The courage to take a hard look at ourselves
A mirror helps us see how we look, or more specifically, see whether how we look agrees with how we want to look. We also [...]
Gita 16.04 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 16.4 dambho darpo ’bhimānaś [...]
How to make difficult decisions
Throughout our life, we make decisions, consciously or unconsciously, about what to eat, what to read, whom to spend time with. Some decisions are far [...]
Gita 01.23 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So Arjuna continued his request [...]
When form and substance are different — and when they aren’t
All that glitters is not gold. Such sayings which are present in almost every human culture, highlight a vital reality in this world: form doesn’t [...]
How to act wisely?
When we face perplexing situations, how can we act wisely? By the proper interaction between our intentions and our perceptions. Let’s understand. When intentions should [...]
Does the Gita discourage material solutions to problems?
Some people ask, “When the Bhagavad-gita (08.15) states that the world is a place of misery, does that mean we can never avoid misery and [...]
Is the world really a place of misery?
Sometimes, the Bhagavad-gita statement that the world is a place of misery (08.15) is seen as a prescription for pessimism. To better understand this statement, [...]
How Krishna is much bigger than our understanding of Krishna
Krishna may be thought by some as as an image in a temple or as a historical figure. Gita wisdom reveals how he is actually [...]
The scapegoating tendency
Scapegoating is one of the most universal of human tendencies. When we face difficulties, especially difficulties that seem unfair to us, we seek someone to [...]
How to be more creative?
Creativity is essentially divinity manifesting through humanity. When we are creative, we become channels for a wisdom far bigger than ours to manifest through us. [...]
Show up for inspiration to show up
Creativity is both a great magic and a great mystery. Magic because it results in the best books, poems, paintings, architecture and everything that amazes [...]
How to gain insight into complicated situations?
When confronted with complicated situations, we can gain insight into them by using two principles. Let’s apply these principles for understanding the setting of the [...]
Mindlessly mindful?
Mindfulness is often equated with greater awareness of both our outer and inner worlds. Still, not every detail of the outer world needs attention, and [...]
Are we training our mind in distraction or in concentration?
We all have noticed times when we get distracted, sometimes from important things. If only we could concentrate more, we could do so many things [...]
Beyond mindfulness to purposefulness
Suppose we are working in customer support and a disgruntled customer is speaking with us rudely, even obnoxiously. Still, we may have to plaster a [...]
Three ways remembering Krishna empowers us to face problems
Our life is often filled with many problems, and so is our world. When we have so many problems to tackle, we may wonder, “What [...]
When living in the present helps, and when it harms
“Live in the present” is valuable advice to counter our mind’s tendency to wander off into the past or the future. That wandering can rob [...]
When morality feels like a burden …
When we try to follow moral standards to live purely, we sometimes feel harassed by temptations that keep coming upon us. And if we compare [...]
How to avoid unhealthy reactions to unwanted emotions
Suppose we experience a craving that runs contrary to the principles we hold sacred. Faced with this unwanted emotion, we may react by becoming judgmental [...]
How to see negative emotions positively
We all sometimes experience negative emotions such as loneliness, dejection, resentment, anger or fear. When such emotions arise, we may let ourselves get carried away [...]