最近越来越发觉斯多葛中的一些思想与佛学的思想有相像之处，试图去理解两者的异同。
- 控制欲 与 “苦”
Outside our control, however, are such things as what kind of body we have, whether we're born into wealth or strike it rich, how we are regarded by others, and our status in society. We must remember that those things are externals and are therefore not our concern. Trying to control or to change what we can't only results in torment.
佛陀所说的dukkha(苦），意旨 suffering, unsatisfactoriness. 既然苦就是不满足，那么Epictetus的这句：“Trying to control or to change what we can’t only results in torment. ” 试图去控制一切所导致的结果是不是也在指dukkha?
- Tanha 与 拥有
Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.
Epictetus的这句话又使我联想到佛学中的Tanha。Tanha即欲望，英文中的解释是desire, craving, thirst, want, longing, yearning。最通俗的例子，我们经常说“吃着碗里的看着锅里的”，引申一步，欲望是无休止的，因为有欲望Tanha，才有了不满足dukkha，这使我们沦入苦海之中。贪使人欲罢不能，嗔使人为得不到的而疯狂，两者的状态则为痴。 Epictetus 是想告诉给人们珍惜已拥有的东西，而佛陀的则教给了我们彻底放下Tanha，远离贪嗔痴的苦海。
- 空 与 静
Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible.
佛学与斯多葛学派不都是在追求真正意义上的极乐与自由吗？
佛学中常讲“空” (Emptiness) ，空使人排除主观的干预，从而能获得更真实、丰富的体验，从而达到自由。斯多葛追求“平静” （Tranquility），理解什么是我们能够控制的，什么不是，进而达到内心的平静与外在有效性，即快乐与自由。
个人愚见，仍在学习的路上。
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