The divorce of the raja from the rishi perverts the ruler into an exploiter
Monarchy. The idea of one person monopolizing political power alarms us. So, when the Bhagavad-gita (04.02) refers to monarchs positively as the primary recipients of [...]
From our place, at our pace, Krishna offers his embrace
Krishna’s love for all of us is so encompassing that he accepts us wherever we are. And he invites us to come towards him from [...]
Be curious, not superstitious; be cautious, not suspicious
Superstitious or suspicious – these are the two approaches many people have towards spirituality. Some people adopt an anti-intellectual approach to spirituality, basing everything on [...]
See skepticism with skepticism
“I am a skeptic.” Today’s intellectuals often see skepticism as their badge of honor, as the evidence that they are freethinkers, unbound by other’s beliefs [...]
Should we be happy when we are happy?
When we are materially happy, we are exhausting our past stock of good karma – something similar to depleting the money in our bank account. [...]
Might we be protecting our heart from Krishna instead of for Krishna?
As aspiring devotees, we long to relish the spiritual emotions that the bhakti scriptures extol. Such devotional longing is natural and desirable. However, it comes [...]
Seek pleasure in the pursuit of meaning, not meaning in the pursuit of pleasure
Most people live caught up in the pursuit of worldly pleasures. As all such pleasures are destroyed by death, they assume that life has no [...]
Unravel the mystery of the Infinite’s descent into the finite through love
“How can the Supreme who is beyond all limits of space and time appear within those limits?” This is one of existence’s greatest mysteries. Gita wisdom [...]
Are we mistaking the causal to be casual?
“Veg or non-veg?” A caterer may ask us in a train or a plane. Most people consider such choices to be casual. However, Gita wisdom [...]
The call to faith is for focusing,not forsaking, of intelligence
Today’s ethos often treats the word ‘faith’ negatively, as if those who choose faith reject intelligence. Actually however, the call to faith, as given by [...]
When strengths make us weak and weaknesses make us strong
To survive and thrive in our hyper-competitive culture, we usually hide our weaknesses and hype our strengths. Such a strategy may be necessary in material [...]
Are we putting too much faith in doubt?
Atheists sometimes induce doubts in us by presenting anti-scriptural arguments that seem irrefutable. The Bhagavad-gita (04.42) urges us to slay doubt with the sword of [...]
To get devotion in our life, let’s put life in our devotion
Sometimes welament, “Though I am practicing devotional service, why don’t I feel any devotion in my heart?” Frequently, it’s because we are doing devotional activities [...]
Tap the power of devotion that supersedes nature, nurture and culture
We are what we are because of three primary factors: nature, nurture and culture. Nature: All of us are born with a particular psycho-physical nature [...]
Ask not “Why this?” but “How now?”
When we encounter sudden adversities, we usually get the question, “Why is Krishna doing this to me?” Gita wisdom explains that when we hold Krishna [...]
Don’t blame gravity for the sinking of the boat
“I succumbed to immoral indulgences because my material desires were too strong.” Sometimes we may thus rationalize our fall from principles of spiritual integrity. This [...]
The material is not spiritual, but it is spiritualizable
“Everything that devotees do is spiritual, so even their material life is spiritual,” we may hear statements like these in devotee circles. Naturally, we may [...]
Don’t let the sword sleep in the hand
Suppose medieval warriors with their hands on the swords by their side were surrounded by marauders, who were attacking innocent civilians and charging to strike [...]
Give yourself permission to love Krishna by suspending disbelief
When we are practicing devotional service externally, internally we may be checked by the doubt: “How can I love Krishna when I am not sure [...]
The Gita offers not just another worldview, but also another world to view
“That’s just another worldview to add to the confusing plethora of worldviews.” Thus do skeptics dismiss Gita wisdom. They argue that as we can’t know [...]
Those who let reason usurp Krishna in their heart end up worshiping a false god
“Isn’t that mythology?” This doubt may trouble us whenever we hear about Krishna’s super-human pastimes such as lifting Govardhan hill that seem too unreasonable to [...]