Currently Browsing: Vedic Scriptures

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April 2018

• 2091) Was Ravana a good person who just committed one mistake?
• 2090) Gita 17.20 Give charity for purity, not popularity
• 2089) Gita 17.19 Slaving to get the whip that will lash us is stupidity
• 2088) Gita 17.18 The show of austerity without the substance of spirituality points to superficiality or even hypocrisy
• 2087) Gita 17.17 The mode in which austerity is performed different from the mode with which austerity is performed
• 2086) Gita 17.16 Austerity of mind transforms our inner disruptive enemy into a constructive friend
• 2085) Gita 17.15 Speech is meant not just for commnication but also for purification
• 2084) Bhagavatam study 73 1.14.18.33 – When we apprehend the worst-case scenario, we look for alternatives
• 2083) Gita 17.14 Austerity enables us to use our bodily vehicle constructively, not destructively
• 2082) Bhagavatam study 72 1.14.12.17 – Inversion of natural order prophesies inauspiciousness

March 2018

• 2081) Bhagavatam study 71 1.14.1.11 – Departure of the order-sustaining Lord leads to disruption of that order
• 2080) Bring out the Hanuman within, not the Ravana within
• 2079) Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 4 – How Hanuman provoked to deter Ravana from war
• 2078) Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 3 – Keeping our intention above our emotions
• 2077) Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 2 – Earning trust through emotional intelligence
• 2076) Lessons from Hanuman’s devotion to Rama 1 – When we hide ourselves from the Lord, he hides himself from us
• 2075) Ramayana series 3 – Rama-Lakshmana – Does destiny control everything?
• 2074) Ramayana series2 – Vali-Sugriva – Don’t judge without understanding
• 2073) How are fruitive activities the engagements of one’s reactions from past good or bad deeds?
• 2072) Ramayana series 1 – Manthara-Kaikeyi – How manipulators mislead
• 2071) Avoid distractions using intelligence directed towards transcendence
• 2070) Our goals are the results we seek – how can we set goals but be detached from results?
• 2069) What the Bhagavatam conveys by narrating Krishna’s agonizing departure
• 2068) Gita 17.13 Yajna in ignorance expresses defiance externally and internally.mp3

February 2018

• 2067) Gita 17.12 Yajna is like modern technology – can fuel the illusion that we are controllers and enjoyers.mp3
• 2066) Reflections on the last verse spoken by Krishna in the Gita – Hindi
• 2065) Gita 17.11 Focus not on expectation from the world, focus on contribution from yourself.mp3
• 2064) Gita 17.10 Food in ignorance isn’t nourishing, satisfying or appealing.mp3
• 2063) Gita 17.09 Food in passion is is sensually stimulating but eventually distressing and disease-inducing.mp3
• 2062) Gita 17.08 Food in goodness provides profusely both nutrition and satisfaction
• 2061) Gita 17.07 Food, sacrifice, charity and austerity represent broad patterns of the soul’s interaction with its encasing circles
• 2060) Gita 17.06 Defying scripture, be it for pandering the body or tormenting the body, is demonic
• 2059) Gita 17.05 Our body is not ours to abuse by arbitrary austerity
• 2058) Gita 17.04 Our level of consciousness determines who we feel is worshipable
• 2057) Gita 17.03 The relationship between our existence and our faith is causal, constitutional and consequential
• 2056) Gita 17.02 See not just people’s ideological faith – see also their functional faith
• 2055) Gita 17.01 The Gita universalizes and contextualizes the analytical framework of the three modes
• 2054) Gita 16.24 Knowing scripture is our responsibility and our opportunity
• 2053) Gita 16.23 Those who reject scripture suffer both in this life and the next
• 2052) Gita 16.22 To pursue our self-interest, we need to purge out self-defeating desires
• 2051) Gita 16.21 The metaphorical usage stresses the reality and gravity of the demoniac forces of lust, anger and greed
• 2050) Gita 16.20 Demoniac action and demoniac destination is perpetuated by demoniac disposition
• 2049) Gita 16.19 Devilish delights doom the demonic to deadly destinations
• 2048) Gita 16.18 When bad situations make us take shelter of our bad side, we become bad people
• 2047) Gita 16.17 Self-complacence and impudence perpetuate ignorance
• 2046) Gita 16.16 Desires and fears cover our consciousness completely with illusion
• 2045) Gita 16.15 The ungodly want to look good, not become good
• 2044) Gita 16.14 Greed makes the covetous murderous
• 2043) Gita 16.13 Let the mind’s chariot take us where we want to go, not where it wants to go
• 2042) Gita 16.12 Sensual desires are ropes of enslavement, not roads to enjoyment
• 2041) Gita 16.11 We make our beliefs and our beliefs make us
• 2040) If I want to come first in my class, am I being attached to results?
• 2039) Gita 16.10 Taking shelter of lust amidst problems is like taking shelter of kidnappers when threatened by thieves
• 2038) Gita 16.09 The ungodly are born for destructive action unless they do drastic course correction

January 2018

• 2037) Gita 16.08 From atheism to hedonism is a natural slide
• 2036) Gita 16.07 Observe others actions not to condemn, but to help
• 2035) Gita 16.06 Knowing the inclination of the road where our car is is education, not condemnation
• 2034) Gita 16.05 Acknowledging where a car’s wheels are pointing is not accusing the car driver
• 2033) Gita 16.03 Giving appropriate honor promotes harmony, demanding excessive honor disrupts harmony
• 2032) Gita 16.02 Our godliness needs to be seen in our harmonious interactions with others
• 2031) Gita 16.01 Godliness is both a decision and a disposition
• 2030) Gita 15.20 Using the knowledge and devotion we presently have propels us symbiotically towards life’s perfection
• 2029) Gita 15.19 Bhakti is not non-intellectual or anti-intellectual – it is trans-intellectual
• 2028) Gita 15.18 Fragmentation is not the cause of illusion, disharmonization is
• 2027) Gita 15.17 Liberation is not just elevation out of illusion but also connection with the supreme reality
• 2026) Gita 15.16 Purification means to change our emotional center
• 2025) Gita 15.15 The purpose of perceiving the spiritual through the material is to perceive the spiritual in its own right
• 2024) The Bhagavad-gita as a leadership guide

December 2017

• 2023) How is the Gita relevant today – Marathi
• 2022) Bhagavatam study 70 1.13.51-60 Determination directed towards renunciation brings spiritual elevation
• 2021) Bhagavatam study 69 1.13.46-50 When we can’t protect ourselves from kala, karma and guna, how can we protect others?
• 2020) Bhagavatam study 68 1.13.39-45 Know when to exercise control in the service of the supreme controller and when to release control
• 2019) For meditation, we need the right object and the right conception
• 2018) Duryodhana felt no moral compunction while persecuting the Pandavas, but Dhirtrashtra did – why the difference?
• 2017) When Abhimanyu was killed, how was Arjuna overcome by illusion?
• 2016) Duryodhana character analysis 3 – Envy perpetuates dissatisfaction and invites destruction
• 2015) Duryodhana character analysis 2 – Ambition distorted by envy becomes cancerous
• 2014) Gita Jayanti class – The Gita brings a message of fearlessness to a fear-filled world

November 2017

• 2013) Gita Jayanti talk – Appreciating the Gita’s message by contemplating the starting and ending names of Arjuna and Krishna
• 2012) When jnana and karma are different philosophies, how can they both give the same result, as the Gita’s sixth chapter states?
• 2011) Duryodhana character analysis 1 – How the entitlement mentality degrades
• 2010) Analyzing yoga and bhakti to keep practice in harmony with purpose
• 2009) How small conflicts become big – Daksha pastime analysis 4 – How impulses are shaped by technology, mentality and spirituality
• 2008) Shakuni Character Analysis 2 – Evaluate whether our relationships bring out our best or our worst
• 2007) Gita 15.14 The world’s origin and operation points requires something beyond the world
• 2006) The Gita as a book of love – The significance of the first and last words spoken by Krishna and Arjuna
• 2005) Gita 15.13 The existence of multiple factors congenial to our existence points to transcendence
• 2004) Gita 15.12 We need the eyes to see what our eyes need to see
• 2003) Gita 15.11 What we see depends on what we want to see
• 2002) Gita 15.10 We need knowledge to see our vulnerability in material existence
• 2001) Gita 15.09 The mind makes chasing mirages the soul’s tragic habit
• 2000) The Bhagavad-gita’s message of love comforts and enlightens
• 1999) The art of work – Detachment directed by devotion maximizes contribution

