How to manifest our potential
Two steps for manifesting our potential are realizing our potential and releasing our potential. We all have some gifts that are given to us by [...]
Gita 18.61 explained
Link to purport by A C Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada Transcript of Bhakti-Shastri class on this verse by Chaitanya Charan Bg 18.61 Now Krishna explains [...]
Are we asking God the wrong question?
Suppose we find ourselves impeded, even imprisoned, by some conditioning — say, our mind keeps becoming jealous or angry, despite our best efforts to fight [...]
Let go — the present is silently rich
We often find ourselves under constant pressure to do things: make calls, answer emails, finish chores. How can we relieve ourselves of that pressure? One [...]
God takes our potential seriously, do we?
Suppose a coach takes the potential of a budding cricketer seriously. That means even if the player goes through a bad patch, the coach stands [...]
God loves us as we are, but he loves us too much to let us stay as we are
Some people ask, “Why doesn't God love us as we are? Why does he prescribe so many rules?” To understand God’s love for us, let’s [...]
With God, everyone is accepted, but everything isn’t acceptable
Some people ask, “If God is all-loving, why does he prescribe so many do’s and don’ts? Why doesn’t he accept us as we are.” To [...]
Those who are not humble are humbled
We often operate under the illusion that we are fully independent, that we can do whatever we want whenever we want, that we don’t need [...]
We are bound by our nature, but we are not bound to our nature
We all have particular qualities, abilities and interests – all of which can be collectively referred to as our nature. Different frames of reference can [...]
Even if we lose hope with ourselves, Krishna doesn’t
We often face difficulties because of outer conditions or inner conditionings or both. If these difficulties seem unresolvable, we may lose hope. Thankfully however, even [...]
Krishna has faith in our potential – let’s have faith in his potency
Suppose a celebrated sports coach has faith in the potential of an aspiring sports player. If that player lacks confidence, seeing the coach’s confidence in [...]
Our mistakes are not Krishna’s plan, but Krishna’s plan accommodates our mistakes
Some people say, “Everything is God’s plan.” Is it really? Are our mistakes his plan? If some people become alcoholics or commit suicide, did God [...]
Our vision is functional and valuable, but not necessarily factual
People often ask, “If the soul and God are real, why can’t we see them?” But the question begs itself: Do we really see things [...]
Krishna is our director – and our redirector
In a play, the actors are visible on the stage; the director isn’t. Yet the invisible director directs the visible actors. If we liken life [...]
Fanaticism is caused not by excessive devotion, but by inadequate devotion
When some religious people try to convert everyone to their faith, others get put off. They feel, “These guys are fanatical – their devotion is [...]
Krishna is not just our destination – he is also our companion
Suppose we flew to a distant land to meet a VIP whom we hadn’t met before. We landed, drove to his residence and knocked [...]
Krishna doesn’t cause our worldly wandering – he frees us from the cause of that wandering
Some people claim, “ The Bhagavad-gita teaches that we humans have no free will, being just puppets in God’s hands. They often quote the Gita [...]
Every trial is a teacher
In life, we all go through various trials. A trial seems especially trying is when it appears pointless, when it seems as if that trial [...]
Cellular reception depends on position; transcendental reception, on disposition
Just as an appropriate device, say a cellphone, gives us access to a cellular network, an appropriate device, a devotionally disposed heart, gives us access [...]
Learning from life is not just a matter of individual creativity; it is a feature of universal reality
“Learn from life” is a popular and valuable saying. We all can learn by thoughtfully observing our own life, the lives of those around us, [...]
Krishna is not doing things to us; he is doing things for us
“Why is Krishna doing this to me?” We may get this question when we are faced with problems and have some nominal faith in Krishna [...]