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Currently Browsing: Vedic Scriptures
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September 2023
2792)
Radharani’s glories in Bhagavad-gita
2791)
How Bhagavad-gita demonstrates Krishna’s teaching expertise
August 2023
2790)
When we feel left alone – Vritrasura pastime analysis – Hindi
July 2023
2789)
Does shabda make pratyaksha invalid? Part 1 The Monk’s Podcast 206 with Radhika Raman Prabhu
2788)
Does Krishna discard karma yoga or varnasrama in Gita 18.66?
2787)
Why does Bhaktivinoda T say that sakhya rasa, a lower rasa, manifested beyond India after vatsalya rasa, which is a higher rasa?
2786)
Was Ravana an ideal brother for he risked his life to avenge his sister’s dishonor?
June 2023
2785)
Why did Vritrasura fight as a demon and not become pious?
2784)
Even after his spiritual awakening, why did Vritrasura keep fighting against Indra?
May 2023
2783)
How do we understand contradictions in the scriptures?
2782)
Are Gita and Bhagavatam meant for less intelligent people because they are parts of smriti?
2781)
The Kerala story – A Bhagavad Gita perspective
April 2023
2780)
Why did Draupadi not defend herself when she was being dishonored?
2779)
When Bhagavatam cosmology contradicts scientific cosmology, how can it be rationally accepted?
2778)
Why does Prabupada give devotional explanations for Bhagavad Gita sections that are not exactly devotional?
2777)
When we feel that our problems arose because we were misguided – Yamaduta-Yamaraja discussion 1
2776)
How the Bhagavad Gita is a message of love (Hindi)
2775)
Bhagavad-gita insights for holistic health
March 2023
2774)
What is the best way to study the Bhagavad Gita when there are so many classes, articles and commentaries available?
2773)
What is the Bhagavad-gita perspective on chatGPT?
2772)
What is the Gita perspective on organ donation?
2771)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 88 – 10.15.7-12 Krishna-Balarama make all living beings in Vrindavana fortunate
February 2023
2770)
Is Srimad Bhagavatam anti-householder? Why does it criticize householders so much?
2769)
Prayers of Jiva in mothers womb – Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3
January 2023
2768)
Is the Gita’s teaching about transcending the modes, not just coming to goodness, relevant to the corporate world?
December 2022
2767)
How can the Gita’s teaching on work as worship inspire corporate excellence?
2766)
Does the Gita provide skills or only will and values?
2765)
What are the consequences of not following Bhagavad-gita?
November 2022
2764)
Just as there is a separate Brahma in every universe, is there a separate Narada as his son?
2763)
How can Brahma be Narada’s guru when Narada’s body is spiritual and Brahma’s body is material?
2762)
Cricket Mania A Bhagavad-gita perspective; Seeing Kishna everywhere as his vibhuti; Wellington 2022
2761)
Understanding dementia – A Bhagavad-gita perspective – Chaitanya Charan
2760)
What is God’s role in our sufferings, in the light of the Bhagavatam 10.14.08 verse tat te ‘nukampam?
October 2022
2759)
202 Bhagavad-Gita’s multi-level progression of the human-divine relationship, The Monk’s Podcast with Garuda Prabhu
2758)
Parallels between Damodara-lila and Bhagavad-gita – part 2
2757)
Parallels between Damodara-lila and Bhagavad-gita – part 1
2756)
World Mental Health Day Special Bhagavad-gita Insights for a Healthy Mind
2755)
How can we know that today’s Bhagavad Gita is as it is as it was spoken by Krishna to Arjuna?
September 2022
2754)
Developing our personal relationship with Bhagavad gita SB Keshava Maharaj and Chaitanya Charan Prabhu
August 2022
2753)
Prostitutes in Krishna’s Dwarka: How to understand Bhagavatam 1.11.19? – Chaitanya Charan
2752)
Appreciating the Bhagavad Gita from Sanjaya’s perspective (Gita 18.74-78): GREAT acronym
2751)
Why does Arjuna refer to Krishna by specific names in specific verses of the Bhagavad Gita?
2750)
How Balarama reveals Krishna’s heart in Vrindavana Mathura and Dwarka ? – Balarama appearance day
2749)
How dukhalayam Bhagavad gita 8.15 is a teaching of positivity not negativity?
2748)
Why was Balarama kind to Duryodhana and harsh to Romharshana? – Balarama appearance day reflection
2747)
When God doesn’t seem to be equal to everyone – Bhagavad gita 09.34
July 2022
2746)
When seeking material things from God is spiritually unhealthy — & when it isn’t
2745)
Atmarama verse’s importance in understanding the Absolute Truth Bhagavatam discussion with Caru Prabhu
2744)
Three understandings of surrender in the Bhagavad Gita
June 2022
2743)
Roe V Wade reversed A Bhagavad-gita perspective on the US removal of women’s right to abortion
2742)
3 Difficulties in approaching Bhagavatam cosmology
2741)
Is the universal form Krishna literally material or is it a divine form manifested in matter like his deity form?
2740)
How could Yudhishthira stake his own wife in gambling?
2739)
When the Gita is spoken to one specific person, how can it be universal?
2738)
How is the Bhagavad gita applicable for students?
2737)
How to disagree without disrespecting
2736)
When Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha out of anger and vengeance, was he violating Krishna’s Gita instructions?
2735)
194 Is the Gita religious or spiritual – The Monk’s Podcast with Garuda Prabhu
May 2022
2734)
When the soul is an individual, how can the same soul be manifest as Arjuna, Arjuniya gopi and Ramananda Raya?
2733)
How can one who points to the wrongdoer get the same destination as the wrongdoer, as Bhagavatam 1.17.22 states?
April 2022
2732)
Was Rama’s killing of Vali unfair? Ramayana Ethics – Chaitanya Charan
2731)
How was Kamsa liberated when he was ill-motivated in his Krishna consciousness?
2730)
Is the RRR movie a contemporary retelling of Ramayana?
2729)
RAMA NAVAMI SPECIAL: Relishing Lord Rama’s remembrance & appreciating Ramayana retellings
2728)
RAMA NAVAMI SPECIAL: Indrajita’s snake attack & the attack of snake-like desires
February 2022
2727)
How was spiritual knowledge lost at the time of the Gita when so many great sages like Vyasa and Narada were present?
2726)
If the prostitutes in Dwarka were pure devotees, why did they use their bodies for such an activity?
2725)
When Krishna declares bhakti-yoga to be the highest yoga, why does he describe other yogas too?
2724)
Appreciating Vishvanatha Chakravarti Thakur’s Bhagavatam commentary – The churning metaphor
2723)
Are daiva, adhidaiva and divine will the same thing?
2722)
Bhagavad gita summarized through Arjuna’s 17 questions
2721)
Karna: Wronged hero or wrong hero: Chaitanya Charan on Kishori Jani M’s podcast
2720)
Bhagavad-gita chapter ten – How to see Krishna’s vibhuti everywhere?
January 2022
2719)
What did Kaliya eat when his poison destroyed everything around him How did he have human-like wives?
2718)
If the Sita who had sweet interactions with Hanuman in Lanka was Maya-Sita, then were those interactions also Maya?
2717)
183 Gita Political Philosophy series 2 Capitalism Communism Dharma The Monk’s Podcast with Govinda Prabhu
2716)
178 Gita & political philosophy series 1: Freedom & State Power, The Monk’s Podcast with Govinda Prabhu
2715)
177 Ethics in epics: Decoding Bhishmas choices – The Monks Podcast with Shyamananda Prabhu
2714)
Is New Year celebration a scam A Bhagavad gita perspective talk
December 2021
2713)
The Omicron variant A Bhagavad Gita perspective
November 2021
2712)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 7 The Monks Podcast 174 with Madhavananda Prabhu & Amarendra Prabhu
2711)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 6 The Monks Podcast 172 with Madhavananda Prabhu and Amarendra Prabhu
2710)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 5, The Monk’s Podcast 170 – Madhavananda Prabhu & Amarendra Prabhu
2709)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 4, The Monk’s Podcast 166 with Madhavananda Prabhu and Amarendra Prabhu
2708)
Evolution Bhagavatam What are the issues for devotees The Monk s Podcast 165 with Akhandadhi Prabhu
2707)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 3, The Monk’s Podcast 164 with Madhavananda Prabhu and Amarendra Prabhu
October 2021
2706)
The Bhagavad gita’s great greater and greatest secret -The Monk s Podcast 162 with Garuda Prabhu
2705)
How to understand scriptural promises part 1
2704)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 2, The Monk’s Podcast 160 – Madhavananda Prabhu and Amarendra Prabhu
2703)
Gopi Gita Appreciation part 1, The Monk’s Podcast 159 – Amarendra Prabhu and Madhavananda Prabhu
September 2021
2702)
Appreciating Prabhupada’s presentation of the Bhagavatam part 2
August 2021
2701)
The Bhagavatam’s relevance for a postmodern audience, The Monk’s Podcast 146 with Kaustubha Prabhu
2700)
Appreciating Krishna’s opulences, using his opulence of knowledge as an example – Hindi
2699)
Appreciating Prabhupada’s presentation of the Bhagavatam
2698)
Can we quote the Shabari pastime when it is not mentioned in the Valmiki Ramayana?
2697)
Introduction to Gita leadership course, How the Bhagavad-gita is a guidebook for leaders
July 2021
2696)
Glimpses into the beauty of the Rasa-lila, The Monk’s Podcast 134 with Garuda Prabhu
2695)
What difference is it going to make in my life? How is the Gita relevant today? – MAIL Acronym
2694)
Why does Krishna talk about controlling the senses to Arjuna when the purpose of the conversation seems to be to incite Arjuna to fight?
2693)
Analyzing Bhagavatams Retelling Of Ramayana Subjectivity and Objectivity In Scripture part 2
2692)
Analyzing Bhagavatams Retelling Of Ramayana Subjectivity and Objectivity In Scripture part 1
2691)
Wouldn’t killing Ashwatthama have been just punishment & prevented his future attack with Brahmastra?
2690)
What is the difference between Gita 2.60 and 2.67?
2689)
How the Bhagavad-gita offers a world-unifying philosophy, The Monk’s Podcast 130 with Ishvara Krishna Prabhu
2688)
Is Bhagavad Gita a Hindu religious book?
2687)
How can we say that the essence of Gita is Bhakti Yoga?
2686)
Wasn’t it immoral for Rama to exile Sita on just a rumour?
June 2021
2685)
Why did Prahlada Maharaja provide wine for demons instead of making them devotees as he did in childhood?
2684)
Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 10 – Kalki – The Monk’s Podcast 123 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj
2683)
How Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva s words revealed his love for Prahlāda part 2 – Hindi
May 2021
2682)
How to see our past in a Krishna conscious way 2 – Dhruva pastime analysis
2681)
How Lord Nṛsiṁhadevas words revealed his love for Prahlāda part 1 – Hindi
2680)
How to see our past in a Krishna conscious way 1 – Dhruva pastime analysis
2679)
Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 9 – Buddha – The Monk’s Podcast 117 with Krishna Kshetra M
2678)
Is the Bhagavatam anti-grihastha ashram?
2677)
Ambarisha M Pastime analysis 2 – How Krishna Consciousness helps with the three causes of suffering
2676)
Ambarisha M Pastime analysis 1 – Three causes of Suffering – Providence, Incompetence or Malevolence
April 2021
2675)
How Rama’s apparent humanity enhances his divinity
2674)
Isnt the Pandavas’ killing their own relatives over a property dispute immoral?
2673)
Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 8 – Balarama – The Monk’s Podcast 110 with Krishna Kshetra M
March 2021
2672)
Gita key verses course 51 – Appreciating the Gita’s three conversations Gita 18.76
2671)
Gita key verses course 50 – Love is the ultimate reality Gita 18.65
2670)
Understanding homosexuality, gender dysphoria & nonstandard sexuality – Sudyumna pastime analysi 2
2669)
Gita key verses course 49-The Quest for Oneness-Where it is right and where it goes wrong-Gita 18.55
2668)
Gita key verses course 48 – Can I be spiritual and still be ambitious Can my work be my worship Gita 18.46
2667)
Gita key verses course 47 – Why some people are knowledgeably ignorant or intelligently foolish – Gita 18.35
2666)
Churning the BhagavatamThe Monk’s Podcast 104 – Dashavatara 7 – Rama with Krishna Kshetra M
2665)
How scriptural stories reflect a more expansive form of rationality – Sudyumna pastime analysis 1
2664)
Gita key verses course 46 – If we are not the doers why are we held responsible – Gita 18.14
2663)
Gita key verses course 45 – Speak to give peace of mind, not a piece of your mind – Gita 17.15
2662)
Gita key verses course 44 – Isn’t spirituality a matter of the heart – Why so many rules – Gita 16.24
2661)
Gita key verse course 42 – How to see God’s hand in our life Gita – 15.15
2660)
Gita key verses 41 – What is the upside-down tree metaphor Gita 15.01
2659)
Gita key verses course 40 – What are the modes why do they matter – Gita 14.05
February 2021
2658)
Is Bhagvad Gita Hindu ?
2657)
Was Parashurama’s violence against the kshatriyas disproportionate?
2656)
Gita key verses course 39 – What is education meant for – Gita 13.12
2655)
Gita key versescourse 38 – Does religion make people better or worse? – Gita 12.13
2654)
The Monk’s Podcast 95 Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 6 – Parashurama
2653)
In the Daksha pastime, why do we blame Daksha alone and not consider that others also acted hastily or insensitively?
2652)
Gita key verses course 37 – Beyond black and white conceptions of spirituality – Gita 12.10
January 2021
2651)
Gita key verses course 36 – How can I forgive those who have hurt me – Gita 11.55
2650)
Was Yudhishthira wrong to gamble and cowardly to not protect Draupadi while she was dishonored?
2649)
When Vasudeva Was In Prison With Devaki, How Did Rohini Conceive A Child?
2648)
In the Gita’s tenth chapter, why does Krishna identify various opulences with himself instead of saying they belong to him?
2647)
Gita key verses 35 – What is the universal form, why is it so scary – Gita 11.15
2646)
Gita key courses verses 34 – Is nature sacred Does the Gita teach eco-friendly living – Gita 10.17
2645)
Those eighteen days – Day 18
2644)
Those eighteen days – Day 17
2643)
The Monk’s Podcast 89 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaja – Churning the Bhagavatam- Dashavatara 5 Vamana
2642)
Those eighteen days – Day 16
2641)
Those eighteen days – Day 15
2640)
Those eighteen days – Day 14
2639)
Those eighteen days – Day 13
2638)
Those eighteen days – Day 12
2637)
Those eighteen days – Day 11
2636)
Those eighteen days – Day 10
2635)
Those eighteen days – Day 9
2634)
Those eighteen days – Day 8
2633)
Those eighteen days – Day 7
2632)
Those eighteen days – Day 6
2631)
Those eighteen days – Day 5
2630)
Those eighteen days – Day 4
2629)
A New Year Is Here – Are We Here? – A poem with New Year wishes by Chaitanya Charan
2628)
Those eighteen days – Day 3
December 2020
2627)
The Monk’s Podcast 85 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaj – Dashavatara 4 – Narasimha
2626)
Those eighteen days – Day 2
2625)
Those eighteen days – Day 1
2624)
Gita Jayanti special – part 1
2623)
Bhishma And Gopis – Striking Similarities – Bhishma Panchaka Special 1
2622)
Ahalya cursed and blessed – How our consciousness shrinks and expands
2621)
Gita daily – Empower yourself with timeless wisdom
November 2020
2620)
The Monk’s Podcast 80 with Krishna Kshetra Maharaja – Churning the Bhagavatam – Dashavatara 3 – Varaha
2619)
Gopi-gita verse – 3 esoteric meanings
2618)
In the Vamanadeva pastime, how is adharma called dharma and dharma called dharma
2617)
As karma is based on janma, how is varnashrama not based on janma?
2616)
Do the modes come from Krishna or from prakriti?
2615)
Self-Acceptance, Team Spirit and Success – Wisdom from Ramayana
2614)
Bhagavatam cosmology 3 – Eclipses, earth-sun distance, Vedic planetarium and other difficult issues
2613)
Bhagavatam cosmology 2 – Moon mission analysis
October 2020
2612)
How to work with detachment & divine attachment – Bhagavad-Gita chapter 18 overview
2611)
The Monk’s Podcast 79 with Hridayananda Goswami – American politics in the light the Bhagavad-gita
2610)
Mahabharata life lessons – Why Draupadi laughed when Duryodhana fell?
2609)
Mahabharata Life Lessons – Did the Pandavas fight to take revenge?
2608)
Mahabharata Life Lessons – How could Jarasandha do human sacrifices?
2607)
Why did Rama kill the shudra Shambuka simply for doing a good activity like austerity?
2606)
Why did Draupadi laugh at Duryodhana? – Hindi
2605)
Was Duryodhana cruel to the citizens or just to the Pandavas?
2604)
Understanding Bhagavatam cosmology
September 2020
2603)
How to understand the Bhagavatam’s cosmology?
2602)
How is the vision of Krishna’s two-handed form rare when everyone at the time of Krishna’s descent could see it?
August 2020
2601)
Gita key verses course 33 – How does my association affect my spirituality – Gita 10.09
2600)
Gita key verses course 32 What does Gita say about the caste system Does the Gita support social justice – Gita 09.32
July 2020
2599)
Gita key verses course 31 What are mantras – Gita 09.14
2598)
Gita key verses course 30 If God controls everything, how do we have free will – Gita 09. 06
2597)
Are the Mahabharata real or stories?
2596)
Gita key verses course 29 What are the different forms of yoga, Do they all lead to the same goal – Gita 08.28
2595)
Gita key verses course 28 Why is life so tough If God loves us, why doesn’t he make our life easier – Gita 08.15
2594)
Gita key verses course 26 Does Isn’t one God enough Does the Gita teach polytheism – Gita 07.21
June 2020
2593)
Gita key verses course 27 Is the ultimate reality personal or impersonal – Gita 07.24
2592)
How can hearing Krishna’s rasa-lila with the gopis free us from lust?
2591)
Why did Rama spy on his own citizens?
2590)
When an eye for an eye will make everyone blind, why does the Gita teach that?
2589)
Gita key verses course 25 Does God hear our prayers – When our prayers aren’t answered, what can we do – Gita 7.19
2588)
Gita key verses course 24 Can sex be spiritual – What is the difference between lust and love – Gita 07.11
2587)
Gita key verse course 23 Can we be spiritual and rational – How can science and spirituality go together – Gita 07.07
2586)
When Dhruva Maharaj started with a selfish motive, how did he attain Vaikuntha, the abode of selflessness?
2585)
Learning prayerfulness based on Bhagavatam prayers
May 2020
2584)
Why did Krishna speak the Gita to Arjuna and not to the other Pandavas or to Bhishma?
2583)
Gita key verses course 21 Why are relationships so difficult – how can we improve them – Gita 06.32
2582)
Rama Navmi class – Glory Revealed Amid Adversity
2581)
Gita key verse course 20 What is meditation – What are spiritual experiences – Are they just hallucinations – Gita 06.22
2580)
Gita key verses course 19 What is yoga – Gita 06.11
2579)
What were the principles of dharma that Krishna descended to establish?
2578)
Gita key verses course18 What is mind – What is mindfulness – Gita 06.05
2577)
Gita key verses course 17 Why are religious people so sectarian – Is it better to be spiritual but not religious – Gita 05.18
2576)
Naam Ramayana 4 – Rama charms the hearts of everyone
2575)
What would be the Gita’s stand in today’s political world wrt the Left and the Right in India or the liberals and the conservatives in America
2574)
Naam Ramayana 3 – Rama exhibits his miraculous abilities
2573)
Understanding Prahlada’s provocative response to Hiranyakashipu’s angry question
2572)
How would the Kauravas being neutralized by the Pandavas further their spiritual evolution?
2571)
Were the Kauravas harassing their citizens – were they tyrants who needed to be removed by force?
2570)
Why did Arjuna want to be the greatest archer?
2569)
In the Daksha pastime, Lord Shiva remains calm when he is insulted, but become enraged when Sati dies – why the difference?
2568)
Gita key verses course 16 If God is good why does he allow evil to exist? – Gita 05.15
April 2020
2567)
Isn’t the Gita’s instruction to remain equipoised seem too idealistic?
2566)
What is the difference between a jnani and jnani-yogi?
2565)
Isn’t the Gita’s comparing women with vaishyas and shudras derogatory?
2564)
Gita key verses course 15 Do I need guru – How can I find my guru – Gita 04.34
2563)
Gita key verses course 14 What is karma – Why do bad things happen to good people – Gita 04.16
2562)
Gita key verses course 13 Why are there so many religious paths – Do all paths lead to the same goal – Gita 04.11
2561)
Gita key verses course 12 Who is God – Does he care – Why should I care – Gita 04.08
2560)
Naam Ramayana 2 – The Lord brings joy to everyone
2559)
Gita key verses course 9 What is sacrifice – Is it a ritual – Are rituals needed – Gita 03.09
2558)
Naam Ramayana 1 – How the transcendental descends as the historical
2557)
Gita key verses course 8 What is happiness – Why is it so elusive – Gita 02.55
2556)
Rama Navmi class – Glory Revealed Amid Adversity
March 2020
2555)
Gita key verses course 7 Can I be detached without becoming irresponsible – Gita 02.47
2554)
Gita key verses course 6 Do animals have souls – Are humans just evolved animals – Gita 02.30
2553)
Can buddhi-yoga refer to all three yogas – karma, jnana and bhakti?
February 2020
2552)
When jnana and karma are different philosophies, how can they both give the same result, as the Gita’s sixth chapter states?
2551)
Are jnana and karma complementary instead of hierarchical?
January 2020
2550)
Gita key verses course 5 What is spirituality – Is it a state of mind – Why are so few people spiritually minded – Gita 02.29
2549)
Gita key verses course 4 How can we heal after the death of a loved one – should we suppress our grief or express it – Gita 02.25
2548)
Why does the Gita consider karma-yoga better than jnana-yoga when jnana-yoga is higher in the yoga ladder?
2547)
Gita key verses course 3 What is death – what is reincarnation – do we have soul mates – Gita 02.22
2546)
Why did Bhishma and other elders stay silent when Draupadi was being disrobed?
December 2019
2545)
Gita key verses course 2 Who am I – Is there any scientific evidence for the existence of the soul – Gita 02.13
2544)
Why are women marginalized in Indian scriptures such as the Gita?
2543)
What is the difference between knowledge, intelligence and self-realization?
2542)
Why did Srila Prabhupada call his Gita commentary As It Is? (Bhagavad-gita)
2541)
Gita key verses course 1 What is the Gita – How is the Gita relevant today – Gita 01.01
2540)
Is the Gita a later insertion in the Mahabharata?
2539)
From Entangled to Enlightened – Lessons from Yayati story
November 2019
2538)
How does God helps those who help themselves apply to Rama in Ramayana?
2537)
Uddhava’s significance in the tenth canto, in the Bhagavatam and in our life
2536)
How the Gita expresses Krishna’s love by directing us to balance this world and the next world
2535)
Gita lite 5 – Chps 12-15
2534)
When people betray us – Ramayana wisdom
2533)
How can we become determined like Hanuman?
2532)
How the Bhagavatam is the means of conquest in material existence – Meditation on narayanam namaskrtya verse
October 2019
2531)
The complex relationship between appearance and substance in spiritual life
2530)
Gita insights for managing the mind – Chapter Ten Analysis
2529)
The Gita shares not just light but also warmth
2528)
Gita’s key to happiness
2527)
Comparing Ramayana and Mahabharata 1 – What caused the exiles
2526)
Did Krishna protect Draupadi only after she stopped trying to protect herself – does surrender mean we stop trying to do anything?
2525)
Why does the Gita not mention the word guru and refer in plural to seers of the truth in 4.34?
2524)
Gita lite 3 – Chps 6-8
2523)
Gita lite 2 – Chps 3-5
2522)
Gita lite 1 – Chps 1-2
2521)
Mahabharata controversies – how life was unfair to both Karna and Arjuna
2520)
Understanding the unborn’s understandings 5 – Why is the embryo’s prayer not answered
2519)
How character is deformed and reformed – Ramayana wisdom
2518)
Understanding the unborn’s understandings 4 – What the embryo’s desire to stay in the womb implies
2517)
Understanding the unborn’s understandings 3 – What is a human soul
2516)
Understanding the unborn’s understandings 2 – How can the embryo know God
2515)
Do the ends justify the means, as your Mahabharata explanations imply? Won’t that justify terrorism too?
2514)
Understanding the unborn’s understandings 1 – How can the embryo with an undeveloped brain speak prayers?
2513)
How hearing the Bhagavad-gita raised Sanjay’s standard of longing
2512)
When duty is a societal construct, why can’t we just follow our heart’s calling without caring for society’s opinion?
2511)
How can we work dispassionately when doing our duty requires passion?
2510)
How do we know whether we are in harmony with our true nature and God’s plan – what does harmony feel like?
2509)
If we are to not make judgments, why is Krishna making judgments and taking sides in the war?
2508)
Does the Supersoul sanction all our undesirable desires?
September 2019
2507)
Six limbs of surrender 3 – Understanding how God protects
2506)
Six limbs of surrender 2 – Accept the favorable, avoid the unfavorable
2505)
When Duryodhana slipped and fell, why did the Pandavas remain silent?
2504)
Six limbs of surrender 1 – The Medical Metaphor
2503)
Comparing exiles in Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatam – How to face distress
2502)
Gita 6.37-45 – How our spirituality continues beyond our present life
2501)
Vamana pastime analysis 2 – When the branch under us break, seek Krishna’s help to spread your wings
2500)
The Bhagavatam’s glory revealed in its concluding verse – PURE acronym
2499)
Is the incident of Lord Rama worshiping Lord Shiva not mentioned in Valkmiki Ramayan?
2498)
Prithu M’s humility – Be conscious of others’ position and disposition
2497)
Vamana pastime analysis 1 – When good people do good things at a heavy cost
2496)
3 ways to engage our desires with Krishna 2 – Desiring Krishna and desiring for Krishna
2495)
3 ways to engage our desires with Krishna 1 – Desiring from Krishna
2494)
Is the Bhagavad-gita relevant in the age of science – MAIL acronym
2493)
Bhagavad-gita chapter 2 overview – How to decide the right thing to do and stay undisturbed while doing it
2492)
Teamwork in Ramayana 2
2491)
Teamwork in Ramayana 1
2490)
What was the purpose of the celestial prophecy before Krishna’s birth?
August 2019
2489)
Understanding the mind – Unpacking the Puranjana allegory
2488)
How Balarama’s causeless mercy on Duryodhana was still less for Duryodhana
2487)
Analyzing Govardhan Lila 2 – How Indra is thwarted and reformed
2486)
Analyzing Govardhan Lila 1 – How Krishna is the best provoker
2485)
When imagination points away from reality and when it points to reality – Hindi
2484)
How association influences our choices – Three case studies from Ramayana
2483)
Self-acceptance – Comparing Vidura and Dhritarashtra
2482)
Mandodari’s lament after Ravana’s death 1 – Can some people never change
July 2019
2481)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 94 – 10.16.7-15 – Kaliya bites and binds Krishna
2480)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 93 – 10.16.1-7 Krishna’s mode of entry into Kaliya’s lake reflects his playful confidence
2479)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 90 – 10.15.26-36 – Dhenuka’s tools to kill – his hind legs – are used to kill him by whirling and hurling
2478)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 89 – 10.15.13-25- The gopas ask Balarama-Krishna to get fruits by eliminating Dhenuka
2477)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 88 – 10.15.7-12 Krishna-Balarama make all living beings in Vrindavana fortunate
2476)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 87 – 10.15.1-6 Krishna dedicates the beauty of Vrindavana is meant for Balarama
2475)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 86 – 10.14.53-61 – Vrajavasis love their children as parts of Krishna and therefore love the Whole more
2474)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 85 – 10.14.43-52 – Unravelling the mystery of the Vrajavasis disproportionate love for Krishna
2473)
Hanuman’s journey through the cave – Persevering through life’s obstacles – Hindi
2472)
Nara-Narayana Rishi – Twins who teach tapasya – Hindi
2471)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 84 – 10.14.37-42 – Brahma acknowledges his insignificance before Krishna’s magnificence and munificence
2470)
Why does Indra commit so many mistakes?
2469)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 83 – 10.14.31-36 – Brahma glorifies Vrajavasis and aspires for their dust
2468)
Why did Vishvamitra lose his power on creating another heaven?
2467)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 82 – 10.14.25-30 Devotion is the doorway and pathway to a life beyond illusion and liberation
2466)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 81 – 10.14.19-24 Krishna’s pastimes are unknowable yet relishable
2465)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 80 – 10.14.13-18 – Brahma contextualizes his bewilderment in terms of his and others’ past bewilderment
2464)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 79 – 10.14.7-12 – Practicing devotion gratefully while accepting responsibility for our difficulties opens the door to liberation
2463)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 78 – 10.14.1-6 Krishna is known by devotional hearing, not by intellectual probing
2462)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 77 – 10.13.57-64 – Brahma realizes his folly in testing Krishna’s glory
2461)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 76 – 10.13.50-56 – Brahma sees all universal opulences sheltered in the Vishnus expanded from Krishna
2460)
What lesson does the Mohini Murti pastime teach?
2459)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 75 – 10.13.39-49 – The content of metaphors may be opposing, but their intent is concurring
2458)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 74 – 10.13.28-38 Krishna’s illusion is so powerful that even Balarama requires special situation to see through that illusion
2457)
Was Ravana intelligent in fighting Rama, knowing that his followers would get liberation by being killed by Rama?
