Meditation.

At office, I was interestingly working on my projects.

Suddenly, I came across Ryan Holiday’s post. He had shared his reading list.

I love listicles (...particularly for books) and short zen inspirational stories.

Meditation by Marcus Aurelius was on the first position in the list.

Ryan wrote a spark note from the each book.

Sparknote written below the Meditation was as:

“When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love.”

This note from Marcus’ journal was enough for igniting my curiosity, and read more about his philosophy.

Completing the post, I tried to search about Marcus and his history.

I read the overview of his biography and accomplishments. His writing was also in the list of internet classic archives at MIT.

The first image created on the surface of my mind for Marcus was, “Great philosopher of the latin time”

I decided to go further and read the reviews of Meditation on amazon.com and then on Goodreads. (I usually do it before selecting any book)

“Yeah. It seems worthy!”

I Google “Pdf Marcus Aurelius”.

Though I hate the Pdf, I read the index and some random paragraphs. And finally decided to buy it.

I ordered it on amazon.com (my favorite place to buy books)

Meditation is highest marked and underlined book, i’d ever have.

This paragraph from the book is still glued on my mind. It makes me so peaceful I can’t cease myself to share it with you.

Most motivational paragraph you'll ever read:

My soul, will you ever be good, simple, individual, bare, brighter than the body covers you ? Will you ever taste the disposition to love and affection ? Will you ever be complete and free of need, missing nothing, desiring nothing live or lifeless for the enjoyment of pleasure ? Or time for longer enjoyment, or amenity of place, space, and climate ? Or good company ? No, will you not rather be satisfied with your present state and take pleasure in all that is presently yours ? will you not convince yourself that all your experience comes from the gods, that all is well and all will be well for you, all that the gods see fit to give you, now and hereafter, in the maintenance of that perfect being which is good and just and beautiful, which generates all things, sustains and contains all things, embraces all things as they dissolve into the generation of others like them ? Will you ever be such as to share the society of gods and men without any criticism of them or condemnation by them?

I glued this paragraph on my board. It gives me immense peacefulness and happiness.

One of my friends also suggested me to watch his movie “Marcus Aurelius : Gladiator” few days back.

May be I would spent some time for it as well to know more about his emperor life. (Yes. He was an Emperor)

Now it’s your turn now.

Have you ever read any inspirational line that you still remember? Share it in the comment section. Maybe I can find another Marcus over there.