Avoid hell in the mind, avoid hell in the world
Some people think of hell as merely a belief of some religious groups. Others think of hell as merely a physical location meant for the [...]
How being courageous is different from being fearless
Suppose someone shows no fear even in the presence of great danger. We may appreciate that person as incredibly courageous, but would that lack of [...]
Why two similar wrongdoings may be entirely different
Suppose someone we trust as a good person does something wrong, say become severely abusive or even physically aggressive. Suppose further that their wrongdoing reminds [...]
Gita 16.04 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 16.4 dambho darpo ’bhimānaś [...]
The scapegoating tendency
Scapegoating is one of the most universal of human tendencies. When we face difficulties, especially difficulties that seem unfair to us, we seek someone to [...]
If we lack freedom or willpower, what can we do?
When we try to do something worthwhile, if external situations hamper us, we may lament our lack of freedom. Or if internal conditionings hamper us, [...]
When black-and-white analysis helps and when it harms
The Bhagavad-gita analyzes people into two distinct categories: godly and ungodly (16.05). We might wonder, “Are such categories useful when most people fall somewhere in [...]
How to respond when someone hurts us?
When someone speaks harshly or acts cruelly toward us, how we respond depends primarily on their disposition. The Bhagavad-gita (16.04) mentions two distinct dispositions: godly [...]
How gossip can go dangerously out of control
Suppose we pushed a small snowball down a hill just for fun. It rolls down out of our sight and we forget about it. But [...]
How can we know others properly?
When forming relationships with someone, we naturally want to know them properly to decide whether to take that relationship ahead. While assessing people, we often [...]
Pride comes before a fall, but does pride fall?
Pride comes before a fall — this saying is meant to be a warning for those who proudly place themselves in a position higher than [...]
Is the dark side stronger than the bright side?
We all have inside us a divine side and a demonic side, or phrased metaphorically, a bright side and a dark side. The bright side [...]
How to choose the lesser pain and how to make that pain lesser
Suppose we are bound in a car that is racing toward the edge of a huge mountain cliff. If the bonds holding us down are [...]
Free entertainment, expensive entanglement
We sometimes get allured by the promise of free entertainment on the Internet. Because it seems free, we may spend far more time than what [...]
Two ways to deter ourselves from wrongdoing
Suppose a child wants to sneak into the kitchen and eat all the cookies there, but doesn’t do so because his mother may discipline him. [...]
Are we living inside an echo chamber?
Suppose we are walking through nature, while wearing earphones to hear music. Suppose further we are unwittingly heading into a dangerous marsh, and a well-wishing [...]
Gita 16.06 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 16.6 dvau bhūta-sargau loke [...]
Why couldn’t the Pandavas resolve their conflict peacefully?
Much modern thought, especially liberal thought, holds that all conflicts are caused by misunderstandings and can be resolved by discussions. And this is true on [...]
When skepticism is healthy — and when it becomes unhealthy
In today's world, skepticism is often considered an intellectual virtue; skeptical people proudly say, “I'm not gullible. I don't believe the religious mumbo-jumbo that so [...]
Are we rude to the crude?
Suppose we come from an urbane background and behave in ways that our culture considers well-mannered. Suppose we meet someone from a rustic background with [...]
Sensuality + Technology – Spirituality = Recipe for self-destruction
Sensuality: When we are consumed by sensual pleasures or even sensual fantasies, we become oblivious to everything else. By that obliviousness, we may end up [...]