Stoic thinker Emperor Marcus Aurelius, A.D. 160 to 181, was a scholarly man who seems to have preferred the philosophical life, but did his duty at the front lines of battle, defending the empire (and by extension those that he loved) from the foreigners who were constantly picking at the borders of his many realms, testing the Roman state for any signs of weakness.
In Book 4 of his “Meditations,” Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote:
“Men seek retreats for themselves—in the country, by the sea, in the hills... but it is open to you, at any time you want, to retreat into yourself. No retreat offers someone more quiet and relaxation than that into his own mind, especially if he can dip into thoughts there which put him at immediate and complete ease: and by ease I simply mean a well-ordered life. So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself. The doctrines you will visit there should be few and fundamental, sufficient at one meeting to wash away all your pain and send you back free of resentment at what you must rejoin.”
Among Stoics, this place of retreat from the world and its woes is known as the “inner citadel.” This inner citadel is like a medieval castle. They’re big and protected. there is an inner citadel which is a place to rest and to be protected from the external world.
It is important to remember that the home retreat recommended by Aurelius is not the same as merely spending time alone. Often when we’re by ourselves, we fight the silence and solitude with music, smartphones, or books. Surrounded by distractions such as these, we’re not in the inner citadel retreating from the world. We’re not even knocking on its door.
He left us other insights as well. Such as “Here is a rule to remember in future, when anything tempts you to feel bitter: think not “this is misfortune,” but “to bear this worthily is good fortune.”
Aurelius’s work was never intended to be published. His meditations were merely notes and advice to himself that came about through the use of deep thought and rationality in the face of adversity and problems. They serve to give you a good insight into the practices of Stoic Meditation a form which is a bit different that currently typical Meditation practices.
When you think of meditation you might be tempted to think of a breathing practice in which you still the mind by removing from it all thoughts as in Buddhist Meditation for example. Whilst this is undoubtedly an excellent practice Stoic Meditation is in fact the opposite process that requires the practitioner to focus (preferably in a place where he won’t be disturbed) on the issue at hand, using his or her ‘god given,’ or divine, rational faculty to work out the best way to solve a problem or develop an idea or disposition that might be helpful in his daily life.
Writing your thoughts down on paper (or today on a computer screen) is a brilliant way to focus on a particular subject or issue and empty your subconscious of its preconceived ideas and attitudes that might be harmful to you whilst bringing to your conscious mind all that is good. lt will surely benefit you in day to day existence.
Marcus also mentions a number of other stoic exercises. One is the view from above, in which you mentally zoom out beyond human affairs to see the land and the people below as from a great mountaintop or the point of view of an eagle or the ‘gods.’ In "modern" terminology we term this as "god's eye view."
From such a vantage point everything looks petty. It’s a great way to distance yourself from your troubles and put them in their proper context when compared to the rest of the world or the cosmos. Whilst they might seem important or overwhelming to you they are not actually that big a deal when it comes to the greater universe which will go on regardless of your actions. It’s the practical wisdom of things like this that stand out, along with his gratitude for his life, and his utter determination to do his duty by his fellow citizens.
What is repeatedly apparent is that Marcus saw himself as one tiny part of a much greater whole, it was rational to serve the whole or the complete being as everyone benefited when society worked well. This principle he extended not just to Rome and it’s empire but to the whole world.
Marcus is also notable with his acceptance of his fate seeing it as no different to the fate of others being ordained by providence/the gods at the formation of the universe and as such must be for the good of the whole.
“Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
From reading Marcus Aurelius you can glean that:
- It’s wise to give thanks for all of the good people and influences in your life
- Very little is needed to make a happy life.
- Life is transient and that nothing lasts forever.
- You should give no importance to the judgements that others hold of you.
- Nothing is bad in nature.
- We’re all subject to natural law.
- We should all do our part and behave in a way that is natural, just as the birds and the wild beasts do.
- All creatures play a part in reality and it’s for the good of all.
- Material possessions don’t count for much.
- You should follow the logos in all things and use your rational faculties!
- Death is natural, necessary and by extension good, so be ready!
- If anything waits for us after death it must also be good or else the gods would not allow it or at the very least give you some way of avoiding it!
- A good life is one of service to the community.
- Everlasting fame is at best worthless and impossible to maintain.
- You should do all things to the best of your ability.
- You are a small part of a much greater whole.
- You should accept your fate and work with it, as it must be good!
- Everything is in a state of change and decay, that all things are temporary.
- Be sympathetic to those who exhibit bad behaviour.
These meditative writings, his mere notes to himself, were compiled into a complete work after his death. Marcus was such a great man, a truly great emperor that those that loved him simply couldn’t allow his work to be lost to time, so they preserved it in the best way that they could and now, nearly two thousand years later we can still enjoy his simple wisdom, his legacy still shines and will continue to do so for quite a while yet.
“If someone is able to show me that what I think or do is not right, I will happily change, for I seek the truth, by which no one was ever truly harmed. It is the person who continues in his self-deception and ignorance who is harmed.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Marcus was conservative, modest, compassionate, kind, warm-hearted and tolerant, slow to anger naturally engendering respect for him and his high office in those around him as a result of holding and practicing these stoic virtues.
“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly. What doesn’t transmit light creates its own darkness.”
“If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it.”
Marcus was truly noble, noble in word, noble in thought and noble in deed.
In all, The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius is a highly recommended read for all students of stoicism, it’s easy, simple and direct, surprisingly relatable and altogether rational and most importantly, human!
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself in your way of thinking.”
― Marcus Aurelius, Meditations
Sources: The Marcus Aurelius Guide to Self-Care by Jeff Minick