Gita Daily

To guide effectively, focus on others’ potentials, not their problems To help others, focus on their potentials, not their problems. Whenever we are in a position of guiding others, it is natural that we will see the many ways in which they are falling short, being deficient, or appearing incompetent or uncommitted. However, if we fixate only on those things and constantly point out their faults, they will become discouraged in trying to improve and may even become alienated from us. Instead, if we first focus on their potentials, recognizing that they are at their core spiritual beings, precious parts of God, and that they are gifted by God in various ways, then that positivity will manifest in our words, actions, and attitudes. This approach will encourage them to strive and connect with us as their well-wishers. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 18.48) Watch this content at: To guide effectively, focus on others’ potentials, not their problems https://youtu.be/-eGSxUwMi4Y?si=2mjZdEa69pC_Q0LA From: https://gitadaily.com/to-guide-effectively-focus-on-others-potentials-not-their-problems/ To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Standard of longing, not standard of living Happiness comes not by improving our standard of living but by improving our standard of longing. The whole world is centered on economic development, and it tells us that if our standard of living improves – we get a bigger house, a better mobile, a faster car – then we’ll become happier. While these things can make life more convenient, that alone doesn’t make us happy. If we are constantly craving for more and more of similar things, like a bigger house or a bigger car, we will still remain dissatisfied. It is only when our standard of longing improves – when we start seeking that which is within us, our spiritual realization, and our realization of Krishna’s presence within us – that is when we find true happiness. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 06.28) From: https://gitadaily.com/standard-of-longing-not-standard-of-living/ Watch this content at: Standard of longing, not standard of living https://youtube.com/shorts/CkcEJ9d3Vbc To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Outcome of wrong actions: external and internal The outcome of an action is determined not just by what comes out, but also by what goes in. Suppose someone does some wrong action, such as gambling, and they get away with it. They don’t lose much money; maybe they even gain some money. They may think that nothing went wrong, and the outcome was not bad. However, the outcome is not just external in terms of the external consequences. It’s also internal, in terms of the impression that is created within. Each time a person gambles, an impression is formed within their mind, which will impel them to gamble again and again, until it becomes a compulsive and destructive behavior in terms of time and money. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 14.16) From: https://gitadaily.com/outcome-of-wrong-actions-external-and-internal/ Watch this content at: Outcome of wrong actions: external and internal https://youtube.com/shorts/n2JYqpwweIM To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Support the intelligence to be supported by the intelligence If we offer loose support to our intelligence, we will lose the support of intelligence. For example, consider having a bodyguard to protect us when we are threatened. If we don’t provide proper nourishment and care to the bodyguard, they won’t be strong enough to protect us when danger comes. In this world filled with temptation, our intelligence is like our bodyguard, or more precisely, our soul guard. To ensure that our intelligence can effectively protect us, we need to support and nourish it. Regularly studying wisdom texts like the Bhagavad-Gita is one way to provide that support. If we neglect this support, our intelligence will be weakened and may not be able to protect us when we are tempted, and we may fall into unwise decisions or actions. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 03.43) From: https://gitadaily.com/support-the-intelligence-to-be-supported-by-the-intelligence/ Watch this content at: Support the intelligence to be supported by the intelligence https://youtube.com/shorts/BedY5fXD5wM To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

How far is God from us? God is always just one thought away from us. Sometimes we may feel that God, Krishna, is very far away from us, and that feeling is a part of our experience. But that feeling does not necessarily reflect the reality. Actually, Krishna is never far away from us. Although Krishna exists in the spiritual world, he also exists in our own heart. And in our heart, he’s closer than the closest person to us can ever be. Even if that person holds us in the closest and tightest of hugs, that person can never come as close to us as Krishna always is. And to feel Krishna’s presence, we just need to think about him. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 10.20) From: https://gitadaily.com/how-far-is-god-from-us/ Watch this content at: How far is God from us? https://youtube.com/shorts/7VtEFIqfol4 To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

