When dealing with the distressed, focus not on their karma; focus on your dharma
Suppose a newborn baby is crying. Should the mother neglect the baby by thinking, “She is in pain because of her own past karma”? No, [...]
The world doesn’t need people with answers as much as it needs people who are the answers
Stress. Joblessness. Loneliness. Sectarianism. Climate change. Many such grave problems afflict the world. Thoughtful people everywhere are looking for answers. Some people believe they have [...]
Resenting reversals locks us in ignorance, accepting reversals opens the door to transcendence
When things start going wrong, we often feel resentful: ‘Why is this happening to me? Why do things always go wrong with me? Why is [...]
Spiritual knowledge is meant to make us devotionally fit, not intellectually fat
Food nourishes our body, gives us energy and makes us fit to face life’s responsibilities. However, if eaten excessively or inappropriately, the same food makes [...]
We can’t eliminate suffering, but we can cultivate a purpose that makes suffering bearable and meaningful
Consider soldiers fighting to free their country from tyrannical invaders. They are ready to face pain, even death, because the war is deeply meaningful for [...]
Even if we can’t understand Krishna, we can still stand under Krishna
Life sometimes assaults us with devastating adversities that cripple us materially and spiritually. Unable to understand why God is letting such things happen to us, [...]
Look up and things will look up
When things start going downhill, the more we think about the things around us, the more we feel depressed. To raise our spirits, we need [...]
Conscience without intelligence is blunt, intelligence without conscience is numb
Conscience and intelligence are two vital components of our inner defense mechanism. Whenever we feel tempted to do something wrong, conscience deters us through feelings [...]
Krishna transforms our brokenness into wholeness when we surrender
Suppose an accident has broken our bones. To function properly, we need to first become healthy and whole. Our functioning can be impeded not just [...]
Humility paves the way from perplexity to clarity
Suppose we are driving along an unfamiliar road and can’t figure out our route. We need to ask someone and we need the humility to [...]
Distress is not due to the nature of nature but due to our disharmony with nature
Suppose we get a warning that the weather outside is freezing cold. If we still venture out without wearing any warm clothes, we will naturally [...]
Comparing various paths up a mountain can’t take us up the mountain
Prospective spiritual seekers are often perplexed by a question: which path to follow? This important question merits deep deliberation. Still, if agonized over for too [...]
The Gita enlightens and lightens our life-journey
Suppose we are struggling to walk on a dark road while carrying a heavy burden. If the streetlights turn on, we won’t stumble or go [...]
Grace is not life’s sugar coating; it is life’s substantial reorienting
We usually seek God’s grace in material terms such as more money, a bigger house or a better job. However, for the spiritual soul, which [...]
Union of wills requires not the breaking of will but the building of will
We may have a lose-win conception in our relationship with God: He is the Supreme, and we have no option but to obey him, else [...]
Devotion is a dexterous dance between dependence and determination
Some people feel, “As devotion requires becoming dependent on God, it makes the devoted passive, abandoning their initiative and energy.” However, devotional dependence is empowering, [...]
The power to compel is not the power to convince
Sometimes, people in positions of authority can command and compel their subordinates to do their bidding. “My way or the highway” is a popular way [...]
Don’t rate spiritual wisdom using the laughter test
Some people come to spiritual talks primarily for hearing jokes. Indeed, they rate as best those spiritual teachers who crack the most hilarious jokes. Our [...]
Assimilation and application are essential for transformation
We live in an era of information overload. Being bombarded with news, updates and notifications, we often flip to the next thing even without reading [...]
The word will change the world by changing the will
When we study the Bhagavad-gita, some people ask, “How is a book written thousands of years ago going to make any practical difference amidst the [...]
Intellectual gluttony causes spiritual lethargy
When we eat gluttonously, our eating often does the opposite of what it is intended to do – rather than giving us energy, it takes [...]