Sapiens and Sthitaprajna studies: the concept of a wise person in the Stoic Seneca

Book Detail:

• Publisher: D.K. Printworld Pvt. Ltd.
• Author: Ashwini Mokashi
• ISBN: 9788124609637
• Pages: 220
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st
• Release Date: 07-01-2019
• Package Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Languages: English

Description:
This book offers a comparative study of wisdom in two distinct yet strikingly similar philosophical traditions: Stoicism (Seneca) and the Bhagavad Gita. Despite being written centuries apart, both philosophies provide a framework for leading a well-lived life, emphasizing virtue, wisdom, and moral responsibility.

Key insights explored in this book include:

• The Sapiens (Stoic sage) and Sthitaprajna (wise person in the Gita) share qualities such as moral judgment, emotional balance, and intellectual rigor.
• Both traditions argue that happiness is found in virtue—a wise person is happy because they know they have done the right thing at the right time.
• Passions and desires must be controlled to achieve mental peace, balance, and ultimate tranquility.
• The Gita emphasizes meditation as a tool for wisdom, whereas Stoicism focuses on rational analysis and intellectual reflection.
• While the Gita’s metaphysics is rooted in spiritual devotion, Seneca’s Stoicism remains within a framework of rational self-discipline.

This book is a valuable resource for students of Ancient Western and Indian Philosophy, as well as for practitioners of Stoicism and followers of the Gita. It highlights the universality of wisdom, showing how different cultures have independently arrived at similar ethical and philosophical conclusions.

About the Author:
Ashwini Mokashi is a scholar in comparative philosophy, specializing in Ancient Indian and Western thought. Her research bridges classical wisdom traditions, making complex philosophical ideas accessible and relevant to modern life.