Art by Daniel Bogni
The Stoic concept of Apatheia
refers to a state of mind in which one is not disturbed by the passions.
Passion means suffering. Philosophy
for the Stoics was a therapeutic of the passions. Philosophy means love of
wisdom. Passion and love of wisdom were in that way interrelated.
We have all had suffering of
some kind or another, physical or psychic suffering, the suffering of
self-pity, the suffering of the human race, both collective and personal. And we
know what sorrow is, the death of someone whom you consider you have loved.
When we remain with that suffering
totally, without trying to rationalize it, without trying to escape from it in
any form – through words or through action – when you remain with it
completely, without any movement of thought, then you will find that out of
that suffering comes passion. That passion has the quality of love of wisdom,
and love has no suffering.
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