How can we be humble without letting ourselves be trampled by others?
Humility is one of the most treasured virtues in spiritual life, but it is often seen as weakness in material life. If we are humble, [...]
Are we seeking control or grace?
Suppose we are trapped in a chamber and are trying to push the locked door open. But suppose simultaneously, someone is trying to liberate us, [...]
Why some people think consciousness comes from the brain — and why it doesn’t
Why some people think consciousness comes from the brain — and why it doesn’t A child may think that milk comes from a bottle in [...]
Why our determination falters when faced with temptation
We all have a certain capacity for determination that enables us to resist temptation. Still, we are innately pleasure-seeking. To resist temptation steadily, we need [...]
Why minor distractions aren’t minor?
Suppose an army is marching to a disputed territory and has limited stocks of food. If the enemy creates decoys that divert the army, each [...]
How to change our inner frequency
We all have a certain frequency to our thoughts. Roughly speaking, this correlates with the thoughts that most often frequent our mind. If we frequently [...]
Material breakdowns or spiritual breakthroughs?
We are often so caught in the immediate that we don't spend time to consider the ultimate. Material things are immediately accessible, essential and enjoyable, [...]
Are you trying to be peaceful or purposeful?
We live in a world that often agitates us with many anxieties and perplexities. Naturally, therefore, we seek peace of mind. Significantly however, we need [...]
Are you aware or are you just existing?
The state of being alive is associated with activities such as growing, reproducing, preserving one's existence. The state of being aware is usually associated with [...]
How to ensure that anger is constructive, not destructive
We all sometimes encounter injustice and brutality, as when we see police excesses against the helpless. If such experiences make us feel outraged, that is [...]
Honestly dishonest?
Suppose a person does something because they are misled. To help them correct themselves, they need to be shown how they are being misled. We [...]
How to get insights?
We often want to get fresh insights so that we can be wiser, smarter, happier. If, however, we think of insight primarily as coming up [...]
How to share knowledge effectively
Spoon-feeding someone means giving them so much information so pre-digested that it neither requires nor allows any further thinking or effort. Usually, the word spoon-feeding [...]
Discreet Indiscretions?
When we succumb to some wrongdoings, if they are minor, we may downplay them by considering them mere indiscretions. And we may do those [...]
Why people think that theism is unscientific
Atheism often parasitically draws on the prestige of science to take unsuspecting masses away from theism. How? By equating science with scientism. Science investigates the [...]
How to deal with the mind’s craziness
How to deal with the mind’s craziness Suppose we have been giving into an unhealthy craving of our mind for a long time. Then, the [...]
How to hold others accountable without becoming judgmental
Suppose police remain silent while a rioting mob lynches hapless victims. For such an alarming dereliction of duty, the police need to be held accountable. [...]
How to be moral without becoming judgmental
How to be moral without becoming judgmental Morality essentially centers on discerning which activities are acceptable and which aren't. If we can’t or don’t make [...]
Protecting ourselves by defining and defending boundaries
Suppose a country has a hostile neighbor, who is constantly trying to infiltrate into its territory. If the boundary between the two countries is not [...]
Why the Gita is misunderstood — and how it can be understood
Suppose we want to talk with someone who has closed body language. We hesitate in opening up to them because we don't know what will [...]
How to endure phases of tastelessness in bhakti
How to endure phases of tastelessness in bhakti When we start practicing bhakti yoga, we may expect to relish great joy because we are connecting [...]