When self-talk is constructive and when destructive
Self-talk generally refers to the talk that is going on inside the self. This can go on in two ways.: our mind inside us can [...]
The mind’s running commentary on our life
Whenever there is a running commentary of an event, say a cricket match, then the event is happening at one place and a live commentary [...]
Is sense pleasure imaginary?
Sense pleasure is a product of imagination, but it is not imaginary. When we try to grow spiritually, we understand that we need to turn [...]
What’s wrong with worrying about the world’s problems?
Some people think that they need to worry about things that are going wrong in this part of the world and that part of the [...]
Kalki movie – Making sense with Bhagavad-gita
To make sense of the Kalki movie through the lens of the Bhagavad-gita, let's consider three aspects. Connection, Concoction and Conception. Connection: it is good [...]
India’s T20 World Cup Victory & Chokers’ tag: Making sense with Bhagavad-gita
India's victory in the T20 World Cup has brought celebration and also relief that India has shed the choker's tag. From the Bhagavad Gita's perspective, [...]
Changes that happen over time can’t be accelerated by working over time
Things happen in nature at their own pace. A baby grows into a child and an adolescent and an adult according to the pace of [...]
When the mind works overtime
Normally, if a person works overtime that person is doing extra work for their employer which pleases the employer and the employer will reward the [...]
What will bring newness in our life?
We are all prone to get bored of the repetitive: that's why we want to watch new TV shows, new movies – we want to [...]
Are we afraid of looking at ourselves?
Some people who are very bodily conscious and who especially feel that their body is not attractive enough, sometimes are afraid of looking at themselves [...]
What does meditation mean?
Does meditation mean that we become free from all thoughts? Some people have this idea that our thoughts are the cause of our troubles and [...]
Two characteristics of extremism
Any extremist ideology is totalizing and demonizing. Totalizing means that it claims to have a total understanding of everything, that whatever it says is [...]
Two kinds of extremism
Extremism can be in thought and in action. Extremism in thought is often called as exclusivism: where people believe, for example, if they are religious, [...]
Why to identify with villains in scriptures?
Whenever we study scriptures, we tend to identify with the virtuous characters, whether it is Ram or Sita or Hanuman. That's good, but it's also [...]
Two ways to look at emotions
Emotions are helpful when we see them as information, but they are harmful when we see them as instruction. Whenever we feel an emotion, say [...]
Three things we can do when we feel helpless
Suppose life puts us in a situation where we just feel that there's nothing in our control. Rather than giving into the feeling of helplessness, [...]
How not to approach religious differences?
When two people have difference of opinion over some issue of faith, be they of the same religious tradition or of different religious traditions – [...]
Choose silence in these 3 situations
Three situations when silence is our best friend, summarized by the acronym NOT: First is N when we have a negative opinion or attitude or [...]
Destiny determines our situations, but we determine our decisions in those situations
Whenever we are put in a sudden unexpected and unfavorable, even unbearable situation, we may resent and even condemn either God or ourselves for having [...]
Four ways people see religion
When people are in the mode of ignorance, they think of religion primarily in terms of grievance and vengeance: that, "Oh, I have been hurt [...]
Four ways people conceive God
When we are in the mode of ignorance, we see God primarily as a fearsome ruler and we try to stay on his good side [...]