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Aurelius - Meditations 4:21: The Afterlife and the Leech's Greedy Daughters

Aurelius - Meditations 4:21: The Afterlife and the Leech's Greedy Daughters

FromThe Stoic Jew


Aurelius - Meditations 4:21: The Afterlife and the Leech's Greedy Daughters

FromThe Stoic Jew

ratings:
Length:
10 minutes
Released:
Dec 16, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

4:21 – You ask how, if souls continue to exist, the atmosphere has room for them from time eternal. But how does the ground have room for the bodies of those who for so long an age are buried in it? The answer is that, as on earth change and dissolution after a continuance for so long make room for other dead bodies, so in the atmosphere souls pass on and continue for so long, and then change and are poured out and are kindled being assumed into the generative principle of Universal Nature, and so provide room for those which succeed to their place. This would be the answer presuming that souls do continue. But we must consider not only the multitude of bodies that are thus buried, but also the number of animals eaten every day by ourselves and the rest of the animal creation. How large a number are devoured and, in a manner of speaking, “buried” in the bodies of those who feed upon them; and yet there is room to contain them because they are turned into blood, because they are changed into forms of air and heat. How shall we investigate the truth of this? By division into that which is material and that which is the cause of form, the formal.--------------------Mishlei 30:15“The leech has two daughters that say, ‘Give me!’ ‘Give me!’”Metzudas David – Mishlei 30:15the leech has – He likened the pit of the grave to a leech because it greedily sucks all people into it, just like the leech sucks blood.two daughters – they are Gan Eden and Gehinnom. Gan Eden says, “Give me tzadikim!” and Gehinnom says, “Give me reshaim!” This is an allegory, as if to say: the Tzadik shouldn’t think that there isn’t enough room in Gan Eden, nor should the rasha think that Gehinom is already filled to the brim and there is no room for him. This is not so, for each one of them desires more people, and has ample space, and each one will end up in his place.--------------------If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.----------Stoic texts:The Meditations of Marcus AureliusLetters from a Stoic Master (Seneca)The Discourses of EpictetusThe Enchiridion (Handbook) of Epictetus----------Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweissYouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/rabbischneeweissBlog: https://kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/Twitter: https://twitter.com/rmschneeweiss"The Mishlei Podcast": https://mishlei.buzzsprout.com"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: https://thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: https://rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: https://machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": https://tefilah.buzzsprout.comSupport the show
Released:
Dec 16, 2020
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

My name is Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss. I am, first and foremost, an Orthodox Jew. My primary area of focus is the teachings of Shlomo ha'Melech (King Solomon) in Mishlei (Proverbs) and Koheles (Ecclesiastes). I also consider myself to be a student of the Stoic masters: Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Over the past two decades I have been exploring the relationship between Judaism and Stoicism - where they overlap, where they differ, and how they complement each other. This year I started a daily reading of Marcus Aurelius with an aim to explore these questions. I'll read a passage from Aurelius's Meditations and then muse (or meditate aloud) on my thoughts about what he said and what the Torah would have to say. As Seneca taught: "Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day" (Letter #2). If this podcast serves that purpose, then it will have been of value.