Why all equalities are not equal
We live in an age that cherishes equality, and rightly so. In many ways, we have put behind several forms of discrimination that characterized large [...]
Imposing social equality or inspiring individual spirituality?
Suppose we are organizing an athletic competition. To be fair to all participants, we will want to make the playing field level; no one should [...]
Justice or just is?
Suppose a ship with three hundred people is hit by an iceberg and starts sinking. Suppose further that it only has life-saving equipment for a [...]
How to cultivate equanimity?
In today’s fast-paced world characterized by sudden and massive changes, we often appreciate people who stay cool-headed. How can we too develop such equanimity? Do [...]
How accountability can save us from humiliation
How accountability can save us from humiliation We all may have some unhealthy habits that we grapple with. We may overcome them temporarily, but eventually [...]
Gita 03.40 explained
Krishna describes enemy, the enemy covers our intelligence. Where is that enemy present? BG 3.40 indriyani mano buddhir asyadhishthanam ucyate etair vimohayaty esha jnanam avritya [...]
Why the cause of illusion is not what we usually think it is
When people get captivated by an illusion, such as a bottle of alcohol or a good-looking person, what is the cause of their illusion? A [...]
Winning whining wining — or worshiping?
Suppose we strive to do something challenging. If we win, our mind becomes jubilant; if we don't, it often goes into a zone of negativity, [...]
Are we holding others to an unrealistically high standard?
Are we holding others to an unrealistically high standard? Suppose someone we know does something so shocking that we feel, “I don’t want anything to [...]
Gita 07.11 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Till now Sri Krishna has talked [...]
Is our knowledge making us prouder or wiser?
Is our knowledge making us prouder or wiser? We often think that if we gain enough information, we will become knowledgeable. Significantly however, the Bhagavad-gita [...]
Gita 02.02 – Explanation from Bhakti Shastri Class
BG 2.2 sri-bhagavan uvaca kutas tva kasmalam idam vishame samupasthitam anarya-jushtam asvargyam akirti-karam arjuna SYNONYMS sri-bhagavan uvaca -- the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; [...]
Why dealing only with today’s problems today can be short-sighted
Suppose a town is situated on the banks of a river that floods repeatedly. Whenever floods come, everyone endeavors to rebuild. But then the river [...]
How purification can empower us all
Purification is often equated with being puritanical, which may evoke images of holier-than-thou people morally policing everyone else. Influenced by such images, we may not [...]
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 [...]
Why lying to ourselves is so dangerous
Suppose someone we work with lies to us frequently. They claim that they can do things they can’t do. Or they claim that they can’t [...]
Why we need to improve ourselves
We all know various areas where we can improve ourselves: exercise regularly, become better-organized, meditate earnestly. Yet we often neglect such self-improvement. Why? Because we [...]
Beyond thoughtless action and spineless inaction
At the start of the Bhagavad-gita, when Arjuna is confronted with the prospect of fighting a brutal war against his venerable elders, he pauses. Throughout [...]
We can’t foresee every consequence of our actions but we can foresee their probable consequences — and we should
We can’t foresee every consequence of our actions but we can foresee their probable consequences — and we should Suppose we are driving a huge [...]
Faith is seen through both firmness in intention and flexibility in execution
Faith is seen through both firmness in intention and flexibility in execution During a pandemic, if temples are closed to avoid infection, does that indicate [...]
If we are robbed repeatedly by the same suspect, it is our intelligence that is suspect
If we are robbed repeatedly by the same suspect it is our intelligence that is suspect Suppose we are robbed and the prime suspect is [...]