Four meanings of consciousness
The many meanings of consciousness and how they matter Consciousness is a frequently discussed concept among those seeking personal and spiritual growth. Gaining a clearer [...]
When others hurt me, let me give them the benefit of the doubt, not shut them out
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ When others hurt me and my mind rushes to judgment, Help me meet its [...]
Let my recitation of your words inspire the redirection of my heart to you
svādhyāyābhyasanaṁ caiva May speaking your words be my training, Knowing their sounds are potent and purifying. Let sacred recitation be my ladder, Drawing my heart [...]
Our mind deserves better than its present contents
Suppose we travel extensively and come across a place that is exquisitely beautiful, naturally rich with resources, and yet feels desolate and desperate. This could [...]
Let my words be illuminating, encouraging, uplifting
satyaṁ priya-hitaṁ ca yat Let me speak to illuminate and appreciate, Never use the truth as a tool to dominate. May kind words become my [...]
Lead me out of my ego’s web by your love’s WEB: wisdom, expertise, benevolence
Bhagavad Gita 18.58 mac-cittaḥ sarva-durgāṇi mat-prasādāt tariṣyasi atha cet tvam ahaṅkārān na śroṣyasi vinaṅkṣyasi "Focus on me, and all duality you will transcend, By [...]
Let the realization of your position transform my conviction and aspiration
Bhagavad Gita 18.78 yatra yogeśvaraḥ kṛṣṇo yatra pārtho dhanur-dharaḥ tatra śrīr vijayo bhūtir dhruvā nītir matir mama Where Kṛṣṇa, the Lord of mystic perfection, [...]
Let your wisdom restore my intelligence and redirect my independence
Bhagavad Gita 18.63 iti te jñānam ākhyātaṁ guhyād guhyataraṁ mayā vimṛśyaitad aśeṣeṇa yathecchasi tathā kuru Thus have I spoken wisdom invaluable, Among secrets, this is [...]
Let me see your love both in your inclusivity and in your exclusivity
Bhagavad Gita 18.56 sarva-karmāṇy api sadā kurvāṇo mad-vyapāśrayaḥ mat-prasādād avāpnoti śāśvataṁ padam avyayam Though engaged in all kinds of deed, Taking full shelter in me [...]
Help me see the world not merely as a container of my life, but as a pointer for my life
Bhagavad Gita 10.20 śrī-bhagavān uvāca aham ātmā guḍākeśa sarva-bhūta-āśaya-sthitaḥ aham ādiś ca madhyaṁ ca bhūtānām anta eva ca I am the Self in every [...]
Let grateful curiosity become my key to freedom from the cage of complaints
Bhagavad Gita 12.14 santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ Ever content, steady in soul, Firm in resolve, with [...]
Lead my love for truth to victory over my lust for power
Bhagavad Gita 11.2 bhavāpyayau hi bhūtānāṁ śrutau vistaraśo mayā tvattaḥ kamala-patrākṣa māhātmyam api cāvyayam Of birth and death I’ve heard your lore, Your endless [...]
Please enrich my life with meaning before I die and after it too
Bhagavad Gita 11.28 yathā nadīnāṁ bahavo ’mbu-vegāḥ samudram evābhimukhā dravanti tathā tavāmī nara-loka-vīrāḥ viśanti vaktrāṇy abhivijvalanti As rivers rush in roaring streams, All racing [...]
Illusion and illumination are not just two distinct countries but also two constant choices
Bhagavad Gita 11.1 arjuna uvāca mad-anugrahāya paramaṁ guhyam adhyātma-saṁjñitam yat tvayoktaṁ vacas tena moho ’yaṁ vigato mama The supreme truth, you have shown, By [...]
When I realize you, I live in you, for you, and with you
Bhagavad Gita 10.12 arjuna uvāca paraṁ brahma paraṁ dhāma pavitraṁ paramaṁ bhavān puruṣaṁ śāśvataṁ divyam ādi-devam ajaṁ vibhum You are truth, the supreme divine, [...]
Even if I am disoriented, let me never be disconnected
Bhagavad Gita 10.11 teṣām evānukampārtham aham ajñāna-jaṁ tamaḥ nāśayāmy ātma-bhāva-stho jñāna-dīpena bhāsvatā Out of mercy, I promptly move, Ignorance of theirs to remove; From [...]
Let me serve you by being both aware of the ultimate and alert to the immediate
Bhagavad Gita 10.10 teṣāṁ satata-yuktānāṁ bhajatāṁ prīti-pūrvakam dadāmi buddhi-yogaṁ taṁ yena mām upayānti te Those who stay always within a divine connection, Serving me [...]
Let my desire for you grow both linearly and triangularly
Bhagavad Gita 10.9 mac-cittā mad-gata-prāṇā bodhayantaḥ parasparam kathayantaś ca māṁ nityaṁ tuṣyanti ca ramanti ca With their lives and hearts in me aligned, Sharing [...]
Let the yoga of you reaching out to me inspire my reciprocal yoga to reach out to you
Bhagavad Gita 10.7 etaṁ vibhūtiṁ yogaṁ ca mama yo vetti tattvataḥ so ’vikampena yogena yu-jyate nātra saṁśayaḥ One who knows my glories unending, And [...]
Help me see that the point of the world is to point beyond the world
Bhagavad Gita 10.4 buddhir jñānam asammohaḥ kṣamā satyaṁ damaḥ śamaḥ sukhaṁ duḥkhaṁ bhavo ’bhāvo bhayaṁ cābhayam eva ca Wisdom, knowledge, perception undeluded, Forgiveness, truthfulness, [...]
You don’t just wait for me at the finish line; you walk with me through every step of the journey
Bhagavad Gita 10.1 śrī-bhagavān uvāca bhūya eva mahā-bāho śṛṇu me paramaṁ vacaḥ yat te ’haṁ priyamāṇāya vakṣyāmi hita-kāmyayā Hear again my words of love [...]