A Book for all time By: Antony Pellegrino

Many authors write thick volumes of books to expound their philosophy. Then after a few short years they are forgotten or relegated to the back shelves of the library. However one small volume not more than 99 pages still persists reaching across time to influence our lives since it was first written over 1800 years ago. Meditations, the only book written by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 121–180), remains one of the world’s most famous and influential. It is a book that I encourage everyone to read, read it slowly, one chapter at a time, and with reflection. Why?

It has become a masterpiece of thought on how we should consider living our life to find inner peace. Far from promising snappy solutions and slick comfort, the Mediations instructs and inspires through its calm and uncompromising acceptance of the basic complexities of human life. The Mediations explains how a person who focuses on those things that are within his power–his own will and perception– and detaching himself from the things that are not–health, death, the action of others, natural disasters, etc.–that person will attain the inner peace of a wise and just man.

The person seeking to achieve this state of mind can achieve it through discipline, self-restraint and moderation in all his aciotns and thoughts. He must control his senses for sensual indulgence. He must not sell his soul for the transitory moments of fame or power.

In Book II, we are told to: “Begin the morning by saying to yourself, I shall meet with the busybody, the ungrateful, the arrogant, deceitful, envious, unsocial. All these things happen to them by reason of their ignorance of what is good or evil.” We are told “when you arise unwillingly, let this thought be present: I am rising to the work of a human being.”

For me the strength and beauty of the Mediations lies not in what would seem as cute little -platitudes about life, but in the truths behind each of its beliefs of what constitutes the good life. It reminds me that I am a social animal and part of my duty as a member of society is to contribute to its betterment.

It helps me understand that Nature is more fair than many of us want to accept. If we look to rules that govern the universe, we will learn to accept many of our disappointments in life. One of my favorites is when I read that a flower is neither beautiful nor ugly but is because of its nature. It becomes beautiful or ugly only by the perception that we place on it. So it should be with ourselves. We are what we are and should accept this which in turn will give us inner strength against all misfortune.

Every time I pick up this volume I am awed as I sit listening to one of the wisest and noblest Roman emperors, Marcus Aurelius who lived over 1800 years ago.

I feel as though I am in his tent at night after a fierce battle watching silently over his shoulder as he writes down his meditations on life which were originally intended merely as a series of private reflections. What a passion for life–what courage of life he must have felt! In a few pages this great man continues to bridge the centuries reminding us of who we are and what we can become if we so will it. To me he was one of the noblest of all Romans.

I could barrage you with numerous quotes. Instead I encourage you to seek out this little volume. It is a book to be owned and savored throughout life. Happy reading.