Don’t point fingers – move fingers on prayer beads
Whenever we face problems, especially problems that we feel are caused by others, we point fingers at them. However, different people see the same situation [...]
Gita 18.55 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now Krishna will talk about [...]
Attachment actuates and aggravates anxiety
The world is characterized by change and uncertainty. And uncertainty about necessary things naturally causes anxiety. However, different from unavoidable anxiety is unnecessary anxiety. Such [...]
When our vision changes from competition to contribution, life becomes a celebration
Materialism makes competition life’s central reality. When we see ourselves as isolated, vulnerable units of matter dependent on material things for our pleasure, we see [...]
Even if we win the rat race, we still remain rats
Our materialistic society sets before us worldly goals such as sensations, relations, positions or possessions. Because the number of people seeking these goals is so [...]
Fate is not a matter of faith, but our faith matters in determining our fate
The word fate connotes a trans-human shaper of results (Why is fate against me?) as well as the future that will result (Who knows what [...]
Closeness unites more than oneness
When two people share many common interests and deep mutual understanding, they often say, “We are close to each other.” This closeness is not physical [...]
The fickle mind makes the immovable soul move all over the universe
The Bhagavad-gita (02.24) states that the soul is immoveable. And yet the same Gita states later (14.18) that the soul moves all over the universe [...]
To see the big picture, ask the big questions
When life’s problems start overwhelming us, seeing the big picture can help us put first things first. However, we can’t even seek the big picture [...]
A timely pull can save us from a deadly fall
Suppose a horse carrying a rider spots a juicy vegetable in the rocky terrain alongside the road. If the rider is not vigilant, the horse [...]
We make our faith and then our faith makes us
People are often classified as faithful or faithless. But even the faithless are faithful – faithful to their faithlessness, to their unprovable belief that God [...]
Don’t change the foot because the shoe doesn’t fit
Suppose a child gets infatuated with a shoe that is available only in adult size. When shown a shoe that fits, the child neglects it [...]
Krishna is our director – and our redirector
In a play, the actors are visible on the stage; the director isn’t. Yet the invisible director directs the visible actors. If we liken life [...]
Learn to use the mind’s laziness for spiritual growth
Our mind often chooses the path of least resistance. This tendency impedes us whenever we need to do something effortful for our spiritual growth. But [...]
Fanaticism is caused not by excessive devotion, but by inadequate devotion
When some religious people try to convert everyone to their faith, others get put off. They feel, “These guys are fanatical – their devotion is [...]
Gita 18.40 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Here the analysis of the [...]
Desires go away not by gratification or repression but by purification
Desires that we know are undesirable sometimes impel us. If repeatedly impelled, we may feel, “Let me just indulge and get it over with. At [...]
The value of what we drive doesn’t matter as much as the values that drive us
We live in a materialistic culture that determines our stature by externals such as the cars we drive, the clothes we wear and the phones [...]
The Gita’s concluding prophecy answers its starting enquiry
Great books often feature between their start and end a symmetry, a circularity that brings a fulfilling sense of completeness and elegance. The Bhagavad-gita too [...]
Momentum manifests by movement from moment to moment
An obstacle that blocks a truck can be broken through if the truck acquires adequate momentum. Similarly, the conditionings that block our self-transformation can be [...]
Know when to doubt and when to give the benefit of doubt
In cricket, suppose an appeal is made against a batsman, but the umpires can’t see clearly whether the batsman is out or not. Then, they [...]