3.5 stars. Enjoyed it and especially recommend it for someone new to Stoicism. Robertsons does a great job at explaining the modern value of Stoicism 3.5 stars. Enjoyed it and especially recommend it for someone new to Stoicism. Robertsons does a great job at explaining the modern value of Stoicism and how closely related it is to cognitive behavior therapy. Stoicism is very close to Buddhism but the main difference is that Stoicism favors external ideals and the intellect whereas one can experience the transient nature of experience by meditating and thereby eventually reaching the final goal. Stoics believe that one can by using ones rational faculties see through our own failures. I just think that the tendency can be to be too much in your head rather than in your body by doing that. ...more
I have been interested in spirituality since I went to my first 10 day retreat and have since then meditated in the vipassana tradition. This buddhistI have been interested in spirituality since I went to my first 10 day retreat and have since then meditated in the vipassana tradition. This buddhist tradition emphasizes the "annicca" aspect of buddhism - that is to say that everything is always changing. Once you notice that nothing is rock solid you are free to realize that the "I" is an illusion which by itself allows you to let go of your craving.
This insight could however take a really long time to reach which was the main reasons I started looking for alternatives. Why can't one start by looking for the "I" and thereby seeing its illusory nature? Wouldn't that be a quicker way to enlightenment? Non-duality (or advaita vedanta) is the view that there are not two things, but that everything is One. Everything is part of consciousness. (A perspective frightfully close to solipsism).
Gary Weber is a spiritual teacher in the non-duelist tradition. He has a scientific background which helps to provide some more objective legitimacy for the subjective nature of this tradition. I was glad to read that most people who have become enlightened have had some method before arriving at there (which is something many gurus in this tradition deny as there is ONLY NOW). Mr. Weber goes through different ways to practice like singing and thought exercises (one of which I use daily).
I still have my doubts about the tradition as I find it difficult to convince myself that there are no objects in the world and that everything is a part of me. Buddhism, on the other hand, doesn't state that the world is an illusion but rather emphasizes emptiness of concepts. Of the "I". This means that concepts in themselves have no essence and that you therefore shouldn't take them too seriously. "You are real. (But you're not really real)" as one Buddhist teacher put it.
I would recommend this book to anyone with a more serious interest in spirituality. ...more
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