2456)
Was Ravana from north India?
June 2019
2455)
Detachment doesn’t make us hard-hearted, attachment does – Learning from Kaikeyi
2454)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 73 – 10.13.21-27 How Krishna as the expanded gopas and calves reciprocated love with the motherly gopis and cows
2453)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 72 – 10.13.11-20 – Krishna makes even a big disturbance into a no disturbance
2452)
How strengths become weaknesses and weaknesses become strengths – Learning from Ravana and Vibhishana
2451)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 71 – 10.13.01-10 – Taste for absorption is the test of devotion
2450)
How the Bhagavatam reveals the conception of God
2449)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 70 – 10.12.37-44 – If ecstasy pulls us out of our service, we need to pull ourselves out of that ecstasy
2448)
Politics, Social Organization and Bhagavad-gita
2447)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 69 – 10.12.29-36 – Krishna fulfilled the desire of the gopas to have Agha’s body as a plaything
2446)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 68 – 10.12.18-28 – Our perceptions are shaped by our conceptions
2445)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 67 – 10.12.12-17 The inability to tolerate others’ happiness defines the demonic
2444)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 66 – 10.12.1.12 That the extraordinary appears ordinary is extraordinary
2443)
If Sita in Lanka was Vedavati, why do we say Sita, not Vedavati, prayed for Hanuman?
2442)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 65 – 10.11.50-59 Huge demons become like moths on coming before the Krishna-fire
2441)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 64 – 10.11.41-49 For Krishna, killing demons is all in a day’s play, that too before breakfast
2440)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 63 – 10.11.30-40 The extraordinary Lord gave and got joy in ordinary play
2439)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 62 – 10.11.19-29 The Vrajavasis move to protect Krishna and Gokula both
2438)
How to live at the junction of order and chaos – Learning from Dasharatha’s destiny
2437)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 61 – 10.11.1-9 Vrajavasis doubt Krishna’s supernatural power, but don’t disbelieve it
2436)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 60 – 10.11.10-18 By giving to Krishna, even if we appear to be losers, we are still gainers
2435)
How temptation attacks visibly and invisibly – Lessons from Indrajita’s attack on Rama-Lakshmana
2434)
Relationships flourish by sharing, not by dominating – Rama Lakshmana interactions
2433)
Understanding difficult pastimes such as Rama’s banishing Sita
2432)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 59 – 10.10.36-43 The Lord grants not just physical mobility but also spiritual mobility
2431)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 58 – 10.10.28-35 Though God has a body, he is not limited by or to his body
2430)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 57 – 10.10.23-27 Krishna honors the promise of his devotees
2429)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 56 – 10.10.15-22 Narada curses to cure the cause of the misbehavior, not just to punish the misbehavior
2428)
Bhagavad Gita Chapters 15-18 Overview
2427)
4 principles for improving relationships – Daksha-Sati pastime analysis
2426)
Bhagavad Gita Chapters 13-14 Overview
2425)
Relationships flourish by sharing, not by dominating – Rama Lakshmana interactions
May 2019
2424)
Does sarva dharman parityajya mean that we should give up our rationality and just surrender?
2423)
Did Ravana have immense knowledge?
2422)
The story of Vishvamitra – part 2 – Overcoming anger and arrogance
2421)
Can Abhimanyu’s getting trapped in Chakravuha be compared to our getting trapped in samsara-cakra?
2420)
The story of Vishvamitra – Obstacles on the spiritual path – Part 1
2419)
Narasimha Chaturdashi – How Hiranyakashipu and Prahlada reside in our hearts
2418)
Does the upside-down tree metaphor of Gita chapter 15 imply that there’s a separate tree for each individual soul?
2417)
Hanuman in the cave – Persevering in bhakti through pleasure and trouble
2416)
Curses and Choices – How to change our consciousness
2415)
If repression can’t accomplish anything – Gita 03.33 – why should we restrain our senses, Gita 03.34?
2414)
How obstacles become opportunities – Hanuman’s burning tail
2413)
Just as Bhishma chose the wrong side, so do we – how can we learn properly from such role models?
2412)
Think Choose Relish: 3-point essence of the first three verses of Srimad Bhagavatam
2411)
What goes around comes around – Ravana & Maya-Sita
2410)
Ravana -Ten Heads, Zero Brains – Keeping our desires in control
April 2019
2409)
How our outer world and our inner world deludes – and how bhakti delivers
2408)
Ahalya cursed and blessed – 3 I’s for changing our consciousness
2407)
Moving toward self-mastery through fear of dishonor and detachment – Gita 2.31.63
2406)
Bhagavatam study – Pruthu Maharaja pastime analysis with HG Braja Bihari P
2405)
Hanuman Jayanti talk – Balance ability with maturity
2404)
Rama Navmi class – How Rama’s selflessness decreases others’ distress
2403)
The sweetly topsy-turvy world of Ramayana
2402)
“Do demons exist?” and lessons from Kabandha – Ramayana wisdom
2401)
Gita applied Chapter 2 – The Gita separates the soul from the body and harmonizes both too
2400)
Gita 01.01 The Gita’s first word dharma conveys its essential, universal theme
2399)
Gita applied Chapter 1 – Duryodhana’s illusion is short-sighted, Arjuna’s illusion is far-sighted
2398)
Why did Vidura not instruct Dhritrashtra to apologize to the Pandavas and to thereby become offense-free for practicing bhakti?
2397)
Which path of yoga burns our karma to what extent?
March 2019
2396)
Rama at home in exile 2 – The power of diligence
2395)
Rama at home in exile 1 – The power of acceptance
2394)
Controlling the mind through yoga and bhakti – similarities and differences Gita 06.21
2393)
How to be intelligent in dealing with people – Ramayana wisdom
2392)
Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 3 – Chp 13-18
2391)
Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 2 – Chp 10-12
2390)
Krishna’s moods in the Bhagavad-gita 1 – Chp 1-9
February 2019
2389)
The Gita’s transformational power explained through four special words in its last verse
2388)
Why did Rama banish Sita?
2387)
Ramayana wisdom – Sugriva-Rama meeting – Why doubts arise and how to overcome them – Hindi
2386)
4 significant words in the Gita’s last verse – Hindi
January 2019
2385)
Resist the mind just as Sita resisted Ravana – Hindi
2384)
Mohini Murti pastime analysis 3 – When shame helps devotion and when it hurts devotion – Hindi
2383)
Mohini Murti pastime analysis 2 – Even sensual failure can be a spiritual success – Hindi
2382)
Mohini Murti pastime analysis 1 – Even the Lord’s cheating is all-good – Hindi
2381)
Ramayana wisdom – How devotion frees us from doubt and dissension – Hindi
December 2018
2380)
Why did Vidura not instruct Dhritarashtra to apologize to the Pandavas and to thereby become offense-free for practicing bhakti?
2379)
Gita Jayanti talk – The Gita provides Partha with paramartha
2378)
What is the significance of Shukadeva Goswami’s prayers in Bhagavatam 2.4?
2377)
How to choose wisely – Learning from Karna
2376)
Dealing with fear of rejection – Analyzing Karna’s character
2375)
Can you explain the concepts of anvaya and vyatireka practically and as explained in Bhagavatam 3.9.36?
2374)
Why did the Dwarka Yadus kill each other?
2373)
Wisdom from Ramayana – New Book
2372)
Demons in Krishna-lila 6 – Bakasura – From Appearance to Substance to Transcendence
2371)
Was Vritrasura’s bhakti covered over because of his past offenses?
2370)
In Gita 09.32, why are women put in a separate category from the various varnas?
2369)
Gita 02.07 Seek first to understand the question to best understand the answer
November 2018
2368)
Gita 02.06 The decision that seems a no-brainer turns out to be a brain-exhauster
2367)
Gita 02.05 Deliberation is desirable, but depth of deliberation is decisive
2366)
Does any Gita verse say that the soul is on a multi-life journey of spiritual evolution?
2365)
Gita 02.03 Identify behavior that is out of character with our character
2364)
Essence of the Gita – Identity, Activity, Destiny
2363)
Gita 02.02 Fight against lower emotions by fighting for higher emotions
2362)
Gita 02.01 The intensity of Arjuna’s emotion conveys the potency of Krishna’s solacing wisdom
2361)
Gita 01.46 The significance of our actions depends not just on the actions but also on the situations in which we do those actions
2360)
Appreciating Sanjaya’s appreciation of the Gita
2359)
Gita 01.45 The war was not to gain a kingdom but to protect the rule of law
2358)
Gita 01.44 When our emotion rules our reason, we rationalize a one-sided view of reality
2357)
Gita 01.43 Hearing is important, but from whom we are hearing is even more important
2356)
Gita 01.42 Disruption of dharma leads to overpopulation of disruptive souls, causing total breakdown of dharma
2355)
Gita 01.41 When the family is disrupted, the faith of the children is also devastated
2354)
Gita 01.40 Dharma prevents human society from being ruled by the law of the jungle
2353)
Gita 01.39 Our sense of honor coming from our lineage can raise us but can also stop us from rising to the highest
2352)
Gita 01.38 To restrain a violent madman, their restrainers may have to fight like the madman
2351)
Demons in Krishna lila 5 – Aghasura – Cruelty and violence
2350)
Gita 01.37 Consciousness that is contaminated becomes conquered and covered
2349)
Gita 01.36 The ethical tension between kula-dharma and kshatriya-dharma leads to emotional over-reaction and physical inaction
2348)
Ramayana series 4 – Sita’s faithfulness – The strength of devotional acceptance
2347)
Ramayana series 3 – Shurapanakha’s manipulativeness – Exploiting others’ weaknesses doesn’t make us strong
2346)
Ramayana series 2 – Ravana’s recklessness – Attachment makes us overvalue things
2345)
Ramayana series 1 – Comparing Dasharatha and Dhritarashtra – What we do is not as important as why we do it
2344)
Govardhana lila lessons – Krishna disempowers and empowers – and opens channels for reciprocating love
2343)
Gita 01.35 Our pleasure-pain calculation determines our decisions and is determined by our worldview
2342)
Gita 01.34 To retaliate and cause death requires courage, but to not retaliate at the cost of one’s own death requires greater courage
2341)
Gita 01.33 When various purposes pull us in different directions, we need to prioritize our purposes
2340)
Gita 01.32 Don’t let the means to an end become an end that diverts us from the actual ends
2339)
Appreciating Krishna’s longing for love through Damodara-lila
2338)
Gita 01.31 What we think of as long-term may not be long-term enough
2337)
Gita 01.30 When we face challenges bigger than ourselves, we look for omens to sense the intentions of forces bigger than ourselves
2336)
Practical application of the Gita – MAIL acronym
2335)
Gita 01.29 Know which emotion is mental and which spiritual not just by content, but also by context and consequence
2334)
Gita 01.28 Our thought-train’s journey from intentions to actions is diverted by our emotions
2333)
Gita 01.27 The sequence of perception determines the consequence on our emotion
October 2018
2332)
Gita 01.26 When we can’t fight the circumstances that make us fight against our loved ones, we have to fight against our loved ones
2331)
Gita 01.25 What catches ouar attention is determined by what is prominent in our external situation and in our internal disposition
2330)
Gita 01.24 The position of maximum visibility is also the position of maxiumum vulnerability
2329)
Gita 01.23 Virtue doesn’t count when determining the military count in a fight
2328)
Stop fighting battles that are already lost and start fighting the battle that is never lost – Vritrasura pastime analysis 3
2327)
Gita 01.22 Asking to see something that is already known points to a dynamic that is not known
2326)
When the source of liberation becomes the source of illusion 2 – Mohini-murti pastime analysis
2325)
How to transform our heart 2 – Vritrasura’s dramatic transformation
2324)
Gita 01.21 The non-partisan position of the Gita’s revelation points to its universality
2323)
When the source of liberation becomes the source of illusion 1 – Mohini-murti pastime analysis
2322)
How to transform our heart 1 – Vritrasura’s dramatic transformation
2321)
Gita 01.20 Life is so unpredictable that it can unbalance the unflappably balanced
2320)
Gita 01.19 The Pandavas win the mental battle before the physical battle
2319)
When life hurts 3 – When our good deeds causes problems – Prahlad pastime analysis
2318)
When life hurts 2 – When people attack us – Gajendra pastime analysis
2317)
The Gita tells us to do karma, but also asks us to understand karma – what karma does it refer to?
2316)
Gita 01.18 The Pandavas lost Pandu but gained Drupada as a father figure
2315)
Gita 01.17 Don’t let minor grammatical disputes overshadow major narrational and philosophical thrust
2314)
What is the significance of Duryodhana’s use of the past tense in Gita 01.09?
2313)
When life hurts 1 – when a small mistake causes huge problems – Parikshit M pastime analysis
2312)
Gita 01.16 Yudhishthira doesn’t come first in the list of warriors but is still their undisputed leader
2311)
Gita 01.15 The devoted see God before they see the world, the undevoted see only the world
2310)
Gita 01.14 The Gita’s audio-visual camera starts with the character of the questioner’s interest, but shifts now to the central characters
2309)
Gita 01.13 Actions that throw caution to the winds are preceded by caution
2308)
Demons in krishna-lila 4 – Vatsasura – Weakness is forgivable, wickedness isn’t
2307)
Gita 01.12 Just because we get others to do what we want them to do doesn’t mean we have won them over to our side
2306)
Gita 01.11 The protector too needs to be protected
2305)
Demons in krishna-lila 3 – Trinavarta – Giving up useless argumentation
2304)
Gita 01.10 Symmetry of structure stresses contrast in content
2303)
Cultivating the mood for studying Bhagavatam
2302)
Demons in krishna-lila 2 – Shaktasura – Overcoming Lethargy
2301)
Was Sati’s reaction to her father’s actions justified or was she also implicated?
2300)
Gita 01.09 Duryodhana’s slip of tongue leads to his speaking the truth unintentionally
2299)
Gita 01.08 We need to be calm-headed, not cold-blooded
2298)
Demons in krishna-lila 1 – How the metaphorical points to the transcendental and how Putana represents false guru
2297)
Gita 01.07 Be aware of how what we say to one person may be heard by others
2296)
How Gita wisdom helps us to deal with pain
2295)
Gita 01.06 Duryodhana diplomatically continues to incite Drona against the Pandava army
2294)
Gita 01.05 Our mode of description reflects our intention
2293)
Gita 01.04 Duryodhana tries to change Drona’s emotion for the opposite side from affection to anger
2292)
Gita 01.03 Context can convert compliment into criticism
2291)
Gita 01.02 Sanjaya addresses not just the content of Dhritarashtra’s question but also its intent
2290)
Gita 01.01 The Gita’s first word dharma conveys its essential, universal theme
September 2018
2289)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 55 -10.10.10-14 Narada curses not impulsively, but after deep reflection
2288)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 54 – 10.10.1-9 The curse that takes us away from the things that take us away from Krishna is mercy
2287)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 53 – 10.9.18-23 The kingdom of God is the kingdom of love
2286)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 52 – 10.9.13-17 Krishna’s form appears finite but is infinite
2285)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 51 – 10.9.7.12 Yashoda catches the Lord whom the yogis can’t catch
2284)
If Krishna already knew that Duryodhana wasn’t going to agree to peace, then did Duryodhana have free will to choose?
2283)
Bhagavatam transforms intensity of distress into velocity in devotion
2282)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 50 -10.9.1-6 Yashoda demonstrates the same bhakti perfection as does Arjuna
2281)
If Duryodhana was generous enough to give the arrows to Arjuna why was he so hateful?
2280)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 49 – 10.8.46-52 Transcendental and contextual explanations for the fortune of Nanda and Yashoda
2279)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 48 – 10.8.42-45 Yashoda makes sense of the incomprehensible by taking shelter of the transcendental Lord
2278)
How Gita wisdom addresses mental health problems
2277)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 47 – 10.8.32-41 Krishna shows the universe in his mouth once again
2276)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 46 – 10.8.26-31 Vraja ladies complain about Krishna’s pranks cheerfully
2275)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 45 – 10.8.20-25 Krishna’s childhood activities fill Vraja ladies with anxiety and ecstasy
2274)
Does Gita 6.28 refer to brahman or to bhakti to bhagavan? (Bhagavad-gita)
2273)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 44 – 10.8.13.19 Garga conceals and reveals Krishna’s identity
2272)
Why is Kurukshetra known as Dharma-kshetra – why was it chosen as the venue for the Mahabarata war?
2271)
Understanding Rasa-lila 4 – Radharani’s apparent pride expresses her selfless love
2270)
How the Bhagavad-gita’s first and last words reflect its empowering message
2269)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 43 – 10.8.7-12 Religious celebration is meant for spiritual purification, not social congregation
2268)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 42 – 10.8.1-6 The saintly come to the worldly to expand the consciousness of the wordly
2267)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 41 – 10.7.31-37 Krishna’s first revelation of the universe in his mouth
2266)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 40 – 10.7.27-30 Krishna silences Trinavarta to minimize anxiety for Vrajavasis
2265)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 39 – 10.7.19-26 Krishna protects Yashoda before tackling Trinavarta
2264)
In the Daksha-Shiva conflict, why did Shiva not clarify to Daksha about why he hadn’t offered respects?
2263)
Gita 18.78 The Gita’s purpose is not just to proclaim God’s position but primarily to transform man’s disposition
2262)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 38 – 10.7.13-18 The potency of blessings increases with the purity of the blesser
2261)
Gita 18.77 Recollecting Krishnas universal form stimulates wonder in some and fear in others
2260)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 37 – 10.7.7-12 Vrajavasis try to protect the one who protects everyone
2259)
Gita 18.76 The Gita’s conversation is memorable and relishable
2258)
Gita 18.75 Sanjaya appreciates the content, the source and the channel of the Gita’s wisdom
2257)
Why didn’t Indra become sober even after Govardhana lila?
2256)
Gita 18.74 The Gita describes a mahatama and makes its hearer into a mahatma
2255)
Gita 18.73 Harmony with the divine infuses our fleeting insignificant lives with lasting significance
2254)
How could Samba abduct Lakshmana against her will?
2253)
Gita 18.72 A philosophical conversation amidst emotional tribulation testifies to Arjuna’s sincerity and Krishna’s potency
2252)
Gita 18.71 Krishna compassionately offers connections at decreasing levels of commitment
2251)
Gita 18.70 See the sanctity of Gita study in terms of intent, content and result
2250)
Gita 18.69 See the superlative as an exhortation to devotional action
August 2018
2249)
Gita 18.68 The bhakti cure cures more those who share the cure more
2248)
Gita 18.67 Though ultimately every heart longs for divine love, not every heart is presently ready for divine love
2247)
Gita 18.66 The call to rise above dharma is not a call to slip below dharma
2246)
Gita 18.65 Promises in a close relationship reflect and affect the closeness of the relationship
2245)
Learning from Dhritarashtra – Does destiny make us or do we make it – 2?
2244)
Gita 18.64 Krishna’s tone rises from informational analysis to impassioned advocacy
2243)
Learning from Dhritarashtra – Does destiny make us or do we make it – 1?
2242)
Gita 18.63 Knowledge guides our free will by showing us the consequences of our actions
2241)
Gita 18.62 The deepest peace comes by not an external serene situation but by an internal spiritual connection
2240)
Gita 18.61 Though we are controlled by material nature, we are still within the control of our Lord
2239)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 20 -10.3.47-53 Just as the ocean gave way to Rama, Yamuna gave way to Krishna
2238)
Don’t take others’ actions personally – they are dealing more with their mind than with you
2237)
Gita 18.60 How we act is determined by our material nature but for what purpose we act isnt
2236)
Gita 18.59 Ego means to think that we know better than God
2235)
Gita 18.58 The destructive voice can’t be tuned out unless we tune in to the divine voice
2234)
Gita 18.57 Take shelter of the intelligence to convince yourself of the need to take Krishna’s shelter
2233)
Gita 18.56 The bhakti university takes seekers from any level to the summit of spiritual perfection
2232)
Gita 18.55 Don’t divorce the literal reading of one word from the overall context of the text
2231)
Gita 18.54 Devotion doesn’t culminate in liberation, liberation culminates in devotion
2230)
Gita 18.53 Determined disconnection from the material paves the way to the spiritual
2229)
Gita 18.52 Take shelter of renunciation to cultivate inner absorption
2228)
Karna character analysis – Are we doomed by destiny or by our own decisions?
2227)
Ashwatthama character analysis – Just because we are empowered doesn’t mean that we are right
2226)
Duryodhana character analysis 2 – If we don’t want help, even God can’t help
2225)
Duryodhana character analysis 1 – Are some people innately evil?
2224)
Gita 18.51 Use intelligence to counter the mind’s centrifugal force
2223)
Dhritarashtra character analysis 2 – Do we need to lose everything before we lose our attachments?
2222)
Dhritarashtra character analysis 1 – Attachment makes us stone-hearted
2221)
Gita 18.50 The Gita’s purpose is not to describe spiritual paths but to analyze them for making an informed choice
2220)
Gita 18.49 Our spiritual evolution goes through multiple levels of perfection from engagement through disengagement to devotion
2219)
Gita 18.48 See beyond the unpalatable to the essential to pursue the transcendental
2218)
Gita 18.47 Acknowledging our present diversity is essential for realizing our spiritual commanality
2217)
Gita 18.46 See work as an offering the divine’s gifts to the divine
2216)
Dhruva pastime analysis 3 – DHRUV acronym – Realization and reconciliation result from devotion
2215)
Dhruva pastime analysis 2 – DHRUV acronym – Humility and honesty leads to authentic bhakti
2214)
Gita 18.45 Inclusive spirituality centers on rejection of work, but on its reconceptualization and redirection
2213)
Gita 18.44 Protecting cows protects the cow protectors from greed
2212)
Gita 18.43 Kshatriyas control in service of the supreme controller
2211)
Dhruva pastime analysis 1 – Everyone faces distress, the fortunate find the right direction – DHRUV acronym
2210)
Gita 18.42 Brahmanas cultivate material material regulation and spiritual redirection by intellectual conviction
2209)
Gita 18.41 Varnashrama provides customized spirituality for elevating people from where they are
2208)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 19 – 10.3.39-46 Omnipotent Krishna can act through transcendental or normal means
2207)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 18 – 10.3.32-38 How past life connections make sense of present-life situations
2206)
Gita 18.40 To attain harmony with our spiritual nature, we need engagement that is in harmony with our psychophysical nature
July 2018
2205)
Gita 18.39 Pleasure in ignorance begins in ignorance and ends in increased ignorance
2204)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 17 – 10.3.26-31 Devaki acknowledges Krishna as the provider of the supreme safety and strives for his safety
2203)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 16 – 10.3.20-25 The divine’s complexion is sometimes a description and sometimes a signification
2202)
Why was Ekalavya treated so unfairly?
2201)
Gita 18.38 The pleasure of titillation leads to the agony of tribulation
2200)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 15 – 10.3.11-19 Krishna’s appearance dissipates the darkness without and within
2199)
Gita 18.37 Spiritual knowledge gives us the purpose to persevere through the poison till the nectar
2198)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 14 – 10.3.1-10 The celestial, terrestrial and psychological characteristics that celebrate the Lord’s appearance
2197)
Gita 18.36 Some pleasures are the start of sorrow – and some the end of sorrow
2196)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 13 – 10.2.37-42 Why the unborn Lord is born is both inferable and inconceivable
2195)
Gita 18.35 To hold on to thought-patterns that hurt us is to abuse our determination
2194)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 12 – 10.2-31-36 Krishna’s lotus feet make the insurmountable material ocean insignificant
2193)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 11 – 10.2.25-30 The devatas glorify the true nature of the Absolute Truth
2192)
Gita 18.34 When one worldly desire trumps all other material desires, what results is determination in passion
2191)
Bhagavatam study 109 1.19.34-40 When God remains anonymous through coincidences devoteees identify and glorify him
2190)
Gita 18.33 What intelligence discerns, that determination sustains
2189)
Bhagavatam study 108 1.19.25-33 Devotee’s attractiveness attracts people to Krishna’s supreme attractiveness
2188)
Gita 18.32 Intelligence in ignorance mistakes the binding to be freeing
2187)
Bhagavatam study 107 1.19.19-24 Knowledge comes alive thorugh those live that knowledge
2186)
Gita 18.31 Confusing between long-term purposes and short-term pleasures characterizes intelligence in passion
2185)
Gita 18.30 Intelligence means to see beyond appearance to consequence
2184)
Bhagavatam study 106 1.19.13-18 Our personal deliberation and our mentor consultation can be complementary, not contradictory
2183)
Gita 18.29 To drive purposefully, we need to know the destination, the path and the vehicle
2182)
Bhagavatam study 105 1.19.7-12 The universal sages come to see of the royal sage
2181)
Bhagavatam study 104 1.19.1-6 If sinful reaction rectifies sinful mentality, then the reaction is auspicious, not inauspicious
2180)
Gita 18.28 Doers in ignorance act destructively for others and even for themselves
2179)
How devotion makes the insurmountable ocean of material desires insignificant
2178)
Bhagavatam study 103 1.18.44-50 Abuse of power by those representing God makes people godless
2177)
Gita 18.27 Our actions reflect our self-conception and our world-conception
2176)
Gita 18.26 The doer is not a non-doer but is a component in doing
2175)
Bhagavatam study 102 1.18.36-43 Avoid offenses carefully and avoid getting offended easily
2174)
Gita 18.25 To see our actions disconnected from the past and the future is to see in illusion
2173)
Bhagavatam study 101 1.18.31-36 Presuming that we know God’s will and are doing his work is presumptuous and dangerous
2172)
Gita 18.24 Disconnection from our Lord leads to the consumption of our consciousness by passion
2171)
Bhagavatam study 100 1.18.24-30 An annoyed response to annoying non-responsiveness is not malevolent
2170)
Bhagavatam study 99 1.18.18-23 The unlimited has unlimited potency to purify us of our unlimited sins
2169)
Gita 18.23 To gain knowledge, we need basic knowledge about where to seek knowledge
2168)
Bhagavatam study 98 1.18.11-17 Relish the sweetness of Bhagavan through the Bhagavata
2167)
How exactly is the bull dharma deluded as Prabhupada mentions in SB 1.17.23 purport?
2166)
Gita 18.22 Knowledge in ignorance makes us obsessed with one fragment of reality and one kind of action
2165)
Bhagavatam study 97 1.18.4-10 Understanding Parikshit M’s treatment of Kali
2164)
Gita 18.21 To equate others physical appearance with spiritual substance is vision in passion
2163)
Bhagavatam study 96 1.17.43-18.3 The recent past is just like the present
2162)
Gita 18.20 Seeing commonality alone is not vision in goodness – seeing spirituality as the foundation of commonality is
2161)
Analyzing Karna – Going beyond black and white perspectives in understanding scripture + QA
2160)
Bhagavatam study 95 1.17.37-42 Undestanding how restricting area of residence is a form of punishment
2159)
Gita 18.19 The Gita’s flow verses make its question-directed discussion more accessible
2158)
Gita 18.18 Analysis of the components of action is meant to direct towards non-reactive action
2157)
Bhagavatam study 94 1.17.31-36 Adharama-bandhu Kali can’t be allowed to live in the kingdom of Dharma-raja pautra
2156)
Gita 18.17 When we act without false ego, we stay free of reactions
2155)
Bhagavatam study 93 1.17.24-30 Avoid both extremes of taking everything in scripture only literally or only metaphorically
2154)
Bhagavatam study 92 1.17.18-23 The cause of suffering is sometimes incomprehensible
2153)
Gita 18.16 To think that we are the sole doers is to have deluded intelligence
2152)
Gita 18.15 Spiritual consciousness ensures that our actions give a favorable result
2151)
Bhagavatam study 91 1.17.13-17 Act honorably to protect the honor of those whom we represent
2150)
Daksha-Shiva conflict 3 – How our mind makes us sectarian – Hindi
2149)
Gita 18.14 God is the fifth factor as well as the foundation of all factors
2148)
Bhagavatam study 90 1.17.7-12 – When in a position of material responsibility, act responsibly
2147)
Bhagavatam study 89 1.17.1-6 Outrage on seeing atrocity is healthy
2146)
Gita 18.13 The journey from illusion to illumination requires philosophical education
2145)
Bhagavatam study 88 1.16.31-36 The earth and dharma’s devotion for Krishna
2144)
Gita 18.12 Intelligence sees consequence and fosters detachment
2143)
Daksha-Shiva conflict 2 – The proud consider others proud – Hindi
2142)
Parikshit M – Dharma discussion – Don’t blame 3 – How to deal with troubling people – Hindi
2141)
Parikshit M – Dharma discussion – Don’t blame 2 – If why has no answer focus on how – Hindi
2140)
Parikshit M – Dharma discussion – Don’t blame 1 – See beyond the immediate cause – Hindi
2139)
Bhagavatam study 87 1.16.25-30 Krishna is the shelter of dharma and dharmic qualities
2138)
Gita 18.11 To pursue liberation, give up the idea of giving up action
2137)
Gita 18.10 Take the route that takes us to the destination, not the route that looks the easiest
2136)
Bhagavatam study 86 1.16.19-24 Understanding what all things cause distress to the earth
2135)
Daksha-Shiva conflict 1 – How misconceptions give rise to conflicts – Hindi
June 2018
2134)
Gita 18.09 Renunciation in goodness means to know that we as parts just need to do our parts
2133)
Bhagavatam study 85 1.17.13-18 Parikshit M delighted in his spiritual opulence, not his material opulence
2132)
Why does the Bhagavatam say that literature glorifying Krishna is imperfectly composed when such literature is meant to attract people to Krishna?
