The life of Benedict Spinoza is an example of how a weak, sick, poor person can overcome a curse, exile, betrayal of relatives, the hatred of others and remain a person. My story is not about the complex metaphysical system of Spinoza's philosophy, it is about how a person overcomes the blows of fate with the power of spirit and power of thought.
LOTS OF KNOWLEDGE ARE MANY SADNESS
Spinoza's parents were Sephardic Jews; they fled from Portugal, where the Jews were persecuted as heretics, to Amsterdam. Here Spinoza's father began to sell fruits and raise children. Little Baruch, that was Spinoza's name, was an intelligent and kind boy with big brown eyes and curly hair. At the age of six, he lost his mother - she died of tuberculosis. The gentle child was sweet and pleasant to everyone; he studied well, was obedient and attentive. Soon he began to attend a religious school "Etz Chaim", where he made great strides, studying the Torah, Talmud, rhetoric … Both Aristotle and Averroes - in the arrangement of the Jewish sages. Young Spinoza knew Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch; spoke a little French and Spanish, wrote excellently in literary Hebrew.
As you know, in much knowledge there is much sorrow; the worst thing happened to Spinoza that can happen to an intelligent and educated person. He began to think for himself! He began to build his own philosophical system and talk about the knowledge of God … And even write articles and books. The clouds thickened and in the distance dull peals of thunder were heard, but Spinoza did not heed the warnings of the wise teachers and priests. And he continued to think. And express your thoughts. The religious community did not immediately punish the free-thinker and heretic; at first he was offered a thousand florins a year (a huge amount!) so that he would shut up and continue to visit the synagogue, perform rituals, behave approximately. The fragile youth refused money; he didn't want to sell his freedom. And he continued to write his "loathsome" books, talk about God, reflect on the human soul. Spinoza's father died,leaving twenty-two years old Baruch all his fortune. Sister Rebecca began to sue her brother in order to take away the money; she cursed her brother and wished him death, demanding her share of the inheritance. Spinoza hired lawyers - they instantly proved the injustice of the greedy Rebecca's claim. Baruch defended his property legally, achieved justice. And then he gave everything to greedy Rebecca - take it, since you need it. So Spinoza became poor. So Spinoza became poor. So Spinoza became poor.
A CURSE IS TREATED WITH BLESSING
As soon as Spinoza lost his property, he was cursed once again - by the whole community. For his "godly reflections and atheism," although there is absolutely nothing atheistic in Spinoza's writings. On the contrary, he was a believer and did not change religion, even when he was subjected to "herema" - excommunication. Kantor burned black candles and spoke terrible words, wishing the young man death and torment. And the whole community took part in this. Now Spinoza became not only a beggar, but also an outcast. His life seemed to be over. However, there was one way out. One could lie on the threshold of the synagogue and allow oneself to be trampled underfoot and beaten with whips - then, perhaps, the curse will be lifted. The eight-year-old Baruch saw this terrible ritual with his own eyes, so they "forgave" the free-thinker-philosopher Uriel da Costa, who was also recognized as a "threat to piety and morality" as the young Spinoza. Not,he will not allow himself to be trampled!
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He entered the college of the former Jesuit, the "gay doctor" Van den Enden, where he continued his study of philosophy. He changed his name to Benedict, which means blessed; then philosophers took Latin names for themselves, it was in the order of things. The name "Benedict" recalls one formula of medieval theologians - "A curse is healed by a blessing." Spinoza studied theological works, he could not help but know the "rule of curing a curse."
At the same time, the young philosopher also studies the art of glass grinding - this craft will feed him for the rest of his life. And he writes "A Brief Treatise on God, Man and His Happiness." Although Benedict himself has so little happiness … He fell in love with the daughter of the "cheerful doctor" Van den Enden, but the girl preferred another - he, the other, presented her with a pearl necklace … Benedict quietly stepped aside and wrote that reason is better than love. And you should not scold the object of your passion; one should get rid of passion, prefer reason to it … Spinoza never married …
IN A COMPANY WITH SPIDERS
Persecution intensified, and he moved to The Hague, where he rented a modest room, in which he lived until his death. Benedict continued to write his books, earning money by grinding glass - the craft saved him from hunger. However, he ate little: he was content with a plate of porridge and a slice of toasted bread. He coughed violently, and tuberculosis began, from which his mother died. The development of the disease was facilitated by glass dust, which covered everything in the gloomy room.
Sometimes the philosopher played with the spiders: he watched them fight each other and laughed. You can guess what he was thinking at that moment. The window of his closet looked out onto endless canals and potato fields covered with snow. Once a philosopher did not leave his room for three months - he simply had nowhere to go. He grinded glass, cooked porridge and wrote books about God, happiness, destiny and knowledge. It must have been a very sad life - like the view from his window. However, philosophers have their own inner life, rich in events and insights. Benedict lived with her.
However, Spinoza once could not leave the room against his will - the owner grabbed the fragile tenant and put him under lock and key. France violated the agreements and attacked the Netherlands; riots broke out - an angry crowd tore apart Spinoza's friend and patron Jan de Witt in the square. In extraordinary excitement, Spinoza wrote on a sheet of paper "Vile, vile barbarians!" and tried to rush into the square. The owner, fortunately, managed to catch the guest in time and thereby save his life.
THE HAPPINESS OF THE UNBOUNDED
Spinoza had friends and wealthy patrons; it is the property of great minds and sincere hearts to attract kind attention to oneself. The philosopher was offered to head a department at the university, but he refused - he did not want to lose his freedom. The freedom to think and say what he thinks is right. The patrons offered Spinoza an annual content - the philosopher thanked and refused. He coughed more and more, lost strength and realized that he would soon die, but he was more concerned about the fate of his works, which had to be handed over to reliable hands.
When he died, the pharmacist arrested the body of the philosopher - he owed him. Friends had to ransom the body for the funeral. The inheritance was so miserable that even greedy Rebecca refused to accept it; Why would she want trashy books that are brought to what ?!
Reading his books was tantamount to blasphemy. He was called "the devil of hell", "heretic", "threat to morality." Only after the passage of centuries the thoughts of the philosopher became clear and understandable. And the great Goethe was shocked by the words of Spinoza: "He who truly loves God, he will not strive for God in turn to love him." This is what Spinoza wrote about - about God, about Nature, about Love and understanding. About human destiny and happiness. I see you grinning. Happiness! Happiness in a gloomy closet with spiders and glass dust. Yes, the life of a philosopher may seem tragic and dull, but it was not. Benedict Spinoza was cursed, banished, robbed, but he was happy, because he managed to save himself and his personality. They hated him, but they could not destroy him and force him to lie on the threshold of the synagogue to trample. He lived the way he wanted and how God pleased,faith in which he did not lose for a moment. He wrote his books and cut glass so people could see better. This was his mission - and when a person has a mission, even the most terrible curse cannot destroy him.
