Meditation I

Chapter 19

Your life is numbered.Go on living like a hermit in the mountains.For if a man lives anywhere in the world with the same state (political body) in his mind, it makes no difference at all to him wherever he lives.Let people see clearly and know what it is like to live according to nature.If people can't stand him, let them kill him.Because, at least this is better than those who live.

Don't spend too much time talking about what qualities a noble person should have, it's better to become such a person.

Always behold the totality of time and the totality of matter.To think of all individual things is to the material whole what the fig tree is to the seed, and to the temporal whole what a turn of the corkscrew is to it.

Notice what exists, what is falling apart, what is changing, what is decaying and dissipating, and perhaps everything has an innate structure of death.

Consider what it is like to be among those who eat, sleep, work, and play.Then, think again what it is like when they are in a high position, when they are bossy, or when they are angry and scolding others.However, just a while ago, they bowed their knees in front of so many people, why they were controlled by others; think again, what will happen to them after a while.

What the nature of the universe bestows upon each thing is beneficial to those things.And the nature of the universe was given to him when it was beneficial.

"Earth loves rain and dew"; "Space loves solemnity".And the universe creates with love all that is to come into existence.So, I say to the universe, I love with you.Is there not yet such a saying, "Everything loves (accustoms to) what is born." 18
Either you live here and accustom yourself to it; or you can leave, it all depends on your own will; you can even choose to die, after all due duties have been done.Other than that, nothing else.So live with enthusiasm.

What you need to know is that your land is exactly like any other land; everything here is exactly like a mountaintop, a seashore, or wherever else you desire.For, you will find, as Plato said, that living in a walled city is the same as living in a hut on a hill with sheep.

What is my domination to me now?And what am I shaping it into now?And for what purpose am I using it now?Does it not understand itself?Is it cut off from social life?Has it merged with lowly flesh so as to become one with it?
The fugitive is the one who flees from the master; but if the law is the master, then he who escapes from the law is also a fugitive.Those who are sad, angry, or fearful are also fugitives, for they are dissatisfied with what has happened in the past, is, and even will happen to them by the Ruler who rules over all things. The latter is the law of nature, and it is this natural law that assigns to each person a corresponding thing.So a person who is sad, angry, or fearful is a fugitive.

A person leaves the seed by placing it in the womb, and then the law of cause and effect acts on it, making it a child.What things have come out of matter!The child swallows the food through the throat, and then another law of cause and effect operates upon it, and not only the perceptual and motor functions of the child are fashioned, but also healthy life, strength, and other things; This is how it grows!How wonderful!Then we should also think about the things fashioned in this concealed way, and see into them the power, as into the power that moves things up and down, not with the eyes, but not so blindly.

Always think that all existing things also existed in the past; think about their future, as well.The theater and the stage should be presented to you in the same form, whether acquired from your experience or from history; such examples are the whole court of Hadrian, and the whole court of Antony, and Philip Li, Alexander, the whole court of Chrysos; all these are like the plays we see now, but with different actors.

Man is a leaf blown to the ground by the wind
Think of those who are sad and resentful about everything, who writhe and howl like a sacrificial pig.

The man lying in bed, weeping silently for being trapped by the world's shackles, is really like this pig.Think about it, the way of actively accepting the established things is the quality that a rational animal should have; the way of simply following the nature is an inevitability of all things in the world.

Whenever you do anything, stop and ask yourself whether death is a terrible thing to do because it might prevent you from doing it.

When you are angry because of other people's mistakes, it is better to immediately turn to reflect on whether you have made similar mistakes; for example, thinking that money, lust, a little fame are good things.Because, as soon as you pay attention to this problem, your anger will be quickly forgotten.Perhaps you can also add this thought: This person is forced, what else can he do?Or, if you can, help him out of this passive state.

When you see Socratic Satron, think of Eutyches or Hymen; when you see Euphrates, think of Eutychion or Silvanus; when you see Alchiphron , think of Trope Overlus; when you see Xenophon, think of Crito or Severus; and when you look at yourself, think of other Caesars, what each of them did can be analogized.Then think in your mind, where are they now?Nowhere, no one knows.Continued thinking will make you see human things as smoke and utter nothingness; especially if you also consider that everything once changed cannot exist in eternal time.And you, how short is your life?Why not choose a more orderly way to spend this moment of life?What event or occasion are you avoiding in all your activities?For is there any use for all these things in life than to scrutinize and penetrate with reason their nature?Carry on till you draw something out of these things that you can use for yourself, just as the stomach digests and converts all food into its own nourishment, just as the fire converts everything thrown into it into its own flame And light in general.

