Nothing distracts us as much as we ourselves
We live in a culture of mass distraction. Worldly things around us try to catch our eye in myriad ways. And with us lie devices [...]
Break people’s misconceptions – don’t break people
The Bhagavad-gita concludes by urging us to share its message of love with others (18.68-69). Sometimes, we misconstrue this call to share as a license [...]
Don’t take everything literally – use your intelligence
“Put your money where your mouth is,” we may tell someone who recommends big things without making any practical commitment. Suppose they respond by taking [...]
There’s no need to be confidently pessimistic
To achieve anything challenging, we need to be optimistic. Bhakti can boost our optimism by helping us realize that we are not alone; Krishna is [...]
All glory originates and culminates in Krishna
We all want to be valued, recognized, appreciated. Living amidst the millions that crowd today’s metropolises, we may feel like an insignificant statistic. Standing out [...]
Perception is a function of association
Suppose some non-Indians unfamiliar with cricket come to India and enter a cricket stadium. They may find the hullabaloo bewildering, and the noisy, sweaty, jammed [...]
Sharing spiritual knowledge is about not just delivery but also discovery
If we are told to deliver something to someone, we may feel belittled: “I have better things to do than act as a deliveryman.” We [...]
Distraction is an invitation for temptation and degradation
Suppose we are rowing a boat in an area where the current is going in a direction different from where we wish to go. Suppose [...]
Use the modes to analyze, not criticize
For making sense of the world, the Bhagavad-gita offers an analytical framework centered on the concept of the three modes of material nature. The modes [...]
Our over-reactions reveal our sore spots
Suppose, while we are walking, our shoulder touches a wall, and we find ourselves wincing. Our over-reaction indicates that we have on our shoulder some [...]