Don’t stay crying in the night – start crying for the light
A child lost in a strange dark place may start crying helplessly, but an adult similarly lost will instead of collapsing into tears look for [...]
Focus not on avoiding entanglement – focus on seeking engagement
When a person is traveling on a boat, they need to be aware of the dangers, but they needn’t become paranoid – otherwise, they will [...]
Gradual destruction is as destructive as sudden destruction
When sudden, huge destruction occurs because of, say, an earthquake, we are jolted out of our routine complacency. Being confronted with the brittleness of our [...]
Purity is the key to freedom from misery
Suppose an alcoholic has become sick because of excessive alcohol indulgence. While the disease is a danger that needs treatment, an equal, if not greater, [...]
The ego’s default defensiveness doesn’t protect us – it protects the misconceptions that limit us
When someone points out our faults, our ego often makes us respond defensively and deny those faults. Defending is a natural survival instinct – if [...]
Resentment of reality can hurt more than reality
Suppose we plan to go for a picnic, but suddenly get fever and have to abandon our plan. And we lie on a bed resenting [...]
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 [...]
Place yourself in the gravity pull of Krishna, not of sense objects
If an asteroid comes within the gravity pull of a planet, it is dragged down to that planet. Similarly, during our life-journey, the gravity pull [...]
Determination means to subordinate pleasure to purpose
We sometimes think of determination as a special gift that some people have and some don’t. And when the mind is faced with the prospect [...]
Admitting our weaknesses doesn’t make us weak – acquiescing to them does
Suppose a patient goes to a doctor and admits having some symptoms that correspond to a terrible disease. The admission doesn’t make the patient sick [...]
The best way to deal with temptation is to not deal with it
Temptation is unavoidable as long as we exist in material existence, just as salespeople are unavoidable when we live in a commercialized economy. When [...]
Let the storms of life sweep away the debris around the soul
When a storm hits, it can reduce things to debris but it can also sweep away debris. Similarly, when storm-like problems hit us, we may [...]
Tolerance means to call off our war with reality
Tolerance is sometimes equated with weakness and passivity. But it is actually the basis for strength and dynamism. Tolerance essentially means that when faced with [...]
All noes are not created equal
We often instinctively resent whenever we are told no to something that we wish to do. Such resentment is understandable because we equate the no [...]
Don’t let persistence of vision cause persistence of illusion
Persistence of vision refers to the erroneous perception caused by the eye’s inability to perceive change occurring at a high speed. For example, if someone [...]
Yesterday’s victory doesn’t protect us today
In a series of matches, a team may have won a match yesterday, but that victory doesn’t guarantee victory today. True, the previous win can [...]
Suffering defines the human condition, but the human condition doesn’t define us
Suffering is an undeniable reality of the human condition, as the daily news of death and disease and destruction demonstrate. And these are just the [...]
See the “Yes” in the “No” to a “No”
Suppose a person driving on a road comes to a sign, “Road closed – take alternative route” with a pointer to that route. Those who [...]
Ask the question that underlies all questions
Children who ask questions are frequently appreciated for their healthy curiosity. But given how many things there are to know in the world and how [...]
Out of sight is out of the mind provided the mind is out of it
“Out of sight is out of mind” is a common saying that embodies a sound principle for self-regulation. For example, if we are fasting and [...]
Accepting our powerlessness can be most empowering
When people fall sick, a lot of their misery comes from resenting their sickness, “Why am I suffering when everyone else is enjoying?” Such resenting [...]