#497 - Donald Robertson - The Stoicism Secrets Of Marcus Aurelius

Jed McKenna

he's got a book called spiritual enlightenment now so he's a guy that says that he's awakened and is basically speaking a stream of consciousness abo…

Marcus Aurelius

In the meditations marcus kind of has this recurring phrase where he says every morning say to yourself.

Brian Murarescu

I definitely think it's possible.

Guest: Donald Robertson

Episode summary

Donald Robertson is a stoicism historian, a psychotherapist and an author. Marcus Aurelius has become one of the most quoted and most popular philosophers in history. His meditations have helped millions of people to find solace in hard times and deal with setbacks in life. But which elements of his life and philosophy have been hidden from the public and how many valuable insights are less widely known? Expect to learn why many of Marcus' quotes might be plagiarising lost texts from other philosophers, whether Donald thinks that Marcus took psychedelics during a sacred ceremony, just how crazy Emperor Nero was, what Marcus learned about not being seduced by fame, how the Stoics would advise people to deal with depression and much more... Extra Stuff: Buy Verissimus - https://amzn.to/3ybXgWs Follow Donald on Twitter - https://twitter.com/DonJRobertson Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/

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Jed McKenna

The host mentions 'Spiritual Enlightenment Now' by Jed McKenna to highlight the profound insights on self-awareness a…

Marcus Aurelius

The host discusses the influence of Marcus Aurelius's interactions with various philosophers, particularly in relatio…

Brian Murarescu

The host mentions 'The Immortality Key' to highlight the intriguing connection between ancient rituals and modern int…

Discourses

Epictetus

The host discusses the influence of Epictetus on Marcus Aurelius, particularly highlighting the significance of the '…

Eleusinian mysteries and psychedelics(1)Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus(1)Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism(1)philosophy in graphic novels(1)

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The conversation centers on Eleusinian mysteries and psychedelics.
A second recurring theme is Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus.
Referenced books include Spiritual Enlightenment Now by Jed McKenna and Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.
The strongest audience signal points to Readers interested in philosophy and personal growth and Individuals interested in philosophy and personal development.

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Readers interested in philosophy and personal growthIndividuals interested in philosophy and personal developmentReaders interested in philosophy and ancient ritualsPhilosophy enthusiasts and students of Stoicism

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Jed McKenna

Best for Readers interested in philosophy and personal growthOften cited around philosophy in graphic novels

“The speaker discusses Jed McKenna's book, which explores themes of awakening and consciousness, highlighting the author's unique writing style and concepts.”

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Sentiment: Highly Recommended

Trigger: philosophy in graphic novels

For: Readers interested in philosophy and personal growth

Key quote: “he's got a book called spiritual enlightenment now so he's a guy that says that he's awakened and is basically speaking a stream of consciousness about what his life's like”

The host mentions 'Spiritual Enlightenment Now' by Jed McKenna to highlight the profound insights on self-awareness and perspective that can be drawn from the book. The host appreciates McKenna's writing style and the concept of 'releasing the tiller' as a valuable philosophical approach to life.

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Marcus Aurelius

Best for Individuals interested in philosophy and personal developmentOften cited around Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism

“Marcus saw Antoninus Pius as a role model and mentioned him in his work 'Meditations', where he lists virtues of 17 different people, focusing significantly on Antoninus.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism

For: Individuals interested in philosophy and personal development

Key quote: “In the meditations marcus kind of has this recurring phrase where he says every morning say to yourself.”

The host discusses the influence of Marcus Aurelius's interactions with various philosophers, particularly in relation to his writing of 'Meditations'. This book serves as a personal reflection for Aurelius, showcasing his thoughts on mastering emotions and philosophy amidst the challenges he faced.

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Brian Murarescu

Best for Readers interested in philosophy and ancient ritualsOften cited around Eleusinian mysteries and psychedelics

“The speaker mentions 'The Immortality Key' in relation to Marcus Aurelius and the Eleusinian mysteries, discussing its themes and historical context.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Eleusinian mysteries and psychedelics

For: Readers interested in philosophy and ancient rituals

Key quote: “I definitely think it's possible.”

The host mentions 'The Immortality Key' to highlight the intriguing connection between ancient rituals and modern interpretations of psychedelics. They discuss the potential historical significance of a hallucinogenic brew used in sacred ceremonies, as explored by the author Brian Murarescu.

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Discourses

Epictetus

Best for Philosophy enthusiasts and students of StoicismOften cited around Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus

“The excerpt mentions that Marcus Aurelius received a copy of the 'Discourses of Epictetus' from his tutor, highlighting its significance in his life.”

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Sentiment: Deep Dive

Trigger: Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus

For: Philosophy enthusiasts and students of Stoicism

Key quote: “one of the biggest moments in his life was when genius rusticus gave him a copy from his personal library of the discourses of epictetus”

The host discusses the influence of Epictetus on Marcus Aurelius, particularly highlighting the significance of the 'Discourses' in Aurelius's philosophical development. The mention of the book serves to illustrate the depth of Aurelius's thought and the potential loss of knowledge due to missing volumes of Epictetus's work.

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Jed McKenna

The host mentions 'Spiritual Enlightenment Now' by Jed McKenna to highlight the profound insights on self-awareness and perspective that can be dra…

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Marcus Aurelius

The host discusses the influence of Marcus Aurelius's interactions with various philosophers, particularly in relation to his writing of 'Meditatio…

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Mentioned at 59:54

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Brian Murarescu

The host mentions 'The Immortality Key' to highlight the intriguing connection between ancient rituals and modern interpretations of psychedelics.…

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Roman Empire

Confidence: 90%

“The Netflix series 'Roman Empire' is mentioned as being entertaining, despite questions about its historical accuracy.”

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World War II in Color

Confidence: 80%

“The documentary 'World War II in Color' is referenced in relation to the style of documentaries that include archive footage and dramatizations.”

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Gladiator

Confidence: 90%

“The Ridley Scott movie is referenced in relation to Commodus fighting in gladiatorial contests.”

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The Great Events of World War II in HD

Confidence: 80%

“This documentary is mentioned alongside 'World War II in Color' as part of the entertaining style of Netflix documentaries.”