Every Mistake Is a Chance To Grow
“Do not be miserable. Do not repent! What is done is done. If you burn yourself, [take the consequences] . . . We make mistakes; what of that?” — Swami Vivekananda Someone you trusted hurt you. Overconfidence in a situation led to a terrible loss for you. Or you did some questionable things about 10 […]
If You Keep Running in Circles, How Will You Get Ahead?
“Maintain a neutral attitude towards all things; do not get infatuated with anything; maintain equanimity whether in happiness or suffering; be the same to friends and enemies; treat alike a broken piece of mud pot and a piece of gold.” — Ramana Maharshi After slaying Ravana, Rama says to his brother Lakshmana, “I want to […]
You Can’t Walk on Quicksand
“Avoid evil company because the scars of old wounds are in you, and evil company is just the thing that’s necessary to call them out. In the same way, good company will call out the good impressions that are in us, but which have become latent.” — Swami Vivekananda How do you feel around unhappy […]
Why Does Compassion Feel Like Suffering?
“When you have compassion you don’t suffer. . . We suffer because we want a result; that is when you say, ‘I am compassionate of the person who is suffering; I want him to get better.‘” — J. Krishnamurti Suppose your colleague confides in you that she’s having a rough time at work. Or a […]
The Greatest Danger to Man
“There is one great danger in human nature, viz. that man never examines himself. He thinks he is quite as fit to be on the throne as the king. Even if he is, he must first show that he has done the duty of his own position; and then higher duties will come… No man […]
Be a Lion, Not a Dog
“Fear is the sure cause of degradation and sin. It is fear that breeds misery, fear that brings death, fear that breeds evil. And what causes fear? Ignorance of our own nature.” — Swami Vivekananda Spiritual guru Dada J P Vaswani always held that peace is our true nature, and when we drift from it, […]
Start With the Person in the Mirror
“By action most, and not by thought and speech alone, can the will of a people be vivified, trained and made solid and enduring.” — Sri Aurobindo Some people dream of change—they keep doing what they’ve always done but wish for different results. Others demand change through the mediums of prose, poetry, and speeches. There […]
Resist What Holds You Back
“Resist all evils, mental and physical; and when you have succeeded in resisting, then calmness will come.” — Swāmi Vivekānanda Discipline is working on your goal when your friends are hanging out at the bar. It’s hitting the gym when you’re tempted to watch reruns of your favorite Netflix series. It’s sticking to your diet instead of breaking it […]
Filling The Emptiness In Your Life
“When you really become aware that no one can fulfill you, can give you full completeness, except through your own comprehension, then you put up with minor details . . . Then, the question, choice, of whether to stay or leave does not arise.” — J. Krishnamurti A woman asked Krishnamurthi for advice because she […]
It’s All In The Small Things
“If you really want to judge the character of a man, look not at his great performances… Watch a man do his most common actions; those are indeed the things which will tell you the real character of a great man. Great occasions rouse even the lowest of human beings to some kind of greatness, […]