Let no one have the right to point out that you are not frank or kind; let everyone who thinks so be a liar; that is well within your power.Because, who can stop you from being a human being who is both frank and kind?Unless you want to be this kind of person yourself, or you have made up your mind not to live more.For, if you were not such a person, reason itself would no longer allow you to live.

What should we do or say with regard to this matter (our life) most rationally?No matter what happens, you should try to do or say what you can, and don't try to avoid getting in the way.Your mentality must be adjusted, otherwise you will not stop inexplicably mourning, let those complacent people be proud, your own mentality should be like this: for those things you should or must face, you should follow the most suitable for others. for one should not only act according to one's own nature, but one should do one's best, and one should even regard it as a kind of enjoyment.No matter where he is, this is something he can do.But this power does not make the roller go round, nor does it give water or fire to everything that is governed by nature or the irrational soul, for there are too many things that prevent this power from working or stand in its way.

However, wisdom and reason can still successfully overcome all obstacles, which is not only innate, but also based on their will.Keep this in mind at all times, and reason will prevail in all things, as a flame goes up, a stone falls, a cylinder rolls down a slope, and look no further.For any other hindrance, either affecting inanimate objects only, or by means of the abandonment of opinion or reason itself, can thereby exert pressure and injure; A damaged person will become bad in an instant.As with all orderly things, whatever damage may occur, the things so affected are made worse by them, while in like cases a man may be made better by employing them, and deserves higher appreciation.Finally, it must be remembered that what does not harm the state will certainly not harm the real citizens; that which does not harm the law (order) will never harm the state; violation of the law.Therefore, what does not harm the law must not harm the state or citizens.

For those who penetrate the truth of the world, even the most succinct maxim is enough to remind him to get rid of sorrow and fear.For example,
"Leaves, scattered by the wind to the ground—man." 19
Your children are the leaves; those who cry and seem worthy of praise and praise are also leaves; those who secretly curse and sneer are also leaves;All in all, as the poet said: "Spring is the season of growth." Then, the wind blows the leaves down; and then, new leaves will grow in the old places.Everything is ephemeral, and you can't avoid these things, or rush after them as if they will last forever.In the next moment, perhaps, you have closed your eyes; and even the one who buried you will be mourned for his death not long after.

A healthy eye should see everything visible, not green; for that is the requirement of the sick eye.And a healthy sense of hearing and smell should also hear or smell everything.A healthy stomach treats all food as if it were made to grind.A healthy mind, therefore, should be prepared for whatever may happen; Eyes for green things, or teeth for soft things only.

No one is so lucky, and no one welcomes his misfortune when he dies.Even if he is a good man and a wise man, at last someone will say to himself: At last we are free from this old pedant, and at last we can breathe freely.In fact, he was not very strict with us, but I always felt that he was condemning us in his heart. ——That's the way to treat a good person.Looking back at ourselves, how many people are also hoping to get rid of us as soon as possible for other reasons.So, if you realize this when you are dying, and you want to die without regrets, then you might as well think this way: I am saying goodbye to a life in which no matter what How much I tried and prayed and cared for those around me who still wanted me to disappear, even for a small profit.Why should we strive for a slightly longer sojourn in the world?However, don’t change your attitude towards the people around you when you are about to die because of this. You should stick to your original character, treat people with kindness, kindness, and tolerance, and don’t feel like you are being forced to leave; on the contrary, you should Leave this world very peacefully, the poor soul is more easily separated from the body, and your separation from other people should be like this, because it is nature that connects you to them and unites you into one.But has nature now broken this union?Well, then, I want to leave my kindred, not resisting being dragged away, but willingly; and this is also a natural thing.

No matter who you meet does things for what reason, you can get used to asking yourself this question: What is the purpose of this person doing this thing?However, you have to start with yourself and review yourself first.

Remember, you are manipulated by a hidden invisible force: this is the power of belief, and this is life itself, or we can also call it a person.However, when speaking of "you", it does not include your skin, nor does it include the organs attached to it.Because, they are like an axe, the only difference is that they are attached to your body.In fact, these parts are useless apart from the cause that makes them move and stay, like the weaver's shuttle, the writer's pen-holder, and the shepherd's whip.

(End of this chapter)