Perspectives

How do you navigate your life? Do you possess a framework for understanding experiences, both joyous and challenging? French philosopher Pierre Hadot characterized philosophy as a lifestyle composed of three elements: metaphysics (the nature of reality), ethics (principles of right conduct), and practices (exercises for improvement).

Here are three universal perspectives drawn from various wisdom traditions:

1. Impermanence — The Buddha taught, “All conditioned things are impermanent — when one sees this with wisdom, one turns away from suffering.”
2. Interconnectedness — In his work, Meditations, Marcus Aurelius advised, “You should meditate often on the connection of all things in the universe and their relationship to each other.”
3. Beginner’s Mind — Shunryu Suzuki expressed in Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, “In the beginner’s mind, there are many possibilities, but in the expert’s, there are few.” This reflects a sense of humility and eagerness to learn.

Our perspectives influence the principles we adopt. For instance, recognizing impermanence can prompt us to understand that tomorrow is uncertain. Seneca wisely stated, “The future lies in uncertainty; live immediately.”

Principles

To navigate life effectively, it's beneficial to embrace a set of enduring virtues. Plato outlined four cardinal virtues in The Republic: wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. These virtues are nearly universal and have been integrated into Christianity and much of Western thought.

While the term virtue may seem antiquated, its relevance remains. Virtue (or arete) signifies excellence or moral integrity. It embodies the pursuit of one’s fullest potential and the highest good.

• Courage — Aristotle noted in Nicomachean Ethics, “Our aim is not to know what courage is but to be courageous; not to know what justice is but to be just.” We should view virtue as a call to action.
• Temperance — This can be understood as moderation and self-control. The Stoic philosopher Musonius Rufus indicated, “If we were to measure what is good by how much pleasure it brings, nothing would be better than self-control.”
• Justice — Justice encompasses fairness and kindness. Henry James famously asserted, “Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind.”
• Wisdom — Socrates redefined wisdom as an awareness of how little we truly understand about ourselves, others, and the world.

Our guiding principles act as a compass throughout life. Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard emphasized the necessity of discovering a truth to live by. Seneca encouraged Lucilius, “Adopt once and for all a single rule to live by, and make your whole life conform to it.” The principles we choose determine our direction and intention in life.

Practices

When discussing practices, many options exist within various philosophical and spiritual traditions. Consider practices such as meditation, journaling, prayer, and memento mori.

Here are three significant practices:

1. Meditation — Pema Chödrön explains, “The practice of meditation teaches us how to relate to life directly, so we can truly experience the present moment, free from conceptual overlay.”
2. Journaling — This practice helps us reflect on our day with objectivity. Seneca remarked in On Anger, “When the lamp is taken out of my sight…, I pass the whole day in review before myself, and repeat all that I have said and done.”
3. Contemplation — Aristotle posited, “Contemplation is the highest activity of human life,” while theologian Meister Eckhart suggested, “What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.”

Although there is much more to explore regarding the timeless art of living, it begins with crafting a philosophy that guides your life. The art of living involves reflecting on your perspectives, principles, and practices.

Thank you for reading; I hope you found valuable insights.

If you wish to learn more, consider checking out Perennial Meditations on Substack or one of our podcasts.

The first video, The Art of Life, explores essential insights and philosophies that can enhance your understanding of living meaningfully.

The second video, The Timeless Art of Team Building & Leadership Development with Brian Carruthers, discusses the importance of collaboration and effective leadership in personal and professional contexts.