We sometimes try to do some things to improve our life. Though we start enthusiastically, soon our mind starts devaluing our efforts: “Even if you improve in this area, how long will the improvement stay? Not for long. Even if you improve steadily, still so many things are wrong with you. What difference will fixing one thing make? Not much. Why bother struggling to improve?”

If we listen to our mind’s devaluing insinuations, it will gradually start devaluing our entire life: “What difference is your life going to make? Given all the struggles of life, what is the point of living?” Such dark thoughts can make us disheartened, chronically depressed, even suicidal. 

How can we prevent such deadly devaluation? By learning to listen to Krishna instead of listening to the mind. 

If we regularly hear Krishna’s words in the Bhagavad-gita, we will start seeing ourselves spiritually. When we see that within our perishable body exists the imperishable soul, accompanied by the imperishable Supersoul, then we won’t be misled by our mind (13.29). Spiritual vision reassures us that no matter how much our mind devalues us, Krishna still values us – and values us so much that he stays constantly with us. If we connect with him devotionally and strive to improve ourselves in a mood of service, he will empower us to improve in ways we had earlier considered impossible. 

In fact, Krishna values our life so much that if we devote our present human life to him, he will grant us eternal life in return. Thus, he not only values us, but also infuses our life with enduring value.

When Krishna already values us and is eager to enrich our life with value, why should we value our mind’s words more than Krishna’s words? 

 

Think it over:

  • How can the mind devalue our efforts and even our entire life? 
  • How can we protect ourselves from the mind’s devaluing insinuations?
  • How can Krishna infuse our life with value? 

 

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13.29 One who sees the Supersoul equally present everywhere, in every living being, does not degrade himself by his mind. Thus he approaches the transcendental destination.

 

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