How to see desire as a blessing not as a burden?
On the spiritual path, we often think of desire as a burden that needs to be shed. And yes, many of our desires do impede [...]
What happens to our desires when we become enlightened?
Some people hold that the enlightened are free from all desires; they perceive that desire is often the cause of illusion, degradation and bondage. Because [...]
Is our body fast becoming an ego feast?
Is our body fast becoming an ego feast? - Suppose we fast strictly on sacred days, abstaining even from water. When we see others eating [...]
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar Elevating our consciousness refers to our becoming conscious of higher realities beyond the material [...]
When people pigeonhole us …
Suppose we are walking along a road and get pushed by some passerby into a ditch. We will be disturbed, but we will soon pick [...]
Gita 12.10 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Ch 12 overview: 1-7: Worship [...]
Be childlike, not childish
Be childlike not childish Children have a charm to them. They have an innocence and freshness to them that lightens and brightens the world around [...]
To have fixity in purpose we need flexibility in pace
To have fixity in purpose we need flexibility in pace Suppose we are driving to a distant place for some important work. If the road [...]
Sensual hope deludes spiritual hope delivers
Sensual hope deludes spiritual hope delivers We all need hope. Without hope, life becomes unbearable, even unlivable. But we need to choose carefully where we [...]
The test of success in bhakti is taste for bhakti
The test of success in bhakti is taste for bhakti When we practice bhakti, we may wonder, “How do I know if I am progressing [...]
The appreciation we get for our service is not as consequential as the absorption we get in our service
The appreciation we get for our service is not as consequential as the absorption we get in our service Whenever we do anything, we usually [...]
Immigration to the spiritual world happens not by infiltration but by invitation
Immigration to the spiritual world happens not by infiltration but by invitation When two countries have huge economic disparities, people from the poorer country often [...]
Devotion is not just emotion – it is conscious continuous cultivation
Devotion is not just emotion – it is conscious continuous cultivation Many people conceive of devotion as a pleasant, pious emotion that they experience occasionally. [...]
Gita 12.17 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 12.17 yo na hṛṣyati [...]
Gita 12.02 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 12.2 śrī-bhagavān uvāca mayy [...]
Seek not to grasp God – seek to be grasped by God
Seek not to grasp God – seek to be grasped by God To grasp God means to use our intelligence to comprehend and conquer him; [...]
Even if we can’t be transfixed, we can still be fixed
To be transfixed is to be captivated, mesmerized, absorbed. The purpose and perfection of devotion is to be transfixed by our love for Krishna. Pure [...]
When we become at home in Krishna, we go home to Krishna
When we start practicing spiritual life seriously, we aspire to attain the supreme spiritual reality, Krishna, by attaining his eternal abode, which is our ultimate [...]
To tune out the mind, tune in to Krishna
Suppose we are hearing a radio program that is transmitting unpleasant noise. We would naturally tune out from that station to some other station. We [...]
Connection comes best by a combination of commitment and contentment
If we wish to develop a relationship with someone, we need both commitment and contentment. Commitment means that we persevere in that relationship without getting [...]
Our satisfaction is determined more by the location of our consciousness than the location of our house
When people want to buy a house, they often long to get one in an expensive locality, hoping that the prestige thereof will make them [...]