Spinoza’s Secret for a Good Life

[@samwalsh-b8o]

Never commented on a video before but this video is one of the most helpful explanations I have come across for any topic. Just want to say thank you, you did an amazing job

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re very welcome. I appreciate you taking the time to share your appreciation.

[@Jason-ms8bv]

I feel predetermined to post a comment (though not against my will); Thanks so much for this series on Spinoza, his thinking certainly deserves a balanced and academic treatment and this is it. I hadn't realized until listening to this episode how many similarities there are with Taoist, Buddhist and Phyrronist thinking there are in Spinozas' approach, you've given me a lot to think ( and read ) about Zevi!! Loving your project, let's all seek Unity!!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Jason. I’m glad you followed your determined nature to leave such a beautiful comment. All the more glad that the episode got your brain fired up in all the right ways. Thank you for the love and keep seeking ;)

[@marqpsmythe228]

I’ve been studying The Ethics for almost three years now. This series has been very helpful for me in clarifying the initially opaque concepts. Thanks!

[@SeekersofUnity]

So glad to be of assistance with this great work. Much love, Zevi

[@ViniciusDavi_]

absolutely loved this spinoza's series, can't thank you enough! much love from brazil

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much Vinícius ❤️ There’s still more to come 🙏🏻

[@paula19335]

You changed my life. Literally. I felt my chest really tense for years and because of this Spinoza playlist this tension finally went away. Finally! I feel so relaxed I can't believe it. Thank you

[@SeekersofUnity]

I’m glad i could be of service. Yours, Zevi

[@ramyafennell4615]

Surely this struggle over labels of atheist...mystic...pantheism is the struggle of the Abrahamic religious mindset coming to with terms with the authoritarian structures of its three main strains. From within Zen or Advaita or Tao we have knowledge systems that lead us to the understanding that the seed and tree are one...the same...it all is. Faith systems have dominated over the interpretation of other knowledge systems...and over the philosophers within their own for centuries. And so thank you thank you a million times for adding your brilliant mind to this process of freedom from centuries of conditioning and exposing the inadequacy of labels which have invented the idea of paradox....where there is none. Labels are only tools to understanding...they are not real...they have no isness. Beautiful channel you are blessed.

[@HalTuberman]

You are nailing this material, Zevi. You demonstrate that you have contemplated and genuinely understand Spinoza's metaphysics... especially by explaining how a mind with adequate ideas is free... even in a determined world. Perfection. You may have the most comprehensive and best-explained introduction to Spinoza on KZbin. This video shows that you grasp Spinoza's philosophy because you are proceeding skillfully to the truth at the heart of the Ethics. I majored in philosophy in college and devoted a great deal of time to studying the Ethics while there. (As an atheistic pantheist, I'm sure you can imagine what kind of hero Spinoza is to me.) As far as I can tell, you interpret the Ethics exactly as I do, and you've made no errors in your analysis. Not that I'm an expert of any kind, but I thought that was worth sharing. I'm delighted to see you are now going to delve into the issue of Spinoza's (possible) mysticism. Before you even mentioned it, I thought to myself "Wouldn't it be great if (after having established Spinoza's de facto atheism) Zevi explored Spinoza's mystical tendencies?" I can't wait for the next video. Sorry for posting an essay under each of your videos, but I want you to know I'm loving this content and that what you are giving is being received.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Hal. Thank you so much for that wonderful feedback and your kind compliments. I've never studied in university under academic guidance or supervision, (not unlike the protagonist of this series ;), so having someone who has, and who also shares a great passion for the Ethics, share their appreciation is very meaningful, thank you. This is "peer-review" at it's best ;) Yes, very excited to address the question of Spinoza's mysticism. i'll be focusing strictly on his epistemology, even though there's much to say regarding his immanentism and monism as far as mysticism goes. Haha, please don't apologize. It was such a please to read your message. Zevi

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks for watching ya’ll ☺️ Check out Kasper’s collab vid here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLZcqKHodGUl7s

[@yeyohuevonhassassin2]

Spinoza has to be one of the most insightful and complete philosphers out there, once you understand him you feel a bit enlightened.

[@ahmedh.3357]

I've read and watched a fair amount on Spinoza, and your explanation of his philosophy is the finest I've seen. Thank you very much and keep up the good work!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Ahmed. That's very kind of you to say.

