Just a heads up, the paperback version on the Amazon link doesn't appear to be the Hays translation. I ordered after seeing your post (thanks!) and used this link:
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/0812968255/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Might want to edit in smile. before your link as well so charity gets some $$$. :)
Sure - he was a psychologist at Harvard and a friend of Timothy Leary - but you probably knew that already. The best way to learn more about his philosophy is to read his first book, Be Here Now. https://www.amazon.com/Be-Here-Now-Ram-Dass/dp/0517543052
First, a quote: "Never let the future disturb you. You will meet it, if you have to, with the same weapons of reason which today arm you against the present." - Marcus Aurelius
Second, seriously, buy the book of wisdom about him. I promise you it's on the shelf with dog-eared pages of every successful person you'll ever meet.
Third, don't worry about the world ending. It's not, it won't.
You're living in literally (literally) the safest, most prosperous time in all of human history. You're fine. Shit is fine.
Get of social media. You're being mislead by dumb people saying dumb things about stuff they don't, nor ever will, understand.
You're just being subjected to the information overload fallacy. That's all.
You think what your read is real. It's not. Example, gun violence in America has fallen to all time historic lows, but reporting on gun violence in the last 20 years has increased 300%. So people think there's some crisis now, when it's the safest it's ever been.
You're fine. The planet is fine. The US is fine. Go enjoy life.
I liked the narrative imagery, the picture painted of women as wolves: excluded from the eco(nomic) system, but at the same time just what the system needs.
Also, I think everyone struggles with the same issue at some point or other: Do I take what's on the table, or do I demand more?
For those who find themselves wanting more woman-wolf archetype stories, I recommend Women Who Run with the Wolves.
I have this version. It is great. Whenever I read a passage from it I have to sit back and think for a while because it blows my mind.
OP, I think you will benefit from reading it. It uses plain English. Here it is on amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255
The Meditations, fortunately, have been widely published and are almost certainly available in your native language.
There's a book called "Be Here Now" by Ram Dass. He was a another harvard professor who explored psychedelics and went to India. The middle (brown paper) section of the book is hand illustrated and is meant to be read while tripping. It is by far the best book I've ever tripped on and I'm not the only one. Here is the Amazon link if you're interested.
Jim?
Hays tr.: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255
Hard tr.: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-selected-correspondence-Oxford-Classics/dp/0199573204
Links go to the American Amazon store.
I like the romanticism, wit and the dealing with a Christian background of Alan Watts and this is his first all encompassing book which I find pretty accessible (save what words can say about this, which he acknowledges (https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307741206/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_GZjjFbY3JQX1Z). Love those other suggestions too, you'll find something that speaks to you!
I got the paperback edition just cause I like having physical copies of things, but I think the kindle one is free
I have this one and found it quite easy to follow: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=meditations+marcus+aurelius&qid=1627377611&sprefix=meditations&sr=8-1
Marcus Aurelius - Meditations - He's a Roman emperor, but his thought practices are heavily based on Greek Stoicism.
Plato's Republic - This one is more about the discipline required from individuals for society to thrive as a whole, but he's a Greek philosopher, so it's an interesting read in that regard. Plato thought that Sparta's militaristic-discipline style of society was really neat, which is evident in this book.
The Hays translation of Meditations might work for you: https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255
Written in a more modern writing style but keeps a lot of the insights intact. Like you I have trouble reading philosophy books for attention reasons but this one worked for me 🙂
https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255/ref=pd_lpo_14_t_0/144-6026304-7578803?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=0812968255&pd_rd_r=3c0c10b0-31d2-4232-ac63-65b49110b8f4&pd_rd_w=4zLhc&pd_rd_wg=GokA7&pf_rd_p=337be819-13af-4fb9-8b3e-a5291c097ebb&pf_rd_r=X3GM2KYEYN7P8JXDHN0R&psc=1&refRID=X3GM2KYEYN7P8JXDHN0R pen, and highlighter read. This helped me a lot. Also seeing a therapist
Hmm this is not on the genre you asked but I would advice to give him meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism has been a Philosophy that has helped me throughout my life in any given situation. Another one would be The wisdom of the enneagram by don Richard Riso, two of the best books I’ve ever read.
