Verses for the morning

Read one verse each morning. Go in order, then start again. Read it slowly, twice, and ask: what does this mean for me today?

1. Bhava — Gita 17.3

śraddhāmayo 'yaṁ puruṣo yo yac-chraddhaḥ sa eva saḥ A person is made of their faith. Whatever they truly believe, that is what they are. Today: feel my story as already true.

2. Abhyasa — Gita 6.35

abhyāsena tu kaunteya vairāgyeṇa ca gṛhyate The restless mind is controlled by steady practice and by letting go. Today: do my practice even if I don't feel like it.

3. Karma — Gita 2.47

karmaṇy evādhikāras te mā phaleṣu kadācana My right is to the action alone, never to its fruits. Today: give full effort and let go of the result.

4. Samatva — Gita 2.48

yoga-sthaḥ kuru karmāṇi saṅgaṁ tyaktvā dhanañjaya, siddhy-asiddhyoḥ samo bhūtvā samatvaṁ yoga ucyate Act from a steady mind, without clinging. Be the same in success and failure. That evenness is yoga. Today: stay calm whether things go well or badly.

5. Self-reliance — Gita 6.5

uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet Lift yourself up by your own self. Do not let yourself sink. You are your own friend and your own enemy. Today: be my own best friend.

6. The steady one — Gita 2.56

duḥkheṣv anudvigna-manāḥ sukheṣu vigata-spṛhaḥ Not shaken by sorrow, not craving pleasure, free from attachment, fear and anger. That person is steady. Today: let challenges pass through me, like Shiva.

7. Humility — Gita 13.8

amānitvam adambhitvam ahiṁsā kṣāntir ārjavam Humility, no showing off, non-harm, patience, honesty. These are true knowledge. Today: listen more, give credit to others.

8. Setting the example — Gita 3.21

yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ Whatever a great person does, others follow. Today: act the way I want my future family and village to act.

Add your own favourite verses below as you find them.