2131)
Gita 18.08 Desire for bodily pleasure and fear of bodily trouble both keep us in the cage of bodily consciousness
2130)
Bhagavatam study 84 1.16.7-12 Choose carefully what we hear
2129)
Why did Devaki suffer but Yashoda enjoyed Krishna’s association?
2128)
Gita 18.07 Renunciation done in illusion can’t take us out of illusion
2127)
Bhagavatam study 83 1.16.1-6 How Parikshit Maharaj manifested his predicated qualities
2126)
Gita 18.06 Karmic bondage is like emotional dependence – focus not just on the action but also on the motivation
2125)
Bhagavatam study 82 1.15.45-51 Our spirituality is our responsibility, not anyone else’s responsibility
2124)
Bhagavatam study 81 1.15.38-44 Responsibly hand over material responsibility to take up spiritual responsibility
2123)
Gita 18.05 To be mana-isha, we need not just a mana free from ishvara-bhava, but a mana fixed on ishvara
2122)
Bhagavatam study 80 1.15.31-37 Life is a relay race – know when to hand over the torch
2121)
Gita 18.04 Just as indulgence can be indiscriminate, so can renunciation
2120)
Bhagavatam study 79 1.15.25-30 Remember Krishna in his absence by remembering his message
2119)
Gita 18.03 Gita 18.03 Appreciate others thoughtfulness even if it doesn’t lead to the best conclusion
2118)
Gita 18.02 Devotional attachment is the best way to avoid worldly attachment
2117)
Bhagavatam study 78 1.15.19-24 Krishna takes away everything that covers us before him
2116)
Gita 18.01 What is used to refer is not as important as what is being referred to
2115)
Bhagavatam study 77 1.15.13-18 Arjuna treasures his memories of Krishna
2114)
Gita 17.28 Having no faith in anything higher makes performance of religious activities unfruitful
2113)
Bhagavatam study 76 1.15.7-12 Devotees see their achievements as Krishna’s mercy
2112)
Gita 17.27 Sat is not just a word for recitation – it is a conviction to cultivated and infused into action
2111)
Bhagavatam study 75 1.15.1-6 When we lose everything, we gain the Lord of everything
2110)
Bhagavatam study 74 1.14.34-44 Questions about causes of distress reveal conceptions of distress
2109)
Gita 17.26 Any inclination to seek elevation of consciousness is praiseworthy
2108)
Gita 17.25 Recitation of tad signifies and stimulates the pursuit of transcendence
2107)
Gita 17.24 The many meanings of the word “brahma” in the Gita
2106)
Gita 17.23 Everything is sustained by its connection with the Absolute
2105)
What does akarma mean – does akarma free us from past karma?
2104)
Redirection of consciousness is Krishna’s miracle – Bali Maharaj pastime reflection
2103)
Seeing Krishna’s mercy amidst loss – Krishna’s instructions after Govardhana lila
2102)
Renunciation of false ego – Indra’s Prayers after Govardhana lila
2101)
Why does Bhishma say that he is bound by the Kauravas wealth?
2100)
Are Bhishma’s teachings of pure devotion at the end of his life contradicted by his life of service to the Kauravas?
May 2018
2099)
Nourishing our lives with the Bhagavad-gita
2098)
How to effectively study and apply the Gita
2097)
If we are not the doers, then are our mistakes actually our mistakes?
2096)
Should Gita 3.27 be we are not the only doers?
2095)
Bhagavad-gita and Modern Psychology 3 – Changing our mind by changing our relationship with the mind
2094)
Bhagavad-gita and Modern Psychology – 2 – Where mindfulness works and where it falls short
2093)
Bhagavad-gita and Modern Psychology 1 – Is there anything beyond emotionality and rationality?
2092)
What does vasudevah sarvam iti mean?
2091)
Self-pity, humility and maturity explained – Bhagavad-gita 18.35
April 2018
2090)
God as the Supreme therapist 7 – Understanding how Narasimhadeva gave strength to Prahlada
2089)
God as the supreme therapist 6 – Seek not the facility to do whatever we desire – seek the clarity to discern our deepest desire
2088)
How does Hanuman embody humble ambitiousness?
2087)
God as the supreme therapist 5 – Cultivating qualities is integral to cultivating devotion
2086)
God as the supreme therapist 4 – How association works and how to make it work
2085)
God as the supreme therapist 3 – Devotional detachment is not freedom from emotions but freedom of emotions
2084)
Why did Bhima abandon Hidimibi – did he marry her simply to gain political power?
2083)
Did Krishna use Ghatothkacha as a sacrificial pawn?
2082)
God as the supreme therapist 2 – To be others’ well wisher means to channel their emotions towards proper use of their free will
2081)
God as the supreme therapist 1 – Discerning the Prahlada and Hiranyakashipu mentalities within us
2080)
When the abducted Sita was not the real Sita, why was Rama distressed by her abduction?
2079)
Gita 17.22 We need discrimination to ensure that doing good actually does good
2078)
Was Ravana a good person who just committed one mistake?
2077)
Gita 17.21 – Charity is passion is a competition of humiliation
2076)
Gita 17.20 Give charity for purity, not popularity
2075)
Gita 17.19 Slaving to get the whip that will lash us is stupidity
2074)
Gita 17.18 The show of austerity without the substance of spirituality points to superficiality or even hypocrisy
2073)
Gita 17.17 The mode in which austerity is performed different from the mode with which austerity is performed
2072)
Gita 17.16 Austerity of mind transforms our inner disruptive enemy into a constructive friend
2071)
Gita 17.15 Speech is meant not just for commnication but also for purification
2070)
Bhagavatam study 73 1.14.18.33 – When we apprehend the worst-case scenario, we look for alternatives
2069)
Gita 17.14 Austerity enables us to use our bodily vehicle constructively, not destructively
2068)
Bhagavatam study 72 1.14.12.17 – Inversion of natural order prophesies inauspiciousness
2067)
Gita 17.13 Yajna in ignorance expresses defiance externally and internally.mp3
March 2018
2066)
Bhagavatam study 71 1.14.1.11 – Departure of the order-sustaining Lord leads to disruption of that order
2065)
Bring out the Hanuman within, not the Ravana within
2064)
Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 4 – How Hanuman provoked to deter Ravana from war
2063)
Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 3 – Keeping our intention above our emotions
2062)
Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 2 – Earning trust through emotional intelligence
2061)
Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 1 – When we hide ourselves from the Lord, he hides himself from us
2060)
Ramayana series 3 – Rama-Lakshmana – Does destiny control everything?
2059)
Ramayana series2 – Vali-Sugriva – Don’t judge without understanding
2058)
How are fruitive activities the engagements of one’s reactions from past good or bad deeds?
2057)
Ramayana series 1 – Manthara-Kaikeyi – How manipulators mislead
2056)
Avoid distractions using intelligence directed towards transcendence
2055)
Our goals are the results we seek – how can we set goals but be detached from results?
2054)
What the Bhagavatam conveys by narrating Krishna’s agonizing departure
February 2018
2053)
Gita 17.12 Yajna is like modern technology – can fuel the illusion that we are controllers and enjoyers.mp3
2052)
Reflections on the last verse spoken by Krishna in the Gita – Hindi
2051)
Gita 17.11 Focus not on expectation from the world, focus on contribution from yourself.mp3
2050)
Gita 17.10 Food in ignorance isn’t nourishing, satisfying or appealing.mp3
2049)
Gita 17.09 Food in passion is is sensually stimulating but eventually distressing and disease-inducing.mp3
2048)
Gita 17.08 Food in goodness provides profusely both nutrition and satisfaction
2047)
Gita 17.07 Food, sacrifice, charity and austerity represent broad patterns of the soul’s interaction with its encasing circles
2046)
Gita 17.06 Defying scripture, be it for pandering the body or tormenting the body, is demonic
2045)
Gita 17.05 Our body is not ours to abuse by arbitrary austerity
2044)
Gita 17.04 Our level of consciousness determines who we feel is worshipable
2043)
Gita 17.03 The relationship between our existence and our faith is causal, constitutional and consequential
2042)
Gita 17.02 See not just people’s ideological faith – see also their functional faith
2041)
Gita 17.01 The Gita universalizes and contextualizes the analytical framework of the three modes
2040)
Gita 16.24 Knowing scripture is our responsibility and our opportunity
2039)
Gita 16.23 Those who reject scripture suffer both in this life and the next
2038)
Gita 16.22 To pursue our self-interest, we need to purge out self-defeating desires
2037)
Gita 16.21 The metaphorical usage stresses the reality and gravity of the demoniac forces of lust, anger and greed
2036)
Gita 16.20 Demoniac action and demoniac destination is perpetuated by demoniac disposition
2035)
Gita 16.19 Devilish delights doom the demonic to deadly destinations
2034)
Gita 16.18 When bad situations make us take shelter of our bad side, we become bad people
2033)
Gita 16.17 Self-complacence and impudence perpetuate ignorance
2032)
Gita 16.16 Desires and fears cover our consciousness completely with illusion
2031)
Gita 16.15 The ungodly want to look good, not become good
2030)
Gita 16.14 Greed makes the covetous murderous
2029)
Gita 16.13 Let the mind’s chariot take us where we want to go, not where it wants to go
2028)
Gita 16.12 Sensual desires are ropes of enslavement, not roads to enjoyment
2027)
Gita 16.11 We make our beliefs and our beliefs make us
2026)
If I want to come first in my class, am I being attached to results?
2025)
Gita 16.10 Taking shelter of lust amidst problems is like taking shelter of kidnappers when threatened by thieves
2024)
Gita 16.09 The ungodly are born for destructive action unless they do drastic course correction
January 2018
2023)
Gita 16.08 From atheism to hedonism is a natural slide
2022)
Gita 16.07 Observe others actions not to condemn, but to help
2021)
Gita 16.06 Knowing the inclination of the road where our car is is education, not condemnation
2020)
Gita 16.05 Acknowledging where a car’s wheels are pointing is not accusing the car driver
2019)
Gita 16.03 Giving appropriate honor promotes harmony, demanding excessive honor disrupts harmony
2018)
Gita 16.02 Our godliness needs to be seen in our harmonious interactions with others
2017)
Gita 16.01 Godliness is both a decision and a disposition
2016)
The Bhagavad-gita as a leadership guide
December 2017
2015)
How is the Gita relevant today – Marathi
2014)
Bhagavatam study 70 1.13.51-60 Determination directed towards renunciation brings spiritual elevation
2013)
Bhagavatam study 69 1.13.46-50 When we can’t protect ourselves from kala, karma and guna, how can we protect others?
2012)
Bhagavatam study 68 1.13.39-45 Know when to exercise control in the service of the supreme controller and when to release control
2011)
For meditation, we need the right object and the right conception
2010)
Duryodhana felt no moral compunction while persecuting the Pandavas, but Dhirtrashtra did – why the difference?
2009)
When Abhimanyu was killed, how was Arjuna overcome by illusion?
2008)
Duryodhana character analysis 3 – Envy perpetuates dissatisfaction and invites destruction
2007)
Duryodhana character analysis 2 – Ambition distorted by envy becomes cancerous
2006)
Gita Jayanti class – The Gita brings a message of fearlessness to a fear-filled world
November 2017
2005)
Gita Jayanti talk – Appreciating the Gita’s message by contemplating the starting and ending names of Arjuna and Krishna
2004)
Duryodhana character analysis 1 – How the entitlement mentality degrades
2003)
Analyzing yoga and bhakti to keep practice in harmony with purpose
2002)
How small conflicts become big – Daksha pastime analysis 4 – How impulses are shaped by technology, mentality and spirituality
2001)
Shakuni Character Analysis 2 – Evaluate whether our relationships bring out our best or our worst
2000)
The Gita as a book of love – The significance of the first and last words spoken by Krishna and Arjuna
1999)
The Bhagavad-gita’s message of love comforts and enlightens
1998)
The art of work – Detachment directed by devotion maximizes contribution
October 2017
1997)
Ramayana series 4 – SEES acronym – 4 explanations why Rama abandoned Sita
1996)
Ramayana series 3 – Shurapanakha’s slyness – Beware of those who manipulate us using our weakness
1995)
Ramayana series 2 – Maricha’s miscalculation – Our destination is not as important as our action
1994)
Ramayana Series 1 – Dasharatha’s dilemma
1993)
Understanding Gita Wisdom – Interview on People of Bhakti at Bhakti Radio Network
1992)
Gita 02.20-30 Go beyond lamentation by understanding the eternality of the soul and the multiplicity of its reincarnations
1991)
When is violence justified – how is the Gita’s war different from modern World Wars?
1990)
How our vision alters our perception – Gita study 01.24-36
1989)
How can we know our prescribed duty?
September 2017
1988)
Remembrance of Krishna cuts karmic bondage by providing intelligence, taste and love
1987)
When we start studying Bhagavad-gita, what is the motivation for continuing to study material science?
1986)
Bhagavatam study 67 01.13.30-38 When it is time to renounce, embrace renunciation as a challenge and avoid discouragers
1985)
Do gopis know Krishna’s future pastimes?
1984)
Gopi Gita 2 – “You alone can free us from contamination and tribulation – please return”
1983)
Did Krishna appear in Mathura or in both Mathura and Vrindavan?
1982)
Gopi Gita 1 – “Whoever you are – Lord or lover – please come back”
1981)
Bhagavatam study 66 01.13.24-29 Detachment emerges from education that changes our definition of success
August 2017
1980)
Learning to not go up and down with life’s ups and downs – Gita 02.54-57
1979)
Gajendra Moksha Katha 5 – Which comes first – giving up lower taste or getting higher taste – Hindi
1978)
Gajendra Moksha Katha 4 – How age helps us become renounced – and how it doesn’t – Hindi
1977)
Gajendra Moksha Katha 3 – Understanding when to wield control and when to yield control – Hindi
1976)
Gajendra Moksha Katha 2 – Deviated spiritualists may lose the human body, but not their spiritual attraction – Hindi
1975)
Is Chitraketu’s accepting Parvati’s curse even when he was not at fault meant to instruct us to accept whatever happens to us – Hindi?
1974)
Gajendra Moksha Katha 1 – Understanding how our mental impressions shape us – Hindi
1973)
Akrura Katha 3 – Understanding cultural bhakti, philosophical bhakti, spiritual bhakti and Vraja bhakti
1972)
Meditation on Kaliya lila – Devotion grants access to a rich panorama of divine emotions
1971)
Akrura Katha 2 – Devotional disposition in association deepens our devotion
1970)
Akrura Katha 1 – When no one understands us, Krishna understands
1969)
God is not present less in the hearts of the godless Gita 15.15
1968)
What role does our nature play in our taking shelter of Krishna?
1967)
Why is impersonalism condemned in Gita 9.12 and appreciated in Gita 9.15?
1966)
Krishna is the trans-personal shelter of all the things that shelter us
July 2017
1965)
Is intelligence not always a good thing?
1964)
Is intelligence covered by the mode of ignorance unintelligent?
1963)
How can determination be unintelligent, as mentioned in Gita 18.35?
1962)
Why does the Gita in chapter sixteen describe divine qualities in three full verses and demoniac qualities in just one verse?
1961)
How is simplicity as an austerity of the body in Gita 17.14 different from simplicity as an austerity of the mind in Gita 17.16?
1960)
Morality may be relativized, but the consequences of immoral indulgence can’t be relativized Gita 03.17
1959)
How is the Gita relevant amidst today’s stress-filled times?
1958)
Can all karma be offered to Krishna or does ugra-karma have to be given up?
1957)
How could Lava-Kusha defeat Rama who is the undefeatable Lord?
1956)
When the Bhagavatam contains so many stories involving sex, is it appropriate for children?
1955)
Can you explain some section of scripture that we can’t easily understand?
1954)
Why does Bhagavatam say that Bhishma merged with the Supersoul?
1953)
What is the best way to understand the Bhagavad-gita?
1952)
Why do you speak more on bhakti than on karma which the Gita stresses?
1951)
We are never too far away from relapse Gita 02.60
1950)
Our intelligence is our security system – don’t let temptation disable it Gita 02.63
1949)
Why crave for hours and years for pleasures that last for moments Gita 05.22
1948)
To say that philosophy is dead is to be dead to philosophy Gita 18.22
1947)
Isn’t Prabhupada’s Gita just one among the many interpretations of the Gita?
June 2017
1946)
Mental weight can’t be wished away, but it can be worked away Gita 06.35
1945)
Don’t let perfectionism come in the way of progress towards perfection Gita 02.14
1944)
When Airavata existed earlier, how did he appear during the churning of the milk ocean?
1943)
The inner war is unavoidable Gita 03.43
1942)
Why didn’t the Pandavas think that the Kauravas were simply instruments of their own past karma?
1941)
Is the Mahabharata that occurred in another age even relevant today?
1940)
Is the Mahabharata an excellent drama or is it historically true?
1939)
If everything in the Mahabharata is arranged by Krishna’s plan, why do we blame Duryodhana or Karna?
1938)
Why is Arjuna considered the greatest archer when all his power came from Krishna?
1937)
If Dhritarashtra had stopped Duryodhana from fighting, how would the Gita have been spoken?
1936)
When Dhritarashtra was forced by the modes to support Duryodhana, why is he blamed?
1935)
Did the celestial voice stopping Duryodhana from committing suicide interfere with his free will?
1934)
How can we understand that the attractiveness of all attractive things comes from Krishna?
1933)
How is Rama’s treatment of Sita justified?
1932)
The possibility for self-improvement is reduced by materialism and expanded by spirituality Gita 18.60
1931)
Study the Gita for understanding it, not undermining it
1930)
Once we slip down a slope, we can’t control how far we slip down Gita 03.36
1929)
The mind can make a soldier into a deserter or even a betrayer Gita 05.22
1928)
Don’t waste your mental energy on people on whom you won’t waste your time Gita 11.55
1927)
Address misery first by recognizing its fundamental cause then its circumstantial cause Gita 09.33
1926)
Don’t give your enemies weapons to beat you with Gita 03.36
1925)
Ask not how could he have done that – ask what is to be done next Gita 03.39
1924)
Dumbness is not inability to understand gibberish – it is inability to see gibberish for what it is Gita 18.63
1923)
Gita 14.11 Don’t chase the objects in perception – clean the doors of perception
1922)
Gita 16.08 Materialism strips not only the other world of reality but also this world of meaning
1921)
Gita 08.20 Those who reject a world beyond this world sentence themselves to pointless business in this world
1920)
Gita 18.58 Devotion brings the inner morale to combat outer problems
1919)
Gita 16.11 Technology is not just the provider of facility – it is also the shaper of mentality
1918)
Gita 14.04 Dialogue requires methodological humility
1917)
When Tvashta gave Narayana-kavacha that made Indra invincible, how could Tvashta himself be killed?
1916)
Gita 14.11 Our mind can be a transmitter, distorter or reflector of our consciousness
1915)
Gita 01.46 – When emotions block our consciousness, Gita wisdom removes the blockage
1914)
How can the Gita’s knowledge help poor people?
1913)
Does the Gita give spiritual solutions to all material problems?
May 2017
1912)
Gita 18.63 The call to the heart complements the call to the head
1911)
Gita 18.38 Don’t be so caught in choosing the right seat as to fail to choose the right train
1910)
Gita 17.01 Worldviews are meant to be vision-enhancers, not vision-diminishers
1909)
Gita 17.16 Purity has to be cultivated as an austerity before it can be savored as a state
1908)
Gita 14.11 Inner illumination helps us to separate observation from evaluation
1907)
Gita 16.11 Use developed human consciousness to decrease material fears, not increase them
1906)
Gita 18.22 – Rise from tunnel vision through funnel vision
1905)
Bhagavatam study 1.13.1-7 – The detachment that fosters attachment to Krishna
1904)
Gita 13.13 Bhakti wisdom frames our knowledge and our need for knowledge within our aspiration for eternity
1903)
When Karna abused Draupadi, why didn’t anyone punish him by taking away his position?
1902)
Karna wanted revenge and Draupadi wanted revenge – what is the difference?
1901)
Gita 12.08 Living in Krishna is a matter of not just relocation, but also of realization
1900)
Gita 02.07 When surface identities lead to conflicting duties, seek the fundamental identity
1899)
Gita 10.6 See genealogy as an arena for manifesting Krishna,s actions in this world
1898)
SIMHA acronym – Glories of Prahlada and Narasimha
1897)
When Ravana had been seen going southwards, why did Rama send monkeys in all four direction?
1896)
Gita 18.38 Contact of senses and sense objects is not just physical but also visual
1895)
Why did Vali attribute negative intention to Sugriva – was he already suspicious?
1894)
After Valis death why didn’t Sugriva console himself by focusing on Valis atrocities?
1893)
When Sugriva had planned Vali’s fall, why did he feel remorse?
1892)
Gita 02.08 Don’t let comforts lure you away from life’s purpose
1891)
Gita Essence 3 – The transformational power of love – World-knowledge as the vehicle for love
1890)
When Bhishma took shelter of the Kauravas’ wealth, why did Krishna shelter him at death?
1889)
Gita Essence 2 – The transformational power of love – God-knowledge as the fuel for love
1888)
Gita 18.78 Human excellence and divine omnipotence herald victory
1887)
Gita 01.42 Today’s war against family increases self-centeredness and obstructs spiritual growth
1886)
What does seeing but not acting with equal vision mean?
1885)
Gita 18.22 – A truncated representation of reality is not reality
1884)
Gita Essence 1- The transformational power of love – Self-knowledge as the basis of love
1883)
Gita 16.24 – The transition from description to prescription requires discretion
1882)
How free is our free will?
1881)
Gita 02.58 Inevitable exposure to sense objects is different from initiated or instigated exposure
1880)
Gita 16.09 All truth-claims are power-claims – This is also a truth-claim and a power-claim
April 2017
1879)
Gita 14.26 – Bhakti is both a state and a process
1878)
Gita 18.63 – Don’t sway others – inspire them
1877)
Gita 14.05 – The modes comprise objective reality and color subjective perception
1876)
Focus on the Bhagavatam’s universal purpose beyond its specific details – invest one’s emotions in Krishna, not the world
1875)
QA with children on Ramayana-Mahabharata
1874)
When Arjuna was sinless, why did he have to go to hell?
1873)
If we are detached from our goals, what will inspire us to work?
1872)
IDEA acronym – The Bhagavad-gita in essence
1871)
From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 4
1870)
From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 3
1869)
From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 2
1868)
From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 1
March 2017
1867)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam
1866)
Why does the Gita not have any Duryodhana uvaca, though he speaks several verses?
1865)
How can we know that the Gita hasn’t changed over the centuries?
1864)
Was the Mahabharata war predestined?
1863)
How did Krishna as Shanti-duta use sama, dama, bheda and danda?
1862)
The Pandavas could have won a kingdom anywhere by defeating someone else – why did they win it by killing their own relatives?
1861)
Why does the Gita begin with Dhritarashtra, not Krishna?
1860)
The ninth canto contains many stories of shocking debauchery by sages such as Brihaspati – what is their point?
1859)
When the Gita Mahatmaya talks about Gita recitation countering various sinful reactions, is that karma kanda or is it bhakti?
1858)
Significance of Chatur-Shloki Gita – Location, Content & Import
February 2017
1857)
The eye to see the I
1856)
Does Gita 12.8-11 refer to progressive levels or alternative ways?
1855)
When Ravana knew scripture, why did he abduct Sita – Hindi?
January 2017
1854)
Why did Dhritarashtra stay silent when Duryodhana insulted Vidura (Hindi)?
1853)
The Gita’s five subjects analyzed as a guide to action
1852)
What is the connection of vibhuti yoga with perceiving spiritual reality?
December 2016
1851)
In Gita 6.5, can both atma be translated as the mind – elevate the mind with the mind?
1850)
Why did Rama worship Shiva?
1849)
What I have learned from the Gita
1848)
Why does the Gita use a battlefield setting?
1847)
In Gita 17.1, do shraddha and nishtha refer to different things?
1846)
Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 3 – Exceeding Expectations
1845)
Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 2 – Discouraged yet determined
1844)
Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 1 – Overcoming Obstacles
1843)
Ramayana Reflection – Why Rama abandoned Sita
1842)
If the Gita is a recorded conversation reported by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra, how does it contain Sanjaya’s speech?
1841)
Did Sanjaya report the Kurukshetra war from Kurukshetra or from Hastinapura?
1840)
Why did Rama abandon Sita?
1839)
What is the essence of the Bhagavad-gita?
November 2016
1838)
Hanuman manifests a combination of bhakti and shakti
1837)
What is the relation between Valimiki Ramayana and Rama-charita-manasa?
1836)
What is the devotional reason why Rama sent Sita away?
1835)
Why Rama banished Sita – Hindi
1834)
Demystifying Gita 18.66 – Does surrender mean giving up dharma?
1833)
Why did Rama not stand by Sita when she was defamed?
1832)
Was Ravana an ideal brother who stood by his sister at all costs?
1831)
Why did Balarama favor Duryodhana?
1830)
Why is the Bhagavatam called the Amala Purana?
1829)
If Vyasadeva wrote the Bhagavatam, how is he present in the Bhagavatam?
1828)
Who all heard the Gita – why were Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra able to hear?
1827)
Why does Bhagavatam contains sections that don’t glorify the Lord?
1826)
Are all commentaries on Bhagavad-gita of equal value?
1825)
For what purpose did Krishna speak the Bhagavad-gita?
1824)
For whom is the Bhagavad-gita spoken?
1823)
In the Bhagavad-gita, what is the significance of the word Bhagavan?
1822)
What is the Bhagavad-gita?
1821)
What is the spirit of Bhagavad-gita?
1820)
Who is fit to understand Bhagavad-gita?
1819)
Why did Krishna choose Arjuna as the recipient of Bhagavad-gita?
1818)
Why didn’t Rama uphold the truth of Sita’s purity?
1817)
Why did Rama take people’s criticism of Sita so seriously?
1816)
When Sita was devastated on Rama’s exiling her, how can we say that she just accepted her exile?
1815)
Did Karna choose his fate or was he fated to die?
1814)
Why did Nalakuvera-Manigriva not untie Krishna before going to heaven?
1813)
Why does Krishna descend to this world – to kill demons or to teach the Gita?
1812)
Why did Krishna not stop Yudhishthira from gambling?
1811)
Did everyone on the Kurukshetra battlefield see Krishna’s universal form?
October 2016
1810)
Why was Arjuna Krishna’s favorite among the Pandavas?
1809)
How did Draupadi have so much devotion for Krishna, more than that of even the Pandavas?
1808)
Does Krishna tell Arjuna that you are a kshatriya at the level of a brahmana?
1807)
Does the Gita recommend doing yajna-dana-tapa or giving it up?
1806)
Why was Bharat Maharaja punished with a deer body for his compassion?
1805)
How Rama tests Bharata – and how we can pass the test of desires
1804)
Did Karna ever feel that he had made a wrong choice by fighting for Duryodhana?
1803)
When did Kunti reveal to Karna that he was her son – why?
1802)
Does Krishna ask Karna for his punya when Karna is about to die?
1801)
Sumanta-Akrura parallels and ADD acronym for dealing with doubts
1800)
Understanding why Rama banished Sita
1799)
What can we learn from Yudhishthira’s gambling?
1798)
Was the Pandavas’ killing Bhishma and Drona according to dharma?
1797)
Respond to adversity with dignity
1796)
Did Krishna feel confused about which pure devotee to support – Arjuna or Bhishma?
1795)
Which aspect of the universal form did Duryodhana see?
1794)
What does the Gita’s call to control the mind by practice and renunciation mean practically?
1793)
In guna-karma mentioned in Gita 4.13, can karma be developed but not guna?
1792)
Why does the Gita give its essence of bhakti in its middle and not at its end?
1791)
Mahabharata 3 – Karna – Deciding based on intent, content or effect
1790)
Mahabharata 2 – Draupadi – Dishonored yet honorable
1789)
Mahabharata 1 – Bhishma – Misunderstood by the world, understood by Krishna
1788)
Understanding the Bhagavatam’s chronological and conceptual flow
1787)
Does Krishna’s call to Arjuna to rise beyond the three modes imply that we all can transcend our nature born from the modes?
1786)
Channeling our emotions on the path of yoga – Gita 06.20-23
1785)
What is the flow of the from Gita 6.20 to 6.23?
September 2016
1784)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 2 – Understanding inconceivability as an explanation for the world’s nature
1783)
In the Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam, Krishna refers to himself inclusively, not exclusively – what does this mean?
1782)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 1 – Understanding God is all that exists
1781)
Does Draupadi not know that Krishna protected her from disrobing?
1780)
Tragic Hero – Life Lessons from Karna – Princeton University
1779)
What does the Gita 4.11 – everyone is on my path – mean?
1778)
Who is a sthita–prajna?
1777)
What happens to Krishna’s queens after he departs from the world?
1776)
When Krishna had vowed not to lift weapons during the Kurukshetra war, why did he lift up a wheel?
1775)
Why did Krishna first tell the Pandavas to fight and then to renounce the world because of their sins?
1774)
Does the Gita tell us what kind of goals should we set for ourselves?
1773)
How can a leader be benefited by the Gita’s leadership sutras?
1772)
How can the Gita help us in change management?
1771)
Should we differentiate between pre-Gita leadership and post-Gita leadership?
1770)
Why did Arjuna need to hear the Gita – did he as a leader not have that spiritual knowledge earlier?