The present moment The only time that we have to do anything is the present moment, the present is the only time not only that we have now but that we will ever have. That’s why if we don’t learn to use the present time effectively we will end up not being able to use our life well, because the habit that we develop in the present moment will carry on into the future when the future becomes the present. So if we waste the present we will be wasting the rest of our life; that’s why let’s begin now by being present in the present and treating the present with respect as a present given by the Supreme Lord to us to be used by doing the best possible service we can in this present moment. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 14.23) From: https://gitadaily.com/the-present-moment/ Watch this content at: The present moment https://youtube.com/shorts/QXxUIxQNRZg To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Intelligent mind management Intelligence means to focus on not just the thoughts that are maximized by the mind but also the thoughts that are minimized by the mind. To illustrate, imagine you are watching a multi-window monitor displaying inputs from various doors in a high-security building. If one window gets maximized, your attention is naturally drawn to it. However, if you are vigilant, you will also keep an eye on the other windows. Our consciousness is similar to that monitor, and our mind, influenced by its conditionings and attachments, tends to maximize some mental windows, particularly those associated with sensual pleasure, while minimizing others where potential danger may be present. True intelligence is not allowing ourselves to be carried away by the mind’s impulses but rather focusing on the entire spectrum of thoughts, including those that are minimized or overlooked by the mind. This broader focus helps us make wiser decisions and navigate life more effectively. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 03.43) From: https://gitadaily.com/intelligent-mind-management/ Watch this content at: Intelligent mind management https://youtube.com/shorts/Glx1Ae1zbSA To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Why understand a wrongdoer Understanding a wrongdoer is not justifying a wrongdoing; it is simply evaluating whether the wrongdoer is reformable or incorrigible. When someone, a person, or a group of people commit a brutal, barbaric act of violence or terrorism, our natural tendency may be to demonize them and say these people are animals, they’re not even human beings. If someone tries to understand why those people did what they did, such people may sometimes be labeled as justifying the wrong. No, that is simply trying to understand their reasons, even if that reason is invalid. Because when we understand why people did what they did, then we can understand their mentality and know whether they can be reformed or they simply need to be punished. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 16.02) From: https://gitadaily.com/why-understand-a-wrongdoer/ Watch this content at: Why understand a wrongdoer https://youtube.com/shorts/feQxQ8BSnhE

The higher taste is not smaller, it is subtler When we strive to practice spirituality and gain the higher taste of spiritual happiness, we sometimes feel that this happiness is much smaller than the happiness through sensual indulgence, which seems so visible, accessible, and evident all around us. However, the spiritual taste is not smaller; it is just subtler. Suppose a person is used to staying in a city with lots of sensory stimuli and digital distractions through devices, and they go to a peaceful forest. Initially, they might find it boring, but slowly they will find it serene and uplifting. Just as that sensibility is developed for nature, similarly, that sensibility can be developed for Krishna through the practice of bhakti, and thus we can all relish a higher taste. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 02.59) From: https://gitadaily.com/the-higher-taste-is-not-smaller-it-is-subtler/ Watch this content at: The higher taste is not smaller, it is subtler https://youtube.com/shorts/S8bWLf4cQvs To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

When age brings realization and when it brings frustration We may often think that as we grow older, we will also grow in wisdom, that we will understand the futility of our lower, material, short-sighted desires, and that we will start pursuing higher things. However, as we age, it is the capacity of our senses to enjoy that decreases. The desires to enjoy the senses and the sense objects do not decrease simply by age. That is why just aging without engaging with our higher desires will lead only to frustration. We will have the desires but not the capacity to enjoy. Instead, when we start engaging with our higher desires, then aging will give us realization of the disappointment that comes through worldly desires and the fulfillment through spiritual higher desires. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 02.71) From: https://gitadaily.com/when-age-brings-realization-and-when-it-brings-frustration/ Watch this content at: When age brings realization and when it brings frustration https://youtube.com/shorts/5T-0YCNGsRM To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Self mastery through leverage, not through age Self-discipline becomes easier not by growing in age, but by gaining leverage. Some people think that when they are trying to battle their lower desires, as they grow older, that battle will become easier. Not necessarily. Actually, if we wish to grow in self-mastery, what we need is to cultivate higher desires right now. Yes, the lower desires may be very powerful in youth. But if we are cultivating higher desires, those higher desires will be our leverage in the battle against the lower desires, and they will enable us to win the battle of self-mastery as we grow in age. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 02.71) From: https://gitadaily.com/self-mastery-through-leverage-not-through-age/ Watch this content at: Self mastery through leverage, not through age https://youtube.com/shorts/1S_QINjcR34 To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

