The mind makes us a stranger to ourselves
If we look in a mirror and find a stranger looking back at us, we will be disturbed. That’s what sometimes happens to us when [...]
When worry accelerates the imagination, let faith become the brake
Worry accelerates our imagination. When we face problems, worry paints dreadful pictures of the many further things that may go wrong, thereby sucking our mental [...]
Our bonds are not prisoner’s shackles, but puppeteer’s strings
We treasure freedom as an inalienable right and resist anything that threatens it. However, we think of freedom largely in terms of the freedom [...]
We are compelled to do as we choose to desire
“Am I really free?” We may get this situation when we try to change ourselves for the better and realize how difficult it is, realize [...]
The purpose of discipline is not to torture ourselves, but to transcend ourselves
The idea of discipline often evokes in us an inaudible sigh, if not an audible groan – it appears to be a deprivation, as a [...]
Be not self-conscious; be conscious of the self
The word ‘self-conscious’ refers to an excessive awareness of one’s appearance and actions. For example, when we give our first public speech, we may be [...]
Might my own thing not be my own thing?
Many people reject discipline: “I want to be free to do my own thing.” Our aspiration to be free is natural and laudable. But we [...]
What raises motion to action is motivation
‘Motion’ refers to the movement of unconscious things, whereas ‘action’ refers to the movements of conscious people. The waves flowing in a river are in [...]
Those who crave to look big are small
Our culture often reduces character to image, wisdom to sound bytes and self-worth to net-worth. Being goaded by such a superficial environment, people frequently, even [...]
Krishna accommodates even those who can’t accommodate him
It is relatively easy to accommodate those who accommodate us. It is much more difficult to accommodate those who don’t accommodate us. The Bhagavad-gita reveals [...]
Possessor, possess thyself!
“I want more.” This urge often consumes us, largely due to our culture’s glamorization of possessions and possessors. Unfortunately, no matter how hard we work [...]
See beyond divergent ideas to convergent ideals
Some people ask: “How can we find harmony among the many different spiritual paths?” By looking beyond divergent ideas to convergent ideals, answers Gita wisdom. [...]
The body is a visa to pleasure, not a passport
Many people imagine that the body is the gateway to pleasure, as is often depicted in novels and movies. Pleasure is not our native country, [...]
Devotion encompasses both reconnection of the world and its renunciation
Some people fear that devotion to Krishna will require them to renounce the world. However, devotion requires not renunciation of the world, but its reconnection [...]
Confusion in attribution obscures illumination – end confusion with devotion
People ask: “If God, the creator of the world, is good, why is there so much evil in the world?” The question reveals a fundamental [...]
Seek shelter to wear the armor, use the armor to feel the shelter
People often ask: “What is the use of remembering Krishna?” It acts as a shelter and as armor. As a shelter, it helps us rest [...]
Life is not a fixed match, but Krishna can help us fix it
In a fixed match, things are orchestrated to produce a predetermined result. Is life a fixed match? Is everything destined? No, indicates the Bhagavad-gita (18.63) [...]
The words will change us – provided we don’t change the words
When a doctor writes a prescription, those words are meant to change the patient by curing the disease. But if the patient changes the words [...]
We may fall down, but we don’t have to fall away
Falling down means that due to our past conditionings or present circumstances, we succumb to temptation. In contrast, falling away means that we give up [...]
Don’t reduce the spiritual to the practical; let the spiritual expand the practical
“That’s not practical.” We may thus dismiss forms of spirituality that require commitment like devotional service. We usually consider as practical that which requires little [...]
Remembrance of Krishna’s immanence brings resilience during our march to transcendence
We naturally think of those close to us. People can be close physically or emotionally. Because our senses perceive the physical reality around us, our [...]