy: The Ancient Path to the Good Life
* 📜 Modern philosophy is often filled with **technical jargon** and written for specialists, while ancient philosophy is primarily focused on the pursuit of **wisdom as a means of self-transformation**.
* 🏛 ️ Ancient philosophy was concerned with the art of living well, with Seneca stating that philosophy **molds one's personality, orders life, regulates conduct, and keeps one on the correct course** amidst life's challenges.
* Seneca viewed humans as sick creatures burdened with **illusions, misguided ambitions, fears, worries, and desires**, and he believed that **philosophy was the only cure for these ailments**.
* 🌿 "Philosophy is the **cure for our mental and spiritual diseases**, and for all the **sufferings and pains of human life**."
* 💭 Philosophy, divorced from observation, experience, and action, can become **idle speculation and hyper-intellectualism**.
* Seneca, along with many other classical thinkers, believed that philosophy was a path to **freedom, spiritual health, and ultimately, divinity**.
* 🌟 The good life, according to ancient philosophers, is not found through external success, riches, or love, but through **internal transformation guided by philosophy**. It is a quest for **peace, well-being, and happiness**.

so what is philosophy. Modern philosophy is full of technical jargon and seems to be written for other academics and specialists. Ancient philosophy, however, is concerned with the pursuit of wisdom as a catalyst for self-transformation. Philosophy used to be concerned with the art of living and living well. The ancient Stoic philosopher Seneca said, speaking on the value of philosophy, that it molds and builds the personality, orders one's life, regulates one's conduct, shows one what one should do and what one should leave undone, sits at the helm, and keeps one on the correct course as one is tossed about in perilous Seas. Without it, no one can lead a life free of fear and worry. Every hour of the day, countless situations arise that call for advice, and for that advice, we have to look to philosophy. Seneca observed that man was a sick creature. The mind of man is full of illusions, misguided ambitions, and burdened with fear, worries, and desires. The prima materia of mind is not well adapted to dealing with reality.

result we suffer on in our blindness and ignorance, and persist in our indulgences and vices. In Seneca's mind, as well as many other classical thinkers, the only cure is philosophy. If you are physically sick, said Seneca, you would devote your entire attention to recovering from your illness in the quickest possible time. Well then, aren't you going to do the same in these circumstances? These circumstances dealing with your mental and spiritual healthiness. Philosophy is the cure for our mental and spiritual disease, and for all the sufferings and pains of human life. However, philosophy divorced of observation, experience, and action becomes idle speculation and the hyper-intellectualism that plagues modern Academia. It is heady [ ] that serves no end but confusion. Philosophy is less about logic and speculation, and more about understanding virtue and acceptance. Philosophy is a path to freedom and spiritual healthiness, and moreover, it is a path to divinity. Let a man retire and the common crowd

will think him as leading a life apart free of all cares self-contented living for himself. When in fact, not one of these blessings can be won by anyone other than the philosopher. He alone knows how to live for himself. He is the one, in fact, who knows the fundamental thing: how to live. Seneca so many people are waiting to arrive. They think once they retire, once they get the new job, the girlfriend, the family, money, success, you know, then they're gonna be happy, then they're gonna have the good life. But if you're seeking the good life at some end, it never is going to come. The good life can only result from an internal transformation that is guided by Philosophy. For philosophy molds the character and brings order into our lives and creates a proper and strong disposition towards all the things we have to face. Because guess what, even if you do make it one day, right, and you have the success and you have the money and you have the family and community and everything you want, there's still gonna be challenges. You're

still gonna want more people are still gonna die around you. You're still gonna get sick. They're still gonna be like, you know, really, the bigger you grow, the further you get, the bigger the challenges become. So instead of seeking riches first and external success, maybe along the way, we should pursue internal success and the internal structure that's going to allow us to actually enjoy the riches or enjoy the poverty, enjoy the challenges, enjoy the loss, and enjoy the gain. And I think that's what these ancient philosophers hold out to humanity. Someone like Seneca, Plato, Platinus, Marcus Aurelius, and all the ancient warrior philosophers. Philosophy is a catalyst for the structuring of the mind and the ordering of one's life to bring about the highest peace, well-being, and happiness. It is the quest for the good life. The good life is not something you find through success or riches or even love. The lonely think the lovers have it, the poor think the rich have it, the rich think the kings have it, the kings think the priests know.

of it the priests search for in other worlds and preach of Heaven. Only the philosopher knows the good life, and only the sage possesses it. And though many listen to their wisdom, few sincerely apply it and find their own. Seneca says philosophy is not something one takes up in odd moments. She's an active, full-time mistress, ever present and demanding, demanding of you to rise up to her. Philosophy is not merely an intellectual pursuit reserved for quiet moments and dusty books. She must be courted as a lover. Philosophy is a way of life, and it is an art best suited to warriors. Wisdom loves only the warrior, Nietzsche said. For wisdom, it's a woman. A philosopher must not solely speculate; he must live into his deepest realizations if he wishes to progress into authentic wisdom and virtue. A philosopher must cultivate his understanding of himself and reality in steady pursuit of peace and the good life, and most of all, he must think and live heroically if he is to touch the deep cords of life and know the truth.

is why we call ourselves wisdom Warriors for philosophy. Without action, is sheer mental masturbation. Don't be a spectator. Go to work, my friends. [Music] Thank you. Thanks for watching wisdom Warriors. I'm Christian. Please smash that subscribe button and Bell notification for more videos on philosophy, the Warrior's Way, Seneca stoicism, you name it. Thanks for being here. Peace.

Ancient Path of Philosophy - Seneca

Wisdom Warriors

The Purpose of Philosophy in Self-Transformation

Ancient philosophy focuses on the pursuit of wisdom for self-transformation, aiming to regulate conduct and provide advice for living well.

Seneca and other classical thinkers believed that philosophy is the cure for mental and spiritual suffering, guiding individuals towards freedom and divinity.

However, modern philosophy, filled with technical jargon, has moved away from this practical approach, becoming more focused on speculation and intellectualism.

The Key Role of Philosophy in Achieving the Good Life

Philosophy, according to Seneca, is the only path to the good life, not external achievements.

The pursuit of external success and riches will not lead to lasting happiness, as the real key to the good life is internal transformation.

Ancient philosophers like Seneca and Plato believed that philosophy is essential for bringing order to one's life and finding true peace and well-being.

Philosophy is not just a part-time pursuit, but a demanding way of life that requires full commitment.

It is likened to a lover that must be courted, particularly suited for warriors and those who live heroically.

The true philosopher is not only a thinker but also a practitioner, constantly seeking wisdom, virtue, and the good life.

The Importance of Taking Action in Philosophy

Taking action is emphasized as crucial in philosophy, rather than being a mere spectator.

The host encourages viewers to engage and subscribe for more content on philosophy and the Warrior's Way.