Gratitude Is a Gift
At a recent youth retreat in Mayapur, a devotee asked me, "When you became a brahmachari, how did you deal with fear about the future [...]
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 [...]
Protect me from chasing the cause of my dissatisfaction as its cure
Bhagavad Gita 18.32 adharmaṁ dharmam iti yā manyate tamasāvṛtā sarvārthān viparītāṁś ca buddhiḥ sā pārtha tāmasī Shrouded in darkness, it takes wrong for right, [...]
Three meanings of ‘fire’ and how they apply to our inner world
The word fire has multiple meanings: a natural force that burns, the dismissal of someone from their job, and an energizing enthusiasm or motivation (as [...]
How to avoid acting thoughtlessly
When we are thoughtless, it's not that we have less thoughts; it's that we give less thought to the thoughts that drive us. We all [...]
How our desires become our demons
The desires we chase over time become the demons that chase us A strange psychological reversal often occurs within us as we navigate the workings [...]
Don’t let your mind become your dictator
The more we listen to our mind’s dictation, the more we let it become our dictator Our mind constantly speaks within us, commenting on what [...]
Mind your mind, or your mind will mind you—for its interests, not yours
Within each of us exists a power struggle: a dynamic between us, as spiritual beings (souls), and our mind. The mind serves as the intermediary [...]
Help me show you my sincerity and seek your mercy (6.07)
Bhagavad Gita 6.7 jitātmanaḥ praśāntasya paramātmā samāhitaḥ śītoṣṇa-sukha-duḥkheṣu tathā mānāpamānayoḥ "One who has mastered the self stands serene, In heat or cold, in joy [...]
From ‘what if’ to ‘what is’: steadying the mind through spiritual focus
Bhagavad-gita (6.18) depicts how the mind of a purified yogi becomes steady, like a lamp in a windless place. We are often confronted with the [...]
The Journey from effortful remembrance to divine absorption
The Bhagavad-gita (10.9) states that the thoughts of the devotees reside in Krishna. This is a far more devotionally endearing way of describing the activity [...]
How remembering Krishna makes the mind peaceful
In the Bhagavad-gita [18.61], Krishna directs the wandering of all living beings. Does this mean he also directs the wandering of our minds? After all, [...]
How discipline in meditation helps in discipline in all areas of life
Whenever we try to do anything worthwhile, we need to discipline ourselves, especially in terms of giving up something that seems enjoyable initially, even though [...]
Resisting the mind’s myopia
The mind has a myopia with regards to other's point of view, especially when that point of view challenges the mind's comforts and desires. Myopia [...]
Our choice: push up or be pulled down?
Suppose we hold an object such as a dumb bell in front of us. If we let go of it, it will fall down. If [...]
Are we giving too much time to our mind?
Suppose we know certain people who talk too much and waste our time. When we meet them, we will politely but firmly restrict our [...]
How to deal with the crazy mind?
How to deal with the crazy mind? Suppose a crazy psychopath has taken a child hostage and is using that child as a shield against [...]
Why minor distractions aren’t minor?
Suppose an army is marching to a disputed territory and has limited stocks of food. If the enemy creates decoys that divert the army, each [...]
How to deal with the mind’s craziness
How to deal with the mind’s craziness Suppose we have been giving into an unhealthy craving of our mind for a long time. Then, the [...]
The mind is not afraid to interrupt us don’t be afraid to interrupt it
Suppose we are working in a team with someone who keeps interrupting us. And what they suggest is mostly distracting at best and disastrous at [...]
The best way to watch the mind is by having something better to watch
The best way to watch the mind is by having something better to watch Our mind often acts as an enemy. That’s why we all [...]