​Our car runs on fuel, our phone runs on battery, our body runs on food. What do we run on? Our thoughts. 

When our thought-energy decreases, we see the negative in everything: we become fretful about the past, resentful about the present and fearful about the future. When our thought-energy increases, we see the positive in everything: we become grateful about the past, resourceful about the present and hopeful about the future. 

That’s why we need to boost our thoughts regularly. We seek the best food for our body, the best charger for our phone, the best fuel for our car. Why not seek the best thoughts for ourselves? To get energy for our cars, phones and bodies, we need to pay money. In contrast, we don’t need to pay money to get good thoughts; we just need to spend some time to access wisdom-texts like the Bhagavad-gita that are reservoirs of powerful thoughts. 

The Mahabharata war’s starting demonstrates the necessity of thought-energy and the potency of the Gita to provide such energy. Arjuna was a peerless archer about to fight the biggest war of his life. Yet an ethical dilemma sent his thoughts haywire till he ended up demoralized and paralyzed. He put aside his bow, signifying his unwillingness to fight (Gita 01.46). Yet on hearing the Gita, he became so energized as to answer the call of duty, however demanding (18.73) — he picked up his bow, ready to fight (18.73).

Our thought-energy gets boosted best when we access thoughts that help us formulate a meaningful understanding of our place and purpose in the world. The Gita, being the basis of a magnificent spiritual worldview, is a reservoir of thoughts that lead to enduring and empowering self-understanding. 

One-sentence summary: 

Increase our thought-energy by regularly studying thought-boosters like the Bhagavad-gita. 

Think it over:

  • How does the increase or decrease of our thought-energy affect us?
  • How can we increase our thought-energy?
  • How does the Gita help us boost our thoughts? 

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18.73: Arjuna said: My dear Krishna, O infallible one, my illusion is now gone. I have regained my memory by Your mercy. I am now firm and free from doubt and am prepared to act according to Your instructions.

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