[@kimberrichter4674]

Thanks so much for the series! Wonderful, super clear, and beautifully referenced description of Spinoza, philosophy and ethics.

[@sv3n1234]

I discovered your channel only a few weeks ago, but you already became one of my favorite philosophy channels on KZbin! Somehow you radiate calmness and contentment together with a lot of curiosity and knowledge, seems like you’re not only learning about philosophy but are applying it in everyday life:)

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you so much Willm. That’s so kind of you to say. I’m so glad you found us and I hope you stick around, join the community and feel comfortable to share your thoughts and insight with us.

[@tamir70s]

you have an underated channel mate

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks mate 🙏🏼

[@lewisalmeida3495]

Thank you for your excellent podcast, giving us an overview of the importance of Spinoza's philosophy. As a student of Spinoza's philosophy, I have studied Spinoza's Ethics extensively, and I believe to really understand Spinoza, you must live his ideas. I have more than a theoretical concept. After 40 years of work, I now teach, mentor, and coach those who want to live, understand, and love as Spinoza did.

[@HussainFahmy]

*_A purposeful life is a blessed life._*

[@a-k9161]

How do you know when your life is blessed, and is blessed by who?

[@frialsharefabdo6472]

💚 💚 💚 From Syria.... We are all One pure Love and One pure Consciousness... our true nature Is beyond our Perception... our essence Is pure Love, peace, stillness, bliss and pure Awareness. " Everyone who is seriously involved in the pursuit of science becomes convinced that some Spirit is manifested in the laws of the universe. One that is vastly superior to that of man " ~ Albert Einstein

[@francosalgado9414]

It's a pleasure to find content like this!

[@DJ-xr2io]

Greetings from Namibia. I really enjoy your videos. The Path of Internalization resonates (for me at least) with the Ego-Self Axis(from Carl Jung's work), whereby through aligning our conscious ego with our unconscious self we attain a similar "freewill".

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you DJ for joining us and for sharing your insight. Much appreciated brother 🙏🏼

[@Thedanishphilosopher]

Very informative Zevi. I especially liked your interpretation on why Spinoza called it Ethics. Thanks for this collabinoza.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Kasper 🙏🏼 it was a lot of fun to prepare. Loved the Collabinoza 😉

[@gordonbryce]

Nice one! Pause for thought: Spinoza's link to Portugal and the family's possible trading connection to Portuguese Goa in India. Had Spinoza encountered Buddhism? A single moment of insight into an essence 14.59 of supreme Substance. An instantaneous recognition of the whole! A sickness of the mind that spins us in an eternal tale, which we can transcend....

[@PedroPereira-si3sy]

Good question. Still, I think ideas must have been exchanged, especially for those who would be actively searching for awnsers. Now sometimes I wonder how deeply these people thought, to get to this insight without our current technology and without any use of drugs...

[@gordonbryce]

@@PedroPereira-si3sy Jewish-Hasidic traders were gifted in foreign languages, perhaps this was a tradition of the Spinoza family.

[@piratepartyftw]

great videa and series! thanks!

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome 🙏🏼

[@blazingamr]

Much love from Egypt ❤️🇪🇬❤️

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Amr. Much love from Jerusalem ❤️

[@stevenwilgus5422]

To treat every human being as a shrine of God is to fulfill all religion. Bowl of Saki, January 20, by Hazrat Inayat Khan

[@francisjames6996]

Wow! That was the best one yet! Great stuff that one can put to use in a practical way. I couldn't help but notice some of the similarities to eastern philosophies in Spinoza's thoughts on perspective. Very Zennish. 😃 Now I'm going to check out that merch! As always, I appreciate you, Zevi. Thank you.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Francis 🙏🏼 Yes, good observation, definitely quite Zennish and more in the next installment 😉 I appreciate you 😘

[@nicholas1895]

excellent series on Spinoza! I have been exploring his work for only the last few months, and I was beginning to lose enthusiasm a bit because I started seeing the Spinozistic universe as nothing but a determinstic and scientistic type of nature, but the Hegel quote you provided in the previous video and your description of the 3rd kind of knowledge in this one have provided some new"juice'' and new ways to think about it all. Many thanks for creating and sharing this content. Looking forward to exploring the rest of your videos!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thanks Nicholas. Glad to have been able to provide another angle into this great mind. Much love, Zevi