1769)
How is Krishna the enjoyer of the sacrifices done without knowing his supremacy?
1768)
What is the meaning of Gita 2.47 – don’t think of yourself as the cause of the result?
1767)
How are the attached the cause of the fruit and the detached not?
1766)
Understanding the practicality of karmany evadhikaraste (Gita 02.47)
August 2016
1765)
How to persevere when humility feels very difficult to achieve?
1764)
Gita Leadership Sutras 5-10
1763)
Gita Leadership Sutras 2-4
1762)
Gita Leadership Sutras Intro & Sutra 1
1761)
Was Yudhishtira’s gambling Draupadi after he had lost himself dharmic or adharmic?
1760)
How can the Gita’s spiritual knowledge be compared to nuclear weapons knowledge?
1759)
When Bhishma comes after Ajamila pastime, how does that pastime list him as a mahajan?
1758)
When God fails – Krishna as shanti-duta
1757)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 6 6.4.1-34 The pure heart is the secret to know the pure Lord
1756)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 5 6.3.12-35 Yamaraja explains the position of Vishnu and his servants, and the nature and application of dharma
1755)
Does the Bhagavad-gita teach that everything that happens is good?
1754)
How can one practice bhakti without going through other yogas?
1753)
How can knowledge of other yogas help in practicing bhakti?
1752)
How can we cultivate gravity for controlling the mind, as told in the Gita 17.16?
1751)
How are Krishna’s self-contradictory statements in Gita 9.4 and 9.5 to be understood?
July 2016
1750)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 4 – 2.32-3.11 Boost inner resolution with external facilitation
1749)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 3 – 6.2.1-28 Bhakti’s potency is not a license for immorality
1748)
Do the Yamadutas know about bhakti?
1747)
Did Ajamila by caring for his son develop bhakti?
1746)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 2 – 6.1.28-68 Lust is not gender-specific – it troubles everyone
1745)
Bhagavatam canto 6 study 1 – 6.1.1-27 Nothing purifies as thoroughly as bhakti
1744)
Bhagavatam study 65 1.13.19-23 Vidura’s words hit Dhritarashtra where it hurts the most
1743)
Bhagavatam study 64 1.13.9-18 Fulfilling purpose is more important than just sharing information
1742)
Bhagavatam study 63 1.13.1-8 Periods of distress can forge the deepest bonds
1741)
Bhagavatam study 62 1.12.30-36 The Bhagavatam’s lens focuses on separation from Krishna
1740)
Bhagavatam study 61 1.12.21-29 The prophecy of a glorious death is not inauspicious
1739)
Bhagavatam study 60 1.12.12-20 The carrier of the dynasty was to the glory of the dynasty
1738)
Why did Drona ask for Ekalavya’s thumb?
1737)
Why did Draupadi not protest when she was told to marry five husbands instead of one?
1736)
Why did Krishna’s protecting Draupadi’s honor not change the Kauravas’s evil intention?
1735)
Bhagavatam study 59 1.12.1-11 Parikshit had magnificent darshan even before birth
1734)
Why did the Pandavas tolerate poisoning and arson, but not Draupadi’s dishonoring?
1733)
Why did Duryodhana put the clause of incognito stay in the Pandavas’ exile?
1732)
Why was Duryodhana so envious of the Pandavas?
1731)
Did Draupadi dishonor Duryodhana, thereby causing him to dishonor her?
1730)
Was Draupadi the cause of the Kurukshetra war?
1729)
Were the Pandavas not legitimate heirs to the Kuru kingdom?
1728)
Was the Kurukshetra war fought over a property dispute?
1727)
Why did Krishna break his vow by attacking Bhishma?
1726)
Why did Drona fight against the Pandavas?
1725)
Why did Bhishma fight against the Pandavas?
1724)
Bhagavatam study 58 1.11.32-39 Krishna seemed attached but remained detached
1723)
After Bhishma, why was Drona, not Karna, made the Kauravas’ commander?
1722)
Wasn’t Krishna’s covering the sun to deceive Jayadratha wrong?
1721)
Why did Arjuna target Jayadratha when Abhimanyu was killed by Durjaya?
1720)
Why did Bhima kill Duryodhana unfairly?
1719)
How could Bhima drink Dusshasana’s blood?
1718)
Why did the Pandavas conspire to kill Drona?
1717)
Why did Arjuna kill Bhishma from behind Shikhandi?
1716)
Why did Bhishma not stop the disrobing of Draupadi?
1715)
Despite being virtuous, why did Yudhishthira gamble?
1714)
Bhagavatam study 57 1.11.25-32 Krishna’s beauty is exquisite and exquisitely described
1713)
Bhagavatam study 56 1.11.14-24 The spiritual qualification of bhakti unites the materially qualified and unqualified
1712)
Did Draupadi love Karna?
1711)
Was destiny against Karna?
1710)
When Karna was virtuous, why did he suggest that Draupadi be disrobed?
1709)
Did Kunti do the right thing by abandoning Karna?
1708)
Why did Krishna say that Karna is equal, or even superior, to Arjuna in archery?
1707)
Did Kunti emotionally weaken Karna by revealing that the Pandavas were his brothers?
1706)
Why did Draupadi dishonor Karna by rejecting him as a suitor?
1705)
Bhagavatam study 55 1.11.8-13 Prosperity without Krishna is like beautiful things for the blind
1704)
Was Karna not discriminated against by being labeled a charioteer’s son?
1703)
Was Karna unfairly disadvantaged by the curses of Parashurama and the brahmana?
1702)
Was Karna a glorious example of faithful friendship to Duryodhana?
1701)
Was Karna a virtuous hero?
1700)
Did Indra unfairly weaken Karna by taking away his armor?
1699)
Was Karna the second best archer after Arjuna?
1698)
Did Karna conquer the world, but Arjuna couldn’t?
1697)
Was Karna a better archer than Arjuna?
1696)
Why did Arjuna kill Karna unfairly?
1695)
Bhagavatam study 54 1.11.1-7 Krishna’s arrival brings ecstasy
1694)
Bhagavatam study 53 1.10.28-36 Krishna’s departure and travel are celebrations of love
1693)
Bhagavatam study 52 1.10.21-27 The Supreme appears human – and still remains Supreme
1692)
Bhagavatam study 51 1.10.9-20 Imminent separation from Krishna triggers intense emotion
1691)
How do reconcile the contradiction between Gita 14.20 – we can transcend the modes – and 18.40 – everyone is under the modes?
1690)
When the Gita talks about karma, jnana and bhakti equally, why emphasize bhakti unduly?
1689)
Bhagavatam study 50 1.10.1-8 Yudhishtira’s dharmic reign harmonizes the natural order with the human order
1688)
If Dharmaraja could expand as Vidura and Yudhisthira, why did Aryama need to officiate in his place?
1687)
Bhagavatam study 49 1.9.43-48 Departure of great souls is a victory worthy of celebration
1686)
Did Uttama die because of his mother’s offense to Dhruva?
1685)
Bhagavatam study 48 1.9.36-42 Bhishma’s memories go beyond the personal to the Krishna-centered
June 2016
1684)
Bhagavatam study 47 1.9.31-35 Bhishma identifies and adores the ultimate cause of his death
1683)
Prahlad sees his glory as bhakti’s glory
1682)
Self excellence principles from Bhagavad Gita
1681)
Three types of austerities – Gita 17.14-16 (Hindi)
1680)
Anant Gita ke do anta – Gita 18.63-78
1679)
Western philosophers and Bhagavad-gita 1 – Beyond Cartesian duality
1678)
When Arjuna repeatedly defeated Karna, why are they considered equals?
1677)
Why were the kshatriya codes violated during the Kurukshetra war?
May 2016
1676)
Bhagavatam study 46 1.9.25-30 Bhishma’s departure is glorious in every way
1675)
Bhagavatam study 45 1.9.17-24 By doing the Lord’s will, we understand his benevolence
1674)
Bhagavatam study 44 1.9.11-16 Concern for others’ suffering decreases our own suffering
1673)
Bhagavatam study 43 1.9.1-10 The experts adjust contextual practices to fulfill essential purpose
1672)
Bhagavatam study 42 1.8.45-52 Yudhisthira argues against his blamelessness
1671)
Bhagavatam study 41 1.8.38-44 Devotional prayers take us towards pure devotion
1670)
Why did Rama worship Shiva?
1669)
Bhagavatam study 40 1.8.32-37 The unborn takes birth to end our rebirth
1668)
Bhagavatam study 39 1.8.26-31 Krishna-lila can be understood through love
1667)
Was Karna destined to be defeated?
1666)
Bhagavatam study 38 1.8.23-25 Material adversity makes spiritual opportunity a necessity
1665)
Gita 15.20 Using the knowledge and devotion we presently have propels us symbiotically towards life’s perfection
1664)
Does the Gita recommend different yogas for different people?
1663)
Bhagavatam study 37 1.8.17-22 The prayer progresses from philosophical to personal
1662)
Gita 15.19 Bhakti is not non-intellectual or anti-intellectual – it is trans-intellectual
1661)
Bhagavatam study 36 1.8.1-16 – What is materially impossible is possible for Krishna
1660)
Gita 15.18 Fragmentation is not the cause of illusion, disharmonization is
1659)
Gita 15.17 Liberation is not just elevation out of illusion but also connection with the supreme reality
1658)
Gita 15.16 Purification means to change our emotional center
1657)
Gita 15.15 The purpose of perceiving the spiritual through the material is to perceive the spiritual in its own right
1656)
Gita 15.14 The world’s origin and operation points requires something beyond the world
1655)
Gita 15.13 The existence of multiple factors congenial to our existence points to transcendence
1654)
Gita 15.12 We need the eyes to see what our eyes need to see
1653)
Gita 15.11 What we see depends on what we want to see
1652)
Gita 15.10 We need knowledge to see our vulnerability in material existence
1651)
Gita 15.09 The mind makes chasing mirages the soul’s tragic habit
1650)
Gita 15.08 The essence of growth is evolution in our conception of life
1649)
Gita 15.07 Even when the mind is directed by the senses, it still directs the senses
1648)
Gita 15.06 The spiritual world is self-luminous and its luminosity is malleable to Krishna’s will
1647)
Gita 15.05 Surrender means to give up everything for Krishna – even the feeling of hopelessness
1646)
Gita 15.04 The Personal Absolute is not a way to transcendence – he is the summit of transcendence
1645)
Gita 15.03 Detachment cuts not the world but our own attachment to the world
1644)
Gita 15.02 We are bound by action and knowledge can guide us to action that leads to liberation
1643)
Naam Ramayana – Pride induces and perpetuates misjudgment
1642)
Gita 15.01 The metaphor of the upside-down tree points to the reality beyond the reflection
April 2016
1641)
Naam Ramayana – When the supreme appears to be deluded, that appearance is a delusion
1640)
Naam Ramayana – Disciplining is not punishing
1639)
Naam Ramayana – Devotion requires no qualification except the desire to serve
1638)
Naam Ramayana – The supreme blesser blesses and is blessed
1637)
Naam Ramayana – The all-pure purifies at multiple levels – tangible and intangible
1636)
Naam Ramayana – Our worldview shapes our responses to the world’s ups and downs
1635)
Gita 14.27 Brahman refers not just to the impersonal spiritual but also the generically spiritual
1634)
Gita 14.26 Health is a product of medication but it is also a precondition for medication
1633)
Gita 14.25 As long as we are materially motivated, we will be materially agitated
1632)
When Krishna talks about various yogas progressively, why does Prabhupada focus on bhakti alone?
1631)
Gita 14.24 To be equipoised, be situated in the self, not in the world
1630)
Gita 14.23 We are not our scars, be they physical or emotional
1629)
Why did Dashratha distribute the ambrosia differently among his wives?
1628)
Gita 14.22 Be a non-judgemental non-committal observer of your emotions
1627)
When Brahma is a brahmana, why does he make and provide weapons to others?
1626)
Gita 14.21 When the disease is subtle, we need education to perceive the symptoms of sickness and health
1625)
When Pandu knew about his curse, why did he take his wives with him to the forest?
1624)
Gita 14.20 Those who transcend the modes transcend miseries
1623)
Rama disregarded Ayodhya citizens when going to exile himself, but not when exiling Sita – Why?
1622)
Bhagavatam highlights devotion through recollection in separation
1621)
Gita 14.19 Seeing that our actions are impelled by the modes inspires us to resist the desires induced by the modes
1620)
Gita 14.18 Goodness leads to elevation, passion to stagnation, ignorance to degradation
1619)
Gita 14.17 Different modes foster different emotions, dispositions and destinations
1618)
Why did Shalya fight on Duryodhana’s side just because of getting good reception?
1617)
Gita 14.16 Piety purifies, craving torments and intoxication stupefies
1616)
Gita 14.15 The modes are not just psychological constructs, they are also post-mortem destination shapers
1615)
Why did Rama not consult Vashishtha when sending Sita away?
1614)
Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya?
1613)
Gita 14.14 A disposition of knowledge and purity elevates to the destination of the knowledgeable and the pure
1612)
Did Krishna’s lifting a wheel to attack Bhishma not break his vow?
1611)
Didn’t Krishna protecting Arjuna from the Vaishnava astra break his vow?
1610)
Gita 14.13 The mode of ignorance block us in both contemplation and action
1609)
Gita 14.12 Desires that drive us with the lure of pleasure are insatiable
1608)
Why did the Kauravas and the Pandavas have to involve the whole world in their mutual fight?
1607)
Why didn’t the Pandavas forgive the Kauravas – why did they have to fight?
1606)
Gita 14.11 Illumination of knowledge regulates the input and output through the doorways of the senses
1605)
Gita 14.10 The modes are neither in segregation nor in integration but are in competition
1604)
Why did Mahadeva give the empowering sword to Ashwatthama?
1603)
Why didn’t Krishna stop Dhristadyumna from killing Drona?
1602)
Did Yudhishthira sin by not lying as per Krishna’s instruction?
1601)
Why did Karna fight on the Kauravas’ side?
1600)
Was Ashwatthama gambled – how authentic is the TV Mahabharata?
1599)
Gita 14.09 The longer a pleasure lasts, the greater its lure
1598)
Should we see adversities in material life as impetuses for practicing karmany va dhikaraste?
1597)
Gita 14.08 The mode of ignorance begins with not knowing and leads to false knowing
1596)
Angada’s journey – Unity within begets unity without
1595)
Sugriva’s journey from doubt to faith
1594)
Gita 14.07 Passion is composed of attachment, gives rise to craving and binds us to work
1593)
The Gita is elevating and accommodating – Overview of chapters 1-12
1592)
Disproportionate punishment can be atrocious – Ashwattama pastime analysis 2
1591)
Gita 14.06 Anything that keeps us away from realizing our spirituality is binding, even if it is illuminating
1590)
Gita 14.05 Modes are a combination of matter that trigger emotion which matter in isolation doesnt
1589)
Gita 14.04 The seed-giving father is also the soul-attracting liberator
1588)
Gita 14.03 We determine our bodies and our bodies determine us
1587)
Gita 14.02 Death can’t be avoided, but affliction due to death can be
1586)
Beware of the temptation to punish 1- Ashwattama pastime analysis
1585)
Gita 14.01 The Gita uses diverse frames of analysis to reiterate its consistent conclusion
March 2016
1584)
When Vibhishana went over to the side of virtue, why didn’t Vidura do the same?
1583)
When Lakshmana left Sita unguarded because of her harsh words, whose mistake was it?
1582)
Vritrasura lila analysis 2 – The heroic leader and the hidden devotee
1581)
Vritrasura lila analysis 1 – The setting for the stunning twist in the storyline
1580)
Gita 13.35 Knowledge helps us perceive and achieve spiritual reality
1579)
Gita 13.34 Consciousness can be the channel to illumination – and to illusion too
1578)
Gita 13.33 The soul is not entangled, but the mind is
1577)
Gita 13.32 The soul is situated in the body, but its consciousness doesn’t have to imprisoned in the body
1576)
Gita 13.31 See variety not as illusion above the unity but as emanation from the unity
1575)
Gita 13.30 The soul is not the doer of the activities impelled by the body
1574)
Gita 13.29 See beyond people’s particular actions to Krishna’s universal positive intention
1573)
Gita 13.28 To see that which is critical to see is to really see
1572)
Gita 13.27 See beyond functional categorization to philosophical comprehension
1571)
Gita 13.26 Hearing directs us to destination immortality
1570)
Uddhava Gita nectar 4 – Understanding the different gopis’ varying understandings of Krishna
1569)
When Karna was already killed by destiny, why did Krishna invite Karna to the Pandavas side?
1568)
If Karna chose wrongly because of attachment, didn’t Bhishma do the same?
1567)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 4 – Understanding human intelligence
1566)
Why is the Bhagavatam’s tenth canto divided into chapters according to the location of pastimes?
1565)
Uddhava Gita nectar 3 – The gopis’ ecstatic samadhi
1564)
Uddhava Gita nectar 2 – Love explained – Comparing materialist, Abrahamic, impersonalist and bhakti worldviews
1563)
Uddhava Gita nectar 1 – Krishna acknowledges the gopis’ heartbreak
1562)
Yayati pastime analysis – From indulgence to transcendence
1561)
Is Gandhiji’s commentary on the Gita ok?
1560)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 3 – Understanding material nature
1559)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 2 – Understanding Maya
1558)
Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 1 – Understanding the Absolute Truth
1557)
Bhagavatam study 35 01.7.52-58 Law codes alone aren’t enough for justice – an expert judge is needed
1556)
Bhagavatam study 34 01.7.44-51 Differences in opinion arise from differences in focus of perception
February 2016
1555)
Why does the Gita refer to people following scripture (17.11) while describing people without scriptural faith?
1554)
How can we explain Krishna’s conspiracies in the Mahabharata?
1553)
Bhagavatam study 33 01.7.38-43 Ashwatthama’s actions were inexcusable and punishable
1552)
Bhagavatam study 32 01.7.30-37 The protector from provocation tests by provoking
1551)
Bhagavatam study 31 01.7.22-29 Krishna relieves from the dangerous fire – literal and metaphorical
1550)
How do impersonalists interpret the Gita’s clearly personalist verses?
1549)
PRAHLAD acronym – 7 glories qualities of Prahlad Maharaj
1548)
Gita 12.13 Devotion manifests as action, even aggression, without mundane passion
1547)
What is the difference between knowledge in the three modes and intelligence in the three modes?
1546)
Gita 12.12 Serenity comes by rising from piety to spirituality
1545)
Gita 12.11 To be self-situated, begin with selflessness
1544)
Gita 12.10 Bhakti means dedicating our external to the eternal internal instead of the ephemeral internal
1543)
Gita 12.09 If absorption in Krishna is unattainable, seek attraction through connection
1542)
Gita 12.08 Bhakti changes not our outer location but the locus of our inner world
1541)
Was Ravana revenging the dishonor of Shurapanakha by kidnapping Sita?
January 2016
1540)
Sugriva: Comfort – Material and Transcendental
1539)
Did Draupadi love Karna?
1538)
Wasn’t Hanuman’s anger in burning Lanka excessive?
1537)
How could Arjuna ask Krishna to become his charioteer?
1536)
Is Tulsi-Ramayana more biased against Ravana than Valmiki-Ramayan?
1535)
When Hanuman was a monkey, why did Sita see him as a man and decline to be carried by him?
1534)
Did Vibhishana betray his brother by defecting to Rama’s side?
1533)
If Arjuna being a kshatriya was anyway going to fight, why did Krishna speak the Gita?
1532)
Gita 11.30 The all-devouring feature of the universal form reveals how the war is a yajna
1531)
Why did Arjuna kill Bhishma unfairly?
1530)
Was Arjuna a better archer than Karna because he got better training facilities?
1529)
Why did Dasharatha not go with Rama to the forest when he felt separation from him?
1528)
When Vasudeva and Devakis son was going to kill him, why did Kamsa keep them in the same prison cell?
1527)
Was Ravana virtuous because he didn’t violate Sita forcibly?
1526)
Gita 11.29 To be enriched with speed on the path of self-destruction is tragic
1525)
Draupadi – dishonored yet honorable
1524)
Gita 11.28 The life and the death of the dharmic is auspicious
1523)
Bhagavatam study 30 – 1.7.15 -21 – Arjuna pacifies griefstruck Draupadi with fierce sweet words
1522)
Gita 11.27 The comprehensive vision of the universes includes its gruesome features
1521)
Bhagavatam study 29 – 1.7.8-14 – Krishna attracts those who are not attracted to anything
1520)
Gita 11.26 The event of death is virtue-neutral, but the destination after death isn’t
1519)
Bhagavatam study 28 – 1.7.1-7 – Vyasa offers bhakti as the remedy for the worlds malady
1518)
Gita 11.25 The sight of the unfamiliar in the familiar is disorienting
1517)
Bhagavatam study 27 – 1.6.32-38 – Krishnas glories fulfill our search for pleasure
1516)
Why do jnanis need many lives to become jnanavan?
1515)
Why are the eka-bhakti jnanis of Gita 7.17 considered jnana-mishra?
1514)
Gita 11.24 Repetition is not always rambling – it can be for stress or beauty
1513)
Bhagavatam study 26 – 1.6.23-31 – Devotion offers the supreme liberation
1512)
Gita 11.23 The universal form’s predatory features arouse fear even in Arjuna
1511)
Bhagavatam study 25 – 1.6.16-22 – Spiritual desire cleanses material desire
1510)
Gita 11.22 The vibhutis are astounded by the virata rupa
1509)
Bhagavatam study 24 – 1.6.8-15 – Spiritual vision makes the heart-breaking heart-freeing
1508)
When the Vedas also talk about transcendence, why does Gita 2.45 ask us to go beyond the Vedas?
1507)
Does the Gita flow from 2.58 to 2.61 reflect rise from karma-yoga through jnana-yoga and dhyana-yoga to bhakti yoga?
1506)
Does Gita 2.12 actually counter impersonalism?
1505)
Does Gita 2.11 refer to the life-air or to the soul?
1504)
What is the difference between kula dharma and jati dharma?
1503)
Bhagavatam study 23 – 1.6.1-7 – Even when our disposition changes, our position may not change
1502)
Does the well-river example of Gita 2.46 illustrate transcending the Vedas recommended in Gita 2.45?
1501)
Gita 11.21 The celestials are not just the universal form’s components but also its respondents
December 2015
1500)
Gita 11.20 The universal form induces awe – both wonder and fear
1499)
Gita 11.19 – The universal form is not just blinding but also burning
1498)
Why did Dasharatha not follow Ram into his 14 year exile?
1497)
Gita 11.18 – The universal form is the eternal personal protector of dharma
1496)
Bhagavatam study 22 – 1.5.33-40 – Action with devotional recollection leads to liberation
1495)
Gita 11.17 – The blinding brightness conveys the universal form’s glory
1494)
What are the various levels of bhakti Sri Vishvanatha analyzes in the Gita?
1493)
Bhagavatam study 21 – 1.5.23-32 – Narada boy progresses towards enlightenment
1492)
Gita 11.16 – Description of vision stimulates identification of the source of that vision
1491)
Bhagavatam study 20 – 1.5.17-22 – Failure on the spiritual path is better than success on the material path
1490)
Gita 11.15 – Arjuna’s vision encompasses the whole universe from top to bottom
1489)
Bhagavatam study 19 – 1.5.11-16 – Devotion alone brings lasting value to anything
1488)
Gita 11.14 – Arjuna’s mood changes from submissive discussion to prayerful veneration
1487)
Bhagavatam study 18 – 1.5.1-10 – Offer spiritual instruction with empathy and respect
1486)
Gita 11.13 – The universal form reconciles the one and the many
1485)
Bhagavatam study 17 – 1.4.26-33 – Contemplation by the seeker makes consultation with the seer more effective
1484)
Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti
1483)
Gita 11.12 – Human perception and description are inadequate before divine self-revelation
1482)
Bhagavatam study 16 – 1.4.14-25 – The tradition makes itself accessible
1481)
Gita 11.11 – The visual demonstration reinforces the philosophical exposition
1480)
Bhagavatam study 15 – 1.4.1-13 – The questions reveal the questioners level
1479)
Gita 11.10 The first impression of the universal form is astonishing
1478)
Gita 11.09 The universal form is the ultimate mystical vision
1477)
Bhagavatam study 14 – 1.3.35-44 – Bhagavatam is our light in this dark age
1476)
Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti
1475)
Bhagavatam study 13 – 1.3.25-34 – By realizing the Lords glory, we relish our glory
1474)
Gita 11.08 Our vision is a function of our qualification
1473)
Bhagavatam study 12 – 1.3.17-25 – The avataras deliver in diverse ways
1472)
Gita 11.07 The universal form transcends limitations of space and time
1471)
Bhagavatam study 11 – 1.3.9-16 – The many incarnations protect materially and spiritually
1470)
The ego is higher than the intelligence – can it be controlled using the intelligence?
1469)
Gita 11.05 – The many forms within the one form – variety manifests within divinity
1468)
Bhagavatam study 10 – 1.3.1-8 – The Lord manifests as the Purusha and other avataras
1467)
Gita 11.04 – Devotee desires to see Krishna but doesn’t demand
1466)
Why does Prabhupada differentiate between knowledge and devotion in Gita 2.14 purport?
1465)
Wasn’t Hanuman’s burning Lanka excessive vandalism?
1464)
Wasn’t Lakshmana’s disfiguring Shurapanakha disproportionate and cruel?
1463)
When Rama descended in the Surya Vamsha why is he called Ramachandra?
1462)
Bhagavatam study 9 – 1.2.28-34 – Vasudeva is the be-all and end-all in everything
1461)
Gita 11.03 – Arjuna’s desire to know Krishna’s glory comes not from doubt but from devotion
1460)
Bhagavatam study 8 – 1.2.23-27 – Our worship reflects our mentality
1459)
Gita 11.02 – Freedom from delusion comes by understanding the ephemeral and the eternal beyond the ephemeral
1458)
Bhagavatam study 7 – 1.2.16-22 – Practice the process of joy with joy
1457)
Gita 11.01 – Those enlightened by divine mercy desire similar enlightenment for others
1456)
Gita 10.42 – Appreciate Krishna’s opulence by appreciating the potency of his fragment
1455)
Gita 10.41 See the attractiveness of the attractive not as Maya but as sparks of Krishna
1454)
Gita 10.40 – Krishna’s infinitude brings not confusion, but jubilation
1453)
Gita 10.39 – God is the one without whose existence no existence is possible
1452)
What is the relation between the Ishopanishad cover picture and its content?
1451)
Why are the Ishopanishad verses called mantras?
1450)
Gita 10.37 – Krishna’s manifestations encompass all the three worlds
1449)
Gita 10.36 The thrill of victory and adventure is an experience of Krishna
1448)
Gita 10.38 – Punishment may not stop wrong desiring, but it can stop wrong doing
1447)
Gita 11.06 – We see with the information that helps us makes sense of what we see
1446)
Gita 10.35 – The beauty of music and nature manifest Krishna’s opulence
1445)
Gita 10.34 – The comprehensiveness of death’s stealing represents Krishna
1444)
Gita 10.33 – Re-envision attraction to language and words to become attracted to Krishna
1443)
Gita 10.32 – Krishna manifests as all phases of action in material existence
1442)
Does the presence of the Gayatri in the Bhagavatam mean that it should be studied only by the brahmanas?
1441)
How is the Bhagavatam’s first verse correlated with the Gayatri mantra?
1440)
Why does the Bhagavatam repeatedly refer to Vasudeva instead of Krishna?
1439)
Gita 10.31 – The power of powerful weapons and warriors points to Krishna
1438)
Gita 10.30 – God manifests as the godly among the ungodly
1437)
Gita 10.29 See the prominent powers in the Vedic cosmos as manifestations of the supreme power
1436)
Gita 10.28 The life that emerges from love manifests the divine
November 2015
1435)
Gita 10.27 – The ruler manifests God’s opulence, for good or for bad
1434)
Gita 10.26 – The transcendental manifests among the celestial
1433)
Gita 10.25 – Japa is an opportunity to offer our most treasured possession – consciousness
1432)
Was Arjuna’s faith enhanced by seeing the Universal Form?
1431)
Dont let comfort cause complacency – Ramayana Reflection
1430)
Gita 10.24 – Channel feelings of awe from giant things towards the source of all awe
1429)
Gita 10.23 – The heavenly treasurer’s treasure comes from the supreme
1428)
Gita 10.22 – God’s opulence pervades and sustains all life everywhere
1427)
Was rain an adequate reason for Rama to delay his search for Sita?
1426)
Gita 10.21 – Celestial glory manifests transcendental glory
1425)
What is the significance of the different names used for Arjuna in the Gita as in 14.11 & 12?
1424)
Is there any difference between attaining Krishna’s dharma mentioned in Gita 14.2 and attaining his bhava mentioned in Gita 14.19?
