Resisting temptation while holding on to attachments is like fighting an enemy while staying shackled
Suppose a warrior has been shackled by their enemy. If they want to fight back, they need to first break free from the ropes. Otherwise, [...]
Intelligence is seen not just through aptitude, but also through activity
Nowadays, if we want to know how intelligent someone is, we often check their IQ score. IQ tests primarily measure people’s information processing ability – [...]
Gita 09.13 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after describing Mavavadis in [...]
We may not be interested in politics, but politics is interested in us
Some people consider politics to be a dirty business that they would prefer to stay away from. Undeniably, politics often features distasteful manipulation. Yet equally [...]
See failure as a practical problem, not as an existential problem
During life, we all fail sometime or the other. How we respond to a failure depends on how we see that failure. Suppose a student [...]
The bhakti cure works for sure, for it connects us with the all-pure
When we are sick and are taking some treatment, we may doubt whether it will work. But if we come to know that it is [...]
The truth may be bitter, but it doesn’t have to be told bitterly
When we see someone doing something wrong, we may feel tempted to correct them immediately. If our words hurt them and they protest, we may [...]
To treat our emotions as the only reality is to live in unreality
Suppose we are driving a car, and suddenly the car lurches. We will experience the lurch as a physical sensation. But that lurch may trigger [...]
Don’t give up because of illusion – give up to come out of illusion
Some people adopt renunciation because of frustration. They want some worldly thing that they believe is enjoyable, but on failing to get it, they adopt [...]
Indulgence decreases our capacity to push against desire and increase desire’s capacity to push us
Suppose we had to push a huge boulder uphill. That would be difficult enough. But on top of it, if we were becoming weak and [...]
Purification puts the mind in the silent mode
When we are working on something important, if we are repeatedly disturbed by our phone’s beeps, we will put it in the silent mode. Just [...]
Don’t just be forceful – first be resourceful
When we are in a responsible position where we need to get things done, we may have to push people. However, while pushing them, we [...]
We may be infinite steps away from purity, but we just need to take one step now
If we have to walk on a long journey, thinking how far our destination is can discourage us. Instead, we can focus on doing what [...]
Devotion is expressed through intention and attention, not just emotion and action
People often equate devotion with feel-good emotions or ritualistic actions. If they feel good while practicing bhakti or if they execute religious rituals diligently, they [...]
Freedom is not just an opportunity – it is also a responsibility
Our culture celebrates freedom, yet it doesn’t give the freedom to drive to those below the legal driving age. Why not? Because they may not [...]
Just because a memory can’t be deleted doesn’t mean that it has to be recalled
When we strive to grow in our life, our memories may hold us back. These memories may be about distressing times when we were victimized [...]
Associate with the saintly to upload their spiritual positivity, not download our mental negativity
When things go wrong, our mind often gets filled with negativity. At such times, we naturally need solace, which we may seek by associating with [...]
Sensual pleasure feels fine, but it comes with a fine
Youths often like to drive their bikes superfast, way above the speed limit. They get a thrill when they feel the wind whistling through their [...]
Renunciation is an expensive business
Some people think that renunciation is a cheap business: just as even those without much capital can start a cheap business, similarly, those without much [...]
Fighting self-destructive desire by ourselves is like fighting a forest fire with bare hands
When we indulge repeatedly in some self-destructive desire, it becomes addictive. Addictive desire torments us so severely that it feels like an inner forest fire. [...]
Life may knock us down, but it can’t keep us down
Suppose we are walking along a road, and a sudden stormy wind knocks us down. Thankfully, no storm lasts forever – so, it can’t keep [...]