Placers of folk wisdom. The Infinite Wisdom of Marcus Aurelius for Every Day The Doctrine of Peace of Mind

Talking a lot and saying a lot are not the same thing.

Who seeks - he finds.

The sweetness of life is not in wisdom.

The inexorable temper is likely to give up.

Zeno of China

(c. 334 BC, Kition, Cyprus) - c. 262 BC e., Athens, Greece)

Ancient Greek philosopher, founder of the Stoic school.

Love is the desire for rapprochement, caused by the appearance of beauty.

One must live in accordance with nature, and this is the same as living in accordance with virtue.

A friend is our other self.

We have two ears and one mouth so that we listen more and talk less.

(480 BC, Greece - 406 BC, Ancient Macedonia)

Ancient Greek tragedian, representative of the new Attic tragedy.

You should not mourn the dead, but the one who is born for a hard struggle with the hardships of life.

Mouth swore; the mind is not bound by an oath.

Death itself is less painful than its expectation.

If you value your life, remember that others value theirs just as much.

True courage is caution.

The king must remember three things: that he governs the people, that he is obliged to govern them according to the laws, that he will not govern forever.

The title of a free man is dearest of all.

When a deity wants to punish a person, it first of all deprives him of his mind.

Who knows, maybe to live means to die, and to die means to live.

(c. 470 BC, Athens - 399 BC, Athens)

The ancient thinker, the first Athenian philosopher, whose teaching marks a turn in philosophy - from the consideration of nature and the world to the consideration of man.

I know that I don't know anything.

When the word does not hit, then the stick will not help.

I eat to live and other people live to eat.

Never prefer the stupidity of your own invention to sound advice.

Who is wise, he is kind.

It is better to work without a specific goal than to do nothing.

Speak so that I can see you.

Every person has a sun. Just let it shine.

This is surprising: every person can easily say how many sheep he has, but not everyone can say how many friends he has - they are so not worth it.

It is easier for people to keep a hot coal on their tongue than a secret.

It is better to die courageously than to live in shame.

An evil person harms others to no avail.

The best family is when the wife is blind and the husband is deaf.

Whether you marry or not, you will repent anyway.

Be sure to get married. If you get a good wife, you will become happy, and if you get a bad one, you will become a philosopher.

Democritus

(c. 460 BC, Abders - 370 BC, Abders)

Ancient Greek philosopher, one of the founders of atomistics and materialistic philosophy.

Rich is he who is poor in desires.

Life without holidays is a long way without an inn.

To ask about the cause of things is the same as to seek the beginning of the infinite.

The word is the shadow of the deed.

Either nothing is true, or the true is unknown to us.

Let the woman not argue: it's terrible.

No thing comes into being without a cause, but everything comes into being on some basis and out of necessity.

Not the word, but misfortune is the teacher of fools.

Do not strive to know everything, so as not to be ignorant.

The beautiful is comprehended through study and great effort, the bad is assimilated by itself, without difficulty.

I consider free the one who hopes for nothing and is not afraid of anything.

Courage is the beginning, but chance is the master of the end.

Whoever got a good son-in-law, he got a son, and whoever got a bad one, he also lost his daughter.

Antisthenes

(c. 440 BC, Athens - 365 BC, Athens)

Ancient Greek philosopher, founder and main theorist of Cynicism, one of the most famous Socratic schools.

What science is the most necessary? The science of forgetting the unnecessary.

All who strive for virtue are friends among themselves...

Better to fight among the few good people against many bad people than among many bad people against a few good ones.

One must stock up either with the mind in order to understand, or with a rope in order to hang oneself.

Do not neglect your enemies: they are the first to notice your mistakes.

A good person deserves love.

You need to get along with those women who themselves will be grateful for this.

Aristippus

(435 BC, Cyrene, Libya - 356 BC, Cyrene, Libya)

In 161 AD, Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, was arguably the most powerful man on earth. Historians call Aurelius the last of the "five good emperors", because his contemporaries spoke of him as a wise, fair and honest ruler. The emperor actively developed ideas about virtue, kindness, self-control and philosophy. Many philosophical sayings of Aurelius have come down to us, and even after almost two thousand years they do not lose their relevance and are nothing more than a storehouse of wisdom. Let's look at some of his quotes, which will reveal a lot about the lifestyle and motivations of this great man.

1. Teaching about work and early rising

Apparently, the problem of an early rise was relevant in all ages, so Aurelius paid special attention to this, and his thoughts have come down to our days.

