“For life is granted to us with the reservation that we shall die; to this end our path leads.” Seneca
To start this letter, Seneca speaks to Lucilius regarding their old friend, Bassus. Bassus is “wrestling with his years” and unfortunately, in Seneca’s eyes, is about to pass. Seneca takes this opportunity to speak frankly about his views on passing away, and, as I have mentioned before, Seneca has conflicting viewpoints on death and dying. However, he mentions that Bassus is an active fellow and that “philosophy bestows this boon upon us; it makes us joyful in the very sight of death, strong and brave no matter in what state the body may be, cheerful and never failing though the body fails us.” Seneca stresses that Bassus is contemplating his remaining time on this earth with courage, which he desires all of us should do at one point or another. Then Seneca speaks openly about his views:
“I hold that one is braver at the very moment of death than when one is approaching death. For death, when it stands near us, gives even to inexperienced men the courage not to seek to avoid the inevitable.”
Seneca then discusses his desire to live every moment without the fear of death. Judging by Seneca’s death (a forced suicide by Nero) he took his own advice rather seriously. However, in this letter he goes on to say that he is unsure who gives greater courage: those who “call for death” or those who meet death “cheerfully and tranquilly.” Seneca speaks of how a “man who has long since composed himself for death” might be better off since he has contemplated it beforehand, one time or many. Finally, he speaks of fearing the thought of death versus death itself. The Stoics believed that the thought, or impression, of an event, especially an event in the future, can either be worrisome (if you let it) or just that, an impression that neither is a positive or a negative; it just is. Pausing and taking an extended break from the event in question is what the Stoics practiced, and we could all use this practice, some, like me, more than others.
Reflection: This letter demonstrates the Stoic’s belief in sharing the “briefest moments of now” with others and the principle of taking every opportunity to show virtue with your loved ones, at least that is the message that I’ve taken. The basic belief in being mindful that every moment should be taken with gratitude and grace is something that the practitioners of Buddhism, Stoicism, and other belief systems share. But the implementation of these practices is something that I need to work on, and as I improve, I need to add these habits.
What habits and practices do you need to work on?