Episode 5: Yoga, Stoicism, and Philosophy

by Imran Kasam & Steve Ledwith

Published on 18 June 2020. This is approximately 46 minutes long. This episode is sponsored by Anchor.fm.

Overview

This episode is a continuation of Episode 4 and takes a deeper look into Yoga and Stoicism, the two schools of thought we most identify with.

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Show Notes & Selected Links

Really wrong definition of Yoga: a bunch of people in tight fitting pants with fancy mats gathering in a room to do aerobic exercise.

Reall wrong definition of Stoicism: a person who is basically devoid of emotion, who feels nothing regardless of what’s going on around you.

Maybe a little room to improve!

The philosophy of Yoga is centered around the idea the mind, body and spirit are all one and cannot be clearly separated. Yoga Basics has a good description, and is a great place to start.

The philosophy of Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy which teaches the development of self-control and fortitude as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. The Basics of Philosophy has a pretty straight forward introduction if you’re interested.

2 min: Imran talks about Yoga means to him.

Yoga is about union, and oneness with the universe. Learn about yourself and your true nature.

Steve talks about what Stoicism means to him.

Stoicism is about learning that emotion doesn’t have to rule your life, or your day. You don’t have to let it control your actions.

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. …” —Epictetus, Discourses, 2.5.4–5

3:45 min: Adiyogi by Sadhguru

What is a guru? Someone who sheds light on the path.

Stillness - can you sit with yourself, and be okay with what’s in your mind.

“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” — Blaise Pascal a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic theologian

8:30 min: Inner Engineering by Sadhguru

9:30 min: What’s Stoicism about?

  • Can I take everything that’s happening and accept it for what it is?
  • Can I accept what happens without applying judgement?
  • Good and bad are value judgements which most people apply to external things

Understand the things I can control

  • Not a long list; what am I thinking?
  • What are my thoughts? That’s all I can truly control

Commonality – you have the ability to control how you experience whatever is happening.

12:30 min: You are responsible for your life. No one else is responsible.

Karma means action, work or deed; it also refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect where intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence the future of that individual (effect) according to Wikipedia.

You can choose to be happy, or joyful, every day.

14:30 min: Story about making a choice; you choose to not follow a shared rule, like a stop sign.

Events are not happening to you. Events happen. You may be there to experience it, but it’s not about you.

Remember too that many common annoyances are pain in disguise, such as sleepiness, fever and loss of appetite. When they start to get you down, tell yourself you are giving in to pain.” — Marcus Aurelius

A Stoic Response to Pain

Pain is information about your environment.

18 min: side story about breath hold diving, or free diving

An interesting article about suffering from Awaken Psychology.

When angry count to ten before you speak. If very angry, count to one hundred. – Thomas Jefferson

Acting on Impulse from the Guardian

22 min: Transitioning to ego and responsibility

26 min: Memto mori

Imran shares a story about chasing physical things, when you’d rather want to be boundless.

  • Don’t get stuck trying to get the corner office

No person has the power to have everything they want, but it is in their power not to want what they don’t have, and to cheerfully put to good use what they do have. – Seneca

30 min: Living life accidentally; Live for a purpose

31 min: Yoga postures and positions

  • What does your body language do for your state of mind?

A Ted Talk by Amy Cuddy about Body Language

Your body language says a lot about you. Make sure you’re presenting the right message. Perception frames reality.

“Another's opinion of you is none of your business”—Imran Kasam

“If anyone tells you that a certain person speaks ill of you, do not make excuses about what is said of you but answer, ‘He was ignorant of my other faults, else he would not have mentioned these alone.'” ― Epictetus

Markdown request: Please! Someone ceate a code for sarcasm! Please! Think of good this would do the world.

“Be tolerant with others and strict with yourself.” – Marcus Aurelius

39 min: Another school of thought - Toltec

When you see someone in need, look upon the person as yourself. Instead of helping someone else, you’re helping yourself.

  • It could be you next time; treat others as you’d like to be treated

What’s up next?

  • We’re going to do a series on using low code at scale in an enterprise environment.
  • We have a unique perspective on using low code, and we’re excited to share with everyone

Do you even bastion bro? Do you even bastion bro?

When you need a shirt for an inside joke, check out Glow Your Soul.

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