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About Meditations Book
Meditations (Medieval Greek: Τὰ εἰς ἑαυτόν, romanized: Ta eis he'auton, lit. 'things to one's self') is a series of personal writings by Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor from 161 to 180 AD, recording his private notes to himself and ideas on Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius wrote the 12 books of the Meditations in Koine Greek as a source for his own guidance and self-improvement. It is possible that large portions of the work were written at Sirmium, where he spent much time planning military campaigns from 170 to 180. Some of it was written while he was positioned at Aquincum on campaign in Pannonia, because internal notes tell us that the first book was written when he was campaigning against the Quadi on the river Granova (modern-day Hron) and the second book was written at Carnuntum.
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Here are some insights from meditations that teach us a lot about how to think and lead our lives
Focus on controlling your own thoughts and actions, rather than worrying about external events
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Strive to be a good person rather than getting caught up in debates about what it means to be good.
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Seek to understand and empathize with others, rather than seeking
revenge.
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Forget what other people are doing, forget what they're doing wrong. You've got enough on your plate. Focus on yourself-focus on what you might be doing wrong. Fix that.
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Our ability to reason is what sets us apart from the animals and is an important power that we must use to the fullest.
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You have power over your mind, not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.
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Marcus Aurelius was the most powerful and important man in the world. He was emperor of Rome for almost two decades starting in the year 161 A.D.
Although Marcus was a powerful ruler, his problems appear to be surprisingly similar to the problems we all face daily. For example,
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Marcus reminded himself to not be upset by the misdeeds of others and to correct them if possible, but if they were stubborn and would not change, to accept it. In reacting to such people, we must never allow our own principles to be violated. Moreover, we should never be surprised by the wicked deeds of others. He believed that people do bad things out of ignorance of what is good and evil, and that we should forgive them for their errors, even when they harm us.
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Marcus repeatedly explains why the pursuit of fame and praise is foolish and why we especially should not care about what others think of us after we die. He points out that so many famous men have been forgotten, that those who would praise one posthumously will themselves soon die. He explains that there are no immortal actions. He also explains that nothing is made better by praise, the beauty of things comes from the thing itself and not what people say about it.
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"Discourse no more of what a good man should be; but be one."
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"Continually reflect that all that is happenning now happened exactly in the same way before; and reflect it will happen again. Place before your eyes all that you have ever known from your own experience or from ancient history; dramas and scenes... All these were similar , only the actors different."
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This helps me wake up in the morning and get ready for the day. Great stoic wisdom of Marcus Aurelius.
When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself:
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“No, you do not have thousands of years to live. Urgency is on you. While you live, while you can, become good.” -Book 4.17
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As a man, everyone should be known about the logos and Stoicism
Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire lasting from 27 BCE to 180 CE. He was born in 121 AD Rome, Italy
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Of the doctrines central to the Stoic worldview, perhaps the most important is the unwavering conviction that world is organised in a rational and coherent way. More specifically it is controlled and directed by an all-prevading force that the Stoics designated by the term logos. The term (from which English "logic" and the suffix "-logy" derive) has a semantic range so broad as to be almost untranslatable.
In simple words,
Stoicism is from the outset a deterministic system that appears to leave no room for human free-will or moral responsibility.
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If the dog refuses to run along with the wagon he will be dragged by it, yet the choice remains his: to run or be dragged. In the same way, humans are responsible for their choices and actions, even though these have been anticipated by the logos and form of its plan.
Every action is governed by the logos ( Active reason prevading and animating the whole Universe)
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“III. I have often wondered how it should come to pass, that every man loving himself best, should more regard other men's opinions concerning himself than his own.
For if any God or grave master standing by, should command any of us to think nothing by himself but what he should presently speak out; no man were able to endure it, though but for one day.
Thus do we fear more what our neighbours will think of us, than what we ourselves.”
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Such a simple declaration about the relationship between our happiness and thoughts has us thinking deeply. We can observe the thoughts that we are having and then choose again if we need to. Making a commitment to choose thoughts that are of a good quality is essential if you want to be happy. Be discerning about the quality of thoughts you let run through your precious mind every day. No-one else is responsible for our happiness. Only ourselves and our thoughts.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature.”
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"Man must consider, not only that each day that part of his life is spent, and less and less remains to him, but also that, even if he live longer, it is very uncertain whether his intelligence will suffice..."
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"...Let him be up and doing then, not only because death comes nearer and nearer every day, but because understanding and intelligence often leaves before we do."
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