Turn to God not just for answers; turn to God as the answer
The Bhagavad-gita (7.19) declares that the enlightened surrender to Krishna, knowing him to be the ultimate reality and the embodiment of the fulfillment of all [...]
Get out of the intelligence in ignorance
In the Bhagavad-gita (18.32), Krishna states how the buddhi that is in tamas – the intelligence that is in ignorance – arrives at conclusions opposite [...]
What is self-realization?
When we gain a realization, that essentially means we understand and accept as a reality that which is already a reality. By extension, when we [...]
Gita 5.16 explained
Now in next verse Lord Sri Krishna will tell us how we become free from ignorance: Bg 5.16 jñānena tu tad ajñānaṁ yeṣāṁ nāśitam ātmanaḥ [...]
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar
How elevating and expanding of consciousness are dissimilar and similar Elevating our consciousness refers to our becoming conscious of higher realities beyond the material [...]
We are in illusion but we are not an illusion
We are in illusion but we are not an illusion Suppose someone we trusted implicitly betrays us totally. Being devastated, we may ask ourselves: “What [...]
See Krishna not just as an object of entertainment but as the objective of enlightenment
See Krishna not just as an object of entertainment but as the objective of enlightenment Many people are introduced to Krishna through his stories narrated [...]
Krishna’s glories enlighten even the enlightened
The Bhagavad-gita’s essence is manifest in its four nutshell verses (10.08-11). The first two of these verses convey how Krishna’s supreme position transforms the hearts [...]
Enlightenment is not a static state; it is a perennial process
Some people conceive enlightenment as sitting motionless in a yogic posture, losing oneself internally, and eventually merging forever into a formless light. The Bhagavad-gita, however, [...]
Go beyond the blindness caused by shortage of light – and by its surfeit
Whenever our surroundings go dark, say, due to a power failure, we become as if blind. Something similar happens to us as souls in material [...]
The best translation of the Gita is its translation into life
People interested in the Bhagavad-gita sometimes ask, “Which is its best translation?” The best translation is its translation into life. That is, the Gita’s best [...]
The point of scriptural study is not to prove our point, but to improve our viewpoint
We frequently think that our understanding of things is the correct understanding. When we study scripture, this mentality often makes us presume that our understanding [...]
Misery is not the cause of enlightenment – mercy is
Some seekers ask, “When afflicted with a deadly disease, some devotees take intense shelter of Krishna and make phenomenal spiritual advancement. If similar misery came [...]
The essence of empowerment is not disappearance of obstacles, but persistence amidst obstacles
“Krishna empowers his devotees to do wonderful things.” This statement is frequently heard in devotional circles. What does empowerment mean? Is it a miraculous disappearance [...]
The enlightened vision and the benevolent disposition
Spiritual knowledge is a therapy for the soul. Just as medical knowledge brings with it the responsibility to help the sick, so does spiritual knowledge. [...]
We see not by staring but by hearing
When our computer breaks down, we can’t see the problem merely by staring at the specific parts of the computer. We need to hear from [...]
Enlightenment that is universal, beneficial and non-imitable
What is enlightenment? It essentially means understanding where to direct our heart's longing for love and directing it accordingly. The Bhagavad-gita (15.18) states that the enlightened offer [...]
See eye-to-eye with Krishna to gain an enlightened eye and an enlivened I
When we are sick and seek treatment, we need to see eye-to-eye with the doctor. We need to understand and accept the diagnosis and the [...]