Three kinds of blindness in the Gita’s first chapter
Dhritarashtra’s blindness — physical: His blindness, being physical, was the most self-evident. It prevented him from ascending the throne and left him with an unfulfillable [...]
How perception is an ethical act
We usually think of perception as a merely mechanical act; when some object comes within our visual range, we see it. However, at every moment, [...]
When form and substance are different — and when they aren’t
All that glitters is not gold. Such sayings which are present in almost every human culture, highlight a vital reality in this world: form doesn’t [...]
Does the Gita discourage material solutions to problems?
Some people ask, “When the Bhagavad-gita (08.15) states that the world is a place of misery, does that mean we can never avoid misery and [...]
Is the world really a place of misery?
Sometimes, the Bhagavad-gita statement that the world is a place of misery (08.15) is seen as a prescription for pessimism. To better understand this statement, [...]
How to gain insight into complicated situations?
When confronted with complicated situations, we can gain insight into them by using two principles. Let’s apply these principles for understanding the setting of the [...]
How intelligence and scripture may increase our illusions
The Bhagavad-gita (02.53) cautions that our intelligence can get lost in the forest of illusion created by words. Consider two striking points in this verse. [...]
How the Gita demonstrates its teaching
The Bhagavad-gita concludes, in one sense, with Arjuna agreeing to do Krishna’s will (18.73). Yet the Gita continues for five more verses describing the realizations [...]
What does it mean to know Krishna?
The Bhagavad-gita repeatedly talks about knowing Krishna — those who know him attain his abode (04.09). What does such knowing mean? To understand, let’s compare [...]
Are scriptural descriptions of Krishna literal?
When we hear the descriptions of Krishna given in scripture — for example, his complexion is bluish-black — we may wonder: Are such descriptions literal? [...]
To perceive God, we don’t need any instrument; we only need to become his instrument
On seeing impressive scientific instruments, we may wonder, “Can science develop an instrument sophisticated enough to perceive God?” That’s like asking: will a future telescope [...]
Evil has no independent power, yet it is incredibly powerful
When people do horrible things, we may wonder, “Where does such evil come from? Are some people innately evil? Or are they impelled to evil [...]
The Gita equips the thoughtful to become more faithful and the faithful to become more thoughtful
Some people say, “Thoughtfulness and faithfulness don’t go well together. If someone thinks too deeply, many of the things they are called to believe will [...]
Doubt is a disease that makes the patient believe the doctor is sick
Suppose a patient rejects a doctor’s advice, arguing that it is the doctor who is sick. Such a patient would be considered mentally sick. But [...]
Don’t reduce scripture to your conceptions of what scripture should be teaching, expand your conceptions to understand what scripture is actually teaching
When we study scripture, our preconceptions often act as a subconscious filter. This filter highlights those parts of scripture that confirm our conceptions and downplays [...]
Even if we fare well in life, we still have to say farewell to life
We all wish to fare well in life; we seek positions and possessions as markers of our progress and success. Often, we lament because we [...]
To forget that the world is a hurtful place is to place ourselves on a path full of hurts
Suppose we walk out on a thorny path without any footwear. We will hurt our feet. If someone warns us that the way is thorny, [...]
Choose the good when it protects you from the bad, but not when it deprives you of the best
Suppose we had to choose between a low-quality product for a high price and a high-quality product for a high price. We would naturally choose [...]
Analyzing a spiritual text without applying it is like examining food without eating it
Suppose someone is starving. If they are given food and they spend all their time examining the food, such behavior would be strange indeed. Food [...]
Be not self-seeking, be seekers of the self
Self-seeking people care for their own pleasures, without caring for anyone else. Such people can’t be seekers of the self because what they seek is [...]
A God who pretended we had no shortcomings would be a God who did not take our potential seriously
Suppose a coach tells a trainee-athlete, “You are perfect; you have no shortcomings.” Such pampering suggests that the coach doesn’t see any potential in that [...]