“At dawn, when it’s hard for you to get out of bed, say to yourself: “I have to go to work as a person. What should I complain about if I'm going to do something to achieve a goal, and what will I bring to this world? Or what I was born to do is hide under the covers and eat? Can't you see how plants, birds, spiders and bees go about their individual tasks, creating as much order in the world as possible? And you don't want to do your job as a human? Why don't you do what your nature requires?

Of course, in the morning, the power of a bed and a warm blanket seems limitless: in the early hours, a pillow can become like a monarch who decides whether you lie down for another 5 minutes or not. But Marcus Aurelius categorically disagreed with this, because he could only recognize himself as the only emperor.

2. The doctrine of criticism and negative people

Even in the environment of the emperor there are different people. Objective criticism will not harm any person, but those who carry only negative things can ruin your life, and you will lose faith in your own abilities. As for such people, Marcus Aurelius also has his own opinion:

“When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: the people I deal with today will interfere. They are ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and sullen. They are like that because they cannot distinguish good from evil. But I saw the beauty of good and the ugliness of evil, and recognized that the criminal has a nature connected with my own - not of the same blood or birth, but of the same mind - and possessing a share of the divine. And that's why none of them can hurt me."

Why react to the words of people who live in negativity and despair becomes a kind of reason for their existence? You should not be pollinated by those who have lost all hope, lost faith in their own happiness and are trying to convey their philosophy to others. The emperor realized that such people can take over the minds of other people and sow the seed of despair in them, and warns us against interacting with negative people:

"You have power over your mind - outside world No. Understand this and you will find strength. Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth. I often wondered how each person loves himself more than all other people, but at the same time does not value his own opinion of himself, but relies on the opinion of others.

3. Teaching about gratitude

Marcus Aurelius believed that only a person who knows how to show gratitude can be happy. And it is very difficult to argue with him, because only a person who is able to appreciate goodness can share it with other people.

"All you need is confidence in judgment in the present moment, action for the common good in the present moment, and gratitude in the present moment for whatever comes your way."

Sometimes the whole problem lies in our head. We are too focused on our person, we are so suspicious that we can easily consider a harmless joke as the most severe insult. Live easier, don’t load your mind with insults and look at the world through the eyes of a happy, not a deprived person.

4. The doctrine of efficiency

Marcus Aurelius was not only intelligent, but also an incredibly active person. He believed that every minute is priceless and teaches us to value time as the most expensive and irreplaceable resource:

“Concentrate every minute, like a Roman, like a man, doing what you have to do with genuine seriousness, tenderness, willingness, desire and justice. Free yourself from other distractions. Yes, you can, if you do everything as if it were the last thing you can do in your life and stop living aimlessly; don't let your emotions underestimate what your mind is telling you. Stop being hypocritical, selfish and irritable."

5. The doctrine of peace of mind

Peace of mind is of great importance for a person, especially for one who holds power over a huge empire in his hands.

“You can rid yourself of many useless things, especially those that bother you, because they are entirely in your mind. And then you will gain enough space for yourself by contemplating the whole universe in your mind and contemplating the eternity of time and watching the rapid change of every part of everything, how short is the time from birth to death and the limitless time before birth, as well as the equally limitless time after death. »

Is it worth spending your life on thoughts that upset us, is it worth being sad because of the little things that steal the best moments of our lives?
The emperor does not think so:

Marcus Aurelius created some rules that allowed him to become an exceptional leader who was appreciated and respected.

Aurelius also noted how his grandfather managed to maintain the integrity of his own personality, despite the fact that others said about him:

“His restrictions on accusations and all attempts to flatter him ... and his attitude towards men: no demagogy, no intrigues, no pandering. Always sober, always prudent, steadfast and not vulgar."

A leader is a person whose will must be stronger than a stone. Principles, beliefs - this is what makes the number one winner. Do not follow the opinions of others, do not fall for flattery and do not allow yourself to be manipulated. Rot your line and defend your own views so that others see strength in you and respect you.

Chudinov Valery Alekseevich

born in 1942, Professor of the Department of Cultural Studies and Management in State University Management, Doctor of Philosophical Sciences, Candidate of Phys.-Math. Sciences. In 1967 he graduated from the physical. Faculty of Moscow State University, speaks German and English. Has over 120 publications. Scientific interests - Slavic mythology and paleography. Since 2002 - Chairman of the Commission on the History of Culture Ancient Rus' Council for the History of Culture under the Presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

Recent printed monographs: Sacred stones and pagan temples of the ancient Slavs. 2004, 619 pages. Runitsa and the secrets of the archeology of Rus'. 2003, 425 pages. Mysteries of Slavic writing. 2002, 527 pages

Main achievements: Deciphered the Slavic pre-Cyrillic syllabary - runitsa stress on the first syllable and read more than 2,000 inscriptions to date. He proved the existence of three own types of writing among the Slavic peoples - Cyrillic, Glagolitic and runic. The presence of three own types of writing among the Slavic peoples is an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of culture and shows that the Slavs had the highest spiritual culture in antiquity ....

