On Sunday, February 3rd I shared a few quotes in the meditative self-inquiry group. I'll post some of the quotes here for those who were unable to join us for the meeting.
Less than 200 years after Christ, Marcus Aurelius wrote:
I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.
If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of my contempt.
Never esteem anything as an advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose you self-respect.
Less than 200 years after Christ, Marcus Aurelius wrote:
I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself than on the opinion of others.
If any man despises me, that is his problem. My only concern is not doing or saying anything deserving of my contempt.
Never esteem anything as an advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose you self-respect.
Around 1300, Meister Eckhart wrote:
People say Alas sir, but I would prefer to stand well with God, to have the devotion and divine calm of some people, or I wish I could be like this or as poor as that, Or they say, It will never do if I cannot be here or there and do thus an so. I must get away-or go into a cloister or cell.
The truth is that you yourself are at fault in all of this and no one else. It is pure self-will. Whether you realize it or not, there can be no restlessness unless it comes from self-will, although not every person understands this. This is what I mean: people fly from this to seek that-these places, these people, these manners, those purposes, that activity-but they should not blame ways or things for thwarting them. When you are thwarted, it is your own attitude that is out of order.
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