4d • The Forum
Meditations In May (5/11/26)
3.11. To the stand-bys above, add this one: always to define whatever it is we perceive—to trace its outline—so we can see what it really is:What is it—this thing that now forces itself on my notice? What is it made up of? How long was it designed to last? And what qualities do I need to bring to bear on it—tranquillity, courage, honesty, trustworthiness, straightforwardness, independence or what?
So in each case you need to say: "This is due to God." Or: "This is due to the interweavings and intertwinings of fate, to coincidence or chance." Or: "This is due to a human being. Someone of the same race, the same birth, the same society, but who doesn't know what nature requires of him. But I do. And so I'll treat them as the law that binds us—the law of nature-requires. With kindness and with justice.
And in inconsequential things? I'll do my best to treat them as
they deserve."
Many of Marcus’s passages are about getting to root of any thought, judgement or action. Piercing through the normal human perception and actually asking and analyzing what is this thing really?
Marcus states that if this thing happened by chance or by something out of your control we can simply say it’s due to god. If it is caused by a human and it is a harmful act well then I should forgive them and treat them with kindness. And finally if it is inconsequential I’ll treat them as such.
But how many of us do this really? Most of us focus so heavily on things only god controls, then we berate our fellow man for not acting in accordance with our view of the world and finally we focus on all the small things and never on the big things until it’s to late. As Marcus says, strip it all bare, look at it for what it truly is. Reprioritize your focus accordingly and watch yourself start to tangibly live a better life.
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Meditations In May (5/11/26)
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