Free me from the illusion that I am free
Bhagavad Gita 18.59 yad ahaṅkāram āśritya na yotsya iti manyase mithyaiṣa vyavasāyas te prakṛtis tvāṁ niyokṣyati If, clinging to ego, you think, “I won’t fight,” [...]
How pride blinds and brings as down
Pride doesn't just come before a fall; pride brings the fall -- we will be blasted for the very things about which we boasted. In [...]
Make me self-aware and strong to combat the inner enemy (3.40)
Bhagavad Gita 3.40 indriyāṇi mano buddhir asyādhiṣṭhānam ucyate etair vimohayaty eṣa jñānam āvṛtya dehinam "The senses, the mind, the intelligence— These all are lust's [...]
Help me to stay on guard, whatever be the enemy’s garb (3.38)
Bhagavad Gita 3.38 dhūmenāvriyate vahnir yathādarśo malena ca yatholbenāvṛto garbhas tathā tenedam āvṛtam "As fire is covered by rising smoke, As dust on a [...]
Hold my hand and hold my heart as I turn inward (2.55)
Bhagavad Gita 2.55 śrī-bhagavān uvāca prajahāti yadā kāmān sarvān pārtha mano-gatān ātma-ny-evātmanā tuṣṭaḥ sthita-prajñas tadocyate "When all desires, the heart lets go, No worldly [...]
Screen your inner screen
Our mind is like an inner screen. On it appear sensory stimuli from the outer world as well as recollections arising from past impressions in [...]
We can’t always go outside but we can always go inside
The outer world is subject to uncontrollable change that can limit our physical freedom. If we can’t go outside, we might go stir-crazy, becoming bored, [...]
We need inner accounting before we can have inner accountability
Suppose a social welfare organization is short of money and asks us to become a regular patron. Naturally, we will want some accountability. But if [...]
Use introspection as a confession by the self to the self
Use introspection as a confession by the self to the self Confession is a religious practice wherein confessants, people who have done something wrong, admit [...]
The desire that the dark be darker defines a dark mind
The desire that the dark be darker defines a dark mind Suppose we know that someone is short-tempered. Suppose further we hear through the grapevine [...]
We are our greatest hope – and our greatest horror
We are our greatest hope – and our greatest horror We all sometimes act like Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde; we act sometimes like a [...]
The mind is not just a window; it is also a camera
The mind is not just a window; it is also a camera The mind is like a window; it integrates inputs coming from the senses [...]