Meditations

“In the morning when thou risest unwillingly, let this thought be present- I am rising to the work of a human being. Why then am I dissatisfied if I am going to do the things for which I exist and for which I was brought into the world? Or have I been made for this, to lie in the bed-clothes and keep myself warm?- But this is more pleasant.- Dost thou exist then to take thy pleasure, and not at all for action or exertion? Dost thou not see the little plants, the little birds, the ants, the spiders, the bees working together to put in order their several parts of the universe? And art thou unwilling to do the work of a human being, and dost thou not make haste to do that which is according to thy nature?- But it is necessary to take rest also.- It is necessary: however nature has fixed bounds to this too: she has fixed bounds both to eating and drinking, and yet thou goest beyond these bounds, beyond what is sufficient; yet in thy acts it is not so, thou stoppest short of what thou canst do.”

Meditations. Book 5. Marcus Aurelius.

I’m an early riser; I always have been. On the rare occasion when I sleep late, meaning after 10 a.m., I rise flustered, somewhat out of sync, seeing the morning well advanced, the sun up, the birds already several hours into their morning work, and the peaceful unfolding of the first hours of light well past.

When I can, I like to treat myself to a long, full morning. I wake up at 6.30am with the intention of starting work at 9am, giving myself several hours to stretch and breathe, potter about the garden, write, and take a walk, but these last mornings I added something new; I took a pot of coffee and a copy of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius down to the beach and attended to the place of inquiry that bears the richest fruits—oneself.

How amazing it is for me, a young Irishman, to sit by the Celtic Sea in 2024 and have the opportunity to read a Roman Emperor's candid and private reflections, which he never intended for public consumption.

Marcus Aurelius composed Meditations, a collection of personal writings and reflections, between 161 and 180 AD. He wrote them in the later years of his life, having fought many battles, lost children, dealt with the strains of great responsibility, and looked upon his life and sought meaning there. Constant warfare and the challenges of the Antonine Plague, which decimated the population and strained the empire's resources, marked his reign. Thus, his writings reveal a personal search for tranquility amidst the external chaos.

"Look well into yourself; there is a source of strength that will always spring up if you will always look." (Book 7, Section 59)

Meditations is a classic work of Stoic philosophy. Stoicism emphasises reason, self-control, and acceptance of one's fate. It teaches that happiness comes from within, via virtue and wisdom, rather than from outward possessions or situations. It calls for us to focus on what we can manage, live in harmony with nature and reason, and remain calm in the face of life's hardships.

In a world where the concept of ‘limitation’ is seen as an affront to our supposed right to have what we want, when we want it, and as often as we want, there is great richness and relevance in these Stoic writings of a Philosopher King. They may well be the perfect counterbalance to the waywardness of modern consumerist society.

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realise this, and you will find strength." (Book 4, Section 3)

They are a call to long-term contentment over immediate gratification, to attending to inner fulfilment over materialism, and to self-sufficiency over external validation (think social media). We can hear the wisdom of Stoicism in the Serenity Prayer:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."

The Stoics placed great value on wisdom, particularly in understanding the distinction between what we can and cannot control. - "Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens."

Alas, it wouldn’t be hard at all to argue for the relevance of these teachings in our world today. Reflecting on my own life, I can see how my overflowing interest in all things sustainable living, learning to grow my own food, working with natural resources, and appreciating nature was born from an intuitive sense that the accelerated pace of modern living was sorely lacking in meaning and indeed reason. Adopting sustainable living practices aligns with Stoic acceptance of natural limits and the pursuit of a harmonious life.

I still fly across the ocean once a year, drive a diesel van, and love to have access to food from throughout the world. I'm far from a modern model of stoicism, at least in my lifestyle, as I am privileged to live in the West. However, I still maintain a deep understanding of the necessity of limitations, a commitment to inner resourcefulness, attending to my inner world, being in flow with nature and natural law, and a daily practice of expressing gratitude by raising my hands in the air and saying;

Thank you Great Spirit, I have no complaints whatsoever!!!

Have a great week everyone. The last words I leave to Marcus Aurelius.

"When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous, and surly. They are like this because they can't tell good from evil. But I have seen the beauty of good, and the ugliness of evil, and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own—not of the same blood and birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine. And so none of them can hurt me. No one can implicate me in ugliness. Nor can I feel angry at my relative, or hate him. We were born to work together like feet, hands, and eyes, like the two rows of teeth, upper and lower. To obstruct each other is unnatural. To feel anger at someone, to turn your back on him: these are obstructions."