#easternphilosophy — Public Fediverse posts

The Self

https://ridiculousbharath.wordpress.com/2026/05/12/the-self/

The Shape of a Life Well-Lived

https://legawa.com/2026/05/09/the-shape-of-a-life-well-lived/

By one established in continence, vigor is gained
Yoga-sutras by Patanjali
#celibacy #celibate #easternphilosophy #yoga #asceticism #ascetic

"This book is all madness.
Reason is alien to these pages.
Not until the soul breathes in
the fragrance of its own lunacy
can it stop being a stranger to itself."

#Bookstodon #BookReview #Sufism #EasternPhilosophy

The Conference of the Birds by Attar of Nishapur
https://hermitage.utsob.me/reading/books/read/the-conference-of-the-birds-by-attar/

🌀 Daily Tao Reflection 14

“Look, and it can’t be seen.
Listen, and it can’t be heard.
Reach, and it can’t be grasped.”

The Tao doesn’t hide. It just can’t be held.
Not a form. Not a sound. Not a thing.
But you can be it.

No beginning. No end.
No image, yet it shapes all images.
No name, yet it names all names.

#tao #taoteching #dailytao #mindfulness #laotzu #easternphilosophy

“Success is as dangerous as failure.
Hope is as hollow as fear.”

Climb or fall, the ladder is shaky.
Stand grounded—stay balanced.

Hope and fear arise from ego.
Lose the self—what’s left to fear?

🌀 See the world as yourself.
🌀 Love it as yourself.
🌀 Care for all things.

#tao #taoteching #dailytao #mindfulness #laotzu #spirituality #easternphilosophy

Renunciation of work and devotion to work, are both liberating. But of those two, devotion to work is better.
- Sri Krishna, 5-2

Me: Simply put, this verse promotes being engaged over being withdrawn.

#Sanskrit
संन्यासः कर्मयोगश्च निःश्रेयसकरावुभौ ।
तयोस्तु कर्मसंन्यासात्कर्मयोगो विशिष्यते ॥

#Kannada script:
ಸಂನ್ಯಾಸಃ ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗಶ್ಚ ನಿಃಶ್ರೇಯಸಕರಾವುಭೌ |
ತಯೋಸ್ತು ಕರ್ಮಸಂನ್ಯಾಸಾತ್ಕರ್ಮಯೋಗೋ ವಿಶಿಷ್ಯತೇ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #work #devotion #engagement #withdrawl

One who is sincere [in effort] and has control of [their] senses attains knowledge.
- Sri Krishna, 4-39

#Sanskrit: श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं तत्परः संयतेंद्रियः
#Kannada script: ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾವಾನ್ ಲಭತೇ ಜ್ಞಾನಂ ತತ್ಪರಃ ಸಂಯತೇಂದ್ರಿಯಃ

PS: The following adaption is common:
- The sincere ones attain knowledge; the knowledgeable ones achieve success.
- श्रद्धावान् लभते ज्ञानं ज्ञानावान् लभते यशम्
- ಶ್ರದ್ಧಾವಾನ್ ಲಭತೇ ಜ್ಞಾನಂ ಜ್ಞಾನಾವಾನ್ ಲಭತೇ ಯಶಂ

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #sincerity #control #knowledge

Nothing compares to (purity of) knowledge.
- Sri Krishna, 4-38

Literally: Nothing exists that equals the purity [sanctity] of knowledge.

#Sanskrit: न हि ज्ञानेन सदृशं (पवित्रमिह विद्यते)
#Kannada script: ನ ಹಿ ಜ್ಞಾನೇನ ಸದೃಶಂ (ಪವಿತ್ರಮಿಹ ವಿದ್ಯತೇ)

Trivia: The phrase "na hi jnyaanaena sadrusham" (the first four words of Verse 4-38) is frequently the motto/slogan of schools and colleges in India (and it was for my school).

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #knowledge #motto #slogans

Sacrifice [in pursuit] of knowledge is superior to material sacrifice because the entirety of all actions [activities] can only culminate in knowledge.
- Sri Krishna, 4-33

#Sanskrit
श्रेयांद्रव्यमयाद्यज्ञात् ज्ञानयाज्ञः परंतप ।
सर्वं कर्माखिलां पार्थ ज्ञाने परिसमाप्तते ॥

#Kannada script:
ಶ್ರೇಯಾಂದ್ರವ್ಯಮಯಾದ್ಯಜ್ಞಾತ್ ಜ್ಞಾನಯಾಜ್ಞಃ ಪರಂತಪ |
ಸರ್ವಂ ಕರ್ಮಾಖಿಲಾಂ ಪಾರ್ಥ ಜ್ಞಾನೇ ಪರಿಸಮಾಪ್ತತೇ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #sacrifice #knowledge

True sustenance [satisfaction, achievement] is in service and such sustenance [service] is how one reaches the pinnacle*.
- Sri Krishna, 4-31

*The actual word used is "brahma" (ब्रह्म ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ), which here means pinnacle.

PS: Verses 4-25 through 4-30 [omitted from this thread] describe some ways one can offer service.

