On decreasing our emotional distance from the truth
Our normal actions as well as our major decisions are shaped not just by our rational contemplation but also by our emotional sensation. That’s why [...]
Is the body a playground for passion or a temple for devotion?
Our culture with its romantic movies and erotic pictures depicts the body as a playground for passion, especially sexual passion. But are such popular depictions [...]
When a salesperson knocks at the inner door…
When a salesperson comes knocking at our door, we evaluate the proposal by merit. If the proposal is unreasonable or unnecessary, we usually say a [...]
Plans may not work, but planning works
“My plans never work, so I have decided to give up planning.” We may think like this when our plans to balance our material obligations [...]
Don’t fall for the mind’s “no time” trick
“You don’t have any time.” This is how the mind often summarily rejects our plans for devotional activities like mantra meditation. We may indeed have [...]
Go beyond the stocking of information to the flowing of service
As we live in an information-centered age, we are often stimulated by new information. When we encounter the Bhagavad-gita, we tend to seek stimulation in [...]
When attention seems like detention, we need education
Attention is crucial for enjoying anything. When a reputed sports player is in action, fans enjoy by attentively watching all the action and even the [...]
To access the Absolute Truth, reject the absolute rejection of absolute truths
Due to the spread of postmodernism, many people tend towards metaphysical relativism: the idea that absolute truths are impossible because cultural, historical and intellectual biases [...]
To see stone and gold equally, see beyond stone and gold to Krishna
The Bhagavad-gita (06.08) shares a puzzling recommendation: see stone and gold equally. How is this possible? To understand, let’s analyze the statement at three progressive [...]
The mind may stray away; let it not stay away
“Yet again the mind has gone astray. How many times can I keep struggling against it?” This is our common reaction when we try to [...]
We can’t avoid being haunted, but we can choose who haunts us
As aspiring devotees, our devotional determination may waver when we are confronted with temptations of material pleasures. Often these temptations haunt us like ghosts; they [...]
Live beyond life’s tornadoes and torpedoes
Life confronts us with challenges both externally and internally. External upheavals – financial and political, for example – are like tornadoes that twist and topple [...]
Change of values is more significant than change of desires
When we as spiritual seekers find ourselves becoming repeatedly afflicted by greed, anger or lust, we may become discouraged, thinking, “Despite my practice of devotional [...]
The new life outside begins with the new life inside
We often feel dissatisfied with the same old things that keep repeating themselves in our life’s routines. So, we try to acquire new things: delicacies, [...]
We need a break – from the mind
Our mind harasses us constantly with internal proposals for material enjoyment. Moreover, it has a formidable external ally: the current culture. The culture does externally [...]
Determination comes from the conviction that the prize is greater than the price
“Yet again I failed to keep my resolution! I will never be able to achieve self-mastery.” The mind may dishearten us with haunting thoughts like [...]
Study makes us steady and sturdy
When we strive to live with spiritual and moral integrity, we often find our mind tormenting us. It tantalizes us with dreams and schemes of [...]
Our days of cowering to the mind are over
“I will never be able to manage my mind.” We may have felt disheartened like this sometimes – especially when we observe how the mind [...]
Krishna-thoughts are soothing, satisfying, strengthening, sublimating
Materialists often challenge spiritualists: “Why do you spend so much time thinking about Krishna when all that thinking doesn’t give any tangible return?” The key [...]
The mind is predictably dangerous and dangerously unpredictable
“I know that work is important, but I just can’t make myself do it; I am not in the right mood.” “Stop; don’t irritate me [...]
To save you from you, couple the real self with the Supreme Self
“Why did I do that?” This question often troubles us whenever we look back at an unworthy action that we did on the spur of [...]