October 2017

• 1998) Ramayana series 4 – SEES acronym – 4 explanations why Rama abandoned Sita
• 1997) Ramayana series 3 – Shurapanakha’s slyness – Beware of those who manipulate us using our weakness
• 1996) Ramayana series 2 – Maricha’s miscalculation – Our destination is not as important as our action
• 1995) Gita 15.08 The essence of growth is evolution in our conception of life
• 1994) Ramayana Series 1 – Dasharatha’s dilemma
• 1993) Gita 15.07 Even when the mind is directed by the senses, it still directs the senses
• 1992) Gita 15.06 The spiritual world is self-luminous and its luminosity is malleable to Krishna’s will
• 1991) Gita 15.05 Surrender means to give up everything for Krishna – even the feeling of hopelessness
• 1990) Gita 15.04 The Personal Absolute is not a way to transcendence – he is the summit of transcendence
• 1989) Gita 15.03 Detachment cuts not the world but our own attachment to the world
• 1988) Gita 15.02 We are bound by action and knowledge can guide us to action that leads to liberation
• 1987) Gita 15.01 The metaphor of the upside-down tree points to the reality beyond the reflection
• 1986) Gita 14.27 Brahman refers not just to the impersonal spiritual but also the generically spiritual
• 1985) Gita 14.26 Health is a product of medication but it is also a precondition for medication
• 1984) Gita 14.25 As long as we are materially motivated, we will be materially agitated
• 1983) Gita 14.24 To be equipoised, be situated in the self, not in the world
• 1982) Understanding Gita Wisdom – Interview on People of Bhakti at Bhakti Radio Network
• 1981) Gita 14.23 We are not our scars, be they physical or emotional
• 1980) Gita 14.22 Be a non-judgemental non-committal observer of your emotions
• 1979) Gita 02.20-30 Go beyond lamentation by understanding the eternality of the soul and the multiplicity of its reincarnations
• 1978) Gita 14.21 When the disease is subtle, we need education to perceive the symptoms of sickness and health
• 1977) When is violence justified – how is the Gita’s war different from modern World Wars?
• 1976) Gita 14.20 Those who transcend the modes transcend miseries
• 1975) Gita 14.19 Seeing that our actions are impelled by the modes inspires us to resist the desires induced by the modes
• 1974) Gita 14.18 Goodness leads to elevation, passion to stagnation, ignorance to degradation
• 1973) Gita 14.17 Different modes foster different emotions, dispositions and destinations
• 1972) Gita 14.16 Piety purifies, craving torments and intoxication stupefies
• 1971) Gita 14.15 The modes are not just psychological constructs, they are also post-mortem destination shapers
• 1970) How our vision alters our perception – Gita study 01.24-36
• 1969) Gita 14.14 A disposition of knowledge and purity elevates to the destination of the knowledgeable and the pure
• 1968) Gita 14.13 The mode of ignorance block us in both contemplation and action
• 1967) Gita 14.12 Desires that drive us with the lure of pleasure are insatiable
• 1966) Gita 14.11 Illumination of knowledge regulates the input and output through the doorways of the senses
• 1965) Gita 14.10 The modes are neither in segregation nor in integration but are in competition
• 1964) How can we know our prescribed duty?
• 1963) Gita 14.09 The longer a pleasure lasts, the greater its lure

September 2017

• 1962) Gita 14.08 The mode of ignorance begins with not knowing and leads to false knowing
• 1961) Gita 14.07 Passion is composed of attachment, gives rise to craving and binds us to work
• 1960) Gita 14.06 Anything that keeps us away from realizing our spirituality is binding, even if it is illuminating
• 1959) Gita 14.05 Modes are a combination of matter that trigger emotion which matter in isolation doesnt
• 1958) Remembrance of Krishna cuts karmic bondage by providing intelligence, taste and love
• 1957) When we start studying Bhagavad-gita, what is the motivation for continuing to study material science?
• 1956) Bhagavatam study 67 01.13.30-38 When it is time to renounce, embrace renunciation as a challenge and avoid discouragers
• 1955) Do gopis know Krishna’s future pastimes?
• 1954) Gopi Gita 2 – “You alone can free us from contamination and tribulation – please return”
• 1953) Gita 14.04 The seed-giving father is also the soul-attracting liberator
• 1952) Did Krishna appear in Mathura or in both Mathura and Vrindavan?
• 1951) Gopi Gita 1 – “Whoever you are – Lord or lover – please come back”
• 1950) Gita 14.03 We determine our bodies and our bodies determine us
• 1949) Gita 14.02 Death can’t be avoided, but affliction due to death can be
• 1948) Gita 14.01 The Gita uses diverse frames of analysis to reiterate its consistent conclusion
• 1947) Bhagavatam study 66 01.13.24-29 Detachment emerges from education that changes our definition of success

August 2017

• 1946) Learning to not go up and down with life’s ups and downs – Gita 02.54-57
• 1945) Gita 13.35 Knowledge helps us perceive and achieve spiritual reality
• 1944) Gajendra Moksha Katha 5 – Which comes first – giving up lower taste or getting higher taste – Hindi
• 1943) Gajendra Moksha Katha 4 – How age helps us become renounced – and how it doesn’t – Hindi
• 1942) Gajendra Moksha Katha 3 – Understanding when to wield control and when to yield control – Hindi
• 1941) Gajendra Moksha Katha 2 – Deviated spiritualists may lose the human body, but not their spiritual attraction – Hindi
• 1940) 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?
• 1939) Gajendra Moksha Katha 1 – Understanding how our mental impressions shape us – Hindi
• 1938) Gita 13.34 Consciousness can be the channel to illumination – and to illusion too
• 1937) Akrura Katha 3 – Understanding cultural bhakti, philosophical bhakti, spiritual bhakti and Vraja bhakti
• 1936) Gita 13.33 The soul is not entangled, but the mind is
• 1935) Meditation on Kaliya lila – Devotion grants access to a rich panorama of divine emotions
• 1934) Akrura Katha 2 – Devotional disposition in association deepens our devotion
• 1933) Akrura Katha 1 – When no one understands us, Krishna understands
• 1932) Gita 13.32 The soul is situated in the body, but its consciousness doesn’t have to imprisoned in the body
• 1931) God is not present less in the hearts of the godless Gita 15.15
• 1930) What role does our nature play in our taking shelter of Krishna?
• 1929) Why is impersonalism condemned in Gita 9.12 and appreciated in Gita 9.15?
• 1928) Krishna is the trans-personal shelter of all the things that shelter us
• 1927) Gita 13.31 See variety not as illusion above the unity but as emanation from the unity
• 1926) Gita 13.30 The soul is not the doer of the activities impelled by the body

July 2017

• 1925) Is intelligence not always a good thing?
• 1924) Is intelligence covered by the mode of ignorance unintelligent?
• 1923) How can determination be unintelligent, as mentioned in Gita 18.35?
• 1922) Why does the Gita in chapter sixteen describe divine qualities in three full verses and demoniac qualities in just one verse?
• 1921) 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?
• 1920) Morality may be relativized, but the consequences of immoral indulgence can’t be relativized Gita 03.17
• 1919) How is the Gita relevant amidst today’s stress-filled times?
• 1918) Can all karma be offered to Krishna or does ugra-karma have to be given up?
• 1917) How could Lava-Kusha defeat Rama who is the undefeatable Lord?
• 1916) When the Bhagavatam contains so many stories involving sex, is it appropriate for children?
• 1915) Can you explain some section of scripture that we can’t easily understand?
• 1914) Why does Bhagavatam say that Bhishma merged with the Supersoul?
• 1913) What is the best way to understand the Bhagavad-gita?
• 1912) Why do you speak more on bhakti than on karma which the Gita stresses?
• 1911) We are never too far away from relapse Gita 02.60
• 1910) Gita 13.29 See beyond people’s particular actions to Krishna’s universal positive intention
• 1909) Gita 13.28 To see that which is critical to see is to really see
• 1908) Our intelligence is our security system – don’t let temptation disable it Gita 02.63
• 1907) Why crave for hours and years for pleasures that last for moments Gita 05.22
• 1906) To say that philosophy is dead is to be dead to philosophy Gita 18.22
• 1905) Gita 13.27 See beyond functional categorization to philosophical comprehension
• 1904) Gita 13.26 Hearing directs us to destination immortality
• 1903) Isn’t Prabhupada’s Gita just one among the many interpretations of the Gita?