#Sanskrit: यज्ञशिष्टामृतभुजो यांति ब्रह्म सनातनं
#Kannada script: ಯಜ್ಞಶಿಷ್ಟಾಮೃತಭುಜೋ ಯಾಂತಿ ಬ್ರಹ್ಮ ಸನಾತನಂ

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #service #satisfaction #achievement

The learned [people] consider as wise those who perform all activities with a burning desire for knowledge, detached from expectations of outcomes.
- Sri Krishna, 4-19

#Sanskrit:
यस्य सर्वे समारंभाः कामसंकल्पवर्जिताः ।
ज्ञानाग्निदग्धकर्माणां तमाहुः पंडितं बुधाः ॥

#Kannada script:
ಯಸ್ಯ ಸರ್ವೇ ಸಮಾರಂಭಾಃ ಕಾಮಸಂಕಲ್ಪವರ್ಜಿತಾಃ |
ಜ್ಞಾನಾಗ್ನಿದಗ್ಧಕರ್ಮಾಣಾಂ ತಮಾಹುಃ ಪಂಡಿತಂ ಬುಧಾಃ ||

Related to verse 2-47: https://hachyderm.io/@smurthys/113188972323492878

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #expectations #wisdom #detachment

Action is inaction and inaction is action. The wise see both as one and carry them out so.
- Sri Krishna, 4-18

PS: Answers the question in 4-16 ☝️

#Sanskrit:
कर्मण्यकर्म यः पश्येदकर्मणि च कर्म य ।
स बुद्धिमान्मनुष्येषु स युक्त: कृत्स्नकर्मकृत् ॥

#Kannada script:
ಕರ್ಮಣ್ಯಕರ್ಮ ಯಃ ಪಶ್ಯೇದಕರ್ಮಣಿ ಚ ಕರ್ಮ ಯ |
ಸ ಬುದ್ಧಿಮಾನ್ಮನುಷ್ಯೇಷು ಸ ಯುಕ್ತ: ಕೃತ್ಸ್ನಕರ್ಮಕೃತ್ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #action #wisdom #awareness

What is action and what is inaction? This question has fascinated even the scholars*.
- Sri Krishna, 4-16

*Literally "kawayoh" (कवयो) means "poets", but "scholars" fits better in this context.

#Sanskrit: किं कर्म किमकर्मेति कवयोsप्यत्र मोहिताः
#Kannada script: ಕಿಂ ಕರ್ಮ ಕಿಮಕರ್ಮೇತಿ ಕವಯೋsಪ್ಯತ್ರ ಮೋಹಿತಾಃ

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #action #wisdom #awareness

The senses are higher than the body; the mind is higher than the senses. Above the mind is intellect, and above the intellect is self*.
- Sri Krishna, 3-42

*consistent with verse 3-38 ☝️. Can also be interpreted as "consciousness".

#Sanskrit:
इंद्रियाणि परण्याहुरिंद्रियेभ्यः परं मनः ।
मनसस्तु परा बुद्धिर्यो बुद्धेः परतस्तु सः ॥

#Kannada script:
ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಾಣಿ ಪರಣ್ಯಾಹುರಿಂದ್ರಿಯೇಭ್ಯಃ ಪರಂ ಮನಃ |
ಮನಸಸ್ತು ಪರಾ ಬುದ್ಧಿರ್ಯೋ ಬುದ್ಧೇಃ ಪರತಸ್ತು ಸಃ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #knowledge #consciousness #hierarchy

Just as fire is covered by smoke and similarly a mirror is obscured by dust, just as the embryo rests deep within the womb, knowledge is likewise hidden by self [selfishness].
- Sri Krishna, 3-38

#Sanskrit:
धूमेनाव्रियते वह्निर्यथादर्शो मलेन च ।
यथोल्बेनावृतो गर्भस्तथा तेनेदमावृतं ॥

#Kannada script:
ಧೂಮೇನಾವ್ರಿಯತೇ ವಹ್ನಿರ್ಯಥಾದರ್ಶೋ ಮಲೇನ ಚ |
ಯಥೋಲ್ಬೇನಾವೃತೋ ಗರ್ಭಸ್ತಥಾ ತೇನೇದಮಾವೃತಂ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #knowledge #selfishness

It is better to progress in one's own path than to follow another's. There is learning in failing in own path but anxiety if following another's.
- Sri Krishna, 3-35

#Sanskrit:
श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।
स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

#Kannada script:
ಶ್ರೇಯಾನ್ಸ್ವಧರ್ಮೋ ವಿಗುಣಃ ಪರಧರ್ಮಾತ್ಸ್ವನುಷ್ಠಿತಾತ್ |
ಸ್ವಧರ್ಮೇ ನಿಧನಂ ಶ್ರೇಯಃ ಪರಧರ್ಮೋ ಭಯಾವಹಃ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #dedication #focus #awareness

[Even] the wise act within the limitations of their own nature.
- Sri Krishna, 3-33

#Sanskrit: स्वदृशं चेष्टते स्वस्याः प्रकृतेर्ज्ञानवानपि
#Kannada script: ಸ್ವದೃಶಂ ಚೇಷ್ಟತೇ ಸ್ವಸ್ಯಾಃ ಪ್ರಕೃತೇರ್ಜ್ಞಾನವಾನಪಿ