1423)
Gita 10.20 – The transcendent divinity is pervasively immanent in space and time
1422)
Gita 10.19 – Our eagerness to hear Krishna’s glories is auspicious for us and delightful for Krishna
1421)
Gita 10.18 – Bhakti is joyful and fruitful
1420)
Gita 10.17 – Recollection and participation are reconciled by understanding God’s immanence
1419)
Gita 10.16 – Desire for details of a subject demonstrates deep devotion to that subject
1418)
Gita 10.15 – Vedic theology is not polytheism, but multi-level monotheism
1417)
Gita 10.14 – Accept Krishna’s position and message the way Arjuna accept it
1416)
Gita 10.13 – The sages’ reiteration of Krishna’s words boosts our conviction and devotion
1415)
Gita 10.12 – Krishna is transcendence beyond transcendence
1414)
Gita 10.11 – The way to drive out darkness is to turn on the light
1413)
Gita 10.10 – Krishna gives us the intelligence to attain him
1412)
Gita 10.09 – Devotion means to center our emotion, action and discussion on Krishna
1411)
Gita 10.08 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position transforms our disposition
1410)
Gita 10.08 Blanking out questions about origins is like dealing in black money
1409)
Gita 10.07 – Appreciation of Krishna’s greatness guarantees absorption in him
1408)
Gita 10.06 – Realize the greatness of our universal genealogy
1407)
Gita 10.05 – Krishna asks Arjuna to fight, yet is the source of the qualities that engender peace
1406)
Gita 10.04 – Krishna offers the good beyond the bad and the good
1405)
Gita 10.03 – Understanding Krishna’s position frees us from sins
1404)
Gita 10.02 – Appreciating the glory of the object of devotion enhances devotion
1403)
When Bhagavatam talks about karma as a cause, shouldnt we see karma causally?
1402)
What does the Pandavas didn’t deserve to live mean in Bhagavatam in 1.9.12?
1401)
Gita 10.01 – The Gita is an endearing combination of lofty exposition and intimate affection
1400)
Gita 09.34 – Direct your cognition, emotion and action towards Krishna
1399)
Gita 09.33 – Go beyond incompatible material existence to compatible spiritual existence
1398)
Gita 09.32 – Bhakti brings universality to spirituality
October 2015
1397)
Gita 9.31 – For devotees connected with Krishna, the happily ever after is guaranteed
1396)
Gita 09.02 – Knowledge that gives the greatest power is the greatest knowledge
1395)
Gita 09.30 – Krishna never abandons devotees even when they fall
1394)
Avoiding the three misdirectons in the blame game (Bhagavatam 1.16.24)
1393)
Why did Krishna not inform Karna initially that he was Kunti’s son?
1392)
Gita 09.29 – Krishna is neither impartial nor partial – he is reciprocal
1391)
Why did Krishna manifest four arms while teasing Rukmini?
1390)
Why did Barbarika’s mother tell him to fight on the weaker side instead of on the Pandavas’ side?
1389)
Was the solar eclipse a predicted event or created by the Lord to help Arjuna?
1388)
Gita 09.28 – Bhakti accommodates even those for whom bhakti is an afterthought
1387)
Gita 09.26 – Krishna is hungry for the reciprocation of affection
1386)
When staying silent amidst injustice is wrong, why did Yudhishthira passively accept the Kauravas’ atrocities?
1385)
Gita 09.25 – Different paths lead to different goals
1384)
What does worshiping the Lord through our work mean?
1383)
Gita 09.24 – Education about reality is not discrimination against certain features of reality
1382)
“Chant and be happy” is not just causal but also parallel (Bhagavatam 1.2.22)
1381)
Gita 09.23 – The Gita’s multi-level monotheism is the balance between Abrahamic monotheism and Greco-Roman polytheism
1380)
Understanding the scopes of science and spirituality
1379)
Gita 09.22 – Seek spiritual security not just in the soul but in Krishna
1378)
Gita 09.21 – Blindness to mortality, even if it be in heaven, is still blindness
1377)
God and Science – The Gita perspective
1376)
Gita 09.20 – Karma-kanda leads to elevation, but not liberation
1375)
Gita 09.19 – In Krishna contradictions are transcended and reconciled
1374)
How is the Gita’s detachment different from Mayavadi detachment?
1373)
Does improperly performed work in the Gita shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah refer to incompetence in work?
1372)
When Bhagavatam focuses on devotion through renunciation, how do we understand Lord Chaitanya’s having grihastha followers and stressing Bhagavatam both?
1371)
Gita 09.18 – God is not a remote controller – he is the pervasive sustainer
1370)
Gita 09.17 – Krishna is the sustainer of our sustainers
1369)
What does the Gita verse karmany evadhikaraste mean?
1368)
Gita 09.15 – Jnana yajna is not the same as jnana-yoga
1367)
Gita 09.14 – See devotion not in ecstasy but in dedication
1366)
Gita 09.13 – Krishna’s attractiveness is original and inexhaustible
1365)
Association reminds us of our spiritual glory
1364)
Gita 9.12 – Rejecting real currency as fake leaves one impoverished
1363)
Gita 09.27 – Bhakti accommodates seekers at multiple levels
1362)
Gita 09.16 – See beyond the technical to the transcendental
1361)
Gita 09.11 – To claim the impersonal to be Krishna’s param bhava is contextually and grammatically indefensible
1360)
Gita 09.10 – Nature is not causally complete without an ultimate cause
1359)
How did Duryodhana win Balaram over to his side?
1358)
God proposes, Man Disposes – Understanding Krishna’s failed peace mission
1357)
Gita 09.09 – Krishna is concerned but not sentimental
1356)
Gita 09.08 – We are helpless before material natures inexorable cyclicity
1355)
Gita 09.07 – Repetition of discussion is meant for elevation of vision
1354)
God Proposes, Man Accepts
1353)
Gita 09.06 – Krishna limits not our freedom but the scope of our freedom
1352)
Overcome discouragement through spiritual wisdom
1351)
Why does the Bhagavatam end with impersonal knowledge?
1350)
Gita 09.05 – God’s self-contradiction points to his inconceivable multi-level manifestations
1349)
Three special results of loving Krishna – PSI: Purification Satisfaction Illumination (Bhagavatam 1.2.14)
1348)
Gita 09.04 – God relates with the world through the impersonal, the immanent and the transcendent
1347)
How do impersonalists derive impersonal conclusions from the Gita?
1346)
Gita 09.03 – Bhakti harmonizes the temporary with the eternal
1345)
How can we do akarma practically?
September 2015
1344)
Gita 09.01 – Krishna’s glory can be appreciated by the devoted, not the envious
1343)
Gita 08.28 – Yogi gets what other paths offer and gets more too
1342)
Gita 08.27 – Devotional consistency is more important than chronological accuracy
1341)
How is the worship of devatas inclusive within worship of Krishna?
1340)
Why does Krishna say the devatas are different from him in chp 7 and same with him in chp 10?
1339)
Does karshati in Gita 15.07 refer to attraction or struggle?
1338)
Why does the Gita 15.1 compare the Vedas to leaves?
1337)
How do we develop the qualities the Gita recommends?
1336)
How can I overcome sleepiness when studying the Gita?
1335)
Parenting Principles from Bhagavad-gita
1334)
Gita 08.26 – Disinvest emotion from matter before it crashes
1333)
Gita 08.25 – Yogi’s spiritual exit velocity needs to be greater than the world’s gravity pull
1332)
Gita 08.24 – Astrological positions and psychological dispositions contribute to the soul’s liberation
1331)
Gita 08.23 – The Gita unifies diverse Vedic concepts in a devotional framework
1330)
Death and the search for meaning
1329)
Gita 08.22 – Everything is in Krishna and Krishna is in everything
1328)
Does the Gita contain verses against meat-eating?
1327)
What does the Gita say about attachment, detachment and rupture in relationships?
1326)
How exactly is work worship – is bad work also worship?
1325)
Gita 08.21 – Our longing for home is our longing for the spiritual world
1324)
Gita 08.20 – The spiritual is not just non-manifest but also nonmaterial
1323)
Gita 08.19 – Recognizing our lack of control over the destructible material imples us to direct our consciousness to the eternal spiritual
1322)
Deconstructing Shishupala’s character assassination of Krishna
1321)
Gita 08.18 – Matter becomes unmanifest, but material form is destroyed
1320)
Gita 08.17 – The immortal is not eternal
1319)
Gita 08.16 – The world is like a jail or hospital – returning to it is undesirable
1318)
Gita 08.15 – Attaining Krishna is the eternally inalienable attainment
1317)
Gita 08.13 – External recitation and internal recollection propel us to spiritual liberation
1316)
Gita 08.12 – In yoga, the technical is a necessary preliminary to the transcendental
1315)
Gita 08.11 – Liberation in yoga requires renunciation
1314)
Gita 08.10 – Yoga restrains the negative, bhakti energizes the positive
1313)
Gita 08.09 – Systematic contemplation begins with tangible information
1312)
Gita 08.08 – Practice to take consciousness beyond endlessly deceptive material reality to Krishna
1311)
Gita 08.14 – What is difficult in one perspective is easy in another perspective
1310)
Gita 08.07 – Devotion is not about rejecting the outer world but about offering the inner world
1309)
Gita 08.06 – Our emotional disposition becomes our physical position
1308)
Gita 08.05 – Our choice at the junction determines our destination
1307)
Gita 08.04 – Everything is ultimately a manifesatation of Krishna
1306)
Gita 08.03 – Spirituality is our nature
1305)
Gita 08.02 – Death is not the termination of life but its testing ground
1304)
Gita 08.01 – Terms have specific and generic meanings
August 2015
1303)
Appreciating Bhagavatam as rasa shastra
1302)
Gita 07.30 – Teacher’s incomprehensible statements test student’s interest and attentiveness
1301)
Temptations may come, we don’t have to welcome
1300)
Gita 07.29 – Detect misery to correct it
1299)
Gita 07.28 – Dont expect immediate steady determination – use present determination, even if unsteady
1298)
How are the Bhagavatam’s cantos named?
1297)
Gita 07.27 – Go beyond duality by spirituality
1296)
Gita 07.26 – Krishnas omniscience harmonizes with his omnibenevolence
1295)
Essence of Gita 5 – Choose God over the world
1294)
Essence of Gita 4 – God helps those who let him help them
1293)
Essence of Gita 3 – Devotion connects us vertically and horizontally
1292)
Essence of Gita 2 – Direct love towards the ultimate object
1291)
Essence of Gita 1 – Love is eternal
1290)
Gita 07.25 – Yoga Maya is a profound oxymoron
1289)
How can knowledge alone free us from karmic bondage, as Gita 4.14 says?
1288)
Is a person in Krishna consciousness transcendental to varnashrama?
1287)
When Arjuna had enough mind control to perform great austerities, why does he say that he can’t control the mind?
1286)
How has surrender in Gita 2.7 changed Arjuna’s consciousness when he expresses the same sentiment in 1.35 and 2.8?
1285)
When Krishna calls as divine the vision for seeing the Universal Form, why does Vishvanatha Chakravarti call it a downgrade of vision?
1284)
When Arjuna was already able to see Krishna’s intimate form why did Krishna have to give him divine vision to see the Universal Form?
1283)
How was Sanjay able to see the Universal Form without being given special eyes by Krishna?
1282)
Gita 07.24 – To deflect a clear critique of impersonalism is to violate both the meaning and the context
1281)
Gita 07.23 – Accommodation is not recommendation
1280)
Gita 07.22 – Krishna accomodates within the house of the Vedas even those who cant worship him
1279)
Gita 07.21 – Krishna is much more merciful than the God in the Prodigal Son metaphor
1278)
Gita 07.20 – Don’t let desire steal your knowledge
1277)
Gita 07.01 – Hearing paves our way to the summit of yoga
1276)
Gita 07.18 – Krishna is so hungry for love that he deems those who become his devotees charitable
1275)
Gita 06.47 – The perfection of yoga is not disconnection from matter but connection with Krishna
1274)
Gita 06.45 – Past-life attraction and present determination leads yogi to perfection
1273)
Gita 07.17 – Jnana favorable to bhakti intensifies our connection with Krishna
1272)
Gita 06.46 – Focus on transcendence is superior to any material attainment – gross or subtle
1271)
Gita 06.44 – Past-life’s spiritual practice manifests as inexplicable irresistible attraction to transcendence
1270)
Gita 07.16 – Approaching Krishna for any reason is auspicious
1269)
Gita 06.43 – Spiritual inclination is the credit that carries over beyond the corpse
1268)
Gita 07.15 – Scriptural categorization of non-devotees is living, not frozen
1267)
Gita 06.42 – Having past spiritual impressions reinforced in a present life is extremely fortunate
1266)
Should the Bhagavad-gita be made India’s national book?
1265)
Gita 07.14 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position brings intellectual force to our call of devotion
1264)
Gita 07.13 – The modes sabotage our prospects of coming out of material existence
1263)
Gita 06.40 – Krishna reveals how an apparently lose-lose situation is actually win-win
1262)
Gita 06.41 – The deviated yogi loses neither materially nor spiritually
1261)
Gita 06.38 – The problems we perceive reflect our level of consciousness
1260)
Gita 06.39 – Doubts are natural due to our limitedness – seek the unlimited
1259)
Gita 07.12 – The Gita’s vision of God is not pantheistic but panentheistic
1258)
Why did Yudhisthira while gambling Draupadi describe her physical beauty publicly?
1257)
Why did Arjuna to avenge Abhimanyu kill the weaker Jayadratha and not a stronger opponent like Karna?
1256)
Gita 06.37 – Considering future problems is a sign of intelligence
1255)
Gita 07.11 – Kama manifests the divine when harmonized with dharma
1254)
Gita 06.36 – Mind control is essential – and possible by proper process
1253)
Gita 07.10 – All seeds are exhaustible, but Krishna is the inexhaustible seed
1252)
Gita 07.09 – Krishna underlies diverse manifestations as earth, fire, life and ascetic
1251)
Gita 06.35 – The supreme teacher offers guidance – and confidence
1250)
Gita 06.34 – The mind is dangerous like an unstoppable storm
1249)
Gita 07.08 – Krishna is the essence that makes all taste accessible through water
1248)
Gita 07.07 – Krishna is the substance underlying all appearance
1247)
Gita 06.33 – Seeing equally is tough, but seeing devotionally is easier
1246)
Gita 06.32 – The topmost yogi sees everyone with benevolence, not indifference
1245)
Gita 07.06 – Nothing exists outside the purview of Krishna’s energies
1244)
Gita 07.05 – The Absolute Truth is immutable, but its energies are mutable
1243)
Gita 06.31 – See oneness in Krishna’s various manifestations – not Krishna and the soul
1242)
Gita 07.04 – Sankhya when seen devotionally reveals Krishna’s glory
1241)
Gita 06.30 – The perception of Krishna everywhere takes one beyond the reach of illusion
1240)
Gita 07.03 – The rarity of knowing Krishna reveals the mercy we have the opportunity to relish
1239)
Gita 06.29 – By seeing sameness in the material, yogi penetrates to the supreme spiritual substance
1238)
Gita 07.02 – Understand the appearance and the substance of everything
1237)
Gita 06.28 – To get the best happiness, connect with God, not sense objects
1236)
Gita 06.27 – Joy is the natural fruity of purity
July 2015
1235)
Gita 06.26 – Overcome discouragement with the inner light and the inner map
1234)
In Bhagavatam canto 2, what is the relation between Parikshitas question and Brahmas listing various avataras?
1233)
In Gita 13.24 why does Krishna say that he has spoken about the modes when he hasn’t spoken about them?
1232)
Gita Metaphors 2 – Wind 1 – A Boat Amidst a Storm
1231)
Gita 06.25 – Don’t expect overnight change – determinedly make gradual changes
1230)
Gita 13.26 – Hearing is foundational to the topmost yoga
1229)
Lust brings out our lower side – love, our higher side
1228)
Gita 06.24 – Determination means rejection of dejection
1227)
Gita 06.23 – Yoga brings disconnection from our infatuation with misery
1226)
Gita 18.61 – Krishna doesn’t cause our worldly wandering – he frees us from the cause of that wandering
1225)
Gita 09.02 – The most powerful knowledge brings about the most auspicious destruction
1224)
Bhagavad Gita Metaphors 1 – Introduction
1223)
Gita 02.52 – Take the intelligence beyond the illusion of knowledge
1222)
Gita 03.41 – Alluring sense objects are the trigger, not the cause, of lust
1221)
Gita 06.22 – Seek the achievement beyond hankering and lamentation
1220)
Gita 13.27 – Let sensory perception stimulate spiritual contemplation
1219)
Gita 16.10 – Differentiate between kama as an enemy and kama as a purusha-artha
1218)
Gita 18.73 – Harmony with the Supreme is the sure sign of enlightenment
1217)
Gita 02.72 – Spiritual connectedness can provide peace even amidst violence
1216)
Gita 06.20 – Stop outer obsession to begin inner perception
1215)
Gita 16.17 – Devotion is a matter of inner intention, not outer ostentation
1214)
Gita 14.01 – The Gita’s jnana section higlights its bhakti essence
1213)
Gita 18.35 – Expecting the worst of everything is ignorant, not transcendent
1212)
Gita 06.19 – Minimize the wind of disturbing desires to maximize the flame of meditation
1211)
Gita 06.18 – Self-control leads to real self-awareness
1210)
Gita 06.21 – The intelligence opens the door to trans-sensory happiness
1209)
Gita 06.17 – Material regulation cataylzes yogic liberation
1208)
Gita 17.03 – Gita’s categorization goes deeper than just believers and nonbelievers
1207)
Gita 14.18 – The modes present choices and propel us to choose
1206)
Gita 14.02 – Take shelter of the knowledge that inspires us to take shelter of Krishna
1205)
Gita 06.16 – Take responsibility for determining bodily balance
1204)
Gita 06.15 – Yoga brings mental regulation and spiritual liberation
1203)
Gita 14.13 – Illumination and action make our life all-round productive
1202)
Gita 06.14 – Use material dispassion to establish spiritual connection
1201)
Gita 02.66 – We need Krishna-connection to keep our intelligence and mind on track
1200)
Gita 06.13 – Physical position is meant to facilitate mental absorption
1199)
Gita 18.35 – We don’t lack determination – we lack direction for our determination
1198)
Defiance used in the service of devotion – Ramayana reflection
1197)
Brahma Samhita 5.30 – venum kvanantam – The creator adores his creator
1196)
Gita 06.12 – Concentration is the foundation for purification
1195)
Gita 14.11 – Is our acquistion of knowledge done with knowledge?
1194)
Gita 14.16 – Goodness detoxifies our consciousness
1193)
Gita 16.16 – The more we are spiritually deprived, the more become materialy depraved
1192)
Gita 18.57 – Don’t renounce work – offer work to Krishna
1191)
Gita 06.11 – Seek a balance between externals and internals
1190)
Gita 14.12 – Passion produces workoholism – protect yourself by devotion
1189)
Gita 06.10 – Popular yoga is not spiritual yoga
1188)
Gita 06.09 – Equal vision towards those who relate unequally is challenging
1187)
Gita 06.08 – Realization brings satisfaction and equal vision
1186)
Gita 06.07 – The controlled mind disregards dualities and discovers the Supersoul
1185)
Gita 06.06 – Train the mind as a horse is trained
1184)
Gita 06.05 – The responsibility for controlling the mind rests on us
1183)
Gita 06.04 – Rigorous renunciation characterizes the yogarudha stage
1182)
Gita 06.03 – Different levels require different methods for progress
1181)
Gita 06.02 – Renunciation of matter and connection with spirit share the same purpose
1180)
Focus on the universality of suffering, not its variety
1179)
Gita 06.01 – Renunciation means to give up the shelter of work’s fruits
1178)
Focus on the universality of suffering, not its variety
1177)
How do the sages’ austerities produce fire?
1176)
Why is Dattatreya described so briefly in the Bhagavatam – what is the significance?
1175)
Gita 05.29 – Peace comes by devotion to the all-powerful, all-loving Lord
1174)
Gita.05.28 – Controlling the external and the internal brings liberation
1173)
How was Kunti ever truthful when she lied to conceal Bhima’s identity?
1172)
Why was there ajnata vasa in Mahabharata, but not in Ramayana?
1171)
Gita 05.27 – Shut out the sense objects to seek inwards
1170)
Gita 05.26 – Success on the spiritual path will come surely and soon
1169)
Gita 05.25 – Removing impurities empowers us to rip apart the facade of dualities
June 2015
1168)
Are there some Deities that are jagruta?
1167)
Krishna went to Kubja to satisfy her desires – how to understand?
1166)
Gita 05.24 – The inner is the way to the spiritual
1165)
Gita 05.23 – The war against lust is a war of attrition
1164)
Why did the Pandavas blindly follow Kunti’s uninformed words to share Draupadi?
1163)
Gita 05.22 – The so-called pleasure is the source of trouble
1162)
Gita 05.21 – Give up outer pleasure and seek inexhaustible inner happiness
1161)
Gita 05.20 – Equanimity is meant to make us not emotionless, but purposeful
1160)
Gita 05.19 – Sameness of perception is the situation of liberation
1159)
Gita 05.18 – Spiritual realization grants equal vision towards all
1158)
Gita 05.17 – Spiritualize all the channels of consciousness to gain liberating knowledge
1157)
Gita 05.16 – Knowledge illumines our inner territory and reveals the indwelling Lord
1156)
Gita 05.15 – The judge is not responsible for the criminal’s conviction
1155)
Gita 05.13 – The bodily city metaphor conveys our difference from our sensory gates
1154)
Gita 05.14 – The more we become detached, the more we master the body
1153)
Gita 05.12 – Action per se is not binding – attached action is
1152)
Gita 05.10 – Live in the world but be not of the world
1151)
Gita 05.11 – Change the motivation for action from gratification to purification
1150)
Gita 05.09 – Contact of senses & sense objects is not the problem – infatuation with the contact is
1149)
In Gita 6.35 what does abhyasa and vairagya mean?
1148)
Gita 05.08 – Don’t take credit for actions done by bodily mechanisms
1147)
Is work worship?
1146)
If even sinful devotees are considered saintly should we not look for trustworthiness in relating with devotees?
1145)
Gita 05.07 – Inner purity ensures outer action without reaction
1144)
Gita 05.06 – Renunciation without yogic connection is distressing
1143)
Should we work without worrying about result or work for Krishna?
1142)
Gita 05.05 – Sankhya and yoga aim for the same destination, yet they aren’t same
1141)
Gita 05.04 – See beyond the diversity of process to the commonality of purpose
1140)
In Gita 3.1 what does intelligence and fruitive work refer to?
1139)
Gita 05.03 – Renunciation in action is lasting renunciation
1138)
Gita 05.02 – The path that takes us away from bondage fastest is the best
1137)
Gita 05.01 – Understand meanings of terms from context, not from preconception
1136)
Gita 04.42 – Win the inner war with spiritual knowledge and fight the outer war
1135)
Gita 04.41 – Knowledge and faith can be symbiotic
1134)
Gita 04.40 – Don’t let doubts deprive you of happiness
1133)
Gita 04.39 – Faith is the pre-condition for knowledge
1132)
Gita 04.38 – Don’t reduce jnana to jnana-yoga
1131)
Gita 04.37 – The fire of knowledge reduces karma to ashes
1130)
Karna’s tragic choice
1129)
Gita 04.36 – The subjunctive case underscores the redemptive power of spiritual knowledge
May 2015
1128)
Gita 04.35 – Knowledge takes us beyond illusion and reveals connection of everything with Krishna
1127)
Gita 04.34 – Learn from guru how to do karma as yajna and attain jnana
1126)
Conceptual, conversational and chronological background of the Bhagavatam’s creation narrative
1125)
Gita 04.33 – Let action be permeated by knowledge and culminate in knowledge
1124)
Gita 04.32 – Knowing the unity among various yajnas grants liberation
1123)
Gita 04.31 – Happiness in this world and the next don’t have to be mutually exclusive
1122)
Gita 04.30 – The knowers of yajna attain purification, satisfaction and liberation
1121)
Gita 04.28 – Apply the yajna priniciple to a broad spectrum of religious activities
1120)
Gita 04.27 – Ceassation of all sensory and respiratory activity is a yajna
1119)
Gita 04.26 – The mood of sacrifice spiritualizes both the householder and the renounced orders
1118)
Gita 04.25 – Re-envision both karma-kanda and jnana-kanda as yajna
1117)
Gita 04.24 – When our vision becomes spiritual, our action and destination also become spiritual
1116)
Gita 04.23 – Sacrifice is not just an activity, but a mood that pervades all activity
1115)
Gita 04.22 – See scriptural principle in the light of its social context to find its practicability
1114)
Gita 04.21 – Nirasha is not disappointment in fulfilling desire, but detachment from the fever to fulfill desire
1113)
Gita 04.20 – The more we give up material shelters, the more we seek spiritual shelter
1112)
Gita 04.19 – Discern the path of liberation with the vision of the enlightened, not the ignorant
1111)
Gita 04.18 – Comprehend inaction in action and action in inaction through contextualization
1110)
Gita 04.17 – Action-reaction correlation is incomprehensible, but right action is discernible
1109)
Gita 04.16 – Don’t simplistically equate dictionary meaning with scriptural meaning
1108)
Gita 04.15 – Follow the successful to be successful
1107)
Gita 04.14 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position protects us from karmic subjugation
1106)
Does Krishna’s not being able to remember the Gita later in the Mahabharata prove that some higher being spoke the Gita through him?
1105)
Gita 04.13 – Krishna is the non-doer because he is non-discriminating
1104)
Gita 04.12 – Demigod worship is quick fix in the world of religion
1103)
Bhagavatam first canto study 6 – 1.2.9-1.2.15 – Bhakti leads to realization of the Absolute Truth
1102)
Gita 04.11 – Appreciate the profundity of Krishna’s reciprocity and universality
1101)
Bhagavatam first canto study 5 – 1.2.1-1.2.8 – The Bhagavatam’s speaker and subject are radically exalted
1100)
Gita 04.10 – Overcome 3 obstructive attitudes for taking shelter of Krishna
1099)
Gita 04.09 – Attainment of Krishna is not rebirth, but release from rebirth
1098)
Gita 04.08 – Let Krishna establish dharma within
1097)
Gita 04.07 – Universality of opportunity defines and distinguishes dharma
April 2015
1096)
Gita 04.06 – Don’t presume familiarity with concepts due to familiarity with terms
1095)
Gita 04.05 – Krishna spiritual position is not affected by his material location
1094)
Gita 04.04 – Accept responsibility for clear communication – don’t affix blame for unclear communication
1093)
What does “avyakta” mean in the Gita’s eighth chapter?
1092)
How can we work for Krishna and avoid contaminating association in our workplaces?
1091)
When Upadeshamrita is for seekers, why does it start by telling who can become a guru?
1090)
Gita 04.03 – Krishna reveals his glory to those who delight in that glory
1089)
How is Krishna attained by doing duty – doesn’t one need to rise to love for him?
1088)
How does mastery in yajna lead to Krishna consciousness?
1087)
As Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary, is devata prasad also Krishna-prasad?
1086)
If yajnas are not done will there be no rains?
1085)
What is the destination of those who take devatas’ prasad?
1084)
Gita 04.02 When time brings things down, let Krishna take things up
1083)
Gita 04.02 – The Gita lives through those who live the Gita
1082)
Gita 04.01 – Yogic knowledge comes from transcendental source through extra-terrestrial route to terrestrial recipient
1081)
Meaningless material existence becomes meaningful through the human form (Churning the Bhagavatam 1)
1080)
Why did Dhirtarashtra ask for eyes to see the universal form but refuse the eyes to see the Kurukshetra war?
1079)
Gita 03.43 – Use intelligence to pursue transcendence and subdue lust
1078)
Was Drona a pure devotee? Was he a spiritual teacher?
1077)
Why are the Gita’s first and last chapters of Krishna’s instructions its longest chapters?
1076)
Material existence without the human form is pointless
1075)
Gita 03.42 – In the line of fire from lust the soul is the last
1074)
Gita 03.41 – Regulation is the foundation for purification
1073)
What do the terms karya karana kartrtva adhyatma adhibhuta and adhiyajna in SB 2.5.19 mean?
1072)
Why does Prabhupada say in Gita 2.38p that sankhya doesn’t refer to and does refer to the Bhagavatam’s sankhya?
1071)
How is internal cleanliness a bodily austerity?
1070)
What is the difference between austerity and penance?
1069)
Bhagavatam first canto study 4 – 1.1.4-1.1.23 – The sages’ questions
1068)
Gita 03.40 – Lust has taken over our knowledge-acquiring mechanism
1067)
Gita 03.39 – The eternal enemy blinds, binds and burns
1066)
Gita 03.38 – No one is exempt from lust’s delusion
1065)
Gita 03.37 – Inner enemies are more dangerous than outer enemies
1064)
Gita 03.36 – Alien desires become our own and impel us to sin
1063)
Which are the important commentaries on the Gita?
1062)
Why are there so many commentaries on the Gita?
1061)
Bhagavatam Overview – Canto 1 – Setting the Scene of Devotion in Separation
1060)
Gita 03.35 – Credit lies in sticking to duty under duress, not in changing duty
1059)
Gita 03.34 – Don’t let sensory urges steal dharmic credits
1058)
What exactly was Bharata Maharaj’s mistake?
1057)
How could Bharata Maharaj have become attached to a deer after renouncing the world?
1056)
Gita 03.33 – Our varna nature needs to be channelized, not repressed
1055)
When neither yajnik-brahmanis nor their husbands get Krishna’s shelter, what is the point of that pastime?
1054)
Why is Vritrasura portrayed as a demon in the Rig-Veda and as a devotee in the Bhagavatam?
1053)
Why does Jiva Goswami deem Bhagavatam 2.2.37 the book’s phala-shruti?
1052)
How can we avoid getting lost in the many conversations in the Bhagavatam?
1051)
Which are the important commentaries on the Bhagavatam?
1050)
What is the difference between energies in Gita chp 7 and potencies in chp 9?
