What we don’t have is not the problem – what we don’t see is
We frequently crave for the many things we don’t have, things often aggressively glamorized by today’s corporate controlled media. Such greed and its concomitant dissatisfaction [...]
Walking away from problems is not the same as running away from them
When we are driving for an important and urgent meeting, if someone cuts ahead of us, we may decide not to chastise or sue that [...]
Discipline is the fusion of intention with action
We may sometimes lament: “I could do so much more in my life if I were more disciplined.” To cultivate discipline, we can break it [...]
The value of our work is not determined by our work’s market value
Our market-driven culture places a price tag on everything, even things such as artistic talents whose value is often not reducible to monetary terms. Such [...]
Just as food adds to our physical weight, thoughts add to our mental weight
In today’s culture with its largely sedentary lifestyle, people often watch what they eat as they don’t want to put on unwanted weight. Such watchfulness [...]
Just because we can’t light the world doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t light our corner of the world
Suppose suddenly the power goes off all over our city. We don’t think, “Everywhere, there is darkness; what difference is lighting my small corner going [...]
Ceaseless visual temptation causes pointless mental agitation
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The capacity to choose is itself not freedom – the maturity to choose wisely is
Today’s ethos exalts freedom as the supreme virtue. Anything that infringes on freedom is labeled dictatorial and unacceptable. But consider addicts. They do have the [...]
Thinking is natural, but thinking about thinking is special
All living beings think – thinking is a natural characteristic of consciousness. Though natural, thinking doesn’t naturally go in desirable directions. Misdirected thoughts can make [...]
Be detached from results, not goals
People familiar with the Bhagavad-gita often question the practicality of its instruction (02.47) to work without attachment to results: “If we are detached from results, [...]
Work to live – avoid work that eats you alive
Work is essential for survival, as the Bhagavad-gita (03.08) acknowledges. Yet the same work that is vital can become vitality-sapping if done excessively. When work [...]
Be mentally fit, not mentally fat
When fat accumulates in our body, we feel burdened because of having to lug around all that extra weight. We are often concerned about physical [...]
Rules free you to be you
Most reputed authors make a rule to write daily a certain minimum number of words, irrespective of how they feel or even how the words [...]
To gain satisfaction, replace expectation with appreciation
Our satisfaction is often inversely proportional to our expectation. Suppose we go for a feast expecting a particular delicacy. If it is not included in [...]
Why long for a pleasure that never stays for long?
We are all by nature pleasure-seeking. And the world promises us pleasure in so many ways. The most hyped among all these worldly pleasures are [...]
Freedom is most endangered by the illusion of freedom
When people feel that their freedom is threatened, they often protest – and protest vehemently. But if they are led to believe that they are [...]
We need to come at least slightly out of ignorance to realize that we are in ignorance
When people are a little drunk, they can understand that they are intoxicated and need to be careful – they shouldn’t drive, lest they meet [...]
Don’t crave the feast in others’ plates – savor the feast in yours
Suppose we were invited to a feast in which everyone had slightly different delicacies on their plates. Suppose further that we got so caught in [...]
Our impressions go with us, but they don’t have to grow with us
Suppose we change from an old computer to a new computer. Once we log in using our id, our browsing information – such as bookmarks, [...]
Be not sentimental or judgmental – be transcendental
Sentimentality and judgmentality are two obstacles on the spiritual path. When we are sentimental, we become puppets of our feelings. While practicing bhakti, if we [...]
Don’t let the stray lead you astray
Suppose we are walking, and someone approaches and asks us to come with them somewhere. We wouldn’t just go along nonchalantly – we would first [...]