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Both Sides of the Garden's Walls

  • Matt
  • December 23, 2020 at 9:13 AM
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  • Matt
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    • December 23, 2020 at 9:13 AM
    • #1

    Hello friends,

    Around 2016 I found the Facebook EP group. At that time I was completely unaware of exactly what it was I was going to be getting into. I already believed I had a deep grasp of "philosophy"...specifically neoplatonic philosophy and a myriad of idealistic systems that ranged from the religious to the mystical. But I was unhappy with all of it.

    I happened upon the Epicureans and their Garden. The Garden's walls were high, but there was a welcoming sign at the entrance.

    So I went in and I listened and learned about a philosophy that I was completely unaware of. The people of the Garden were very passionate about the philosophy and their founder. I befriended some of the core members who let me into their circle. At that time I would've called myself an Epicurean.

    I now saw the walls of the Garden from the inside and I welcomed new members as they crossed the threshold. I battled Stoics and religionists of all types, I had a penchant for Epicurean debate.

    Time went on and I still carried with me my "former" ideas. Ideas about divinity, about religion, about metaphysics, about mysticism. Things I had picked up from those other systems. What I didn't realize was that when I tried to push the two worlds together, I became less Epicurean and more of an eclectic. My former religious guilt told me to leave the Garden. So after being graciously welcomed, I left the company of friends to re-pursue my former idealistic habits and religious speculations. I was now on the other side, yet again, of the Garden's Wall. The philosophy of Epicurus and the friendships that I had made still burned in me and I made several attempts to bridge the gap between my idealistic philosophical meanderings and the Epicurean community. All of which were mostly disastrous. In my experience, you cannot mix the two worlds and have a synthesized Epicurean philosophy.

    In the time since I left, I would often fall back on my Epicurean experience and the philosophy I learned so much about. It seems that even though outwardly I had attempted to reject it, EP was securely now a part of my mental makeup.

    Well here I am, reminiscing about the past, and now looking forward to the future. Do I now consider myself an Epicurean? Yes I do. Whether it is a label I give myself or one given by an outside observer, my sympathies and core philosophical doctrines fall back to Epicurus.

    The walls of the Garden are high for a reason, they separate two worlds. Two very distinct worlds.

    So you'll see me now on the inside of the Garden and I plan to be very, very active going forward as I once was years ago. I am yet again ready to "strike a blow" for Epicurus. 8)

  • Martin
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    • December 23, 2020 at 9:17 AM
    • #2

    Welcome back, Matt!

  • Matt
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    • December 23, 2020 at 9:18 AM
    • #3

    Thanks Martin! It's good to be back. I've found I'm happiest among the Epicurean community and living the philosophy. So I can't deny it anymore!

  • Online
    Cassius
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    • December 23, 2020 at 7:20 PM
    • #4

    Yes welcome back Matt! I have to apologize for being slower than usual the last couple of weeks as I am making some life changes that I have planned for a long time but only now implementing, and that's pulled me away from my normal schedule.

    But echoing what you said, I am more convinced of the fundamental correctness of the Epicurean viewpoint today than I ever have been in the past. The issue of implementing it to form a real-life circle of friends is still challenging, and with the world seeming to be spinning out of control in many ways it seems at first like that might be another obstacle, but I bet it will be the best opportunity ever.

  • Matt
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    • December 23, 2020 at 7:45 PM
    • #5

    Thank you Cassius! Thank you for always welcoming me back to the Garden.

    It has been a long road, my own experiments with what I’ve learned about Epicurus and his conclusions have shown me that they are indeed true.

    I hope to be back full swing in the community and be contributor as I was years ago. :)

  • Charles
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    • December 23, 2020 at 9:02 PM
    • #6
    Quote from Matt

    So you'll see me now on the inside of the Garden and I plan to be very, very active going forward as I once was years ago.

    Though I joined a couple years after your departure meaning we haven't met, I will also be among the others in this community in saying: welcome back!

    “If the joys found in nature are crimes, then man’s pleasure and happiness is to be criminal.”

  • Matt
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    • December 23, 2020 at 9:06 PM
    • #7

    Thank you so much Charles! I look forward to getting to be more active here and getting to know you.

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