The simple way to do something wonderful
Once an award-winning painter was asked, “How do you draw such magnificent paintings?” The painter’s reply: “One line at a time.” We often admire profusely [...]
When we can’t do anything wonderful …
Suppose someone we know does something wonderful that is widely lauded. If we try something similar and fail, we may feel insecure and miserable: “Why [...]
Why seeking something worthwhile is better than seeking something wonderful
Suppose we want to write a best-selling book. Suppose further we start worrying that what we write may not turn out to be so wonderful. [...]
How ability, maturity and spirituality can work together in our life
Maturity provides us the ability to use our ability properly; it underlies the steady temperament by which we can avoid getting carried away by life’s [...]
The easiest way to fail is the worst way to fail
Suppose we attempt something challenging and fail. We may feel disappointed, even devastated. Not wanting such negative emotions, we may choose the easy way out: [...]
When the urgent seems important and makes us impotent
Suppose we have ten urgent things to do that all seem equally important. If these ten things require us to go in ten different directions, [...]
Why our energy goes down — and how to restore it
Suppose our energy level starts dropping while we strive to manage our many to-dos. We might presume that we are weak, sick or just lethargic. [...]
How to let go of the unchangeable
Suppose a dream project of ours fails irrecoverably. Having no other alternatives, we may grit our teeth and struggle to let go of it, by [...]
Gita 02.40 explained
2nd ch - 4th sec 38 to 53 -> Now Krishna will answer Arjuna’s fear of sinful reaction argument: He will address by telling how [...]
Gita 02.32 explained
BG 2.32 yadricchaya copapannam svarga-dvaram apavritam sukhinah kshatriyah partha labhante yuddham idrisam SYNONYMS yadricchaya -- by its own accord; ca -- also; upapannam -- arrived [...]
Why indulgences that don’t seem dangerous may still be dangerous
We sometimes give in to certain sensual temptations that run contrary to the principles we hold sacred. And if we don’t suffer any serious negative [...]
Who is at fault = who is responsible?
Suppose while we are working from home, we see from a window our neighbor’s son playing with a ball. While following the ball, he runs [...]
Gita 03.39 explained
Bg 3.39 āvṛtaṁ jñānam etena jñānino nitya-vairiṇā kāma-rūpeṇa kaunteya duṣpūreṇānalena ca Word for word: āvṛtam — covered; jñānam — pure consciousness; etena — by [...]
How lust distorts our value system
Suppose a shopping mall were built to psychologically manipulate consumers to buy anything that attracted them, without considering its cost. While such a mall would [...]
Gita 15.11 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Chp15 Overview 1-6: Attain Liberation [...]
Are we living inside an echo chamber?
Suppose we are walking through nature, while wearing earphones to hear music. Suppose further we are unwittingly heading into a dangerous marsh, and a well-wishing [...]
Gita 02.07 explained
So right now we are discussing 5th reason for Arjuna for not fighting the first four were 1> Compassion 2> Enjoyment 3> Sinful reactions 4> [...]
How to manage complexity?
Do you sometimes feel that your life is becoming too complex? Too many things to do? Too many things others want you to do? Too [...]
How to get the best of both positive thinking and negative thinking
Positive thinking works best when it keeps us focused on opportunities amid difficulties. Our attention usually follows our intention. If we aren’t looking for opportunities, [...]
Go beyond both negative thinking and positive thinking
Life is filled with binaries of ups and downs. In the world outside, we encounter binaries such as heat-cold, health-sickness, prosperity-poverty. And in the world [...]
Three kinds of negative thinking — and why they all aren’t undesirable
Nowadays, negative thinking is often criticized. However, what that term means is frequently left unspecified. Broadly, it can encompass three things. Thinking about negative realities: [...]