Below, I've selected just one phrase from that text that I think you can use to live a happier, more fulfilling, and more contributing life.
There are various English translations of the original text, and I have studied several of them. This is my own version of paragraph 10 of volume 3. I think this makes the message clearer and uses more modern language than some translations.
Remember this one thing and forget everything else. Our lives unfold in this moment.
The past is gone and the future is unknown.
Our lives are short and make up only a small portion of all life on Earth and beyond.
Even the most famous people are only remembered for a short time after they die, and others quickly pass away, forgetting themselves forever.
Profound words, Marcus! You may find that many modern spiritual teachers, such as Eckhart Tolle, Gangaji, and Alan Watts, reflect similar principles. This reflects the universal and eternal nature of Spirit (Self, God, Consciousness, etc.).
If I try to translate the above passage into principles that I can put into practice, I think it would look like this:
Marcus Aurelius' Tips for Living a Fulfilling Life:
Live fully in the moment: Put all your energy into the small moments that pass by. Be present, pay attention, and fully participate in the current situation. Life passes by in the blink of an eye. As much as you can, be fully grateful in the here and now. Stay humble. relax. Our lives seem big to us, but they only make up a small part of our lives.
whole.
Fame doesn't last and isn't worth chasing. Find fulfillment in simplicity
each moment.
This is just an excerpt from his book. Marcus Aurelius' Meditations contains hundreds of additional gems of wisdom and I highly recommend it.
Did this emperor think that the words he wrote would remain and influence people's lives for thousands of years, long after the empire itself had collapsed?
I wish you a day of inner peace and joy.
You can learn more about Marcus Aurelius at divineTeachers.com/spiritual-Teachers/marcus-aurelius.
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