Seek not higher material happiness, seek higher than material happiness
We want to make things better, to make our life better, to make the world better. This urge for betterment drives our various activities – [...]
Complement spirit with spirituality for complete success
“I will never give up; I will keep fighting till I succeed.” Those with such spirit who succeed against insurmountable odds often become heroes. Fierce [...]
Krishna speaks about his glories not to prove his position but to improve our disposition
Some people ask: “Why does Krishna insist repeatedly in the Bhagavad-gita readers that he is God? Why does he need to prove his position?” Because [...]
Those who overestimate their intelligence underutilize their potential
When things go wrong, we may appeal to Krishna for help. If no help appears forthcoming, we may doubt Krishna: “Why doesn’t he help me?” [...]
Focus on how close you are, not how far you are
Our struggles as a devotee-seeker may dishearten us: “I have no love for Krishna. Even when I pray, chant or take darshan, my mind goes [...]
Strive more for the gift of presence than the presence of gifts
We express our love for others through gifts. In spiritual life too, we can express our devotion to Krishna through gifts – donations offered, contributions [...]
Krishna is not just the object of meditation but also its objective
Object of meditation refers to the thing that we meditate on. Objective of meditation refers to the thing that we want to get by meditating. [...]
The more we expect meditation to be a break from hard work, the more meditation becomes hard work
Our daily life, with its many obligations, requires hard work. So, if we make time to meditate, we expect meditation to serve as a break, [...]
Whatever karma may get us to, Krishna will get us through
Accidents, diseases, atrocities – when we see such tragedies befall people around us, we may become fearful: “What if something like that happens to me? [...]
Enlightenment raises us from the fear of death to the death of fear
The fear of death haunts all living beings. This fear actuates the many intricate adaptations for self-preservation among nonhuman beings as well as the elaborate [...]
The propellant of spirituality is not detachment but attachment
People often think of spirituality as centered on detachment – renunciation of pleasures, positions, possessions, even individuality and relationships. Such a conception makes spirituality appear [...]
Empower your thoughts to break free from their tired and tiring avenues
Life is never easy; every day brings new obstacles and some days bring major reversals. We don’t have the power to make life problem-free, but [...]
Cultivate compassion for the complete being of all living beings
“Aren’t spiritualists self-centered, being concerned only about their own liberation and not about the elevation of others?” Some people get this question when they see [...]
The greatest danger is the danger of forgetting the danger
During a war, a wily enemy often induces in a well-equipped opponent a false sense of victory – and then fells the unprepared opponent with [...]
Purity transforms the roads to misery into the roads to ecstasy
When we travel along a road, we usually ask ourselves: Where will this road take me? Just as we travel physically along various roads, we, [...]
To think outside the box, think about Krishna
"Think outside the box." That’s a common saying among those who want us to break free from stereotyped thinking. However, such people don’t know the [...]
Let the example of power come after, never before, the power of example
“My way or the highway.” This is the conflict resolution mantra of the power-hungry. They sometimes rationalize their power-centric tactics with the Bhagavad-gita’s call for [...]
Strive not to look good in the eyes of the world; strive to get good eyes to look at the world
People often worry whether they look good in the eyes of the world; they fuss about being in tune with the latest fashions. However, the [...]
The greatest threat to individual freedom is the individual
Few things raise people's guard as much as threats to their freedom from totalitarian governments. Yet they often overlook the greatest threat to individual freedom [...]
Things may belong, but for how long?
We treasure our belongings, especially those belongings that are worth a lot financially or mean a lot emotionally. Many people go even further, making their [...]
The goal of spiritual life is to make spiritual life our goal
Many people see spiritual life as a pious recreation, as an elective break from the stresses of daily living. Whatever be our initial impetus for [...]