These days quick-fix solutions promise to transform us with little effort. It makes us to easily forget that change requires something more enduring and deeper. The pace of modern life has left us wanting instant pleasure. However, the timeless reflections of the past offer answer to lasting fulfillment. Instead of offering easy ways, ancient philosophy challenges us to reconsider everything that we think we know about living well, success and happiness.

Following five texts are not traditions of bygone eras. They are living documents that brim with wisdom – which speaks directly to the challenges and dilemmas of 2025. These works force us to engage in a more profound rethinking of our lives and move beyond surface-level solutions. The path they lit is not one of convenience and shortcuts, but rather of thoughtful action and radical self-examination.

Let us explore how these ancient texts can serve as a map to navigate modern existence complexities.

1. The Dhammapada

During constant search for something more in a world overwhelmed by consumerism and distractions, The Dhammapada offers a completely different approach to life. This collection of aphorisms, attributed to Buddha, helps us understand personal sufferings, emotions and the nature of the mind. It is believed to have been compiled around the 3rd century BCE. It has practical and profound teachings.

It starts with a realization, “All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.” Echoing modern cognitive psychology, the idea highlights the transformative power of our inner dialogue. We can transform our reality if we master our minds.

As technology pulls us further into an attention-deficit and fragmented world, The Dhammapada calls us to return to presence and mindfulness. With its teachings on right action, detachment and impermanence, the text offers a practical path to inner peace in a world filled with external noise.

2. The Enchiridion by Epictetus

Greek Stoic philosopher Epictetus offers a framework in Enchiridion to understand the nature of control in our lives. He teaches that our mind is the only thing that is truly within our control. His teaching contrasts the conventional self-help books that promise to change external circumstances.

His famous dictum – “it is not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters” – is beyond a mantra for positive thinking. It is a guide to freedom. Focusing on what we can control and let go the rest, he teaches us to navigate the uncertainties of life with equanimity. This ancient wisdom offers a revolutionary way to reclaim power over our internal world in the 21st century where external events seem to spiral beyond our grasp.

As we grapple with the stresses of an interconnected and fast-paced world, The Enchiridion provides an antidote to modern anxieties. It focuses on what we can control, starting with our actions, perceptions and thoughts.

3. The Nicomachean Ethics by Aristotle

Next in the line is Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics – which is not only a manual for virtue but an exploration of how to live a good life. Authored in the 4th century BCE, it remains one of the most profound works on the nature of happiness and human flourishing.

In this, Aristotle introduces the idea that true happiness comes from living virtuously and as per our highest potential.

His view of ethics is not about rigid rules; it is about cultivating good habits – which lead to moral excellence. He asks us to aim for the Golden Mean – the balance between excess and deficiency.

He suggests that living well is about conscious choice, self-reflection and moderation. In the age of social media status and productivity hacks, Aristotle’s ethics encourage us to slow down and reconsider what we are truly striving for.

As we face a world increasingly dominated by automation and technology, Nicomachean Ethics asks us to center our lives on virtue and not external success. It is a call to rethink what constitutes a meaningful life and how we might navigate a rapidly changing world with purpose and integrity.

4. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

What happens when an emperor becomes a philosopher? You get Meditations – a personal reflection of Marcus Aurelius that has been written during the height of his reign. It is often categorised as Stoic philosophy. Its power lies not in abstract concepts but in its raw honesty about human nature and the challenges of leadership.

Aurelius’s reflections reveal the strength found in accepting what we cannot control and focusing instead on what we can – our actions, attitudes and responses. He teaches us the art of inner resilience and discipline in a world where we are constantly bombarded with external demands and the pressure to react immediately.

His approach to personal mastery is not about perfecting ourselves, but about understanding and managing the forces within us.

At a time when external chaos and mental health struggles often feel overwhelming, Meditations offers a timeless method for cultivating peace of mind in the face of adversity.

By shifting our focus from external circumstances to internal attitudes, Aurelius’s insights provide a path to mental clarity and emotional stability.

5. The Art of War by Sun Tzu

Perhaps the most famous ancient text, the Art of War has evolved far beyond its original military context. Authored in the 5th century BCE, it was initially a manual for battlefield strategy. But today, it serves as a masterclass in human psychology, leadership and conflict resolution.

Sun Tzu’s advice on strategic thinking is more important than ever in a world increasingly defined by polarised opinions and immediate responses. The Art of War offers an insight when and how to avoid fighting and not how to fight.

“Winning without fighting” – the Sun Tzu’s principle – reveals the strategy of conflict. It suggests that defeating an opponent is true victory – which is about understanding the dynamics of any given situation and leveraging that understanding to shape outcomes without unnecessary confrontation.

As social media wars and digital debates rage, Sun Tzu offers a framework for navigating both internal and external conflicts with calm and deliberate strategy. This is not a guide to instant triumphs, but to intelligent and thoughtful engagement with the world.