The renunciation that is necessary for devotion
Unlike some other spiritual paths, bhakti-yoga doesn’t require us to renounce all our possessions. Still, it does require us to renounce some of our conceptions [...]
What to expect from prayer — 2
Suppose we enroll for an exercise program meant to build our muscles. Suppose we are told to move some heavy objects. Moving those objects can [...]
What to expect from prayer — 1
Our conceptions of things shape our expectations from those things. Suppose we conceive of prayer as a means to get God to remove obstacles from [...]
When the light seems too bright …
Suppose someone is trapped in a dark maze-like dungeon. After wandering for a long time, they finally find an opening. But as they near the [...]
Understanding the message of silence
Suppose we are discussing an important issue with an expert. To understand their position on the issue, we will contemplate the words they speak. Significantly, [...]
How atheism affects our actions
We all pursue the things that we desire and we avoid the things that we fear. Let’s consider how desire and fear are affected by [...]
Seeing beyond our employer to our provider
We know that our employer is important to us. If they are dissatisfied with us, they could fire us and we might end up jobless, [...]
Why Arjuna’s refusal to fight was like a mental knock-out blow for his army
War is not just a physical conflict between two armies; it is also a mental conflict between the fighting spirit of the two armies. And [...]
How the Bhagavad-gita’s first chapter spotlights the power of the Gita’s message
If a coach had given a good motivational talk to their team before a major match, we might be somewhat interested in what the [...]
Does Arjuna’s reluctance to fight show that he is irresponsible?
Some people, especially those of a martial orientation, think that by refusing to fight when his army depended on him, Arjuna was acting irresponsibly — [...]
Why gratitude is vital for bhakti
Gratitude centers on appreciating the good things in our life. Such an attitude of gratitude is highly conducive to our emotional health; it fills us [...]
How can grievous wrongdoing be reconciled with devotion?
The Bhagavad-gita (09.30) raises a serious question: How can grievous wrongdoing and devotion go together? To address this question, consider the ocean-anchor metaphor. We all [...]
Seeing Krishna’s love for us and showing our love for him
Many of us turn toward God after we have tried everything else in our quest to be happy and it all has left us disappointed. [...]
Why equal treatment can sometimes seem unequal
Suppose a parent has two children, one younger and the other older. Suppose the younger sibling is just learning to eat from a plate and [...]
The two main meanings of dharma in the Gita — and how they synergize
In the Bhagavad-gita, the word ‘dharma’ is used repeatedly. Let’s consider its two main usages — main in the sense that these two meanings matter [...]
How is morality present wherever the Gita is followed?
The Bhagavad-gita’s conclusion (18.78) asserts that morality is present wherever the Gita’s teachings are followed. This assertion may raise some eyebrows among those who know [...]
How God’s pleasure relates with what is best for us
In the Bhagavad-gita’s conclusion, Arjuna declares that he will do Krishna’s will (18.73). This declaration is an expression of love, for love centers on the [...]
Why Krishna considers as good souls those who come to him even for worldly desires
In the Bhagavad-gita (07.16), Krishna mentions four categories of people who approach him. Among these people, the majority fall into two categories: those who see [...]
How to do God’s will when we don’t know what it is
When we resolve to do God’s will as indicated in the Bhagavad-gita’s conclusion (18.73), we may wonder, “What do I do in perplexing situations wherein [...]
Does doing God’s will mean giving up our independence?
On learning the Bhagavad-gita’s conclusion to comply with the divine will (18.73), an apprehension may arise: “If I start doing God’s will, does that mean [...]
Does doing God’s will mean doing something unnatural?
The Bhagavad-gita concludes by indirectly urging us all to harmonize our will with the divine will (18.73). Some people fear that such surrender may mean [...]