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

Apr 9, 2018 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Change your perception
We all get so easily distracted by things that we even know we don't want. When there's something we really want, we talk ourselves into it, and if there's something we don't want, we talk ourselves out of it. In the text, Bhaja Govindam, Adi Shankaracharya recognizes that we often have that internal conversation, but shifts us into a deeper practice of repeated action, so we do things that are conducive for us. Not just saying it once, but over and over again. Swamini Supriyananda explains that changing our default mindset requires effort - it's not as easy as a changing our phone settings. She expounds on a very easy tool which then lets us start seeing things for what they are.
Mar 3, 2018 · 10 min
Keep it Real - Let's talk about sex
Thinking about sex takes up so much energy. With a limited amount of time and resources, we end up allowing it to consume our thoughts and giving it more importance than it deserves. It's definitely necessary for so many reasons, but Swamini Supriyananda helps us understand how we can optimise our life with it.
Mar 2, 2018 · 6 min
Keep it Real - With or Without
So many of our life goals are defined by wealth. Wealth is necessary to keep us within our needs, but often the desire for wealth means we quickly want to upgrade our standard of living. The desire for wealth very quickly turns into greed. Nothing is then enough. Swamini Supriyananda uplifts us, reminding us to truly value the smallest things we have. Running after something we don't have, is indeed foolish, whilst we can just choose to enjoy what we already do have.
Feb 2, 2018 · 8 min
Keep it Real - Jets and Diamonds
So many of our life goals are defined by wealth. Wealth is necessary to keep us within our needs, but often the desire for wealth means we quickly want to upgrade our standard of living. The desire for wealth very quickly turns into greed. Nothing is then enough. Swamini Supriyananda uplifts us, reminding us to truly value the smallest things we have. Running after something we don't have, is indeed foolish, whilst we can just choose to enjoy what we already do have.
Jan 29, 2018 · 7 min
Keep it Real - Stress Less
We spend so much of our life preparing, acquiring and accomplishing. We spend so much time learning the sciences of life, the economic markets of different countries, the improvements in technology; yet are any of these going to help us at the most crucial times of our life? Whilst analysis of markets, improvement in medicine and technology make our life more efficient and thus improve the 'standard of living'. What will help us improve our 'standard of life'? What will help us deal with our past regrets or our biggest worries of the future? Swamini Supriyananda helps us understand how spiritual knowledge enables us to tackle issues wisely on a daily basis and also at the time of death.
Jan 27, 2018 · 6 min
Keep it Real - Introduction
We have so many foolish notions in our head that need to be clarified. One of the greatest masters , Adi Shankaracharya, brings to our attention all the fallacies we may have through his composition, Bhaja Govindam. Swamini Supriyananda will be reflecting on the essence of these verses and points on what should have been obvious, but we don't quite notice. The commentary by Swami Chinmayananda can be purchased on these platforms: Kindle | iTunes | Google Play
Dec 28, 2017 · 7 min
Stay Connected - Same Same but Different
Wouldn't it be so beautiful if we see God in everything? Easier said than done. If we like something, we can see God in them. If we have to see God in things we don't like, or hate ; our minds translate dislike into un-divine. If we can change our minds or forgive those people who we hate, then in that person we can see hints of goodness. As we reduce our impurities, we will see that Self in all people. Swamini Supriyananda expounds on how this feeling of one-ness can only bring about love and nothing else.
Dec 21, 2017 · 6 min
Stay Connected - Disconnect to Reconnect
Unknowingly we have actually made the goal of our life sorrow. Our desires normally stem from objects that will not give us eternal happiness. We know it can't be eternal because if it has a beginning, and so it has to have an end. That end is the birth of sorrow. Swamini Supriyananda explains this thoroughly, through a beautiful humorous story. To connect with joy, we have to disconnect with sorrow, and disconnect with our attachment.
Dec 15, 2017 · 7 min
Stay Connected - The Middle Path
Moderation is key - we hear this everywhere. Little do many people know that an imbalance in any aspect of our life is the real reason for why we are in pain. Anything too much or too little can be harmful for us at both an emotional and physical level. Swamini Supiryananda logically unravels this secret of moderation and leads us to understand how balance is joy.
