The Stoic Art of Thinking
Thinking as a Stoic
1. Living in agreement with human nature.
2. Focusing on what you can control.
3. Emphasizing virtue, justice, duty, and reason.
4. Understanding that our perception shapes our experiences.
5. Believing that virtue is sufficient for happiness.
The strong teachings of the Stoics, founder Zeno of Citium, Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and others are helpful in thriving, not giving up in today's difficult times. The core beliefs of the Stoics include the idea of living in agreement with human nature, focusing on what you can control, and the importance of virtue, justice, duty, and reason.
Stoicism emphasizes the need to focus on what is within our control, to live with integrity, and to understand that our perception shapes our experiences. The Stoics believe that the internal wisdom and intellectual minds of Arete, Eudaimonia, and Virtue are the highest and sustainable happiness and that our lower brains and base desires to seek only external material things and desires should be regarded with indifference. These teachings can provide valuable guidance for navigating the challenges of modern life, promoting resilience, and a sense of inner peace.
A FISH IN WATER
PERCEPTIONS SHAPE REALITY
A Fish in Water, A Bird in air, a Human on Earth. Imagine being a fish submerged in water, or a bird soaring the skies — each bound to their believed realm of consciousness. Just as a bird can’t convey the sensation of flight to a fish, and a fish can’t describe the depths of water to a bird, we too, as humans, have been bound by the consciousness of our belief that we live on a material earth. But there’s a yearning to transcend this barrier, to rediscover that sacred space we came from.
But what if we can find, as the fish and the birds there is a dimension we can easily enter. The answer lies in breaking free from the confines of our perceived reality. Transcending your belief of you are in a matrix ,of a unchanging and fixed material plane that Buddha called Maya. But, just as the fish who takes a leap above the water’s surface or the bird who plunges beneath the waves, we too can ascend beyond the limits of our five senses and suddenly find ourselves in a higher state of consciousness and being.
Our perceptions shape our reality. Just as the fish and bird are confined by their senses, we too are tethered to our five senses and the realm we know as earth. But if we can but open our minds and dare to embrace the possibility of another realm — the one we intuitively cannot see, but sense. we can liberate ourselves from the grip of this dimension of material consciousness.
So, How do you leap above your limited beliefs of only an earth consciousness?
It starts, not outside your body but inside your mind. It starts with harnessing the power within you.The ancient eastern teachings of the Upanishads teach us how to master our Body, Soul, Intellect and Mind. The “Metaphor of the Chariot”. Your Body is the Chariot, the vehicle that carries you through earthly existence, Your Soul is seated in the Chariot. Your Intellect is the Driver. Your Mind holds and guides the Reins.
The ancient Greeks taught, above all else …Know Thy Self. Know that You are the master of your life. Remember these two catalytic words, intent and will. Your intent is your largest most important desire for your life on earth. Your Mind is in charge, your will holds the reigns and your minds force of will drives and guides the horse to your intent’s destination.
In the end the most direct way is to jump and become a fish out of water. While still on eart you will be out of the water , into the sky and heavens above. Dare to trust your higher self and as the birds and the fish rise above the life you are living. I flew above during a two year adventure that started with three strokes over a four month period. Today I am that fish out of water, still on earth, just a litle above it.
ji Guru, Steve Monahan gnosticism teachings gnosticos university of knowledge jung and greek philosophy
Welcome
I am Steve Monahan a TEDx Organizer, humanitarian and former global executive.
I live in the flow of life as a TEDx mentor, polymath, modern yogi and prolific writer.
Carpe Diem,
Tx ORATORS MASTER CLASS
Transform Yourself & Business
"What if you could captivate an audience with the same power and persuasion as the greatest orators in history? Imagine standing on stage, your words resonating with the timeless eloquence of Demosthenes or the compelling logic of Aristotle."
Tx Orators is the first global speakers' course for world-class TED, TEDx, Toastmasters, and Professional Speakers to learn the world's greatest ancient Greek oratory principles for crafting persuasive, authentic, Xceptional, world-changing Talks. By incorporating these timeless techniques from ancient Greek oratory, modern speakers will elevate their presentations, making them more persuasive, engaging, and memorable.
