Steven Monahan

Know thou the self and soul (ātman) as riding in a chariot. Imagine your body as the chariot. Know yourself as the intellect, the chariot-driver, And the mind (manas) as the reins.

The senses (indriya), they say, are horses; The objects of sense, what they range over. The self-combined with senses and mind Wise men call ‘the enjoyer’ (bhoktr).

He who has not understanding (a-vijñāna), Whose mind is not constantly held firm— His senses are uncontrolled, Like the vicious horses of a chariot-driver.

One however, who has understanding, Whose mind is constantly held firm— His senses are under control, Like the good and strong horses of a chariot-driver. Intelligent control of the soul’s chariot needed to arrive beyond harm.

One, however, who has not understanding, Who is unmindful and ever asleep at the reins reaches not the goal. 

One however, who has understanding, Who is mindful and ever pure, reaches the goal from one which is born no more.

One who controls his mind like a skilled charioteer attains the highest realm.  

The order of progression to the supreme Person
Higher than the senses are the objects of sense. Higher than the objects of sense is the mind (manas); And higher than the mind is the intellect (buddhi). Higher than the intellect is the Great Self (Atman).

Higher than the Great is the Unmanifest (avyakta). Higher than the Unmanifest is the divine. Higher than the divine there is nothing at all. That is the goal. That is the highest course.

Though hidden in all things, the highest self-shines not forth, but seen only by subtle seers of superior, subtle wisdom and soul.

An intelligent one should suppress their speech and spinning mind  
The understanding One should suppress in the Great Self [=buddhi, intellect].

That One should suppress in the Tranquil Self is the way of liberation from ignorance and eternal death. Arise! Obtain your gifts, understand and share them with all !

 Four years ago while sitting at my desk reviewing the speakers I would finalize for my TEDx Talks Event as a TEDx Licensee and organizer, my life ended.

I had a severe left brain stroke that destroyed most of my left brain. My left brain went still and quiet, but right brain immediately opened and I was alive again, but now a totally different being. 

As they say when one door closes, another door opens .

A Soul Awakens. As I sit here reflecting on the wonder of life I am reminded of how reason logic and words have shaped my journey—how they have both abandoned me and returned to me with renewed purpose. Four years ago, my life changed forever. I experienced a shift of Consciousness that would redefine my understanding of human and divine communication and connection.

It began with a strange sensation coursing through my brain. Moments later, I found myself unable to speak. My world shifted in an instant as I uttered one solitary word: "hospital." Over the next three months, I suffered two more strokes that left me speechless, partially blind in one eye, and struggling to walk straight.

In silence deep, a truth unfolds—

A language is lost but still it holds.

The heart speaks loudly when lips grow still;

Connection blooms through quiet will.

Vulnerability and Connection. In those silent days, I learned the true weight of words—not just their absence but their essence as bridges to others. Vulnerability became my teacher. It courage to expose our inner world to others, yet it is in these moments that true connection is forged.

I recall the desperation of being unable to express myself—the yearning for even one word to escape my lips—and the profound relief when speech started to return. I still struggle to say words. I see them, and remember them, but just see them pass by. This journey taught me that every word carries meaning; every conversation is an opportunity for connection.

In this new consciousness I was drawn to meditation. From that I was led further to the teachings of the Ancients of life, and have become a Buddhist yogi, and still a Christian as well. I learned the truths of all religions are the same and although all lead us via different paths to different doors, to the same One Divine Creator.

The creative power of words and faith.In ancient India, Greece, and Rome words were revered as tools of democracy and unity. Oratory was not merely an art; it was the lifeblood of civic engagement. Great thinkers like Demosthenes and Pericles wielded language to inspire action and bridge divides within their communities. Their legacy reminds us that effective communication is a timeless force capable of shaping societies.

The Challenges of Modern Communication. Today’s world poses new challenges for communication. Technology has given us unprecedented reach but often at the expense of depth and intimacy. Digital platforms encourage brevity over substance, leading to misunderstandings and polarization—a far cry from the meaningful dialogue practiced by ancient sages.

My Journey Home. Three years after my strokes, I live mostly in my right brain state of consciousness where intuition guides each moment and peace is ever-present. This shift has taught me that we are all capable of living seamlessly connected to divine power, the creative force behind all life.

Eckhart Tolle said "We must die before we die" to awaken fully into life's wonder. My strokes were my awakening—a death of the human ego-driven existence that gave birth to a higher consciousness rooted in awe and unity with The Word. The Word is not just language; it is creation itself—the eternal force that binds us all.

                                                  Stephen Charles Michael Monahan