Engage with reality on your terms not on the mind’s terms or the world’s terms
Engage with reality on your terms not on the mind's terms or the world's terms Suppose we want to watch some educational program on TV. [...]
Devotion transforms backbenchers into toppers
Devotion transforms backbenchers into toppers In every classroom, some students are perpetual backbenchers – they don’t like to study; they attend classes just because they [...]
Devotion is not just emotion – it is conscious continuous cultivation
Devotion is not just emotion – it is conscious continuous cultivation Many people conceive of devotion as a pleasant, pious emotion that they experience occasionally. [...]
Our thoughts are not always wise – we don’t have to follow their advice
Our thoughts are not always wise – we don’t have to follow their advice Suppose we have a chronic disease. Our acquaintances may recommend various [...]
When the ego says go tell the ego to go
When the ego says go tell the ego to go When someone disagrees with us, especially someone we expected would obey us unquestioningly, our ego [...]
When life hurts don’t let the mind increase the hurt
When life hurts don’t let the mind increase the hurt Suppose we fall on our arm and hurt it. If someone starts hitting the hurt [...]
Our inner screen is lined with lying links – be leery
Our inner screen is lined with lying links – be leery Suppose we are reading an online article and adjacent to it are many links [...]
Our capacity for emotions comes from the soul but our current emotions come from the mind
Our capacity for emotions comes from the soul but our current emotions come from the mind Suppose a child is watching a horror movie on [...]
Monism puts the head and heart at war with each other; devotion harmonizes them
Monism puts the head and heart at war with each other; devotion harmonizes them Many aspiring spiritualists think that the Absolute Truth is non-differentiated oneness. [...]
Maturity means to acknowledge that no one is obliged to fulfill our needs
Maturity means to acknowledge that no one is obliged to fulfill our needs When infants are hungry, they just cry and expect others to come [...]
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 [...]
Humility comes by acknowledging that we don’t have access to Krishna’s plan
Humility comes by acknowledging that we don't have access to Krishna's plan Suppose we are driving a car and come to an unexpected intersection. Or [...]
Even if we have to live with pain we don’t have to live in pain
To live with pain means that pain is present within our consciousness; to live in pain means that pain dominates our consciousness, infecting our whole [...]
Don’t just speak philosophy – seek the purpose of philosophy
Don't just speak philosophy – seek the purpose of philosophy The Bhagavad-gita (13.12) states that the purpose of philosophy is to understand the true nature [...]
Don’t let the mind show you what you are missing – show the mind what it is missing
Don’t let the mind show you what you are missing – show the mind what it is missing Suppose we are traveling in a plane [...]
Spiritual discipline is the road to freedom not a roadblock
Spiritual discipline is the road to freedom not a roadblock Many people believe that discipline is a roadblock to freedom – if they have to [...]
Deeming everything an illusion is not liberation – it just makes even liberation an illusion
Deeming everything an illusion is not liberation – it just makes even liberation an illusion Some people say, “Everything is an illusion. Those who understand [...]
Association works but making it work is our responsibility
Association works but making it work is our responsibility If we want to drive to a destination, we need a working car. But just getting [...]
Life may be filled with problems but life is not a problem
Life may be filled with problems but life is not a problem When faced with many problems, some people may become depressed, even suicidal, “Life [...]
Ignorance of reality may be excusable ignoring reality isn’t
Ignorance of reality may be excusable ignoring reality isn’t If we are pulled over for speeding, we may be excused if we didn’t know the [...]
Humans who pursue subhuman goals become anti-human
Humans who pursue subhuman goals become anti-human We humans are considered the most evolved among all species on our planet. Ironically though, we often cause [...]