* A new translation of Marcus Aurelius's Meditations for modern people
* A guide to life that captures the essence of Stoic philosophy.
* The emperor's question from 2,000 years ago awakens me today.
* An inner training method to protect myself from being swayed by external factors

There is a saying, “A classic is a book that everyone says they have read, but no one has.”
This is especially true for philosophy books, as the difficult terms and sentences, as well as the differences in historical context, can feel unfamiliar.
Nevertheless, the reason we open the Meditations again is because the questions it contains are still relevant even after 2,000 years.

『Meditations』 is a book that reinterprets the records of thoughts left for himself by Marcus Aurelius, the 16th emperor of the Roman Empire, from a modern perspective.
As the name 'Choyeok (抄譯)' suggests, the essence of the original text was preserved while being easily explained so that it can deeply permeate the lives of readers living in modern society.
Aurelius was a man who constantly reflected on himself even though he was at the peak of power.
Even in a time of constant turmoil, with wars, epidemics, rebellions, and conspiracies, he asked himself every day:

“Was I swayed by emotions today?”
“Have I maintained my principles without being swayed by the evil deeds of others?”
“As you face death, are you living without regrets?”

『Meditations』 is a record of Aurelius' honest confrontation with himself as a human being and as an emperor who led an empire.
That is why this book tells a story that is even more urgent for us now, or for those of us who are living in the present.

So, reading 『Meditations』 is also an experience of experiencing firsthand how philosophy can be applied to life.
I am not talking about philosophy as a distant and difficult subject, but as a tool to find ‘how to live well.’
In particular, Stoic philosophy, which Aurelius explored, is a practical discipline that focuses on refining everyday emotions and attitudes, and has the advantage of being easily applicable and practiced even today.
The reason why 『Meditations』 resonates with us living in modern society is because it is not just a legacy of the past, but a living wisdom that operates even in this very moment.
--- From "Why We Read 『Meditations』 Again"

Don't worry about things you can't control
Distinguish between what you can control and what you cannot.
Also, learn to accept things you cannot control rather than trying to fight them.
[Meditations, Volume 6, Chapter 16]

There are things in life that I can change and things that I cannot.
Things like today's weather, the past, and other people's feelings and actions
It's out of our hands.
But sometimes we can't tell the difference between the two,
We often get exhausted from focusing on things we can't change.

It is painful to hold on to something you cannot control.
It is creating suffering for oneself.
It's like yelling at the endless waves to stop.
True wisdom lies not in stopping the waves, but in letting them flow.

Don't worry about things you can't control
When I accept what I cannot change with my will,
Your daily life will become more peaceful and life will become lighter.
--- From "Part 1: Controlling Emotions"

Other people's actions are their responsibility.
Other people's actions are not my concern.
Their actions are their responsibility, and I am only being true to my nature.
[Meditations, Volume 5, Chapter 25]

We often have conflicts with people.
I think it happens because 'they did something wrong'.
So I believe that if they change, the problem will be solved.
But this kind of thinking keeps us stuck in a cycle of frustration.

Other people's actions are their responsibility,
It's not something we can control.

Let go of trying to change other people's behavior,
Just focus on your own reactions.
We cannot control other people's minds or actions,
I can choose my attitude and thoughts at any time.

The best we can do is not to be swayed by other people's actions,
It is only true to one's own nature.
When you focus on yourself and not others,
You can find stability that is not influenced by external circumstances.
--- From "Part 2: Not Being Swayed by Others"

Minimalism as taught by nature
Nature is content with what it has and does not seek more.
Instead of discarding old and useless things, nature transforms them into new ones and reuses them.
Just what we have now is a complete cycle.
[Meditations, Volume 8, Chapter 50]

Take your time and observe nature.
The river flows naturally and returns to the sea,
When the seasons change, trees shed their leaves.
Without any obsession or resistance.

Conversely, why have our lives become so complicated?
Filling the space with more stuff than necessary,
Find a bigger home for expensive possessions you won't use.

Clothes you don't wear in your closet,
Unused tools and collectibles in drawers,
Like useless worries in my mind,
Remove the excess from your life and leave only the essentials.

If you learn to live like nature,
You will feel that what you have now is enough.
--- From "I'm satisfied with what I have"

Moments when you start to trust people again
When your heart feels heavy, think of the shining virtues of those around you.
Some are humble, some are generous, and some have an incredible sense of responsibility.
They are like lights that never go out even in the darkness of life, and their mere presence makes the world shine with hope again.
Joy is not something far away, but it always breathes in the goodness of good people around us.
[Meditations, Volume 6, Chapter 48]

When life feels heavy, take a moment to look around.
There are signs of hope there.

Sometimes, we are distracted by the dark headlines in the news.
It's easy to miss the goodness that's close at hand.
But in reality, we are surrounded by countless moments of light.

The look in the eyes of a friend who is truly concerned about your hardships,
The image of a colleague willing to take on more than his share,
A small act of kindness from a neighbor without any expectation of return.

When you keep these images in mind
Trust in humanity blossoms again,
The world is still a place worth living in,
You will come to realize that hope is always with us.
--- From “Living in the Community, Part 6”

Death is not extinction, but transition.
Whether death disintegrates us, disintegrates us into atoms, or annihilates us completely, it is simply a process of our existence being transformed into another form.
[Meditations, Volume 7, Chapter 32]

When we die, our bodies disappear,
It may not be the end, but a new beginning.

Physicists say that energy is never destroyed.
They say it just changes form.
The same goes for the atoms that make up our bodies.

The carbon atoms in your body were created a long time ago,
It may have been born at the center of some star.
The star exploded and scattered into space,
After a long journey, it has become a part of you.

In this way, death can be a transition rather than an end.

Although the consciousness of 'I' may disappear,
Everything that made us up has a new form,
It still exists in this world and will continue on another journey.

--- From "Part 8: Not Fearing Death"