1049)
Gita 03.32 – Turning away from Krishna defeats the purpose of knowledge
1048)
Gita 03.31 – Krishna’s words are eternal and faith-worthy
1047)
Gita 03.30 – Focus not on detaching from the entangling but on attaching to the liberating
1046)
What is the difference between giving up action and renunciation in Gita 3.4?
1045)
Did others apart from Arjuna see Krishna’s universal form?
1044)
Gita 03.29 – The wise should elevate, not agitate, the ignorant
1043)
Gita 03.28 – To know the truth means to see how spirit can stay disentangled from matter during action
1042)
Gita 03.27 – Mistaking initiation of action with its execution is illusion
1041)
Gita 03.26 – Don’t exhibit your high level – attract people to one level higher
1040)
Gita 03.25 – The detached and the attached differ not in action but in intention
1039)
Gita 03.24 – Krishna turns on its head Arjuna’s argument about varna-sankara
1038)
Why did Hanuman not defeat Vali?
1037)
Hanuman – An endearing blend of bhakti and shakti
1036)
Gita 03.23 – Walk your talk
1035)
Gita 03.22 – Krishna’s supreme position redefines duty as lila
1034)
Gita 03.21 – We learn from others’ examples and set examples for others
1033)
Gita 03.20 – Examples make the conceptual tangible
1032)
Gita 03.19 – Detached dutifulness opens the door to perfection
March 2015
1031)
Gita 03.18 – The independent are bound to neither action nor renunciation
1030)
Gita 06.26 – Expect and correct the mind’s restlessness
1029)
Gita 03.17 – Only those who rejoice internally are released from external duty
1028)
Gita 03.16 – Those who don’t sacrifice waste their life
1027)
Gita 03.15 – Yajna makes the transcendental accessible
1026)
The Recipe for Ruining Relationships – Ramayana Wisdom 1
1025)
Nāmarāmāyaṇam (The Ramayana conveyed in 108 names)
1024)
Gita 03.14 – The principle of cosmic exchange is not pre-scientific but universal
1023)
The Gita’s progression from third person references to first person references
1022)
Gita 03.13 – See God not just as the provider of food but also as its enjoyer.mp3 Gita 11.37 kasmac ca te nameran mahatman .mp3
1021)
Gita 03.12 – Secular humanism makes humans honest thieves
1020)
Gita 03.11 – We live not just in a universe but in a universal government
1019)
Gita 03.10 – Don’t let familiarity take the mystery out of nature
1018)
Gita 03.09 – Nature of action is determined by its intent, not its form
1017)
Gita 03.08 – Material duty maintains material stability and facilitates spiritual focus
1016)
Ramayana’s enduring message – Rise from me to we
1015)
Value Education and Spirituality 35 – Ramayana 17 – Hanuman 2 – Never lose heart
1014)
Gita 03.07 – Regulation is more conducive for advancement than renunciation
1013)
Value Education 34 – Ramayana 16 – Hanuman 1 – Overcome distractions by determination
1012)
Value Education 33 – Ramayana 15 – Jambavan – Help bring the best out of others
1011)
Value Education 32 – Ramayana 14 – Angada – Overcome dissension by focus on common
1010)
Value Education 31 – Ramayana 13 – Sugriva – Comforts breed ingratitude
1009)
Gita 03.06 – Outer renunciation with inner sensual contemplation is self-delusion
1008)
Gita 03.05 – Inaction is unnatural, materially and spiritually
1007)
Can only those who don’t break brahmchari-vrata attain the kingdom of God?
1006)
Why is Bhagavatam 2.6 called the Purusha-Sukta confirmed?
1005)
Gita 03.04 – Don’t equate the external with the essential
1004)
On seeing the Pandavas forces why does Duryodhana approach Drona not Bhishma?
1003)
Gita 03.03 – Krishna’s instructions are not contradictory, but multi-level
1002)
Gita 03.02 – When scripture doesn’t fit into our mental framework, the framework needs change
1001)
Gita 03.01 – The Gita’s complex multi-level message is intellectually challenging and fulfilling
1000)
Gita 02.72 – Nirvana may be extinction, but brahma-nirvana is not
999)
Gita 02.71 – Peace comes not by relocation, but by renunciation
998)
Gita 02.70 – Be filled with higher purpose to transcend lower desires
997)
Gita 02.69 – Be special above the ordinary, not among the ordinary
996)
Gita 02.68 – Be a soul-deliverer, not a soul-killer
995)
Gita 02.67 – Be swept by the wind of spiritual desire, not material desire
994)
Gita 02.66 – Without inner connection, we end with agitation and frustration
993)
Gita 02.65 – Purification makes external intelligence internal
992)
Did Arjuna know Krishna’s supreme position in the Gita’s first chapter?
991)
Gita 02.64 – Material regulation is the launching pad for spiritual liberation
990)
Could Krishna not convince Arjuna with philosophy alone and so he displayed the Universal Form?
989)
Gita 02.63 – Irritation, delusion, oblivion, stupefaction, destruction – Last 5 of 8 stages to falldown
988)
Gita 02.62 – Whatever catches our attention catches us
987)
How could Bhima drink Dushashana’s blood?
986)
Did Bhima kill Duryodhana or just wound him?
985)
Do sadhaka-devotees also become free all worldly obligations?
984)
How does the Vedic rule of “no reactions in killing aggressors” apply today?
983)
Gita 02.61 – Control, concentration, conquest – three stages in dealing with the senses
982)
Gita 02.60 – Endeavoring and discerning are not enough for sense control
981)
Gita 02.59 – Complement renunciation of the material with contemplation on the spiritual
February 2015
980)
Gita 02.58 – Withdraw consciousness inwards as a basic defense mechanism
979)
Gita 02.57 – Stay unaffected by the material by being focussed on the spiritual
978)
Gita 02.56 – Emotional non-entanglement with the material characterizes the seer
977)
Gita 02.55 – Rejection of mental desires and satisfaction in the self define the self-realized
976)
Gita 02.54 – Non-literal meaning illumines when literal meaning stumps
975)
Gita 02.53 – Persistent absorption comes by consistent rejection of distraction
974)
Gita 02.52 – Shastra without guru can be a deluding forest for the intelligence
973)
How can we best present the Gita to intellectuals who feel Prabhupada’s Gita is too devotional?
972)
Why does Prabhupada say that Haridasa Thakura is superior to Lord Shiva?
971)
Is simplicity and non-duplicity the same as humility or truthfulness?
970)
Did the Gita originally have 745 verses?
969)
Gita 02.51 – Same action with higher motivation bestows higher destination
968)
Is the Gita relevant today?
967)
Gita 02.50 – Yoga facilitates individualized artistic infusion of work with devotion
966)
Gita 02.49 – The good becomes bad when it becomes the enemy of the best
965)
Gita 02.48 – Yoga requires material indifference to provide spiritual transcendence
964)
Gita 02.47 – Make sense of four counterintuitive assertions by seeing the full picture
963)
Gita 02.46 – Understand multivalence of Veda to grasp how transcending the Vedas fulfills their purpose
962)
Gita 02.44 – Prevent attachment from abducting consciousness by intelligence and taste
961)
Gita 02.43 – The Vedic masterplan uses dharma to raise people from kama to prema
960)
Gita 02.42 – Flowery words of Vedas distract from their ultimate wisdom
959)
Gita 02.41 – Intent shapes intelligence
958)
Gita 02.40 – The spiritual path comes with a no-loss and a fear-relieving guarantee
957)
Does Krishna consider Arjuna’s concerns about destruction of family meaningless?
956)
Gita 02.39 – Use buddhi to transform theoretical sankhya into practical yoga
955)
Gita 02.38 – To reconcile the Gita’s contradictions, recognize the multi-level nature of its discussions
954)
Does the Gita offer spiritual solution to spiritual problem or to material problem?
953)
Gita 02.37 – Knowledge of atma and dharma redefines lose-lose situation as win-win
952)
What a saint learned from a prostitute
951)
Gita 02.36 – Behave respectably to bring respectability to Krishna’s message
950)
Gita 02.35 – The variance between our intention and people’s perception causes mortifying misconception
949)
Gita 02.34 – Engage the power of honor to encourage honorable action
948)
Gita 02.33 – Honorable position brings obligation of tangible contribution
947)
Gita 02.32 – Dharma rewards success according to each varna’s definition of success
January 2015
946)
Gita 02.31 – Dharma is not a blanket injunction but an individualized customization
945)
Gita 02.30 – Knowlege of the soul is not a call for resignation but for action
944)
Gita 02.29 – Perception, verbalization, reception and incomprehension wrt soul are all amazing
943)
Gita 02.28 – The mutability of everything materially magnifies the futility of grief
942)
What a saint learned from a prostitute
941)
Gita 02.27 – See death not as a future event, but as an ongoing process
940)
Let intelligence take from the poison phase to the nectar phase
939)
Gita 02.26 – Materialism makes meaning meaningless and lamentation pointless
938)
Why did Bhishma in his previous life as Vasu steal Vashistha’s cow?
937)
Why does Arjuna brag that he is greater than Dwarkavasis in the brahmana son’s stealing pastime?
936)
Gita 02.25 – Contemplate the inconceivable to relish the spiritual
935)
Gita 02.24 – The soul can’t be stopped from going anywhere nor forced to go anywhere
934)
Gita 02.23 – The utter indestrutibility of the soul underlies the path of difficult duty
933)
Gita 02.22 – The dress metaphor redefines death not as a miserable termination but as a welcome transition
932)
Gita 02.21 – Integrate knowledge of the soul with the purpose of that knowledge
931)
Gita 02.20 – The soul doesn’t undergo the six changes that matter does
930)
Gita 02.19 – The soul’s non-doership points to the complexity of matter-spirit interaction
929)
Is Krishna’s reference to Arjuna as Bharata spiritual because the Bharata dynasty is filled with liberated souls?
928)
If Krishna addresses Arjuna as per the bodily conception, does it mean that Krishna is in the bodily conception?
927)
Gita 02.18 – The immeasurability of soul points to its non-literal non-metaphorical measure
926)
Gita 02.17 – Nothing can destroy the soul because it pervades everything
925)
Gita 02.16 – Matter has no existence in the sense of having no lasting consequence
924)
Gita 02.15 – Those unaffected by the temporary attain the eternal
923)
Gita 02.14 – The material is peripheral, unavoidable and ephemeral – so tolerate it
922)
Gita 02.13 – The body is changing, not just growing – so focus on the unchanging
921)
Gita 02.12 – Spirit is not just eternal but also plural
920)
Gita 02.11 – The ability to harmonize the walk with the talk characterizes the wise
919)
Gita 02.10 – Change in the seeker’s mood evokes change in the teacher’s mood
918)
Gita 02.09 – The decision of inaction reflects desperation to learn
917)
Gita 02.08 – Outer success can’t remove inner distress
916)
Gita 02.07 – Arjuna exhibits 3 characteristics of an ideal disciple
915)
Gita 02.06 – Find way through lose-lose problems by seeking emotional distance
914)
Gita 02.05 – Hard choices have to be made to avoid harder consequences
913)
Gita 02.04 – Resolve conflicts among different roles by raising consciousness
912)
Gita 02.04 Fight not for or against some material cause – fight for Krishna
911)
Gita 02.03 – Fight degrading temptation by remembering honoroble position
910)
Gita 02.02 – Arya – Spiritual denotation, historical concoction and modern connotation
909)
Gita 02.01 – Arjuna’s analysis only aggravates his agony
December 2014
908)
Was Arjuna aware of the soul’s existence before hearing the Gita?
907)
In SB 1.2.7 if the knowledge is acquired through devotion how is it causeless?
906)
In SB 1.2.2 what does the trees’ echoing Vyasadeva’s call to Shukadeva mean?
905)
Gita 01.46 – When the eye disheartens, let the ear hearten
904)
Gita 01.45 – Sound arguments from a fragmented perception are actually unsound
903)
Gita 01.44 – Arjuna’s reasoning is wrong, but his capacity for reasoning is laudable
902)
Gita 01.43 – Hell forever is a subjective feeling, not an objective fact
901)
Gita 01.42 – Three meanings of dharma
900)
Gita 01.41 – Unwanted progeny – what does unwanted mean?
899)
Gita 01.40 – Protecting women and ensuring good progeny are important social responsibilities
898)
Gita 01.39 – As soon as dharma weakens adharma attacks
897)
Gita 01.38 – Don’t let the anartha-maddened make us similarly mad
896)
Gita 01.37 – Greed gives us a tunnel vision of reality
895)
Gita 01.36 – Contemplate contextual karmic considerations before acting
894)
Gita 01.35 – Arjuna’s profit-loss calculations miss the most important factor
893)
Gita 01.34 – Arjuna’s evolved emotion and reason ready to be raised to the summit by Gita wisdom
892)
Gita 01.33 – The contrasting words of Arjuna and Duryodhana reveal their consciousness’ levels
891)
Gita 01.32 – Whom we live for determines the quality of our life
890)
Gita 01.31 – Material long-term is not long-term enough
889)
Gita 01.30 – Where materialism shows a dead end spirituality shows the way ahead
888)
Gita 01.29 – The inner attack of emotions does what no outer attack of enemies could have done
887)
Gita 01.28 – To avoid being consumed by material emotions, cultivate spiritual emotions
886)
What exactly is the point of the nivrtta tarshair (SB 10.01.04) verse?
885)
Gita 01.27 – Undiscerning visual perception erodes spiritual conviction
884)
Gita 01.26 – The brutality of the imminent fratricide sinks in
883)
Gita 01.25 – Over-reliance on visual perception ends in illusion
882)
Gita 01.24 – Conquer lethargy to attain excellence in service
881)
Gita 01.23 – How the evil got so many allies
880)
Gita 01.22 – A last sight of the battling brethren
879)
Gita 01.21 – The surprising request to see what is already known
878)
Gita 01.20 – The monkey standard is permeated with the divine monkey’s presence
877)
Gita 01.19 – Kauravas’ bravado battered and shattered by Pandavas’ bravery
876)
Gita 01.18 – The Pandavas’ illustrious sons gallantly serve their parents
875)
Gita 01.17 – Weapons are warrior’s ornaments
874)
Krishna’s moods in the Gita – Gita Jayanti class
873)
If we dont understand something in the Gita should we re-read it till we understand before going ahead?
872)
What is the joking referred to in Gita 1.25 purport?
November 2014
871)
If the Gita is contextual, why is it considered such an important scripture?
870)
Is Modi anti-secular in giving the Gita to other heads of state?
869)
Is the Gita a religious book or a secular book?
868)
Why does Gita 7.25 use yoga-maya instead of maha-maya?
867)
Does the Gita ask Arjuna to choose job over family?
866)
Was Bhishma an impersonalist – he refers to Krishna in the third person not the second person?
865)
What is the difference between spiritual, transcendental and devotional?
864)
Retreat within to treat without
863)
Value Education 14 – Mahabharata 8 – Draupadi – Ask not why this but how now
862)
Value Education 13 – Mahabharata 7 – Yudhisthira 1 – Gambling
861)
Value Education 12 – Mahabharata 6 – Karna 3 – Respond to adversity with integrity
860)
Value Education 11 – Mahabharata 5 – Karna 2 – Life of honor is more important than
859)
Value Education and Spirituality 10 – Mahabharata 4 – Karna 1 – Choose friends that bring out our best, not our worst
October 2014
858)
Value Education 29 – Ramayana 11 – Vali 2 – Judging without understanding ruins relationships
857)
Does papa-yonayah in Gita 9.32 refer to a fourth category?
856)
Does Gita 18.56 refer to karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga?
855)
How can a material process karma-yoga grow into the transcendental process bhakti-yoga?
854)
Value Education 30 – Ramayana 12 – Vali 3 – Real repentance is seen in rectification
853)
Value Education and Spirituality 28 – Ramayana 10 – Vali 1 – Judging without understanding ruins relationships
852)
Value Education and Spirituality 27 – Ramayana 9 – Shabari – See not the body’s caste – see the heart’s character
851)
Value Education and Spirituality 26 – Ramayana 8 – Jatayu – Fight atrocities against women
850)
Value Education and Spirituality 25 – Ramayana 7 – Lakshmana – Don’t ascribe intention to what is spoken in tension
849)
Value Education and Spirituality 24 – Ramayana 6 – The illusory dear – Use intelligence to see beyond appearance to substance
848)
Value Education and Spirituality 23 – Ramayana 5 – Shurapanakha – Don’t let the selfish exploit our sexual vulnerabiity
847)
Value Education and Spirituality 22 – Ramayana 4 – Bharata – Stick to integrity amidst opportunity for immorality
846)
Value Education and Spirituality 21 – Ramayana 3 – Dasharatha – Honor one’s word even at great personal cost
845)
Value Education and Spirituality 20 – Ramayana 2 – Rama – Go beyond fight or flight to choose the best response
844)
Value Education and Spirituality 19 – Ramayana 1 – Kaikeyi – Don’t be deluded by malicious misinformers
843)
Is karma-yoga superior to jnana-yoga according to the Gita chp 3?
842)
Why does the Bhagavad-gita immediately after rejecting bodily identity address Arjuna with names which reinforce that very identity?
841)
Which dictionary meaning of the word ‘mind’ does the Gita refer to?
840)
Mind the mind
839)
Do vaishyas have to do brahminical occupation to come to goodness for practicing bhakti?
838)
Why do we counter-push against lower modes and not against goodness?
837)
When Arjuna’s chariot was destroyed after the MB war, why does he say in SB “The chariot is the same”?
836)
Are those who come to Krishna even for material benefit mahatmas?
835)
Is the jnani of Gita 7.17 one of the four categories of 7.16?
834)
When Prabhupada’s Gita is so obviously not as it is, how can he call it as it is?
833)
What are the ten principles of godly life mentioned in Gita 16.1-3 purport?
832)
Never lose heart
831)
Which other Purana mentions that Bhagavatam is the commentary on the Vedanta Sutra?
830)
Bhagavatam-daily 5 – 11.06.44 – Hearing about Krishna is auspicious and delicious
829)
Redefine success
828)
Bhagavatam-daily 4 – 11.06.43 – We can’t tolerate separation from Krishna, but the mind misleads us
827)
We can’t wish away our bodily identity – we have to work our way through it
826)
Bhagavatam-daily 3 – 11.06.42 – Trust not just Krishna’s power, but also his intelligence
825)
Gita 01.16 – The individual conches manifest individual warrior’s virility
824)
Bhagavatam-daily 2 – 11.06.41 – Submission is the way out of confusion
823)
Gita 01.15 – The top trio in the Pandava army start the action
822)
Bhagavatam-daily 1 – 11.06.40 – Philosophy offers shelter when the world’s shelters fail
821)
Gita 01.14 – The dramatically humble entry of the hero
820)
Be concerned not disturbed
819)
Gita 01.13 – Rituals of war express and stimulate the martial spirit
818)
Bali M rejects Shukracharya, yet Vamana respects him – Why?
817)
Did Bali M surrender out of devotion or fear of dishonor?
816)
Opportunity in Adversity
815)
Gita 01.12 – The valorous grandsire stops the politicking
814)
Gita 01.11 – The manipulator misses the one who matters most
813)
Is the doer the ego as Gita 18.58 states or the modes as Gita 3.27 states?
812)
Spiritualizing our work
811)
Gita 01.10 – Mulitiple meanings of same word reveal the possibilities of multiple interpretations
810)
Gita 01.09 – Listing the warriors’ qualities for enlisting their commitment
809)
Words shape worlds – watch your words
808)
Just as a bigger Mahabharata exists in the heavens does a bigger Gita also exist?
807)
What is the meaning of the Gita statement about the moon being the most prominent nakshatra?
806)
Why did Ravana despite being obstinate listen to Maricha first and give up his plan to abduct Sita?
805)
After seeing Rama’s power why did Akampana not flee entirely as did Maricha?
804)
How does Akampana reach Lanka before Shurapanakha?
803)
Dussehra meditation – Differentiating between obstinacy and determination
802)
Does the Gita recommend Deity worship?
801)
Different approaches to Gita study: historical, literary, philosophical, revelational, descriptive, prescriptive
September 2014
800)
As yogis become bhaktas at their topmost stage does that mean we should practice yoga before bhakti?
799)
Gita 01.08 – Attachment makes the absent present
798)
Why are the divisions of different scriptures called differently – skandha, kanda and parva
797)
What is the difference between phenomenal and numinous in Gita 7.2
796)
Gita 01.07 – Repetition of known information conveys prioritization
795)
Gita 01.06 – Their great warriors counterbalance our greater strength
794)
Gita 01.05 – Affiliations were shaped by long-term affinity not short-term antipathy
793)
Gita 01.04 – Our inner frame of reference shapes our outer focus of reference
792)
Gita 01.03 – The politician seeks martial dedication by emotional manipulation
791)
What does being free from all dualities mean wrt devotional service?
790)
Did the Pandavas go to heaven or the spiritual world?
789)
When Krishna says that the knowledge in disciplic succession was lost, weren’t the four sampradayas available at that time?
788)
A devotee is already righteous, so why does Krsna say that he becomes righteous in Gita 9.31?
787)
What is the difference between nitya and shashvata in Gita 2.20?
786)
How can we convert our work in office into yajna?
785)
What is the difference between karma yoga, buddhi yoga and bhakti yoga?
784)
Gita 01.02 – Duryodhana’s choice of conversant reveals his political intent
783)
If Arjuna was superior to Karna, why does Bhagavatam say he was a small fish in an ocean of giant fishes?
782)
Gita 01.01 – The transcendental manifests as the geographical
781)
Why does Krishna refer to someone else as the object of surrender in the Gita 18.62?
780)
Gita 04.39 – Faith is the necessary but not sufficient condition for knowledge
779)
Value Education and Spirituality 9 – Mahabharata 3 – Vidura – Be a forgiving not a forgetful friend
August 2014
778)
What does the Gita’s chp 13 title ‘Nature, enjoyer and consciousness’ refer to?
777)
Is the universal form in the Gita’s ninth chapter a conceptualization and the eleventh chapter, a revelation?
776)
What does the Gita’s inverted tree metaphor signify?
775)
Why does the Gita use a setting of war to convey its transcendental message when such a setting can be abused to provoke communal violence?
774)
What is the theory of reflection Prabhupada refers to in the Gita 2.13 purport?
773)
Why does Krishna emphasise consciousness at death which is much more uncontrollable than consciousness while living?
772)
Meditation on the only prayers to Balaram in the Bhagavatam
771)
When Krishna had said he wouldn’t lift weapons in the Kurukshetra war, why does he say in Gita 11.33 that the Kauravas are already killed by him?
770)
When opulences are disqualifications for devotion, why does ISKCON preach to the opulent?
769)
Why do we need to justify the Pandavas’ actions? Isn’t “Krishna told them to do it” enough reason?
768)
What is the significance of the two metaphors of rivers and moths used in the Gita’s description of warriors entering into the Universal Form
767)
Bhagavatam first canto study 3 – 1.1.3 – Relish the rasa in association
766)
Bhagavatam first canto study 2 – 1.1.2 – The pure intention bestows the perfect destination
July 2014
765)
Mahabharata characters 73 Abhimanyu 2 Confronting conspiracy with courage
764)
Mahabharata characters 72 Abhimanyu 1 Penetrating the impenetrable phalanx
763)
If the suffering of great devotees is for their glorification why does Bhishma say Pandavas’ suffering is due to time?
762)
When the Pandavas were so virtuous why did Krisha let them suffer so much?
761)
Why was Kunti’s unknowing statement ‘share whatever you have brought’ considered absolute and Draupadai married to all the Pandavas?
760)
Draupadi forgave Ashwatthama but not the Kauravas. Why?
759)
Why did Krishna and Arjuna meet each other first time so late in their lives?
758)
Why did Balaramji favor Duryodhana?
757)
Arjuna’s virtuous victory – Don’t challenge God’s wisdom; let God’s wisdom challenge you – 2
756)
Is the expansion of the Mahabharata from its short Jaya version a contamination?
755)
Arjuna’s virtuous victory – Don’t challenge God’s wisdom; let God’s wisdom challenge you – 1
754)
Mahabharata characters 71 Ashwatthama The dangerous temptation to punish
753)
Is the Mahabharata contaminated due to interpolation?
752)
Why did Duryodhana become vicious despite being born in a virtuous family?
751)
Did Krishna establish dharma just for 36 years after fighting such a big war?
750)
Why did Yaksha ask so many questions to the Pandavas?
749)
Mahabharata characters 70 Karna 5 The tragic end of heroic misdirection
748)
Why did Krishna not protect Yudhisthira from errors of judgment?
747)
Draupadi’s courageous devotion amidst the disrobing – Ask not “why this?” but “how now?”
746)
Did Vikarna get any good result for trying to defend Draupadi’s honor?
745)
Who was Yuyutsu? How did he come from the Kaurava side to the Pandava side?
744)
Why did Yudhisthira agree for a second gambling match after the disastrous first gambling match?
743)
Why did the virtuous Bhishma fight on the side of the vicious Kauravas?
742)
Did Karna have to choose the side of evil due to his past karma?
741)
Did Duryodhana have any good qualities?
740)
What are the authentic sources for learning the Mahabharata?
739)
How did a ciranjeevi Ashwatthama fight against the virtuous Pandavas?
738)
Why did Krishna and others not try to reform Duryodhana as reformation is the ultimate goal?
737)
Mahabharata characters 69 Karna 3 Is word of honor greater than life of honor
736)
Why do the Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata describe the same stories differently?
735)
Duryodhana’s blame game 2 – Attribution error and alien abduction
734)
Duryodhana’s blame game 1 – The unjustified sense of entitlement led to unnecessary envy
733)
Mahabharata characters 68 Karna 2 Status insecurity leads to shocking immorality
732)
Mahabharata characters 67 – Karna 1 – Did life give him a raw deal?
731)
Mahabharata characters 66 Duryodhana 5 Baffled in words, battles and spirits
730)
Mahabharata characters 65 Duryodhana 4 Incompetence and fault finding personified
729)
Mahabharata characters 64 Duryodhana 3 Foolishly adding fuel to fire
728)
Srimad Bhagavad-gita-mahatmyam THE GLORY OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA from Sri Vaisnaviya-tantra-sara
727)
Mahabharata characters 63 Duryodhana 2 Krishna’s magnanimity vs Duryodhna’s obstinacy
726)
Mahabharata characters 62 Duryodhana 1 The humiliator is humiliated
725)
Mahabharata characters 61 Draupadi 2 Exemplary devotion amidst tribulation
724)
Mahabharata characters 60 Draupadi 1 Responding to vice with virtue
723)
Mahabharata characters 59 – Sahadeva – Using intelligence in the service of dharma
722)
Mahabharata characters 58 – Nakula – Sustaining unity amidst individuality
721)
Mahabharata characters 57 – Arjun 20 – World conquest for Ashwamedha-yajna
720)
Is the Gita’s teaching that women are sinful resposible for female infanticide?
719)
Mahabharata characters 56 – Arjuna 19 – The difficult disciplining of Ashvatthama
718)
Mahabharata characters 55 – Arjuna 18 – The final battle with Karna
717)
Mahabharata characters 54 – Arjun 17 – Devotional surrender amidst mixed feelings at Drona’s death M
716)
Why did Bhima kill Duryodhana unfairly by hitting him below the waist during their final battle in the Mahabharata war?
715)
Mahabharata characters 53 – Arjuna 16 – Racing against time with the Lord of time
714)
Mahabharata characters 52 – Arjuna 15 – Breaking through the wall of the Kaurava forces
713)
Mahabharata characters 51 – Arjuna 14 – Besting the fearsome elephant and the formidable elephant wa
712)
Bhagavatam first canto study 1 – 1.1.1 – The Attributes of the Absolute Truth
711)
If Krishna’s ultimate instruction is to give up all duties for surrendering to him why shouldn’t everyone join the temple?
710)
Is Krishna omninpresent as his energy or personally as the Supersoul?
709)
If the Supersoul is present in all atoms and the space between them, what is special about the Superoul in our heart?
708)
What happens to the Supersoul after death and after liberation?
707)
Is the Supersoul actually expanded in every heart or is it an appearance of expansion?
