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 [...]
Our clock may stop, but time doesn’t – don’t waste time
Suppose we are working on a deadline-driven project. While we are racing against time, suppose our clock suddenly stops, giving us the illusory feeling that [...]
Trying to get even with others gets us at odds with ourselves
Whenever anyone hurts us, a natural human tendency is to want to get even with them, “The way you have hurt me, I will hurt [...]
Gita 11.34 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 11.34 droṇaṁ ca bhīṣmaṁ [...]
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 [...]
We may have to fight against others, but we don’t have to be against others
When we strive to lead a principle-centered life, those who feel that their interests are threatened by our principles will oppose us. If they attack [...]
Time can be a fire in which we burn or a teacher from whom we learn
Time is a formidable, inexorable force that pushes us all towards death when our body will be burnt in the funeral fire. Even if 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 [...]
Don’t just speak philosophy – seek the purpose of philosophy
The Bhagavad-gita (13.12) states that the purpose of philosophy is to understand the true nature of reality (tattva-jnanartha darshanam). Etymologically, philosophy means “love of wisdom” [...]
The awe-inspiring mystery of God is to be venerated, not penetrated
When we come to know of Krishna’s form, pastimes, philosophy, associates, paraphernalia, we may think that we know him. But do we, really? Krishna is [...]
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 [...]
Those who bow before the altar of hate can’t bow before the God of love
Some people, being driven by misdirected religious zeal, become inimical and violent towards others. Such people claim to be worshiping God, but they contemplate their [...]
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 [...]
Hate may be an unavoidable emotion, but hatefulness is an avoidable disposition
When some people hurt us and delight in doing so, we may naturally feel anger and hate. Even if such hate is unavoidable, we needn’t [...]
Gita 11.39 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan First there is glorification going [...]
Subtle time subtly causes colossal changes
When we see a huge cloud moving in the sky, we don’t often realize that it demonstrates how the subtler affects the grosser – the [...]
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, [...]