Rosicrucianism and Stoicism explore the intersection of ethics, personal development, and the pursuit of wisdom. The text delves into the foundational principles of Stoicism, including the teachings of Zeno, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, highlighting their relevance in modern life. It draws parallels between Stoic ethics and Rosicrucian values, emphasizing wisdom, strength, justice, and temperance. This work serves as a guide for those interested in integrating Stoic philosophy into their spiritual practices and personal growth. Ideal for students of philosophy and individuals seeking a deeper understanding of ethical living.

Key Points

  • Explores the foundational teachings of Stoicism by Zeno, Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius.
  • Analyzes the ethical principles of wisdom, strength, justice, and temperance in both Stoicism and Rosicrucianism.
  • Discusses practical applications of Stoic philosophy for personal development and spiritual growth.
  • Highlights the historical influence of Stoicism on notable figures in the Rosicrucian tradition.
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Rosicrucianism and Stoicism
Julie Scott, SRC
Grand Master of the English Grand Lodge for the Americas and
Secretary of the Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC
In the year 300 BCE, following a
shipwreck in which he lost his fortune,
Zeno, a merchant from Cyprus, founded
Stoicism in Athens, Greece. Initially
Stoicism included metaphysics, logic,
and ethics, however the Romans, who
embraced Stoicism
centuries later, focused
primarily on ethics
and how to live a good
and tranquil life. As we
will see, Stoicism and
Rosicrucianism have a
lot in common.
Much of what is
known about Roman
Stoicism comes from the
writings associated with
Seneca, Epictetus, and
Marcus Aurelius.
Seneca was a Roman
dramatist, statesperson,
and the tutor and then
advisor to the Roman
emperor Nero. He was born in the year
4 BCE and went through transition in
the year 65 CE. A number of his writings
survive to today. In them, Seneca discusses
the questions that occupied him in a way
that invites his readers to think about issues
in their own lives. His writings are still very
relevant today.
Epictetus lived from ca. 50 to 135 CE.
He was born to a slave and was therefore a
slave himself. One of his owners (a freed slave)
allowed him to study philosophy, where he
met the Stoic Musonius Rufus, who became
his teacher and mentor. Later Epictetus’s
master granted him his freedom. When
the Roman emperor Domitian banished
all philosophers from Rome, Epictetus
moved to Nicopolis, Greece, where he led
his school of philosophy until his transition
at the age of eighty-five. Epictetus probably
did not write anything
himself. His disciple,
Arrian, an esteemed
historian, military
commander, and
philosopher, transcribed
excerpts of Epictetus’s
lectures in a book called
Discourses and wrote the
Handbook, which is a
compendium of all of
Epictetus’s philosophical
principles.
Marcus Aurelius was
born in the year 121 and
died in 180. He was
from a prominent family
but was not in line to be
the Roman emperor. The Roman emperor
Hadrian had no children so he adopted a
man named Antonius, with the stipulation
that Antonius would adopt Marcus, who
would succeed him. Marcus was profoundly
influenced by the work of Epictetus and was
a devout Stoic. The book that is today called
Meditations was actually Marcus’s personal
diary, published after his death.
What is Stoicism?
Some people believe that the goal of
Stoicism is to not have any emotions, like a
robot. However, the goal of Stoicism is not
to suppress or stop experiencing emotions.
It is to have few negative emotions and
Zeno
Rosicrucian
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2020
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to spend less time wishing things were
different and more time enjoying them.
The Stoic philosophers stressed that to
be alive means to be open to the challenges
that arise in our lives, including those
that are no fault of our own, and that the
attainment of happiness is a matter of
ceasing to desire things we do not need to
desire.
The four foundations of Stoic ethics
will sound familiar to Rosicrucians and
Martinists. They are: wisdom, strength,
justice, and temperance. Wisdom is
knowing how to make the best decision
in all circumstances. Strength is having
the courage to do that and to face
unpleasantness. Justice is social justice or
humanism – treating every human being
with fairness and kindness. Temperance is
self-control.
Similarities between
Rosicrucianism and Stoicism
There are many similarities between
Rosicrucianism and Stoicism. For example,
the Roman Stoic Hierocles encouraged
people to greet each other as frater or soror
(brother or sister) as Rosicrucians do. He
believed this helps to remind us that we are
all part of one big family.
A number of people important in the
Rosicrucian Tradition were very familiar
with Stoicism or were practicing Stoics –
Marsilio Ficino and Pico della Mirandola
(the great Italian Renaissance Humanists
who helped to perpetuate the ancient
Mysteries), Giordano Bruno, Francis
Bacon, and René Descartes.
Below are a few practices that
Rosicrucianism and Stoicism have in
common.
Choose a role model
Like the Rosicrucian teachings,
Stoicism encourages us to choose a role
model. In the Fifth Temple Degree
monographs we are introduced to some of
the greatest sages of ancient Greece and are
encouraged to attune with them. There are
many individuals who were Stoics or were
highly influenced by Stoicism who could
serve as our role models, for example, U.S.
President George Washington, psychiatrist
and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, and
South African President Nelson Mandela.
Or we could choose Louis-Claude de
Saint-Martin or H. Spencer Lewis.
We can call on these role models to
help us throughout the day, in whatever
situations arise.
Let’s do that now. Choose your role
model and ask her or him to stand with you
throughout your day. Imagine a situation
that has the potential to be challenging
and see your role model right there with
you, providing guidance and support.
Review your day
Like Rosicrucianism, Stoicism
encourages people to review the day.
Benjamin Franklin and the Pythagoreans
also practiced this.
Seneca shared many examples of
reviewing the day. When doing so, he
wrote in the third person, in a way that
anyone can relate to. For example, he wrote
that Seneca was at an event where people
made jokes at Seneca’s expense and he did
not just brush them off. He then assessed
the situation. In this case, he concluded
that Seneca should keep away from low
company.
Try this yourself. Review something
challenging that has happened recently,
as dispassionately as possible and from a
third person perspective. Then assess the
situation, again from the perspective of the
third person.
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Some things are in our control
and others not
The first lines of Epictetus’s Handbook
state: “Some things are in our control
and others not. Things in our control are
opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and,
in a word, whatever are our own actions.
Things not in our control are the body,
property, reputation, authority, and, in one
word, whatever are not our own actions.”
This sounds a lot like the modern
“Serenity Prayer”:
God grant me the serenity to accept
the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I
can, and
Wisdom to know the difference.
When choosing what to focus our
energy on, we can consider placing things
we can control in one stack and the things
that we cannot control in another stack. We
will find that the stack with things we can
control is much smaller than the one with
the things we cannot control. Those things
do not concern us. There is nothing we can
do about them. It’s helpful to remember
that just because something affects us,
doesn’t mean that we have control over it.
Some modern Stoics suggest that there
is a third stack for things that we have some
control over, but not complete control. For
example, if we are running a race, we can
develop our muscles, build our endurance,
eat right, and get plenty of rest, but we
cannot guarantee that we will win the race.
A Stoic’s goal would be to run our best race
possible, irrespective of who wins.
In the same way, we cannot guarantee
that someone will love us. This is not
within our control. It is within our control,
however, to act in as loving a way as
possible. Also, we cannot control whether
or not we will get a promotion, however it
is within our control to do our job as well
as we are able.
This resonates with the Rosicrucian
practice to bring the best of ourselves to
every situation, something that we have
control over.
Think of a situation now where you
can apply this practice. For example,
rather than trying to get someone to love
us, imagine that we are as loving as possible
to this person. The focus is on our actions,
something we have control over.
Prescribe a character for yourself
Rosicrucians are encouraged to
visualize in the morning how we want
the day ahead to go. Stoics would do this
too, however they would also prepare
for when things don’t go as expected, in
order to achieve a secondary goal in every
situation – that is, to stay true to our values
and character. Rosicrucians might call this
living up to the Rosicrucian ideal.
Epictetus wrote that we should
prescribe for ourselves a certain character
when we are alone and keep our will
aligned with it, no matter what we might
encounter during the day.
Think about a situation that you expect
to encounter that has the potential to be
challenging. Perhaps you will be meeting
with someone who doesn’t fully support
you. Visualize the meeting going well
for everyone involved and then prepare
yourself for something unpleasant to arise.
Make your second goal be staying true to
your values, behaving in the ideal way that
you have prescribed for yourself.
Observe yourself
Marcus Aurelius’s Meditations includes
his personal observations. He asked himself
what motivated his actions and how did
they reflect his values. Were they governed
by reason or by something else?– The soul
of a child? A tyrant? A dumb ox? A wild
beast?
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FAQs