[@rafael55]

This make a lot of sense. Since I was a little kid all things had value and were important and were part of all. No religion ever came close to help me understand anything. Religion only filled me with feeling lost in a way, and unable to understand anything at all. When I was 9 a nun told me I was a sinner just because I was born, and hells fire was 350 degree centigrate, and purgatory fire was even hotter. But one day we would get out of purgatory but we would never get out of hell. I gess I am a recovering catholic.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Welcome to the channel 🙏🏼

[@rafael55]

thanks! @@SeekersofUnity

[@MikeWiest]

0:03 Inspiration for Princess Leia’s hair 😊

[@tedetienne7639]

I’ve really been enjoying this series on Spinoza! I’ve always had disagreements with his strict determinism. This video helped clarify his reasoning for me. I still think he’s wrong about the universe’s necessity to be exactly as it is, but I understand his point much better!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Ted. So glad you’ve been enjoying this series. It’s been a lot of fun to make. And glad that it’s given you the opportunity to think about Spinoza philosophy differently. I’m glad you don’t agree, I don’t think I agree either, but it’s great to try understand and appreciate those positions we don’t agree with. Thanks for the feedback. Much love, Zevi

[@gianluigisegalerba4543]

Very good.

[@MillennialMoneyMindset]

Great video 👏

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you 🙏🏼

[@michellpoulsen8253]

Awsome dude ...

[@DivineSource444]

Thank you! 🙏 Much Love & Peace to you! 🕊

[@user-yk9sk7pg6v]

Thank you

[@philippe5947]

25:43 : Ok but does Spinoza show how to achieve this knowledge? Like, even if I agree with him, I don't truly and profoundly comprehend it, in such a way that I would live a "blessed life". I just finished part 2 (nature of Spirit), so I don't know everything about Ethics yet. Thanks in advance for any responses!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hi Philippe, we continue in the next installment with an attempt to explain just that. What this third knowledge is for Spinoza and how one comes to it: The Case for Spinoza's Mysticism kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5urnKx-iMSnh80 Enjoy, Zevi

[@philippe5947]

@@SeekersofUnity thank you very very much!

[@palladin331]

Part 2 of The Ethics is entitled "Of the Nature and Origin of the Mind".

[@herrhardi]

The way determinism makes sense to me is that there are numbers of ways things could occur, but are reduced to the way it occurs by the things that make it occur so. I think freedom comes from recognizing our ability or non ability to modify the conditions for something to occur.

[@AmitBongir]

Really loved the part about the 3rd kind of knowledge - intuition - and following that "internalization". Thank you for making these videos. About determinism, it follows from this intuition / insights / imagination, wherein the true / root causes lie. And since imaginiation in our experience is truly free, I believe that nature is not deterministic. Only physical aspects could be deterministic. Nature is governed by certain laws and all its actions conform to it and in that sense it is deterministic, but its methods are not limited in any way. Determinism is a weak word, better to replace it with "determination based on logic", and then let's see if determinists are able to foresee all events. It's only when they've seen the causes along the future then they'll be able to determine an effect. A free and open cause like imagination cannot be derived logically. And it's this free will defense is what has withstood as a major proponent in theodicy.

[@kokorico06]

Love & happiness is for the courageous hate and sadness is for cowards. I simplified it

[@rkmh9342]

Baruch is not incorrect. Since I have recovered from psychosis and gone on to earn a Ph.D. as a logician, Baruch has been integral to articulating my journey to health. From a therapeutic perspective (the ACT in particular), Baruch provides a metaphysical scaffolding for how the skill of cognitive defusion is even possible. Cognitive defusion is the ability to extricate your cognition from seeing the world through the lens of the feelings or emotions (or psychotic delusions and voices in my case) affecting your body. From a Theravada perspective, the doctrine of Dependent Origination is an illuminating contrast, which also posits freedom from 'suffering' because different causes become active (e.g., the Dharma). In both perspectives, there is an agreement with Baruch that it's an error to accept that suffering is a lack of willpower rather than recognizing its chain of causes and thereby having the space to learn how a different chain of causes could result in better outcomes and internalizing this knowledge. Since neurological studies have shown that the feeling of a choice is demonstrably well after the cognitive and hedonic limbic system has kicked into gear, it's always too late to make a different choice. Instead, you have to have the right causes of cognition, emotion and behaviour before you choose, not during the choice phenomena. For me, seeing yourself as part of a well-ordered (even an atheist can say, godly) universe, means it's possible to have different causes produce different outcomes. And like my Buddhist brothers and sisters, it just so happens that those who are blessed are caused to be so blessed and if blessed indeed humbled by that grace. Much gratitude and love, and hope for continued grounding in your amazing presentations!

