See religion not as a cultural phenomenon, but as a spiritual process
People in various parts of the world often follow different religions. Even if they are affiliated to the same religion, the ways in which they [...]
Gita 10.33 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 10.33 akṣarāṇām a-kāro ’smi [...]
Our purpose is to serve the Name, not to make a name
In life, what we do is important, but why we do it is equally, if not more, important. Intention is critical in religious activities, wherein [...]
Let the barrier of temptation become the bridge to devotion
Suppose we are walking towards a destination and are suddenly blocked by a wall. We try to get past it, but in vain. When we [...]
Self-improvement is best achieved through spiritual development
We often seek to improve ourselves in specific areas. For example, to improve our elocution, we may enroll for a public speaking course. Improving our [...]
Our intelligence is our guard – and we need to guard it
VIPs have guards to protect them. But they too need to guard their guards – not from attacks, of course, but by providing for their [...]
Let technological literacy not lead to intellectual illiteracy
Technological literacy is nowadays spreading rapidly. With machines being used widely at workplaces, knowing how they work is often essential. But interest in devices goes [...]
God is not present less in the hearts of the godless
Some people are godly; some, godless. Yet the Bhagavad-gita (15.15) states that God, Krishna, is present in the hearts of all living beings. This verse [...]
Worldly enjoyment is the bait to worldly entanglement
When a fish that is swimming freely in the ocean gets allured by a bait, it soon gets trapped. We all are like that fish, [...]
Fixing the mind on Krishna is the lever for fixing the mind
When something doesn’t work properly, we need to fix it. We all need to fix our mind because it frequently malfunctions by getting distracted. It [...]
To be purposeless is to be powerless
We need a strong sense of purpose to translate whatever talents we have into tangible achievements. However, even if we have a purpose and even [...]
We may trigger the inner light bulb, but we don’t power it
The metaphor of a light bulb is widely used to convey the appearance of an inner insight, as is depicted in cartoons with the pop-up [...]
We need liberation from the compulsion for self-destruction
We all have an inbuilt self-destruction button. For example, in sports such as cricket, an in-form batsman who is leading his team to a comfortable [...]
Tap the mind’s power – don’t be trapped by the mind’s power
We all know of powerful things that can help or harm. Consider electricity, for example. It can heat, cool, cook, transport and illuminate. But if [...]
Use intelligence to see beyond appearance
Some people argue, “Seeing is believing.” They deride as unintelligent those who believe in invisible things such as the soul or God. However, the defining [...]
The key to training ourselves, and trusting ourselves, is small steps, carried out
When we have to do something challenging, we may struggle and falter. And if this happens repeatedly, we may lose confidence and give up. To [...]
The purpose of religion is not cosmetic, but cosmic
Many people practice religion for cosmetic purposes – they want to look good in society’s eyes. They may visit temples on holy days, treating such [...]
To inspire improvement, offer encouragement, not judgment
When we see others doing something wrong, we often feel impelled to judge and correct them. This impulse becomes even stronger if we happen to [...]
Combination of inner recollection and outer contribution nourishes devotion
Some people think of devotion as an impractical, sentimental, other-worldly obsession. However, the Bhagavad-gita’s context refutes this caricature of devotion. The Gita’s student, Arjuna, wanted [...]
The Gita empowers Arjuna to win his inner war and enrich himself with wisdom
When warriors fight a formidable enemy, they often inspire themselves by dreaming of the wealth they will gain on winning. Similarly, when we fight the [...]
Learn to ground emotions in reason and reality
Our emotions are extremely powerful and extremely fickle – they can change suddenly and unpredictably, and can destroy our determination and indeed our entire life. [...]