We are not masters in our own house, but we don’t have to be slaves
Suppose we are living in a house where the doors suddenly creak open and bang shut, and lights randomly turn on and off. Suppose we [...]
Perfectionism is a serial killer in high heels
When we try to improve ourselves, we often desire to become perfect in that area. Such perfectionism or obsession with perfection is a deceptive and [...]
Just because we can do the impossible doesn’t mean we can do everything
Impossible is a word in a fool’s dictionary – what is the spiritual perspective on this saying? To understand, let’s first differentiate between doing the [...]
Self-acceptance should open the door for self-improvement, not shut the door
Today’s ultra-competitive, globally connected world can afflict anyone of us with low self-esteem. By comparing ourselves negatively with those who are better than us, we [...]
Accepting our weaknesses takes courage – and so does accepting ourselves with our weaknesses
Life’s battles often expose our weaknesses. Accepting those weaknesses can make us feel unsafe, undermined and unworthy. Recoiling from such threatening feelings, we often try [...]
See the addicted not as demented or degraded but as tormented
Suppose someone becomes addicted to drinking. Despite being urged to give up drinking and despite even promising to give up, they keep drinking. We may [...]
No barrier is foolproof, that is not proof no barrier is useful
Suppose a particular coastal area is prone to get flooded because of high tides or sea-storms or tsunamis. Suppose the government constructs a barricade, but [...]
Mind your mind before you mind anyone else’s mind
Suppose someone’s misbehavior irritates us. We may tell them off: “Why are you letting your mind take you for a ride?” Even if what we [...]
We are inflammable, not incorrigible – we need caution, not condemnation
Suppose we can’t resist some sensual temptation despite trying repeatedly. Over time, we may become disheartened, thinking: “Maybe I am incorrigible.” Thankfully, no one is [...]
The mind is like a bully who has terrorized us for long – it’s time to stand up
Suppose a school has a bully who terrorizes smaller children. Bullies generally prey on the weak and the weak-willed. Whoever becomes scared of them, they [...]
Our tongue is like a loaded gun that we always carry within us
Suppose we have a powerful, loaded gun. We would be extremely careful that it doesn’t get fired accidentally. Scarily, we all have a powerful, loaded [...]
Contemplation on temptation changes our disposition from zero tolerance to zero resistance
Suppose a country that is being overrun by illegal immigrants has adopted a zero tolerance approach at immigration. But suppose some illegal immigrants approach the [...]
To best defend our consciousness from the world, first raise it above the world
Suppose a city is under attack from powerful plunderers. If that city were at ground level, pushing back the attackers would be difficult. But if [...]
Just because a wound is painless doesn’t mean it is harmless – even when we are not hurting, we still need healing
Suppose we had a painless injury. We would go on living normally, while the wound would worsen, eventually felling us. We all are souls who [...]
Spiritual vision sees people not as philosophical categories, but as conscious beings
When we gain spiritual knowledge, our zeal to share it with others may blind us to basic human courtesies. While interacting with people, we may [...]
Sensual pleasure touts itself as free and then takes toll forever
Many drug dealers give drugs free to gullible kids. Though the drugs may be delivered free, those dealers do take a price: the price of [...]
The world may not value our individuality, but we can and should
Each one of us is an individual, with our own strengths and weaknesses, interests and blind spots, aspirations and anxieties. The constellation of all these [...]
There is more to us than what faces us
Suppose an unarmed civilian is facing an armed aggressor. The odds may seem hopeless. But if they discover that they have a weapon more powerful [...]
Gita 13.21 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So in this verse Krishna [...]
Don’t forget to compliment those who complement you
We all have painful inadequacies that make us dependent on others who complement us. Indeed, almost all of life’s important responsibilities require us to work [...]
Satisfaction comes by knowing ourselves, not by making ourselves known
Suppose we see someone who turns heads wherever they go. We may naturally want to be similarly well known. Given the world’s hugeness and crowdedness, [...]