A boat in the wind

indriyāṇāṃ hi caratāṃ yanmano’anuvidhīyatetadasya harati prajñāṃ vāyurnāvamivāmbhasi

When the mind runs after the wandering senses, it sweeps away wisdom, as wind sweeps a boat across the water.

What it means

Krishna gives another image. A small boat on open water. A strong wind. If no one holds the rudder, the boat goes wherever the wind blows. When the mind simply follows the senses, wisdom is carried off the same way. Steadiness means keeping a hand on the rudder.

The story

Arjuna knows boats, rivers and storms. Krishna speaks his language. The wind is not evil. The boat is not bad. But a boat with no one steering ends up on the rocks.

In your life

Picture someone who opened their phone to check the weather and surfaced an hour later in a stranger's holiday photos. That's the wind. Before you open an app, name what you're there for. Then leave.