June 2017

• 1902) Mental weight can’t be wished away, but it can be worked away Gita 06.35
• 1901) Don’t let perfectionism come in the way of progress towards perfection Gita 02.14
• 1900) When Airavata existed earlier, how did he appear during the churning of the milk ocean?
• 1899) The inner war is unavoidable Gita 03.43
• 1898) Why didn’t the Pandavas think that the Kauravas were simply instruments of their own past karma?
• 1897) Is the Mahabharata that occurred in another age even relevant today?
• 1896) Is the Mahabharata an excellent drama or is it historically true?
• 1895) If everything in the Mahabharata is arranged by Krishna’s plan, why do we blame Duryodhana or Karna?
• 1894) Why is Arjuna considered the greatest archer when all his power came from Krishna?
• 1893) If Dhritarashtra had stopped Duryodhana from fighting, how would the Gita have been spoken?
• 1892) When Dhritarashtra was forced by the modes to support Duryodhana, why is he blamed?
• 1891) Did the celestial voice stopping Duryodhana from committing suicide interfere with his free will?
• 1890) How can we understand that the attractiveness of all attractive things comes from Krishna?
• 1889) How is Rama’s treatment of Sita justified?
• 1888) The possibility for self-improvement is reduced by materialism and expanded by spirituality Gita 18.60
• 1887) Study the Gita for understanding it, not undermining it
• 1886) Once we slip down a slope, we can’t control how far we slip down Gita 03.36
• 1885) The mind can make a soldier into a deserter or even a betrayer Gita 05.22
• 1884) Don’t waste your mental energy on people on whom you won’t waste your time Gita 11.55
• 1883) Address misery first by recognizing its fundamental cause then its circumstantial cause Gita 09.33
• 1882) Don’t give your enemies weapons to beat you with Gita 03.36
• 1881) Ask not how could he have done that – ask what is to be done next Gita 03.39
• 1880) Dumbness is not inability to understand gibberish – it is inability to see gibberish for what it is Gita 18.63
• 1879) Gita 14.11 Don’t chase the objects in perception – clean the doors of perception
• 1878) Gita 16.08 Materialism strips not only the other world of reality but also this world of meaning
• 1877) Gita 08.20 Those who reject a world beyond this world sentence themselves to pointless business in this world
• 1876) Gita 10.08 Blanking out questions about origins is like dealing in black money
• 1875) Gita 18.58 Devotion brings the inner morale to combat outer problems
• 1874) Gita 16.11 Technology is not just the provider of facility – it is also the shaper of mentality
• 1873) Gita 14.04 Dialogue requires methodological humility
• 1872) When Tvashta gave Narayana-kavacha that made Indra invincible, how could Tvashta himself be killed?
• 1871) Gita 14.11 Our mind can be a transmitter, distorter or reflector of our consciousness
• 1870) Gita 01.46 – When emotions block our consciousness, Gita wisdom removes the blockage
• 1869) How can the Gita’s knowledge help poor people?
• 1868) How to understand the Bhagavatam’s cosmology?
• 1867) Does the Gita give spiritual solutions to all material problems?

May 2017

• 1866) Gita 18.63 The call to the heart complements the call to the head
• 1865) Gita 18.38 Don’t be so caught in choosing the right seat as to fail to choose the right train
• 1864) Gita 17.01 Worldviews are meant to be vision-enhancers, not vision-diminishers
• 1863) Gita 17.16 Purity has to be cultivated as an austerity before it can be savored as a state
• 1862) Gita 04.02 When time brings things down, let Krishna take things up
• 1861) Gita 14.11 Inner illumination helps us to separate observation from evaluation
• 1860) Gita 16.11 Use developed human consciousness to decrease material fears, not increase them
• 1859) Gita 18.22 – Rise from tunnel vision through funnel vision
• 1858) Bhagavatam study 1.13.1-7 – The detachment that fosters attachment to Krishna
• 1857) Gita 13.13 Bhakti wisdom frames our knowledge and our need for knowledge within our aspiration for eternity
• 1856) When Karna abused Draupadi, why didn’t anyone punish him by taking away his position?
• 1855) Karna wanted revenge and Draupadi wanted revenge – what is the difference?
• 1854) Gita 12.08 Living in Krishna is a matter of not just relocation, but also of realization
• 1853) Gita 02.07 When surface identities lead to conflicting duties, seek the fundamental identity
• 1852) Gita 10.6 See genealogy as an arena for manifesting Krishna,s actions in this world
• 1851) SIMHA acronym – Glories of Prahlada and Narasimha
• 1850) When Ravana had been seen going southwards, why did Rama send monkeys in all four direction?
• 1849) Gita 18.38 Contact of senses and sense objects is not just physical but also visual
• 1848) Why did Vali attribute negative intention to Sugriva – was he already suspicious?
• 1847) After Valis death why didn’t Sugriva console himself by focusing on Valis atrocities?
• 1846) When Sugriva had planned Vali’s fall, why did he feel remorse?
• 1845) Gita 02.08 Don’t let comforts lure you away from life’s purpose
• 1844) Gita Essence 3 – The transformational power of love – World-knowledge as the vehicle for love
• 1843) When Bhishma took shelter of the Kauravas’ wealth, why did Krishna shelter him at death?
• 1842) Gita Essence 2 – The transformational power of love – God-knowledge as the fuel for love
• 1841) Gita 18.78 Human excellence and divine omnipotence herald victory
• 1840) Gita 01.42 Today’s war against family increases self-centeredness and obstructs spiritual growth
• 1839) What does seeing but not acting with equal vision mean?
• 1838) Gita 18.22 – A truncated representation of reality is not reality
• 1837) Gita Essence 1- The transformational power of love – Self-knowledge as the basis of love
• 1836) Gita 16.24 – The transition from description to prescription requires discretion
• 1835) How free is our free will?
• 1834) Gita 02.58 Inevitable exposure to sense objects is different from initiated or instigated exposure
• 1833) Gita 16.09 All truth-claims are power-claims – This is also a truth-claim and a power-claim

April 2017

• 1832) Gita 14.26 – Bhakti is both a state and a process
• 1831) Gita 18.63 – Don’t sway others – inspire them
• 1830) Gita 14.05 – The modes comprise objective reality and color subjective perception
• 1829) Focus on the Bhagavatam’s universal purpose beyond its specific details – invest one’s emotions in Krishna, not the world
• 1828) QA with children on Ramayana-Mahabharata
• 1827) When Arjuna was sinless, why did he have to go to hell?
• 1826) If we are detached from our goals, what will inspire us to work?
• 1825) IDEA acronym – The Bhagavad-gita in essence
• 1824) Why does the Gita consider karma-yoga better than jnana-yoga when jnana-yoga is higher in the yoga ladder?
• 1823) From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 4
• 1822) From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 3
• 1821) From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 2
• 1820) From misunderstanding to understanding – Rama katha 1

March 2017

• 1819) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam
• 1818) Why does the Gita not have any Duryodhana uvaca, though he speaks several verses?
• 1817) How can we know that the Gita hasn’t changed over the centuries?
• 1816) Was the Mahabharata war predestined?
• 1815) How did Krishna as Shanti-duta use sama, dama, bheda and danda?
• 1814) The Pandavas could have won a kingdom anywhere by defeating someone else – why did they win it by killing their own relatives?
• 1813) Why does the Gita begin with Dhritarashtra, not Krishna?
• 1812) The ninth canto contains many stories of shocking debauchery by sages such as Brihaspati – what is their point?
• 1811) When the Gita Mahatmaya talks about Gita recitation countering various sinful reactions, is that karma kanda or is it bhakti?
• 1810) Significance of Chatur-Shloki Gita – Location, Content & Import

February 2017

• 1809) The eye to see the I
• 1808) Does Gita 12.8-11 refer to progressive levels or alternative ways?
• 1807) When Ravana knew scripture, why did he abduct Sita – Hindi?
• 1806) Gita 12.13 Devotion manifests as action, even aggression, without mundane passion
• 1805) Gita 12.12 Serenity comes by rising from piety to spirituality
• 1804) Gita 12.11 To be self-situated, begin with selflessness
• 1803) Gita 12.10 Bhakti means dedicating our external to the eternal internal instead of the ephemeral internal
• 1802) Gita 12.09 If absorption in Krishna is unattainable, seek attraction through connection
• 1801) Gita 12.08 Bhakti changes not our outer location but the locus of our inner world

January 2017

• 1800) Why did Dhritarashtra stay silent when Duryodhana insulted Vidura (Hindi)?
• 1799) The Gita’s five subjects analyzed as a guide to action
• 1798) What is the connection of vibhuti yoga with perceiving spiritual reality?

