Bhakti-yoga trains us in unemotional emotionality
Some readers of the Bhagavad-gita are struck by a paradox: “The Gita asks us to be neutral towards emotions like happiness and distress. But it [...]
Navigate the troughs of consciousness by focusing on the peak
As aspiring devotees, we may find the state of our consciousness oscillating up and down like a sine wave. We may feel sometimes attracted and [...]
Insanity is not compulsory
All of us have witnessed normal sane people suddenly behaving abnormally, even insanely. We may have seen this happening to ourselves. For some people, this [...]
Guard against the vice of the wise
We often think of those with developed intellect as wise. We may even see a developed intellect as an indicator, or at least a facilitator, [...]
Give your prime time to the highest bidder, not the loudest bidder
Television channels charge phenomenally for their prime time. Knowing that maximum TV audience is available during this time, they allocate those slots to the highest [...]
If we wait for inspiration, we are waiters, not worshipers
Many of us wait for external inspiration to intensify our devotional practices like chanting. When we don’t get such inspiration, we let our moods determine [...]
Go beyond indecision and indiscretion to introspection and inspiration
“What should I do now?” We frequently face this question when life’s perplexities disrupt our routines. We usually respond based on not just the external [...]
Go beyond rapidity and vapidity to clarity and serenity
Our current materialistic culture impels us to lead lives characterized by rapidity and vapidity: Rapidity: In the rapid mode, we are in a tearing hurry [...]
Be not dulled and lulled by TV
Few consumer products shape the contemporary home as much as a television. Few images represent a contemporary family better than a group of people, physically [...]
Are we desiring the worthy or the trendy?
Our capacity to desire is our most powerful resource, second only to our capacity to access Krishna’s grace. Our desires shape our life’s direction and [...]
Our feelings are not always our feelings
The Bhagavad-gita (14.22) points to a fascinating thought-exercise that involves taking on the role of an observer towards our feelings. Let’s understand the whys and [...]
Self-help can’t help without divine help
The Bhagavad-gita (14.10) indicates how the subtle forces of nature known as the modes exert competing psychological influences on us. Their contrary influences cause our [...]