Gita 02.44 explained
And after that Krishna describes give up that attachment. BG 2.44 bhogaisvarya-prasaktanam tayapahrita-cetasam vyavasayatmika buddhih samadhau na vidhiyate SYNONYMS bhoga -- to material enjoyment; aisvarya [...]
How our desires shape us far more than we realize — Desire management series 2
Suppose we are driving a car through dark, difficult, dangerous terrain. To drive safely, we need the car’s engine and front lights both to function [...]
The consequence of indulgence is not the only problem – the indulgence itself is
Some smokers hope, “We can smoke unlimitedly if medicine could find some way to prevent the harmful effects of smoking.” Fueled by such hopes, they [...]
The mind on auto-pilot leads us to destruction, not destination
When a plane is flying on course in the sky, it can be set on auto-pilot and it will cruise towards its destination – provided [...]
Our intelligence needs to be wakened, not weakened
If a guard is protecting a bank vulnerable to thieves, he needs to be vigilant. If he happens to be asleep when thieves attack, he [...]
Physical sensations cheat us of spiritual emotions
Suppose we are going to a place where a feast is on the menu, but someone takes us elsewhere, promising an even better feast. But [...]
Don’t hold on to the things that hold you back
If a person were bound by ropes and were struggling for freedom, we would expect them to break the ropes, not hold on to them. [...]
Hyper-stimulation leads to desensitization
Indulgence in porn has become rampant nowadays, largely because of unfiltered net access becoming widely available through portable, concealable gadgets such as smartphones. Sociological surveys [...]
Don’t let net surfing degenerate to suffering in the net
When we travel to an unfamiliar place, we are alert to dangers such as muggers. When we surf the net, our consciousness travels to whatever [...]
Materialism makes us spoiled children
When spoiled children get infatuated with a toy, they demand it from their parents. Even if they have been given many other things, they evaluate [...]
When spiritual life seems dry and tasteless….
As spiritual seekers, we sometimes go through dry phases when our devotional practices seem to give us no happiness. More often than not, the cause [...]
Don’t blunt the intelligence with indulgence; sharpen it with abstinence
Our intelligence is like a knife. It can cut through the surface appearance of things and see their deeper nature. Just as a knife with [...]
Illusion is the ultimate thief of not just our property but also our very identity
Suppose thieves steal all the property from their victims. Still, the victims can get relief by, say, withdrawing money from their bank by using their [...]
To put first things first, stop putting things first
“Put first things first” is a sensible self-help slogan that urges us to prioritize important things. It, however, leaves unanswered some key questions: What things [...]
Are riches cutting us off from the richness of life?
We all need money for living. But neither our culture externally nor our mind internally allows us to stay satisfied with earning for living. Both [...]
Are my attachments holding me or am I holding my attachments?
As aspiring devotees, we often find that our attachments abduct and drag our consciousness away from Krishna, as the Bhagavad-gita (2.44) outlines. Consequently, we may [...]
Endless nibbling at the tastes of this world dulls our taste for Krishna
All of us are innately pleasure-seeking. How we seek pleasure is largely shaped by our external culture. As our present culture constantly glamorizes material pleasures, [...]
Temptations in the consciousness are like dust in the carburetor
When dust enters into the carburetor of a finely tuned engine, the engine can no longer function optimally. Though the dust initially seems inconsequential, after [...]
Chemical highs cheat us of spiritual highs
All material pleasures are essentially chemical highs. Whenever we perceive any attractive objects with our senses, the corresponding sensory mechanisms secrete certain chemicals. This chemical [...]
How our freedom of thought is lost – and regained
The Bhagavad-gita (2.44) indicates that worldly attachments, especially attachments to sex and money, abduct our consciousness and sabotage our prospects for inner stability. Whenever we [...]