The balance between “matter alone matters” and “matter doesn’t matter”
Matter alone matters is the belief of materialists. They consider the things of this world alone as valuable and material enjoyment as life’s ultimate success. [...]
Can we recognize that we haven’t recognized ourselves?
“That couldn’t have been me.” This is what people say when they think of what they did under the spell of alcohol – actions that [...]
Completeness comes not by material amelioration or mechanical reconnection, but by emotional redirection
We all frequently feel that something is missing in our life. In fact, our entire life with its varied pursuits – career, wealth, position, spouse, [...]
Love that is too big to allow room for hatred in the heart
When people reject, cheat or humiliate us, we may feel justified to hate them. No matter how justified our feeling, it doesn’t change the reality [...]
Are we holding on to a straw instead of a lifeline?
Our present material existence is like an ocean – an ocean of misery. Though we can struggle against the waves of life’s miseries for some [...]
Our values are our real valuables
Our happiness depends not on our valuables, but on our values. Why? Because our values shapehow we use our valuables, which actually determines our happiness. [...]
Krishna is Krishna’s best blessing
“I am spending so much of my time and energy serving Krishna; why doesn’t he bless me with the things that I need?” Such questions [...]
Stability and maturity that takes us beyond adversity
Life can bring adversity upon us at any moment. To protect ourselves, we often take insurances like life insurance, health insurance, car insurance. Such insurances [...]
Our convictions are far more important than our possessions
The world defines us by our possessions – what we wear, where we stay, what we drive in, for example. However, these things are external [...]
Are we mistaking the causal to be casual?
“Veg or non-veg?” A caterer may ask us in a train or a plane. Most people consider such choices to be casual. However, Gita wisdom [...]
Why put faith in faithlessness?
Some people parade their faithlessness as if it makes them intellectually superior: “I don’t believe in anything that I don’t see; I don’t believe in [...]
When the Absolute Truth doesn’t speak the absolute truth
In the Bhagavad-gita (09.31), Krishna asks Arjuna to declare boldly that devotees will never perish. Erudite Gita commentators explain why Krishna asks Arjuna to make [...]
Bring the momentum of emotion into the moment of meditation
Emotions bring a natural momentum to our inner life. If we feel strongly about something, we can think about iteasily and quickly. Of course, we [...]
If we can’t offer our heart to Krishna, then we can offer what’s in our heart to Krishna
We all long for love. This longing attains lasting and complete fulfillment when we direct it towards Krishna, for he is eternal and all-attractive. And [...]
The best direction for the motion of emotion
Emotion. That’s what brings spice to our life. And love, the richest and deepest of all emotions makes life, with all its headaches and heartbreaks, [...]
When the mind tempts us to play the victim game, stop playing
“People always trample over me; life always gives me a raw deal; things always go wrong with me.” When we thus feel sorry for ourselves, [...]
Belonging that leads to blissful being
Our actions are frequently molded by others’ opinion, especially by the opinion of the social circle we wish to belong to. As we are social [...]
When Krishna doesn’t understand…
Sometimes we pray that something important work out right. But it doesn’t. This may make us feel, “Krishna just doesn’t understand me, my needs, my [...]
The summit that reaches down to the trenches
Love is the emotion that underlies all our emotions. When fulfilled, love can take us to the highest peaks of ecstasy. When frustrated, it can [...]
Are we drinking poison to quench thirst?
When infants feel thirsty, they cry, not knowing what’s wrong. Mothers understand and give their babies water. As the toddlers grow up, they too understand [...]
Are we meant to be characters in a cartoon show?
Entertainment. That’s the most eagerly awaited part of life for many people. Movies, soap operas, spectators sports, novels, cartoons – that’s the stuff most people [...]