The final rule from Meditations Chapter 11 is here!
“Ninth, consider that a good disposition is invincible, if it be genuine, and not an affected smile and acting a part.”
One of my all-time favorite books is “How to Win Friends and Influence People” by Dale Carnegie. It’s title Continue reading
“…it is not men’s acts which disturb us, for those acts have their foundation in men’s ruling principles, but it is our own opinions which disturb us.” Marcus Aurelius Meditations Chapter 11
Yes, this is the very same quote from my last post. You know, the post where I talked about all the terrible things that can happen to you, and how Continue reading
To continue the series of the Nine Rules from Meditations Chapter 11:
“Fifth, consider that thou dost not even understand whether men are doing wrong or not, for many things are done with a certain reference to circumstances. And in short, a man must learn a great deal to enable him to pass a correct judgement on another man’s acts.”
Consider this. You see a man entering a window in a house Continue reading
Often we think that if we can’t have a certain thing we will be crushed. Other times we may think that if our life does not go a certain way, we will not be happy. In fact, there may be things in our lives that seem like misfortune, when in fact they are a turning point that leads something even greater. That, I think is why grasping for an “if only…then I’ll be happy” is such a mistake.
There is a story that runs in Zen circles, normally it goes by the title of “Maybe.” It is appropriate in describing how we shouldn’t judge whether something is fortune and fortune.
Here it is: Continue reading
OK, I have not been posting like I would like to. The fact of the matter is that I have some irons in the fire, and writing has been scarce. I will get back to it soon. Hopefully, regularly starting in December.
In the meantime, I’ve “modernized” this passage from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations Book 12. Simply beautiful and wise: Continue reading