Raise me to real renunciation by making me thoughtful and dutiful
Bhagavad Gita 18.9 kāryam ity eva yat karma niyataṁ kriyate ’rjuna saṅgaṁ tyaktvā phalaṁ caiva sa tyāgaḥ sāttviko mataḥ “This is my duty,” one [...]
The world of matter is not the world that truly matters
Bhagavad Gita 18.8 duḥkham ity eva yat karma kāya-kleśa-bhayāt tyajet sa kṛtvā rājasaṁ tyāgaṁ naiva tyāga-phalaṁ labhet “This work is painful,” so they say, [...]
Let my renunciation aid my devotion, not mask my aversion
Bhagavad Gita 18.7 niyatasya tu sannyāsaḥ karmaṇo nopapadyate mohāt tasya parityāgas tāmasaḥ parikīrtitaḥ Duty’s work should not be cast aside. Renouncing it due to [...]
Let my externals reinforce my internals, not replace them
Bhagavad Gita 18.2 kāmyānāṁ karmaṇāṁ nyāsaṁ sannyāsaṁ kavayo viduḥ sarva-karma-phala-tyāgaṁ prāhus tyāgaṁ vicakṣaṇāḥ Renouncing acts born of selfish desire, The wise call sannyāsa—life directed [...]
Help me recognize and realize the power of my words
Bhagavad Gita 17.15 anudvega-karaṁ vākyaṁ satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ ca yat svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva vāṅ-mayaṁ tapa ucyate Words that cause no fear or distress, Truthful, kind, and [...]
Help me take mental discipline as seriously as physical discipline
Bhagavad Gita 17.16 manaḥ-prasādaḥ saumyatvaṁ maunam ātma-vinigrahaḥ bhāva-saṁśuddhir ity etat tapo mānasam ucyate Calmness of mind and gentle grace, Silence and self-restraint in place; [...]
May austerity make my body a better vessel and vehicle for my soul
Bhagavad Gita 17.14 deva-dvija-guru-prājña- pūjanaṁ śaucam ārjavam brahmacaryam ahiṁsā ca] śārīraṁ tapa ucyate Worship of devas, sages, teachers and the wise, Cleanliness, honesty—virtues to help [...]
Differences of opinion: Causes and their impact on relationships (AAA framework: availability ability authenticity)
Differences of opinion: Causes and their impact on relationships Differences of opinion are an inevitable aspect of any relationship. However, whether such differences lead to [...]
Three ways our mind sabotages us: vision, vigor and values
The mind as a spy: How it sabotages us The mind is frequently described as an enemy in wisdom texts like the Bhagavad Gita. Yet, [...]
Maturity in devotion: from certainty to curiosity
Maturity in devotion frees us from the compulsive need for certainty and fills us with the enriching openness of curiosity. When we start our spiritual [...]
Does free entertainment come with no strings attached?
“No strings attached” is an assurance often given when someone offers a favor or gift. While such promises may sound appealing, they rarely hold true. [...]
How to maintain humility when we have extraordinary ability
If we are gifted in any particular area, especially to an extraordinary degree, it can be easy to become proud. Such pride often leads to [...]
Three ways devotion causes disruption instead of contribution
Devotion is meant to bring about positive and powerful change, both internally within individuals and externally within society. However, devotion can sometimes have the opposite [...]
The mind’s two-step trap to encage us
Engage the mind or it will engage and enrage and encage us. Our mind is constantly active, always looking for something interesting or pleasurable. Restless [...]
Help me see how my faith is a matter of fate—and how it is not
Bhagavad Gita 17.3 sattvānurūpā sarvasya śraddhā bhavati bhārata śraddhā-mayo ’yaṁ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ Faith shapes each being from within, According to [...]
Help me deal with differences of faith without sentimentality, yet with sensitivity
Bhagavad Gita 17.2 tri-vidhā bhavati śraddhā dehināṁ sā svabhāva-jā sāttvikī rājasī caiva tāmasī ceti tāṁ śṛṇu Threefold is faith in every soul, Born of [...]
Help me see how the impulsive path is implosive
Bhagavad Gita 16.23 yaḥ śāstra-vidhim utsṛjya vartate kāma-kārataḥ na sa siddhim avāpnoti na sukhaṁ na parāṁ gatim Rejecting guidance the scriptures give, And acting [...]
Heal within me whatever is wounded, let me no longer stay blinded
Bhagavad Gita 16.24 tasmāc chāstraṁ pramāṇaṁ te kāryākārya-vyavasthitau jñātvā śāstra-vidhānoktaṁ karma kartum ihārhasi Let scripture guide what’s right to do, And what must be [...]
Help me nourish my soul, not what nourishes the destroyers of my soul
Bhagavad Gita 16.22 etair vimuktaḥ kaunteya tamo-dvārais tribhir naraḥ ācaraty ātmanaḥ śreyas tato yāti parāṁ gatim Freed from these three gates dark and dire, [...]
Protect me from the inner demons that make my life a living hell
Bhagavad Gita 16.21 tri-vidhaṁ narakasyedaṁ dvāraṁ nāśanam ātmanaḥ kāmaḥ krodhas tathā lobhas tasmād etat trayaṁ tyajet Three gates lead the soul to destruction, Desire, [...]
Let me never use you to stay away from you
Bhagavad Gita 16.17 ātma-sambhāvitāḥ stabdhā dhana-māna-madānvitāḥ yajante nāma-yajñais te dambhenāvidhi-pūrvakam Self-glorified, rigid with pride, By wealth and honor fortified; They offer rites for name [...]