Fostering a healthy relationship between our higher and lower selves
Suppose a parent and child were walking together, and the child slipped and fell. Naturally, the parent would help the child up and encourage [...]
Balancing fear and hope in our relationship with ourselves
When considering our relationship with ourselves, it’s essential to recognize both our potential for great positive change and our capacity for self-sabotage. While no [...]
Cultivating a healthy relationship with ourselves
We often emphasize the importance of healthy relationships with others, but even more crucial is having a healthy relationship with ourselves. In a healthy relationship, [...]
How to use the mind’s weapons against the mind
How to use the mind's weapons against the mind Deal with the mind using the same three weapons that it uses to deal with us: [...]
A Moment of Thought to Evaluate the Thought of the Moment
We are constantly filled with thoughts, many of which pop up and then disappear without us paying much attention. This in itself is not a [...]
Two steps to stop feeling sorry for ourselves
Wherever we go, we will be carrying our sorry self with us; stop feeling sorry for ourselves, and stop being the kind of person that [...]
The mind’s DIE – distraction, invention, exaggeration
Just because the mind's tendency for distraction, invention, or exaggeration does not die, does not mean that our tendency to trust the mind cannot die. [...]
Unmanageable Emotions and Temptation: Seeking Relief Through Indulgence
Our vulnerability to temptation comes not just from unmanageable desires but also from unmanaged emotions. Whenever we succumb to temptation, we tend to think that [...]
The mind is to be parented not terminated
The Bhagavad Gita states that the greatest problem with focusing our mind is that it presently acts as our enemy. Interestingly, the Gita does not [...]
Change the question we ask ourselves
Whenever we are strongly attached to something and we keep doing that thing, even though we have decided we won't do it, frequently we ask [...]
How the mind is not like a computer
The mind is like a computer in the sense that just as a computer operates based on its programming, the mind operates based on its [...]
How the mind is like a computer
The mind is often very mysterious to understand. One way to understand it is by comparing it to a computer. Just as a computer operates [...]
When losing peace of mind is good
Lessons that disturbed our peace of mind may well take us toward peace of the heart. Sometimes, we may value peace to such an extent [...]
Unnecessary inner baggage
What some people considered to be essential luggage, others considered to be dispensable baggage. When we are traveling, we often pack a lot of things [...]
Seeing encouragement amid discouragement
The insecure mind sees discouragement even amid encouragement; The secure mind sees encouragement even amid discouragement. Life is always a mixed bag. Some things in [...]
What our mind thinks we need
What our mind thinks we need often takes us away from what we actually need. Whenever we feel down or distressed, our mind often tells [...]
Purification is inner empowerment
We may think of purification to be something religious or sacred and not very relevant in our daily lives. However, purification empowers us internally. When [...]
Unsustainable and sustainable approaches to purification
When we try to purify ourselves, we soon become acutely aware that there are two parts within us: one part of us — our higher [...]
When the mind repeats things we don’t want to repeat …
Suppose we try to give up an unwanted habit to indulge in some unhealthy pleasure. Unfortunately, we are often undermined and even sabotaged by the [...]
Two functions of the mind – and its two malfunctions
There is much mystery associated with the mind: what it exactly is and what it exactly does. The Bhagavad-gita's teachings offer us a three-level model [...]
Two steps to develop inner accountability
When we strive for inner change through purification, it can be a long and laborious journey with many twists, turns, and even u-turns. Sometimes negative [...]