706)
Mahabharata characters 50 – Arjuna 13 – Battling and serving the beloved grandsire
705)
Mahabharata characters 49 – Arjuna 12 – The Gita goes far beyond violence to transcendence
704)
Mahabharata characters 48 – Arjuna 11 – The divine heart calls the human heart to the path of love
703)
Mahabharata Characters 47 – Arjuna 10 – Arguments against and for fighting in the Gita
702)
Mahabharata Characters 46 – Arjuna 09 – Choose Krishna over the world
701)
Mahabharata Characters 45 – Arjuna 08 – The stunning victory at Virata
700)
Mahabharata Characters 44 – Arjuna 07 – Singlehanded triumph over the Nivatkavachas and Kalakanyas
699)
Mahabharata Characters 43 – Arjuna 05 – Heaven hath no fury like a woman scorned
June 2014
698)
Mahabharata Characters 42 – Arjuna 05 – Austerity and audacity for the pleasure of Lord Shiva
697)
Mahabharata Characters 41 – Arjuna 04 – All the gods bested at Khandava
696)
Mahabharata Characters 40 – Arjuna 03 – The match made with Krishna as the matchmaker
695)
Mahabharata Characters 39 – Arjuna 02 – Accepting exile to honour virtue
694)
Mahabharata Characters 38 – Arjuna 01 – Diligence is essential for attaining excellence
693)
Mahabharata Characters 37 – Bhima 07 – Draupadi’s dishonorers destroyed
692)
Mahabharata Characters 36 – Bhima 06 – Bhima decimates the Kauravas in the war’s first sixteen days
691)
Mahabharata Characters 35 – Bhima 05 – Bhima’s heroics during incognito exile
690)
Mahabharata Characters 34 – Bhima 04 – Meting punishment while giving forgiveness
689)
Mahabharata Characters 33 – Bhima 03 – An attack on the gods that fulfilled a godly purpose
688)
Mahabharata Characters 32 – Bhima 02 – No demon is a match to this human
687)
Mahabharata Characters 31 – Bhima 01 – Growing stronger through danger and disaster
686)
Mahabharata Characters 30 – Yudhisthira 08 – Dharmaraja’s moments of infamy and glory in the war
685)
Mahabharata Characters 29 – Yudhisthira 07 – Steadiness through wisdom amidst the war’s worries
684)
Mahabharata Characters 28 – Yudhisthira 06 – Wisdom wins where strength fails (Nahusha & Yaksha)
683)
Mahabharata Characters 27 – Yudhisthira 05 – Words of wisdom vs words of anger in the forest
682)
Mahabharata Characters 26 – Yudhisthira 04 – The Pandavas dishonoured and dispossessed
681)
How the Gita’s ninth chapter reveals its bhakti essence
680)
Mahabharata Characters 25 – Yudhisthira 03 – The virtuous victimized in the vicious gambling match
679)
Mahabharata Characters 24 – Yudhisthira 02 – The world’s king glorifies the supreme king
678)
Why does the Gita 12.11 include material charity in the bhakti hierarchy?
677)
Where do religious social workers like Mother Terersa fall in the Gita’s yoga ladder?
676)
How does karma yoga mature into ashtanga yoga?
675)
How does the nishkama karma yogi attain knowledge and liberation? Through the same path or by adopting another yoga?
674)
Does ashtanga yoga always start from jnana yoga?
673)
Are the jnanis mentioned in Gita 7.16-18 impersonalists as the example of Kumaras suggests or devotees as Vishvanath Chakravarti Thakura’s commentary states?
672)
Mahabharata Characters 23 – Yudhisthira 01 – Sticking to integrity amidst injustice
671)
Mahabharata Characters 22 – Kunti 03 – Successful amidst misery after misery
670)
Mahabharata Characters 21 – Kunti 02 – The glorious mother sees the glory of her sons and her Lord
669)
The nine tensions in the Bhagavatam
668)
Mahabharata Characters 20 – Kunti 01 – The blessing that made a nightmare and a dream come true
667)
Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached
666)
Mahabharata Characters 18 – Dhritarashtra 04 – Losing Everything Before Losing Blindiness
665)
What does the identification of Krishna with time mean practically?
664)
Mahabharata Characters 17 – Dhritarashtra 03 – Blaming destiny for irresponsibility
663)
Mahabharata Characters 16 – Dhritarashtra 02 – How the attached get manipulated
662)
Mahabharata Characters 15 – Dhritarashtra 01 – The blindness of attachment begins
661)
What is the significance of the word avyaya in Gita 9.2?
660)
If Draupadi was dishonored due to her past karma, why did the Pandavas have to take revenge?
659)
Mahabharata Characters 14 – Drona 04 – Repaying deceit with deceit
658)
Mahabharata Characters 13 – Drona 03 – The Blunder Under Pressure
657)
What is the meaning of Gita 14.11: “The manifestations of the mode of goodness can be experienced when all the gates of the body are illuminated by knowledge”?
May 2014
656)
Mahabharata Characters 12 – Drona 02 – The Teacher’s Tests
655)
When this world is duhkhalayam why are the distressed only one of the four categories of people coming to Krishna
654)
Mahabharata Characters 16 – Dhritarashtra 02 – How the attached get manipulated
653)
Mahabharata Characters 11 – Drona 01 – From poverty to power
652)
Demonizing the other doesn’t remove the demons hither
651)
Mahabharata Characters 10 – Bhishma 09 – The Ideal Departure
650)
Mahabharata Characters 09 – Bhishma 08 – The Grandsire on the arrow bed
649)
Why do dharma-shastras say that aggressors should be forgiven?
648)
Do the dharma-shastras say aggressors shouldn’t be killed and artha-shastras that they should be killed?
647)
What are dharma-shastra and artha-shastra? How are they different?
646)
Mahabharata Characters 08 – Bhishma 07 – Transcendental devotion amidst violent confrontation
645)
Mahabharata Characters 07 – Bhishma 06 – The heartbreaking conflict among loved ones
644)
Mahabharata Characters 06 – Bhishma 05 – The sacrifice of reputation for devotion
643)
Mahabharata Characters 05 – Bhishma 04 – The celibate becomes the match-maker
642)
Mahabharata Characters 04 – Bhishma 03 – A test of faith
641)
Short introduction to “Fascinating Mahabharata Characters” Course
640)
Mahabharata Characters 03 – Bhishma 02 – The fatal complication
639)
Why was Hiranyakashipu not liberated even after being killed by Narasimhadeva?
638)
Why did Hiranyakashipu let Prahlad return to school after trying to assassinate him?
637)
How can we make our work into worship when it is not according to our nature and is not connected with Krishna?
636)
Kunti’s Prayers 6 (SB 01.08.39-43) – The selflessness of pure devotion
635)
Mahabharata Characters 02 – Bhishma 01 – The fierce vow
634)
Mahabharata Characters 01 – Three understandings of the timeless classic
633)
How to make our work into worship (Gita 18.44-45) (Hindi)
632)
Should a devotee avoid initiation due to not being able to follow the fourth regulative principle fully?
631)
Was Arjuna’s killing Karna when he was chariot-less not unfair, being against the kshatriya codes?
630)
Does Krishna compassionately pull impersonalists from Brahman to Bhagavan?
629)
Why does Ambarish M consider his wealth to be material when he knows that it can be used in Krishna’s service?
628)
Why does the Bhagavatam, a Vaishnava book, state that Kashi is the greatest of all holy places?
627)
When Dhruva Maharaj was going BTG and had got a spiritual body, how could he remember a material relationship such as that with his mother?
626)
How is Draupadi’s polygamy justified especially when it involves the same man being required to see her alternately as wife and as sister-in-law?
625)
How does attachment to result make us the cause of action, as the Gita 2.47 purport states?
624)
If Prahlada learnt bhakti by hearing from Narada in his mother’s womb, why did Narada say to the devatas before this that the child in the womb is a great devotee?
623)
Did Hiranyakashipu not know that Vishnu lived in the Kshira-sagara? Why did he ask Prahlad where Vishnu was and whether he was in the pillar?
622)
Narasimhadeva told Prahlad that 21 generations of his family had been delivered, then how did Bali become such a demon that Vamanadeva himself had to come to deliver him?
621)
Narasimha Katha Hindi 3 – SB 07.08.14-30 – Love underlies the various dangerous forms of the Lord
620)
When envy is the cause of our material bondage, how did Shishupala’s envy lead to his liberation?
619)
How is Draupadi’s polygamy be justified especially when the Pandavas have to sometimes see her as a wife and at other times as sister-in-law?
618)
Is conscience always the voice of the Supersoul? Does everyone’s conscience tell them that meat-eating is wrong?
617)
Narasimha Katha Hindi 2 – SB 07.08.09-13 – Repressive and reprehensible Hiranyakashipu
616)
Narasimhadeva’s instructions (SB 07.10.01-23) – Balancing the aspiration for pure devotion with practical action
615)
Narasimha Katha Hindi 1 – SB 07.08.01-08 – Arrogant Hiranyakashipu confronts gentle but firm Prahlada
614)
Why does the Gita 18.68 restrict its message of devotion to devotees?
613)
Arjuna’s memories of Krishna 1 (SB 01.15.04-09) – Make your memory your treasury
612)
How are the feelings of victory and adventure Krishna’s opulences, especially when people get those feelings in illicit activities such as gambling?
611)
Did the Pandavas actually complete the full year of ajnata vasa or were they detected before time?
610)
Kunti’s Prayers 5 – (1.8.35-37) – Don’t deny human emotions in the name of transcendence
609)
When Ashwatthama’s Brahmastra is charging towards Arjuna how does he get time to do achmana and offer prayers to Krishna before countering it?
608)
Karna’s critical choice – Word of honor or life of honor?
607)
Why did Drona despite being a brahmana desire revenge against Drupada?
606)
Why did Drona despite being virtuous come up with the unfair scheme to kill Abhimanyu?
605)
When I hear the Mahabharata, I identify much more with Karna than Arjuna. What should I do?
604)
Why is Parikshit considered the sole survivor of the Pandava dynasty when sons of Bhima and Arjuna like Sutasoma and Babruvahana were still alive?
603)
Are the demigod worshipers in Gita 9.15 different from normal karma kandis because the Gita refers to them as jnanis?
602)
Do the ekatvena worshipers of Gita 9.15 refer to 9.11-12 or 12.3-6?
April 2014
601)
Kunti’s prayers 4 – (1.8.32-1.8.35) – Four reasons for the Lord’s appearance
600)
What kind of rules and regulations do the prestige-seekers referred to in the Gita 16.17 follow?
599)
Are the Gita’s instructions applicable in the spiritual world too or only in the material world?
598)
If the Gita is a transcendental literature, then why does the Gita Mahatmya glorify the attainment of heavenly planets?
597)
Why do we have a right to do prescribed duties as the Gita 2.47 states?
596)
Did Prabhupada want to re-write Bhagavad Gita As It Is because he worked very fast to publish it quickly?
595)
Why doesn’t Srila Prabhupada mention even once in the Bhagavad-gita As It Is that we should chant 16 rounds of Hare Krsna Mahamantra?
594)
Can chanting Hare Krsna help one to assimilate the knowledge of the scriptures more efficiently? How?
593)
How can I turn my occupational duty into devotional service to Krishna?
592)
How does contemplating on Krishna differ from mental speculation about Krishna?
591)
Does Gita 2.47 ma phasehu kadachana mean that we don’t have a right to obtain the result or a right to enjoy the result?
590)
How exactly are “those in Krishna consciousness not responsible for their actions”, as Prabhupada states?
589)
Can Gita 18.14 adhisthanam refer to some place of action other than the body?
588)
Who is the actual doer according to the Gita?
587)
How can we reconcile the Gita (3.4) – don’t give up work – and the Bhagavatam (1.5.17) – give up work?
586)
Did Krishna-Arjuna commit environmental holocaust at Khandava?
585)
What is the difference between charity in goodness and transcendence?
584)
Why does Prabhupada talk about the three energies in his purport to the atyahara verse (NoI 2)?
583)
Why is the edited BBT Gita different from Prabhupada’s unedited original Gita?
582)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 10 – 10.02.15-24 – The mysterious appearances of Balarama and Krishna
581)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 9 – 10.02.01-14 – The previous lives of Kamsa
580)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 8 – 10.01.56-69 – Kamsa brutally persecutes his own family members
579)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 7 – 10.01.46-55 – Vasudeva’s plan B to put off catastrophe
578)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 6 10.01.36-44 – Vasudeva expertly uses sama, dama and bheda to pacify Kamsa
577)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 5 10.01.26-35 – Events leading to Kamsa’s barbarism
576)
Prayer to Hanumanji – Welcome the Rama-duta in the heart with eagerness
575)
Why is the Bhagavad-gita so pessimistic? (expanded with four-point analysis)
574)
Hanuman Appearance – Blend submission and aggression in devotion
573)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 4 – 10.01.21-25 – The Lord’s majestic universal rescue operation
572)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 3 – 10.01.14-20 – The glory of the speakers and hearers of the Bhagavatam
571)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 2 – 10.05.01-13 – Krishna is everyone’s benefactor – I long to hear about him
570)
Bhagavatam tenth canto study 1 – 10.01.01-04 – Please speak Krishna-katha for benefitting everyone
569)
How did Nanda and Yashoda allow Krishna to go to Mathura so readily?
568)
Where was Radharani when the rasa-lila was performed? Why is there no mention of her in the Bhagavatam’s rasa-lila narration?
567)
What is the connecting link between the Gita’s ninth and tenth chapters?
566)
In which verses of the Gita’s eight chapter are the Lord’s glories stated?
565)
When the Pandavas meet Krishna after being exiled to the forest, why do neither mention Krishna’s protecting Draupadi during the gambling match?
564)
Was the Karna who was defeated by Bhima during the pre-Rajasuya yajna conquest different from the Karna who befriended Duryodhana?
563)
When the Ramayana says monasteries shouldn’t accept donations from women, why does ISKCON accept donations from women?
March 2014
562)
The Son of the Sun – part 4
561)
Do the daivi maya in Gita 7.14 and daivi prakriti in 9.13 to the same thing or different things?
560)
I am a Physics student. How can I study the Bhagavad-gita scientifically when it seems like a discussion in a story?
559)
If Karna was not stronger than Arjuna why did Kunti weaken him emotionally and Indra weaken him physically before the war?
558)
Karna’s colossal blunder
557)
In the Mahabharata, why are other warriors like Eklavya, Ghatothakcha and Barbarika manipulated to favor Arjuna?
556)
When Kamsa’s capital Mathura and Kaurava’s capital Hastinapura were so close to each other why is there no record of any conflict between them?
555)
When Vali and Sugriva are born from the union of demigods (Indra and Surya with Aruni) why do they have a monkey form?
554)
Is the Nectar of Instruction a part of a larger work by Rupa Goswami?
553)
NoI 17 Texts 10-11 – The glory of pure devotion in parakiya bhava
552)
NoI 16 Text 9 – The glory of the topmost of all dhamas
551)
NOI 13 Text 6 – Don’t be misled by material perception of devotees
550)
Is the jnani in Gita 7.16 and jnanavan in 7.19 the same or different?
549)
In the Gita chp 8, what is the yogis’ conception of Krishna?
548)
In NoI 8 purport, what do the dashas from shravana to sampatti refer to?
547)
In Gita chp 13, what exactly does jneya refer to?
546)
Are there any examples of yoga-mishra bhaktas becoming kevala bhaktas?
545)
Can Gita verses be translated differently from Prabhupada’s translations?
544)
How can we understand Prabhupada’s equating buddhi-yoga in 2.39 purport with bhakti-yoga?
543)
How do we understand Krishna’s statement to Arjuna that Karna is a better archer than him?
542)
NoI 16 Text 8 Living in Vraja in spirit
541)
NoI 14 Text 7 – The science of chanting
540)
NoI 13 Text 5 – Interacting with devotees at different levels
539)
NoI 12 Text 5 – Interacting with devotees at different levels
538)
Gita 18.64-78 – The Gita culminates in a call for pure love (Hindi)
537)
Gita 18.40-63 – Bhakti is the spiritual summit that also extends down to wherever we may be (Hindi)
536)
As tapa is not a distinct spiritual path, what does Gita 6.46 tapsvibhyo adhiko yogi refer to?
535)
Why is the flow the Gita verses not given in Prabhupada’s Gita?
534)
What is the connection between Gita 6.4 yogarudha stage and 6.5-6 mind’s inimical nature?
533)
Gita 18.29-39 Choose the intelligence, determination and happiness for attaining auspiciousness (Hindi)
532)
How can we practically understand the modes influencing us wrt the jnana karma and karta analysis in Gita 18.20-28?
531)
How are the 6 components of action in Gita 18.18 reduced to 3 in Gita 18.19?
530)
Gita 18.13-18.28 – The five factors and the three components of action (Hindi)
529)
Gita 18.01-12 – Don’t garb irresponsibility as renunciation (Hindi)
February 2014
528)
Gita 17.17-17.28 – Various religions are pathways towards the same sat moutain-peak (Hindi)
527)
Gita 3.9 enjoins yajna for the satisfaction of Vishnu. Then why does the next section talk about the lower level of karma kanda?
526)
Gita 2.38 and 2.48 seem very similar. What is the difference between them?
525)
What is the difference between karma-kanda and sakama karma-yoga? Which does Gita 2.31-37 refer to?
524)
Gita 2.39 is a linking verse. Which sections in the Gita and which levels in the yoga ladder does it link?
523)
Is there any difference between nishkama bhakti and shuddha bhakti?
522)
Do karma-mishra, yoga-mishra, jnana-mishra bhakti come under sakama bhakti?
521)
Gita 17.07-16 – Understanding food, sacrifice and austerity from material and transcendental perspectives (Hindi)
520)
Gita 16.13-17.06 – Demoniac mentality in today’s society (Hindi)
519)
Gita 15.15-16.12 – Purushottama – the highest reality and the qualities that define our natures (Hindi)
518)
Gita 15.01-14 – Understanding material existence metaphorically and philosophically (Hindi)
517)
Gita 14.06-27 – Understanding and transcending the modes (Hindi)
516)
Gita 13.30-14.05 – Jnana Chakshu and the reality of dreams (Hindi)
515)
The Son of the Sun – Part 3
514)
Gita 13.18-29 – How the purusha gets bound by prakriti (Hindi)
513)
Gita 13.08-17 – Understanding jnana and jneya (Hindi)
512)
Mahabharata Wisdom 2 – Karna 1 – Past life karma comes as this life’s problems (Hindi)
511)
How are the living symptoms of consciousness manifestations of the subtle body as the Gita 13.6-7 purport says?
510)
Gita 13.01-07 – Overview of chps 1-12 and understanding Kshetrajna & Kshetra – Hindi
509)
According to Krishna, which is more important – karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga or both?
508)
Do our impulses come from outside us or inside us?
507)
Is karma yoga practical when even the people for whom we sacrifice consider it insane?
506)
Why does the Bhagavatam say that we shouldn’t endeavor even for our necessities?
505)
Why did Draupadi insult Duryodhana when he fell in the Maya sabha by saying ‘andhe ka beta andha’?
504)
The Son of the Sun – Part 2
503)
The Son of the Sun – Part 1
502)
Mahabharata wisdom 1 – Ashwatthama – Beware of the temptation to punish (Hindi)
501)
How is the Gita 4.9 the essence of the Bhagavad-gita?
January 2014
500)
What is the difference between ‘nishkarma’ & ‘karma’ as explained in Gita & its significance?
499)
When Krishna is complete, how can he be the beneficiary of our sacrifices, as Gita 5.29 says?
498)
When the Lord’s glance is purifying why did Mohini-Murti’s glance not purify the demons?
497)
When Krishna knows everything, how did he not know that Rahu & Ketu were impersonatings as demigods?
496)
Churing the ocean, the Bhagavatam and the heart – 2
495)
Churing the ocean, the Bhagavatam and the heart – 1
494)
Vedic Conception of God is beyond polytheism, monotheism and henotheism ( SB 06 03 05 at ISKCON Juhu)
493)
Why are we bound to certain patterns of thinking? Doesn’t that make us like pre-programmed robots?
December 2013
492)
If gambling makes people do foolish things, why are kshatriyas ordained to gamble when challenged?
491)
Though Yudhishthira is the oldest Pandavas, why does Gita chp 1 mention him after Arjuna & Bhima?
490)
As all the bodily forms we take are temporary, does that mean the eternal and real is formlessness?
489)
When sex is an experience of Krishna, as the Gita states, why does Yamunacharya spit at sex desire?
488)
Are the beliefs “kshatriya martyrs attain heaven” & “jehadi suicide bombers attain paradise” different?
487)
Isn’t Prabhupada’s Gita 18.65 call to worship Krishna alone and no other Vishnu form fanatical?
486)
Is Gita 18.55’s impersonal message (vishate tad anantaram) overridden by Prabhupada’s translation?
485)
If the Gita is a manual why is it so confusing? Why couldn’t it have been clearer?
484)
Is the Gita an attempted reconciliation of different Upanishadic thoughts and not a revelation?
483)
SB 7.9.29 – Lust is the fire that seems like a nectar
482)
Does “knowing in truth” (Gita 4.9) happen by “experiences of Truth” or by “understanding”?
481)
When Prabhupada’s perfect purports to the Gita are there, why are Gita daily articles needed?
480)
Six steps to spiritual perfection – Bhagavad Gita 07.01
479)
How is the material world non-existent as Prabhupada states in the Gita introduction?
478)
In Gita 13.12 is there any difference between atma-vinigrahah and indriyartheshu vairagya?
477)
When God Fails – The Bhakti Message in Krishna’s Peace Messenger Pastime
476)
Did Ekalvaya fight in the Kurukshetra war?
475)
How to be your own spiritual master
474)
What is the Gita’s position on deontology?
473)
What is the Gita’s etiology?
472)
What is the Gita’s ontology?
471)
What is the Gita’s soteriology?
470)
What is the Gita’s eschatology?
469)
Does Gita 9.32 which says that anyone can begin bhakti apply to those who fall while practicing bhakti?
468)
Is the Gita 18.66 exclusivist or inclusivist in spirit?
467)
If we need to see intellectually before we can see visually, what about non-intellectual practitioners?
466)
Isn’t unconsciousness of Krishna more harmful than unconsciousness of our faults?
465)
Is there any difference between dambha, darpa and abhimana in Gita 16.04?
464)
Instead of Vyasadeva begetting a successor king in his deceased brother’s wife couldn’t he have become the king himself?
463)
3 measures to prevent falling down and falling away (SB-10-27-22-23)
462)
What is the authenticity of Lord Rama’s pastimes that are not mentioned in the Ramayana?
November 2013
461)
When the Supersoul is a judge, how is he neutral? And how is his role reconcilable with deism?
460)
Can Kuruskshtera be compared to the body, the senses to the Pandavas, the Kauravas to the vices and the war to the inner battle?
459)
Knotty Verse Series 6 – 11.33 – Is the Gita’s call for violence literal or metaphorical?
458)
Knotty Gita Verses Series 5 – 03.35 – Does the Gita endorse the caste system?
457)
Is the Lanka in the south of India the same as Ravana’s Lanka?
456)
Why did Krishna ask Arjuna to worship Durga before the Mahabharata war?
455)
Bhagavata Dharma Series 3 – SB 01.02.17-22 – Practice bhakti-yoga cheerfully
454)
What exactly does the Gita say about ‘work is worship’?
453)
Bhagavata Dharma Series 2 – SB 01.02.11-16 – How bhakti brings realization of the Absolute Truth
452)
Bhagavata Dharma Series 1 – SB 01.02.06-10 – How bhakti is the supreme dharma
451)
The nonviolent violence of the Gita
450)
Kunti’s prayers (1.8.23-1.8.27) – Krishna’s inconceivable protection contradicts our material preconceptions
449)
Kunti’s prayers (1.8.18-1.8.22) – Krishna’s inconceivable position can be understood by simple devotion
448)
Why do jnanis say that bhakti is for the less intelligent and Prabhupada say that only the intelligent can take to bhakti?
447)
When Yudhisthira says that only foolish people seek worldly things in the famous “ascharyam” verse, why does he seek a kingdom?
446)
Was Yudhisthira the most immoral among all the Pandavas because he gambled away all of them and even their innocent wife?
445)
If my sva-dharma is not favourable for my bhakti, then can I accept another dharma favourable for my bhakti?
444)
Can our prescribed duties be changed according to our likes or dislikes?
443)
Why do scriptures contain provocative descriptions of female beauty as in the Mohini Murti pastime?
442)
Wasn’t Arjuna’s taking on the garb of a mendicant to abduct Subhadra immoral?
441)
Kunti’s prayers (1.8.28-1.8.31) – Krishna gives up his supremacy so that love can reign supreme (Hindi)
440)
When Uddhava already had so much knowledge about Krishna, why did Krishna send him to learn from the Vrajavasis?
439)
When Jayadratha didn’t actually kill Abhimanyu, why did Arjuna target him to avenge Abhimanyu’s death?
438)
Bhishma Stuti SB 1.09.32-38 (Hindi)
437)
How can we become equally disposed toward every living entity?
436)
Why does the Avanti brahmana say that the mind is the cause of our suffering and not we ourselves?
October 2013
435)
Did Dasharatha Maharaj go to heaven instead of the spiritual world?
434)
The Glory of Gita wisdom (Reflections on the second anniversary of Gita-daily)
433)
The Multiples Conflicts within the Gita
432)
Is buddhi-yoga a separate type of yoga apart from the four main yogas?
431)
What is the meaning of the Gita 6.44 statement that the advanced yogi goes beyond the range of Vedic sound?
430)
How can we offer all the results of our work to Krishna?
429)
Comparison of Bhagavata worldview with scientific materialism, Christianity and impersonalism
428)
Is the world a playground or a battleground?
September 2013
427)
Does the Vishva-rupa’s devouring the Kauravas prove that the Hindu God is a cannibal, as preachers of some other religion claim?
426)
How can a butcher be advanced in spiritual knowledge as the Vyadha Gita in the Mahabharata depicts?
425)
What does the Mahabharata pastime of Draupadi and all the Pandavas except Yudhisthira falling before they reach the top of the Himalayas signify?
424)
When the Gita says the world is duhkhalayam, does that mean we should face all duhkha passively?
423)
What is the ideal path to live according to the Bhagavad Gita As It Is?
422)
How can we excel in our work if we are detached and don’t set goals?
421)
How Krishna-katha extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence (tava kathamritam explanation) – Hindi
420)
Tranform adversity into an opportunity for realization and spiritual growth – Avanti brahmana pastime analysis
419)
In the Krishna seeing Mahavishnu pastime, why does Mahavishnu say that Krishna is his incarnation?
418)
Bhramara Gita – Radharani’s song to the messenger bee (Radhashtami 2013 Bhagavatam class)
417)
How do we discover our sva-dharma? Should we wait for the spiritual master to tell us our lifelong service?.mp3
416)
Why does the Gita emphasize sva-dharma repeatedly from the second chapter (2.31) to the eighteenth chapter (18.47)?
415)
Does one need to be intellectual to understand Krishna tattvatah, in truth?
414)
How can we say that the Garuda Purana verse glorifying the Bhagavatam refers certainly to Bhagavatam as we have it (and not pre-edited version written by Vyasadeva)?
August 2013
413)
Is the Shiva-sahasra-nama that glorifies Lord Shiva as supreme an interpolation in the Mahabharata?
412)
When the Bhagavatam declares Krishna to the source of all incarnations then why does it refer to the Supreme by the name Vishnu repeatedly, even in the rasa-lila section?
411)
Isn’t Balaramji’s killing Romharshana just because of failure to offer respects objectionable?
410)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.8-18 How the Chatur Shloki is the essence of the Gita
409)
18.56-78 – Krishna reveals his heart of love Gita Study Pune 2013
408)
18.36-55 Bhakti in karma yoga and jnana yoga Gita Study Pune 2013
407)
18.29-35 The link between Knowledge, Intelligence & Determination Gita Study Pune 2013
406)
18.20-28 Cultivating repentence and avoiding lamentation in Sadhana Bhakti Gita Study Pune 2013
405)
18.13-19 Understanding Sankhya in Bhagavad-Gita Gita Study Pune 2013
404)
18.1-12 Frustration is not the qualification for renunciation Gita Study Pune 2013
403)
17.20-28 How Om Tat Sat spiritualizes Yajna, Dana and Tapa Gita Study Mumbai 2013
402)
17.11-19 Applying the principles of austerity in our life Gita Study Pune 2013
401)
17.1-10 Understanding faith in the three modes Gita Study Pune 2013
400)
16.9-24 Demoniac direction of modern society Gita Study Pune 2013
399)
Is the Vedanta sutra personalist or impersonalist?
398)
Did Lord Rama have to be separated from Sita due to Bhrigu Muni’s curse to Vishnu?
397)
Won’t inter-caste marriages lead to varna sankara (unwanted progeny)?
396)
Did Draupadi love Arjuna more than the other Pandavas as a controversial South Indian novel claims?
395)
When Krishna tells Arjuna in the Gita to do his duty, why do brahmacharis give up their duty in the name of the Gita?
394)
Why does Bhishma say in SB 1.9.22 that he is a pure devotee? Shouldn’t a devotee be humble?
393)
If the soul is inconceivable, why should we bother to conceive it?
392)
Why does the “yena sarvam idam tatam” in Gita 2.17 refer to the body and not all of existence
391)
Why is the Gita’s first chapter called a chapter on yoga when it contains no yogic teachings?
390)
Why is the Gita called yoga-shastra?
389)
What does the Gita say about love and inter-caste marriages?
388)
Why does the Krishna book publically present confidential tenth canto pastimes?
387)
When all did Krishna reveal the universe in his mouth to Mother Yashoda?
July 2013
386)
As Gajendra had been a Vaishnava king, why did he offer impersonal prayer?
385)
Is the bridge between India and Lanka Rama-setu?
384)
How can I understand and apply the Gita?
383)
Leadership Sutras based on the Bhagavad-gita
382)
How were Ikshvaku kings rulers of the earth when Ravana was in Lanka?
381)
Does the Rantideva pastime exemplify social service?
380)
What does the sentence “From your place at your pace join the race” mean?
379)
During their spiritual advancement, do devotees see the Supersoul in their heart? How?
378)
Is the Buddha mentioned in the Bhagavatam different from the historical Buddha?
377)
As Buddha is mentioned in the Bhagavatam does it prove that it was written after the time of Buddha?
376)
What does the term Gita wisdom refer to in your Gita-daily articles, when it refers to points not present in the Gita?
375)
How can we always be conscious that the Paramatma is present within our heart and hear his inner voice?
374)
How can we apply sarva dharman parityajya in our life as, for example, students?
373)
As per Gita 10.10 does Krishna help only those who serve him constantly and with love or does he help all his devotees?
372)
When the verses in the Bhagavatam are counted, why do they turn out to be less than 18,000?
371)
Why do we need to get rid of good reactions in addition to bad reactions?
