Guardians of Truth

The 3 pillars of stoicism are logic, physics, and ethics. Logic being the basic education for thinking and speaking about physics and ethics. A simple explanation of stoic physics would be insentient matter that is animated by the spirit of reason called logos. Logos is what gives life, balance, order to the cosmos through each creature. Every creature has a natural way of being that is beneficial to the whole. For humans that nature is virtue. Everything that can be known is an opposite of something else and the opposite of virtue is vice. Virtue and vice are degrees of one thing and it could be called the wheel of ethics.

The wheel of ethics is one thing that is totally within our control therefor it is the main thing we should focus on. Anything external like events, people, health, weath, etc. are not completely within our control therefor are not marks of true happiness. These externals can be preferred or not preferred but have nothing to do with a good life. A good flow in life is one with inner serenity and this is gained solely by the wheel of ethics.

Take the 4 cardinal virtues of stoicism- wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. Treat these 4 virtues like 4 guardian spirits that guide your path.

Wisdom personified would be the sage. The sage teaches you to pay attention and prevents you from getting lost in your own head. It gives you common sense and the ability to view things objectivly so you can make the best decisions. Visualize your inner sage and drink in the wisdom you already contain. To learn anything new you can only use the tools and knowledge you already have. If this is true are you ever actually learning something new or simply unleashing the knowledge already within you?

Courage personified would be the warrior/hero. This spirit of courage gives you the internal fire to try, to continue, to care, to overcome. If virtue and vice are polarities in the wheel of ethics then the polarity of the wheel of ethics would be complete indifference to existence and this is a dangerous attitude, one which the warrior destroys. The inner warrior pulls you out of the deep dark corners of the mind and protects the other virtues. The famous saying " if you're going through hell, keep on going" could be the motto of the warrior.

Justice personified would be the king/queen. The leader, the mentor, the one that sees the bigger picture. This is the mature one that creates the meaning behind everything, for everyone. The other virtues serve the king/queen because without justice nothing makes sense. The sense of working together, without justice there is no beauty.

Temperance personified would be the saint. The saint is a master of him/herself. This is the ability to control desires and aversions in a healthy way so you remain grounded in reality. The saint teaches by example and inspires others. The strength of temperance saves people from darkness merely by being in its presence. Control of oneself creates the ambience by which the other virtues shine.

These virtues or guardian spirits will lead you to the ultimate goal. In human experience the only thing greater than these is the Lord of existence itself. The one by which they emerge. Be grateful to the Lord and follow the Guardians of Truth until you become the Guardian.