Some people downplay devotion deeming it a feeling enjoyed by non-intellectual sentimentalists. Yes, devotion is a feeling that is accessible even to non-intellectuals. But it [...]
Some people reduce religion down to a set of rituals, “If you just do the rites right, God will be pleased with you.” Such a [...]
A person falling off a cliff can be saved by holding on to another person standing on the cliff. We are like the falling person, [...]
Bhakti-yoga is a symbiosis of inner emotion and outer action. The Bhagavad-gita (09.13-14) points to these inner and outer dimensions. Devotees are internally fixed in [...]
When we start practicing bhakti-yoga, we get access to Krishna’s mercy. We gain intellectual understanding and devotional experience of his unflinching, unfailing love for us. [...]
In a boxing match, a boxer may be knocked down, but only when the fallen player fails to rise does the knock down become a [...]
Most religions expand the conception of life by explaining that death is not a termination, but a transition to life at another level of reality. [...]
Those brought up or living in a devotional culture may go through the motions of bhakti for expedience’s sake, for example, to avoid reproach in [...]
Most of the people who practice dharma, in the sense of doing some religious rituals, do so for getting material things. Some people extend this [...]
To err is human. Whenever we attempt anything worthwhile, we usually go through failures before attaining success. Even children taking their first steps slip and [...]
Some people argue, “God is so great and so accommodating that he will love us, no matter what we do.” Yes, the point of contention [...]
Many people treat devotion as a calling to which some are called and some (they) aren’t. Thus, they rationalize delaying their practice of devotion till [...]
Some devotee-seekers ask, “While striving to live according to devotional principles, we sometimes slip and fall. How can we best deal with such falls?” Not [...]
The very idea of giving Krishna our leftovers may shock out devotional sensibilities – we usually give leftovers such as food to beggars, not to [...]
Some people ask, “Isn’t it better to acquire knowledge through scientific experimentation rather than scriptural revelation because by experimentation we can actively participate and verify [...]
Chanting mantras is a standard religious practice based on the philosophical understanding that sacred sound is packed with power. Different mantras are meant for different [...]
Some people say, “Prayer is a state of being – it’s not something that you do; it’s something that you are.” Actually, this state refers [...]
As eco-awareness is spreading, people are increasingly appreciating how dependent we all are on nature. Without nature’s provision of our basic necessities, we wouldn’t be [...]
When a plane flies high in the sky, its flight is due to not just the expertise of the pilot but also the fuel put [...]
The empty-handed refers to those who have very little material resources. So, when they come to Krishna, they come with next to nothing. Yet Krishna [...]
Devotee-seekers sometimes ask, “I am devoting myself to Krishna – why then am I still getting miseries in my life?” Because misery is an intrinsic [...]
