How to choose the lesser pain and how to make that pain lesser
Suppose we are bound in a car that is racing toward the edge of a huge mountain cliff. If the bonds holding us down are [...]
Are we devaluing our life by overvaluing our autonomy?
Sometimes, life puts us in situations that reduce our autonomy: a demanding job, a difficult relationship, a dreadful disease. If we overvalue autonomy, deeming it [...]
How we can make our life an adventure
We are often attracted to adventure stories, wherein people face formidable odds and do spectacular things. We may even lament that our life is boring. [...]
How our actions matter to others more than we think
How our actions matter to others more than we think - When we function in the huge world filled with countless people, we may wonder, [...]
When acknowledging our insignificance is good and when it isn’t
When we understand the hugeness of the world, such revelations are meant to bring some humility within us. Such thinking is meant to prevent us [...]
The endless end of knowledge
The word “end” has two meanings: conclusion and purpose. “To what end are you doing all this?” means, “For what purpose are you doing this?” [...]
Free entertainment expensive entanglement
We sometimes get allured by the promise of free entertainment on the Internet. Because it seems free, we may spend far more time than what [...]
When what we do doesn’t seem to matter …
When we experience how the world is filled with big problems, we may think, “What a tiny person like me does or doesn’t do hardly [...]
How we all can be dangerous be we strong or weak
Suppose someone is strong, be it physically, economically, politically. We easily understand that they can be dangerous if they start abusing their strength. However, [...]
Gita 5.6 explained
Now Shri Krishna will conclude this, why Karma Yoga is better and why Gyan Yoga has to be discouraged: Bg 5.6 sannyāsas tu mahā-bāho [...]
How to see desire as a blessing not as a burden?
On the spiritual path, we often think of desire as a burden that needs to be shed. And yes, many of our desires do impede [...]
When matter and spirit need to be differentiated — and when not
The Bhagavad-gita begins with a rigid differentiation between matter and spirit (02.11-30), wherein the properties of the spiritual particle, the soul, are shown to be [...]
How to use the material to reach the spiritual?
Suppose we received a large sum of money as inheritance. If we were prudent, we would invest it wisely to create something of sustainable value. [...]
Why do scriptures give extreme examples?
Scriptures such as Ramayana, Mahabharata or Bhagavatam often give extreme examples: sages who perform extraordinary austerity, warriors who exhibit inconceivable heroism, spiritualists who manifest incredible [...]
What happens to our desires when we become enlightened?
Some people hold that the enlightened are free from all desires; they perceive that desire is often the cause of illusion, degradation and bondage. Because [...]
When philosophy answers our questions — and when it doesn’t
When philosophy answers our questions — and when it doesn’t - Suppose we are driving and suddenly meet a deadend. That’s when we may turn [...]
How to protect ourselves from the wrong the wrong-headed and the wrong-hearted
How to protect ourselves from the wrong the wrong-headed and the wrong-hearted - Suppose someone gives others wrong advice. Why might they do so? Because [...]
How to direct our desires constructively?
How to direct our desires constructively? - Desire is our greatest power, yet it is a power that often works independent of us or even [...]
Grateful even when we don’t feel full?
Grateful even when we don’t feel full? -Even if we want to feel grateful, that feeling is often elusive. Why? Because we may feel that [...]
How Superman’s history helps us understand Krishna’s intimate divinity
How Superman’s history helps us understand Krishna’s intimate divinity - Superman was among the first in the galaxy of super-heroes that populates the DC universe. [...]
How to plan in a mood of devotion?
How to plan in a mood of devotion? - When we make plans and they don’t work, it’s easy to get frustrated. We may think [...]