Go beyond the beyond
Many people think that the goal of spirituality is to go beyond emotions and actions, and attain peace by merging in an impersonal light. However, [...]
Is the noise without muting the voice within?
All of us have an inner voice that expresses our deepest concerns, our noblest values, our highest aspirations. That inner voice is the voice of [...]
Long in shadow, short in substance
Few things are as long in shadow and as short in substance as sensual pleasures, especially sexual pleasures. The actual experience of the pleasure is [...]
Are we clearing the inner fog?
Driving through a fog is arduous and dangerous: arduous because we have to constantly strain to see what lies ahead and dangerous because despite our [...]
Filling our mind, emptying our pocket, starving our heart – is this progress?
Today’s materialistic culture charms us by portraying itself as progressive. But is it really? Beyond its impressive technological wizardry, what does it actually do for [...]
When the mind throws sand into our eyes
Thieves who want to rob wayfarers sometimes throw sand into the eyes of their victims. Once the travelers are thus blinded, they can be more [...]
Don’t romanticize or demonize; utilize and realize
Many people romanticize the world, picturing it to be the arena where they will fulfill their fantasies. When the world dashes and smashes their dreams, [...]
Are we courting suffering with the tongue?
The world is witnessing an upsurge of many diet-induced diseases. A prominent example is obesity, which is increasingly becoming one of the world’s biggest causes [...]
On decreasing our emotional distance from the truth
Our normal actions as well as our major decisions are shaped not just by our rational contemplation but also by our emotional sensation. That’s why [...]
Transforming a battlefield into a classroom
Teachers sometimes use experiential learning methods to teach more effectively. For teaching the Bhagavad-gita, Krishna uses the ultimate experiential learning method by transforming a battlefield [...]
The great achievement of materialism
Materialism is the belief system that matter is all that exists. Sometimes it takes a slightly more tolerant form as the belief system that matter [...]
When will the over-estimate be over?
Our culture gives us a highly inflated estimate of material enjoyment. Believing this over-estimate, we make material enjoyment the essence and purpose of our life. [...]
Are we seeking counsel from our fears instead of from Krishna?
Suppose in a boxing match a boxer gets knocked down by his opponent. Disheartened by the power of the opponent, the fallen boxer starts doubting [...]
Is the body a playground for passion or a temple for devotion?
Our culture with its romantic movies and erotic pictures depicts the body as a playground for passion, especially sexual passion. But are such popular depictions [...]
Why not model the desired example instead of desiring the model example?
Whenever we tread any challenging path, we gain inspiration from model examples. What they have achieved and how they have achieved it motivates us when [...]
Are we being fooled into giving ourselves a collective pat on the back?
The idea of progress attracts us because we are happiness-seeking beings and we are promised that progress will make us happier. However, our current culture [...]
Might our worst fear point to our best hope?
All of us have our worst fear about how things may go totally wrong. Little do we realize that this fearmay point to our best [...]
How an accountability vacuum can suck our devotion
Some people question: “When Krishna is present in our heart and as devotion is also an inner feeling, what is the need for an external [...]
Be cruel to be kind
Suppose we are sick and need a painful treatment. If we undergo that treatment, it may appear as if we are being cruel to ourselves. [...]
The blows that break the shell of our isolation from Krishna
When life moves along smoothly, when we successfully use our talents and our plans to achieve our goals, we frequently build a shell of complacency [...]
How long will we hide ourselves from ourselves?
When our room is in a mess and a respectable guest arrives, we hide the mess in the background. If we keep doing this repeatedly [...]