What our mind thinks we need What our mind thinks we need often takes us away from what we actually need. Whenever we feel down or distressed, our mind often tells us that we need some quick pleasure, a dopamine hit, eating something, watching something. But such stopgap pain-killing kind of activities only increase our illusion, our misconceptions about what is actually wrong or missing in our life. Instead, if we turn toward God with prayerful devotion, seek peace and clarity through devotional remembrance of Krishna, then we will better understand what we actually need and thereby progress towards addressing our ultimate need. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 06.05) From: https://gitadaily.com/what-our-mind-thinks-we-need/ Watch this content at: What our mind thinks we need https://youtube.com/shorts/dHCVAhFM32c?feature=share To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Fear looks backward, faith looks upward When we are overcome by fear, then we constantly replay the bad things that have happened to us in the past, and we dread that similar things will repeat in our future. Such a mentality, describing Bhagavad-Gita 18.35, keeps us immobilized and self-sabotaged. Instead, we can change our future by first choosing to look upward instead of backward. When we turn toward God and prayerfully seek His guidance and strength, then look forward, then we will be able to take small, steady steps that will help us grow in wisdom and create a brighter, better future for ourselves. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 18.35) Watch this content at: Fear looks backward, faith looks upward https://youtube.com/shorts/YtyOZ0WRaKE?feature=share To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Fear paralyzes faith energizes Whenever we are overcome by fear, we often get paralyzed, not knowing which way to move. We end up unable to move at all. That is what happens to Arjuna at the start of the Bhagavad-Gita when he feels that even his bow is slipping out of his hand, and he’s unable to do anything. But the Bhagavad-Gita gives him a higher vision, a vision that boosts his faith, that helps him understand that things are moving according to a higher plan and for a better purpose. With this vision that is founded in faith and powered by faith, he becomes energized, and thus he raises his bow, ready to fight. A similar energization is available for all of us through the wisdom of the Bhagavad-Gita. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 18.30) From: https://gitadaily.com/fear-paralyzes-faith-energizes/ Watch this content at: Fear paralyzes faith energizes https://youtube.com/shorts/cxuzD168IQs To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Chronic pessimism is covered atheism When things go wrong or even when we do something wrong, we might start feeling negative emotions rising within us; that’s an understandable response to negative stimuli. But if we end up being constantly negative, then that kind of chronic pessimism is not only mentally unhealthy for us, it is also spiritually unhealthy. Because ultimately, we understand, based on the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom 9.10, that the world works under God’s supervision, and Krishna is guiding everyone and everything ultimately to a better, higher place. So, if we are too pessimistic, then we are being atheistic. To be theistic is to be optimistic. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 09.10) From: https://gitadaily.com/chronic-pessimism-is-covered-atheism/ Watch this content at: Chronic pessimism is covered atheism https://youtu.be/Iz8pUnfklAE

The life of pleasure or the pleasure of life Only when we stop chasing the life of pleasure can we find the pleasure of life. The life of pleasure means that we think life is meant only for pleasure, and we start trying to cram our life with all the enjoyable activities that we can do with whatever resources we have. When our whole life is directed simply by the search for pleasure, we often forget higher principles, higher purposes, and our life devolves into meaninglessness, as the Bhagavad-Gita 3.17 states. Instead, when we focus on cultivating higher principles and pursuing higher purposes, especially centered on our spiritual essence and our devotional connection with our Lord, then we find the pleasure of life, that is enduring, ever-increasing love with the all-attractive Lord of our heart. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 03.17) From: https://gitadaily.com/the-life-of-pleasure-or-the-pleasure-of-life/ Watch this content at: The life of pleasure or the pleasure of life https://youtube.com/shorts/kxFDr3hjkcw To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Emotions: not commanded, but cultivated Even though emotions can’t be commanded, they can still be cultivated. Suppose someone is feeling cold. We can’t command them not to feel cold. But does that mean they are helpless? No, they can wear some warm clothes, they can do some physical activity by which the cold can be decreased. Similarly, we can’t command our emotions to feel happy or feel devotional. But that does not mean we are helpless. We can provide ourselves stimuli externally, and we can bring inside our mind thoughts internally which can foster particular emotions. If we don’t feel devotional, we can look at the beautiful pictures of the deities, we can think of our favorite pastimes of the Lord, and thus the emotion of devotion can be cultivated. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 18.35) From: https://gitadaily.com/emotions-not-commanded-but-cultivated/ Watch this content at: Emotions: not commanded, but cultivated https://youtu.be/0rbf1MV6Ovw?si=LJXA_E2EutZlE6eM To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP

Serving when we don’t feel like serving Serving when we don’t feel like serving is an expression of determination, not of deception. Sometimes, when we don’t feel like doing something, for example, serving the Lord by practicing bhakti or serving some higher cause, then we may feel, ‘Am I being deceptive and hypocritical by doing this when I don’t feel like it?’ If our intention is actually to serve, if our life is dedicated to the higher principle of serving the Lord and everyone in relationship with the Lord, then if our emotions are not supporting our intentions, then if we continue on, that is actually an expression of our determination. To serve when we don’t feel like serving is actually a sign of greater and deeper love than when we are serving because we feel like serving. (Inspired by Bhagavad-Gita 09.14) From: https://gitadaily.com/serving-when-we-dont-feel-like-serving/ Watch this content at: Serving when we don’t feel like serving https://youtube.com/shorts/nh1coivxWHo To get short articles daily on the practical application of the Bhagavad Gita now on telegram, join the channel via this connecting link Gita Daily https://t.me/gitadailyCCP