Well said. I've long thought that the messages of Stoicism and Buddhism are quite similar, and wondered why it's been relatively rare that people have made that connection. In recent years I've wondered whether it has to do with their respective gender codings: https://loveofallwisdom.substack.com/p/stoicism-for-boys-mindfulness-for
Thanks Amod. I think both the similarities and differences are fascinating. I think your argument about gender-coding is insightful. Here are some other factors I think are at play: 1) In the eyes of many Buddhism is percieved as a religion, Stoicism as a secular philosophy; 2) Stoicism asks people to think in new ways but not to take up more potentially "foreign" practices like meditation, chanting, bowing, interacting with monks, etc; 3) Stoicism is percieved as "of my own culture" and Buddhism as "of a foreign culture." It is also true, of course,that these very same factors might lead someone to choose Buddhism over Stoicism, but I think despite resonances they tend to appeal to different "demographics."
Excellent commentary
Lovely reflection - thank you.
Well said. I've long thought that the messages of Stoicism and Buddhism are quite similar, and wondered why it's been relatively rare that people have made that connection. In recent years I've wondered whether it has to do with their respective gender codings: https://loveofallwisdom.substack.com/p/stoicism-for-boys-mindfulness-for
Thanks Amod. I think both the similarities and differences are fascinating. I think your argument about gender-coding is insightful. Here are some other factors I think are at play: 1) In the eyes of many Buddhism is percieved as a religion, Stoicism as a secular philosophy; 2) Stoicism asks people to think in new ways but not to take up more potentially "foreign" practices like meditation, chanting, bowing, interacting with monks, etc; 3) Stoicism is percieved as "of my own culture" and Buddhism as "of a foreign culture." It is also true, of course,that these very same factors might lead someone to choose Buddhism over Stoicism, but I think despite resonances they tend to appeal to different "demographics."