What a Chariot Taught a King About Life
A long time ago in ancient India, a Greek king named Milinda (Menander I) ruled over a vast territory. Curious about philosophy and the nature of the self, he summoned a wise monk named Nagasena for a debate.
Upon meeting, King Milinda asked, “What is your name, venerable sir?”
Nagasena replied, “I am called Nagasena, but it is only a name, a designation, a label. There is no permanent person or self behind it.”
The king was puzzled. “If there is no person, who is it that speaks with me? Who keeps the precepts and practices meditation? Who ordains as a monk?”
In response, Nagasena asked, “Did you come here by chariot?”
“Yes,” said the king.
“Then tell me, Your Majesty—what is the chariot? Is it the wheels? The axle? The yoke? The reins? The seat?”
“No,” the king answered, “the chariot is none of those parts alone.”
“Exactly,” said Nagasena. “The chariot is merely a convenient designation for the collection of parts assembled in a particular way. In the same way, what we call ‘Nagasena’ is just a name for a collection of body parts, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. There is no permanent, unchanging self to be found.”
In that moment, King Milinda realized the profound truth of dependent origination and the absence of any fixed self.
The Teaching That Inspires Our Path
Nagasena explained that just as a chariot is not a single part, but a collection of components working together, so too is a person—not a fixed identity, but a dynamic coming together of body, mind, and experience. What we call “self” is simply a useful label for a shifting process.
This timeless teaching is the inspiration behind Nagasena’s Chariot. Our organization, like the chariot, is not defined by any one person, project, or place. It is a living vehicle assembled from many parts—practitioners, caregivers, volunteers, teachers, and seekers—all moving forward together with purpose and compassion.
We offer spiritual care, end-of-life support, and contemplative resources that honor life’s impermanence and the beauty of our interconnection. And just as a chariot only rolls when all its parts move in harmony, Nagasena’s Chariot is powered by our shared intention—to relieve suffering, nurture wisdom, and walk the path of awakening together.
A Sacred Bridge Between Life and Death
Nagasena's Chariot
At Nagasena’s Chariot, we believe that every person deserves to be seen, heard, and spiritually supported as they approach the end of life. Our nonprofit organization was founded with one clear purpose: to ensure that no one dies or grieves alone.
Honoring Life, Easing Transitions
Spiritual Care
Inspired by inter-spirituality chaplaincy, we provide presence-based care that transcends religion, status, and clinical systems. We serve individuals and families facing death, loss, or existential uncertainty—especially those who have been marginalized or spiritually underserved.
Walking Beside You Through Life’s Hardest Moments
Companionship for Life
Whether someone is navigating a terminal diagnosis, grieving the loss of a loved one, or exploring the deeper questions of mortality, we offer companionship rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and deep listening.
Our Origins
When Support Is Missing, We Step In
Why We Exist
Nagasena’s Chariot was born from a growing need: in today’s healthcare systems, spiritual care is often fragmented, inaccessible, or absent altogether. Hospice chaplains are overstretched. Families are overwhelmed. Many people die alone, without rituals or emotional support.
The Vision Behind Nagasena’s Chariot
Our Story Begins
Our founder, a Buddhist chaplain trained in trauma-informed care, envisioned something different—a model of end-of-life care grounded in ancient wisdom and modern compassion. With the help of volunteers, advisors, and community partners, Nagasena’s Chariot began serving individuals across Longmont, Metro Denver, and the Front Range in 2025.
Our Values
- Presence over prescription: We don’t fix — we accompany.
- Spiritual care, not religious conformity: We honor all traditions and none.
- Ethical integrity: Especially in our use of plant-based medicine, we are guided by harm reduction, legal compliance, and sacred responsibility..
- Mutuality and compassion: We see every life as worthy of reverence and every death as worthy of dignity..
- We are not a clinic, a hospital, or a hospice. We are a companion. A guide. A chariot.
Guiding Life’s Final Journey
Nagasena’s Chariot exists to carry you — or your loved one — with care and honor through life’s final passage.