“Hence the disciple of the Ancient Wisdom is taught to realize that man is not essentially a personality, but a spirit.”

~ Manly P. Hall

In these troubling times of perpetual man-made conflict and recent natural disasters, let us now embrace the practical teachings of a wise old Stoic called Epictetus.

So why not apply this stoic wisdom daily so to calm our minds and strengthen our wills against all adversity.

As Epictetus advised regarding one who is experiencing trials and tribulations:

Chapter 24

How we should struggle with circumstances

It is circumstances which show what men are. Therefore when a difficulty
falls upon you, remember that God, like a trainer of wrestlers, has matched you
with a rough young man. “For what purpose?” you may say, Why, that you may
become an Olympic conqueror; but it is not accomplished without sweat. In my
opinion no man has had a more profitable difficulty than you have had, if you
choose to make use of it as an athlete would deal with a young antagonist. We
are now sending a scout to Rome; but no man sends a cowardly scout, who, if he
only hears a noise and sees a shadow anywhere, comes running back in terror and
reports that the enemy is close at hand. So now if you should come and tell us,
“Fearful is the state of affairs at Rome, terrible is death, terrible is exile;
terrible is calumny; terrible is poverty; fly, my friends; the enemy is near”;
we shall answer, “Begone, prophesy for yourself; we have committed only one
fault, that we sent such a scout.”

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Could this be Jesus resurrected in the 21st century? No. It's in fact Sanderson Beck - A man with much beneficial knowledge to share

I came across an amazing site long ago whilst searching for websites on the subjects of “truth, knowledge and wisdom”.

Here is a short biography on the man who is responsible for the aforementioned site:

Sanderson Beck was born March 5, 1947 in Los Angeles. He earned a B.A. in Dramatic Art from the University of California at Berkeley, an M.A. in Religious Studies from U.C. Santa Barbara, Ph.D. candidacy in the Philosophy of Education from U.C.L.A., and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the World University. He was a Conscientious Objector during the Vietnam War. In 1982 he formulated World Peace Movement Principles, Purposes, and Methods, and in 1987 he traveled to 47 states and met with 600 peace groups to promote peace and disarmament. He has been arrested many times for nonviolently protesting nuclear weapons and military intervention and in 1989 was imprisoned for six months. Sanderson has taught Philosophy and many other subjects at the World University since 1976.

On September 1, 2001 World Peace Communications was incorporated as a nonprofit organization for educational, literary, and charitable purposes. Sanderson’s versions of the Wisdom Classics have been published as the WISDOM BIBLE in 2002. Sanderson published the Nonviolent Action Handbook and GUIDES TO PEACE AND JUSTICE in 2003. He became an official candidate for President of the United States in December 2002, and in May 2003 he endorsed Dennis Kucinich. The first six volumes of the ETHICS OF CIVILIZATION were published by 2005, and three more volumes were published by 2008. GUIDES TO PEACE AND JUSTICE was expanded and came out as the two-volume HISTORY OF PEACE in July 2005, followed by The Art of Gentle Living in September, BEST FOR ALL: How We Can Save the World in November, and Confucius and Socrates in 2006. In July 2008 Beck published The Good Message of Jesus the Christ, Peace or Bust, 4 Screenplays, Socrates Plays, and George Washington.

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Row (Busts) of Ancient Greek Philosophers: Socrates; Antisthenes; Chrysippus; Epicurus (Picture taken at the British Museum by Lawrence OP)

I hereby issue a plea for everyone to embrace the wise thinkers of ancient times, and for posterity not to ever forget these men we like to call philosophers.

Let’s pay homage to these ancient philosophers who are inexplicably forgotten by the modern generations who live in a realm of superficiality, conflict, celebrity worship, technological dependency and general ignorance of themselves.

The wisdom to be found from reading the philosophical works of these men could, if we wished, serve an important function in guiding us all towards peace, unity and common sense which can make this world a paradise of joy and reason – but as things stand today, maybe that is a dream only Utopia can conjure up.

Most importantly, we must not forget the teachings that these philosophers provided, as they dived head first into the deep oceans of thought and attentiveness towards observing themselves,  humanity and nature.  Through their own self-learning they ceaselessly sought Truth so to provide us with the foundations to build a impregnable wall of wisdom for ourselves.

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Read part 1 of the series: ‘Manly P. Hall’s Lessons of Self-Unfoldment (Part 1): Personal Growth’.

I wish to share with you selected passages from the book ‘Self-unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization’ written by Manly P. Hall.

This book contains many wise lessons and practical instructions on how we can penetrate deep within ourselves so to understand the Truth of who we are, and how we fit into this universal existence.

The ultimate aim is to attain the self-knowledge for us to grow effortlessly towards wisdom and a blessed life.

I am still in the process of reading this fascinating book, and will endeavor to post more enlightening and insightful passages as I go along.

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I wish to share with you selected passages from the book ‘Self-unfoldment by Disciplines of Realization’ written by Manly P. Hall.

This book contains many wise lessons and practical instructions on how we can penetrate deep within ourselves so to understand the Truth of who we are, and how we fit into this universal existence.

The ultimate aim is to attain the self-knowledge for us to grow effortlessly towards wisdom and a blessed life.

I am still in the process of reading this fascinating book, and will endeavor to post more enlightening and insightful passages as I go along.

Read more…