Bad moods are self-perpetuating. The trick, Swami Kriyananda writes, is to refuse to accept negativity as your reality. Even when in throes of fear, anger, melancholy, or grief, insist on seeing yourself as something greater.

There is a deep spiritual reason why one should try to do this. The Bhagavad Gita says that the real cause of all suffering is when we forget our true nature as a child of God. This is why, as devotees on the spiritual path, our singular practice is to see God as the doer in everything – because it reminds us of our true nature. Then, we see that whatever suffering we are going through has a larger purpose: that of helping us overcome a deep seated habit, negative attitude, or past Karma.

But, really, how practical is this teaching? Is it possible to be neutral and accept as a blessing when things are falling apart? It turns out that the answer Yes: it is possible to train the mind into God remembrance. And, this is the only meaningful way of dealing with the curveballs that life throws us.

Please join Murali and Rick this Sunday to delve more deeply into this topic.