I've come to think that reading history can make a person a little wiser, but also quite more painful. It's like a yoga for the mind, stretching of the mind. The other day my colleagues and I were discussing how to deal with the pain and wounds of history. One said "stoicism" can make one calm and successful. A chinese friend said he likes "Taoism". But looking up, I found stoicism and taoism are really very very similar in spirit, although they are western and oriental philosophies.

You must be right about the similarity between stoicism and Taoism. These days I try to study one chapter of Tao Te Ching everyday and write my own translations or interpretations. Many chapters are about being calm and being detached. Today I have chapter 44, which includes these lines:

Too much attachment will end in great loss;
Too much saving will result in great expense.
Knowing contentment leads to peace,
Knowing satisfaction brings harmony,
And longevity.

老子道德經第四十四章

名與身孰親　身與貨孰多　得與亡孰病
是故甚愛必大費　多藏必厚亡
故知足不辱　知止不殆　可以長久

Depending on what one wants to do.... some people want to experience pain and suffering.

I think learning about history is like traveling in time. In the end one always understands more about one's own position in the universe. This understanding sometimes is painful and sometimes is joyful, but it brings one closer to Truth. It is said that reaching Truth will set one free.

Different philosophies are just different aspects of the same thing, and are therefore the different realities that different people (philosophers) project on Truth. Nothing is wrong.... nothing is right.... only different.

-- with HB