“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”

Stoicism is an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy that teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means to overcome destructive emotions, focusing on living in accordance with nature and reason. It emphasizes the practice of virtue as the highest good, where one's peace of mind comes from understanding what is within one's control—namely, one's own judgments and actions—and accepting what is not.

First of All, What Is Stoicism?

Lucius Annaeus Seneca (c. 4 BC – AD 65) was a Roman Stoic philosopher, statesman, dramatist, and tutor to the Roman emperor Nero. (We can talk about that crazy violin playing dude later)Known for his philosophical works, Seneca wrote extensively on ethics, with a focus on practical wisdom for living a good life.

Who Is This Seneca Guy?

Some things seem to be woven into being human. That is one reason why this ancient quote is still relatable in this day and age. Seneca hi-lights the psychological aspect of suffering—how much of our distress stems from our fears, anxieties, and imagined scenarios rather than from what is actually happening.Being cognizant of that distress can aid us in our moments of vulnerability.

How Can We Interpret The Quotes Meaning From This Century?

Personally, I will keep this mentality. Instead of focusing on how bad something could be, I will devote my energy into the reality of the situation.Will a quote from Ancient Rome change your perspective? Does this leave you with more questions and pondering? Want to go deeper? What is reality and how do we know what is bad or good? Welcome to philosophy!

Are You A Stoic?

Exploring the famous quote from Seneca…

philosophy

Philosophy

history

History

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

mindfulness

Mindfulness

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

A Stoic Take - Seneca on imagination vs. reality

I had set my heart on shadows and followed a lie

Our enemies can often correct our faults by their disparagement, just as the flattery of friends can corrupt us

Let this be a warning, so that none of us may ascribe it to our own doing if we find that others, whose ways we wish to see reformed, are corrected by the words we speak

It was misery to feel myself so weak a victim of these human emotions, although we cannot escape them, since they are the natural lot of mankind, and so I had the added sorrow of being grieved by my own feelings, so that I was tormented by a twofold agony

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

writing

Reading & Writing

Confessions of Saint Augustine Book IX

Men even procure for themselves the pleasure of this life by means of pain, not unexpected pain which comes upon them uninvited, but pain which they deliberately induce for themselves

It remained silent and afraid, for as much as the loss of life itself it feared the stanching of the flow of habit, by which it was wasting away to death

I was beside myself with madness that would bring me sanity. I was dying a death that would bring me life. I knew the evil that was in me, but the good that was soon to be born in me I did not know

The mind commands the hand to move and is so readily obeyed that the order can scarcely be distinguished from its execution. Yet the mind is mind and the hand is part of the body. But when the mind commands the mind to make an act of will, these two are one and the same and yet the order is not obeyed

I probed the hidden depths of my soul and wrung its pitiful secrets from it, and when I mustered them all before the eyes of my heart, a great storm broke within me, bringing with it a great deluge of tears

Confessions of Saint Augustine Book VIII

The beauty you see in everything is a reflection of the beauty in you

The saying “you are what you eat” is extremely common typically used to promote healthy habits. This phrase is commonly used but provides deeper insight to the truths of the reality we live in. In the same way you eat good to feel good you must see good to be good. If you occupy your time being intoxicated by others emotional turmoil you will come to find yourself being the subject of others such observations. Furthermore, the belief “all women are _____” or “all men are ____” will be sure to result in confirmation of what you define as normal.

You Are What You Eat You Are What You See

What stands in the way becomes the way

For many this concept will be hard to grasp, not because it is complex rather because it challenges the sturdy walls of false confidence that have been built on assumption of being better than someone else. For a moment think back to being a child when there were no opinions just curiousty. The guiding hand of an adult was the only safeguard from knowing what is wrong or not. The mental purity as a child made it very challenging to perceive that there is negativity in the world. However, as adults this concept can be revisited and understood more in depth

The Negativity You See In Things Is A Reflection Of Yours

In a governed society it is hard to blur the sharp lines we seem to have defined between “good” or “bad”. In government “good” is essentially keep giving us money stay within the boundaries we have set, don’t run traffic lights and we won’t break into your home by force and strip you of your freedom as long as we deem fit. This binary view, while fundamental to keep “peace” is nothing more than a man made perspective on the correct behavior of another man. You can live a life of charity, love, compassion but forget to make payments to your government and will be deemed “bad” by society.

