Meditations written by a Roman emperor, Marcus Aurelius, is perhaps the only book of its kind. It contains the private thoughts of the world’s most powerful man at that time on how to lead a better life. The lessons drawn might be old, but their relevance has only grown with time.
The book is based on Stoicism, a philosophy of personal ethics informed by its system of logic and its views on the natural world. According to its Stoicism, as social beings, the path to eudaimonia (happiness, or blessedness) is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, by using one’s mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly.
Meditations demands time and patience. Read it slowly. The book starts with Marcus Aurelius extending gratitude to everybody around him who had helped him in one way or the other. You might also want to read a little bit about his life (sometimes it’s included in the Introduction part) in order to get familiar with the background. Marcus Aurelius writes as one should write, especially when writing as a form of meditation: examining every little detail and writing with great simplicity and clarity.
Meditations is divided into 12 books that chronicle different periods of Aurelius’ life. They are not in chronological order, but it’s not hard to follow. Since Stoicism does not go away from logic and reasoning while talking about philosophical ideas such as self, it remains a perfect read for the modern reader. There is no dogma. Sentence after sentence, you will find good reasons leading up to a gentle advice.
The writer moves swiftly from one idea to another but keeps returning to the previous ones, making it a healthy exercise to bring clarity of thoughts. He focuses on three key areas:
- The power of mind
- Living in the present moment
- Dealing with other people
The book is a meditation in itself. No wonder it has been and is still being read by some of the wisest people who ever lived in human history. So, what are you waiting for? Read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, today.
Kalampedia 