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 [...]
Why we need to scan our consciousness regularly
When somebody is canned from their job, that means they are dismissed, often unceremoniously. Our conscience is our inner watchdog that sometimes gets canned, even [...]
Meditation can shut things up and out — and can do more
Different people approach meditation for different purposes. Some people feel drained by the world's constant demands and turn toward meditation, hoping to shut things out [...]
If we start dwelling on whatever our mind is thinking, our thinking starts stinking
Suppose something is stinking in our home. We will immediately find and remove it. We need to do the same when our thinking starts stinking. [...]
The more we become conscious of where our consciousness is, the more we can tap the power of our consciousness
We are always conscious, but we aren’t always conscious of where our consciousness is. Our consciousness is our most undervalued resource. Whatever we do, learn, [...]
To take the task of training the mind seriously, stop taking everything it says seriously
Suppose we have a child. If we take the responsibility of caring for and training the child seriously, we won’t take everything the child says [...]
The mind makes the uncomfortable seem unbearable and then makes us do the unconscionable
The mind makes the uncomfortable seem unbearable and then makes us do the unconscionable Suppose someone lives in a place with uncomfortably hot weather. If [...]
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 [...]
To get out of the mind, go above it to the soul or go below it to the body
To get out of the mind go above it to the soul or go below it to the body The mind can be a deadly [...]
Don’t let the craving for clarity distract us from working with whatever clarity we have
Don’t let the craving for clarity distract us from working with whatever clarity we have Suppose we are driving through a storm. If water, sleet [...]
The body reacts mechanically – don’t take its reactions personally
The body reacts mechanically - don’t take its reactions personally Suppose we had a machine that was programmed to behave in a particular way, to [...]
To decrease unhealthy reactions increase healthy reminders
To decrease unhealthy reactions increase healthy reminders Suppose we have some unhealthy habit such as impulsive overeating. Once some behavior becomes ingrained as a habit, [...]
Our thoughts have no power on us till we give them our thought
Our thoughts have no power on us till we give them our thought The word ‘thought’ can refer to an idea popping up in our [...]