December 2016

• 1797) In Gita 6.5, can both atma be translated as the mind – elevate the mind with the mind?
• 1796) Why did Rama worship Shiva?
• 1795) When the Gita is spoken to one specific person, how can it be universal?
• 1794) What I have learned from the Gita
• 1793) Why does the Gita use a battlefield setting?
• 1792) ​In Gita 17.1, do shraddha and nishtha refer to different things?
• 1791) Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 3 – Exceeding Expectations
• 1790) Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 2 – Discouraged yet determined
• 1789) Ramayana Reflection – Hanuman in Lanka 1 – Overcoming Obstacles
• 1788) Ramayana Reflection – Why Rama abandoned Sita
• 1787) If the Gita is a recorded conversation reported by Sanjaya to Dhritarashtra, how does it contain Sanjaya’s speech?
• 1786) Did Sanjaya report the Kurukshetra war from Kurukshetra or from Hastinapura?
• 1785) Why did Rama abandon Sita?
• 1784) What is the essence of the Bhagavad-gita?

November 2016

• 1783) Hanuman manifests a combination of bhakti and shakti
• 1782) ​What is the relation between Valimiki Ramayana and Rama-charita-manasa?
• 1781) What is the devotional reason why Rama sent Sita away?
• 1780) ​​Why Rama banished Sita – Hindi
• 1779) Demystifying Gita 18.66 – Does surrender mean giving up dharma?
• 1778) Why did Rama not stand by Sita when she was defamed?
• 1777) Was Ravana an ideal brother who stood by his sister at all costs?
• 1776) Why did Balarama favor Duryodhana?
• 1775) Why is the Bhagavatam called the Amala Purana?
• 1774) If Vyasadeva wrote the Bhagavatam, how is he present in the Bhagavatam?
• 1773) Who all heard the Gita – why were Sanjaya and Dhritarashtra able to hear?
• 1772) Why does Bhagavatam contains sections that don’t glorify the Lord?
• 1771) Are all commentaries on Bhagavad-gita of equal value?
• 1770) For what purpose did Krishna speak the Bhagavad-gita?
• 1769) For whom is the Bhagavad-gita spoken?
• 1768) In the Bhagavad-gita, what is the significance of the word Bhagavan?
• 1767) What is the Bhagavad-gita?
• 1766) What is the spirit of Bhagavad-gita?
• 1765) Who is fit to understand Bhagavad-gita?
• 1764) Why did Krishna choose Arjuna as the recipient of Bhagavad-gita?
• 1763) ​Why didn’t Rama uphold the truth of Sita’s purity?
• 1762) ​Why did Rama take people’s criticism of Sita so seriously?
• 1761) ​When Sita was devastated on Rama’s exiling her, how can we say that she just accepted her exile?
• 1760) ​Did Karna choose his fate or was he fated to die?
• 1759) Why did Nalakuvera-Manigriva not untie Krishna before going to heaven?
• 1758) ​Why does Krishna descend to this world – to kill demons or to teach the Gita?
• 1757) ​Why did Krishna not stop Yudhishthira from gambling?
• 1756) ​Did everyone on the Kurukshetra battlefield see Krishna’s universal form?

October 2016

• 1755) ​Why was Arjuna Krishna’s favorite among the Pandavas?
• 1754) How did Draupadi have so much devotion for Krishna, more than that of even the Pandavas?
• 1753) Does Krishna tell Arjuna that you are a kshatriya at the level of a brahmana?
• 1752) Does the Gita recommend doing yajna-dana-tapa or giving it up?
• 1751) Why was Bharat Maharaja punished with a deer body for his compassion?
• 1750) How Rama tests Bharata – and how we can pass the test of desires
• 1749) ​Did Karna ever feel that he had made a wrong choice by fighting for Duryodhana?
• 1748) ​When did Kunti reveal to Karna that he was her son – why?
• 1747) Does Krishna ask Karna for his punya when Karna is about to die?
• 1746) Sumanta-Akrura parallels and ADD acronym for dealing with doubts
• 1745) ​Understanding why Rama banished Sita
• 1744) ​What can we learn from Yudhishthira’s gambling?
• 1743) ​Was the Pandavas’ killing Bhishma and Drona according to dharma?
• 1742) ​Respond to adversity with dignity
• 1741) Did Krishna feel confused about which pure devotee to support – Arjuna or Bhishma?
• 1740) ​​​​Which aspect of the universal form did Duryodhana see?
• 1739) ​What does the Gita’s call to control the mind by practice and renunciation mean practically?
• 1738) ​​In guna-karma mentioned in Gita 4.13, can karma be developed but not guna?
• 1737) ​Why does the Gita give its essence of bhakti in its middle and not at its end?
• 1736) Mahabharata 3 – Karna – Deciding based on intent, content or effect
• 1735) Mahabharata 2 – Draupadi – Dishonored yet honorable
• 1734) ​Mahabharata 1 – Bhishma – Misunderstood by the world, understood by Krishna
• 1733) Understanding the Bhagavatam’s chronological and conceptual flow
• 1732) ​Does Krishna’s call to Arjuna to rise beyond the three modes imply that we all can transcend our nature born from the modes?
• 1731) ​Channeling our emotions on the path of yoga – Gita 06.20-23
• 1730) What is the flow of the from Gita 6.20 to 6.23?

September 2016

• 1729) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 2 – Understanding inconceivability as an explanation for the world’s nature
• 1728) In the Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam, Krishna refers to himself inclusively, not exclusively – what does this mean?
• 1727) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 1 – Understanding God is all that exists
• 1726) Does Draupadi not know that Krishna protected her from disrobing?
• 1725) ​Tragic Hero – Life Lessons from Karna – Princeton University
• 1724) ​What does the Gita 4.11 – everyone is on my path – mean?
• 1723) ​Who is a sthita–prajna?
• 1722) ​What happens to Krishna’s queens after he departs from the world?
• 1721) ​When Krishna had vowed not to lift weapons during the Kurukshetra war, why did he lift up a wheel?
• 1720) Why did Krishna first tell the Pandavas to fight and then to renounce the world because of their sins?
• 1719) Does the Gita tell us what kind of goals should we set for ourselves?
• 1718) ​How can a leader be benefited by the Gita’s leadership sutras?
• 1717) ​How can the Gita help us in change management?
• 1716) ​Should we differentiate between pre-Gita leadership and post-Gita leadership?
• 1715) ​Why did Arjuna need to hear the Gita – did he as a leader not have that spiritual knowledge earlier?
• 1714) ​How is Krishna the enjoyer of the sacrifices done without knowing his supremacy?
• 1713) ​What is the meaning of Gita 2.47 – don’t think of yourself as the cause of the result?
• 1712) ​How are the attached the cause of the fruit and the detached not?
• 1711) Understanding the practicality of karmany evadhikaraste (Gita 02.47)
• 1710) Gita 1​1.30 The all-devouring feature of the universal form reveals how the war is a yajna
• 1709) ​Gita 1​1.29 To be enriched with speed on the path of self-destruction is tragic
• 1708) ​Gita 11.28 The life and the death of the dharmic is auspicious
• 1707) ​Gita 11.27 The comprehensive vision of the universes includes its gruesome features
• 1706) Gita 11.26 The event of death is virtue-neutral, but the destination after death isn’t
• 1705) Gita 11.25 The sight of the unfamiliar in the familiar is disorienting
• 1704) ​Gita 11.24 Repetition is not always rambling – it can be for stress or beauty

