When does our mind become our friend?
The Bhagavad-gita (06.06) states that our mind can be our friend when it is controlled. To control our mind, it needs to be informed and [...]
When discipline doesn’t seem worthwhile …
When we strive to discipline ourselves, we may falter and fail, sometimes repeatedly. Being disheartened, we may wonder, “Is all this struggle worthwhile? What difference [...]
What temptation can do — and what it can’t
Whenever we resolve to discipline ourselves for some worthwhile purpose, we will, sooner or later, feel tempted. To deal with such temptation, we need to [...]
Whose respect are we trying to earn?
We all have a need to be respected. At a basic level, when we enter a room, we would like to be noticed, greeted, and [...]
Healthy and unhealthy foundations for self-respect
Some people treat self-respect as the most important thing in their life. When they feel that others are disrespecting or mistreating them, that becomes for [...]
When our conscience speaks ….
We all have inside us an inner guiding voice: the voice of conscience that guides us to act in ways that are worthwhile, ennobling and [...]
Two ways the Gita refers to the modes of material nature
One of the Bhagavad-gita’s most intriguing teachings centers on the modes of material nature (gunas). The modes are threefold: sattva (goodness), rajas (passion) and tamas [...]
When knowledge increases ignorance … (From ignorance to knowledge series 5)
When knowledge increases ignorance - We usually consider knowledge to be the cure for ignorance: where knowledge increases, ignorance decreases. In fact, a celebrated Upanishadic [...]
Two stages in valuing knowledge (From ignorance to knowledge series 4)
Two stages in valuing knowledge - Suppose we have a map for finding our way through a complex terrain. That map will be a valuable [...]
When our ignorance is exposed … (From ignorance to knowledge series 1)
When our ignorance is exposed - Because we are tiny beings living in a huge and complex world, what we know will always be dwarfed [...]
Go beyond virtue signaling (Beyond black and white conceptions series 4)
Go beyond virtue signaling - When we see someone doing something horribly wrong, we may feel driven to protest or correct. Nowadays when activism is [...]
How our experience may increase our ignorance (Beyond black and white conceptions series 2)
How our experience may increase our ignorance - Suppose someone has hurt us badly, several times. We may start seeing them as a villain, a [...]
How black and white conceptions disempower us (Beyond black and white conceptions series 1)
How black and white conceptions disempower us - When a small child learns to recognize black and white colors, that’s a step forward in their [...]
Developing a healthy relationship with our mind (Managing the mind series 4)
Developing a healthy relationship with our mind - We don’t usually realize how much our mind controls us. Nonetheless, we do get some glimpses of [...]
What’s wrong with treating the mind as an enemy (Managing the mind 3)
What’s wrong with treating the mind as an enemy - Suppose we live in a house whose accessway is controlled by a neighbor. Though they [...]
Are we the fisherman or the fish? (Managing the mind 2)
Are we the fisherman or the fish? - Suppose a fisherman casts a bait in a river to catch a fish. The fisherman stands to [...]
Why anger should be used sparingly … (Anger management series 7)
Why anger should be used sparingly - A great power like nuclear power can be used for deterrence and defence, but it can also be [...]
Pointing the finger or pointing the way? (Anger management series 4)
Pointing the finger or pointing the way? - When people point a finger, it is often to show others who is at fault. Sometimes, they [...]
Choosing our battles in dealing with anger (Anger management 3)
Choosing our battles in dealing with anger - Anger can make our life hellish (Bhagavad-gita 16.21). When dealing with anger, we often think in polar [...]
Why absence of anger may not be good … (Anger management series 1)
Why absence of anger may not be good - Anger can short-circuit our intelligence and impel us to do regrettable things. Pointing to the dangerousness [...]
How doubt misleads (Dealing with doubt series 1)
How doubt misleads - Suppose we are living on some land and want to purchase some other land. Suppose further we have with us someone [...]