Please make me immune to the illusion that I am immune to illusion (7.13)
Bhagavad Gita 7.13 tribhir guṇamayair bhāvair ebhiḥ sarvam idaṁ jagat mohitaṁ nābhijānāti mām ebhyaḥ param avyayam By nature’s modes, the world is bound. In [...]
What’s wrong with repeatedly indulging in a desire?
Whenever we indulge in a desire—whether it is to eat, watch TV, gossip, consume alcohol or drugs, or any other indulgence—we often perceive it as [...]
Help me to protect and power my desire for you (6.19)
Bhagavad Gita 6.19 yathā dīpo nivātastho neṅgate sopamā smṛtā yogino yatacittasya yuñjato yogam ātmanaḥ "As a lamp in a windless place burns bright, Unflickering, [...]
Let me see standards as guideposts for my growth (3.41)
Bhagavad Gita 3.41 tasmāt tvam indriyāṇy ādau niyamya bharatarṣabha pāpmānaṁ prajahi hy enaṁ jñāna-vijñāna-nāśanam "Therefore, right in the beginning, It is the senses that [...]
How to see our inner darkness and see beyond the inner darkness
How to see our inner darkness and see beyond the inner darkness We all have dark desires within us—selfish, manipulative, and even abusive tendencies. If [...]
Analyzing why we succumb to temptation
Suppose a person were caught by the traffic police for speeding. If it was the first time that person was apprehended and they claimed that [...]
When our interests aren’t in your best interests …
The word ‘interests’ can refer either to the things that we find interesting or to the things that are beneficial and rewarding for us, as [...]
How to deal with our inability to resist temptation
Suppose a person is so sick as to not have the strength to lift even small objects. We won’t condemn them for being weak; we [...]
Are we silencing our watchdog?
Suppose we have a watchdog guarding our house. If a suspicious-looking stranger appears, that dog would bark to alert us. But if we neglect and [...]
Why our determination falters when faced with temptation
We all have a certain capacity for determination that enables us to resist temptation. Still, we are innately pleasure-seeking. To resist temptation steadily, we need [...]
If we are defeated by temptation, it doesn’t mean we can’t win — it just means we can’t win alone
Suppose we resolve to reject a temptation, but fail, and fail repeatedly. We may become disheartened thinking, “I can never win against this temptation.” Our [...]
Protect the fences that protect you – keep temptation at a healthy distance
Protect the fences that protect you – keep temptation at a healthy distance Suppose we live in a neighborhood where robbery is common. We will [...]
Even if we can’t close the door to temptation permanently we can close it presently
Even if we can’t close the door to temptation permanently we can close it presently Suppose we live in a thief-infested locality. We will want [...]
When fighting temptation focus just on surviving the present battle not on winning the whole war
When fighting temptation focus just on surviving the present battle not on winning the whole war Suppose we were to fight a boxing match against [...]
Intelligence is the last defense against indulgence – and also the first defense
Intelligence is the last defense against indulgence – and also the first defense An important fort usually has multiple layers of defense. The best security [...]
Resisting temptation while holding on to attachments is like fighting an enemy while staying shackled
Resisting temptation while holding on to attachments is like fighting an enemy while staying shackled Suppose a warrior has been shackled by their enemy. If [...]
Indulgence decreases our capacity to push against desire and increase desire’s capacity to push us
Indulgence decreases our capacity to push against desire and increase desire's capacity to push us Suppose we had to push a huge boulder uphill. That [...]
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 [...]