Rules free you to be you
Most reputed authors make a rule to write daily a certain minimum number of words, irrespective of how they feel or even how the words [...]
Detachment from results culminates in attachment to something bigger than results
Some people ask, “The Bhagavad-gita recommends detachment from the results of work. But how can we work responsibly if we don’t care for the results?” [...]
Don’t resolve what you will not fall for – resolve what you will stand for
When we succumb to a temptation, we may resolve, “Never again will I fall for that temptation.” While such a resolve is well-intentioned, it is [...]
Our desires are not just linear, but also triangular
We usually think of our desires as linear, as connectors between us and our desired objects. The Bhagavad-gita (02.62) supports this linear view when it [...]
To make our mind grow up, we need to realize that we are grown-up
Suppose an adult were playing in the dirt with a child, doing whatever caught the child’s fancy. If occasional, such frivolous behavior might be funny; [...]
Performance matters, but performance is not all that matters
Sports players often have their pet superstitions. An Australian batsman would insist that all the pavilion commodes be covered whenever he went out to bat. [...]
Possibilities expand when we begin where we are instead of where we should be
Suppose we take a wrong turn and end up somewhere other than our destination. If we keep resenting, “Why am I here instead of where [...]
Let emotion inform, but not form, your decision
Our emotions are a big part of who we are, but they are not all of us. We are bigger than our present emotions, most [...]
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 [...]