[@ettome]

That's beautiful good sir.

[@rkmh9342]

@@ettome Very kind of you to say. Ty. however, neither good nor a sir. Take care

[@ettome]

@@rkmh9342 That's beautiful sir🙂.

[@evanalmighty9444]

To me it seems that you are saying, that some post-game analysis, meta-cognition, and assuring your mind is reminded frequently of your ideal values, through something like meditation is the key to success within a determinist framework?

[@rkmh9342]

@@evanalmighty9444 In my experience, I had to identify what may cause the outcomes I desired. Then I learned how to access those causes. Identifying obstacles, and eliminating their causes is as important. Spinoza clearly sees a cause within us all, pushing us to "strive." As the good book says, "There is nothing new under the sun." Thus, the idea of a will that is free is a delusion.

[@hesssn]

Hell yeah

[@jojones4685]

Yeah!

[@mediocrates3416]

The problem i have is not with Spinoza; it's with the fact that we don't *start* with Spinoza. We start with Descarte: for obvious reasons that are all establishment. In nature, we start with Pan: pananimism; i'm a panqualist. With panqualism and a functional understanding of consciousness; any time i see local memory i see potential self; the vedas and the Hindu pantheon are alive for me; Mithras is every lawyer and every contract and Baal is every owner... potentially. Freedom is about control, not causation. Truth might actually be a peson and the only nonillusory self. Cheers and thanks!

[@stevenwilgus5422]

Ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny is Ernst Haeckel's phrase in response to Darwin. It is my understanding that inasmuch as we are the unfolding of The Supreme Being, all of our preignitions are Fait accompli in the unfolding of Divine essence. (Do you track what is being stated?)

[@billystevenson3477]

Beautiful 💙🙏

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Billy.

[@PedroPereira-si3sy]

I think, while Spinoza is right about all being deterministic up to the point of the present moment, new events are caused by so many past events, that are impossible to predict due to the magnitude and randomness of the past, and at-the-same-time events. Added the creativity of living beings generating even more randomness, with choices derived by reason from this absolute randomness; in this infinite amalgam of information that will lead to an approximation of an event emerges free will, that will decide in that fuzzy cloud of possible outcomes, the next event. Basically the premiss of quantum mechanics. when you measure the particle, it becomes necessary. please, by all means, correct me, as I am not a specialist in any way. Just trying to improve my Ethics :) I read Spinosa when I was a teen, and although I couldn't understand much, it planted some seeds that made me study him sporadically, and just recently I've re-read Spinoza to realize how much we all came to agree with him after 3 centuries. what a beautiful mind Thank you for your great video!

[@SeekersofUnity]

Hey Pedro. Thank you for the kind feedback. In response to your comment. I think what Spinoza might be saying with his position of strong determinism is not that one is able to know or predict each thing as it will evolve from its causes, one would need to be omniscient to do so, but rather to accept that all things necessarily are exactly the way they are and could not have been any other way, and that in the wake of that recognition follows much peace, bliss tranquility and acceptance. With love, Zevi

[@PedroPereira-si3sy]

@@SeekersofUnity thank you for your reply, it's always great to be challenged to think deeply (or as deeply as I can :) ) In a way, I was advocating in favor of free will in all living things. I agree absolutely with you on your thought: "that all things necessarily are exactly the way they are and could not have been any other way (...)" once they happen. Still now in the present, we can choose between the different models we can create on how to move. And I for one, enjoy such responsibility. I derive from Espinoza's idea of conatus that there is no inherent purpose in the Universe (at least one we can recognize), as such whatever movement is as correct as any other: And things continue existing by some sort of chance Darwinian relative casuistic evolution regardless. And that thought is one that brings me much comfort: That all is meaningless, except for the meaning we give it to be, arisen by emergent causality. And such makes all the most meaningful thing we will ever experience. That realization helps me appreciate this amazing show in freedom, tendentially (by conatus) choosing in a way that will increase comfort, and hopefully decrease suffering in me and others till my meaningless end. heheheheh, seems catastrophic, but I find it beautiful. All the best for you, and great luck with your wonderful channel :)

