Impersonalism perpetuates the padlock on the heart
Our heart naturally longs to move outwards in search of a worthy object of love. However, this search often ends in misery when those we [...]
Renunciation is not a function of frustration – it is a fruit of realization
Some people think that those people take to renunciation who have become frustrated with material life, especially with their inability to become successful in material [...]
There’s more to devotion than rules, not less
Some people claim, “There’s more to bhakti than rules – it’s a matter of the heart.” Yes, it is. But presently our heart is much [...]
The Gita calls for not emotionless living, but purposeful living
In cricket, fielders sometimes use sledging to unsettle a batsman. If the batsman lets their nasty words agitate him, he will in a rush of [...]
Infatuation with form is not the problem – infatuation with temporary form is
We are often attracted to good-looking worldly forms. Such attraction keeps our consciousness at the material level and thus ties us to worldly existence. Understanding [...]
The impersonal stereotype of impersonalists militates against personlism
An impersonal stereotype of impersonalists refers to the notion among some neophyte personalists that all impersonalists are blasphemers of Krishna. However, the Gita itself differentiates [...]
Don’t come up with the truth; come up to the truth
The phrase ‘coming up with the truth’ indicates speculating and hazarding our own way to the truth. It implies that truth is something submerged and [...]
Devotees left with nothing are right with Krishna
Some people believe that material prosperity is a sign of God’s pleasure and material adversity, a sign of his displeasure. Such beliefs are typical of [...]
Devotion is the emotion that takes us beyond all other emotions
When a mother loves her infant, that maternal emotion takes her beyond all other emotions. For example, she may be exhausted after a day of [...]
Seek not scapegoats; seek not to become martyrs – seek to stay as servants
When we fail at something important, we often feel mortified that others will think of us as incompetent, bungling good-for-nothings. To counter this negative perception, [...]
The fruit of meditation is taste for meditation
In worldly life, we usually do an action for some fruit other than that action – we may work not because we love the work [...]
Live for Krishna; live through Krishna; live in Krishna
“How can we live spiritually in the material world?” This question often confronts devotee-seekers. The Bhagavad-gita (12.08 - 12.12) outlines multiple descending levels at which we can [...]
Even if we can’t be ideal people, we can still be people with ideals
Living as we do in a confusing world, we are like seafarers adrift in an ocean that seems shorelessly vast. In such a world, ideals [...]
Cherish compassion not just as a position or an emotion, but as a foundation
Position: Some people contribute to welfare causes because it makes them look good in the eyes of the world. For example, MNCs that exploit natural [...]
The happiness of devotion is not a destination but an eternal progression
Life is a journey. This metaphor is often used to explain various facets of life, including spiritual progress: we embark on a devotional journey towards [...]
If we hold on to Krishna long enough, nothing else will hold on to us long enough
When we strive to progress in spiritual life, we often find ourselves shaken, even shackled, by our worldly attachments. How can we break free? By [...]
Devotional culture sets us free from our emotional cocoons
Loneliness is a widespread problem nowadays. Not loneliness in a physical sense; many people live in crowded matchbox-like apartments in skyscraper building. But loneliness in [...]
Krishna accommodates even those who can’t accommodate him
It is relatively easy to accommodate those who accommodate us. It is much more difficult to accommodate those who don’t accommodate us. The Bhagavad-gita reveals [...]
Strive more for the gift of presence than the presence of gifts
We express our love for others through gifts. In spiritual life too, we can express our devotion to Krishna through gifts – donations offered, contributions [...]
Anticipate spontaneous devotion, but cultivate conscientious devotion
When we read in the scriptures about exalted devotees who spontaneously love Krishna, we as aspiring devotees naturally long for such spontaneous devotion. And we [...]
Rise from defiance through reliance to transcendence
Our journey towards Krishna progresses through three stages: Defiance: We start of imagining that we don’t need Krishna, that we can do fine without him. [...]