How we become both villains and victims …
Typical movies have two characters: one who acts in villainous ways and one who is victimized by those villainous actions. But suppose a movie featured [...]
Are we living inside an echo chamber?
Are we living inside an echo chamber? - Suppose we are walking through nature, while wearing earphones to hear music. Suppose further we are unwittingly [...]
How to get the best of both positive thinking and negative thinking
How to get the best of both positive thinking and negative thinking - Positive thinking works best when it keeps us focused on opportunities amid [...]
Go beyond both negative thinking and positive thinking
Go beyond both negative thinking and positive thinking - Life is filled with binaries of ups and downs. In the world outside, we encounter binaries [...]
Three kinds of negative thinking — and why they all aren’t undesirable
Three kinds of negative thinking — and why they all aren’t undesirable - Nowadays, negative thinking is often criticized. However, what that term means is [...]
How thinking about negative truths can stimulate positive thoughts
How thinking about negative truths can stimulate positive thoughts - Our mind often keeps us dissatisfied by looking at those who have more than us. [...]
You are not a negative thinker even if your mind is
You are not a negative thinker even if your mind is - “You are such a negative thinker.” We may receive this discouraging feedback if [...]
Justice or just is?
Suppose a ship with three hundred people is hit by an iceberg and starts sinking. Suppose further that it only has life-saving equipment for a [...]
How to cultivate equanimity?
In today’s fast-paced world characterized by sudden and massive changes, we often appreciate people who stay cool-headed. How can we too develop such equanimity? Do [...]
How accountability can save us from humiliation
How accountability can save us from humiliation We all may have some unhealthy habits that we grapple with. We may overcome them temporarily, but eventually [...]
Gita 03.40 explained
Krishna describes enemy, the enemy covers our intelligence. Where is that enemy present? BG 3.40 indriyani mano buddhir asyadhishthanam ucyate etair vimohayaty esha jnanam avritya [...]
Why the cause of illusion is not what we usually think it is
When people get captivated by an illusion, such as a bottle of alcohol or a good-looking person, what is the cause of their illusion? A [...]
Winning whining wining — or worshiping?
Suppose we strive to do something challenging. If we win, our mind becomes jubilant; if we don't, it often goes into a zone of negativity, [...]
Are we holding others to an unrealistically high standard?
Are we holding others to an unrealistically high standard? Suppose someone we know does something so shocking that we feel, “I don’t want anything to [...]
Is our knowledge making us prouder or wiser?
Is our knowledge making us prouder or wiser? We often think that if we gain enough information, we will become knowledgeable. Significantly however, the Bhagavad-gita [...]
Why dealing only with today’s problems today can be short-sighted
Suppose a town is situated on the banks of a river that floods repeatedly. Whenever floods come, everyone endeavors to rebuild. But then the river [...]
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar Elevating our consciousness refers to our becoming conscious of higher realities beyond the material [...]
Why lying to ourselves is so dangerous
Suppose someone we work with lies to us frequently. They claim that they can do things they can’t do. Or they claim that they can’t [...]
Why we need to improve ourselves
We all know various areas where we can improve ourselves: exercise regularly, become better-organized, meditate earnestly. Yet we often neglect such self-improvement. Why? Because we [...]
How to go beyond the extremes of denial and despair?
We live constantly in that fleeting moment where the present gives way to the future. How we look at the present and at the future [...]
Why science’s quest for reality misses consciousness
Suppose someone who has lived in darkness suddenly encounters light. They may naturally ask, “How did the darkness give rise to light?” Actually, darkness did [...]