When compassion discourages instead of encouraging
When we wish to be compassionate to others, we may not realize that we might be unintentionally discouraging them instead of encouraging them. How might [...]
Effective education: what to NOT focus on
Education requires a dynamic awareness of the level of those being educated. Suppose a math teacher with a triple PhD in calculus is teaching children [...]
Gita 03.26 explained
So now Krishna will talk about that you should not disturb the mind of others Bg 3.26 na buddhi-bhedaṁ janayed ajñānāṁ karma-saṅginām joṣayet sarva-karmāṇi vidvān [...]
The difference between compassion and compromise
Suppose we are building a staircase to a scenic spot on a hilltop. Suppose we make the steps so big that people have to pull [...]
Shifting focus from certainty to curiosity (Religious tolerance series 2)
“God said it; I accept it; that settles it.” Some people presume that such statements of absolute certainty demonstrate their strong faith. But might certainty [...]
Krishna’s incredible inclusivity
Through the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna reveals how his teachings are utterly different from exclusivism. Here are four ways to understand his astonishing inclusivity: Acknowledges multiple paths [...]
Will ethical self-assessment increase our guilt? (Ethics & devotion series 5)
Will ethical self-assessment increase our guilt? - If we are told to assess ourselves ethically, we may fear, “I already feel guilty because I can’t [...]
How to expand our God consciousness in our relationships
How to expand our God consciousness in our relationships - When we strive to become God conscious by doing various devotional practices, we often start [...]
Why compassion matters more than erudition
Why compassion matters more than erudition - Suppose we discuss spirituality with a loved one whose conceptions differ from what we have learnt in sacred [...]
How not to share spirituality
How not to share spirituality - Suppose a blind person is out in the cold, covered only by a thin, torn sheet. Wanting to give [...]
When being truthful makes us unhelpful …
When being truthful makes us unhelpful - Suppose a first-grade student struggling with math approaches their teacher and says: “This is so difficult.” And the [...]
What we believe vs how we behave
We may try to share our beliefs with [...]
Conflict resolution – Right or Rightly Directed?
When we disagree with someone, we often seek to prove not just that we are right, but also that they are wrong. Actually however, their [...]
Showing others how they are wrong is not compassion, seeing how they can help themselves become more right is
If we see someone in trouble, we may naturally want to help them. And if they are in trouble because of something that they are [...]
If an ideal inspires more regret than reform, an intermediate ideal is required
Suppose a hospital gym has weights so heavy that they can’t even be budged by those patients who need to exercise. Such weights will make [...]
Know when to give others space and when to give them pace
If someone intrudes into our personal physical space by coming too close to us, we feel uncomfortable. We similarly feel uncomfortable when someone intrudes into [...]
Wrong philosophy may not obstruct people spiritually as much as our calling their philosophy wrong
Suppose we encounter people who follow some philosophy in which we can find many holes. We may be tempted to call their philosophy wrong. We [...]
Make judgments, but don’t be judgmental
When doing anything responsible, we need to make judgments: we need to evaluate who is suitable for doing what and who isn’t. If someone tends [...]
If people don’t walk in, don’t slam the door on their face
When we start practicing spiritual life, our life becomes enriched with deep meaning and sublime joy. Naturally, we desire that others become similarly enriched. So, [...]
Outreach requires that we speak in the conceptual language that our audience understands
Suppose a speaker delivers an eloquent talk, but in a language that the audience doesn’t understand. The speaker’s effort gets wasted. Just as speaking to [...]
The inconsiderate can be as injurious as the incorrect
A doctor who prescribes incorrectly hurts the patient. But so does a doctor who prescribes inconsiderately, who doesn’t consider the patient’s case history and prescribes [...]