Good afternoon, dear owner of this site! Is it possible to place these aphorisms in a separate topic (at your discretion)? Because sometimes it is more useful to read such nameless pearls of wisdom than to write about the same thing over and over again. I have been collecting these aphorisms for a long time and read them from time to time. So, to relieve internal stress and recharge with vigor again.

Best regards, Ludmila (Milita)

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- "What causes you endless pain - in time becomes your greatest strength." "Our doubts are our traitors. They make us lose what we might have won if we weren't afraid to try." - "Life is beautiful, even if tears sometimes flow down the cheeks." "Solitude is to the soul what diet is to the body." - "Fate is not a fool, in vain will not bring people together." - "God endowed you only with your inherent features and abilities. So be yourself ... Make your own life ... Because no one will take your place in your life."

- "Never ask the Lord for tests. He will send them faster than a reward, and you are unlikely to notice it." "Why waste time on someone who doesn't want to spend that time with me." "Not everything we face can be changed - but nothing can be changed until we give it our attention." - "If you dream of a rainbow, be prepared to get caught in the rain." - "Even a hundred-year life consists of only 36,500 days." "It can't rain all year, a person can't be poor all his life." - "Remember: of all the roads, the most profitable and promising - difficult and honest roads, because there are always too few competitors!" - "Every dream, in the end, is embodied: there is moisture for every thirsty person; there is love for every heart." - "On the day when you decide that you are devoid of flaws - try to walk on the water."

- "A man grows cold towards a woman who loves him too much, and vice versa. Apparently, the situation with heartfelt feelings is like with good deeds: whoever is not able to repay them becomes ungrateful." "It's not letters that become words, but thoughts." - "When you have already learned to do without it, then it is at this moment that Fate presents it to you." “You can fall in love with a person after you get to know him well, and stop loving him after you get to know him too well.” - "Human souls are like snowflakes - there is no one similar." "Anxiety is a misuse of the imagination."

- "A woman herself chooses the man who chooses her." - "Free love" is an expression like "liquid stool". It seems that the words are all understandable, but the meaning is lost together." - "Let every day be the best in your life!" - "If there is no exit, then the exit is where the entrance is!" - "The road down has few stops." - "Not there is a great loss without at least a small gain." - "No one has lived in the past, no one will have to live in the future. The present is the form of life." - "There are so many unnecessary things in the world that interfere if they are not..." - "There can be no failure in the movement. Edison did not make a thousand mistakes on the way to his invention, but a thousand small steps.

- "Physical love can be learned, platonic - no; it is from the heart, but not lower." "There are three things that never return: an arrow fired, a word spoken, days gone by." "Life is ten percent of what happens to you and ninety percent of how you react to it." - "If your opponent starts to refer to your age, gender or nationality, then he has run out of arguments." - "The strength of Russian women should be calculated in horsepower: how many horses can stop at a gallop at a time - so much horsepower ..." - "The biggest weakness is hatred. The best day is today. The most a dangerous person- liar."

- "Money can buy the most precious puppy, but only love will make him wag his tail." - "Whoever risks justifiably, he drinks champagne, and whoever unjustifiably - for that, without clinking glasses, they drink vodka ..." - "People are often lonely, because they build walls instead of bridges." - "If you wear a little - and you will move the mountain, if you wear a lot - you yourself will have to carry." - "To love someone is to take with pleasure from him such things for which others would have been nailed a long time ago." "Never judge a man by his friends. With Judas they were perfect." - "If people do not agree on the main thing, then they disagree over trifles." - "Our desires are the essence of the presentiment of the abilities we have and the forerunner of those things that we are able to perform." - "Family replaces everything, so before you start it, think about what is more important to you - everything or family." - "The future is in the power of your decisions today." - "If a person does not have any difficulties, then God has forgotten about him."

- "Nothing gives such a deep understanding of life as an imminent death." - "No one can change the expression of their eyes without changing the way they think." - "When you lose, don't miss the lesson." "A wound from a spear can be healed, but a wound caused by a word is incurable." "A mistake is a decision that is correct under other conditions." - "When a man does the dishes, it's called HELP. When a woman does the dishes, it's called LIFE."

