Bhagavad Gita 6.5
Sanskrit
उद्धरेदात्मनात्मानं नात्मानमवसादयेत्...uddhared atmanatmanam natmanam avasadayet...
Translation
One must elevate, not degrade, oneself. The mind is the friend of the self, and the mind is the enemy of the self.
Explanation
Krishna places personal responsibility squarely on the individual: you are both your own liberator and your own obstacle. The same mind that keeps you bound in reactivity and identification is the instrument of your freedom when turned toward Self-knowledge. This verse is a call to take spiritual responsibility without self-condemnation.
Life Application
Notice when your mind is working for you — toward clarity, kindness, and truth — and when it is working against you. You can cultivate one and observe the other.