Becoming your best self
Continuous growth through self-awareness and effort. The path to gradual transformation.
Uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet, atmaiva hy atmano bandhur atmaiva ripur atmanah
Elevate yourself through the power of your mind, and not degrade yourself. The mind can be the friend and also the enemy of the self.
Na hi jnanena sadrisham pavitram iha vidyate, tat svayam yoga-samsiddhah kalenatmani vindati
In this world, there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge. Such knowledge is the mature fruit of all mysticism. One who has become accomplished in yoga finds it within their own self in due course of time.
Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa kshantirarjavam, acharyopasanam shaucham sthairyam atma-vinigrahah
Humility, pridelessness, nonviolence, tolerance, simplicity, approaching a genuine teacher, cleanliness, steadiness, and self-control — these constitute the beginning of the twenty qualities of knowledge. Cultivating these virtues purifies the heart for higher realization.
Amanitvam adambhitvam ahimsa kshantir arjavam, acharyopasanam shaucham sthairyam atma-vinigrahah
Humility, unpretentiousness, non-violence, forgiveness, simplicity, approaching a bona fide spiritual master, cleanliness, steadiness, and self-control.
Adhyatma-jnana-nityatvam tattva-jnanartha-darshanam, etaj jnanam iti proktam ajnanam yad ato 'nyatha
Constancy in self-knowledge, and philosophical pursuit of the Absolute Truth — all this is declared to be knowledge, and whatever is contrary to this is ignorance. True knowledge is the sustained inner quest for ultimate reality.
Abhayam sattva-samsuddhir jnana-yoga-vyavasthitih, danam damas cha yajnas cha svadhyayas tapa arjavam
Fearlessness, purity of heart, steadfastness in knowledge and yoga, charity, self-control, sacrifice, study of scriptures, austerity, and straightforwardness.
Ahimsa satyam akrodhas tyagah shantir apaishunam, daya bhuteshv aloluptvam mardavam hrir achapalam
Non-violence, truthfulness, absence of anger, renunciation, tranquility, absence of slander, compassion toward all, absence of greed, gentleness, modesty, and steadiness.
Tejah kshama dhritih shaucham adroho nati-manita, bhavanti sampadam daivim abhijatasya bharata
Vigor, forgiveness, fortitude, purity, absence of malice, and absence of pride—these qualities belong to those endowed with divine nature, O Arjuna.
Yat tad agre visham iva pariname 'mritopamam, tat sukham sattvikam proktam atma-buddhi-prasada-jam
That happiness which seems like poison at first but is like nectar in the end, arising from the purity of one's own mind, is declared to be of the nature of goodness.
visayendriya-samyogad yat tad agre 'mritopamam pariname visam iva tat sukham rajasam smrtam
The happiness that arises from the contact of the senses with their objects, which is nectar-like at first but poison-like in the end — that is declared to be rajasic happiness. Sensory pleasure promises much but ultimately delivers suffering.
Dhyayato visayan pumsah sangas tesupajayate, sangat sanjayate kamah kamat krodho 'bhijayate
While contemplating the objects of the senses, a person develops attachment for them. From attachment develops desire, and from desire arises anger.
Krodhad bhavati sammohah sammohat smriti-vibhramah, smriti-bhramshad buddhi-nasho buddhi-nashat pranashyati
From anger comes delusion; from delusion, confused memory; from confused memory, the ruin of reason; from the ruin of reason, one perishes.
Evam buddheh param buddhva samstabhyatmanam atmana, jahi shatrum maha-baho kama-rupam durasadam
Thus knowing the soul to be superior to the material intellect, O mighty-armed Arjuna, subdue the self by the self and conquer lust, the formidable enemy.
Shraddhaval labhate jnanam tat-parah samyatendriyah, jnanam labdhva param shantim acirenadhigacchati
Those who have faith, are devoted, and have mastered their senses quickly attain divine knowledge. Upon attaining such knowledge, they soon achieve supreme peace.
Asanshayam maha-baho mano durnigraham calam, abhyasena tu kaunteya vairagyena ca grhyate
The mind is restless and difficult to restrain, but it is subdued by practice and detachment.
Buddhir jnanam asammohah ksama satyam damah shamah, sukham duhkham bhavo 'bhavo bhayam cabhayam eva ca
Intelligence, knowledge, freedom from doubt and delusion, forgiveness, truthfulness, self-control and calmness, happiness and distress, birth, death, fear, and fearlessness — all these diverse qualities of living beings arise from Me alone.
Ahimsa samata tushtis tapo danam yasho 'yashaha, bhavanti bhava bhutanam matta eva prithag-vidhah
Non-violence, equanimity, contentment, austerity, charity, fame, and infamy — all the various states of beings arise from Me alone. The catalogue of divine vibhutis continues, encompassing both celebrated and inglorious conditions, all arising from the one infinite source.
Mayi cha ananya-yogena bhaktir avyabhicharini, vivikta-desha-sevitvam aratir jana-samsadi
Unwavering devotion to Me through single-minded yoga, inclination toward solitary places, and aversion to the company of worldly people — these mark the knower of Truth. Pure devotion to God is itself the highest knowledge.
Sarva-bhūteṣhu yenaikaṁ bhāvam avyayam īkṣhate, avibhaktaṁ vibhakteṣhu taj jñānaṁ viddhi sāttvikam
That knowledge by which one sees the imperishable reality in all beings, undivided in the divided—know that knowledge to be of the nature of goodness.
pravrittim ca nivrittim ca karyakaryec bhayabhaye bandham moksam ca ya vetti buddhi sa partha sattviki
The intellect that knows what is to be done and what is not to be done, what is to be feared and what is not to be feared, what leads to bondage and what leads to liberation — that intellect is sattvic, O Arjuna.
Read slowly and contemplate. Don't rush through these verses. Pick one that resonates and sit with it for a few minutes.
Return regularly. Ancient wisdom reveals itself gradually. Come back to these verses when you need them.
Apply to your situation. Consider how each teaching relates specifically to what you're experiencing right now.
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