- "People usually live as long as they have clear goals on the horizon that they strive to achieve. If there is no goal, the meaning of life disappears, and the person disappears." - "Life cannot consist of continuous ups - downs are inevitable!" - "If you want to be smart, learn to ask smart, listen carefully, answer calmly and stop talking when there is nothing to say." "You can really move a mountain and get yourself exactly the kind of life you want if you have faith in yourself and the confidence that you are doing the right thing." - "Only the one on whose foot the boot knows where he presses."

- "Life is given once, so there is nothing to be afraid of." - "If dreams do not come true, you must either add funds (money, time, labor, reflection, organization), or be content with less valuable results." - "True LOVE is a continuous thread that binds us even when we are on long distance from each other." - "Trains leave continuously - DO NOT RACE!" - "A change of place cannot dispel anguish and oppression of the spirit. It is not the sky that needs to be changed, but the soul. Your vices will follow you wherever you go." (Seneca). - "The arrow sent by you to another will circle the globe and pierce your back." - "When you say to yourself" I do not want to live, "on it actually means "I don't want to live like this".

- "Self-sacrifice should be prohibited by law, for it corrupts those to whom sacrifices are made." -" Life experience- this is a mass of knowledge about what not to do in situations that will never happen again. - "Feelings do not deceive; deceives the judgment made on them." - "It turns out that everything works out if you try!" - "We rarely regret that we have said too little, but we often regret that we have said too much: a hackneyed and banal truth that everyone knows - and which is never followed." - "Patience is the last key that opens all doors"!!! - "You yourself are the source of everything that was, is and will be." - "Look at everything as it is, and not the way you want ... "-" Behind every successful man is a wise woman. "-" Do not take away from anyone the beliefs that contribute to his happiness, if you can not give him the best.

- "We enter different ages of our lives, like newborns, with no experience behind us - no matter how old we are." - "Misfortunes will turn you into a precious stone." - "From time to time please someone - at least yourself." "And Confucius wasn't always lucky." "What happens, happens at the right time." "It's easy to be a brave tiger, but try to be a brave rabbit." - "If you stumble and fall, it does not mean that you are going the wrong way." - "The longest distance on earth is the one that you don’t want to overcome. The most terrible state on earth is complete loneliness. The most evil words in the world are" I don't love you".

- "Think as if your every thought is written in huge fiery letters in the sky and is visible to everyone - so it is." (Book of Murdad) - "You cannot escape your destiny - in other words, you cannot escape the inevitable consequences of your own actions." - "It just seems that everything is paid for with money. Everything that is really important is paid for with pieces of the soul."

- "Love is the freedom to be yourself next to someone who accepts you for who you are." - "Love is when you want to take a person not into your bed, but into your life." - "I don't want to complain, but life is beautiful..." - "A chance is a pseudonym for God when he doesn't want to sign with his own name." - "God Himself does not consider it necessary to judge a person before the onset of his last day. Shouldn't you and I follow his example ?!" - "God gives the best of that who leaves the choice to Him."

Prof. Valentin Yu. Irkhin M.N. Mikheev Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences 620108 Yekaterinburg, Russia virkhin@mail. gi

In the context of the doctrine of virtues, the dialectic of the categories of caution, prudence, fear, courage, audacity and boldness in ancient, Jewish and Christian philosophy and religion is considered. Oriental spiritual traditions are also involved, including the teachings of ancient China and Buddhism.

Keywords: philosophical chips, Yin and Yang, caution, phronësis, courage, cardinal virtues.

In his work, V. Tomsky identifies seven symbolic categories (“philosophical chips”), uniting four concepts, grouped in pairs (located on different sides of the symbolic chip). It also analyzes the transitions from one pair to another and back (the processes of "turning" chips). This technique of symbolic visualization of philosophical and psychological concepts is designed to understand the problems that have arisen and ways to solve them. Philosophical tokens resemble the symbol of Yin and Yang, also having the ability to transition-transform, transform negative energy into positive. V. Tomsky uses an analogy with the philosopher's stone of alchemists, designed to ennoble metals. Here we will look at the first feature:

CAUTION - Fear< - >COURAGE - Carelessness, where< - >indicates the possibility of flipping the other side.

The relationship between the categories Caution and Courage can be symbolically depicted in terms of Yin and Yang as follows: CAUTION - Courage< - >COURAGE - Caution where< - >denotes the complementarity of these categories.