August 2016

• 1703) Gita 11.23 The universal form’s predatory features arouse fear even in Arjuna
• 1702) ​Gita 11.22 The vibhutis are astounded by the virata rupa
• 1701) ​Gita 11.21 The celestials are not just the universal form’s components but also its respondents
• 1700) ​How to persevere when humility feels very difficult to achieve?
• 1699) ​Gita Leadership Sutras 5-10
• 1698) ​Gita Leadership Sutras 2-4
• 1697) ​Gita Leadership Sutras Intro & Sutra 1
• 1696) Gita 11.20 The universal form induces awe – both wonder and fear
• 1695) Gita 11.19 – The universal form is not just blinding but also burning
• 1694) Gita 11.18 – The universal form is the eternal personal protector of dharma
• 1693) Gita 11.17 – The blinding brightness conveys the universal form’s glory
• 1692) Gita 11.16 – Description of vision stimulates identification of the source of that vision
• 1691) ​Gita 11.15 – Arjuna’s vision encompasses the whole universe from top to bottom
• 1690) Was Yudhishtira’s gambling Draupadi after he had lost himself dharmic or adharmic?
• 1689) How can the Gita’s spiritual knowledge be compared to nuclear weapons knowledge?
• 1688) When Bhishma comes after Ajamila pastime, how does that pastime list him as a mahajan?
• 1687) Gita 11.14 – Arjuna’s mood changes from submissive discussion to prayerful veneration
• 1686) When God fails – Krishna as shanti-duta
• 1685) Gita 11.13 – The universal form reconciles the one and the many
• 1684) Gita 11.12 – Human perception and description are inadequate before divine self-revelation
• 1683) Bhagavatam canto 6 study 6 6.4.1-34 The pure heart is the secret to know the pure Lord
• 1682) ​Gita 11.11 – The visual demonstration reinforces the philosophical exposition
• 1681) ​Gita 11.10 The first impression of the universal form is astonishing
• 1680) Gita 11.09 The universal form is the ultimate mystical vision
• 1679) 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
• 1678) ​Gita 11.08 Our vision is a function of our qualification
• 1677) Does the Bhagavad-gita teach that everything that happens is good?
• 1676) Gita 11.07 The universal form transcends limitations of space and time
• 1675) How can one practice bhakti without going through other yogas?
• 1674) How can knowledge of other yogas help in practicing bhakti?
• 1673) Gita 11.06 – We see with the information that helps us makes sense of what we see
• 1672) ​Gita 11.05 – The many forms within the one form – variety manifests within divinity
• 1671) Gita 11.04 – Devotee desires to see Krishna but doesn’t demand
• 1670) ​Gita 11.03 – Arjuna’s desire to know Krishna’s glory comes not from doubt but from devotion
• 1669) Gita 11.02 – Freedom from delusion comes by understanding the ephemeral and the eternal beyond the ephemeral
• 1668) Gita 11.01 – Those enlightened by divine mercy desire similar enlightenment for others
• 1667) ​How can we cultivate gravity for controlling the mind, as told in the Gita 17.16?
• 1666) Gita 10.42 – Appreciate Krishna’s opulence by appreciating the potency of his fragment
• 1665) How are Krishna’s self-contradictory statements in Gita 9.4 and 9.5 to be understood?
• 1664) Gita 10.41 See the attractiveness of the attractive not as Maya but as sparks of Krishna
• 1663) Gita 10.40 – Krishna’s infinitude brings not confusion, but jubilation
• 1662) ​Gita 10.39 – God is the one without whose existence no existence is possible
• 1661) Gita 10.38 – Punishment may not stop wrong desiring, but it can stop wrong doing
• 1660) ​Gita 10.37 – Krishna’s manifestations encompass all the three worlds

July 2016

• 1659) ​Gita 10.36 The thrill of victory and adventure is an experience of Krishna
• 1658) ​Bhagavatam canto 6 study 4 – 2.32-3.11 Boost inner resolution with external facilitation
• 1657) ​Bhagavatam canto 6 study 3 – 6.2.1-28 Bhakti’s potency is not a license for immorality
• 1656) Gita 10.35 – The beauty of music and nature manifest Krishna’s opulence
• 1655) Gita 10.34 – The comprehensiveness of death’s stealing represents Krishna
• 1654) ​Do the Yamadutas know about bhakti?
• 1653) Did Ajamila by caring for his son develop bhakti?
• 1652) ​Bhagavatam canto 6 study 2 – 6.1.28-68 Lust is not gender-specific – it troubles everyone
• 1651) ​Gita 10.33 – Re-envision attraction to language and words to become attracted to Krishna
• 1650) Bhagavatam canto 6 study 1 – 6.1.1-27 Nothing purifies as thoroughly as bhakti
• 1649) Gita 10.32 – Krishna manifests as all phases of action in material existence
• 1648) Gita 10.31 – The power of powerful weapons and warriors points to Krishna
• 1647) Gita 10.30 – God manifests as the godly among the ungodly
• 1646) Gita 10.29 See the prominent powers in the Vedic cosmos as manifestations of the supreme power
• 1645) ​Gita 10.28 The life that emerges from love manifests the divine
• 1644) ​Bhagavatam study 65 1.13.19-23 Vidura’s words hit Dhritarashtra where it hurts the most
• 1643) ​Bhagavatam study 64 1.13.9-18 Fulfilling purpose is more important than just sharing information
• 1642) ​Gita 10.27 – The ruler manifests God’s opulence, for good or for bad
• 1641) ​Gita 10.26 – ​The transcendental manifests among the celestial
• 1640) ​Gita 10.25 – Japa is an opportunity to offer our most treasured possession – consciousness
• 1639) Gita 10.24 – Channel feelings of awe from giant things towards the source of all awe
• 1638) ​Gita 10.23 – The heavenly treasurer’s treasure comes from the supreme
• 1637) ​Gita 10.22 – God’s opulence pervades and sustains all life everywhere
• 1636) ​Bhagavatam study 63 1.13.1-8 Periods of distress can forge the deepest bonds
• 1635) Gita 10.21 – Celestial glory manifests transcendental glory
• 1634) ​Gita 10.20 – The transcendent divinity is pervasively immanent in space and time
• 1633) Bhagavatam study 62 1.12.30-36 The Bhagavatam’s lens focuses on separation from Krishna
• 1632) ​Gita 10.19 – Our eagerness to hear Krishna’s glories is auspicious for us and delightful for Krishna
• 1631) ​Bhagavatam study 61 1.12.21-29 The prophecy of a glorious death is not inauspicious
• 1630) Bhagavatam study 60 1.12.12-20 The carrier of the dynasty was to the glory of the dynasty
• 1629) ​Why did Drona ask for Ekalavya’s thumb?
• 1628) ​Why did Draupadi not protest when she was told to marry five husbands instead of one?
• 1627) Why did Krishna’s protecting Draupadi’s honor not change the Kauravas’s evil intention?
• 1626) Bhagavatam study 59 1.12.1-11 Parikshit had magnificent darshan even before birth
• 1625) ​Why did the Pandavas tolerate poisoning and arson, but not Draupadi’s dishonoring?
• 1624) ​Why did Duryodhana put the clause of incognito stay in the Pandavas’ exile?
• 1623) ​Why was Duryodhana so envious of the Pandavas?
• 1622) Did Draupadi dishonor Duryodhana, thereby causing him to dishonor her?
• 1621) Was Draupadi the cause of the Kurukshetra war?
• 1620) Were the Pandavas not legitimate heirs to the Kuru kingdom?
• 1619) ​Was the Kurukshetra war fought over a property dispute?
• 1618) Why did Krishna break his vow by attacking Bhishma?
• 1617) ​Why did Drona fight against the Pandavas?
• 1616) Why did Bhishma fight against the Pandavas?
• 1615) Bhagavatam study 58 1.11.32-39 Krishna seemed attached but remained detached
• 1614) ​After Bhishma, why was Drona, not Karna, made the Kauravas’ commander?
• 1613) ​Wasn’t Krishna’s covering the sun to deceive Jayadratha wrong?
• 1612) ​Why did Arjuna target Jayadratha when Abhimanyu was killed by Durjaya?
• 1611) ​Why did Bhima kill Duryodhana unfairly?
• 1610) ​How could Bhima drink Dusshasana’s blood?
• 1609) ​Why did the Pandavas conspire to kill Drona?
• 1608) ​Why did Arjuna kill Bhishma from behind Shikhandi?
• 1607) ​Why did Bhishma not stop the disrobing of Draupadi?
• 1606) ​How could Yudhishthira stake his own wife in gambling?
• 1605) Despite being virtuous, why did Yudhishthira gamble?
• 1604) Bhagavatam study 57 1.11.25-32 Krishna’s beauty is exquisite and exquisitely described
• 1603) ​Bhagavatam study 56 1.11.14-24 The spiritual qualification of bhakti unites the materially​ ​qualified and unqualified
• 1602) ​Did Draupadi love Karna?
• 1601) ​Was destiny against Karna?
• 1600) ​When Karna was virtuous, why did he suggest that Draupadi be disrobed?
• 1599) ​Did Kunti do the right thing by abandoning Karna?
• 1598) ​Why did Krishna say that Karna is equal, or even superior, to Arjuna in archery?
• 1597) ​Did Kunti emotionally weaken Karna by revealing that the Pandavas were his brothers?
• 1596) ​Why did Draupadi dishonor Karna by rejecting him as a suitor?
• 1595) ​Bhagavatam study 55 1.11.8-13 Prosperity without Krishna is like beautiful things for the blind
• 1594) ​Was Karna not discriminated against by being labeled a charioteer’s son?
• 1593) ​Was Karna unfairly disadvantaged by the curses of Parashurama and the brahmana?
• 1592) ​Was Karna a glorious example of faithful friendship to Duryodhana?
• 1591) ​Was Karna a virtuous hero?
• 1590) ​Did Indra unfairly weaken Karna by taking away his armor?
• 1589) ​Was Karna the second best archer after Arjuna?
• 1588) Did Karna conquer the world, but Arjuna couldn’t?
• 1587) Was Karna a better archer than Arjuna?
• 1586) ​Why did Arjuna kill Karna unfairly?
• 1585) ​Bhagavatam study 54 1.11.1-7 Krishna’s arrival brings ecstasy
• 1584) ​Bhagavatam study 53 1.10.28-36 Krishna’s departure and travel are celebrations of love
• 1583) ​Bhagavatam study 52 1.10.21-27 The Supreme appears human – and still remains Supreme
• 1582) Bhagavatam study 51 1.10.9-20 Imminent separation from Krishna triggers intense emotion
• 1581) How do reconcile the contradiction between Gita 14.20 – we can transcend the modes – and 18.40 – everyone is under the modes?
• 1580) When the Gita talks about karma, jnana and bhakti equally, why emphasize bhakti unduly?
• 1579) Bhagavatam study 50 1.10.1-8 Yudhishtira’s dharmic reign harmonizes the natural order with the human order
• 1578) If Dharmaraja could expand as Vidura and Yudhisthira, why did Aryama need to officiate in his place?
• 1577) ​Bhagavatam study 49 1.9.43-48 Departure of great souls is a victory worthy of celebration
• 1576) ​Did Uttama die because of his mother’s offense to Dhruva?
• 1575) ​Bhagavatam study 48 1.9.36-42 Bhishma’s memories go beyond the personal to the Krishna-centered

