Philosophy should expand our human sensitivity, not shrink it
In the Bhagavad-gita (02.11), Krishna chides Arjuna for lamenting the imminent death of his relatives in the impending war. Yet, when Arjuna’s son Abhimanyu was [...]
See the sufferings of the attached with compassion, not condescension
Some spiritualists equate spiritual advancement with apathy towards all human emotions. When they see others afflicted by emotions such as agony at the loss of loved [...]
The mind is a taskmaster, not a task manager
A task manager is a software program that enables computer users to monitor the processes at work on their device. A taskmaster, on the other [...]
The mind that is clean is serene
Our high-speed stress-filled urbanized culture makes peace of mind a wanted but elusive commodity. Many people think that going to a peaceful setting such as [...]
Conscientiously correct the mind’s incorrect auto-correct
Computer text editors have an auto-correct feature meant to rectify inadvertent typing errors. But sometimes, especially on encountering an unfamiliar word, the auto-correct does the [...]
When the mind cries wolf, know that the mind is the worst wolf
We know the story of the boy who cried wolf, misinforming villagers about a marauding wolf when actually there was no threat. The mind does [...]
The mind can defeat us in a battle, but we alone can defeat ourselves in the war
We grow internally by living with moral and spiritual integrity. Such principle-centered living necessitates an inner war against the mind which stubbornly sticks to its [...]
The mind is a tormentor, not a mentor
The mind often pretends to be our mentor. It constantly comments about what is happening, suggests what we should be doing and promises happiness if [...]
Focus not on the thoughts which are unworthy of us; focus on the thoughts for which we are unworthy
“What kind of person am I to have such debased thoughts?” We may feel thus when ugly thoughts enter our mind. Lest such feelings dishearten [...]
Spirituality is not about abandoning but about reclaiming
Some people fear: “Won’t practicing spiritual life require me to abandon my material things?” This fear stems from a fundamental misapprehension about what is actually [...]
To become devotionally responsive, become intellectually responsible
Responsive refers to those who respond and are capable of responding, whereas responsible refers to those who are ‘response + able’, able to choose an [...]
The yogi’s transcendence of scripture is not due to defiance or ignorance or negligence but due to scripture’s irrelevance
Just as we need a manual to best handle a technological device, we need a manual to best handle the ultimate cosmological device – the [...]
Those who take a strong stand internally stand strong externally
Two buildings may look equally firm, yet when a devastating storm comes, one crumbles, while the other stands strong. Why the difference? Because their foundations [...]
The mind makes us a stranger to ourselves
If we look in a mirror and find a stranger looking back at us, we will be disturbed. That’s what sometimes happens to us when [...]
The purpose of discipline is not to torture ourselves, but to transcend ourselves
The idea of discipline often evokes in us an inaudible sigh, if not an audible groan – it appears to be a deprivation, as a [...]
Be not self-conscious; be conscious of the self
The word ‘self-conscious’ refers to an excessive awareness of one’s appearance and actions. For example, when we give our first public speech, we may be [...]
Do not ensure heart breaks; insure against heart breaks
Where our heart is, that’s where we are. Usually, our heart is in material things; we long for them fervently. As all material things are [...]
Krishna is not just the object of meditation but also its objective
Object of meditation refers to the thing that we meditate on. Objective of meditation refers to the thing that we want to get by meditating. [...]
Cultivate compassion for the complete being of all living beings
“Aren’t spiritualists self-centered, being concerned only about their own liberation and not about the elevation of others?” Some people get this question when they see [...]
Illusion means that the content of our experience blinds us to its context
Sometimes we get so caught up in watching a movie that we forget where we are, even who we are. The content of our experience, [...]
Let’s not renew what we need to remove
The nature of the mind is to wander unsteadily and unstoppably. During its wandering it frequently goes to memories that are emotionally potent. These may [...]