Caution easily turns into fear: CAUTION -> Fear, which is a paralyzing energy, deprives a person of strength. As the Buddhist Jataka says, "Fear is no good defense."

On the other hand, courage easily turns into carelessness: COURAGE -> Carelessness. But before that, she can turn into impudence. Confucius said: “Reverence without li (ritual, knowledge of the proper) is vanity. Caution without whether there is cowardice. Courage without li leads to confusion. Directness without whether there is rudeness.

CONCORDE, 2018, N1

The tenth hexagram of the I Ching (li, Offensive) has the key meaning of caution: "Courage is doubly good if it is prudent and reasonable."

Formula, CAUTION - Fear< - >COURAGE - Carelessness, describes the relationship between four concepts. Its visualization in the form of a “chip” makes it possible to describe the actions of “cleansing” and “turning over”, which facilitate the perception of problems and their overcoming.

Caution (Greek phronesis, Latin prudentia, also translated as prudence, prudence or wisdom) is an important concept of ancient philosophy, which was discussed in detail in the philosophy of Aristotle. Courage (courage, Greek andreia, Latin fortitudo) is also one of the most important ancient virtues.

For the first time, the four main virtues (courage, moderation, justice, prudence) were probably singled out by Aeschylus and then entered the tradition of late antiquity through Plato, Aristotle and the Stoics. This concept was described dialectically.

True courage is caution. (Euripides)

Dialectics itself is a necessary thing: it is a virtue that embraces other virtues. Caution is a science of when one should and when one should not recognize something. Prudence is a strong tension of the mind against probability, so as not to succumb to it. Irrefutability is the power of the mind, by which it stands its ground and does not go over to the opposite. Non-vanity is a coincidence that raises ideas to true reason. (Diogenes Laertes. About the life, teachings and sayings of famous philosophers. Zeno)

In Christianity, the concept of four cardinal virtues was introduced by Ambrose of Milan. Following him, this system was developed by the Church Fathers. Together with the three main theological virtues (faith, hope, love; named in the epistles of the apostle Paul), prudence, justice, moderation and courage made up the seven virtues, which are also called cardinal. They are also considered as the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. This doctrine, especially developed in Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologia, has become firmly established in the Catholic Church, whose catechism reads:

Prudence is the virtue that disposes the practical mind under all circumstances to recognize our true good and choose the right means for its accomplishment. "A wise man is mindful of his ways" (Proverbs 14:15). "Be wise and watch in prayer" (1 Peter 4:7). Prudence is "the direct rule of all action," writes St. Thomas followed Aristotle. It should not be confused with timidity or fear, or with duplicity or falseness. It is called the leader of virtues (auriga virtutum): it leads other virtues, showing them the way and measure. It is prudence that directly guides the judgment of conscience. A prudent person makes decisions and organizes his behavior in accordance with this judgment. Through this virtue, we unerringly apply moral principles in each particular case, we overcome doubts about the good that should be done and the evil that should be avoided.

Courage is a moral virtue that ensures firmness in

overcoming difficulties and constancy in following the good. It strengthens the solution

resist temptations and overcome obstacles in the moral life.

The virtue of courage makes a person capable of overcoming fear, even fear.

death, and endure trials and persecution. It disposes to

self-denial and self-sacrifice for the sake of a just cause.

Let us turn to the primary sources of biblical religion. In its various spiritual and cultural traditions, the concepts of fear, caution, courage turn in different ways. They are interpreted differently in Judaism and Christianity, in the Old and New Testaments, where we are talking not only about interactions between people, but also about relationships with God.

The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. (Ps. 110:10)

Do not be a wise man in your eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. (Proverbs 3:7) Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. (Ps. 2:11) The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The judgments of the Lord are true, all are righteous. (Ps. 18:10)

And Moses said to the people: Do not be afraid; God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before your face, that you may not sin. (Ex. 20:20)

On the other hand, in the Bible and apocryphal Christian texts, the words of God are heard many times, addressed to the entire people of Israel and individual heroes, prophets and apostles: do not be afraid.

Behold, I command you: be strong and courageous, do not be afraid and do not be horrified; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Josh. N. 1:9)

Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid, and do not be afraid of them, for the Lord your God Himself will go with you and will not depart from you and will not leave you. (Deut. 31:6)

Fear puts a net before people; but he who trusts in the Lord will be secure. (Psalm 29:25)

The Lord is for me, I will not be afraid: what will a man do to me? (Ps. 117:6) Fear not, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, and I will help you, and I will uphold you with the right hand of My righteousness. (Isaiah 41:10)

Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27)

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because there is torment in fear. He who fears is imperfect in love. (1 John 4:18)

In the generally accepted Russian synodal translation of the Bible, the word boldness is often used (boldness is already used in new translations).

