
Stoic Mindfulness
The theme for May is Prosoche, the ancient Greek word for “focused attention” used by the Stoics. Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius emphasized that focused attention is necessary to understand “what is up to us” and to reduce self-deception that leads us away from virtue.
Where Buddhism emphasizes letting go of desire to reduce suffering and attachment to this life, Stoicism emphasizes that the only good desire is towards virtue, and the only virtuous actions are towards the welfare of the community, of which we are an essential part.