[@mediocrates3416]

Spiniza's "intuition" i call coherence detection. Undertstanding? I think the brain started as a comfort finder and has evolved just recently into a coherence detector. We're having difficulties with articulation, naturally.

[@heatherc1563]

So true, your comment made me smile. It is difficult to articulate and so nice to listen to. 😊

[@hackenstring]

14:31 subliminal message?

[@calvingrondahl1011]

Spinoza and Einstein, Judaism is the insight into who we really are.

[@sixeses]

Thank You. When I first read Spinoza 50 years ago, I thought he was an atheist.

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome Sixeses. And what are your thoughts today?

[@SeekersofUnity]

You’re most welcome Sixeses. And what are your thoughts today?

[@sixeses]

@@SeekersofUnity I think things are what they are, not dependent on what we call them . Evil is evil. I was amused in one video by your pronunciation of latin as ladin. I've only heard that pronunciation by people in the UK. That's a lot of typing with one finger!

[@SeekersofUnity]

I’m Australian 😋 easy on the finger.

[@palladin331]

Spinoza was an atheist, given his definition of God, as no such God is known in any theology or religion. Spinoza's metaphysics is not a theology, in spite of his frequent use of the word God, by which he means reality, nature and its laws -- in other words, the actual nature of nature. He created no religion. Just the opposite.

[@juliaappleton17]

How to come to know his cool intellect and ecstatic love wrapped in one man. It is like holding a tiny cup with little straw and umbrella and leaning over Niagara Falls to drink. Pardon me while I compose myself from this video. I need to dry off a bit.

[@merlingeikie]

Benedicto Spinoza was forcefully and totally ejected by his Jewish church and Jewish Family. He changed his name to Benedicto and is buried in a Christian churchyard amongst the Christians who loved him. Calling him Jewish would cause him to turn in his grave.

[@thortorgerud6305]

It's not even a question if whether he was a mystic or not. His philosophy goes hand in hand with Qabalah, Hermeticism and the Mystery School. Qlippot or husks is a Jewish mystic concept, "the all" or aur ein sof comes from Qabalah. The concept of eternity is identical with Plato's metaphysics...

[@TheExceptionalState]

Have you ever considered whether Spinoza had contact with the Zohar? I've seen your excellent videos on this subject so the question grew out of this association.

[@deeplorable8988]

I'm of the Forrest Gump school of philosophy. Is it destiny or is it free will? "It's a little of both"

[@joeybossolo7]

Read the Ethics recently. My only critique is that Spinoza seems to over explain the simple and take the complex for granted. Multiple times he states something is “obvious” or “evident” and just moves on. Not quite rigorous if you ask me. But hey, what do I know? I’m more of a Socratic guy. ;)

[@blankname5177]

❤

[@KaiserTheAdversary]

24:57 LMAOOOO I can't believe it's real 🤣

[@ziu1163]

Is Spinoza's second form of knowledge, Reason, a form of phenomenology?

[@SeekersofUnity]

I don’t think i understand your question. Sorry.

[@ziu1163]

@@SeekersofUnity That's okay- I'm not sure I do either. Anyway thanks for responding! I absolutely adore your content and its thoughtful, inclusive, critical, and other-aware approach.

[@SeekersofUnity]

Thank you Zi U 🙏🏼

[@zevilover3591]

What does that actually mean?

[@Dri143]

Sounds like stoicism

[@SeekersofUnity]

For good reason. Spinoza was heavily influenced by Stoicism.

[@prettysure3085]

Doesnt take an espinoza to tell what's d secret. It's Money.

[@madsenketty]

? -> 🍎

[@planje4740]

Yeah sure secrets of God God is so small and the human mind can understanding Is possible for one feather on chicken understanding whole chicken where is busy what want Real wise Man hi understanding how stupid is wise