The key to lasting confidence
Base our confidence not on who we are but on whose we are. Whenever we face some difficult challenge, we often try to boost our [...]
Gita 11.33 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Once Arjuna understand that this [...]
Slaying the enemy of self-doubt
Whenever we try to do anything worthwhile, be it external or internal, we are often confronted by some people who doubt us: “You won’t be [...]
When discipline doesn’t seem worthwhile …
When we strive to discipline ourselves, we may falter and fail, sometimes repeatedly. Being disheartened, we may wonder, “Is all this struggle worthwhile? What difference [...]
Are we devaluing our life by overvaluing our autonomy?
Sometimes, life puts us in situations that reduce our autonomy: a demanding job, a difficult relationship, a dreadful disease. If we overvalue autonomy, deeming it [...]
How to know if we are standing for God?
Many people want to or claim to stand for God. That means they want to represent God and to challenge those who malign [...]
To perceive God, we don’t need any instrument; we only need to become his instrument
On seeing impressive scientific instruments, we may wonder, “Can science develop an instrument sophisticated enough to perceive God?” That’s like asking: will a future telescope [...]
Just because it’s not up to you doesn’t mean that you are not up to it
When we are asked to do something challenging, especially something whose results depend on factors beyond our control, we may back off, saying, “It’s not [...]
What we achieve depends on not just how we strive but also on what we believe
Some people think, “If you just work hard, you can achieve anything.” However, many people work hard throughout their lives, but still don’t achieve their [...]
On some days, in some ways, we all can make a difference – provided we try
During our lives, we sometimes wonder, “Whatever I do, does it count? Does even my existence count?” Especially when we try to do something good [...]
Just because we can do the impossible doesn’t mean we can do everything
Impossible is a word in a fool’s dictionary – what is the spiritual perspective on this saying? To understand, let’s first differentiate between doing the [...]
Thinking about worldly things is not attachment, being unable to stop thinking of them is
Attachment is a state of mental bondage wherein our thoughts compulsively gravitate towards the object of our attachment. The Bhagavad-gita (01.01) begins with the words [...]
Focus not on the wrongdoer; focus on the ultimate doer
When somebody treats us unfairly and hurtfully, we naturally feel angry, even vengeful. But such an attitude traps us in negativity, whereby we hurt ourselves [...]
Krishna already has the result – what he seeks is our endeavor
Some people think that Krishna spoke the Bhagavad-gita to persuade Arjuna to fight for establishing dharma. However, the Gita (11.33) reveals that the opponents of [...]
It takes courage to dream – and it takes courage to hand our dream over to Krishna
Achievers often talk about the courage needed to dream big and to work untiringly for actualizing the dream. But not many achievers talk about another [...]
It takes courage to dream – and it takes courage to hand our dream over to Krishna
When we dream we often envision situation radically different from our present situation, and especially if our dream is meant to be a spur for [...]
Just because the world is a place of misery doesn’t mean we have to accept atrocity
Some people say, “The Bhagavad-gita’s statement that the world is a place of misery makes people fatalistic, passively accepting atrocity.” If the Gita were fatalistic, [...]
Be single-minded, not single-geared
Suppose we decide to drive by a particular path to a particular destination. If that path is blocked, we will flexibly choose an alternative path. [...]
Empowerment doesn’t mean absence of obstacles – it means perseverance amidst obstacles
In spiritual circles, special souls who do extraordinary services are considered empowered by the divine. When we try to do some service and face some [...]
Let our confidence come from not who we are, but whose we are
Suppose we are climbing a huge mountain. Seeing how tall it is, we may lose heart and give up. If, however, we are a part [...]
Consciousness of Krishna is not just passive contemplation – it is also active dedication
Some people fear, “If I become conscious of Krishna, as the Bhagavad-gita recommends, won’t I become passive, just longing for some otherworldly reality, doing nothing practical?” No, the Bhagavad-gita’s setting and substance both convey that spirituality fosters activity, not passivity.