The Importance of Practice: From the Teachings of Musonius Rufus (vegetarian), Part 2 of 2

Let us continue the discourses “On Training” and “What means of livelihood is appropriate for a philosopher?” where students and teachers are encouraged to practice being virtuous for spiritual upliftment.

“Training which is peculiar to the soul consists first of all in seeing that the proofs pertaining to apparent goods as not being real goods are always ready at hand and likewise those pertaining to apparent evils as not being real evils, and in learning to recognize the things which are truly good and in becoming accustomed to distinguish them from what are not truly good. In the next place, it consists of practice in not avoiding any of the things which only seem evil and in not pursuing any of the things which only seem good; in shunning by every means those which are truly evil and in pursuing by every means those which are truly good.

And yet, in spite of understanding this, because of the depravity which has become implanted in us straight from childhood and because of evil habits engendered by this depravity, when hardship comes, we think evil has come upon us, and when pleasure comes, our way we think that good has befallen us; we dread death as the most extreme misfortune; we cling to life as the greatest blessing, and when we give away money we grieve as if we were injured, but upon receiving it we rejoice as if a benefit had been conferred.

Since, then, I repeat, all this is the case, the person who is in training must strive to habituate himself not to love pleasure, not to avoid hardship, not to be infatuated with living, not to fear death, and in the case of goods or money not to place receiving above giving.”

WHAT MEANS OF LIVELIHOOD IS APPROPRIATE FOR A PHILOSOPHER? “Speaking generally, if one devotes himself to the life of philosophy and tills the land at the same time, I should not compare any other way of life to his nor prefer any other means of livelihood. For is it not ‘living more in accord with nature’ to draw one’s sustenance directly from the earth, which is the nurse and mother of us all, rather than from some other source?

But surely it is plain that not to require another’s help for one’s need is more dignified than asking for it. How very good and happy and blessed of Heaven is the life of the soil when along with it the goods of the spirit are not neglected.”