Should We Look Before We Leap, or Just Do It?
“Look before you leap” and “Just do it” seem to offer opposite advice. Yet both can be wise because they address opposite weaknesses. Some of [...]
Why Krishna Did Not Use Hate Speech
In today’s world, violence and war rightfully alarm people, and violence in the name of religion is particularly troubling. Because the Bhagavad Gita is spoken [...]
Leadership Insight: When to Translate Power into Control?
Suppose a child throws a tantrum in a public place, demanding a toy. The parent obviously has far greater power than the child. Yet does [...]
Illuminate my intelligence to seek what will elevate and liberate
Bhagavad Gita 18.30 pravṛttiṁ ca nivṛttiṁ ca kāryākārye bhayābhaye bandhaṁ mokṣaṁ ca yā vetti buddhiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī What inclination’s to be followed, what [...]
Stick to your words, but don’t be stuck with your words
Intelligence means to know when to stick to our words and when to not stay stuck with our words. Our trustworthiness is determined, in the [...]
When an action triggers fear…
The Bhagavad-gita (18.30) states that intelligence in the mode of goodness is able to view actions holistically in terms of their consequences, whether they are [...]
Overcoming prohibitive cost
Know when to focus on the cost of something and when on the cause for something. Whenever we do some things, we often evaluate what [...]
Fear paralyzes faith energizes
Whenever we are overcome by fear, we often get paralyzed, not knowing which way to move. We end up unable to move at all. That [...]
Taking things positively vs taking things nonchalantly
Suppose something bad happens, be it due to our own mistakes or due to factors beyond our control, or due to a combination of both, [...]
Why measurement matters for improvement
When we seek to improve ourselves by developing virtues such as self-control, politeness, or kindness, we often make resolutions that don't sufficiently translate into transformative [...]
Gita 18.30 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Krishna will talk about intelligence [...]
How Krishna’s analysis of intelligence in the three modes matters for Arjuna
To help Arjuna choose wisely, Krishna analyzes in terms of the three modes the various elements of decision-making, including the intelligence (18.30-32). How is intelligence [...]
Mindlessly mindful?
Mindlessly mindful? - Mindfulness is often equated with greater awareness of both our outer and inner worlds. Still, not every detail of the outer world [...]
How are fear and education related?
Suppose some small children are afraid of the dark. As they grow up and become more educated about the nature of reality, they will no [...]
When is fearlessness a facade for foolishness?
When is fearlessness a facade for foolishness?- Suppose a child goes dangerously close to the parapet of a skyscraper. When his mother warns him, “Move [...]
How to improve our relationships
A major challenge in relationships is dealing with differences of opinion: “When do we stick to our stand? When do we listen to others?” To [...]
“Why don’t you enjoy the things God has provided?”
Some people oppose the principle of forbidding anything: “If God didn’t want us to take intoxicants, why did he create intoxicating substances in nature? And [...]
Intelligence vs intellect
Intelligence vs intellect Intelligence and intellect are sometimes considered synonyms. However, they differ significantly. Before going into their specific meanings, let’s consider the underlying concepts. [...]
Screen your inner screen
Our mind is like an inner screen. On it appear sensory stimuli from the outer world as well as recollections arising from past impressions in [...]
Intelligence is seen not just through aptitude but also through activity
Intelligence is seen not just through aptitude but also through activity Nowadays, if we want to know how intelligent someone is, we often check their [...]
Intelligence means to know which thoughts to contemplate and which to neglect
Intelligence means to know which thoughts to contemplate and which to neglect Intelligence is essentially the ability to make good choices. For example, IQ tests [...]