Even if we can’t flatten the pandemic curve, we can flatten the panic curve
When the world is caught in a pandemic, the government may impose social distancing or even lockdown. We can and should do our part in [...]
Without spiritual direction, religious regulation seems like pointless restriction or even painful repression
Suppose we're walking along a road through mountainous territory toward a beautiful resort on the top of a mountain. On both sides of the road [...]
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, [...]
We can’t always go outside, but we can always go inside
The outer world is subject to uncontrollable change that can limit our physical freedom. If we can’t go outside, we might go stir-crazy, becoming bored, [...]
To differentiate between resoluteness and stubbornness, consider content, consequence and intent
When we stick to something rigidly, are we being resolute or stubborn? To understand the difference, we need to look at our action’s content, consequence [...]
Gita 18.74 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 18.74 sañjaya uvāca ity [...]
If we wait till we feel inspired, we will definitely wait indefinitely
Suppose we want to develop a good habit centered on doing something creative or constructive such as meditate, study wisdom-texts, journal or write. Even when [...]
The mind makes us depressed and then makes us depressed that we are depressed
Life by its very nature is characterized by both good and bad. And when bad things happen, we naturally feel disappointed. But our mind starts [...]
God takes our potential seriously, do we?
Suppose a coach takes the potential of a budding cricketer seriously. That means even if the player goes through a bad patch, the coach stands [...]
Gita 18.54 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now Krishna will talk about [...]
If we start dwelling on whatever our mind is thinking, our thinking starts stinking
Suppose something is stinking in our home. We will immediately find and remove it. We need to do the same when our thinking starts stinking. [...]
Philosophical education teaches us how to think, ideological indoctrination tells us what to think
We all speak, but that doesn’t mean we know how to speak effectively. Similarly, we all think, but that doesn’t mean we know how to [...]
When we are praying, know that God is hearing us better than we are speaking
Suppose we are speaking with someone and we sense that they aren’t really hearing us, that they aren’t offering us either an attentive ear or [...]
Gita 18.45 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now after discussing about all [...]
Gita 18.42 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan So let us look at [...]
Gita 18.41 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Now when the problem is [...]
See God’s love in the resources he provides for our spiritual evolution, not the resources he provides for our material gratification
Some people ask, “If God loves us, why does he interfere with our enjoyment?” God doesn’t interfere with our enjoyment; he helps us infer what [...]
Gita 18.28 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 18.28 ayuktaḥ prākṛtaḥ stabdhaḥ [...]
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 [...]
Overlords are meant not to lord it over others, but to lead others over to the Lord
Whenever we get any leadership position, we gain the power to control others. And our ego may impel us to misuse that power to dominate [...]
The Gita equips the thoughtful to become more faithful and the faithful to become more thoughtful
Some people say, “Thoughtfulness and faithfulness don’t go well together. If someone thinks too deeply, many of the things they are called to believe will [...]