Again this is not the genre you asked for but it’s my two cents, both of them helped me to find a profound knowledge of myself my soul and my psyche and all 3 of this are infinite.
Best of luck
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
It is written by the man himself and filled with a lot of stoic wisdom that has become the basis for many of today's self help books. As a former military man it might strike a chord with him. It also doesn't come across as a "self-help" book since it is basically Marcus's personal reflections to himself.
Good for you! Many libraries participate in Inter-Library Loans, so I hope yours can find it for you.
BTW, Amazon has it for $6-$8; plus a PDF of random pages so you could get an idea of it. https://www.amazon.com/Light-Yoga-B-K-Iyengar/dp/0805210318
Sure thing! Make sure you order the paperback version - supposedly amazon likes to change translations depending on what format you pick.
if you like buddhism you might also like stoicism. i read buddhist stuff for years and liked it a lot (esp "The Wise Heart"). i felt like getting into stoicism made buddhism more complete.
the are basically the same thing, but from the western point of view. i dont control what happens to me only how i react what happens to me. also , just accept that life is suffering.
this version of "Meditations" by Marcus Aurelius is good (black book with red bird on cover). your local book store might even have it.
https://www.amazon.com/Meditations-New-Translation-Marcus-Aurelius/dp/0812968255/
youtube also has several videos on stocism i found very helpful.
this one is dark, but funny
Eastern Body, Western Mind by Anodea Judith. Lays out how the eastern chakra system relates to western psychology and psychotherapy. Lovingly written by a super sharp and well-trained lady.
Try Philosophy if you are a deep thinker.
Is it this one? I see a few different translations on Amazon
I think it came from some similarities in beliefs, such as love your neighbor and do unto others as you would have done to you. Before Jesus was born Hillel the Elder said it as "that which you find hateful to you, do not do to another." There are enough of these similarities in Buddhism that Thich Nhat Hanh wrote a book discussing these similarities.
I think that makes some people want to find a way for Jesus to go on a pilgrimage to learn all that He seemingly knew. But there just isn't anything in the historical record that we can find that even suggests Jesus went East and came back.
So there are similarities, but it's doubtful Jesus took off and never mentioned it.
Hello! I'm older than you, but this is something I've been going through in the past few months, i.e. I've been trying to be "softer" and show more vulnerability. I know it doesn't sound like much, but for me the most helpful things (in the sense that they set some things in motion) were a group of women I've met in a femininity retreat (go figure!), that triggered in me a more compassionate and thoughtful (even spiritual) approach to everyday life and the way I've been dressing (all my life I've preferred pants/jeans and sneakers and this summer I've been wearing a lot of dresses with sneakers).
As regards the points that you've raised:
I would say Meditations by Marcus Aurelius would be your best starting point. The translation by Gregory Hays is available on Amazon. It is his personal diary in which he writes his thoughts and reminds himself to follow the Stoic philosophy he was taught. There are a lot of good quotes about suffering and taking action that you should be able to relate too.
Also How To Think Like A Roman Emperor by Donald Robertson (also on Amazon), links the biography of Marcus with current CBT therapy ideas (I am currently reading this now).
Hoopla has an audiobook copy translated by George Long and Narrorated by Robin Homer for free.
Before reading, you can watch this great summary which will help you digest and understand what you are reading.
Or, you can buy Meditations: A New Translation which was made to be accessible to laymen and is pretty cheap
Lol, you should look at this book: https://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Habit-Being-Yourself-Create/dp/1401938094
You'll get a kick out of the title.
I mean, this will give you as good a shot as anything at a good mental state (for psychedelics). https://smile.amazon.com/Be-Here-Now-Ram-Dass/dp/0517543052/
First thing that came to mind is Be Here Now by Ram Dass. I would add that Ram Dass himself appears in the last episode so it makes sense that he inspired part of the show itself.
Light on Yoga outlines beginner through advanced sequences. You can’t go wrong starting here. ❤️ Light on Yoga: The Bible of Modern Yoga https://www.amazon.com/dp/0805210318/ref=cm_sw_r_awdo_CJ0NAC410D7GWBCCQ7S3