Shifting Focus from Illusion to Reality
In the Bhagavad-gita (13.22), it is stated that our consciousness gets caught in matter. Due to this, we experience the dualities of material existence and [...]
Two characteristics of extremism
Any extremist ideology is totalizing and demonizing. Totalizing means that it claims to have a total understanding of everything, that whatever it says is [...]
Two kinds of extremism
Extremism can be in thought and in action. Extremism in thought is often called as exclusivism: where people believe, for example, if they are religious, [...]
Being aware that we are making assumptions
Making assumptions is not a problem, not being aware that we are making assumptions is a problem. Whenever we make assumptions about people thinking that, [...]
How NOT to respond to mistakes
Pondering our mistakes is helpful if the focus is on how we can learn, but pondering our mistakes can be harmful if the focus is [...]
Why relationships are so difficult
Difficulties in relationships are caused not so much by INCOMPATIBILITY as by INFLEXIBILITY. Sometimes when two people cannot get along with each other, a common [...]
Using Ability with Humility
Humility does not require us to deny or downplay our ability. It just requires that we don't let our ability overshadow our humanity or our [...]
We don’t need to become good
We don't need to become good to come to God. We need to come to God to become good. Sometimes we may stay away from [...]
Humility is a gaining of our intelligence
See humility not as a weakening or a losing of our ego. See it more as a strengthening and gaining of our intelligence. Whenever we [...]
Far away from God
We may be far away from God, but God is close to us. Sometimes we may pray to God and not get any result from [...]
Why humility is a vital ability
Humility is the ability to ensure that our ability doesn't take over our identity. When someone possesses an extraordinary ability, they can very easily become [...]
Curiosity & humility: an empowering combination
Curiosity is often recommended and even celebrated as a great virtue for those who wish to keep learning and growing in their lives. Curiosity ensures [...]
The courage that may not look like courage
We often associate courage with physically heroic deeds, such as running into a burning building to save a trapped child. While such courage is undoubtedly [...]
Authentic = Shameless?
When we strive to be authentic by aligning with our true nature, we may face the world’s disapproval or even censure. People around us may [...]
The price for becoming wise
When we have some questions, we may hesitate to ask them thinking that others may consider us foolish for having those questions. Such a fear [...]
No to incite yes to insight
The world contains many power-hungry people who ruthlessly pursue their selfish, even devilish, agendas. To serve their own ends, they have no compunctions about manipulating [...]
Gita 13.33 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So it will not be [...]
How to deal with our emotions
We all are prone to be swept away by our emotions, thereby acting self-destructively. How can we protect ourselves from this danger? Some people try [...]
Gita 13.23 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after describing about this [...]
Mistakes that even God can’t fix?
As we are finite beings, we may sometimes commit mistakes that have devastating consequences. When we realize the gravity of our blunders, we may become [...]
Be not holier-than-thou
During a pandemic, suppose someone has succeeded in avoiding infection by adopting preventive measures such as vaccination. Suppose further that they become proud and deliberately [...]