Dec 8, 2017 · 8 min
Stay Connected - Striving for Perfection
There are so many different layers to our personality, the layers that we keep seeing change, our wants, our mood, our body our goals. Yet underneath these layers there is that changeless. Swamini Supriyananda shows us how we can take the periphery parts of our personality and unite it with the perfect part by taking all that is is not perfect and resting it in Infinitude .
Dec 1, 2017 · 5 min
Stay Connected - Keeping it Real
For us to be connected, we need to be real with who we are, and it is only knowledge that can help that. Swamini Supriyananda expounds on how the Bhagavad Geeta states that knowledge is a means of purification. She delves into deeper meanings with another great story.
Nov 20, 2017 · 9 min
Stay Connected - Fly High
Our days go by sometimes not feeling as 'complete' as others. There may be a multitude of reasons for why that could have happened, but mostly because our actions were inefficient and didn't allow us to connect. Action can be a way for us to reconnect; it can be a means of yoga. Swamini Supriyananda explains how an action can be seen as efficient and expounds on various ways we can take a simple task with a broader perspective and a higher ideal.
Sep 18, 2017 · 11 min
Stay Connected - Unlike That
Likes and dislikes are the tinted glasses through which we see the world. Working towards equipoise, will slowly diffuse our likes and dislikes, which will allow us to connect with ourselves better. Using a fresh approach, Swamini Supriyananda, breaks down the meaning of an equipoised mind and explains how moving away from restlessness is our path to divinity.
Aug 30, 2017 · 9 min
Stay Connected - In For The Ride
Staying connected with ourselves can happen in so many ways, as illustrated in the Bhagvad Geeta. Swamini Supriyananda elaborates on the first technique; staying true to who we are without being washed away by all our emotions.
Aug 21, 2017 · 9 min
Stay Connected - Introduction
Connecting ourselves to the world gets easier by the day. Facebook, Whatsapp Groups and Snapchat have really changed the way we interact on a daily basis. Yet in this world of so many connections, we have lost our connection with the real deal, our real self. We constantly feel as though we are conflicted, with our emotions, our decisions and possibly even with the different roles we have to engage in. The lack of harmony in our fragmented being can be resolved through yoga. Join Swamini Supriyananda as she thinks about how we can immerse and connect ourselves to our true being, in the latest chapter of her podcast, Stay Connected.
Jun 28, 2017 · 7 min
Be Like ...The Sun
The sun shining in its glory is there as a constant reminder for us to uplift ourselves. Swamini Supriyananda delves into how giving without any limitations, just like the sun does, is the greatest way for us to love.
May 30, 2017 · 7 min
Be Like... The Ocean
Can we actually be limitless? Limitless in our strength, in our wisdom, in our talent or in our love. We have everything in abundance, yet we fear there won't be enough. Swamini Supriyananda shares all these notions and divisions we often create in our mind, and advises us to drop these boundaries by just being like the ocean.
May 16, 2017 · 7 min
Be Like... The Moon
Change is an inevitable factor in life, however sometimes there are just a few things that we never want to change. Albeit our relationships or a beautifully scenic moment - the problem exists in the resistance and not the actual change. To move away from this resistance, Swamini Supriyananda, through the use of an anecdote, suggests a great technique by shifting our perspective.
Apr 4, 2017 · 8 min
Be Like...The Forgiving Earth
"To forgive, is to let go of what was; and allow ourselves to be here and experience what is." Swamini Supriyananda explains that as we forgive the other person, we are not doing it for them; but rather for ourselves, as we are then able to let ourselves free from the prison of the past. With great clarity, she deconstructs the reasons for how significant forgiveness is through the example of the greatest of all givers and forgivers: Mother Earth.
Mar 29, 2017 · 9 min
Be Like...The Forbearing Earth
Endurance sprouts out of two places, either love or inspiration. Sometimes, when we lack that inspiration to endure, we just have to see the way beautiful planet we are living in endures all the harmful effects of globalisation, yet still continuously provides and shelters. Swamini Supriyananda elaborately reflects on the forbearing nature of the Earth, and how we too, should not let anything bring us down and continue on our journey forever inspired.