More from the Good Emperor

It looks like we still have a couple more loose ends to tie up from the Chevron/B'er Sheva mystery, but as I'm deeply embroiled in studying for a very intense exam, we'll have to catch up on that stuff later. Here's a little breather, just another quote from Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (part of our ongoing saga to trace the Jewish roots of Antoninus' wisdom):

"All things are implicated with one another, and the bond between them is holy... For things have been co-ordinated, and they combine to form the same universe [order]. For there is one universe made up of all things, and one god who pervades all things, and one substance, and one law, one common reason in all intelligent animals (i.e. humans), and one truth..." (Meditations VII, 9)

Now I ask you, does this sound like the product of a pagan Roman society, or the result of the tutelage of one of the sages of Israel?

The Voice is the Voice of Ya'akov

As mentioned in a previous post, I have been perusing a volume of philosphy called Meditations, by Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, and I found much of it strikingly similar to a biblical work, Koheleth (aka Ecclesiastes) by Sh'lomo haMelech (King Solomon). Here is an example:

"There is only one fruit of this terrene (earthly) life, a pious disposition and social acts."
-Meditations, ch. VI pp. 30

"The sum of the matter, when all has been considered: Fear G-d and keep his commandments, for that is man's whole duty."
-Koheleth 12:13

There are many more examples like this, and it certainly lends support to our Talmudic sources that Rabbi Y'hudah haNasi was indeed a tutor of Antoninus. I hope to be able to demonstrate this with more examples as I encounter them. But I seriously recommend anyone interested to read through the two volumes (neither one intimidatingly large) and make a comparison of their own.

Lend Me Your Ears

The Roman emperor known to history as Marcus Aurelius is synonymous with that Roman emperor known as Antoninus in the Talmudic literature. This Antoninus was a close friend and student of Rabbi Y'hudah HaNasi (aka "Rebbi"), the temporal and spiritual leader of the Jewish people in the land of Israel at the end of the 2nd century C.E. This relationship between the leaders of these two peoples is unknown to secular historians, as Antoninus had to keep this relationship secret due to the enmity the Romans had for the Jews at this time. In any event, he is considered by Jewish tradition to have been a great, wise and pious man.

I was fascinated, therefore, when I noticed on the bookshelf in a secular bookstore on a recent visit to the United States a book of philosophy entitled Meditations authored by none other than Marcus Aurelius himself! Curious to discover the wisdom of Antoninus and always on the lookout for good bathroom reading, I purchased the volume. What follows, and what I expect will be a regular occurance of posts, are quotes I found to be significant, not only for their inherent wisdom, but also because of their close reflection to ideas found in the Jewish tradition.

"Thou art a little soul bearing about a corpse."

-Meditations, Ch. IV, pp. 41

"Just as we must understand when it is said, That Aesculapius prescribed to this man horse-exercise, or bathing in cold water, or going without shoes, so we must understand it when it is said, That the nature of the universe prescribed to this man disease or mutilation or loss or anything else of the kind… Let us then receive these things, as well as those which Aesculapius prescribes."

-Meditations, Ch. V, pp. 8

"Nothing happens to a man which he is not formed by nature to bear."

-Meditations, Ch. V, pp. 18