For those who serve well prepare for themselves the highest degree and great boldness in faith in Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 3:13)

Christ is like the Son in His house; but we are his house, if only we hold fast to the boldness and hope in which we boast to the end. (Heb. 3:6)

The theme of fear and Christian courage based on faith is deeply reflected in Christian philosophy, for example, in the treatises of S. Kierkegaard (“The Concept of Fear”, “Fear and Trembling”).

Work out your salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12)

The dialectic of caution and courage is also reflected in European literary classics.

Courage that is not based on prudence is called recklessness, and the exploits of the reckless should rather be attributed to mere luck than to his courage. (Servantes, Don Quixote)

Do not confuse caution with cowardice, sir. Caution is a virtue. (Alexandre Dumas. Three Musketeers)

In the Jewish ethical treatise Orhot Tzadikim, the dialectic of courage and impudence is revealed:

Who has the property of arrogance (azut), commits many crimes, one after another, and considers himself a righteous man. That is why we say in confession: "We are not so impudent and cruel as to say before You, the Most High, that we are righteous and have not sinned - we have sinned." But when the criminal says, "I have not sinned!" - this is a bad and disease-causing quality. For this, the Almighty will condemn him and will not regret, as it is written: "I will judge you because you say:" I have not sinned! "(Jer. 2:35), and it is said:" He who hides his crimes will not succeed, but the one who confesses and leaves the bad way, they will pity and have mercy "(Proverbs 28:13). The path of arrogance is very far from the path of repentance and from the path of goodness, for it is said about a harlot:" He speaks impudently to him "(ibid. 7; 13 ).

This is a very bad quality: it leads a person to shame his comrades and the poor, just as it is said: "The poor speak with supplication, but the rich answer insolently" (Proverbs 18:23). And even more so, the one who despises and shames his teachers, in his great impudence stubbornly rude to those who reproach him - this property kills the insolent from the world. And this property should be expelled from your soul!

But the property "azut" is highly commendable when it is applied to the service of the Almighty. To be impudent and insolent before the villains and not to subdue them, not to listen to their advice and not to agree with their lies and abominations, and not to flatter them! It is necessary to be bold in fulfilling the commandments and in those cases when people make fun of it. And you need to dare and ask your teachers if you don’t know something, and don’t be shy about it. And you need to be bold, revealing to people their sins and reproaching them.

But where the property "azut" is reprehensible, it must be pacified and overpowered according to one's strength. For it is very difficult to avoid this property unless you apply all your strength and all your might. One must conquer it and destroy it in oneself when it is criminal, but hold on to it when cruelty and audacity are worthy of a reward.

Rumi’s parable “On how a mountain goat loses his mind” is also instructive, which speaks not only about earthly affairs, but also about higher worlds (for a detailed interpretation, see).

A goat grazes high in the mountains, Between the rocks that are not far from the peaks. It behooves him to carefully judge: is the danger true or false?

The goat lives in the world of higher truths, being wary of shooters and predatory animals, he thinks about his own good. Staying between the rocks, he distinguishes between good and evil, right and left side. There are many competitors at the top, and therefore it is easy to lose your place. Caution means fear of losing what you desire and of falling under a high court. In this world, only those who correctly reason and distinguish between what is good and what is evil are able to learn from their mistakes.

But then he sees a mountain goat Behind the abyss on the slope, down there. And immediately the light in his eyes fades, And his food is nothing, the danger is dust. He flies through the abyss, blind and deaf, As if the abyss is just a ledge.

The hero shifts his gaze from the higher world to the lower world, pays attention to the woman sent by God and appearing on his life path. This motif is also found in the Proverbs of Solomon. Working for the benefit of others and for an unknown God with a dubious hope of retribution never arouses such enthusiasm as a woman tempter. When the real embodiment of the dream has appeared, the light of higher being fades, the vision stops. In the darkness of tantra there is no discrimination and no fear. Now food is no longer needed - teachings and knowledge. The danger posed by evil deities and angels no longer frightens.

But the archers are smart, unhurried, Kozliny know their temper and are waiting for their prey. They know that he will forget everything, Blinded by sudden lust. And the beast, whose voice of friend's love calls, Becomes an easy prey. After all, even the hero's own passion is more terrible at times than other misfortunes.

