See in the potency of illusion the glory of its master
When we see someone lost in a novel, we infer that an excellent author must have written it. Similarly, when we see people, who are [...]
Personality is neither a pointer to nor a portion of the Absolute Truth – it is the pinnacle
Many Gita commentators treat Krishna as a pointer to an amorphous non-personal Absolute Truth. They consider that the less intelligent need a form to stabilize [...]
Krishna is not just a solace from the world – he is the substance of the world
Many people come to God to gain relief from the wounds incurred while battling for the things of this world. What they find too difficult [...]
The culture may give a license to lust, but nature doesn’t
Lust is ubiquitous in today’s society with billboards depicting prurient images and movies enacting explicit scenes. Displays that would have appalled people even a few [...]
Krishna is not a jealous God; he is a zealous God
The Western monotheistic traditions frequently depict God to be jealous; he forbids the worship of any other gods and even approves the destruction of their [...]
Determination is a function of not just intention but also purification
Suppose a public speaker while giving a talk is troubled by a persistent cough. Can the speaker deal with it merely by a resolute intention, [...]
We help ourselves best by remembering that we are helpless without Krishna
“Help!” That’s how a person fallen in an ocean calls out for rescue. But suppose that person is intoxicated and so doesn’t even realize the [...]
Let intelligence be a tool for spiritual resurrection, not spiritual insurrection
Among the different species, we humans are uniquely gifted with advanced intelligence. By using this intelligence properly, we can perceive life’s spiritual dimension and approach [...]
Life’s supreme success is not to conquer everyone but to be conquered by the lover of everyone
Many people think of success in terms of power – they think that the more people they can conquer, the more successful they have become. [...]
The freedom offered by ignorance of freedom is the tightest bondage
Whenever people are enslaved, they sooner or later try to break free. They get motivation for their freedom struggle by seeing the privileges enjoyed by [...]
Envy and devotion are both levelers – envy levels downwards; devotion, upwards
We like to have a level playing field. Yet the world hardly ever offers a level playing field. Some people have more wealth, better looks [...]
Be conscious that what you are conscious of is Krishna
The Bhagavad-gita (07.06) explains philosophically how everything in existence is a manifestation of the energies of Krishna. As his energies are non-different from him, everything [...]
It takes great intelligence to recognize that intelligence is not great enough
Some people feel that the path of bhakti is too simplistic: “If we just do what Krishna tells, then how are we doing justice to [...]
The demigods are not in competition with Krishna but are in a progression to him
God by definition is the Supreme Being. And there can be only one Supreme. Yet the Bhagavad-gita talks about multiple worshipable beings, devatas. Who are [...]
Balanced bhakti brings bliss
Some people fear that becoming too spiritual will make them apathetic towards everything worldly. Apathy towards the world is not the defining characteristic of spirituality [...]
Don’t let desire delude with the Trojan Horse of doubt
Intelligence boosted by scriptural wisdom is our defense against self-centered desire – it helps us see through desire’s false promises. When desire can’t penetrate our [...]
To get on the way to Krishna, get out of Krishna’s way
Just as a river naturally flows towards the ocean, so does our heart in its pure state flow towards Krishna. But just as the river’s [...]
Do the extraordinary for the extraordinary, not the ordinary
We all want to do something special, and thereby get some special happiness. To get this happiness, we need to re-educate ourselves about what is [...]
Slave not to get worldly recognition; strive to give Krishna recognition
We all feel sometimes that our abilities are not adequately recognized, that we are underappreciated. Most people spend their entire lives trying to correct this [...]
Krishna is not a dispensable filler; he is an indispensable shelter
“I don’t have time.” That’s how we often respond whenever we are urged to give devotion to Krishna its due place in our lives. This [...]
Don’t reduce the spiritual to the practical; let the spiritual expand the practical
“That’s not practical.” We may thus dismiss forms of spirituality that require commitment like devotional service. We usually consider as practical that which requires little [...]