Answer: There are three distinct considerations here. First is the context of the teaching of the Gita. Second is the broader Indian tradition. And third [...]
One way to look at such verses is to remember that scripture is kalpataru. If it is to fulfill the desires of everyone, then it [...]
Answer: There are psychological, spiritual, and devotional reasons for forgiving ourselves. Psychologically, as long as we do not forgive ourselves, we continue to hold on [...]
Answer: First, there is no scriptural basis for the idea that we should always be strict with ourselves and lenient with others. It may be [...]
Bhagavad-gita 18.35 describes determination in the mode of ignorance through five mental habits that together provide a remarkably comprehensive picture of how thinking goes wrong [...]
Bhagavad-gita 6.6 bandhur ātmātmanas tasya yenātmaivātmanā jitaḥ anātmanas tu śatrutve vartetātmaiva śatru-vat A voice inside leads me astray; It steals my life day by [...]
This question came from a friend who had just attended one of my talks. He explained, “Normally, in executive humor—that which is appropriate for workplace [...]
During one of my flights on my last tour of Australia, I found myself in the middle seat. As the departure time drew near, neither [...]
Isn’t burning the dead body through cremation highly disrespectful as compared to the dignified burial of the body? The body is adequately respected during the [...]
To understand our attachments, we need to notice where our thoughts go when they have nowhere else to go. Our minds are always full of [...]
If we don’t take a hard look at ourselves, we will soon get a hard knock from ourselves. We often worry about people who are [...]
Whenever we start looking into the abyss, we need to even more urgently and regularly start looking into the mirror. The term abyss is often [...]
Faith in God's protection means that we are not paralyzed by fear when called to act in His service, even when faced with significant challenges. [...]
Whenever we try to live a life of principles, we may often feel haunted by the possibility of fall downs. This concern becomes especially poignant [...]
Life often thrusts upon us difficult, dangerous, or distressing situations that can trigger negative emotions. While most such emotions decline and depart with time as [...]
Faith in God's protection means accepting that what he protects may be different from what we expect him to protect. One of the most celebrated [...]
God has provided us with the mind as a functional tool to link our spiritual selves with our physical bodies. However, the specific way the [...]
If we consider our inner world as a territory where disputes occur, there are broadly two ways to address these disputes. The first approach is [...]
The many meanings of consciousness and how they matter Consciousness is a frequently discussed concept among those seeking personal and spiritual growth. Gaining a clearer [...]
The call for individuality We live in a culture where the call to be an individual is not just encouraged but championed and glamorized. However, [...]
uddhared ātmanātmānaṁ nātmānam avasādayet ātmaiva hyātmano bandhur ātmaiva ripur ātmanaḥ When others hurt me and my mind rushes to judgment, Help me meet its [...]