The arrows do not sleep (Job 16:13). Many enemies are interested in stopping the path of the hero. Own passion will kill the seeker of truth, if he has not abandoned his egoistic goal - to achieve the highest divine state by deeds of righteousness.

According to Aristotle, virtue is the middle ground between two extreme vices. For example, the virtue of courage is in the middle between the vices of cowardice and recklessness, restraint is between unbridledness and insensitivity. This theme is being developed by modern philosophers. Between the two extremes mentioned above, cowardice and recklessness, there is courage, which is farther from cowardice, and prudence, which is farther from recklessness: REASON - Cowardice< - >COURAGE - Recklessness (CAUTION - Fear< - >COURAGE - Recklessness), COURAGE - Recklessness< - >REASON - Cowardice.

Similarly, there is the vice of stinginess and the vice of squandering, and between them are two corresponding virtues: generosity, which is further from stinginess, and thrift, which is further from squandering. It follows from this that virtue is not some point exactly in the middle between two opposite vices, which can be hit like a target. Virtue is an open space between two virtues, and in this sense, ethics should be voluminous, stereometric. We look at the world with two eyes and due to this we perceive it in volume; we listen to the world with two ears and because of this we perceive it in stereo. In the same way, we must perceive the world "stereoethically" as a spread of possibilities, a space of fluctuations between two virtues - and not hope to fall into such an ideal point where all doubts and remorse die. One cannot be equally generous and thrifty; both brave and wise. You have to choose. The duality of the virtues themselves dooms any human action to imperfection. (M. Epstein. Sticky notes)

The Middle Noble Way is also proclaimed in Buddhism. In Hinduism, the guna of sattva (goodness) is a balance between rajas (activity, excitement, tension) and tamas (inertia, inertia).

V. Tomsky singles out three phases in the process of transition between states: first, the chip is “polluted”, the person is in the phase of indecision, then he overcomes fear and experiences an influx of energy, finally he realizes the causes of fear and can confidently move forward. Now he understands his fear and can act better than someone who is not aware of the danger. In this case, it is necessary to choose the time of transition between caution and courage and vice versa. When courage has transformed fear into vitality, one can experience the excitement of conquering fear and quickly reach one's goal, but if one stays on this side too long, there is a danger of incautious actions. Although the two sides of the symbolic token are completely different, fear, transformed into positive energy, allows us to overcome caution - this energy sets us in motion. Thus, Fear is the central energy of the token, Caution is the art of evasion, and Courage is the art of action and reaction.

Jataka about Prince Panchavudha treats the theme of Fear and Courage within the framework of numerical symbolism.

Once a Bodhisattva was born the son of a Benares king. In accordance with the prophecy of the Brahmins, he was called Panchavudha, that is, "Skilled in five ways of fighting." When the prince was sixteen years old, he was sent to the city of Takkasila. There, the world-famous mentor taught him all the sciences, and in the end - the five ways of fighting.

Despite warnings good people, he fearlessly entered the thicket.

At the sight of the bodhisattva, the yakkha roared: "Where are you going? Stop! I'll eat you!" However, the bodhisattva shouted: "Yakkha, I believe in myself, that's why I came. Look, don't get close to me, otherwise I'll shoot a poisoned arrow at you. Here you will find your end."

The arrow became entangled in the yakkha's hair, and so it was with all the prince's fifty arrows. Yakkha shook them off with one movement and moved towards the bodhisattva. The prince, unsuccessfully repeating his threats, drew a sword of thirty-three inches

long and hit the yakkha, then he threw a javelin and struck with a club, but all the weapons got stuck in the yakkha's hair.

Entering your forest, and having already penetrated into it, I did not rely on a bow or any other weapon, but only on myself. Now I will deal you such a blow that only fine dust will remain of you!

Issuing a battle cry, the bodhisattva rushed at the yakkha and struck him with his right hand. His hand got stuck in his hair. Also stuck left hand, both legs. Having contrived, the bodhisattva butted the yakkha with his head, but his head was also stuck. A warrior who tried all five ways of fighting found himself bound in five places. But, even hanging on the yakkha, the bodhisattva remained just as fearless and was not going to give up.

