Don’t try to empty the heart of selfish desires; crowd them out
We all are prone to bouts of selfish indulgence, wherein the urge for pleasure overwhelms our spiritual devotion and our moral principles. After such lapses, [...]
Bhakti-yoga is not exclusive but is comprehensive
A spiritual path is exclusive when it claims sole rights over access to the Absolute Truth, that is, claims to be the only way to [...]
To control temper, temper control
When things go wrong, we sometimes lose our temper, and do things that only worsen the problem. How can we control our temper? By tempering [...]
Focus not on the thoughts which are unworthy of us; focus on the thoughts for which we are unworthy
“What kind of person am I to have such debased thoughts?” We may feel thus when ugly thoughts enter our mind. Lest such feelings dishearten [...]
To understand Krishna’s help, we need Krishna’s help
“Why is Krishna not helping me?” We may get such doubts in times of trouble. Krishna always helps us. When we feel otherwise, that’s because [...]
Scripture doesn’t deprive us of freedom; it protects us from depriving ourselves in the name of freedom
An intoxicated person with a million dollar check may squander it on something trivial, like a hundred bottles of booze. Naturally, a well-wishing friend will [...]
Be not just inquisitive but also submissive
The Bhagavad-gita (1.1) begins with Dhritarashtra’s inquiry to Sanjay about the events on the Kurukshetra battlefield. Sanjay responds by narrating the conversation between Krishna and [...]
Krishna focuses on where we want to go, not where we have been
“My past has been so sinful. How can I possibly approach Krishna?” Such doubts may block us in our devotional journey. Gita wisdom reassures us [...]
Devotion is a passion that is beyond passion
The word ‘passion’ has both negative and positive connotations. Negatively, it refers to the mode of passion that induces worldly desires which bind us to [...]
When we mistake self-pity to be humility, spirituality becomes an exercise in futility
The essence of spirituality is the inner transformation from self-centeredness to Krishna-centeredness. Self-centeredness essentially means installing ourselves at the center of our inner world – [...]
Opportunity doesn’t create immorality; mentality does
“That was such a situation – anyone would have succumbed to the temptation.” By thus pointing our fingers at the circumstances, we often try to [...]
Devotion is not a possession, but a person
Cellphone, laptop, car – we try to possess many such things in life. With this possession-seeking mentality, when we come to know about spiritual life, [...]
When we give up sense enjoyment for Krishna’s sake, Krishna gives us the best enjoyment through the senses
Some people question: “If I give up sense enjoyment, as serious spiritual life requires, then what enjoyment will be left in my life? This hesitation [...]
If we hold on to Krishna long enough, nothing else will hold on to us long enough
When we strive to progress in spiritual life, we often find ourselves shaken, even shackled, by our worldly attachments. How can we break free? By [...]
Use intelligence to know Krishna, not to show that we know Krishna
“Just see how much I know.” This prestige-seeking exhibitionist motive frequently underlies intellectual pursuits in material life. People love to parade their encyclopedic knowledge of [...]
Spirituality is not about abandoning but about reclaiming
Some people fear: “Won’t practicing spiritual life require me to abandon my material things?” This fear stems from a fundamental misapprehension about what is actually [...]
Equal disposition doesn’t mean identical action
The Bhagavad-gita repeatedly urges (05.18, 06.09, 12.18, 13.28, 18.54) its readers to have an equal disposition towards all living beings. In fact, the Gita emphatically [...]
The notion that bhakti is for the less intelligent is less intelligent
Some Bhagavad-gita commentators state: “Bhakti is for sentimental, less intelligent people; whereas jnana is for intelligent people.” A careful study of the Gita, however, reveals [...]
Relief and release – the two fruits of purification
Purification is an oft-heard word in spiritual circles. What does it mean? And what is its benefit? Purification essentially has two aspects: decrease of attraction [...]
One who rides a tiger into its lair becomes its dinner
Riding something that moves fast can be exhilarating. To get that thrill, many people drive bikes or horses at high speed. But suppose a person [...]
Do the extraordinary for the extraordinary, not the ordinary
We all want to do something special, and thereby get some special happiness. To get this happiness, we need to re-educate ourselves about what is [...]