June 2016

• 1574) Bhagavatam study 47 1.9.31-35 Bhishma identifies and adores the ultimate cause of his death
• 1573) ​Prahlad sees his glory as bhakti’s glory
• 1572) Self excellence principles from Bhagavad Gita
• 1571) ​Three types of austerities – Gita 17.14-16 (Hindi)
• 1570) Anant Gita ke do anta – Gita 18.63-78
• 1569) ​Western philosophers and Bhagavad-gita 1 – Beyond Cartesian duality
• 1568) When Arjuna repeatedly defeated Karna, why are they considered equals?
• 1567) ​Why were the kshatriya codes violated during the Kurukshetra war?

May 2016

• 1566) Gita 10.18 – Bhakti is joyful and fruitful
• 1565) ​Gita 10.17 – Recollection and participation are reconciled by understanding God’s immanence
• 1564) Bhagavatam study 46 1.9.25-30 Bhishma’s departure is glorious in every way
• 1563) ​Gita 10.16 – Desire for details of a subject demonstrates deep devotion to that subject
• 1562) ​Bhagavatam study 45 1.9.17-24 By doing the Lord’s will, we understand his benevolence
• 1561) Gita 10.15 – Vedic theology is not polytheism, but multi-level monotheism
• 1560) ​Bhagavatam study 44 1.9.11-16 Concern for others’ suffering decreases our own suffering
• 1559) Gita 10.14 – Accept Krishna’s position and message the way Arjuna accept it
• 1558) ​Bhagavatam study 43 1.9.1-10 The experts adjust contextual practices to fulfill essential purpose
• 1557) Bhagavatam study 42 1.8.45-52 Yudhisthira argues against his blamelessness
• 1556) ​Gita 10.13 – The sages’ reiteration of Krishna’s words boosts our conviction and devotion
• 1555) ​Gita 10.12 – Krishna is transcendence beyond transcendence
• 1554) ​Bhagavatam study 41 1.8.38-44 Devotional prayers take us towards pure devotion
• 1553) Why did Rama worship Shiva?
• 1552) Bhagavatam study 40 1.8.32-37 The unborn takes birth to end our rebirth
• 1551) ​Bhagavatam study 39 1.8.26-31 Krishna-lila can be understood through love
• 1550) ​Was Karna destined to be defeated?
• 1549) ​Bhagavatam study 38 1.8.23-25 Material adversity makes spiritual opportunity a necessity
• 1548) Does the Gita recommend different yogas for different people?
• 1547) Bhagavatam study 37 1.8.17-22 The prayer progresses from philosophical to personal
• 1546) Bhagavatam study 36 1.8.1-16 – What is materially impossible is possible for Krishna
• 1545) Gita 10.11 – The way to drive out darkness is to turn on the light
• 1544) Gita 10.10 – Krishna gives us the intelligence to attain him
• 1543) Gita 10.09 – Devotion means to center our emotion, action and discussion on Krishna
• 1542) Gita 10.08 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position transforms our disposition
• 1541) Naam Ramayana – Pride induces and perpetuates misjudgment

April 2016

• 1540) ​Naam Ramayana – When the supreme appears to be deluded, that appearance is a delusion
• 1539) ​Naam Ramayana – Disciplining is not punishing
• 1538) Naam Ramayana – Devotion requires no qualification except the desire to serve
• 1537) ​Naam Ramayana – The supreme blesser blesses and is blessed
• 1536) ​Naam Ramayana – The all-pure purifies at multiple levels – tangible and intangible
• 1535) Naam Ramayana – Our worldview shapes our responses to the world’s ups and downs
• 1534) When Krishna talks about various yogas progressively, why does Prabhupada focus on bhakti alone?
• 1533) ​Why did Dashratha distribute the ambrosia differently among his wives?
• 1532) When Brahma is a brahmana, why does he make and provide weapons to others?
• 1531) When Pandu knew about his curse, why did he take his wives with him to the forest?
• 1530) ​Rama disregarded Ayodhya citizens when going to exile himself, but not when exiling Sita – Why?
• 1529) Bhagavatam highlights devotion through recollection in separation
• 1528) Why did Shalya fight on Duryodhana’s side just because of getting good reception?
• 1527) ​Why did Rama not consult Vashishtha when sending Sita away?
• 1526) ​Why did Rama not obey Vashishtha when asked to return to Ayodhya?
• 1525) ​Did Krishna’s lifting a wheel to attack Bhishma not break his vow?
• 1524) ​Didn’t Krishna protecting Arjuna from the Vaishnava astra break his vow?
• 1523) ​Why did the Kauravas and the Pandavas have to involve the whole world in their mutual fight?
• 1522) ​Why didn’t the Pandavas forgive the Kauravas – why did they have to fight?
• 1521) Why did Mahadeva give the empowering sword to Ashwatthama?
• 1520) Why didn’t Krishna stop Dhristadyumna from killing Drona?
• 1519) ​Did Yudhishthira sin by not lying as per Krishna’s instruction?
• 1518) Why did Karna fight on the Kauravas’ side?
• 1517) Was Ashwatthama gambled – how authentic is the TV Mahabharata?
• 1516) ​Should we see adversities in material life as impetuses for practicing karmany va dhikaraste?
• 1515) Angada’s journey – Unity within begets unity without
• 1514) ​Sugriva’s journey from doubt to faith
• 1513) The Gita is elevating and accommodating – Overview of chapters 1-12
• 1512) ​Disproportionate punishment can be atrocious – Ashwattama pastime analysis 2
• 1511) Beware of the temptation to punish 1- Ashwattama pastime analysis

