Don’t bolt from temptation, bolt the door to temptation
When a horse hears a sudden loud sound, like that of a gunshot or a thunderclap, it bolts from that sound. Struck with fear, it [...]
Fighting urges is like a timed arm wrestling match – if we just survive the present round, we will resume on neutral ground
Suppose we are playing an arm wrestling match with someone. If our opponent is much stronger than us, they will force our arm down. On [...]
To be caught unawares occasionally is condonable, to be caught unawares repeatedly is condemnable
Suppose a person who runs a ferryboat gets caught in a storm because they don’t know that the sea tends to be stormy in that [...]
Pleasure is too fragile a purpose to sustain us through life’s troubles
We all seek pleasure. Yet life can put us in such dilemmas and traumas that pleasure can become utterly unavailable. In such situations, if we [...]
Happiness is a state of being, not a status symbol
People often pretend to be happy. No matter how distressed they are, they plaster a smile on their face in front of others and say [...]
Friendly snakes are still snakes – beware of the snake-like senses
Suppose someone adopts a poisonous snake as a pet. Even if that snake appears friendly, it can still bite venomously at any moment. Snake-owners need [...]
Even when our eyes are full of tears, we can still choose to be all ears
Sometimes, life afflicts us so grievously that we feel broken, tearful and blinded by confusion and dejection. How can we move ahead when our vision [...]
Some limits restrict; some protect – knowing which limit does what is intelligence
When we are limited in any way, we often see that limitation as a restriction to our freedom. And yes, many limits do restrict. But [...]
A sight on a site can trigger a fire inside, watch what you watch
If we live in a house made of inflammable material, we will meticulously avoid throwing about a matchstick, lest it triggers a house-destroying fire. Actually, [...]
Careless contemplation turns tempting thoughts into time bombs
When a time bomb is placed somewhere, it may not even be noticed by anyone; it might seem just like any other innocuous object lying [...]
The mind is omnivorous – it devours whatever is present and feels pleasant
Omnivorous creatures are indiscriminate in their eating; they consume whatever is available and feels pleasurable. Our mind is omnivorous in the sensory stimuli it consumes. [...]
We are the makers of our destiny, but not the masters of our destiny
When we strive to achieve something challenging, we soon realize that the results don’t depend on us alone. For example, in cricket, our favorite team [...]
Keep the mind on one track, don’t keep a one track mind
To keep the mind on one track means to keep our attention focused on one overarching life-purpose, whatever distractions the world may present. Those with [...]
Intelligence means to know what to do when we don’t know what to do
Whenever we have to make decisions, we usually seek guidance from our intelligence. But life sometimes puts us in perplexing situations wherein our intelligence becomes [...]
Stop worrying about avoiding temptation, start working on cultivating absorption
When we resolve to resist some harmful temptation, we may fear, “The world is filled with tempting objects. How can I avoid all those objects [...]
Seek first to understand the question to best understand the answer
Seek first to understand the question to best understand the answer Suppose we hear a discussion between a teacher and a student. If that discussion [...]
If we think humbly, we won’t have to act dumbly
Suppose we are driving a car and come to an intersection. If we don’t know which way to turn, we would ask someone reliable for [...]
Gita 02.66 explained
In next verse Krishna says if we will not do this then what will happen BG 2.66 nasti buddhir ayuktasya na cayuktasya bhavana na cabhavayatah [...]
We can’t nourish our souls amidst people who are out to sell theirs
The word “soul” sometimes refers non-literally to the things that matter the most to us. Such a non-literal usage features in the phrase “to sell [...]
Resisting temptation while holding on to attachments is like fighting an enemy while staying shackled
Suppose a warrior has been shackled by their enemy. If they want to fight back, they need to first break free from the ropes. Otherwise, [...]
We may be infinite steps away from purity, but we just need to take one step now
If we have to walk on a long journey, thinking how far our destination is can discourage us. Instead, we can focus on doing what [...]