There Is No Bad Or Good

The ancient hermetic principle of cause and effect is key to understanding the truths behind every person. There is no such thing as personality, the root “persona” means mask. Essentialy the way of life and our “likes and dislikes” are merely protections in place of our unbiased purity to function safely in a corrupted society. The behaviors of every individual are due to a cause and effect principle this is the way of adaption, evolution, and survival. All the things we dislike are projections of the things we are deep inside but wish not to have manifest physically, thus allowing it

There Is No Chance Only Cause And Effect

Man does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the shadow conscious.

We all came into this world crying, well aware of the sadness, greed, anger, and injustices that corrupt this world. However being aware that these are indeed corruptions, results from grievances done unto one another the truth can be revealed. The truth that deep down we wish to live in a society where we do not have to wear a mask and can lower our walls to be fully immersed as we were as children. I invite you to no longer disregard things you dislike rather to ponder as to what causes led to this result and realize we are not so different ourselves. Choose good and good will choose you.

Find The Good In All Things And The Good In You Will Magnify

Choose good

"Don't let yourself be blinded by fear or anger. Everything is only as it is."

"The sun rises today and sets again. A flower that bloomed in the morning, falls from its stem. The sun sets today and rises again. Flowers bloom to fill the land, but not the flowers of yesterday...

"If you could see everything but couldn't change any of it, or if you could live in freedom in darkness... Which do you think is more fortunate? I think it might not be that bad living in the dark, remembering the light."

"Just live normally. You'll be better off if you can catch some fish. Dig up the caves so you can set sail whenever you need to. It wouldn't be easy. But you have an endless amount of time ahead of you."

"People derive their happiness in a variety of ways, even though it might seem cruel."

“Make sure to remember, every person and place has a right to exist. It is true for you too, the entire world, as a whole, is your home.”

Mushishi is praised for its artistic elegance, philosophical depth, and unique narrative style. It’s a serene, almost meditative experience that's unlike any other anime!

ENDLESS DARKNESS They live on the shadowy border between the possible and the impossible-ancient life-forms known as mushi. Rare is the individual who can see them, but those with that special ability, the mushishi, can counter the creatures' deadly effects on humans. After a young boy is orphaned in the forest, he is saved by a reclusive female mushishi. But the lake near the mushishi's home holds a deadly secret, and the boy must find out what it is before his only friend is lost forever.

books

Books

anime

Anime

Yuki Urushibara

Mushishi

This book provides a framework for understanding the universe, the nature of reality, and personal transformation, based on seven foundational principles.

The Kybalion

"The All is Mind; the Universe is Mental."Everything originates in thought or consciousness. The universe itself is a mental construct, and your mind shapes your reality.

The Principle of Mentalism

"As above, so below; as below, so above."There is harmony between different planes of existence (spiritual, mental, physical). Understanding one level helps you understand the others.

The Principle of Correspondence

"Nothing rests; everything moves; everything vibrates."Everything in the universe is in constant motion, vibrating at different frequencies. By changing your vibration, you can change your reality.

The Principle of Vibration

"Everything is dual; everything has poles."Opposites are the same thing differing only in degree (e.g., hot and cold are both temperature). Understanding this helps you reconcile opposites and transform negative experiences.

The Principle of Polarity

"Everything flows, out and in; everything has its tides."Life operates in cycles and patterns. By understanding and working with these rhythms, you can navigate life more effectively.

The Principle of Rhythm

"Every cause has its effect; every effect has its cause."Nothing happens by chance. By becoming the "cause" in your life, you can consciously create the outcomes you desire.

The Principle of Cause and Effect

"Gender is in everything; everything has its Masculine and Feminine Principles."Creation arises from the interplay of masculine (active) and feminine (receptive) energies, which exist in all things, including thoughts and actions.

The Principle of Gender

Self-Understanding: The book aims to help individuals understand the universal laws governing existence so they can align themselves with these principles.Spiritual Growth: It provides tools for personal transformation by encouraging the reader to think, act, and live in harmony with these metaphysical laws.Practical Application: The Kybalion is not purely theoretical; it offers practical guidance for using these principles to influence your mental state, relationships, and circumstances.

