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 [...]
What makes relationships unsteady — and how to make them steady?
Suppose two countries with drastically different values come together because of some extrinsic factor such as fighting against a common enemy. They may fight together [...]
Why do small desires exert a big pull on us?
We all sometimes get caught in small desires that delude and distract us. These desires are small in the sense that they are about trivial [...]
How the mind and intelligence work — and how to make them work for us
Our mind often comes up with impulses such as to eat something or to watch something online. If we start giving into such impulses, we [...]
Why does happiness often lead to distress?
We all want to be happy. And we often think that if we get enjoyable worldly objects, we will become happy. Yes, those things can [...]
How people are equal — and how they aren’t
We live in a world that cherishes equality. Affirming our innate aspiration, Gita wisdom explains that people themselves are equal in that everybody has a [...]
How can we defend ourselves from our mind?
Our mind often speaks as the nasty, discouraging inner voice which says that we are nothing; we count for nothing; whatever we do will eventually [...]
How to use down-time positively?
We all sometimes become frustrated when we are forced into downtime because the Internet or the power go off or because a pandemic forces us [...]
How is the concept of dharma universal?
Suppose a person is driving a car on the road — then they are belonging to a whole bigger than themselves: the road transport system. [...]
How can we be humble without letting ourselves be trampled by others?
Humility is one of the most treasured virtues in spiritual life, but it is often seen as weakness in material life. If we are humble, [...]
How can we identify evil?
We often operate with certain stereotypical conceptions of things. For example, in most traditions, evil is depicted as an ugly, grotesque being, maybe with horns [...]
Are we seeking control or grace?
Suppose we are trapped in a chamber and are trying to push the locked door open. But suppose simultaneously, someone is trying to liberate us, [...]
Why some people think consciousness comes from the brain — and why it doesn’t
A child may think that milk comes from a bottle in the fridge or from a rack in the supermarket. We may laugh at such [...]
Why our determination falters when faced with temptation
We all have a certain capacity for determination that enables us to resist temptation. Still, we are innately pleasure-seeking. To resist temptation steadily, we need [...]
Why minor distractions aren’t minor?
Suppose an army is marching to a disputed territory and has limited stocks of food. If the enemy creates decoys that divert the army, each [...]
How to change our inner frequency
We all have a certain frequency to our thoughts. Roughly speaking, this correlates with the thoughts that most often frequent our mind. If we frequently [...]
Material breakdowns or spiritual breakthroughs?
We are often so caught in the immediate that we don't spend time to consider the ultimate. Material things are immediately accessible, essential and enjoyable, [...]
Are you trying to be peaceful or purposeful?
We live in a world that often agitates us with many anxieties and perplexities. Naturally, therefore, we seek peace of mind. Significantly however, we need [...]
Are you aware or are you just existing?
The state of being alive is associated with activities such as growing, reproducing, preserving one's existence. The state of being aware is usually associated with [...]
How to ensure that anger is constructive, not destructive
We all sometimes encounter injustice and brutality, as when we see police excesses against the helpless. If such experiences make us feel outraged, that is [...]
Honestly dishonest?
Suppose a person does something because they are misled. To help them correct themselves, they need to be shown how they are being misled. We [...]