Here the yakkha thought. “This man is endowed with a lion’s courage,” he thought. “Although he is of a human breed, he is not like other people: even when captured by me, he is not a bit afraid. During the time that I kill travelers on the road, I have never such a person came across. Why, after all, does he not experience fear? And, not daring to devour the prince, the yakkha asked him: "Hey, young man! Why is the fear of death alien to you?" “Why should I be afraid, yakkha?” the bodhisattva asked in response. “First of all, every living person dies only once; in addition, a special weapon is hidden in my womb - the “vajira”. If you devour me, with the “vajira” you will not cope: it will crumble all your insides, and both of us will perish. That is why I am a stranger to fear. Of course, by "weapon" the bodhisattva meant the knowledge hidden in it, but his words made the yakkha think even more. “This young man, no doubt, speaks the truth,” he decided. “The flesh of such a lion-man, even if I bite off a piece the size of a bean grain, I can’t digest it. I’ll let him go” ...

"I will go my own way, but know that it is precisely as a punishment for bad deeds in past existences that you are condemned to be a ferocious, bloodthirsty yakkha, eating the flesh of the people you killed. If in this life you, in the blindness of your ignorance, still created evil, then in his new births he would remain the same blind. But from now on, after meeting with me, you will no longer be able to do evil. " The Bodhisattva explained how evil the five types of unrighteous deeds are for a living being and what benefits the five types of righteous deeds promise. Intimidating the yakkha in all sorts of ways and at the same time instructing him in the dhamma, he managed to convert the monster to his faith, convinced him of the need to be meek and taught him the five precepts.

A detailed analysis and interpretation of this Jataka in biblical categories can be found in the book. Having met the deity in a demonic guise, Jacob began to use his five types of weapons, to use the Pentateuch-Torah against the One who gave it. Egoism is refuted from the point of view of egoism. The human egoistic Self (Atman) is the perfect God (Brahman). The struggle for one's own purity is a war with God; it is only by ceasing to struggle that purity and freedom can be attained.

Tantra of the right and left hands - yoga practices. When there is a transfer of knowledge, the right side becomes the left - as in a mirror. The true God appears only at the very border of the worlds, only for the winner who managed to approach this border, at the moment of contact, meeting.

Vajira is the diamond inviolability of promises and faith. An indestructible weapon sits inside a person, a guiding idea from which he will not back down, so that even God

CONCORDE, 2018, N1

will not overcome him. He who truly believes once is already dead to this world and born to another. Having received a certificate of faith through personal practices, he can no longer die. Although he conquered the world, came out of it and does not depend on it, now you need to sort out your relationship with God. With the god who is here - the prince of this world - he is also able to deal with.

For comparison, let's give another parallel from the fairy tale-parable of Saltykov-Shchedrin "Karas-idealist", which describes a similar story. True, its end turns out to be different: virtuous impulses do not work, lofty words remain unheard.

Crucian, however, did not grow shy. Firstly, he heard so many different reviews about the pike that he himself was curious to get to know her; and secondly, he knew that he had such a magic word, which, if you say it, will turn the most fierce pike into crucian carp. And I really hoped for this word.

The pike thought and somehow looked at the crucian so mysteriously that he completely understood .... But, she must have been full after yesterday's gluttony, and therefore she yawned and immediately began to snore.

Whether he overslept, whether there was a crucian, but his mind, in any case, did not increase. At noon, he again appeared at the debate, and not only without any timidity, but even more cheerfully than before.

In the evening, before the sun had set, the third time crucian came to the pike for a debate. But he appeared already in custody and, moreover, with some injuries. Namely: the perch, interrogating, bit his back and part of the tail. But he was still cheerful, because he had a magic word in reserve.

Even though you are my opponent, - the first pike began again, - yes, it is clear that my grief is such: I love disputes about death! Be healthy, get started!

At these words, the crucian suddenly felt that his heart caught fire in him. In an instant, he gathered up his stomach, fluttered, snapped the remnants of his tail on the water and, looking the pike straight in the eyes, barked at the top of his lungs:

Do you know what virtue is?

The pike gaped in surprise. She automatically drew water and, not wanting to swallow the crucian at all, swallowed it.

"Flipping the chip", a bold action, if done in the wrong circumstances, at the wrong time, at the wrong moment, will be a mistake.

Literature

1. Tomsky V. The technique of symbolic visualization of philosophical and psychological concepts // CONCORDE, 2017, N 2, p. 64-75.

2. Irkhin V.Yu. Pull me in http://lit.lib.ru/i/irhin_w_j/zhen.shtml

3. Irkhin V.Yu. On numerical transformations in the Western and Eastern traditions // CONCORDE, 2017, N 2, p. 76-83.

4. Irkhin V.Yu. A game. http://lit.lib. ru/i/irhin_w_j/game. shtml