Why speech needs to be more than truthful
The Bhagavad Gita teaches that the discipline of speech involves much more than simply speaking truthfully. Along with truthfulness, it identifies three other qualities of [...]
How do we understand verses such as Gita 9.5 which refer explicitly to Krishna’s soul as if it were different from Krishna?
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 [...]
If we have made some terrible mistake, why and how should we forgive ourselves?
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 [...]
Should we be strict with ourselves and lenient with others?
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 [...]
The Bhagavad Gita on Overthinking
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 [...]
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 [...]
Public Trust in Times of Protest: Why the Government Needs CIT
The images of protesting students being lathi-charged by the police are disturbing and distressing. Emotions are understandably running high. Rather than joining those on the [...]
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 [...]
Are life’s reversals karma, tests by Maya, or Krishna’s push to surrender?
When we face reversals in life, we often wonder whether these are the results of our past karma, tests by Maya, or Krishna pushing us [...]
How Gita wisdom helped me transcend polio
Recently, during my travels to America, a devotee-doctor in Washington, D.C., suggested that I consult a polio specialist to evaluate the long-term effects I might [...]
What AI Can’t Take Away
Does work have an irreplaceable worth that we might unnecessarily give away because of AI alarmism? "I just lost my job because of AI." A [...]
Release me from the voice inside my head that endlessly craves empty pleasures
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 [...]
Why Do You Laugh at Your Own Humor?
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 [...]
From “Thank God” to “Thank You, God”
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 [...]
When a Child’s Cry for Help Goes Unheard
According to reports, a nine-year-old student in Jaipur allegedly died by suicide after prolonged bullying at school. Recently released CCTV footage has led to renewed [...]
Question: What are the differences between the needs of the body and the needs of the soul?
Answer: They are two distinct levels of reality. Just as a car and a driver have different needs, the body and the soul also have [...]
A Bottle of Water and a Stranger’s Kindness
During my Australian tour from April to June 2026, when I arrived in Melbourne from Wellington to take a connecting flight to Adelaide, I happened [...]
Question: Considering the case of Ketan Agarwal, is murder destined or is it because of poor judgment?
Answer: Such a question has no simple answer. As the Bhagavad Gita itself acknowledges, gahanā karmaṇo gatiḥ—the workings of karma are profound and difficult to [...]
Gratitude Is a Gift
At a recent youth retreat in Mayapur, a devotee asked me, "When you became a brahmachari, how did you deal with fear about the future [...]
The Same Words, Different Worlds
Today morning, on July 6, as I was leaving Delhi to catch a flight to Mumbai, I was in the car talking on the phone [...]
Dealing with problem people according to our position and disposition
Sometimes, we face situations where serious problems are caused by specific individuals around us. This could be an exploitative boss, a manipulative colleague, or an [...]