March 2016

• 1510) When Vibhishana went over to the side of virtue, why didn’t Vidura do the same?
• 1509) When Lakshmana left Sita unguarded because of her harsh words, whose mistake was it?
• 1508) Vritrasura lila analysis 2 – The heroic leader and the hidden devotee
• 1507) Vritrasura lila analysis 1 – The setting for the stunning twist in the storyline
• 1506) Uddhava Gita nectar 4 – Understanding the different gopis’ varying understandings of Krishna
• 1505) When Karna was already killed by destiny, why did Krishna invite Karna to the Pandavas side?
• 1504) If Karna chose wrongly because of attachment, didn’t Bhishma do the same?
• 1503) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 4 – Understanding human intelligence
• 1502) Why is the Bhagavatam’s tenth canto divided into chapters according to the location of pastimes?
• 1501) Uddhava Gita nectar 3 – The gopis’ ecstatic samadhi
• 1500) Uddhava Gita nectar 2 – Love explained – Comparing materialist, Abrahamic, impersonalist and bhakti worldviews
• 1499) Uddhava Gita nectar 1 – Krishna acknowledges the gopis’ heartbreak
• 1498) Yayati pastime analysis – From indulgence to transcendence
• 1497) Gita 10.07 – Appreciation of Krishna’s greatness guarantees absorption in him
• 1496) Is Gandhiji’s commentary on the Gita ok?
• 1495) Gita 10.06 – Realize the greatness of our universal genealogy
• 1494) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 3 – Understanding material nature
• 1493) Gita 10.05 – Krishna asks Arjuna to fight, yet is the source of the qualities that engender peace
• 1492) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 2 – Understanding Maya
• 1491) Chatur Shloki Bhagavatam 1 – Understanding the Absolute Truth
• 1490) Bhagavatam study 35 01.7.52-58 Law codes alone aren’t enough for justice – an expert judge is needed
• 1489) Gita 10.04 – Krishna offers the good beyond the bad and the good
• 1488) Bhagavatam study 34 01.7.44-51 Differences in opinion arise from differences in focus of perception
• 1487) Gita 10.03 – Understanding Krishna’s position frees us from sins
• 1486) Gita 10.02 – Appreciating the glory of the object of devotion enhances devotion

February 2016

• 1485) Why does the Gita refer to people following scripture (17.11) while describing people without scriptural faith?
• 1484) How can we explain Krishna’s conspiracies in the Mahabharata?
• 1483) Bhagavatam study 33 01.7.38-43 Ashwatthama’s actions were inexcusable and punishable
• 1482) Gita 10.01 – The Gita is an endearing combination of lofty exposition and intimate affection
• 1481) Gita 09.34 – Direct your cognition, emotion and action towards Krishna
• 1480) Bhagavatam study 32 01.7.30-37 The protector from provocation tests by provoking
• 1479) Gita 09.33 – Go beyond incompatible material existence to compatible spiritual existence
• 1478) Gita 09.32 – Bhakti brings universality to spirituality
• 1477) Bhagavatam study 31 01.7.22-29 Krishna relieves from the dangerous fire – literal and metaphorical
• 1476) How do impersonalists interpret the Gita’s clearly personalist verses?
• 1475) 9.31 – For devotees connected with Krishna, the happily ever after is guaranteed
• 1474) PRAHLAD acronym – 7 glories qualities of Prahlad Maharaj
• 1473) Gita 09.30 – Krishna never abandons devotees even when they fall
• 1472) Gita 09.29 – Krishna is neither impartial nor partial – he is reciprocal
• 1471) Gita 09.28 – Bhakti accommodates even those for whom bhakti is an afterthought
• 1470) Gita 09.27 – Bhakti accommodates seekers at multiple levels
• 1469) Gita 09.26 – Krishna is hungry for the reciprocation of affection
• 1468) Gita 09.25 – Different paths lead to different goals
• 1467) Gita 09.24 – Education about reality is not discrimination against certain features of reality
• 1466) What is the difference between knowledge in the three modes and intelligence in the three modes?
• 1465) Gita 09.23 – The Gita’s multi-level monotheism is the balance between Abrahamic monotheism and Greco-Roman polytheism
• 1464) Gita 09.22 – Seek spiritual security not just in the soul but in Krishna
• 1463) Gita 09.21 – Blindness to mortality, even if it be in heaven, is still blindness
• 1462) Gita 09.20 – Karma-kanda leads to elevation, but not liberation
• 1461) Gita 09.19 – In Krishna contradictions are transcended and reconciled
• 1460) Gita 09.18 – God is not a remote controller – he is the pervasive sustainer
• 1459) Gita 09.17 – Krishna is the sustainer of our sustainers
• 1458) Gita 09.16 – See beyond the technical to the transcendental
• 1457) Gita 09.15 – Jnana yajna is not the same as jnana-yoga
• 1456) Gita 09.14 – See devotion not in ecstasy but in dedication
• 1455) Gita 09.13 – Krishna’s attractiveness is original and inexhaustible
• 1454) Gita 9.12 – Rejecting real currency as fake leaves one impoverished
• 1453) Gita 09.11 – To claim the impersonal to be Krishna’s param bhava is contextually and grammatically indefensible
• 1452) Was Ravana revenging the dishonor of Shurapanakha by kidnapping Sita?
• 1451) Gita 09.10 – Nature is not causally complete without an ultimate cause
• 1450) Gita 09.09 – Krishna is concerned but not sentimental

January 2016

• 1449) Gita 09.08 – We are helpless before material natures inexorable cyclicity
• 1448) Gita 09.07 – Repetition of discussion is meant for elevation of vision
• 1447) Gita 09.06 – Krishna limits not our freedom but the scope of our freedom
• 1446) Gita 09.05 – God’s self-contradiction points to his inconceivable multi-level manifestations
• 1445) Sugriva: Comfort – Material and Transcendental
• 1444) Gita 09.04 – God relates with the world through the impersonal, the immanent and the transcendent
• 1443) Gita 09.03 – Bhakti harmonizes the temporary with the eternal
• 1442) Gita 09.02 – Knowledge that gives the greatest power is the greatest knowledge
• 1441) Gita 09.01 – Krishna’s glory can be appreciated by the devoted, not the envious
• 1440) Gita 08.28 – Yogi gets what other paths offer and gets more too
• 1439) Gita 08.27 – Devotional consistency is more important than chronological accuracy
• 1438) Did Draupadi love Karna?
• 1437) Gita 08.26 – Disinvest emotion from matter before it crashes
• 1436) Gita 08.25 – Yogi’s spiritual exit velocity needs to be greater than the world’s gravity pull
• 1435) Gita 08.24 – Astrological positions and psychological dispositions contribute to the soul’s liberation
• 1434) Gita 08.23 – The Gita unifies diverse Vedic concepts in a devotional framework
• 1433) Gita 08.22 – Everything is in Krishna and Krishna is in everything
• 1432) Gita 08.21 – Our longing for home is our longing for the spiritual world
• 1431) Gita 08.20 – The spiritual is not just non-manifest but also nonmaterial
• 1430) Gita 08.19 – Recognizing our lack of control over the destructible material imples us to direct our consciousness to the eternal spiritual
• 1429) Gita 08.18 – Matter becomes unmanifest, but material form is destroyed
• 1428) Wasn’t Hanuman’s anger in burning Lanka excessive?
• 1427) How could Arjuna ask Krishna to become his charioteer?
• 1426) Is Tulsi-Ramayana more biased against Ravana than Valmiki-Ramayan?
• 1425) When Hanuman was a monkey, why did Sita see him as a man and decline to be carried by him?
• 1424) Did Vibhishana betray his brother by defecting to Rama’s side?
• 1423) If Arjuna being a kshatriya was anyway going to fight, why did Krishna speak the Gita?
• 1422) Gita 08.17 – The immortal is not eternal
• 1421) Gita 08.16 – The world is like a jail or hospital – returning to it is undesirable
• 1420) Why did Arjuna kill Bhishma unfairly?
• 1419) Was Arjuna a better archer than Karna because he got better training facilities?
• 1418) Why did Dasharatha not go with Rama to the forest when he felt separation from him?
• 1417) When Vasudeva and Devakis son was going to kill him, why did Kamsa keep them in the same prison cell?
• 1416) Was Ravana virtuous because he didn’t violate Sita forcibly?
• 1415) Gita 08.15 – Attaining Krishna is the eternally inalienable attainment
• 1414) Draupadi – dishonored yet honorable
• 1413) Gita 08.14 – What is difficult in one perspective is easy in another perspective
• 1412) Bhagavatam study 30 – 1.7.15 -21 – Arjuna pacifies griefstruck Draupadi with fierce sweet words
• 1411) Gita 08.13 – External recitation and internal recollection propel us to spiritual liberation
• 1410) Bhagavatam study 29 – 1.7.8-14 – Krishna attracts those who are not attracted to anything
• 1409) Gita 08.12 – In yoga, the technical is a necessary preliminary to the transcendental
• 1408) Bhagavatam study 28 – 1.7.1-7 – Vyasa offers bhakti as the remedy for the worlds malady
• 1407) Gita 08.11 – Liberation in yoga requires renunciation
• 1406) Bhagavatam study 27 – 1.6.32-38 – Krishnas glories fulfill our search for pleasure
• 1405) Why do jnanis need many lives to become jnanavan?
• 1404) Why are the eka-bhakti jnanis of Gita 7.17 considered jnana-mishra?
• 1403) Gita 08.10 – Yoga restrains the negative, bhakti energizes the positive
• 1402) Bhagavatam study 26 – 1.6.23-31 – Devotion offers the supreme liberation
• 1401) Gita 08.09 – Systematic contemplation begins with tangible information
• 1400) Bhagavatam study 25 – 1.6.16-22 – Spiritual desire cleanses material desire
• 1399) Gita 08.08 – Practice to take consciousness beyond endlessly deceptive material reality to Krishna
• 1398) Bhagavatam study 24 – 1.6.8-15 – Spiritual vision makes the heart-breaking heart-freeing
• 1397) When the Vedas also talk about transcendence, why does Gita 2.45 ask us to go beyond the Vedas?
• 1396) Does the Gita flow from 2.58 to 2.61 reflect rise from karma-yoga through jnana-yoga and dhyana-yoga to bhakti yoga?
• 1395) Can buddhi-yoga refer to all three yogas – karma, jnana and bhakti?
• 1394) Does Gita 2.12 actually counter impersonalism?
• 1393) Does Gita 2.11 refer to the life-air or to the soul?
• 1392) What is the difference between kula dharma and jati dharma?
• 1391) Bhagavatam study 23 – 1.6.1-7 – Even when our disposition changes, our position may not change
• 1390) Does the well-river example of Gita 2.46 illustrate transcending the Vedas recommended in Gita 2.45?
• 1389) Gita 08.07 – Devotion is not about rejecting the outer world but about offering the inner world