370)
What does the word ’cause’ mean in Gita 2.47 “Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities…”?
369)
How Krishna’s stealing the garments of the gopis is not immoral but trans-moral
368)
What is the difference between monarchy and autocracy as indicated in SB 4.13.11 purport?
367)
What is the significance of the Gita’s reference to Krishna as Bhagavan because Mahabharata also refers to Shiva as Bhagavan?
366)
Does ISKCON have its commentary on the Mahabharata?
365)
Why did Lord Rama run after a deer not realising it was a demon from the beginning?
364)
Why did Prahlad Maharaj not stop Bali Maharaj from his demoniac activities?
363)
Why are Ambarish Maharaja and Dhruva Maharaja not counted amongst the 12 mahajans?
362)
Why didnt Bhishma pitamah stop the Kurus from disrobing Draupadi?
361)
Why does Brihaspati face no consequence when he did a grievous misdeed as described in the Bhagavatam ninth canto?
June 2013
360)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – The Yoga Ladder Explained
359)
Gita Study Pune 2013 15.16-16.8 Importance of Tri Shloki Bhagavad-Gita
358)
Gita Study Pune 2013 15.6-15 Two ways to attain Jnana Cakshu
357)
Gita Study Pune 2013 15.1-5 How the material world is comprehensible as well as incomprehensible
356)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.16-24 How the analysis of the modes leads to Bhakti
355)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.10-15 Examining the modes in today’s society
354)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.1-9 The background for the Gita’s discussion of the modes
353)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 13.20-35 The Bija Vakya of the Gitas last six chapters
352)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 13.8-19 Achintyabhedabheda in the Gita
351)
Why does Prabhupada say that all the verses of the Bhagavatam are spoken by Shukadeva G to Parikshit M when the first canto isnt spoken by him?
350)
08.08 – Leave no space to space out
349)
Why is Arjuna’s name not mentioned in the guru-shisya parampara at the start of the Gita when Krishna gave him knowledge in parampara?
348)
When should an upcoming devotee start reading Bhagavatam?
347)
Is there any online database or on paper of all the vedic scriptures intact for instant access?
346)
Prabhupada says one who is not able to control mind is animal but in Gita Arjuna says that he cannot control mind. Please explain
345)
Lord Rama says janani janma bhumischa svargad api gariyasi. How to understand it?
344)
Why does Prabhupada put in his translations references to Krishna that are not actually there in the Sanskrit verses of the Gita?
343)
How a devotee transcends worldly miseries through absorption SB 3.22.37
342)
Directing the four lanes of our consciousness – intellectual emotional devotional and motivational – towards Krishna Gita 5.17
341)
The antiquity accessibility and glory of the Vedic spiritual path SB 3.22.33
340)
Self-Control – The Key to Happiness Gita 5.21-24
May 2013
339)
Why does Krishna refer to two different seasons as his opulences in Gita 10.35?
338)
Does the mention of Buddha in the Bhagavatam indicate that it was written after Buddha?
337)
Prayers that differentiate pure devotion from mixed devotion – Prahlad’s prayers SB 7.10.2-7
336)
Is the Bhagavad-gita shruti or smriti? Did it become important only recently in the Indian tradition?
335)
What does the Gita 4.24 verse brahmarpanam brahma havir mean? How do we respond to its impersonalist interpretation?
334)
Understanding Krishnas first-person and third-person referencs in the Gita – part 2
333)
What is the significance of the Gita’s definition of yoga as equanimity?
332)
How are instructions in Uddhav Gita higher than instructions in Bhagwat gita?
331)
Happiness is a byproduct ofabsorption in Krishna SB 10.20.20
330)
Why does the Gita 8.13 recommend the chanting of om and not Hare Krishna?
329)
As the soul is higher than the intelligence then how can the intelligence understand the soul as the Gita 3.43 says?
328)
As the Brahman Paramatma Bhagavan are referred to in the Gita 6.28-30 then how are these terms not referred to in the Vedic texts?
327)
Understanding Krishna first-person and third-person references in the Gita – part 1
326)
The special place of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu among the Vedic scriptures – Hindi
325)
SB 1.7.4-7 – Vyasa’s mystic vision as the seed of the Bhagavatam
324)
NoI 10 Text 3 – Three directions we may go on deviating from bhakti
323)
NoI 9 Text 3 How neglect of regulative principles destroys bhakti
322)
NoI 8 Text 2-3 – Devotional service is not sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy
321)
Gita 13.21-22 Material existence as a virtual reality
320)
NoI 7 Text 2 – Three levels of contamination due to asat-sanga
319)
NoI 6 Text 2 – Identifying over-endeavor in spiritual life
318)
NoI 5 Text 2 – Sociological and philosophical reasons to avoid atyahara
317)
NoI 4 Text 1 – The exalted level of the “sharira avidya jala” prayer
316)
The process of bhakti yoga in a nutshell SB 1.2.12
315)
NoI 3 Text 1 – How to spiritualize anger in devotional service – Mumbai 2013
314)
NoI 2 Text 1- The need and the means for authentic atonement – Mumbai 2013
313)
NoI 1 Preface – Understanding the right attitude for a sadhaka – Mumbai 2013
312)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 12.12-20 – The last rung in the Gita’s downward ladder of love
311)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 12.1-11 Arjuna’s question refers to Brahmavada not Mayavada
310)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.47-55 – How Virat Rupa revelation ends in glorification of bhakti
309)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.28-46 The Frightening Virat Rupa – Kala Rupa
308)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.1-27 The Magnificent Virat Rupa
307)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.19-42 How the Vibhutis manifest Krishna’s glory
306)
Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.1-7 – Review of the first nine chapters of the Gita
305)
Chronological and Conceptual flow of the Bhagavatam (SB 3.22.8)
April 2013
304)
What does the statement that Prabhupadas purports are more important than even the translations really mean? And are scriptures written such that they cannot be misinterpreted?
303)
What is the real translation of Gita 7.21?
302)
Being the author of Srimad-Bhagavtam why didn’t Srila Vyasadeva speak Srimad-Bhagavatam himself ?
301)
Ram Jinka Nama Hai song explanation – Rama Navmi 2013 Hindi
300)
Rama Katha – 4 lessons from the abduction of Sita Hindi
299)
Ramayana characters 2 – Kaikeyi 2
298)
Ramayana characters 1 – Kaikeyi (Trapped by Blind Belief and Baseless Doubt) – 1
297)
Why does Prabhupada say that “Consideration of the Paramātmā and impersonal Brahman arose after the creation; before the creation, only the Supreme Personality of Godhead existed.” in Bhag 6.4.47 purport?
296)
Why does the Gita say that “for a respectable person, dishonor is worse than death” and also say “consider honor and dishonor to be the same”?
295)
As Kaikeyi’s demands led to the unfoldment of the Ramayana why is she considered the symbol of ignorance
March 2013
294)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.73-78 Concluding messages from the Gita
293)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.65-72 – Comprehending dharman parityajya and vraja in 18.66
292)
Isnt Vyasadeva’s birth illegitimate?
291)
What is the basis for saying that the mode of goodness is right?
290)
If Tulsi das was a devotee, why did he want to merge in impersonal brahman?
289)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.62-64 Why bhakti is the conclusive message of the Gita
288)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.54-62 Bhakti is the summit of spirituality but also reaches down to wherever we are
287)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.40-53 Rising to the brahman platform through devotionalized karma yoga within varnashrama
286)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.36-39 Choose happiness based on intelligence
285)
18.35 Sustaining our determination is our responsibility
284)
18.29-34 Intelligence in the three modes and its difference from knowledge in the three modes
283)
Gita Overview Mumbai18.22-28 How the modes shape the doer and the deed
282)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.18-21 The motivations and components of action
281)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.12-17 Five factors of action
280)
Gita Overview Mumbai 18.1-9 When renunciation does and doesn’t bear fruit
279)
Gita Overview Mumbai 17.23-28 How om tat sat sanctifies and spiritualizes
278)
17.15-22 Being soft-spoken and satisfied are matters of choice not just of nature
277)
Gita Overview Mumbai 17.11-14 Understanding svabhava svakarma and svadharma
276)
Gita Overview Mumbai 17.5-10 When austerities become demoniac
275)
Gita Overview Mumbai 17.3-4 Panchopasana and religions in various modes
274)
Gita Overview Mumbai 16.21-17.2 – Scripture takes us beyond nature nurture and culture
273)
16.13-20 The demoniac treat religion as a social cosmetic
272)
Gita Overview Mumbai 16.8-12 Atheists abuse science for demoniac purposes
271)
Gita Overview Mumbai 16.1-7 Understanding pravrtti and nivrtti
270)
Gita Overview Mumbai 15.15-20 Trishloki Gita refutes Mayavada unambiguously
269)
Gita Overview Mumbai 15.9-14 Krishna arranges for even our material enjoyment
268)
Gita Overview Mumbai 15.1-8 Analysis of the upside-down tree metaphor
267)
Gita Overview Mumbai 14.22-27 Become an observer of the consciousness
266)
Why does Prabhupada’s Gita 6.46 translation of karmi not include nishkama karmis?
265)
Gita Overview Mumbai 14.17-21 Knowledge arises from sattva not abhyasa
264)
Gita Overview Mumbai 14.11-16 How knowledge became redefined as the quest for power not truth
263)
Gita Overview Mumbai 14.1-10 Characteristics of the three modes
262)
Gita Overview Mumbai 13.20-35 A coherent understanding of the 6 items taught in Chp 13-
261)
Gita Overview Mumbai 13.13-19 Understanding five koshas and achintyabhedabheda in the Gita
260)
Gita Overview Mumbai 13.8-12 Role of bhakti in jnana and of jnana in bhakti
259)
Gita Overview Mumbai 13.1-7 Vyashti and Samashti approaches to understanding reality
258)
Does Brahma have 4 or 5 heads?
257)
Gita Overview 12.12-20 Unraveling the mysterious hierarchy of 12.12
256)
Gita Overview Mumbai 12.1-11 Progression from Virata Rupa to Impersonal Brahman
255)
Gita Overview Mumbai 11.41-55 Pure devotion reveals all visions
February 2013
254)
Gita Overview Mumbai 11.24-40 Material destruction paves the way for spiritual ressurection
253)
Gita Overview Mumbai 11.1-23 The background to understand Vishva-rupa – Yoga aishvarya to rupa aishvarya
252)
Gita Overview 10.34-42 – Krishna as victory adventure and other opulent manifestations
251)
Gita Overview Mumbai10.25-33 – Metaphors for understanding Krishna’s glories
250)
Why was Arjuna so dear to Krishna?
249)
What is the relation of Vedvyasji with Parashar Muni and King Shantanu?
248)
Is ISKCON’s claim for a paramapara connection to understand the Gita not an attempt to monopolize the Gita?
247)
Does the Gita’s instruction that we work without expecting results mean that we work without salaries?
246)
Why did the gopis worship Katyayani? Can we worship demigods to attain Krishna?
245)
If Bhishma departed on Makar Sankranti then what is Bhishmashtami?
January 2013
244)
Srila Prabhupada expert presentation of the Bhagavatam – Hindi
243)
Why is the Pururava pastime told partially in the ninth canto and then later completeted in the eleventh canto?
242)
How exactly was Balaramji born? How much is the age difference between him and Krishna?
241)
Why did Krishna run away when Jarasandha attacked for the 18th time?
240)
Why did Krishna say to Arjuna that he had not shown the Universal Form to anyone else when he had shown it to Yashoda and Duryodhana?
239)
When Krishna doesn’t recommend roots as items to be offered to him why do we offer him potatoes?
238)
“Brahman spoke through Krishna by entering into him like a ghost.” How do we respond to this idea?
237)
How do we understand that the number of people killed in the Mahabharata war was more than the earth’s population at that time
236)
Why is sleep considered to be a characteristic of intelligence in the Bhag 3.26.30?
235)
Mahajanas 4 – Kumaras
234)
As devotees are sincerely trying to live according to principles can the mithyachari Gita verse 3.6 be applied to them?
233)
Please explain how we become co-creators with God through sex, as you mention in your Gita-dailies
232)
Mahajanas 3 – Lord Shiva
231)
If dharma is our essential nature, then why does the Gita (18.66) ask us to abandon dharma?
230)
Is the classification of the four kinds of miscreants in Gita 7.15 strict?
229)
Is the tree at Jyotisar in Kuruskhetra the spot where the Gita was spoken?
228)
Why is Brahma requesting the Lord Varaha to kill Hiranyaksha before twilight hours when the Lord is omnipotent?
227)
Winning the Race Against Time – New Year Eve class (Hindi)
December 2012
226)
How do we refute the Mayavadi interpretation of ‘om purnam adah’?
225)
Why is Lord Shiva glorified as if he is supreme in the Bhag 8.7?
224)
Why does Krishna describe Maya as daivi in the Gita 7.14?
223)
Chatur Shloki Gita 10.8-11 – Gita Jayanti (2012) – Hindi
222)
Number Magic in the Bhagavad-gita
221)
Is Sita the daugher of Ravana?
220)
Mahajanas 2 – Narada Muni (Hindi)
219)
How de we understand the verse that nondevotees have no good qualities?
218)
What is the basis for taking the number of wives of Chitraketu non-literally?
217)
Mahajanas 1 – Brahma (Hindi)
216)
What is the origin, authenticity and relevance of Tantra?
215)
How could 64 crore people have fit in the small area known as Kurukshetra?
214)
What is the difference between renunciation in passion and ignorance?
213)
Does one have to live in poverty to be able to call out to Krishna sincerely as Bhag 1.8.26 suggests?
212)
If Drona rejected Eklavya due to his character deficiency, then why didnt he reject Duryodhana too?
November 2012
211)
Why is the Bhagavatam considered to be the nirnayak scripture?
210)
What was Srila Prabhupada’s position on Goswami Tulasidas?
209)
How did Krishna forget the Bhagavad-gita, as he states in the Mahabharata?
208)
Will knowing more and more about Krishna from the Bhagavatam give us love for him?
207)
Are there clear references to “love” in the Gita? Are the words “devotional service” and “love” synonymous?
206)
If Prthu M is an avatara why did he take birth from a material body?
205)
Can we experience spiritual happiness with material senses and mind?
204)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 10.12-10.25 Understanding the concept of Vibhuti
203)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 10.1-10.11 Knowledge about Krishna – the rarity the speciality and the methodology
202)
Gita Study 2012 9.26-9.34 Why is a sinful devotee considered saintly?
201)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 Gita 9.16-9.25 The Krishna factor in worship of the Universal Form and demigods
200)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 9.10-9.15 The four kinds of causes and the three kinds of jnana-yajna
199)
Why did Bhishma and Drona fight on the side of the Kauravas?
198)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 9.1-9.9 The glory of knowledge about Krishna
197)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.23-8.28 Bhakti is superior to the paths of devayana and pitrayana
196)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.14-8.22 How the Gita identifies the supreme abode with Krishna’s abode
195)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.10-8.13 Understanding yoga-mishra bhakti
194)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.5-8.9 How to think of Krishna constantly
October 2012
193)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.1-8.5 Understanding the link between objects words and concepts
192)
How do we make sense of the Bhagavatam statement that Chitraketu had ten million wives? Is it a sign of lack of faith if we are troubled by such questions?
191)
Mahabharata Characters 4 – Duryodhana
190)
When Yamadutas know that Narayana is supreme (SB 6.1.41) why do they later (6.3) ask Yamaraja if there is anyone above him?
189)
Realization comes by moving up and down the ladder of abstraction – Pururava song analysis
188)
Are the vanaras of Ramayana similar to the monkeys on earth today?
187)
The Obstinacy of Ravana – Dussehra class
186)
Prithu Maharaj pastime – III
185)
Prithu Maharaj pastime – II
184)
Prithu Maharaj pastime – I
183)
How Krishna’s glory is revealed in the tenth canto of the Bhagavatam…
182)
How are the knower and known one in the absolute realm as Srila Prabhupada mentions in the purport of Bhag 1.2.11?
181)
Why was Duryodhana born with so much power when he had such evil tendencies? (and 4 other questions about Duryodhana)
180)
Mahabharata Characters 3 – Karna 2 (Hindi)
179)
When Arjuna had defeated all the Kaurava heroes at Virata why does Bhagavatam refer to them as the huge fishes timingilas against whom Arjuna was like a tiny fish?
178)
Mahabharata Characters 2 – Karna 1 (Hindi)
177)
Mahabharata Characters 1 – Bheeshma (Hindi)
176)
The Wisdom and Devotion of Queen Kunti (Hindi)
175)
The Prayers of the Prachetas
174)
How does the word bhavana in Gita 2.66 refer to fixed mind?
173)
What is the higher taste for jnanis?
172)
Is God everything? What exactly does the verse “vasudevah sarvam iti” mean?
September 2012
171)
The encouraging, more encouraging and most encouraging messages of the Gita
170)
A Hero’s Prayers at the moment of Death – Vritrasura – Bhagavatam 6.11.18-27
169)
Morality and Immorality in the Mahabharata – Hindi
168)
How the Lord tests his devotees – Hindi
167)
How were Jatayu and Sampatti able to fly towards the sun when there is no air in the space intervening between the earth and the sun?
August 2012
166)
The Realizations of Pingala – How Frustration leads to Renunciation
165)
Why did the Lord give spiritual knowledge to the sun-god when he had already given it to Brahma?
164)
How did Parashurama exist at the same time as another avatar Rama? Why did he oppose Rama?
163)
Why did Yudhishthira consider the wicked Dhritrashtra as a respectable elder who had to be obeyed? Why didnt he consult Krishna?
162)
Why did Yudhishthira gamble despite knowing its consequences?
161)
Team work in the Ramayana
160)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.24-30: Are Mayavadi interpretations of Gita justified?
159)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.15-23: Those who don’t surrender, surrender, and surrender to Krishnetara
158)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.04-14: How Krishna pervades the material world as its essence
157)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.01-03 – Understanding phenomenon and noumenon
156)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 – 06.42-47: The Glory of Bhakti
155)
Please explain the union of Parasara Muni and Satyavati.
154)
How do we understand and explain that the Vedas are self-evident truths?
153)
Why are there talking animals in Ramayana but not in Mahabharata?
152)
What is the difference between householder devotees and karma-yogis?
151)
War Against Maya – Mahabharata Days 12 and 13
150)
Understanding the Universal Form
149)
Why Srila Prabhupad is using “the Lord’s not forgetting” as proof for his having transcendental body?
148)
What is the authenticity of the story that Parikshit M stayed in a tower to protect himself?
147)
What is the meaning of the fifth canto – faith in structure of the universe – protecting the sixth canto – faith in the holy name?
146)
What is importance of Sandwich analogy to explain Bhagavad Gita from philosophical perspective?
145)
Why was Dasharath M ready to forgo his word to Vishvamitra but not Kaikeyi?
144)
How the Bhagavad-gita is special among all books in the world – Gita Jayanti class
July 2012
143)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 6.35-41: Understanding the Gita flow from dhyana-yoga to bhakti-yoga.mp3
142)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 6.29-34 Krishna’s position in the path of dhyana-yoga
141)
If Krishna says “Go beyond the Vedas” in Bhagavad Gita, then why do we take the Hare Krishna Mantra from the same Vedas?
140)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.22-28 Transforming emotions from obstacles to pathways towards samadhi
139)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.15-21 Taking the mind through the five stages of mind control
138)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 – 06.08-14 Going from knowledge to realization
137)
What is the basis for saying that Arjuna engaged in contemplation according to Gita 2.62-63 when he did not fall down as the verse predicts?
136)
What is the basis for equating Arjuna’s Gandiva bow with our determination?
135)
How is it that Ajamila was 88 years old when he begot 10th son? Because in Satyayuga peoples life span was 1 lac years?
134)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.01-07 Understanding how the mind deludes
133)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 05.24-29: How knowing Krishna brings peace
132)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012: 05.17-23 The four investments for gaining knowledge of Krishna.mp3
131)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012: 05.09-16 Understanding who is the actual doer
130)
Gita Study Mumbai 2012 05.01-08: How Krishna subtly but surely changes Arjuna’s conceptions about the hierarchy of karma yoga and jnana yoga
129)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.34-42 Glories of transcendental knowledge
128)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.26-33 Different kinds of yajnas and their underlying principles
127)
Gita study Mumbai – 2012 04.18-25 How the internal consciousness prevents bondage
126)
Priyavrata pastimes analysis 2- Where material life and spiritual intersect
125)
Priyavrata pastimes analysis 1 – Don’t confuse means and ends
124)
Does the Supersoul control the the soul’s desires?
123)
Gita study Mumbai 2012 – Different approaches for scriptural study
122)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.10-17 Understanding Krishna’s nature
121)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.07-09 The three obstacles to knowing Krishna
120)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.01-06 How the parampara is continued or lost
119)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.37-43 Lust is not just dangerous but also treacherous
118)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.31-36 The middle way between total supression and unrestricated expression
117)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.25-30 Four differences between karma kandi and karma yogi
116)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.21-24 Are Krishna’s action are immoral
115)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.14-20 Playing our part in the cycle of sacrifice
114)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.9-13 Understanding the principles and mechanism of yajna
113)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.1-8 The principles and purposes underlying renunciation
112)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.67-72 Going beyond sense control to mind control
111)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.62-66 Avoiding undesirable contemplation
110)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.55-61 Becoming a sthita prajna
109)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.48-54 Understanding and living the three definitions of yoga
108)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.46-47 Understanding 4 parts of karmanya va dhikaraste
107)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.26-38 Refuting materialism
106)
Gita study mumbai 2012 – 2.39-45 How karma yoga is superior to karma kanda
105)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.17-25 Characteristics of the soul
104)
Gita study mumbai 2012- 2.1-16 Gita begins by refuting mayavada
103)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 1.27-46 Giving up horizontal relationship for vertical relationship
102)
Gita study Mumbai 2012- 1.1-1.25 Introducing Mahabharat character
101)
In the Bhagavad gita verse 14.6, what does ‘being conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge mean’?
100)
What does the Taittiriya Upanishad mantra “Brahmavidya aponti param” mean?
99)
What is the Vedic perspective about the book ‘Mrutyunjaya’?
98)
Do BG 18.20 and 18.21 support a Brahmavad conception of God?
97)
Scriptures act as Map, Model and Muscle
96)
BALI acronym of Bali Maharaj glories- 3
95)
BALI acronym of Bali Maharaj Glories -2
94)
BALI acronym of Bali maharaj glories
93)
How hearing does wonders BG 7.1
92)
Why are the chapters of the Bhagavad-gita named differently by different acharyas?
91)
What is the difference between freedom from material modes and freedom from reactions of fruitive activities?
90)
How is Bhagavan higher than Brahman? Ishopanishad 15-16
89)
Do all paths lead to the same goal? – Ishopanishad 13
June 2012
88)
Prahlad M prayers 4 – Krishna is more than a desire tree
87)
Prahlad M prayers 1 – Comprehending the Mystery of Humility
86)
Prahlad M prayers 3 – Making Misery an incentive for bhakti
85)
Prahlad M prayers 2 – Steadying and purifying our bhakti
84)
Why is the Vedanta-sutra not as clear as the Bhagavatam when both deal with the same subject?
83)
As scriptures are like Deities, can we underline or higlight or make similar marks on them?
82)
If it is told in the Vedas that “Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam” then why do other Vaishnav sampradaya worship Vishnu and not Krishna?
81)
How could Airavata, the elephant-carrier of Indra, have emerged from the churning of the ocean when the Bhagavatam states that Airavata was already Indra’s carrier in the battle before the churning?
80)
Understanding “action in inaction and inaction in action” as mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita 5.17.
79)
When Krishna spoke the Gita to the sun-god, was that Gita exactly the same as was spoken to Arjuna?
78)
In the Spiritual World, why is Ayodhya at a higher level than the other Vaikuntha Planets?
77)
Why does Prabhupada say in Bhagavad Gita 2.62 purport that Lord Shiva is not able to control his senses?
76)
Are the scriptural descriptions about the glories of the holy name exaggerations?
75)
Why does Srila Prabhupada translate karma-yoga as “devotional service”?
May 2012
74)
Why does Srila Prabhupada “bhakti” in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu as devotion instead of his usual translation “devotional service”?
73)
As Ravana and Kumbakarna are also devotees in disguise, why do scriptures not glorify them?
72)
When the soul obviously moves, how do we to explain the Gita 2.24 statement that the soul is immovable?
71)
As the killing of Hiranyakashipu happened before the garlanding of Narasimhadeva by Prahlad Maharaj, why are both depicted in the same picture?
70)
Why are the Puranas mentioned separately from Smriti in the verse “shrutismritipuranadi..”?
69)
Is Vyasadeva not doing self-glorification when he writes “by the mercy of Vyasa” in the Gita ?
68)
Why does Krishna refer to himself in the third person in the Gita?
67)
How do we understand when different Vaishnava acharays give different meanings of the same scriptural verse?
66)
Krishna has himself given the Vedas; then why does he tell us to go beyond the Vedas in the Gita 2.46?
65)
My heart tells me that jnana-yoga is the best path for me. What should I do?
64)
References to the Hare Krishna Mahamantra
63)
If Hiranyakashipu performed austerity for 10,000 years, how was Prahlad just 5 years old when he returned?
62)
Narasimha Lila – Festival Class (Hindi)
61)
Prayers of Prahlada Maharaj (Narasimha Chaturdashi Bhagavatam)
60)
Ishopanishad Systematic Overview Pune 2012 – 15 classes
April 2012
59)
What happens to demigods when yajna is stopped?
58)
How do we understand the scriptural statement that we are not the doers?
57)
When exactly was the Ramayana written – before, during or after the pastimes of Lord Rama?
56)
How can we trust the Vedas when many Vedic texts have been destroyed and incomplete knowledge is harmful?
55)
Does the Bhagavad-gita teach that all paths lead to the same goal?
54)
If consciousness is spiritual, then why is it said to a part of the material field in Chp 13 of the Gita?
53)
Systematic overview of all Bhagavad-gita verses in 50 hours
52)
Should I try to resolve every doubt that comes when reading scriptures?
51)
What does Prabhupada mean when he refers to Drona’s leniency?
50)
Why did Lord Rama kill the shudra Shambuka for doing the pious activity of tapasya?
49)
Rama-Lila lectures in Hindi
48)
In the Gita 1.1, why is Dhritarashtra’s asking “What did they do?” in the past tense instead of the present tense?
47)
Why did the same Arjuna who didn’t want to kill his own relatives before the war want to kill Yudhishthira?
46)
How does Kuvera have a lake on the earth?
45)
How can one understand “action in inaction and inaction in action”
44)
Is the Ramayana relevant today?
March 2012
43)
Why are the names of Vedic personalities characteristic of their personalities?
42)
Gita Overview Hindi
41)
Bhishma Stuti 1.9.32-42
40)
Why Draupadi didn’t allow Karna to participate in her swayamvar competition?
39)
Queen Kunti’s Prayers – 1 (1.8.18-24)
38)
Gita Overview 2 (2.1-2.30)
37)
Gita Overview 5 (2.54-3.8)
36)
Gita Overview 1 (1.1-1.47)
February 2012
35)
Why do some people consider the Vedas superior to the Puranas?
34)
Why are there contradictions between Mahabharata and Bhagavatam?
33)
When we can return to Krishna by love and devotion, why do we need to study scriptures?
32)
Why do the Vedic scriptures sometimes contain verses with an apparently Mayavadi import?
31)
Why was Pururava not purified by worship of Lord Vishnu, as was Dhruva Maharaj?
30)
The Song of God – A brief introduction to the Bhagavad-gita
29)
Why did Bhishma wait till Uttarayana to leave his body?
28)
When the Pandavas were born of various demigods, why are they called the sons of Pandu?
27)
Why does Srila Prabhupada add electricity in the translation of 15.6?
26)
Why does Srila Prabhupada give two contradictory translations of the word “vraja” in 18.66?
25)
Why does the Gita say that “I am intelligence among women?”
January 2012
24)
When did Vyasadeva write Bhagavatam?
23)
Why is “Sri Bhagavan uvaca” in the Bhagavad Gita translated as “The Blessed Lord”? said”
22)
Can you kindly clarify the position of Ekalavya?
21)
Can you clarify the character and past-life history of Karna?
20)
Why did Lord Rama kill Vali from behind a tree?
19)
Are there any references in the Gita to the chanting of the holy names?
18)
Why does devotee association not purify people like Kamsa?
17)
Why do I feel more attracted to Lord Rama than to Lord Krishna?
16)
Why should we believe in the Vedas?
15)
Why was Karna denigrated as suta-putra?
14)
How Krishna is revealed in the Bhagavatam
13)
Why does the Bhagavatam say that Lord Ram went to the brahmajyoti?
12)
MBW 1 (Mahabharata Wisdom 1): The Unity of the Pandavas – Yudhisthira’s Mistake
11)
Is the Bhagavad-gita an extremist book?
December 2011
10)
Is the metaphorical interpretation of the Gita’s battlefield setting authorized?
9)
Why does the Bhagavad-gita call for violence?
8)
Bhagavad-gita for the Jet-age
7)
The Gita’s Secret Message Of Love
6)
Why is the Bhagavad-gita so pessimistic?
5)
Emotional Exchanges between Krishna and Arjuna in the Gita
November 2011
4)
Why does the Gita recommend working with detachment?
October 2011
3)
What is the significance of Diwali?
2)
Are the Vedas mythological because they talk about mysticism?
October 2010
1)
Why did Lord Rama banish Sita?