The happiness of devotion is not a destination but an eternal progression
Life is a journey. This metaphor is often used to explain various facets of life, including spiritual progress: we embark on a devotional journey towards [...]
Be thoughtful; believe not thoughts that make us fools
We are constantly full of thoughts, but we are not always thoughtful. In fact, many of our thoughts make us fools, for they impel us [...]
Seek a happy ending that has no ending
Happy endings, as in movies and novels, attract us and evoke a longing for something similar in real life. Gita wisdom assures us that we [...]
To fathom the depth of Krishna’s love, we need to fathom the breadth and the length of our existence
“When Krishna is letting so much suffering happen in my life, does he really love me?” This question may trouble us. Gita wisdom indicates that [...]
We need to retire from lust before it will retire from us
Suppose we have a beloved pet dog. If we discover that it has contagious incurable rabies that could be lethal for us, we would have [...]
Failure is no disaster; failure to try is
The fear of failure often gnaws us whenever we contemplate any challenging endeavor. The same applies to the prospect of spiritual life, wherein, to attain [...]
Don’t try to empty the heart of selfish desires; crowd them out
We all are prone to bouts of selfish indulgence, wherein the urge for pleasure overwhelms our spiritual devotion and our moral principles. After such lapses, [...]
Bhakti-yoga is not exclusive but is comprehensive
A spiritual path is exclusive when it claims sole rights over access to the Absolute Truth, that is, claims to be the only way to [...]
To control temper, temper control
When things go wrong, we sometimes lose our temper, and do things that only worsen the problem. How can we control our temper? By tempering [...]
Focus not on the thoughts which are unworthy of us; focus on the thoughts for which we are unworthy
“What kind of person am I to have such debased thoughts?” We may feel thus when ugly thoughts enter our mind. Lest such feelings dishearten [...]
To understand Krishna’s help, we need Krishna’s help
“Why is Krishna not helping me?” We may get such doubts in times of trouble. Krishna always helps us. When we feel otherwise, that’s because [...]
Scripture doesn’t deprive us of freedom; it protects us from depriving ourselves in the name of freedom
An intoxicated person with a million dollar check may squander it on something trivial, like a hundred bottles of booze. Naturally, a well-wishing friend will [...]
Be not just inquisitive but also submissive
The Bhagavad-gita (1.1) begins with Dhritarashtra’s inquiry to Sanjay about the events on the Kurukshetra battlefield. Sanjay responds by narrating the conversation between Krishna and [...]
Krishna focuses on where we want to go, not where we have been
“My past has been so sinful. How can I possibly approach Krishna?” Such doubts may block us in our devotional journey. Gita wisdom reassures us [...]
Devotion is a passion that is beyond passion
The word ‘passion’ has both negative and positive connotations. Negatively, it refers to the mode of passion that induces worldly desires which bind us to [...]
When we mistake self-pity to be humility, spirituality becomes an exercise in futility
The essence of spirituality is the inner transformation from self-centeredness to Krishna-centeredness. Self-centeredness essentially means installing ourselves at the center of our inner world – [...]
Opportunity doesn’t create immorality; mentality does
“That was such a situation – anyone would have succumbed to the temptation.” By thus pointing our fingers at the circumstances, we often try to [...]
Devotion is not a possession, but a person
Cellphone, laptop, car – we try to possess many such things in life. With this possession-seeking mentality, when we come to know about spiritual life, [...]
When we give up sense enjoyment for Krishna’s sake, Krishna gives us the best enjoyment through the senses
Some people question: “If I give up sense enjoyment, as serious spiritual life requires, then what enjoyment will be left in my life? This hesitation [...]
If we hold on to Krishna long enough, nothing else will hold on to us long enough
When we strive to progress in spiritual life, we often find ourselves shaken, even shackled, by our worldly attachments. How can we break free? By [...]
Use intelligence to know Krishna, not to show that we know Krishna
“Just see how much I know.” This prestige-seeking exhibitionist motive frequently underlies intellectual pursuits in material life. People love to parade their encyclopedic knowledge of [...]