Synopsis: We’re going to jump around a bit from letter to letter and topic to topic for the next couple of weeks. In today’s episode we read about Seneca’s reluctance to advise his student, Lucilius, from afar. The reasoning he provides is a core tenet of Bruce Lee’s Jeet Kune Do, which is the foundation of my approach to teaching. Over the course of thinking about this I realized that Seneca’s words also shed light on why Pirkei Avos isn’t for everyone.
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Seneca: Letter #22 – On the Futility of Halfway Measures (excerpt)
You understand by this time that you must withdraw yourself from those showy and depraved pursuits; but you still wish to know how this may be accomplished. There are certain things which can be pointed out only by someone who is present. The physician cannot prescribe by letter the proper time for eating or bathing; he must feel the pulse. There is an old adage about gladiators—that they plan their fight in the ring; as they intently watch, something in the adversary’s glance, some movement of his hand, even some slight bending of his body, gives a warning.
We can formulate general rules and commit them to writing, as to what is usually done, or ought to be done; such advice may be given, not only to our absent friends, but also to succeeding generations. In regard, however, to that second question—when or how your plan is to be carried out—no one will advise at long range; we must take counsel in the presence of the actual situation.
You must be not only present in the body, but watchful in mind, if you would avail yourself of the fleeting opportunity. Accordingly, look about you for the opportunity; if you see it, grasp it, and with all your energy and with all your strength devote yourself to this task—to rid yourself of those business duties.
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Sources:
- Seneca: Letter #22; click here to access the full text of Seneca's letters
- Bruce Lee, Tao of Jeet Kune Do
- Bava Kama 30a
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If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.
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Stoic texts:
The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius
Letters from a Stoic Master (Seneca)
The Discourses of Epictetus
The Enchiridion (Handbook) of Epictetus
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