Purpose of The Kybalion

Study the Principles: Reflect on each principle and how it applies to your life.Change Your Mindset: Use the Principle of Mentalism to shift your perception and thoughts toward positivity and possibility.Harness Correspondence: Draw parallels between your inner and outer worlds to create harmony.Embrace Flow: Work with the Principle of Rhythm to navigate challenges and seize opportunities.

How to Use The Kybalion

Rather than converting base metals into gold, Hermetic alchemists focused on elevating their mental forces to a higher level. The precepts of their philosophy remained shrouded in secrecy for more than 2,000 years, clouded by obscure language and dense allegories. This guide offers a modern interpretation of Hermetic doctrine, distilling its teachings into seven compelling principles that can be applied to self-development in daily life. For centuries, the legendary Egyptian man-god Hermes Trismegistus—regarded as the father of astrology, alchemy, and other magical arts—inspired writers and readers of occult literature. In 1908, the anonymous authors known as &quot;Three Initiates&quot; prepared this concise and engaging edition of the master's teachings. It outlines the Hermetic principles and then examines them in depth, offering direct quotations from the source material, followed by clear explanations. The best introduction to Hermeticism for beginners and adepts alike, this definitive edition of one of esoteric literature's classics explores principles relevant to any religious, spiritual, or magical tradition.

habits

Habits

meditation

Meditation

Three Initiates

If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, “Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”

If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.

Do each and every thing so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say how well you’re doing it.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Excellence and Greatness Are Habits

The Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU) unites cognition and reality into a single, cohesive framework. It bridges philosophy, logic, and science to explain the universe as a self-sustaining system.

What is the CTMU?

The CTMU isn’t a hypothesis tested against data; it’s a logical framework defining existence itself. It explains how observable phenomena—and observation itself—are possible.

More Than “Just a Theory”

Far from rejecting science, the CTMU expands it. By proposing that information—not matter—is the universe’s fundamental substance, the CTMU offers a metascientific foundation for inquiry.

The CTMU and Science

The CTMU is not merely descriptive but ontological. It defines the structural and operational principles of existence itself.

The CTMU is not “just philosophy.” It synthesizes philosophy, logic, and mathematics, integrating set theory, information theory, and empirical science to address reality’s fundamental nature.

Beyond Philosophy

The CTMU is not anti-science; it is metascience, explaining the logical structure of scientific inquiry and its relationship to reality.

While abstract, the CTMU has real-world implications. Viewing reality as informational transforms our approaches to decision-making, communication, and understanding interconnectedness.

Practical Value of the CTMU

The CTMU is a synthesis of disciplines, integrating philosophy, logic, and empirical science into a single explanatory framework.

The CTMU isn’t about belief—it’s grounded in logical necessity. It asks you to think critically about its self-evident principles and logical structure rather than accept it on faith.

No Blind Faith Required

The CTMU provides practical insights into the nature of thought, existence, and human purpose, bridging the gap between abstraction and application.

The CTMU isn’t blasphemous. It aligns with scripture, explaining divine logic and purpose through principles like universal interconnectedness, self-organization, and omniscience.

Aligning Science and Faith

The CTMU is not based on faith but on logic. It does not ask you to believe—it asks you to think.

Understanding the CTMU requires rethinking assumptions about reality. Addressing misconceptions encourages deeper engagement with its ideas, bridging gaps in science, philosophy, and faith.

Addressing Misconceptions

The CTMU is not an attack on religion but a way to understand the underlying logic of spirituality and its relationship to science and reality.

This post tackles common misconceptions about the CTMU, clarifying its foundations and purpose while addressing criticisms. It explains how the CTMU unifies cognition and reality as a revolutionary framework.

The Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU) is a groundbreaking framework designed to unify cognition and reality within a single, cohesive model. By bridging profound philosophical concepts with logical precision, it provides unique insights into the nature of the universe and the role of human cognition within it. As we’ve explored in previous posts in…

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

education

Learning & Education

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

Common Misconceptions About the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU)

If I did anything against my will, it seemed to me to be something which happened to me rather than something which I did, and I looked upon it not as a fault, but as a punishment

If our fear is unfounded, it is itself an evil, because it stabs and wrongs our hearts for nothing. In fact the evil is all the greater if we are afraid when there is nothing to fear. Therefore, either there is evil and we fear it, or the fear itself is evil

