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

Mar 22, 2017 · 8 min
Be Like... The Patient Earth
We often forget to pause and think about this tiny planet Earth, in which we have created our massive world filled with chaos. If we see the Earth as being patient, waiting for each season to dutifully finish its course until the next one comes. Swamini Supriyananda delves into how each occurrence is what it needs to be, and it is our impatience that makes us think otherwise; we may not see the results immediately and our planet shows us just that.
Mar 8, 2017 · 9 min
Be Like...Water
Water is something we see all around us; when we shower; in nature, and we are even told to drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday. Imagine, if through the day as we have a glass of water, we can get water to inspire us. What an amazing source of inspiration that can indefinitely sustain. Swamini Supriyananda will expand on how we can remind ourselves to purify and be purified through water.
Mar 1, 2017 · 7 min
Be Like... Fire
Fire, with its blazing presence, burns and the ideal gas law states that hot air will rise. Contrary to the common destructive property of fire, the gas law shows that we can see fire as a source of upliftment. Swamini Supriyananda reiterates the importance of this internal burn to develop the physical, mental and spiritual aspects of our personality.
Feb 21, 2017 · 8 min
Be Like...Air
Air is a prevalent everywhere, but what is that one thing that you would like to adopt from air? Swamini Supriyananda poetically describes the freedom we would feel, if we became like air.
Feb 15, 2017 · 8 min
Be Like...Space
As children, while growing up we've always had aspirations to be like the famous footballer or that tv chef, and the list goes on. However in this episode, Swamini Supriyananda inspires us to think otherwise, and to aspire to to be like space. Space, may seem rather unusual, but her series begins with her humorously elaborating on how accommodating space is, and how we can adopt this simple practice to lessen our agitations.
Feb 6, 2017 · 7 min
The Legend - Heart Core
As we approach the last talk of the series, the Legend; Swamini Supriyananda finishes on the note of the most important aspect of our being, the heart. We identify ourselves in our day-to-day lives with our career, our viewpoints, our personalities. But underneath it all, is our spiritual heart, in other words, our soul. This soul cannot be described, but due to limitation of language, the word 'infinite' is used. Through her words, she gives us a glimpse into that amazing wonder of the land of infinitude, as the last verse of the Hanuman Chalisa wishes for our hearts to be ever-filled with that divinity.
Jan 25, 2017 · 10 min
The Legend - Derailed
We are often so cynical about the benefits of chanting, and for those on the path of knowledge, it might even get classified as ritualistic. Swamini Supriyananda glorifies its benefits on so many levels, she can only have you convinced to try it at least once.
Jan 18, 2017 · 7 min
The Legend - Victim to Victor
A shift in mindset can transform our role away from being a victim in a situation towards being a victor. Who's a victor? That person, who does not let any situation bring them down and only take them further. We often feel that we are helplessly caught in the convolution and complications of life, but Swamini Supriyananda gives us 3 steps on how we can actively step away from that mentality of life just 'happening' to us.
Jan 11, 2017 · 9 min
The Legend - Forming the Form
Within each one of us, we have this abundance of joy, talent, virtues, power; but we forget it is abundant. We feel compelled to protect ourselves, as there may be some shortage. Meditation is a great tool to draw our attention within, and reconnect with the abundance, relish it and then share - as we will always have enough. Swamini Supriyananda elaborates on the technique of meditation the Hanuman Chalisa suggests.
Dec 25, 2016 · 12 min
The Legend - It's not Time
Reincarnation is something many people don't understand, as they don't believe in a life other than this. However, regardless of whether another life exists, the past, present and future are happening simultaneously in our life at the same time. Swamini Supriyananda further elaborates into sharing understandings of other phycisists who have tried to analyse time, and through her reflection has come to explain how the perception of our future and the way we deal with our past lies completely in the state of our mind.
Dec 17, 2016 · 7 min
The Legend - Power Doesn't Corrupt
"We look forward to the day when the power of love overrules the love for power.". Swamini Supriyananda talks about our infinite power and how contrary to popular belief, it's not the power that corrupts, its the decision on what we do with the power.
Dec 2, 2016 · 12 min
The Legend - Give me Love
We all try to run away from pain, it may be those heartaches, that horrible boss or recovering from a serious illness. The only antidote to pain, is to allow our minds to get filled with an abundance of love. We all have probably experienced love as a powerful tool, giving us strength when we need it most. Swamini Supriyananda clarifies this notion of how our love will release us from any kind of suffering.
Nov 26, 2016 · 10 min
The Legend - Instrumental Advantage
Instrumental Advantage is a strategic tool that may be unheard of to many. Swamini Supiryananda expounds on what being an instrument truly means, and how this world would be such a beautiful place if we all had this simple shift in perspective.
Nov 18, 2016 · 6 min
The Legend - Thinking + Doing
A lot of our sorrows or disappointments come from the misalignment of our action word and deed. But what does that mean? Swamini Supriyananda through the use of relatable examples expresses how we might have come across this sentiment before and shows us a how chanting the Hanuman Chalisa will help us get realigned.
Nov 14, 2016 · 8 min
The Legend - Sugar Tablets
Placebo effect is quite commonly known, and this just shows the power of our thoughts. We are told that we have been given the medicine, and our body automatically inclines towards beginning the healing process. Swamini Supriyananda discusses the potency of chanting the Hanuman Chalisa and explains the power of chanting in our minds.
Nov 12, 2016 · 8 min
The Legend - Internal Halloween
Halloween celebrated annually on the 31st of October, often brings people to think "Do ghosts really exist?". That is a topic that can be debated about endlessly, however more importantly we can discuss how we face Halloween on a daily basis in our minds; Swamini Supriyananda elaborates on her take on the inner ghosts.
Nov 5, 2016 · 11 min
The Legend - Look inside
Fear Attachment and Ignorance are the 3 biggest weakness in us that immediately get shattered in Hanuman's presence. Invoke Him and his qualities of faith, devotion and knowledge defeat the weaknesses.
Oct 31, 2016 · 11 min
The Legend - Faith or Fear
As we face the new endeavours in our life, we deal with so much uncertainty whether it's a new restaurant or a new job but when we console ourselves knowing it will be OK - that choice we make is called faith. The scriptures categorically explain the types of faith individuals have, and Swamini Supriyananda discusses how important this characteristic is in our perseverance and success.
Oct 29, 2016 · 10 min
The Legend - Have you found your messenger?
The purpose of life simplified in these 10 minutes through the story of the Ramayana. The story of Sita being separated by Ram is known to many, but understood by few. Swamini Supriyananda unfolds the beautiful symbolism of our spiritual journey through this timeless tale.
Oct 24, 2016 · 9 min
The Legend - Your Genie is Waiting for You
The mind, said over and over again,is such a powerful equipment and is just like our magic wand or our genie. It's our wrong thinking that is one the major reasons for our downfall, and the main cause for us not attaining whatever we want.