Waking up from the nightmare of death
“I will die one day.” We find such thoughts hard to stomach because our insides recoil and rebel at the prospect of our annihilation. We [...]
Surgery seems like violence, but is benevolence
Some people claim, “The Bhagavad-gita teaches that killing is ok because the body is anyway going to die. Such a teaching licenses indiscriminate violence.” This [...]
The Gita calls for not emotionless living, but purposeful living
In cricket, fielders sometimes use sledging to unsettle a batsman. If the batsman lets their nasty words agitate him, he will in a rush of [...]
Emotional restraint paves the way to emotional enrichment
Some people ask, “The Bhagavad-gita wants us to stay unaffected amidst pleasure-pain, success-failure, honor-dishonor. Won’t that make for emotionless living?” No, because the Gita’s prescription [...]
Krishna’s instruction is not disruptive, but restorative
At the start of the Bhagavad-gita, Arjuna is agonized at the thought of fighting in a fratricidal war that will kill most of his loved [...]
Hell is never forever – God’s love is
In the Bhagavad-gita (01.43), Arjuna states that destroyers of dynasties will be condemned to live in hell forever. Is the Gita stating the idea of [...]
The usage “spirit of matter” is an oxymoron that points to an ox and a moron
An oxymoron is a literary device in which contradictory words are placed together to convey a deeper meaning. The usage ‘the spirit of matter’ is [...]
We are the world’s purpose, but the world is not our purpose
The Bhagavad-gita (07.05) makes the intriguing statement that the living entities sustain the world. If the relevant root-word ‘dhr’ is taken to mean ‘to utilize,’ [...]
The heart of knowledge is the knowledge of the heart
Towards the end of the Bhagavad-gita (18.64), Krishna announces that he will share the most confidential knowledge (sarva guhyatama). Confidential knowledge (guhya) refers to the [...]
The eye can’t find the I as long as the I seeks through the eye
“The eye can’t find the I” means that the eye being material can’t perceive the real I, the soul, which is spiritual. “The I seeks [...]
Devotion’s simplicity is the refuge for the empty-handed, not the subterfuge for the close-fisted
The empty-handed refers to those who have very little material resources. So, when they come to Krishna, they come with next to nothing. Yet Krishna [...]
Express devotion by endeavoring for excellence in service
Devotion is a state of the heart – a state of spontaneous inner attraction to Krishna. Yet that state manifests as outer action too, for [...]
Frustration is unavoidable, but hopelessness isn’t
we feel frustrated when things go wrong. While such frustrations are unavoidable for everyone, they become accentuated to the level of hopeless frustrations for those [...]
Death for the devoted is not destruction, but discharge
Some people ask, “Devotees and non-devotees both have to die – so what’s the use of practicing spirituality with all its restrictions?” That’s like asking: [...]
Gita 01.44 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan After concluding his lamenting he [...]
Doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs
When we get doubts, the forces of illusion delude us further into thinking that our doubts are evidences of our intellectual superiority over believers: “I [...]
Gita 02.71 explained
BG 2.71 vihaya kaman yah sarvan pumams carati nihsprihah nirmamo nirahankarah sa santim adhigacchati SYNONYMS vihaya -- giving up; kaman -- material desires for sense [...]
Materialism makes the materialist non-existent and materialism meaningless
People sometimes object to spirituality, saying, “It requires so much faith.” Actually, everything requires faith. Even materialism requires faith – the faith that we ourselves [...]
Social media is no substitute for spiritual media
In our fast-paced techno-centric lifestyle, social media promises to fulfill our social needs. Updates about friends make us feel less lonely. A substantial friend count [...]
Monumental triviality is still a triviality
Some sports fans become so manic that when their favorite team loses, they feel as if it is the end of the world. A few [...]
Revealing our feeling is the beginning of healing
At the start of the Bhagavad-gita (01.29), Arjuna reveals to Krishna the feelings of anxiety and misery that are overwhelming him. Seeking relief, he surrenders [...]