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #gita #discretion #wisdom #awareness

The way outstanding people conduct [themselves], they set standards for the world to follow.
- Sri Krishna, 3-21

#Sanskrit:
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेतरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कुरुते लोकस्तदनुवर्तते ॥

#Kannada script:
ಯದ್ಯದಾಚರತಿ ಶ್ರೇಷ್ಠಸ್ತತ್ತದೇವೇತರೋ ಜನಃ |
ಸ ಯತ್ಪ್ರಮಾಣಂ ಕುರುತೇ ಲೋಕಸ್ತದನುವರ್ತತೇ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #work #excellence #model #gita

He who shirks action does not attain freedom. He who abstains from work does not achieve perfection.
- Sri Krishna, 3-4

#Sanskrit:
न कर्मणामनारंभात् नैष्कर्म्यं पुरुषोsश्नुते ।
न च संन्यसनादेव सिद्धिं समदिगच्छति ॥

#Kannada script:
ನ ಕರ್ಮಣಾಮನಾರಂಭಾತ್ ನೈಷ್ಕರ್ಮ್ಯಂ ಪುರುಷೋsಶ್ನುತೇ |
ನ ಚ ಸಂನ್ಯಸನಾದೇವ ಸಿದ್ಧಿಂ ಸಮದಿಗಚ್ಛತಿ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #work #workEthic #freedom #perfection #gita

That which the world calls day is the night of ignorance to the wise.
- Sri Krishna, 2-69

PS: I believe this line highlights the difference between the learning (abilities) of the wise and lay people: what the wise consider having learned in "dark ignorance", a lay person considers learning when wide awake during the day.

#Sanskrit: यस्यां जाग्रति भूतानि सा निशा पश्यतो मुने:
#Kannada script: ಯಸ್ಯಾಂ ಜಾಗ್ರತಿ ಭೂತಾನಿ ಸಾ ನಿಶಾ ಪಶ್ಯತೋ ಮುನೇ:

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #sensing #learning #gita

When you let your mind follow the call of the senses, they carry away your better judgement like storms drive a boat off its chartered course on the sea.
- Sri Krishna, 2-67

#Sanskrit:
इंद्रियाणां हि चरतां यन्मनोsनुविधीयते ।
तदस्य हरति प्रङ्ञां वायुर्नावमिवाभंसि ॥

#Kannada script:
ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಾಣಾಂ ಹಿ ಚರತಾಂ ಯನ್ಮನೋsನುವಿಧೀಯತೇ |
ತದಸ್ಯ ಹರತಿ ಪ್ರಙ್ಞಾಂ ವಾಯುರ್ನಾವಮಿವಾಭಂಸಿ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #judgment #selfcontrol #gita

Just as a tortoise in danger [instinctively] draws in its limbs, the wise too can draw in their senses at will.
- Sri Krishna, 2-58

#Sanskrit:
यदा संहरते चायं कूर्माsङ्गानीव सर्वशः ।
इंद्रियाणींद्रियार्थेभ्यस्तस्य प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठिता ॥

#Kannada script:
ಯದಾ ಸಂಹರತೇ ಚಾಯಂ ಕೂರ್ಮಾsಙ್ಗಾನೀವ ಸರ್ವಶಃ |
ಇಂದ್ರಿಯಾಣೀಂದ್ರಿಯಾರ್ಥೇಭ್ಯಸ್ತಸ್ಯ ಪ್ರಜ್ಞಾ ಪ್ರತಿಷ್ಠಿತಾ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #awareness #instincts #gita

You have the right to work, but never to the fruit of the work. You should never engage in action for the sake of reward, nor should you long for inaction.
- Sri Krishna, 2-47

PS: The first sentence is one of top #quotes from the #gita

#Sanskrit:
कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन ।
मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोsस्त्वकर्मणि ॥

#Kannada script:
ಕರ್ಮಣ್ಯೇವಾಧಿಕಾರಸ್ತೇ ಮಾ ಫಲೇಷು ಕದಾಚನ |
ಮಾ ಕರ್ಮಫಲಹೇತುರ್ಭೂರ್ಮಾ ತೇ ಸಂಗೋsಸ್ತ್ವಕರ್ಮಣಿ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #Hindu #duty #workEthic #expectations

Just as a reservoir is of little use when the whole countryside is flooded, scriptures are of little use to the learned.
- Sri Krishna, 2-46

#Sanskrit:
यावानर्थ उदपाने सर्वतः संप्लुतोदके ।
तावान्सर्वेषु वेदेषु ब्राह्मणस्य विजानतः ॥

#Kannada script:
ಯಾವಾನರ್ಥ ಉದಪಾನೇ ಸರ್ವತಃ ಸಂಪ್ಲುತೋದಕೇ |
ತಾವಾನ್ಸರ್ವೇಷು ವೇದೇಷು ಬ್ರಾಹ್ಮಣಸ್ಯ ವಿಜಾನತಃ ||

#philosophy #easternPhilosophy #India #Hindu #gita