Fasting is an opportunity to sacrifice the good for the best
As spiritual seekers, werecognize that immoral sinful pleasures are obstacles on the spiritual pathway. What we may not recognize is that even innocent pious pleasures [...]
Confirmation comes by conformation
We may sometimes wonder: “Are the statements in the Bhagavad-gita about God’s existence and benevolence to be accepted on faith alone? Isn’t there any way [...]
Discover the democracy of misery
When problems assault us unexpectedly, we often feel indignant that life has handed us a raw deal. We also become haunted by the fear that [...]
The loose ends never end
Many of us delay taking up spiritual life because of the pressures to improve our material life: our finances, fitness and family’s prospects, for example. [...]
Love is a prize far bigger than the palliative of peace
Some spiritual aspirants ask: “I had thought of spirituality as a state of peaceful withdrawal from the world while seated in a smart yogic posture. [...]
Bhakti purifies, sanctifies and amplifies our emotions
Emotions differentiate us conscious beings from unconscious things. As matter doesn’t have the capacity to experience emotions, the presence of that capacity in us suggests [...]
Avoid a void within
In our introspective moments, we often sense a void within: a feeling of incompleteness, even emptiness. This void in our heart is due to our [...]
Krishna’s pastimes are fantastic, but not fantasy
We may find Krishna’s pastimes of magically killing demons fantastic. Yes, they are fantastic, in the sense that they demonstrate his capacities to effortlessly accomplish [...]
Transform your heart into a blossoming garden
Love is not just a feeling, but also a doing; not just an emotion, but also an action. In fact, love as a feeling is [...]
Krishna is a coach, not a critic
The Bhagavad-gita (09.18) states that Krishna is present in the hearts of all of us as the witness. Fortunately for us, he is present there [...]
Krishna’s love is unconditional yet conditional
The Bhagavad-gita (09.30) urges us to recognize as saintly a devotee who, though guilty of grievous misconduct, is still determined to serve Krishna. The next [...]
Love is in the SOUND
The Bhagavad-gita (09.14) states that advanced devotees engage constantly and determinedly in speaking and singing about Krishna. The fact that they focus so much on [...]
Krishna is impartially partial
The Bhagavad-gita (9.29) states two paradoxical features of Krishna’s nature: 1. He is equal to all and does not consider anyone to be an object [...]
Love not just ideal people, but also real people
It’s relatively easy to love ideal people: those who have only virtues, no vices. And we do need to love them so that we develop [...]
Utilize impoverishment as an opportunity for enrichment
When faced with financial challenges, we often worry, “What do I live with?” This worry is, no doubt, valid and important. At the same time, [...]
If we have the capacity to worry, we have the capacity to meditate
Many people avoid meditating because they feel that meditation requires some extraordinary ability to concentrate that they don't possess. However, the fact is that all [...]
Don’t give up – grow up
Life’s inevitable reversals sometimes fill us with defeatist thoughts: “I have failed yet again. Maybe I should just give up”. At such times, Gita wisdom [...]
The temporary is a means to the eternal – not the eternal a means to the temporary
The power of illusion often makes us mistake the means to be the ends and the ends to be the means. Even among believers, many [...]