I'm no good at this; I never get it right. On a different note: I'm not very religious but my mom is and she reads the bible every day. The thing about it compared to another "self help" such as How to Win Friends and Influence people is that it is sporadic. A selection of Marcus Aurelius’ correspondence with his tutor Fronto broadens our picture of the emperor as a person and thinker. Actually, it’s impossible to fail at meditation. This isn't an assignment. Often people find it's hard to sit still for meditation. If you are someone who actually meditates and knows breathing meditation I think you can quiet yourself to read this book. I will compare their different translations of the same passage, and you can decide for yourself which one you prefer. Especially "on the shortness of life". Advertisement. If get interested to read other Stoics though I would recommend looking into Robin Hard as he did an excellent job translating Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius. Read this and other meditation texts slowly, with a short pause between instructions. For those interested in pursuing further study on either Meditations or the Stoic philosophy in general, Hicks and Hicks list plenty of additional reference material in their short introduction. Now imagine you become a pretty big deal in the world. I started reading Meditations in March and I'm still only ~75% of the way through it. Wouldn't it read pretty strangely to others? Wikipedia can do, but I think there's a link in the wiki. As many have mentioned Gregory Hays translation is the most approachable and I tend to agree. If you want to go deep check out The Inner Citadel by Pierre Hadot. Just be sure to read the newer version, because Hays revised his original translation. For example, it’s always a test when... 2. Written between the years 170 and 180 while on campaign, Marcus Aurelius' work Meditations is one of the most enduring works of philosophy ever penned by man. Start with On The Shortness of Life. Imagine you write a bunch of aphorisms or thoughts that you read through daily to help you live according to your values. Why is meditation so hard? The book has done so much to ferment my prior beliefs and has helped a lot to broaden my mind and encourage me to be all that I can be. On the cover Marcus is shown in relief, pardoning the barbarians. … Solution: Restlessness can arise as the body "unwinds". Something not too traumatic or hard hitting is probably preferable, but as long as it is something that interests and engages you, it doesn’t really matter too much. I would highly recommend it if you're not enjoying the meditations as much. If you have never taken a step back to look at your thoughts, meditation can be shocking and triggering. I read it over the course of fourteen or fifteen lunch breaks. I read this book very slowly, in an attempt to absorb the wisdom and instruction within its pages, but it will take more than one reading to do that, for every word has meaning and impact. I'm planning to read through the Meditations of Marcus Aurelius in the month of September. Sometimes I go a week without reading it at all because for whatever reason I'm too stressed/anxious to be in a receptive move. However, what these skim readers would miss are the extensive notes that support much of the text and contribute to the book’s strength. Yes, you should read it. I don't always succeed, but I'll keep trying and learning. (transl. Gregory Hays’ translation is often considered to be the best English translation. It felt as if I was handing my newborn over to our new god -- technology. You've discovered a title that's missing from our library.Can you help donate a copy? Resistance Takes Many Forms Don’t be fooled. Today I'm much better, and while not as obsessed with Stoicism, I can definitely point to it's influence in my life on being level headed when total shit is hitting the fan. She's probably read the entire thing a dozen time through by now and says each day she still is able to take something new from whatever passage she happens to be reading. I'm not sure how much you know about Stoicism, but it will certainly be easier to understand the better your grasp is. The introduction and notes by Christopher Gill place Meditations firmly in its ancient philosophical context. I'd say the same for the Enchidrion as well, btw. We all want to have an enjoyable reading of ancient philosophical texts, but there are many different translations that can vary in content and tone. Hey, I have this meditation class you might be interested in. Even still, I think taking the time to internalize the message is what's important and that time will vary from one person to another. It depends what you read! Before I get into details, I must say that reading Meditations was one of the hardest, but most rewarding experiences in my own personal growth. But if you want an easier and quicker approach, then feel free to look into the three we have provided here. It very much isn't, and that has a simple reason: It's a diary. Meditation, the practice of continually … As you've mentioned and many others commenters have mentioned, read the Hays translation. Also, for so e reason I find the Meditations the most enjoyable of the remaining Stoic texts. Amazon Prime didn’t exist then and to qualify for free shipping, I had to purchase a few other books at the same time. Even if you sit for … Then I stop, make notes, reflect, and move on with my day. It's a beautiful book, and it really shows that human problems haven't changed in over 2000 years....what the hell is wrong with us?! You’ll be guaranteed to get 30 minutes of meditation into your week. I could only find myself reading a page or two at a time. Read a passage, reflect on it, go apply it to your life. Restlessness. “Stop trying to make something of it, and you will rid yourself of the notion, ‘I’ve been wronged.’ Overcome your hurt feelings or injured pride in this way, and you will get rid of the wrong itself.”. Thanks for the links. That depends. ". Meditations on Meditations: Reflections on a First Reading of Marcus Aurelius While Stoicism is an ancient philosophy, it’s experiencing a bit of a resurgence in our modern world. Meditations is a series of personal thoughts and exercises from the Roman emperor and Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius. TIP 1: Before you start reading the meditation: I don't think rushing through any book that has so many simple things to ponder is a good idea anyways. If it is, wi... - "/lit/ - Literature" is 4chan's board for the discussion of books, authors, and literature. First Person Singular by Haruki Murakami review – meditations on ageing and memory In these underpowered short stories, the female characters are mere pretexts for male epiphany It is best to steer clear of these if you are looking for a good, meditative read. Robin Hard. It's one of the best books I have ever read. The Forest Speaks This guided meditation script takes the listener on a soothing mind journey. “MY FIRST TEACHER: Not to support this side or that in chariot-racing, this fighter or that in the games. How many times have you thought about... 3. In my opinion, Robin Hard’s translation offers us a more intimate and direct approach to Marcus Aurelius’ thoughts, while Hays’ (whose translation is still great without question) is more sympathetic towards readers. '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. The Hays translation is the best, in my opinion. These two articles: http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/marcus-aurelius/ and http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/ are good background for understanding the Meditations better. And to help you read guided meditations beautifully and for the best results, read the 10 tips below! I am concentrating on being peaceful, happy, and free in this present moment. The advice Marcus Aurelius offers makes Meditations a highly useful guide to those who want to improve themselves or gain insight into Stoic philosophy. I’m no good at this; I never get it right. Yes, you should read it. 'Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.' Mantra meditation. Frankly, I'd stop and try again later. You get through one entry, and have time to absorb it before moving on to the next. In this article, we will focus on translations of Meditations that are available to the wider public, specifically to those who are new to philosophy. Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness, or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity – to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable state. Meditation helps you become the best version of yourself. Second, it could be your background in philosophy. There were maybe 3 or 4 highlights int he first five, and there were 3 or 4 in Meditation 6 alone. If you can take away 1-2 things and apply them to your life after every full read....I think you will do better than most that hurry though and never really make any changes to their life. Hard) 3. First it's good to have a basic grounding of Stoicism. I did some Googling and figured out what translation I've read in the past, and what I'm using now. For ease of reading alone, The Emperor’s Handbook soars above both previous and recent editions of Meditations. You'll get it down eventually and it will be well worth your time. 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