Desires go away not by gratification or repression but by purification
Desires that we know are undesirable sometimes impel us. If repeatedly impelled, we may feel, “Let me just indulge and get it over with. At [...]
The value of what we drive doesn’t matter as much as the values that drive us
We live in a materialistic culture that determines our stature by externals such as the cars we drive, the clothes we wear and the phones [...]
The Gita’s concluding prophecy answers its starting enquiry
Great books often feature between their start and end a symmetry, a circularity that brings a fulfilling sense of completeness and elegance. The Bhagavad-gita too [...]
Momentum manifests by movement from moment to moment
An obstacle that blocks a truck can be broken through if the truck acquires adequate momentum. Similarly, the conditionings that block our self-transformation can be [...]
Know when to doubt and when to give the benefit of doubt
In cricket, suppose an appeal is made against a batsman, but the umpires can’t see clearly whether the batsman is out or not. Then, they [...]
When God wants to speak to you, don’t let your mind give him the busy signal
Suppose we have fixed a phone appointment with an important mentor. When they call at the scheduled time, suppose our aide tells them we are [...]
Whatever doesn’t challenge us doesn’t change us
Suppose a person can lift 20 kg, but they go to a gym and lift 5 kg. Such weight lifting won’t strengthen them. To become [...]
To have our needs met by being unhappy is unhealthy
Children who have neglectful parents may find that their parents’ give them attention only when they cry. Damaged by such parental neglect, they may develop [...]
Change of inclination requires not just resolution but also reconstruction
Our mind is inclined towards certain things: some good, some bad. We often resolve to overcome our unworthy inclinations, yet we succumb to them. To [...]