London Stoics

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Book 5: Part 2

Sun, Oct 25 · 2:50 PM GMT

Bunhill Fields Meeting House, Banner Street, London EC1Y 8QQ, London, GB

• read event description before signing up
• register on Meetup to attend
• update RSVP if plans change
• arrive at 2.50pm, doors open 2.40pm
• read the Book before session
• review the Questions

Book 5 - Part 2 - verses 14-36

Reading Time - 11 minutes

Prior knowledge is not required

Gregory Hays translation used in session - buy here

Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others.

Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries.

Questions we'll explore

1. Our actions may be impeded by them, but there can be no impeding our intentions or our dispositions.
Because we can accommodate and adapt.
The mind adapts and converts to its own purposes the obstacle to our acting.
The impediment to action advances action.
What stands in the way becomes the way.
(20)

What are the implications?

2. Remember:
Matter. How tiny your share of it
Time. How brief and fleeting your allotment of it.
Fate. How small a role you play in it.
(24)

How do you feel about this?

3. So other people hurt me?
That’s their problem.
Their character and actions are not mine.
What is done to me is ordained by nature, what I do by my own.
(25)

Do you agree or disagree?

4. —And until that time comes—what?
Honor and revere the gods, treat human beings as they deserve, be
tolerant with others and strict with yourself.
Remember, nothing belongs to you but your flesh and blood—and nothing else is under your control
(33)

What do you make of this?

5. I was once a fortunate man but at some point fortune abandoned me.
But true good fortune is what you make for yourself.
Good fortune: good character, good intentions, and good actions
(37)

How would you go about this?

To fund the costs of room hire and Meetup subscription £15 is payable

To minimise admin there are no refunds/credits unless the meeting is cancelled. Refunds exclude Meetup/PayPal fees.

If you sign up and can no longer attend, please Edit RSVP asap to "Not going" so someone else can take your spot.

There is no waiting list if the event is full. Please check this Meetup page on the day of the event, as a spot may become available if there is a late cancellation.

If you sign up, and do not Edit RSVP to "Not going", and are a no show, you will be removed from the Group and can rejoin after 3 months.

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius - Book 6: Part 1

Sun, Dec 6 · 2:50 PM GMT

Bunhill Fields Meeting House, Banner Street, London EC1Y 8QQ, London, GB

• read event description before signing up
• register on Meetup to attend
• update RSVP if plans change
• arrive at 2.50pm, doors open 2.40pm
• read the Book before session
• review the Questions

Book 6 - Part 1 - verses 1-30

Reading Time - 13 minutes

Prior knowledge is not required

Gregory Hays translation used in session - buy here

Meditations is one of the greatest works of spiritual and ethical reflection ever written. With a profound understanding of human behaviour, Marcus provides insights, wisdom, and practical guidance on everything from living in the world to coping with adversity to interacting with others.

Explore this timeless collection that has been consulted and admired by leaders, readers and thinkers throughout the centuries.

Questions we'll explore

1. What’s left for us to prize?
I think it’s this: to do (and not do) what we were designed for.
That’s the goal of all trades, all arts, and what each of them aims at:
that the thing they create should do what it was designed to do.
(16)

What do you make of this?

2. If anyone can refute me—show me I’m making a mistake or looking
at things from the wrong perspective—I’ll gladly change.
It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone.
What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.
(21)

What are the implications?

3. When you deal with irrational animals, with things and
circumstances, be generous and straightforward.
You are rational; they are not.
When you deal with fellow human beings, behave as one.
They share in the logos.
And invoke the gods regardless.
Don’t worry about how long you’ll go on doing this.
A single afternoon would be enough.
(23)

How do you feel about this?

4. How cruel—to forbid people to want what they think is good for them.
And yet that’s just what you won’t let them do when you get angry at their misbehavior. They’re drawn toward what they think is good for them.
—But it’s not good for them.
Then show them that.
Prove it to them.
Instead of losing your temper.
(27)

Do you agree or disagree?

5. Make sure you remain straightforward, upright, reverent, serious, unadorned, an ally of justice, pious, kind, affectionate, and doing your duty with a will.
Fight to be the person philosophy tried to make you.
Revere the gods; watch over human beings.
Our lives are short.
The only rewards of our existence here are an unstained character and unselfish acts.
(30)

How would you go about this?

To fund the costs of room hire and Meetup subscription £15 is payable

To minimise admin there are no refunds/credits unless the meeting is cancelled. Refunds exclude Meetup/PayPal fees.

If you sign up and can no longer attend, please Edit RSVP asap to "Not going" so someone else can take your spot.

There is no waiting list if the event is full. Please check this Meetup page on the day of the event, as a spot may become available if there is a late cancellation.

If you sign up, and do not Edit RSVP to "Not going", and are a no show, you will be removed from the Group and can rejoin after 3 months.