Without spiritual direction religious regulation seems like pointless restriction or even painful repression
Without spiritual direction religious regulation seems like pointless restriction or even painful repression Suppose we're walking along a road through mountainous territory toward a beautiful [...]
We can’t foresee every consequence of our actions but we can foresee their probable consequences — and we should
We can’t foresee every consequence of our actions but we can foresee their probable consequences — and we should Suppose we are driving a huge [...]
Transform depressing loneliness into nourishing solitude by seeking spiritual purpose
Transform depressing loneliness into nourishing solitude by seeking spiritual purpose When we are placed in situations that distance us from others, we may naturally feel [...]
Gita 09.14 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 9.14 satataṁ kīrtayanto māṁ [...]
Faith is seen through both firmness in intention and flexibility in execution
Faith is seen through both firmness in intention and flexibility in execution During a pandemic, if temples are closed to avoid infection, does that indicate [...]
Might nature be teaching us to stop believing that we humans alone matter on the earth?
Might nature be teaching us to stop believing that we humans alone matter on the earth? For the last few centuries, we humans have used [...]
Gita 5.22 explained
Now Sri Krishna will talk about on what basis a person will become bāhya-sparśeṣv asaktātmā. Why one should give up outer pleasures Sri Krishna says [...]
Gita 5.9 explained
BG 5.8 Bg 5.8-9 naiva kiñcit karomīti yukto manyeta tattva-vit paśyañ śṛṇvan spṛśañ jighrann aśnan gacchan svapañ śvasan pralapan visṛjan gṛhṇann unmiṣan nimiṣann api indriyāṇīndriyārtheṣu [...]
Gita 17.20 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So first Krishna talked about [...]
If saving lives means something more than delaying death then we all have the opportunity to save lives
If saving lives means something more than delaying death then we all have the opportunity to save lives During a pandemic, the medical care providers [...]
For protection amid pandemics seek not just a hand sanitizer but also a mind sanitizer
For protection amid pandemics seek not just a hand sanitizer but also a mind sanitizer During pandemics, we protect ourselves from germs using a hand [...]
Gita 06.10 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya 6.10-32: From practice to perfection in [...]
Prayer is meant to act as a complement to prudent action not as a replacement
Prayer is meant to act as a complement to prudent action not as a replacement Some people think of prayer as a magic wand to [...]
Social isolation can be an opportunity to realize how we all are spiritually connected
Social isolation can be an opportunity to realize how we all are spiritually connected Suppose a pandemic compels us to adopt social distancing. Instead of [...]
Contextualizing absolute-sounding scriptural statements doesn’t minimize those statements; not contextualizing minimizes them
Contextualizing absolute-sounding scriptural statements doesn't minimize those statements; not contextualizing minimizes them How do we make sense of absolute-sounding statements in wisdom-texts such as the [...]
God can transform flashlights into floodlights just stay in his light
Suppose we are walking on a road and suddenly the power goes off. Though we might initially groan or rant, we will soon pull out [...]
The essence of karma is universal harmony not judgmental morality
Some people oppose the idea of karma: “It is just one among many differing systems of morality. These systems simply make those who follow it [...]
Use circumstantial suffering as an impetus to address existential plight
Suppose we are in an ocean. We might be floating on a raft that may be jeopardized by small waves. Or we might be on [...]
Knowledge expands the avenues available for us to address those problems
Suppose someone is coughing. If they have no medical knowledge, they might just try to suppress their cough, which might make the disease worse. A [...]
To help the distressed address both their distress’ immediate cause and remote cause
Suppose a doctor encounters a patient suffering from alcoholism and condemns that patient, “You are a wretched drinker; you deserve to suffer.” That would be [...]
When dealing with the distressed focus not on their karma; focus on your dharma
When dealing with the distressed focus not on their karma; focus on your dharma Suppose a newborn baby is crying. Should the mother neglect the [...]