If a man made a great many predictions, several of them would later prove to be true, but he could not know it at the time and would only hit upon them by chance, simply by opening his mouth to speak

It was made clear to me also that even those things which are subject to decay are good

For corruption is harmful, but unless it diminished what is good, it could do no harm. The conclusion then must be either that corruption does no harm — which is not possible; or that everything which is corrupted is deprived of good — which is beyond doubt. But if they are deprived of all good, they will not exist at all

Falsehood is nothing but the supposed existence of something which has no being

For I had no begun to wish to be thought wise. I was full of self-esteem, which was a punishment of my own making

Confessions of Saint Augustine Book VII

The Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU) posits that the universe is not merely a passive collection of matter but an active, cognitive entity. This perspective challenges traditional scientific paradigms by suggesting that the universe embodies intelligence and purpose, reflecting processes of thought and consciousness.

The Universe as a Cognitive Entity

Within the CTMU framework, information is considered the foundational fabric of reality. This concept extends beyond mere data, viewing information as a dynamic, structured entity. Cognition processes this information, imparting structure, meaning, and purpose that collectively shape the universe itself.

Information as the Fabric of Reality

You cannot describe the universe completely with any accuracy unless you’re willing to admit that it’s both physical and mental in nature.

Embracing the universe as a cognitive entity challenges the notion of a meaningless cosmos. This perspective shifts our understanding from perceiving randomness to recognizing intention and purpose, thereby reframing humanity’s place within the cosmos as both meaningful and essential.

A Shift in Perspective

Viewing the universe as cognitive redefines human existence, highlighting the profound interconnection between our thoughts, actions, and the cosmos. This interconnectedness suggests that human presence and choices hold significant weight within a system designed with inherent purpose.

Interconnection with the Cosmos

Everything begins as an internal reality and then is externalized through perception.

The CTMU encourages perceiving the universe not solely as an external reality but as a reflection of the cognitive processes within ourselves. This profound connection links the microcosm of the human mind to the macrocosm of the universe, fostering a deeper understanding of our role in the cosmos.

The Universe as Reflection

Contrary to the cold, indifferent cosmos depicted in materialist philosophy, the CTMU’s cognitive universe imbues all components with purpose. Every element, regardless of its scale, contributes to an intricate system characterized by intentionality and growth.

A Universe with Purpose

I believe in the theory of evolution, but I believe as well in the allegorical truth of creation theory. In other words, I believe that evolution, including the principle of natural selection, is one of the tools used by God to create mankind. Mankind is then a participant in the creation of the universe itself, so that we have a closed loop.

Cognition serves as the universal process central to the CTMU. It organizes information, enabling reality to evolve and adapt. In this view, the universe functions as a vast, intelligent system engaged in constant self-dialogue, perpetually refining its own structure and purpose.

Cognition: The Universe’s Core Process

The CTMU presents the universe as a bridge connecting the mind and external reality. By understanding the mind’s cognitive processes, we gain insight into the universe’s workings, establishing a profound connection between individual consciousness and the broader cosmos.

A Bridge Between Mind and Universe

I believe that there is a level on which science and religious metaphor are mutually compatible.

If the universe possesses cognitive attributes, it is not indifferent to human life. This perspective positions humans as co-creators within a purposeful system, emphasizing our responsibility and the significant impact of our actions on the universal tapestry.

Implications of a Cognitive Universe

The CTMU’s portrayal of a cognitive universe transcends metaphor, offering a structured, purposeful system where cognition is embedded at every level of existence. This framework bridges individual and universal understanding, providing a comprehensive model of reality that integrates consciousness with the cosmos.

Purpose Beyond Metaphor

The universe as a cognitive entity, a core concept of the Cognitive Theoretical Model of the Universe, challenges conventional views of reality by asserting that the universe possesses purpose, intentionality, and interconnected cognition.

Building on our exploration of information theory and its foundational role in the Cognitive-Theoretic Model of the Universe (CTMU), this post delves into the profound idea of the universe as a cognitive entity. If information is the fabric of reality, as discussed in the previous post, then cognition emerges as the process that gives that…

creativity

Creativity

The Universe as a Cognitive Entity (CTMU Series)

Find 100+ Philosophy Ideas, Insights & Facts - Curated from popular Videos, Podcasts, Books & Articles - Genuine Insights from like-minded Users like You!