Be simple, not naive
Simplicity is often lauded as a virtue in spiritual traditions worldwide. Yet, simplicity is sometimes conflated with naivety, leading people to become uncritical, gullible, and [...]
How to see our pain positively
See whatever is lacking within us or whatever is hurting within us to be not so much broken as unfinished. During the course of life, [...]
What humility is and what it isn’t
Humility is meant to facilitate absorption in a higher reality, not abuse by a higher authority. Humility is a vital virtue, recommended by spiritual traditions [...]
Gita 06.28 – Explanation
Gita 06.28 – To get the best happiness, connect with God, not sense objects Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-28-to-get-the-best-happiness-connect-with-god-not-sense-objects/ yuñjann evaṁ sadātmānaṁ yogī vigata-kalmaṣaḥ sukhena brahma-saṁsparśam atyantaṁ [...]
Gita 06.27 – Explanation
Gita 06.27 – Joy is the natural fruit of purity Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-27-joy-is-the-natural-fruity-of-purity/ praśānta-manasaṁ hy enaṁ yoginaṁ sukham uttamam upaiti śānta-rajasaṁ brahma-bhūtam akalmaṣam (Bg 6.27) [...]
Gita 06.26 – Explanation
Gita 06.26 – Expect and correct the mind’s restlessness Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-26-expect-and-correct-the-minds-restlessness/ yato yato niścalati manaś cañcalam asthiram tatas tato niyamyaitad ātmany eva vaśaṁ nayet [...]
Gita 06.25 – Explanation
Gita 06.25 – Don’t expect overnight change – determinedly make gradual changes Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-25-dont-expect-overnight-change-determinedly-make-gradual-changes/ śanaiḥ śanair uparamed buddhyā dhṛti-gṛhītayā ātma-saṁsthaṁ manaḥ kṛtvā na kiñcid [...]
Gita 06.24 – Explanation
Gita 06.24 – Determination means rejection of dejection Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-24-determination-means-rejection-of-dejection/ sa niścayena yoktavyo yogo ’nirviṇṇa-cetasā saṅkalpa-prabhavān kāmāṁs tyaktvā sarvān aśeṣataḥ manasaivendriya-grāmaṁ viniyamya samantataḥ (Bg [...]
Gita 06.22 – Explanation
Gita 06.22 – Seek the achievement beyond hankering and lamentation Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-22-seek-the-achievement-beyond-hankering-and-lamentation/ yaṁ labdhvā cāparaṁ lābhaṁ manyate nādhikaṁ tataḥ yasmin sthito na duḥkhena guruṇāpi [...]
Gita 06.23 – Explanation
Gita 06.23 – Yoga brings disconnection from our infatuation with misery Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-23-yoga-brings-disconnection-from-our-infatuation-with-misery/ taṁ vidyād duḥkha-saṁyoga- viyogaṁ yoga-saṁjñitam Word-for-word: tam — that; vidyāt — [...]
Gita 06.21 – Explanation
Gita 06.21 – The intelligence opens the door to trans-sensory happiness Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-21-the-intelligence-opens-the-door-to-trans-sensory-happiness/ sukham ātyantikaṁ yat tad buddhi-grāhyam atīndriyam vetti yatra na caivāyaṁ sthitaś [...]
Gita 06.20 – Explanation
Gita 06.20 – Stop outer obsession to begin inner perception Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-20-stop-outer-obsession-to-begin-inner-perception/ yatroparamate cittaṁ niruddhaṁ yoga-sevayā yatra caivātmanātmānaṁ paśyann ātmani tuṣyati (Bg 6.20) Word-for-word: [...]
Gita 06.19 – Explanation
Gita 06.19 – Minimize the wind of disturbing desires to maximize the flame of meditation Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-19-minimize-the-wind-of-disturbing-desires-to-maximize-the-flame-of-meditation/ yathā dīpo nivāta-stho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā yogino [...]
Gita 06.18 – Explanation
Gita 06.18 – Self-control leads to real self-awareness Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-18-self-control-leads-to-real-self-awareness/ yadā viniyataṁ cittam ātmany evāvatiṣṭhate nispṛhaḥ sarva-kāmebhyo yukta ity ucyate tadā (Bg 6.18) Word-for-word: [...]
Gita 06.17 – Explanation
Gita 06.17 – Material regulation cataylzes yogic liberation Audio Link: https://www.thespiritualscientist.com/gita-06-17-material-regulation-cataylzes-yogic-liberation/ yuktāhāra-vihārasya yukta-ceṣṭasya karmasu yukta-svapnāvabodhasya yogo bhavati duḥkha-hā (Bg 6.17) Word-for-word: yukta — regulated; āhāra [...]
Raise my love to you, O Lord most lovable
Bhagavad Gita 9.3 aśraddadhānāḥ puruṣā dharmasyāsya parantapa aprāpya māṁ nivartante mṛtyu-saṁsāra-vartmani Those who lack faith in this sacred way, Fail to reach me and [...]
The secrecy that feels like mockery is truly your mercy
Bhagavad Gita 9.2 rāja-vidyā rāja-guhyaṁ pavitram idam uttamam pratyakṣāvagamaṁ dharmyaṁ su-sukhaṁ kartum avyayam This is the king of knowledge, the secret supreme, Purer than [...]
You are supremely lovable; to love you, make me able
Bhagavad Gita 9.1 śrī-bhagavān uvāca idaṁ tu te guhyatamaṁ pravakṣyāmy anasūyave jñānaṁ vijñāna-sahitaṁ yaj jñātvā mokṣyase ’śubhāt The Supreme Lord said: I now declare [...]
More important than staying in touch with the world is staying in touch with you
Bhagavad Gita 13.11 mayi cānanya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicāriṇī vivikta-deśa-sevitvam aratir jana-saṁsadi Below quartet is based on aratir jana-saṁsadi: disinterest in worldly gatherings When crowds gather [...]
Let me not be overfed on the world and underfed on your word
Bhagavad Gita 15.10 utkrāmantaṁ sthitaṁ vāpi bhuñjānaṁ vā guṇānvitam vimūḍhā nānupaśyanti paśyanti jñāna-cakṣuṣaḥ How the soul departs, resides, or enjoys the modes’ play, Those [...]
Let material technicals not divert me from spiritual essentials
Bhagavad Gita 8.27 naite sṛtī pārtha jānan yogī muhyati kaścana tasmāt sarveṣu kāleṣu yogayukto bhavārjuna The yogi who knows of these paths, dark and [...]