Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

by Nicolette Stevens
(New Orleans, LA.)

A Different Type of Meditation?

When I think of meditation books, I don't think of books about how to meditate, but of books that make me meditate upon the thoughts therein.

There are many types of meditation, and I think that it's a very personal experience. I encourage people to study different styles and approaches to find which seems most valid and useful for them.

One book I have always enjoyed is called "Meditations", and was written by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius a very long time ago.

It has survived into modern literature as an excellent example of the rich spiritual philosophies shared through early writing. The book contains twelve chapters. Each with personal essays Marcus Aurelius wrote to help him delve into his own thoughts.

They show how journalling and writing may be useful to the spiritual and philosophical development of a person. He wrote the essays with the focus on his own growth and personal guidance. But he may have also looked to a future where his ideas would be shared.

I often use the work to inspire myself, and have found it to be a source of calm and careful thought on how to live an ethical and balanced life.

How I Use This Book

I most frequently turn to a random page and see what thoughts it has for me today. Whatever I turn to seems to give me insight. This is a kind of divination meditation known as bibliomancy. The technique is named for the bible, although it can be done with any book one finds inspiring.

I do this in a very informal way, simply by relaxing and thinking briefly about my issues and questions, and opening to a random page. I read what is there and them spend a long time sitting quietly and thinking about the subject and how it applies to my own life.

In general, Aurelius is known as the father of stoic philosophy, and his ideas encourage one to not allow negative emotions to have too much sway in life. He felt that dwelling in too much emotion was a common negative indulgence among people, which can lead to additional grief and problems. He felt that harm was often caused more by a person's reaction to events than the events themselves, and counselled balanced and ethical living.

I would definitely recommend it to others as a source of inspiration on using clear and rational thinking as a form of meditation and a basis for living.