12 Comments

I really think Epictetus got it wrong by imposing his own anxiety upon the lute player. Would not a lute player knowing one's abilities and limitations, knows themself, put forth from the power of their heart the message of the words that float amongst the music if just to touch one other soul?

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Perhaps the lute player’s goal is just to touch one other soul, as you say. Yet again, it would be of no use for the musician to stress wether he/she is indeed touching some one else’s soul through his/her music.

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I think the message here is that playing the lute should be an end in itself and not a means to an end for the performer. Being truly present.

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You speak of a performer, an entertainer seeking adulation, accompanied by a lute. Whereas I'm speaking of a lute player that is a storyteller marrying the words and music together in to a message that only a kindred soul would be moved to recognize and admire as coming from a pure and powerful heart.

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It’s not within his power at all that only a kindred soul would be moved one, to recognize, and two to admire … that assumes a lot and going into a performance I do my very best at the analogion as I do my very best the week prior to chanting. Whether I am the best marry-er of lyrics to music is not anything I ever think about whether or not I reach anyone though from what I hear I reach many. Whether there is many to reach, or just a soul, is irrelevant; I have chant in me and would chant to a tree stump.

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What a convoluted process to rectify you're an entertainer, not a storyteller. How apropos for a schooled Byzantine.

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So a storyteller would have to agree with your point of view? If not he’s just an entertainer? I think you’re missing the point of this post and the argument by the Byzantine School…

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Yes! And I believe that’s what Epictetus meant. We should strive to be like the lute player you’ve exemplified, not the entertainer seeking external approval.

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Or.....just take a little THC in the evenings.

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You say, "We, as individuals, can [not] meaningfully effect . . . world affairs." Maybe not, but we can make at least small, stress free, positive contributions in moving the world toward the kind of world we want. Because—as you add—"Nothing inconsequential happens within the world," we gain stress free inner peace knowing we have contributed toward our kind of world.

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Wonderful article and it is filled with very useful advice. Thank you for this.

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