Epicurean Week - Guidebook for College Level Class

1. MODERN EXERCISES

2. Possible Categories for Each Day (This section currently under development):

1. Explore your understanding of pleasure and desire

2. Explore the importance of friendship

3. Develop peace of mind through understanding the true nature of death and pain

4. Develop peace of mind through understanding the non-involvement of God

5. Develop peace of mind through knowledge of the natural world and its materialist essense

6. Develop "Choices and Avoidances" to maximize pleasure without sacrificing future well-being

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3. These modern exercises are supplementary to the Ancient Exercises providing opportunities to implement ancient Epicurean principles. (This section currently under development)

A. Explore your understanding of pleasure both in body and in mind

1. Write out a list of things that bring you physical pleasure and which are experienced through sight, sound, taste, touch, smell. Include as much detail as possible in your desciption of each item.
2. Proprioception, otherwise known as kinesthesia, is your body's ability to sense movement, action, and location. It's present in every muscle movement you have. This is also a source of pleasure, as in dancing. Do you currently enjoy some type of physical activity? (add it to your list above). If not, is there something you might like to try?
3. On your list of physical pleasures, put a star next to the ones that are your favorites. Put a question mark next to the ones that bring both pleasure and pain at the same time.
4. Think about what the word pleasure means to you, and how and when you use that word. Do you feel guilt or embarassment about pleasurable experiences? Why might this be so? Journal your thoughts.
5. Write out a list of things that bring you mental pleasure -- thinking, reading, learning, memories, imagination, contemplation, discussion, etc. Include as much detail as possible in your desciption of each item.
6. Put a star next to the ones which are your favorite mental pleasures. Put a question mark next to the ones that bring both pleasure and pain at the same time.
7. The enjoyment of pleasurable memories: Start a journal to record good things that happen each day (to assist in recalling past pleasures).
8. Take a "pleasure walk": Choose a busy city area or a quiet nature area (or do both). Pay attention to things which draw your eyes while looking for pleasing elements. Listen for pleasing sounds. Notice if there are pleasing smells or aromas or things you can touch which have pleasing textures.

B. Explore the importance of friendship

1. Do you have (or have had) a friendship that made you feel happy? If so, write about why your friendship brought happiness to you. If you have found past friendship to be painful or difficult, first write about what was difficult, and then imagine specifically what would need to be different so that it would contribute to happiness instead. Write out your insights into a story imagining a future friendship with a new friend who brings you happiness.
2. Make a list of your family members, your friends, and your acquaintances. Then write about the good things that result from those interactions. Can you trust them to help you out in an emergency?
3. Remember a past time when you helped out a friend or a family member during a difficult time. Did it help make the relationship stronger? If not, think about why and what would have needed to be different.
4. Think about and then write out ways to make new friends or ways to improve your current friendships.

C. Explore your thoughts on death

1. Visit a local cemetery and read the inscriptions on the tombstones as a way of reflecting on the shortness of life and that you too will one day be gone forever.
2. How does it feel to you when you think about there being a limited amount of time in which you can experience, think, and feel?

D. Peace of mind gained by knowledge of the natural world

1. Study the nature of various phenomenon so that you can make prudent choices. What is lightening and how do you stay safe if you are caught outside in a thunderstorm? What are ticks and how do you prevent tick bites? Or river safety when rafting. Chose something that reflects a personal interest or is specific to where you live.

E. Explore your understanding of pain

1. Pains are short when strong, and lesser pains that last longer do not prevent pleasure from being experienced. The next time you experience pain in your body, during illness or something like accidentally stubbing your toe, have this ready for contemplation.
2. Pain is a like a warning light to the body, and yet some pain now can lead to greater pleasure and benefit in the future. When is it worth it to endure pain in your body during exercise or for some future benefit?
3. How does pain detract from the feeling of pleasure? Write about the times when you experienced this happening to you.
4. Is mental pain different than physical pain?

** References:

1. "Every friendship is an excellence in itself, even though it begins in mutual advantage." VS23
2. "Friendship dances around the world, announcing to each of us that we must awaken to happiness." VS52
3. "Of all the things that wisdom provides for the complete happiness of one's entire life, by far the greatest is friendship". PD27

4. Modern Exercises