Devotion centers not on renouncing the material, but on reclaiming the spiritual
Some people ask, “Do I have to renounce everything material to gain devotion?” No – the essence of devotion is reclaiming the spiritual, not renouncing [...]
Those who can get on without matter can get on best with it
Many conventional seekers think of the world only in two terms – action or renunciation, either to act in the world or to renounce it. [...]
The purpose of bodily regulation is not physical deprivation but spiritual connection
Some religious seekers subject the body to deprivation through extreme fasting or even self-flagellation. They think that such deprivation will lead to detachment and eventually [...]
Balanced bhakti brings bliss
Some people fear that becoming too spiritual will make them apathetic towards everything worldly. Apathy towards the world is not the defining characteristic of spirituality [...]
Go beyond captivity to futility and utility
As practicing spiritualists, we may face the question, “What should be my attitude towards the material world?” Let’s first look at the three broad attitudes [...]
Use technology – don’t be used by technology
In today’s society, living without technology is almost impossible. As aspiring devotees living in a techno-centric society, we usually think of technology as a neutral [...]
To see stone and gold equally, see beyond stone and gold to Krishna
The Bhagavad-gita (06.08) shares a puzzling recommendation: see stone and gold equally. How is this possible? To understand, let’s analyze the statement at three progressive [...]
Is the purpose of eating to get fatter?
Obviously not, we would unhesitatingly answer. We eat to get energy for pursuing worthwhile ends in life. Gita wisdom urges us to apply this same [...]