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 sanitizer. Simultaneously, we need to protect ourselves from unhealthy emotions such as panic; these emotions [...]
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
Some people think of prayer as a magic wand to solve all problems or as a mystical shield against all problems. For example, amid a [...]
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 feeling lonely, we can repurpose that isolation for spiritual growth. In fact, that’s what [...]
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 Bhagavad-gita? Consider its declaration at the end of a list of twenty [...]
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
Suppose a newborn baby is crying. Should the mother neglect the baby by thinking, “She is in pain because of her own past karma”? No, [...]
Focusing only on suffering’s immediate cause makes us short-sighted, focusing only on suffering’s remote cause makes us hard-hearted
Suppose someone falls sick because of being infected by a virus. While the virus is the immediate cause of their suffering, is it the complete [...]
Gita 02.01 explained
BG CH2 (Introduction) -> Sankhya Yoga - Analysis of matter and spirit by differentiating Srila Bhakti Vinod Thakur (BVT) gave the name : Content of [...]
The more we are emotional, the less emotions we have and the more our emotions have us
Emotions bring life to our life — if we had to live like emotionless robots, there wouldn’t be much to look forward to in our [...]
Equality that is imposed leads inevitably to inequality
We live in an egalitarian society, where inequality and discrimination are considered reproachable, even reprehensible. Significantly however, equality is not a materially self-evident fact. Whatever [...]
People may respond to us with indifference, but that doesn’t mean we aren’t making a difference
When we do something good for someone but they don’t appreciate it, that can easily dishearten us. If we are health care professionals who provide [...]
We can’t always go outside, but we can always go inside
The outer world is subject to uncontrollable change that can limit our physical freedom. If we can’t go outside, we might go stir-crazy, becoming bored, [...]
The value of our life doesn’t require anyone’s recognition, not even our own
Some countries have declared suicide to be a fundamental right. If people desire to kill themselves, the government has to facilitate them. This bizarre development [...]
Purification means that sensual contemplation stops; determination means that we stop sensual contemplation
To grow spiritually and live meaningfully, we need to regulate sensual indulgence. For such regulation, we had best begin in the beginning: by minimizing our [...]
Gita 02.18 explained
BG 2.18antavanta ime dehanityasyoktah saririnahanasino 'prameyasyatasmad yudhyasva bharataSYNONYMSanta-vantah -- perishable; ime -- all these; dehah -- material bodies; nityasya -- eternal in existence; uktah -- [...]
We can’t always move on from grief; we need to sometimes move on with grief
02.18 We can’t always move on from grief; we need to sometimes move on with grief When we lose a loved one, grief can overwhelm [...]