Devotion is Krishna’s appetizer
Some people ask, “God is complete and doesn’t need anything. As he never feels hungry, what is the need to offer him food?” This question [...]
Bhakti is not just cultural or historical but also universal and eternal
The historical dating of spiritually significant events is often an exercise in irrelevance. Consider, for example, the mainstream academic opinion that characterizes bhakti as a [...]
See spiritual advancement in overall dedication not ritual specialization
Many spiritual neophytes get enamored on seeing virtuoso cultural skills in spiritual teachers. They often consider as spiritually advanced individuals with the ability to fluently [...]
Devotion to the greatest soul makes the small soul a great soul
We usually long to prove our greatness to the world. At first sight, Gita wisdom seems to repress this ambition for greatness; it informs us [...]
Bhakti brings equality and universality on the spiritual path
Ours is an age that idealizes the equality of all human beings. The American Declaration of Rights which enshrines this equality is widely considered a [...]
Attraction to the supernatural is natural
Supernatural stunts in cartoons and sci-fi movies attract not only common people, but also diehard skeptics who usually denounce anything supernatural. They happily suspend their [...]
Fasting is an opportunity for feasting
Some people think of fasting as a means of achieving mastery over their body. They fast to increase their willpower by refusing to let bodily [...]
Seek not a problem-free life, but a purpose-filled life
The endless problems of life may wear us out and make us long for a problem-free life. Such a longing, however, is unrealistic and unfulfilling. [...]
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 [...]