What defines who we really are?
At the start of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna feels hesitant to engage in the Kurukshetra war because he feels that a kingdom is not worth killing [...]
Resolving emotional tensions through Gita wisdom
Emotions are among the strongest forces that shape our actions and our life at large. Unfortunately, emotions can easily make us impulsive, leading to actions [...]
Why the I can’t count solely on the eye
Suppose a person steering a ship sees something small and shiny ahead. They overlook it as unimportant, not knowing that it is the tip of [...]
The courage to take a hard look at ourselves
A mirror helps us see how we look, or more specifically, see whether how we look agrees with how we want to look. We also [...]
How to make difficult decisions
Throughout our life, we make decisions, consciously or unconsciously, about what to eat, what to read, whom to spend time with. Some decisions are far [...]
How to act wisely?
When we face perplexing situations, how can we act wisely? By the proper interaction between our intentions and our perceptions. Let’s understand. When intentions should [...]
How to be more creative?
Creativity is essentially divinity manifesting through humanity. When we are creative, we become channels for a wisdom far bigger than ours to manifest through us. [...]
Show up for inspiration to show up
Creativity is both a great magic and a great mystery. Magic because it results in the best books, poems, paintings, architecture and everything that amazes [...]
When morality feels like a burden …
When we try to follow moral standards to live purely, we sometimes feel harassed by temptations that keep coming upon us. And if we compare [...]
How to avoid unhealthy reactions to unwanted emotions
Suppose we experience a craving that runs contrary to the principles we hold sacred. Faced with this unwanted emotion, we may react by becoming judgmental [...]
How to see negative emotions positively
We all sometimes experience negative emotions such as loneliness, dejection, resentment, anger or fear. When such emotions arise, we may let ourselves get carried away [...]
What does it mean to “follow our heart”?
Suppose we have to decide about complex and consequential issues such as choosing a career, a life-partner or a spiritual teacher. We may be told, [...]
What is the heart?
Many regularly used words have nuances that we rarely ponder. Consider the word “heart.” When we say, “He suffered a heart attack,” we refer to [...]
Do emotions reside in the mind?
To understand, consider an analogous question: do sensations reside in the body? Suppose a 20 kg dumbbell is placed in our palm, and we feel [...]
How are thoughts and emotions related
Thoughts and emotions are sometimes seen as sequential — when we think steadily about something, we feel emotions in relationship with it. Pertinently, the Bhagavad-gita [...]
Do bad thoughts comprise bad karma?
At one level, yes. Because thinking is also a form of activity, and every activity comes under the jurisdiction of karma, we are accountable for [...]
Will negative imagination lead to self-fulfilling prophecies?
When a person having unhealthy habits is told to imagine the disasters that may result if they continue with those habits, they worry, “Won’t such [...]
The way to a better future
The future can be better than the present and we can play a part in bringing about that future — this hope empowers us to [...]
If we lack freedom or willpower, what can we do?
When we try to do something worthwhile, if external situations hamper us, we may lament our lack of freedom. Or if internal conditionings hamper us, [...]
Are we using our intelligence intelligently?
When we see someone with intelligence far greater than ours (as measured by some parameter such as IQ), we may feel inferior or insecure. We [...]
Two ways to deal with resentment
Resentment is a toxic but telling emotion. To understand what it is telling us, we need to attentively analyze its cause. Usually resentment arises from [...]