Schopenhauer's Asceticism & Aesthetics - His Solution to Life's Suffering

The philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer was a fascinating thinker because he was perhaps the first to combine both eastern philosophy and western philosophy into his philosophical works. He believed human existence to be one of inevitable, meaningless suffering and that western philosophy was incapable of providing a solution to this problem. Instead, he proposed a way to minimize life’s suffering and hardship rooted in eastern thought, specifically the writings of the ancient Upanishads.

This video will first do a concise overview of why Schopenhauer believed life to unending suffering and craving, cover his eastern philosophical solution to reduce life’s suffering, and my thoughts on how correct and relevant his philosophy is today.

[acardinalconsideration]

Schopenhauer wasn’t a strict ascetic for the same reason that the vast majority of people aren’t. He didn’t have the immense level of will power required to live a strict ascetic lifestyle. Once Buddha realized that starving himself wasn’t the answer, he soon discovered ‘The Middle Way’

[AlchemicalForge]

after studying almost every philosophy at the very end here I have adopted total nothingness. Every day I wake up I radically embrace whatever emotions and state of being I an in at that moment. Letting my sailboat be taken on the current of life. It works.

[awesomelovable]

Live a minimalist life, that's how you rebel with the Will

[eugenvataman]

Was looking for asceticism and came across this video. Will definitely read Schopenhauer's book. Whether he put that in practice or not matters very little to me - from what I understand (from this video) he provided a good analysis on desire.

However, I'd like to add one thing - Most Buddhist monks do not advocate for Asceticism - Nor did Buddha.

In fact, that's why Buddha came up with 'The Middle Way' - between asceticism and pure hedonism

[sonuchhibber]

Affairs are rarely people’s intentions. Those arise out of uncontrolled sex organs. This is the most important philosophy video on the internet. He is actually right. Art or iki Gai and moderate asceticism is the solution. You don’t deprive yourself of a chicken burger, but at the same time, you stop after one chicken burger. Thanks for the video. I got the information that I need from it.

[vinskra]

I think Schopenhauer was right but due to his earthly ties he was unable to fully explore his philosophy experientially. I’d love to hear more about this!

[TheFleshPrevails]

Just in time for my lunch! Excellent and informative as always!

[tatercrosley]

Nice. I think desire gets a bad rap. I guess because once it is sated we tend to think "is that it?" But the cycle of desire/satiation will lead one (eventually) to that state of discernment that he described as Sannyasa. With desire, it is the journey as much as the destination. But why do we instantly lose appreciation of the journey when it has ended? It's like surfing maybe. Before, there is anticipation/desire, then when the wave comes we are actively participating in life through enacting our desire. This can be a creative process as we contemplate our desire, shape it by experience, discard some aspects and keep others, etc. Part of the art of life is to sharpen desire, not only to satiate it. You notice that in the Siddartha story he experiences life to the full before becoming ascetic. He moved through life not away from it.

[konasattva]

Monk life is not about wellbeing but the attainment of wisdom. As wellbeing is also passing etc..

[xenocrates]

I enjoyed the video; thanks for posting it. A brief observation about the idea that the Buddha didn't practice asceticism. I think that is a Western rewrite of the Buddha's view. For example, the Buddha lived a life as a wandering renunciant; owning only minimal clothing, a few bowls for begging food, and similar practices. He did not own property or engage in accumulating material possessions. He refrained from sexual relations after he left the home life. All of this would ordinarily strike us as 'ascetic'. What the Buddha gave up were certain extreme practices, like starving yourself to death. The 'middle way' of the Buddha was an ascetic approach that was something people could actually practice. When Westerners say the Buddha wasn't an ascetic I think that is a way of justifying their own upper middle class lives, since almost all Western Buddhists are in that class. // Thanks again for posting the video.

[adamserrecchia]

I agree with many points made by Schopenhauer..like an aesthetic life is very difficult and mostly unattainable.. I agree with you Ben also.. eastern philosophy can help improve our condition.🗡️

[Peter_Parker]

Not sure I'd say he was right, but more on to something than most philosophers and religions out there.

[_sitting_duck_]

What do you mean there is no evidence or backing that monks dont expereince higher well being than non monks?

[Erok]

Just imagine how different his work would be if he had any charisma.

[jonathantshibula]

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭2: 18‭-‬19‬ ‭CSB‬‬
[18] Let no one condemn you by delighting in ascetic practices and the worship of angels, claiming access to a visionary realm. Such people are inflated by empty notions of their unspiritual mind. [19] They don’t hold on to the head, from whom the whole body, nourished and held together by its ligaments and tendons, grows with growth from God.

[discountmike]

I tell everyone to read this Of thy did then they wouldn't actually ever be disappointed with life. Seriously.

[bluebee]

The vocal fry made this very hard to get through.

[brokenchad]

I prefer Friedrich Nietzsche approach to meaningless life, but not agree with him either