Our capacity for emotions comes from the soul, but our current emotions come from the mind
Suppose a child is watching a horror movie on TV and is becoming fearful. Herein, the ability to experience emotions comes from the child – [...]
What we see depends on what we want to see
Suppose an alcoholic visits a new city. Though the city may have many attractive sights, the alcoholic will look for bars. Similarly, when we function [...]
Evidence is only as good as the person evaluating it
Suppose someone infected by a disease is in denial. Even when their physician shows them the relevant reports, if they aren’t medically well-read enough to [...]
Technological progress can’t fill the hole created by spiritual emptiness
We all are inherently pleasure-seeking. Usually, we seek pleasure through stimulating objects in the outer world. Today, technology has given us access to stimulation from [...]
Let Krishna’s visible protection increase our faith in his invisible protection
On seeing life’s many uncertainties, we may get the question, “Will Krishna really protect me amidst dangers?” Before looking for his protection amidst problems, we [...]
We are conditioned not by what we are, but by what we are missing
We all have our conditionings that sometimes make us act unwisely, even self-destructively. When some people get overpowered by their conditionings repeatedly, they start being [...]
Gita 15.05 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now Krishna will conclude this [...]
We are in a dream, but we are not a dream
Some people say that everything is an illusion, like a dream. Yes, spiritual traditions do compare our present existence to a dream. But such comparison [...]
Liberation is integration in intention, not identity
Some spiritualists conceive of liberation as a state of oneness or integration with the Absolute. The Bhagavad-gita acknowledges this conception, but also nuances our understanding [...]
The Personal Absolute is not a tool to transcendence – he is the summit of transcendence
Some spiritualists think that the ultimate spiritual reality is the impersonal non-differentiated oneness known as Brahman. Such people sometimes pay cursory tribute to the Personal [...]
The mind’s barriers for the entry of nonsense are ludicrously low
A field vulnerable to flooding needs to be protected by barriers. But if the barring walls are very low, the protection will be largely illusory. [...]
We need the eyes to see what our eyes need to see
When we are sick and in pain, a doctor may immediately see some symptoms that indicate the presence of disease. If during the course of [...]
Desire for the Lord buffers us from desires for the world
When a boat is in the ocean, it can be buffeted by waves. The world we live in is often compared to an ocean. Herein, [...]
Self-improvement is best achieved through spiritual development
We often seek to improve ourselves in specific areas. For example, to improve our elocution, we may enroll for a public speaking course. Improving our [...]
God is not present less in the hearts of the godless
Some people are godly; some, godless. Yet the Bhagavad-gita (15.15) states that God, Krishna, is present in the hearts of all living beings. This verse [...]
We may trigger the inner light bulb, but we don’t power it
The metaphor of a light bulb is widely used to convey the appearance of an inner insight, as is depicted in cartoons with the pop-up [...]
Integration inspires integrity
To live with integrity means to commit to live according to certain principles and thereafter conscientiously live accordingly. Integrity is best inspired by integration. For [...]
We can’t avoid being controlled, but we can choose our controller
We all are controlled by our mind and senses. They allure us with promises of pleasure, and drag us here, there and everywhere. Addicts become [...]
To be perceptive, be receptive
When we see perceptive people who catch things quickly and execute expertly, we may feel challenged: “I am not that perceptive.” We can increase our [...]
Resign from illusion – don’t re-sign into illusion
We all have our illusory attachments because of which we succumb to self-defeating indulgences. When we realize the consequences of those indulgences, how they cause [...]
Our connection with Krishna is both constitutional and cognitional
A fundamental insight of spiritual life is that everything is inter-connected. We are not isolated chance products existing temporarily, alone in the vast infinity of [...]