STOICISM AND ZEN BUDDHISM

 What are the similarities between Stoicism and Zen Buddhism

Stoicism and Zen Buddhism are two remarkably similar philosophies that were created independently thousands of miles apart. Zen Buddhism was founded in present-day India around 500 B.C and Stoicism began in Athens, Greece around 300 B.C. They both advocate seeking happiness from an internal source so that the ups and downs of life will not be your masters.

I think the best way to summarize the similarities between the two philosophies is:

“A Stoic is a Zen Buddhist with an attitude.”

Here are some specific examples of how these two philosophies are similar:

• Living in the present moment: Both Zen Buddhism and Stoicism teach that the present moment is all we have and that we should focus on living it fully. By practicing mindfulness and meditation, we can learn to train our minds to focus on the present moment.
• Accepting change (or impermanence): Both philosophies teach that change is inevitable, and that we should learn to accept it gracefully. Nothing is permanent, not even our lives (memento mori). This can be a difficult concept to accept, especially when we are attached to things or people.
• Cultivating self-discipline: Both philosophies teach that self-discipline is essential for living a happy and fulfilling life. Since our thoughts, emotions, and actions are all controlled by our minds, if we learn to control our minds, we can learn to control our lives.
• Living in harmony with nature: Both philosophies suggest living in alignment with nature (or more specifically, your personal nature). It would be a lost cause trying to be somebody we aren’t by nature. It’s best to make peace with this fact.
• Detachment from external circumstances: Both philosophies teach that we should not let our happiness depend on external factors, such as material possessions, social status, or the opinions of others. By being detached (practicing apatheia in Stoicism) towards external circumstances*, we can free ourselves from suffering and live more peacefully.

Today both Zen Buddhism and Stoicism are resurgent. It is not surprising that TIME magazine dedicated one of its covers to “The Mindful Revolution” as mindfulness and meditations are key Buddhist concepts (and academic interest has also been increasing in recent years). There was also a popular National Geographic piece from several years ago on the Buddhist resurgence in the West.

* In Zen Buddhism, you’d say practicing ‘non-attachment’ which is the middle state in-between attachment and detachment.