Friday, August 11, 2006
From Seneca and how to live a long life that doesn't necessarily include old age, to Thomas a' Kempis, that humble Christ's servant who said to renounce the Self is the path to God.
Seneca, through worldly wisdom shares how a young man can avoid troubles in this life.
Thomas a' Kempis offers encouragement to bear the Cross, to patiently suffer, to wait on the Lord when confronted with strife.
Seneca offers a way around suffering, while Kempis offers his way through suffering.
Seneca is astute and learned, while Kempis is willfully ignorant to the world and seeks only the knowledge of God. Kempis is Quiet, Contemplative, Soothing and reacts against worldly wisdom, while Seneca draws from worldly wisdom, quoting from, though he is the penultimate Stoic, that other wise man, Epicuris the Epicure.
So Kempis offers the single minded vision of the humble Christian servant, while Seneca draws from diverse voices and makes them his own.
Seneca, through worldly wisdom shares how a young man can avoid troubles in this life.
Thomas a' Kempis offers encouragement to bear the Cross, to patiently suffer, to wait on the Lord when confronted with strife.
Seneca offers a way around suffering, while Kempis offers his way through suffering.
Seneca is astute and learned, while Kempis is willfully ignorant to the world and seeks only the knowledge of God. Kempis is Quiet, Contemplative, Soothing and reacts against worldly wisdom, while Seneca draws from worldly wisdom, quoting from, though he is the penultimate Stoic, that other wise man, Epicuris the Epicure.
So Kempis offers the single minded vision of the humble Christian servant, while Seneca draws from diverse voices and makes them his own.
