A game that we can’t win and can’t quit
We may get the question: “Why do we need to give up material desires like lust and greed?” Because of their two deadly characteristics: insatiability [...]
Let temptation trigger an alarm bell, not a welcome tune
The Bhagavad-gita (03.41) urges us to recognize carnal temptation as a symbol of sin (papamanam) and to curb it as soon as it rears its [...]
Krishna’s love is unconditional yet conditional
The Bhagavad-gita (09.30) urges us to recognize as saintly a devotee who, though guilty of grievous misconduct, is still determined to serve Krishna. The next [...]
Love is in the SOUND
The Bhagavad-gita (09.14) states that advanced devotees engage constantly and determinedly in speaking and singing about Krishna. The fact that they focus so much on [...]
Let’s keep our intelligence FIT
The Bhagavad-gita (5.22) states that those who are intelligent never delight in sense pleasures because they understand how it always ends in misery. This verse [...]
Grasp the sense, the nonsense and the trans-sense of worldly mania
Our world is beset by various manias: filmstar-mania, sportstar-mania, musician-mania, to name a few. Some of us may have wondered: why do people spend so [...]
Love for Krishna is a love that doesn’t appoint to DIS-appoint
Whenever we love anyone, we hope fondly that the relationship will make us happy; we fix an appointment with fulfilment. Sadly however, worldly love promises [...]
Matter points to matters that matter more than matter
Most of us usually remain preoccupied with our material needs and desires, and consequently with the material world where we hope to fulfill them. When [...]
Living the Gita is not about turning back the clock, but about turning on the compass
Some people ask, “To practice the Gita, do we need to turn back the clock to the time thousands of years ago when it was [...]
Krishna is ever-waiting, ever-willing and ever-working
The Bhagavad-gita (15.15) states that Krishna personally resides in the hearts of all of us so as to guide us to our ultimate good. From [...]
“Seeing is believing” drags humans to the animal level
The Bhagavad-gita (15.10) reproaches as deluded (vimudha) those materialists who are blind to the soul due to their overdependence on their undependable senses. “Seeing is [...]
Time expresses Krishna’s tough love
The Bhagavad-gita (10.33) identifies time as a manifestation of Krishna. Time is one of the most forceful teachers about the temporary nature of worldly existence. [...]
Krishna is attained not by playing with the intellect but by striving with the will
Many people, especially intellectuals, use knowledge, even scriptural knowledge, as a play-toy for their intellect. Playing with the intellect involves memorizing, analyzing, synthesizing and verbalizing [...]
To give up the ocean for a drop is a rank bad bargain
“I would like to make spiritual advancement, but giving up worldly pleasures is too much of a price to pay for it.” Such thoughts may [...]
The trans-logical logic of love resolves seeming scriptural contradictions
The Bhagavad-gita (07.26) states initially that no one can know Krishna, but eventually it (18.55) states that he can be known by devotion. How do [...]
Krishna’s pastimes are not just amusing – they are amazing
The Bhagavad-gita (04.09) makes the remarkable claim that when we understand Krishna’s appearance and activities in truth, we will attain liberation. Central to understanding this [...]
Loving as much as our heart longs
The Bhagavad-gita (12.13) indicates that a devotee who loves Krishna expands his love to the fullest potential by loving all living beings – as does [...]
Lewdness is not “boldness”
“This movie is filled with bold scenes.” Sentences like these are common in movie reviews. It is now standard to use “boldness” as a rationalization [...]
Dwell, Desire, Decide, Degrade – No! Discriminate
The Gita (2.62)(02.63) outlines the path along which illusion tempts us. This fall from virtue happens through a sequence of four d’s: we dwell, we [...]
Pride (P + Ride) takes us on a Perilous Ride
The Bhagavad-gita (16.04) states that pride is a characteristic of the ungodly. Pride originates in the misconception that we permanently own the things that we [...]
To comprehend the Gita, focus on its original originality
Many people interested in the Bhagavad-gita often wonder, “It has so many interpretations. How do I understand which is the best?” The Gita itself points [...]