The Conflict of Belonging: Kula Dharma vs. Kshatriya Dharma
The Bhagavad Gita opens with the word dharma. While often translated simply as "religion," dharma actually originates from the Sanskrit root dhru, meaning "to sustain." [...]
Even Go-Getters Must Pause: Arjuna’s Ultimate Dilemma
When the Bhagavad Gita opens, the great warrior Arjuna develops a sudden case of nerves, putting down his weapons and stating, "I cannot fight." It [...]
Adversity, Atrocity, and the True Source of Agony
We often face problems in life at three different levels of acuteness: adversity, atrocity, and agony. Adversity is what life naturally throws at us, such [...]
Question: Why exactly did Arjuna collapse at the start of the Bhagavad Gita? What made him so indecisive that he became paralyzed?
Answer: Decision-making is hard when there is no good choice. That was Arjuna's dilemma, because both fighting and not fighting were painful options. Fighting meant [...]
If my mother doesn’t want to use a pacemaker and wants me to pray to Krishna that she live without it for as long as she can, and not do anything in terms of getting a pacemaker, how should I see this devotionally and practically?
Answer: There are three distinct issues here. One is your mother's desire, the second is the medical need, and the third is your duty. When [...]