+1: Singer’s Stoicism (#1314)

“True Surrender” = “The Art of Acquiescence” 

 

In our last couple +1s, we talked about Michael Singer and his practical wisdom.

 

As we discussed, he has quickly become one of my favorite new teachers. He clearly practices his philosophy and his philosophy is a good one.

 

As I was reading his latest book, I was struck by the parallels of his wisdom and Stoicism. 

 

Although they take different approaches to get there and describe the process in slightly different terms (as is typically the case with universal truths echoed across different cultures and times), they arrive at the same destination.

 

Check this out, for example. 

 

Here’s Michael Singer from Living Untethered: “One of the most amazing things you will ever realize is that the moment in front of you is not bothering you—you are bothering yourself about the moment in front of you.”

 

And…

 

Here’s Marcus Aurelius from his Meditations: “If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself but to your own estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment.”

 

The wisest among us learn to have the wisdom and the humility to see the bigger picture and to ACCEPT REALITY. That is what Singer would call “true surrender.”

 

Byron Katie calls it “loving what is.” Phil Stutz calls it “radical acceptance.”

 

The Stoics called it “the art of acquiescence” and their ENTIRE philosophy is basically predicated on EXACTLY what Singer is describing. 

 

Whatever you want to call it, let’s PRACTICE IT.

 

Today.

 

+1. +1. +1.

 

LET’S GO!