Why we are more than programmed machines
Today’s prevailing worldview, materialism, holds that we are biological robots. What we consider as our voluntary choices, it treats as mechanical results of our programming. [...]
Are all people really equal – how?
Today's culture cherishes equality – reports of discrimination often trigger outrage. Yet even cursory observation of people shows that they are glaringly unequal in their [...]
How can we reach others with our words?
When we speak with others, how can we make our speech persuasive? By appealing to both their head and their heart. Such effective communication is [...]
Gita 12.10 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Ch 12 overview: 1-7: Worship [...]
Concern for others or concern for power over others?
Some people say they want to do good to others. But when others don’t cooperate, they use force to get others to do their will. [...]
Looking out for number one or looking at Number One?
To look out for number one is a phrase that means to act for one's own interest without caring for others. We tend to look [...]
Unspoken threats to our freedom
We live in an age which treasures freedom as the foremost among cherished values. If governments issue any injunctions restricting citizens’ freedoms, they often receive [...]
Gita 13.28 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Next verse talks about the [...]
How morality and moralizing affect our spiritual growth differently
We all need morality as a behavioral safeguard. If we indulge in some unhealthy pleasure indiscriminately and repeatedly, we become attached, even addicted. Over time, [...]
Gita 13.27 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now we are in last [...]
How free pleasures are not free …
Today’s culture often dangles many pleasures that seem free. For example, the Internet offers loads of entertainment, apparently free. But are such pleasures really free? [...]
Does devotion suppress our individuality and intelligence?
Some people feel that if they start practicing bhakti spirituality, they will simply have to obey God and thereby suppress their individuality, creativity and initiative [...]
How can we be more cheerful?
We often think that we will become happy when some good things happen to us or when our dreams are fulfilled. While that is true, [...]
Why material progress is deceptive and dissatisfying
Materialism is the belief system that holds matter is all that exists, or at least matter is all that matters. With this belief system, we [...]
When our repentant tears reform and when they don’t
We may shed tears of repentance when we have made some terrible mistake or acted in some grievously immoral way. Those tears can clean and [...]
How to deal with feelings of inferiority
How to deal with feelings of inferiority Our media often shows us glamorized images whereby we worry about how slim, smart or fluent we are. [...]
Why we need to scan our consciousness regularly
When somebody is canned from their job, that means they are dismissed, often unceremoniously. Our conscience is our inner watchdog that sometimes gets canned, even [...]
“Why don’t you enjoy the things God has provided?”
Some people oppose the principle of forbidding anything: “If God didn’t want us to take intoxicants, why did he create intoxicating substances in nature? And [...]
What the faults we see in others tell us about ourselves
What the faults we see in others tell us about ourselves Our mind often sees outside what is present inside it. If greed or lust [...]
Gita 13.18 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 13.18 jyotiṣām api taj [...]
Gita 17.04 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 17.4 yajante sāttvikā devān [...]