To be nice is not to be naive — it is to be free from the control of vice
To be nice is not to be naive — it is to be free from the control of vice Some people say, “If you are [...]
To make people suffer for the sake of making them suffer is the very essence of evil
To make people suffer for the sake of making them suffer is the very essence of evil Suppose we accidentally step on someone’s foot. We’ll [...]
A God who pretended we had no shortcomings would be a God who did not take our potential seriously
A God who pretended we had no shortcomings would be a God who did not take our potential seriously Suppose a coach tells a trainee-athlete, [...]
When nothing feels filthy, everything may be tidy – or everything may be filthy
When nothing feels filthy everything may be tidy – or everything may be filthy Suppose we enter a tidy room. If we cast one thing [...]
Be terrified about how terrible you can be to never become that terrible
Be terrified about how terrible you can be to never become that terrible Suppose we read about some people doing terrible things, such as terrorists [...]
Everyone has values, but not everyone’s values reflect real value
Everyone has values but not everyone’s values reflect real value Many people lament the lack of values in today’s world: “So many corrupt people sacrifice [...]
To be brave, we don’t need to be free from fear, we just need a purpose bigger than fear
To be brave we don’t need to be free from fear we just need a purpose bigger than fear Whenever we are called to do [...]
Arrogance keeps us not just in ignorance, but also in ignorance about the extent of our ignorance
Arrogance keeps us not just in ignorance but also in ignorance about the extent of our ignorance Suppose someone swims in an ocean, knowing that [...]
Just because we have a right to be angry doesn’t mean we are right to be angry
Just because we have a right to be angry doesn’t mean we are right to be angry Sometimes, people wrong us by acting foolishly, irresponsibly [...]
In dealing with our urges, if we don’t consciously choose responsibility, we unconsciously choose slavery
In dealing with our urges if we don’t consciously choose responsibility we unconsciously choose slavery We all treasure our freedom and would fight if someone [...]
Scripture is meant to be not just mapped but also mined
Scripture is meant to be not just mapped but also mined Suppose we are in a territory rich with buried treasures. We may need to [...]
Exploiting others’ weaknesses doesn’t make us strong – overcoming our own weaknesses does
Exploiting others’ weaknesses doesn’t make us strong – overcoming our own weaknesses does Some people see the world primarily in terms of power struggles. They [...]
The desire that the dark be darker defines a dark mind
The desire that the dark be darker defines a dark mind Suppose we know that someone is short-tempered. Suppose further we hear through the grapevine [...]
Even if our worldview stays out of view it shapes our every view
Even if our worldview stays out of view it shapes our every view Suppose a beautiful bird is seen in the sky. A nature lover [...]
Envy targets the envied but torments the envious
Envy targets the envied but torments the envious Envy is the inner dark tendency that makes us miserable at others’ successes; it impels us to [...]
Weakness makes us hotheaded wickedness makes us cold-blooded
Weakness makes us hotheaded wickedness makes us cold-blooded We all sometimes act wrongly. But not all wrong actions are equally serious – they fall at [...]
Intelligence is meant to be the mind’s instructor not its instrument
Intelligence is meant to be the mind’s instructor not its instrument We all have within us something that is impulsive and something that is reflective. [...]
We may forget gravity but gravity won’t forget us
We may forget gravity but gravity won’t forget us Suppose an intoxicated person forgets about gravity and steps off a ten-story building. Gravity won’t forget [...]
Artha divorced from dharma leads to anartha
Artha, wealth, and anartha, inner weakness, have a revealing relationship. Artha is vital for living, whereas anartha takes away the vitality of living. We need [...]
Read scripture and read from scripture – don’t read into scripture
Read scripture and read from scripture – don’t read into scripture For our life-journey, scripture is like a map. The Bhagavad-gita (16.24) urges us to [...]
16.02 Even if people are not faultless we can still find faults less
16.02 Even if people are not faultless we can still find faults less When we find faults with others, we are often told to not [...]