In this post I take up point number 4, for both extroverts as well as the introvert "sensitive souls" among us.
As Epicureans how do we see ourselves in relation to the world? And how do we feel our own self-presence? How do we move through the world? How do we inhabit the world?
There is a Bible verse about "being in the world but not of it", but as Epicureans I would suggest that we take up the opposite idea -- of being in the world AND of it. We are not separate from the world and we aren't going somewhere better when we die. This is it. So how do we want to live this one life that we have?
For the sensitive soul we may decide to create and spend some time in a nice nest or retreat (maybe a "man-cave"/"woman-cave" we've set up somewhere in our homes). This could be a place for creative activities and/or for meditation. Yet, fully inhabiting this world has so much to offer -- beauty, fun, and pleasurable new experiences. Making wise choices, we can venture out of our homes to experience the pleasurable aspects as we see fit, and keeping in mind the results of our actions. And as Principal Doctrine 8 says:
"No pleasure is bad in itself; but the means of paying for some pleasures bring with them disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves."
We can set the intention to experience what we can, now, and be in the world in the fullness of pleasure. And sometimes we need to overcome subtle feelings of uncertainty, and move forward with activities that will bring us greater joy and well-being over the long-term. I am specifically thinking about activities which may bring up feelings of social akwardness in which we may need to "feel the fear and do it anyway" (btw, this is a self-help quote from a book by Susan Jeffers).
As Epicureans we enjoy the activity of studying, thinking, and philosophizing -- yet we need to make time to move and be in our bodies. Being outdoors is a great way to more fully inhabit the world, and being sure to add in some "mindfulness" to this experience - opening up our eyes, ears, nose, skin-sense, and body-sense (observations of all of our surroundings -- and sensing the sun and wind, etc. -- feeling all the sensations of our own bodily movement and our inhalations and exhalations).
And finally, for myself, as I think of inhabiting the world more fully, it brings up the desire to share Epicurean philosophy with others. This is still something that I am working on, as to how exactly to do it, since it requires clear knowledge and understanding and also finding those who might be interested in hearing about it.
There is a Bible verse about "being in the world but not of it", but as Epicureans I would suggest that we take up the opposite idea -- of being in the world AND of it. We are not separate from the world and we aren't going somewhere better when we die. This is it. So how do we want to live this one life that we have?
For the sensitive soul we may decide to create and spend some time in a nice nest or retreat (maybe a "man-cave"/"woman-cave" we've set up somewhere in our homes). This could be a place for creative activities and/or for meditation. Yet, fully inhabiting this world has so much to offer -- beauty, fun, and pleasurable new experiences. Making wise choices, we can venture out of our homes to experience the pleasurable aspects as we see fit, and keeping in mind the results of our actions. And as Principal Doctrine 8 says:
"No pleasure is bad in itself; but the means of paying for some pleasures bring with them disturbances many times greater than the pleasures themselves."
We can set the intention to experience what we can, now, and be in the world in the fullness of pleasure. And sometimes we need to overcome subtle feelings of uncertainty, and move forward with activities that will bring us greater joy and well-being over the long-term. I am specifically thinking about activities which may bring up feelings of social akwardness in which we may need to "feel the fear and do it anyway" (btw, this is a self-help quote from a book by Susan Jeffers).
As Epicureans we enjoy the activity of studying, thinking, and philosophizing -- yet we need to make time to move and be in our bodies. Being outdoors is a great way to more fully inhabit the world, and being sure to add in some "mindfulness" to this experience - opening up our eyes, ears, nose, skin-sense, and body-sense (observations of all of our surroundings -- and sensing the sun and wind, etc. -- feeling all the sensations of our own bodily movement and our inhalations and exhalations).
And finally, for myself, as I think of inhabiting the world more fully, it brings up the desire to share Epicurean philosophy with others. This is still something that I am working on, as to how exactly to do it, since it requires clear knowledge and understanding and also finding those who might be interested in hearing about it.
