Most of our thoughts are wrong. That's the problem with thinking—we make judgments about good and bad that don't match reality. Zen practitioners figured this out centuries ago.

Caleb explores two Zen practices that Stoics can steal. The first is alert observation: notice thoughts when they arise, then let them pass without getting caught up in them. Don't fear thoughts—just don't be slow to notice them.

The second is cessation: when your mind gets worked up about something, stop immediately. Be like incense burning in an empty temple. Better to know you don't know than to have false opinions.

Marcus Aurelius did something similar. He ruthlessly monitored his thoughts and dissolved the false ones. Most of our value judgments concern trivial things—popularity, pleasure, avoiding discomfort. These judgments pull us away from what actually matters: making excellent decisions based on reason.

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Thanks to Michael Levy for graciously letting us use his music in the conversations:

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The Straightforward Explanation of the True Mind

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