Our fear of our mortality is a pointer to our immortality
The fear of death is one of life’s most haunting fears. Intriguingly, this haunting fear can become illuminating if we turn the usual question raised [...]
Passion polarizes positions and paralyzes discussions
When two parties quarrel bitterly, other people can frequently see that the differences are not all that big and that the issues are resolvable. But [...]
Conquer vice not just by fighting harder, but by rising higher
Vice is the inner self-destructive force that promises quick pleasure but ends up binding us to misery and bondage. The Bhagavad-gita (03.36 - 03.43) provides [...]
We may be far away from Krishna, but Krishna is always close to us
The distance between two people in any relationship is a function not of bodily location but of emotional disposition. Family members living under the same [...]
Spirituality is the culmination, not the contradiction, of science
Atheists claim, “Science and spirituality are contradictory because science is founded on facts; spirituality, on faith.” Actually however, the bedrock of science is not facts, [...]
Cultivating humility doesn’t mean courting dishonor
The Bhagavad-gita (13.08) commends humility as the first among the virtues of the enlightened. And it also commends protecting one’s honor, the seeming opposite of [...]
The key to happiness is not having it all but having the One who has it all
“Have it all.” This is the mantra of today’s consumerist culture that impels us to believe that the more we have, the more we will [...]
Vice may not give up the wise, but the wise give up vice
Wisdom means knowing the difference between virtue and vice; and cultivating virtue and curbing vice. We get wisdom by the study of scriptures and the [...]
Knowledge of Krishna’s position stimulates submission and his disposition stimulates affection
Some neophyte devotees ask, “In bhakti-yoga, why do we need to study scripture and gain knowledge? Isn’t simply loving Krishna enough?” Yes, it is. But [...]
Service is unavoidable – why not make it relishable?
The scriptural teaching that we are servants of God often seems unpalatable to our ego: “Why should I serve God?” Rarely do we grasp the [...]
Loving unconditionally doesn’t mean being unconditionally liberal; it means being unconditionally available
Some people ask, “If God loves us, why is his love conditional? Why does he forbid us from doing many enjoyable things?” Krishna’s love is [...]
The supposition of subjectivity is sabotaged by the subjectivity of the supposition
“It may be true for you, but it’s not true for me.” This is the reason many people often give for dismissing scriptural revelation of [...]
Cultivate humility not as the justification for shirking responsibility but as the inspiration for embracing responsibility
Humility is foundational to authentic spirituality. The Bhagavad-gita (13.08) lists humility as the first among the virtues that comprise wisdom. Krishna enjoins Arjuna to cultivate [...]
Let the desire to be somebody not make us somebody else
The hugeness of the world around us and the tininess of our place in it often fuel within us a drive to be somebody. Unfortunately, [...]
Even if we can’t be consistent in our devotion, we can still be resilient
When we want to drive to a particular destination, we stay straight on the path that will take us there. But if factors beyond our [...]
If let cynicism rob our power to trust Krishna, we rob ourselves of our greatest power
We live in an age where it is easy to be cynical. Unscrupulous forces out to fleece us abound in every field. In our everyday [...]
When we make the sea our ground, how can we avoid being moved around?
When we stand on solid ground, the steadiness underneath us gives a sense of safety. In contrast, when we stand on a rocking boat, we [...]
Study scripture as an existential seeker, not as a historical investigator
Some people study scripture largely, if not entirely, from a historical perspective – they focus on when it was written, what was the general culture [...]
Surrender is not giving up but letting go
The notion of surrendering to someone often jars us because we mentally associate it with giving up. Consequently, when the Bhagavad-gita (18.66) concludes with a [...]
To be wistful is to be wasteful
We know that it is undesirable to be wasteful – whether it is in terms of water by leaving the tap on, or electricity by [...]
Be present in the present as the present is the present of the Supreme Presence
Live in the present is a popular and valuable saying among self-help teachers. After all, that’s where we can do anything worthwhile. We can and [...]