My message of love, Will you ban?
Gita Banning: Krishna’s side of the story In the backdrop of the present sad controversy over the banning of the Bhagavad-gita in Russia, we present [...]
The Bhagavad-gita is open-minded, not empty-minded
The Bhagavad-gita presents an open-minded worldview that integrates all people, no matter how diverse their values, goals and paths. According to their level of spiritual [...]
Denying our blindfolds keeps us blind
The Bhagavad-gita (13.09) indicates that the wise contemplate seriously the inevitability of death in our present existence. The Gita integrates this pessimistic-seeming contemplation into an [...]
Value change, but don’t change values
Our present existence is bi-dimensional: we are spiritual beings residing in material bodies. Harmonizing the material and the spiritual dimensions of our existence is a [...]
Beyond lamentation to love
In the Bhagavad-gita, Lord Krishna’s instructions begin (2.11) and end (18.66) with a call to give up lamentation. Between these two calls is another call: [...]
Humility opens the door to wisdom
The Bhagavad-gita (13.8) mentions humility as the first among the twenty virtues that comprise wisdom. This indicates that humility is the doorway that enables us [...]
We Are Products But Not Prisoners Of Our Past
“Is this just the way I am? Am I a prisoner of my past?” Gloomy thoughts like these may haunt us when we fail in [...]
Love not just ideal people, but also real people
It’s relatively easy to love ideal people: those who have only virtues, no vices. And we do need to love them so that we develop [...]
The Gita centers on neither rituals nor doctrines but on a love affair
The Bhagavad-gita (18.66) concludes with the radical call to abandon all dharmas and just surrender to Krishna alone. What is the rationale for this call? [...]
Utilize impoverishment as an opportunity for enrichment
When faced with financial challenges, we often worry, “What do I live with?” This worry is, no doubt, valid and important. At the same time, [...]
Ever flowing, never flooding is the state of the serene consciousness
How can spiritual seekers stay peaceful amidst tempting circumstances? The Bhagavad-gita (2.70) shows the way with a metaphor from nature: just as rivers flow into [...]
How History is His-story
History, if seen from a purely materialistic perspective, seems to be nothing more than a list of names of dead successful people. Decade after decade, [...]
Don’t assume that faultfinding is an obligation – it may well be a temptation
The Bhagavad-gita (16.02) mentions that the godly are averse to faultfinding. Gita wisdom explains the rationale. All of us have a godly side and a [...]
Stop serving God as an advisor
Everyone wants to serve God, but as an advisor. This is true even, and especially, for atheists; their normally non-existent god pops into existence whenever [...]
Bhakti is not just about believing in God – it is about belonging to God
The Bhagavad-gita (04.35) explains that when we become illumined by spiritual knowledge, we understand that we are Krishna’s, that is, we belong to him. Many [...]
The Bhagavad-gita enthrones the path of love
Those familiar with the Gita sometimes raise the question: “When the Gita mentions various spiritual paths like karma-yoga, jnana-yoga and ashtanga-yoga, what is the need [...]
The Gita’s message is not just specific and historical, but also generic and universal
The Bhagavad-gita takes a specific real-life situation, examines it philosophically and offers a universal pragmatic solution. The Gita begins with Arjuna’s weak-hearted capitulation: at the [...]
Seek the one achievement that misery cannot reach
All of us want to achieve something glorious in life. Unfortunately, even if we achieve something special materially, whatever we achieve still leaves us prone [...]
Look towards the fixed lighthouse, not the moving lighthouses
Navigating life’s journey amidst the unpredictable worldly ups and downs is like navigating a boat in dark, turbulent waters. Just as the boat would be [...]
Bhakti integrates our emotional and rational faculties
People whose emotional faculty is predominant tend to be hotheaded. People whose rational faculty is predominant tend to be coldhearted. Integrating both these faculties in [...]
A moment of indulgence can cause a lifetime of repentance – beware
The news periodically features stories of talented individuals who ruin their promising prospects by succumbing to immorality and greed. For the sake of quick gains, [...]