80 Quotes by Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa

The Yaksha asked, ‘What hath been said to be the sign of asceticism? And what is true restraint? What constitutes forgiveness. And what is shame?’ Yudhishthira answered, ‘Staying in one’s own religion is asceticism: the restraint of the mind is of all restraints the true one: forgiveness consists in enduring enmity; and shame, in withdrawing from all unworthy acts.

Actions do not cling to me because I am not attached to their results. Those who understand this and practice it live in freedom.

One of the least likable characteristics of “demonic” personalities is their sense of self-importance. They like to give gifts ostentatiously and offer ritual sacrifices; this legitimizes their wealth and makes them feel respectable and esteemed. They like being generous if it will make them look good.

The awakened sages call a person wise when all his undertakings are free from anxiety about results; all his selfish desires have been consumed in the fire of knowledge.

Our mistake is in taking this for ultimate reality, like the dreamer thinking that nothing is real except his dream.

Those kinds of food that increase life’s period, energy, strength, health, well-being, and joy, which are savoury, oleaginous, nutritive, and agreeable, are liked by God.

They live in wisdom who see themselves in all and all in them, who have renounced every selfish desire and sense craving tormenting the heart. 56.

Mind, energy, and matter are a continuum, and the universe is not described as it might be in itself, but as it presents itself to the human mind.

Thus the Gita places human destiny entirely in human hands. Its world is not deterministic, but neither is it an expression of blind chance: we shape ourselves and our world by what we believe and think and act on, whether for good or for ill.