Thinking about It

Swamini Supriyananda - Chinmaya Mission

Do you ever stop and think about why you do what you do everyday?

Australian psychologist turned Hindu Monk, Swamini Supriyananda, provides insightful answers to your contemporary questions and challenges. Her captivating anecdotes, infused with the philosophies of the ancient Hindu teachings, are guaranteed to inspire us to think about it!

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345 episodes
Updated March 13

Episodes345

Newest first

Jun 9, 2019 · 9 min
Keep it Real - The Why and the How
We can make spiritual progress only by preparing and training our mind so that its ready to gain the knowledge. There are many techniques to prepare the mind. Swaminiji shares many examples of the same with us. It's important to remember that the techniques are the means to help us prepare the mind for knowledge. People get stuck in the means and forget the rest. Without getting the knowledge, discipline in 100 lifetimes will not get us to moksha.
Jun 2, 2019 · 9 min
Keep it Real - Overcoming our Desires
As a follow up from the previous episode, now that we know that desires can really harm us and that we should get over them, we learn methods to get over our desires. One such method is to delay gratification. An extended version of delayed gratification is tapas. The problem with tapas in isolation is that our mind will try to fulfill the desire in another shape or form. A combination of tapas and attachment to a higher cause is the surest way to get over desires.
May 24, 2019 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Working with our desires
Have we ever felt as if we have outgrown certain desires? What do we do about desires we have that are extremely bad for us? Swamini Supriyananda talks about the importance of acknowledging the desires we have and the importance of us letting go of them.
May 16, 2019 · 9 min
Keep it Real - To be, or to pretend to be
It's not what's outside, but what's inside that counts. Our superficial desires sometimes make us false pretenders to seek glory; without necessarily working towards actually experiencing that glory. Listen to Swamini Supriyananda narrate a transformative tale of a thief to learn more about the path of renunciation.
May 9, 2019 · 11 min
Keep it Real - Old Monks don't Lie
Swamini Supriyananda narrates a story about seeking happiness from motives of desire and how this will lead to nothing. If we learn to release our cravings in the search for contentment, we will find it. Listen to this tale about an Old Monk's lesson to learn more.
May 2, 2019 · 6 min
Keep it Real - Getting over Misery
We as humans tend to be dissatisfied with what we have and want things that we don't have. We often chase things we don't need, because we tell ourselves that its the next thing we get will give us happiness. Swamini Surpiyananda very thoughtfully draws up the parallel between our infinite and never-ending quest for materialistic things to the infinite ocean. With this in mind, we learn that the boat that will help us navigate through the ocean is Satsang. We learn the importance of surrounding ourselves with people who can have a good influence on our lives and the significant impact they can create.
Apr 26, 2019 · 10 min
Keep it Real - Why are we stressed?
Swamini Supriyananda talks about our love-hate relationship with stress. We think we thrive under stress and we are more productive, we also associate our work's importance based on how stressed we are. We say and know that we don't want to be stressed. This verse in Bhaja Govindam teaches is that we are really not in control, nobody is. There is a power far greater looking after each one of us. We stress about things so much even though they aren't in our control. So much is already being taken care of, we need to realize this.
Apr 17, 2019 · 7 min
Keep it Real - Time for the Timeless
Swamini Supriyananda talks about how time can play tricks on us. Sometimes we think we have plenty of time, so we go about planning to use that time - and before we know it, the time runs out. Other times, we think we have no time, therefore we cannot achieve what we need to get done. We learn how to optimize the time we have in any situation, by using it to find what is timeless.
Apr 11, 2019 · 11 min
Keep it Real - Pride is Crime
There are many 'rags to riches' stories you may have heard, but there are countless 'riches to rags' stories that you may have not. Swamini Supriyananda describes how 'pride' is a robber. Pride in temporary and superficial traits only sets us up for disappointment in the future, binding us to what is 'finite'. Learn to see clearer who we really are, (the 'infinite'), by letting go of your pride.
Apr 8, 2019 · 11 min
Keep it Real - Know The Truth
Swamini Supriyananda talks about how we can remove everything that we know to not be true, so that all that remains is the truth and nothing more. The truth also referred to as knowledge, is what removes sufferings and will lead us to enlightenment.
Apr 4, 2019 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Pulling the wool away from our eyes
Swamini Supriyananda talks about how our attachments prevent us from seeing things or people for what they are. Our ultimate attachment is to our body, and to who we think we are. We learn that we are nothing but infinite truth, and that the only obstacle stopping us from being infinite is our attachment - how willing are you to let go?
Apr 3, 2019 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Choose your inspiration
Have you ever thought about how we are attached to simple things and habits? Swamini Supriyananda talks about how our attachments and habits can blind us and make us do things that are not correct. We learn how to detach from the lower.
Mar 28, 2019 · 7 min
Keep it Real - Chameleon like
You are what you eat, and the company that you keep. This episode talks about the importance of carefully choosing the company we keep, especially in our thoughts. Swamini Supriyananda explains the meaning of truth, and why our thoughts and presence should be centered around what is true.
Mar 6, 2019 · 11 min
Keep it Real - Choosing your crew
This episode talks about the importance of surrounding ourselves with the right kind of people and how much of an impact this can make in our life. Swamini Supriyananda talks about the story of sage Valmiki, one of the most influential sages of India.
Feb 28, 2019 · 9 min
Keep it Real - Who Are You?
Swamini Supriyananda talks about how we associate our identity with our profession or our net worth. She brings to light the concept of disconnecting ourselves from our body, mind and intellect. She so cheerfully tells us how to think about who we really are.
Feb 20, 2019 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Attachments
We tend to be attached to things whose importance significantly deplets over time. Only later do we realize that being attached to those things weren't in our best interest after all. Swamini Supriyananda gives us great examples on these things and also tells us what we're trading off for these attachments.
Feb 13, 2019 · 7 min
Keep it Real - Prepare for Death
Good things, just like everything else, comes to an end. Every living creature dies. Swamini Supriyananda talks about how to prepare for the inevitable. If death is the destination, she tells us how we should treat the journey.
Feb 8, 2019 · 7 min
Keep it Real - We're all Selfish
We tend to use objects for as long as they have a value, and the moment it is worthless, we discard it. Swamini Supriyananda shines light on our inner selfishness and reminds us to keep our higher goal in mind.
Jan 31, 2019 · 9 min
Keep it Real - Limitless
What type of king would you be? Swamini Supriyananda vivaciously retells one of his timeless stories: a powerful annecdote reminding us to think about how we we choose to live our lives.
May 4, 2018 · 9 min
Keep it Real - Life is Fleeting
Our lives are uncertain as we don't know what will come next. Everyday the news is filled with natural disasters, political unrest and economic crisis. We see our loved ones suffer through health issues or relationships. Bhaja Govindam keeps reminding us that we don't know what tomorrow holds. The past is gone - so be present in the moment. Swamini Supriyananda invites us to reflect on some thought provoking questions and leaves us pondering on whether we are preparing ourselves for that which is certain?