Go beyond denial and dismissal to determination
“I fell from the scriptural standards yet again. What should I do now?” We often respond to such predicaments by either denial or dismissal. In [...]
Protect the conscience from being dumbed and numbed and dumped
A security provider who has protected us for millennia from ourselves has now been branded as outdated and unneeded; its very right to existence is [...]
Are our thoughts impoverishing or enriching us?
Few things live as close to us as our thoughts; few things influence us as immediately as our thoughts; few things define us as much [...]
Four stages in Gita study: Veneration, Comprehension, Application, Transformation
The Bhagavad-gita is a profoundly empowering book. To tap its power, we need to develop our relationship with it through four progressive stages: Veneration: Some [...]
“Got big problems?” Krishna is bigger
When life’s problems overwhelm us, our vision becomes distorted. We start feeling that the problems are ultra-big, bigger than even Krishna. Consequently, we become so [...]
The Gita is Categorical and Rhetorical
Many people say, “The Bhagavad-gita is all things to all people; it recommends different paths for different people.” Does it? Reading the Gita shows that [...]
Claiming that the unknown is unknowable is claiming to know the unknown
“God is so great that we tiny creatures can never know him.” So claim some people. At first sight, this position seems reasonable and even [...]
The two wonders of Gita wisdom
Beholding the wonders of the world is often an anti-climactic experience. The splendor of the Taj Mahal is fascinating to see once, maybe twice, just [...]
If we can’t shun senselessness, we can at least shun the senseless mind
Practicing devotional life means embarking on an inward devotional journey to connect with Krishna. On this journey, the mind poses the primary roadblock by constantly [...]
Those who don’t spare time for meditation squander time in frustration
“I just don’t have time.” This is how we often respond to suggestions that we commit ourselves to devotional practices such as mantra meditation. No [...]
Don’t let materialist monomania mess your life
Our life is becoming increasingly dominated by machines, mechanistic thinking and mechanical behavior. Machines: As technology pervades our life, we spend more time with machines [...]
What are our thoughts giving us:frustration or jubilation?
Most of our thoughts run along the default rails of eating, mating, sleeping and defending. These activities may be necessary bodily functions, but our thoughts [...]
Don’t waste time on the mind’s futile pastime: comparison
As soon as people enter our familiarity perimeter, our mind starts comparing us with them. Comparison is its favorite pastime. However, unlike Krishna’s pastimes that [...]
Treasure Krishna’s message more than his miracles
Some of us may feel that our faith in Krishna would stabilize and increase if we could see his power through miracles: “If Krishna is [...]
Choose to be holy now – don’t wait for a holy cloud to form around your head
“Surely, but not now.” This is often our default response when saintly people urge us to make our relationship with Krishna a priority. We rationalize: [...]
Material letdown and spiritual breakdown: The Twin Troubles of Transgression
“What’s wrong with a bit of indulgence as long as one is not harming anyone?” This utilitarian-seeming rationale sometimes tempts us to transgress the moral [...]
Meditation is not a dulling duty – it is a thrilling opportunity
As devotee-seekers, we often begin mantra meditation with enthusiasm and anticipation. However, our mind soon starts coming in the way of our meditation with increasing [...]
Krishna walks with us, but not for us
When we strive to live spiritually, we often find ourselves succumbing to materialism, despite our prayers to Krishna for protection. At such times, we may [...]
Seek the true tool to your self before you seek to be true to yourself
The Bhagavad-gita (18.58) indicates that all of us have essentially two choices in making our life's decisions: to act according to the voice of Krishna [...]
Love for Krishna is a love that doesn’t appoint to DIS-appoint
Whenever we love anyone, we hope fondly that the relationship will make us happy; we fix an appointment with fulfilment. Sadly however, worldly love promises [...]
Lewdness is not “boldness”
“This movie is filled with bold scenes.” Sentences like these are common in movie reviews. It is now standard to use “boldness” as a rationalization [...]