Marcus Aurelius

Is it your reputation that’s bothering you? But look at how soon we’re all forgotten. The abyss of endless time that swallows it all. The emptiness of all those applauding hands. —Marcus Aurelius

• • It is relieving, don't you think, to realize that there is nothing we must achieve according to the world's standards? Not reputation, fame, or fortune. Not even beauty or good looks. All of that is as dust in the wind. The only gold that is of lasting and peaceful value is — the shining gold of Truth...not gold which we can hold in our hand...but that which is held in the heart. 

    If we are bothered by our reputation — how other people see us...striving to "be" someone — there will be only pain. Our "reputation" may be so valuable to us — but what is it really? Our thoughts about other people's thoughts.

    Everything is internal. We live in a thought world — a mental world — and call it real. 

    These teachings allows us to see beyond the mental constructs — to what is Real.