Help me see my part in my achievements holistically, not fragmentally
Bhagavad Gita 18.14 adhiṣṭhānaṁ tathā kartā karaṇaṁ ca pṛthag-vidham vividhāś ca pṛthak ceṣṭā daivaṁ caivātra pañcamam The environment, the soul, the senses with talent, [...]
Help me focus on my kama (desires), not on my karma (the factors that bring results)
Bhagavad Gita 18.12 aniṣṭam iṣṭaṁ miśraṁ ca tri-vidhaṁ karmaṇaḥ phalam bhavaty atyāgināṁ pretya na tu sannyāsināṁ kvacit Unwanted, wanted, mixed—results arise, Threefold fruits of [...]
Help me see my capacity for activity as a blessing to be cherished, not a burden to be cast away
Bhagavad Gita 18.11 na hi deha-bhṛtā śakyaṁ tyaktuṁ karmāṇy aśeṣataḥ yas tu karma-phala-tyāgī sa tyāgīty abhidhīyate Impossible it is to cease all action, While [...]
Let me realize you as the foundation and the fulfillment of my renunciation
Bhagavad Gita 18.10 na dveṣṭy akuśalaṁ karma kuśale nānuṣajjate tyāgī sattva-samāviṣṭo medhāvī chinna-saṁśayaḥ Neither hating what feels unpleasant, Nor clinging to what seems pleasant; [...]
Raise me to real renunciation by making me thoughtful and dutiful
Bhagavad Gita 18.9 kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate ’rjuna saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ “This is my duty,” one [...]
The world of matter is not the world that truly matters
Bhagavad Gita 18.8 duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet sa kṛtvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet “This work is painful,” so they say, [...]
Let my renunciation aid my devotion, not mask my aversion
Bhagavad Gita 18.7 niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate mohāt tasya parityāgas tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ Duty’s work should not be cast aside. Renouncing it due to [...]
Let my externals reinforce my internals, not replace them
Bhagavad Gita 18.2 kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ prāhus tyāgaṁ vicakṣaṇāḥ Renouncing acts born of selfish desire, The wise call sannyāsa—life directed [...]
Help me recognize and realize the power of my words
Bhagavad Gita 17.15 anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ ca yat svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa ucyate Words that cause no fear or distress, Truthful, kind, and [...]
Help me take mental discipline as seriously as physical discipline
Bhagavad Gita 17.16 manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate Calmness of mind and gentle grace, Silence and self-restraint in place; [...]
May austerity make my body a better vessel and vehicle for my soul
Bhagavad Gita 17.14 deva-dvija-guru-prājña- pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca] śārīraṁ tapa ucyate Worship of devas, sages, teachers and the wise, Cleanliness, honesty—virtues to help [...]
Differences of opinion: Causes and their impact on relationships (AAA framework: availability ability authenticity)
Differences of opinion: Causes and their impact on relationships Differences of opinion are an inevitable aspect of any relationship. However, whether such differences lead to [...]
Three ways our mind sabotages us: vision, vigor and values
The mind as a spy: How it sabotages us The mind is frequently described as an enemy in wisdom texts like the Bhagavad Gita. Yet, [...]
Maturity in devotion: from certainty to curiosity
Maturity in devotion frees us from the compulsive need for certainty and fills us with the enriching openness of curiosity. When we start our spiritual [...]
Does free entertainment come with no strings attached?
“No strings attached” is an assurance often given when someone offers a favor or gift. While such promises may sound appealing, they rarely hold true. [...]
How to maintain humility when we have extraordinary ability
If we are gifted in any particular area, especially to an extraordinary degree, it can be easy to become proud. Such pride often leads to [...]
Three ways devotion causes disruption instead of contribution
Devotion is meant to bring about positive and powerful change, both internally within individuals and externally within society. However, devotion can sometimes have the opposite [...]
The mind’s two-step trap to encage us
Engage the mind or it will engage and enrage and encage us. Our mind is constantly active, always looking for something interesting or pleasurable. Restless [...]
Help me see how my faith is a matter of fate—and how it is not
Bhagavad Gita 17.3 sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata śraddhā-mayo ’yaṁ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ Faith shapes each being from within, According to [...]
Help me deal with differences of faith without sentimentality, yet with sensitivity
Bhagavad Gita 17.2 tri-vidhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu Threefold is faith in every soul, Born of [...]
Help me see how the impulsive path is implosive
Bhagavad Gita 16.23 yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim Rejecting guidance the scriptures give, And acting [...]