Social Commentary

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches in America, many of us face the challenge of navigating difficult conversations with loved ones—especially when their views clash with our core values. This year, in the post-election climate, these divides may feel even more intense. In this post, I’ll share how yoga wisdom can help elevate contentious conversations and keep you grounded with humility, curiosity, and generosity.

In the Mahābhārata, the epic story that surrounds the Bhagavad-gītā, Arjuna and his brothers, collectively known as the Pandavas, faced isolation and hardship after losing their kingdom in a rigged game of dice.

Forced into exile, they found solace and strength in their bond as brothers and in their relationships with allies like Krishna and sages like Vyasa. Trust, shared values, and support from their community gave the Pandavas the resilience to endure their trials and eventually reclaim their rightful kingdom.

Any meaningful pursuit of social justice depends on a spiritual principle.

The reason I say this is because the idea of justice depends on the idea of equality. And the idea of equality only works on a spiritual level.

Yoga wisdom tells us that we’re living at a time when we should expect the loudest voices to belong to people who are unhinged, obstinate, deceitful, and adept at insulting others.