What are the main teachings of Stoicism?
Stoicism emphasizes the importance of virtue as the highest good and teaches that individuals should focus on what is within their control. Key Stoic philosophers like Zeno, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius highlight the significance of wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. They argue that by cultivating these virtues, one can achieve a tranquil and fulfilling life, regardless of external circumstances. Stoicism encourages acceptance of fate and the development of inner resilience.
How does Rosicrucianism relate to Stoicism?
Rosicrucianism shares several ethical principles with Stoicism, particularly the focus on wisdom, justice, strength, and temperance. Both philosophies advocate for self-improvement and the pursuit of a meaningful life. Historical figures within the Rosicrucian tradition, such as Marsilio Ficino and Giordano Bruno, were influenced by Stoic thought, integrating its teachings into their spiritual practices. This connection emphasizes the universal quest for knowledge and ethical living.
What practices do Stoicism and Rosicrucianism have in common?
Both Stoicism and Rosicrucianism encourage the selection of role models to guide personal development. They advocate for daily reflection and reviewing one's actions to align with ethical principles. Additionally, both philosophies emphasize the importance of focusing on what one can control while accepting what cannot be changed. These practices foster resilience and a deeper understanding of oneself, promoting a harmonious life.
Who were the key figures in Stoicism?
Key figures in Stoicism include Zeno of Citium, who founded the philosophy, and later philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. Zeno's teachings laid the groundwork for Stoic thought, while Seneca's writings provide practical advice on ethics and personal conduct. Epictetus, a former slave, emphasized the importance of inner freedom and self-discipline, and Marcus Aurelius, as a Roman emperor, exemplified Stoic principles in leadership and personal reflection.
What is the significance of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations?
Marcus Aurelius's Meditations is a personal diary that reflects his thoughts on Stoic philosophy and ethical living. Written during his reign as Roman emperor, it provides insights into his struggles and how he applied Stoic principles to govern and navigate personal challenges. The work emphasizes self-examination, the importance of virtue, and the acceptance of fate. It remains a significant text for understanding Stoic philosophy and its application in daily life.

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