This is the fourth part of a five part series on Seneca’s On the Shortness of Life.
Read Part I – Finiteness, Part II – Protecting time and living in the present, Part III – Desire and life goals.
Of all the things that we spend time on, learning is arguably one of the most important. It contributes to our knowledge of everything around and within us, makes us better people, and therefore the world a better place to live in.
We are so lucky to live in an age where there is more information out there than we can possibly consume in a single lifetime. Never before in human history have we been so connected to each others’ thoughts, teachings and discoveries.
This freedom, to be able to learn about whatever we want, is one of the most precious gifts we have.
we are excluded from no age, but we have access to them all
Seneca emphasized the importance of learning from great masters, whose teachings were once exclusive to certain people is now free for everyone.
“None of these will force you to die, but all will teach you how to die. None of them will exhaust your years, but each will contribute his years to yours.”
Lessons that otherwise would have taken a lifetime to learn are now accessible to us at our fingertips. The only obstacle we face now is whether or not we are ready to receive them.
Of course, we’re still free to make out own mistakes. But for those who don’t want to, or can’t afford to, we can always learn from the past.
“Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only those are really alive. For they not only keep a good watch over their own lifetimes, but they annex every age to theirs. All the years that have passed before them are added to their own.”
If there’s one thing that living a minimalist lifestyle is good for, it’s to take away distractions so that we can spend more time on the things that matter.
Without the distraction of chasing material gain, we can devote our energies towards continuous learning – whether that means to travel, or to stay at home to read, or reflect on ourselves, or anything in between. Ultimately, learning all comes down to expanding our horizons and opening up to what this beautiful world has to offer.
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