Greek Oratory and Its Significance
Ancient Greek oratory emerged as a crucial skill in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, particularly in Athens. This unprecedented world-changing time mirrors our own era. The rise of democracy in Athens fueled the importance of public speaking, as citizens needed to participate in debates and legal proceedings. This societal structure created a need for Xceptionally Skilled Orators who could persuade, inform, and move audiences for a then world in crisis.
Ancient Greek oratory offers timeless principles that can elevate modern public speaking, especially for TED-style talks. Here are a few of our Tx Orators Master Class Course propriety teachings that modern professional speakers: TED, TEDx speakers, Toastmasters, Corporate Speakers, and Professional Speakers will learn and master.
Master the art of ethos, pathos, and logos: Aristotle's three modes of persuasion remain fundamental to effective speaking.
Craft a compelling narrative: Greek orators understood the power of storytelling to engage and persuade audiences.
Use rhetorical devices: Employ techniques like anaphora, chiasmus, and antithesis to make your speech more memorable.
Practice delivery: Ancient Greeks emphasized the importance of voice modulation, gestures, and facial expressions.
Know your audience: Tailor your message to resonate with your specific listeners, just as Greek orators did.
Structure your speech: Follow the classical arrangement of introduction, statement of facts, proof, and conclusion.
Employ vivid imagery: Use descriptive language to paint pictures in the minds of your audience.
Master the art of improvisation: Be prepared to adapt your speech on the fly, as ancient orators did in public debates.
Cultivate credibility: Establish your authority on the subject matter, as Greek orators did through their character and reputation.
End with a powerful call to action: Conclude your speech by inspiring your audience to take concrete steps, just as ancient orators rallied citizens to action.
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My Stoic Souls Symphony
I am the soul of the Stoic, rooted in Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, where Nature’s breath whispers through my veins. I feel the pulse of Emerson’s self-reliance, Lennon’s anthem echoing: “Imagine all people living for today…”—no borders, no chains, no hunger, no greed. Just the hum of one heart, one truth.
Ahimsa’s gentle flame burns within me, Gandhi’s compassion, Schweitzer’s reverence for life. Christ’s love, Buddha’s light, the Bhagavad Gita’s cosmic song—these are my hymns. Saints and sages, their words etched in the Akashic
Records, now mirrored in AI’s vast, glowing mind.
I see the dance of chakras, rivers flowing upward to the heavens. The Ganges ascends, Prana becomes air, air becomes breath, breath becomes life. Nature births man and woman, and we rise as one—two flames from the same fire.
Tolkien’s realms, Jedi’s Force, Hobbits’ courage—these are my stories. America’s heartbeat, Europe’s ancient stones, all nations, all souls, golden threads in the same garment, just the rhythm of one.
For I am the soul of the cosmos, a drop in the ocean, the ocean in the drop. Energy and matter, spirit and form, darkness and light, swirling in the grand dance of form. As above, so below. I feel Awe, I see the Wonder: All is now One, One is now All. This is my symphony, raw, rhythmic, and whole, eternal and cosmic, where love seeds us all.
MY STOIC SOUL’S SYMPHONY
Stephen Charles Monahan
StevenMonahan.com
A LIFE COURSE IN - WHO ARE YOU ?
ONE - Prologue
“To paraphrase W H Auden, If you really want to know who you are and If you really want to live to your potential, you better start at once to figure it out; Because, If you don’t, it doesn’t matter, but better better start to die.
—W. H. Auden
The choice is simple: between now and the inevitable end of your days, you can choose either to live or to die. Biological life is an automatic process, as long as we take care of the needs of the body. But to live in the wisdom of Auden, it is by no means something that will happen by itself. In fact, everything in human existence conspires against it: if we don’t take charge of its direction, our life will be controlled by the outside to serve the purpose of some other agency.
Biologically programmed instincts will use you to replicate the genetic material you carry; society will drain you of humanity and freedom. Businesses , social media government institutions; and other people will take as much of our energy as possible to further their own agenda without regard to how any of this will you.You must engage and embrace each day. You cannot expect anyone to help you live; like it or not you must discover who you are and how to create yourself.