Commentary on Meditations: B1.5

5. From my tutor: not to become a Green or Blue supporter at the races, or side with the Lights or Heavies in the amphitheatre; to tolerate pain and feel few needs; to work with my own hands and mind my own business; to be deaf to malicious gossip.

I love watching sports, but when I was younger, I would get caught up in the game and become too obsessed. I recall a number of times watching my team lose, and I became quite upset.  Perhaps, this is what Marcus’s tutor was hinting at when he advised the young Marcus to not become a fan or choose a side in these events. Or maybe his tutor saw all of it as a waste of time.

Next in the passage, Marcus was impressed with how his tutor was able to tolerate pain.  How many times have you seen someone who cries out in pain, and, in a sense, it is a bit annoying.  There is a part of us that wants to be courageous when it comes to pain.  Think of the times you've experienced pain.  Sometimes you just have to endure it.  I’ve learned to try to "step outside of my pain" and to look at your pain from an outside perspective.  It helps me endure it better.

The phrase (quote) to feel few needs (quote) reminds me of another stoic thought from Crates of Thebes.  He noted that there is a scale of "needs" in various people and then all the way to the gods. Some people, like children, have quite a lot of needs, but the gods need little.  The entire quote from Crates goes like this (you can read this entire thought here):

practice being in need of only a few things, for this is the closest thing to god. for the gods need nothing.  but, so that you may learn more exactly what is involved in having few needs ... reflect that children have more needs than adults, women than men, invalids than the healthy, and, in general, the inferior everywhere has more needs than the superior. therefore the gods have need of nothing and those nearest to them have the fewest needs.

Next, Marcus learned from his tutor to work with his hands. This part of the passage means a few practical things to me, such as to clean up after yourself, to do yard work, and appreciate and embrace physical labor.  At the very least, this will help you appreciate a career.

His tutor also teaches him to mind his own business. This could mean one of two things.  It could mean to "manage your own business or try to do as much for yourself as you can" or it could mean the traditional sense of not being nosy.  In either case, it is sound advice.

Lastly, Marcus admires the admonition of being deaf to malicious gossip. We do not have control over what others think or say.  So-and-so has said this about you. That is all. Leave it at that.  Hold no ill will and simply seek the higher ground.