Even though they were separated by thousands of miles and hundreds of years of civilization, stoicism and ancient Indian philosophies have certain things in common. These analogies get quite interesting when we look at what was going on in India during the time of Marcus Aurelius (161–180 CE).
This article looks at the link between Stoicism and Indian philosophy, the possible link between India and Greece or Rome during the time of Marcus Aurelius, and the fact that there were several schools of Indian philosophy at that time.
A little bit about stoicism.
Marcus Aurelius, a Roman emperor from 121 CE to 180 CE, was influenced by Stoicism, a Hellenistic philosophy emphasizing virtue, self-control, and rationality. He believed in mastering one’s mind for peace, and his meditations were private reflections on living rightly.
Stoicism puts a lot of weight on moral virtue, which is characterized as wisdom, courage, justice, and moderation. In addition, Stoicism says that people should accept their fate, be indifferent to other causes until they affect virtue, and be very severe with themselves.
What was going on in India when Marcus Aurelius was in charge?
At the exact time when Marcus Aurelius was writing, India was hardly a quiet place. It was a place where people were learning new things, doing business, doing art, and growing in their faith.
The Kushan Empire grew and became stronger in northern India in the 2nd century CE. The Kushans brought together large parts of northern India and certain parts of Central Asia. Their time lasted from around 30 CE until 375 CE.
Around 127–150 CE, the Kushans, headed by monarchs like Kanishka, became Buddhists, especially Mahayana Buddhists. Buddhist monasteries grew, Buddhist art flourished, and Mahayana teachings expanded over Central Asia during Kanishka’s tenure and those of his successors.
The Satavahana dynasty, on the other hand, was strong in the Deccan and southern India. It ruled from around the 1st century BCE until the 2nd or 3rd century CE. They ruled large parts of peninsular India, where they encouraged trade and supported both Hinduism and Buddhism. Buddhist thought was doing very well at this time, and the Mahayana movement was growing popular in many places. By the second century CE, early Sutras from the early Mahayana school were spread all throughout India, even if they were not very common in certain places.
Nagarjuna, an Indian philosopher who flourished between 150 and 250 CE, is claimed to have started the Madhyamaka school of thought in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition. This school is also known as the Middle Way school. He spoke a lot on the idea of “emptiness,” or “shunyata,” and he said that things don’t have an essence of their own but rather come into being because of their dependency on other things.
What are the commonalities between stoicism and ancient Indian philosophical concepts?
While historical evidence does not directly connect Marcus Aurelius or other Stoics to Indian scriptures, the parallels in some notions indicate a potential convergent evolution or indirect impact.
Stoicism has parallels with ancient Indian philosophy, especially Buddhist and Hindu concepts from that era, in several aspects.
Stoicism posits that we bear exclusive responsibility for our judgments, acts, and volition, dismissing extraneous influences and concentrating on our responses to external stimuli. Both the Bhagavad Gita and Buddhist thinking stress the idea of being detached, or free from the effects of one’s deeds. The Buddhist idea of impermanence goes well with karma yoga, which is doing something without wanting a reward.
Stoics think that virtue is the highest good, and it includes moral discipline, self-control, and desirable traits. Buddhism, Jainism, and ascetic traditions are examples of Indian systems of thought that put moral discipline, suppressing emotions, and developing virtues like compassion, honesty, and non-violence first.
Buddhism teaches that attachment and desire lead to misery. Stoics, on the other hand, think that suffering is inescapable, losses are unavoidable, and inner peace may be reached through calmness.
Stoicism stresses attributes like reason, clarity, and deep thinking, and it tells people to concentrate on logic and wisdom in their lives. Indian logic, including Nyāya and Buddhist epistemology, emphasizes the significance of reasoning, the differentiation between observation and inference, and the recognition of the distinction between proper knowledge and mistakes.
Stoics advised people to set aside time each day for reading, thinking about death, and becoming ready for problems, as well as adding meditation to their daily routines. Meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and ascetic traditions, on the other hand, are all important features of Indian culture.
During the time of Marcus Aurelius, did Greece/Rome and India have any social interactions?
There is less evidence of direct intellectual interchange between Stoicism and Indian philosophies during the era of Marcus Aurelius.
There are also other indirect ways to think about this:
Indo-Roman commerce was a big deal. Indians traded spices, woods, and silks, while Romans sent gold, wine, and glassware. Port cities like Muziris and Bharuch were linked.
Roman coins found in India show that Roman and Indian civilizations had economic ties via the trading of luxury fabrics and spices. This shows that people could understand each other without needing intellectual ideas.
There is no compelling evidence that Marcus Aurelius engaged directly with Indian thinkers or received envoys for intellectual discourse. There are no philosophical texts from the Stoics that talk about Indian schools.
The relationship among philosophies is probably due to individual development stemming from analogous human experiences, rather than outright appropriation, perhaps influenced by commerce and cultural exchanges.
Final Thoughts
Stoicism and Indian philosophy both raise the same questions about life: What should you do when you are in pain, when nothing lasts, and when you lose control? Both of these give you a feeling of calm in the middle of turmoil and a sense of depth in the quiet. This shows that all human thought tends to progress toward virtue, inner peace, and clarity. By comprehending both ideas, we may glean insights from historical perspectives and aid contemporary voices in overcoming life’s challenges.
