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 [...]
To master your senses, make Krishna your master
Suppose our boss is a taskmaster. He promises us raises, but hardly ever delivers those promises; he just keeps demanding backbreaking work. If we are [...]
Our individuality is meant to lead us towards our spirituality, not away from it
In today’s individualistic culture, people feel, “I want to be who I am. And no one should stop me.” The intention underlying this feeling is [...]
Freedom comes not by rejecting all restrictions, but by respecting the right restrictions
Some people advocate that we reject all restrictions, claiming that only by such rejection will we attain freedom. Yes, restrictions can take away our freedom, [...]
What we can know depends on what we know
People sometimes ask, “Can you show me the soul?” Before we can see the soul, we need to know enough to know what to see. [...]
The senses may be windows to the world, but they are mere portholes to reality
A window gives us the sensation that we are looking at a large part of the outside world through it. In contrast, a porthole, being [...]
The mind gets us alone – and then gets us
During the Mahabharata war, Arjuna’s sixteen-year-old son, Abhimanyu, battles and bests the greatest Kaurava warriors. Unfortunately, on the thirteenth day of the war, the Kauravas [...]
Bhakti is beyond feminism – and beyond male chauvinism too
Gender roles are becoming increasingly intermingled and blurred nowadays. Conservatives blame feminism for various social problems such as marital ruptures and teenage delinquency. Liberals counter [...]
Seek not to be enjoyers or achievers; seek to be cooperators
Spiritual literature often talk about the inner war in the hearts of seekers: the war between our higher self and our lower self – between [...]
Bhakti empowers us to use our free will fully and fulfillingly
Our free will is our most precious asset. It enables us to seek success and happiness. But we can’t pursue these aspirations effectively if we [...]
Don’t chase the ball that the mind and the senses toss to each other
Two kids sometimes tease a third kid by making the latter catch a ball that they keep tossing to each other. In recent intellectual history, [...]
Focus on harmony, not hormones
From the time we enter adolescence, we feel ourselves impelled by our hormones. We find ourselves craving and exploring a whole new world of sensual [...]
For self-improvement, go beyond self-criticism and self-congratulation to self-realization
Some people say that to succeed in life, we should be hard on ourselves. We should unrelentingly critique ourselves, unsparingly punish ourselves for our mistakes [...]