Quote of the Day from the Bhagavad Gita, 28 October 2026: How to Protect Your Mind From Negative People

A colleague in accounts has a comment for everything. The new policy is useless, and the company will apparently shut down by next year. After lunch with him, the whole afternoon feels heavier than the work itself.Negative people turn up in almost every office and family. Chapter 6 Verse 9 of the Bhagavad Gita offers an unusual kind of protection against them. Krishna says the person who keeps an even mind towards friends and enemies alike, and even towards the virtuous and the wrongdoers, stands out as truly advanced. The protection lies in that evenness.Negativity Spreads QuietlyGloomy talk tends to rub off. After twenty minutes of complaints, even a good day starts to look doubtful.Noticing this effect is the first defence. The mood came from outside, and you can leave it there.Sama-Buddhi Means an Even MindKrishna's phrase here is sama-buddhi. It describes a mind that does not tilt sharply towards liking or disliking people.This evenness stops others from setting the emotional tone. A negative colleague remains simply a colleague.Distance Is AllowedAn even mind does not mean unlimited exposure. You can have lunch with someone else. Keep a family phone call short.Choosing whose company to keep is a sensible part of looking after the mind.Skip the DebateTrying to fix a pessimist's view usually leads to a longer conversation. A short, neutral reply works better."Could be. Time will tell." Words like these close the topic without feeding it.Arjuna Faced Hostile RelativesThe Kauravas had treated Arjuna's family with cruelty for years. The hurt ran deep.Krishna still asked him to act from a balanced mind. Others' hostility did not have to decide Arjuna's inner state.A Calmer Lunch HourVerse 9 of Chapter 6 treats evenness as a mark of real maturity. It guards peace without building walls around it.These days, the colleague in accounts still grumbles about policies. His listener just finishes the tea and heads back to the spreadsheet.Get the latest astrology news and horoscope updates. Download the TOI App.