December 2015

• 1388) Gita 08.06 – Our emotional disposition becomes our physical position
• 1387) Gita 08.05 – Our choice at the junction determines our destination
• 1386) Why did Dasharatha not follow Ram into his 14 year exile?
• 1385) Gita 08.04 – Everything is ultimately a manifesatation of Krishna
• 1384) Bhagavatam study 22 – 1.5.33-40 – Action with devotional recollection leads to liberation
• 1383) What are the various levels of bhakti Sri Vishvanatha analyzes in the Gita?
• 1382) Gita 08.03 – Spirituality is our nature
• 1381) Bhagavatam study 21 – 1.5.23-32 – Narada boy progresses towards enlightenment
• 1380) Gita 08.02 – Death is not the termination of life but its testing ground
• 1379) Bhagavatam study 20 – 1.5.17-22 – Failure on the spiritual path is better than success on the material path
• 1378) Gita 08.01 – Terms have specific and generic meanings
• 1377) Bhagavatam study 19 – 1.5.11-16 – Devotion alone brings lasting value to anything
• 1376) Gita 07.30 – Teacher’s incomprehensible statements test student’s interest and attentiveness
• 1375) Bhagavatam study 18 – 1.5.1-10 – Offer spiritual instruction with empathy and respect
• 1374) Gita 07.29 – Detect misery to correct it
• 1373) Bhagavatam study 17 – 1.4.26-33 – Contemplation by the seeker makes consultation with the seer more effective
• 1372) Gita 07.28 – Dont expect immediate steady determination – use present determination, even if unsteady
• 1371) Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti
• 1370) Bhagavatam study 16 – 1.4.14-25 – The tradition makes itself accessible
• 1369) Bhagavatam study 15 – 1.4.1-13 – The questions reveal the questioners level
• 1368) Gita 07.27 – Go beyond duality by spirituality
• 1367) Bhagavatam study 14 – 1.3.35-44 – Bhagavatam is our light in this dark age
• 1366) Gita chp 13-18 overview – How jnana culminates in bhakti
• 1365) Gita 07.26 – Krishnas omniscience harmonizes with his omnibenevolence
• 1364) Bhagavatam study 13 – 1.3.25-34 – By realizing the Lords glory, we relish our glory
• 1363) Gita 07.25 – Yoga Maya is a profound oxymoron
• 1362) Bhagavatam study 12 – 1.3.17-25 – The avataras deliver in diverse ways
• 1361) Gita 07.24 – To deflect a clear critique of impersonalism is to violate both the meaning and the context
• 1360) Gita 07.23 – Accommodation is not recommendation
• 1359) Bhagavatam study 11 – 1.3.9-16 – The many incarnations protect materially and spiritually
• 1358) The ego is higher than the intelligence – can it be controlled using the intelligence?
• 1357) Gita 07.22 – Krishna accomodates within the house of the Vedas even those who cant worship him
• 1356) Bhagavatam study 10 – 1.3.1-8 – The Lord manifests as the Purusha and other avataras
• 1355) Why does Prabhupada differentiate between knowledge and devotion in Gita 2.14 purport?
• 1354) Wasn’t Hanuman’s burning Lanka excessive vandalism?
• 1353) Wasn’t Lakshmana’s disfiguring Shurapanakha disproportionate and cruel?
• 1352) When Rama descended in the Surya Vamsha why is he called Ramachandra?
• 1351) Bhagavatam study 9 – 1.2.28-34 – Vasudeva is the be-all and end-all in everything
• 1350) Gita 07.21 – Krishna is much more merciful than the God in the Prodigal Son metaphor
• 1349) Bhagavatam study 8 – 1.2.23-27 – Our worship reflects our mentality
• 1348) Gita 07.20 – Don’t let desire steal your knowledge
• 1347) Bhagavatam study 7 – 1.2.16-22 – Practice the process of joy with joy
• 1346) What is the relation between the Ishopanishad cover picture and its content?
• 1345) Why are the Ishopanishad verses called mantras?
• 1344) Does the presence of the Gayatri in the Bhagavatam mean that it should be studied only by the brahmanas?
• 1343) How is the Bhagavatam’s first verse correlated with the Gayatri mantra?
• 1342) Why does the Bhagavatam repeatedly refer to Vasudeva instead of Krishna?

November 2015

• 1341) Was Arjuna’s faith enhanced by seeing the Universal Form?
• 1340) Dont let comfort cause complacency – Ramayana Reflection
• 1339) Was rain an adequate reason for Rama to delay his search for Sita?
• 1338) What is the significance of the different names used for Arjuna in the Gita as in 14.11 & 12?
• 1337) Is there any difference between attaining Krishna’s dharma mentioned in Gita 14.2 and attaining his bhava mentioned in Gita 14.19?
• 1336) When Bhagavatam talks about karma as a cause, shouldnt we see karma causally?
• 1335) What does the Pandavas didn’t deserve to live mean in Bhagavatam in 1.9.12?

October 2015

• 1334) Avoiding the three misdirectons in the blame game (Bhagavatam 1.16.24)
• 1333) Why did Krishna not inform Karna initially that he was Kunti’s son?
• 1332) Why did Krishna manifest four arms while teasing Rukmini?
• 1331) Why did Barbarika’s mother tell him to fight on the weaker side instead of on the Pandavas’ side?
• 1330) Was the solar eclipse a predicted event or created by the Lord to help Arjuna?
• 1329) When staying silent amidst injustice is wrong, why did Yudhishthira passively accept the Kauravas’ atrocities?
• 1328) What does worshiping the Lord through our work mean?
• 1327) “Chant and be happy” is not just causal but also parallel (Bhagavatam 1.2.22)
• 1326) Understanding the scopes of science and spirituality
• 1325) God and Science – The Gita perspective
• 1324) How is the Gita’s detachment different from Mayavadi detachment?
• 1323) Does improperly performed work in the Gita shreyan sva-dharmo vigunah refer to incompetence in work?
• 1322) When Bhagavatam focuses on devotion through renunciation, how do we understand Lord Chaitanya’s having grihastha followers and stressing Bhagavatam both?
• 1321) What does the Gita verse karmany evadhikaraste mean?
• 1320) Association reminds us of our spiritual glory
• 1319) How did Duryodhana win Balaram over to his side?
• 1318) God proposes, Man Disposes – Understanding Krishna’s failed peace mission
• 1317) God Proposes, Man Accepts
• 1316) Overcome discouragement through spiritual wisdom
• 1315) Why does the Bhagavatam end with impersonal knowledge?
• 1314) Three special results of loving Krishna – PSI: Purification Satisfaction Illumination (Bhagavatam 1.2.14)
• 1313) How do impersonalists derive impersonal conclusions from the Gita?
• 1312) How can we do akarma practically?

September 2015

• 1311) How is the worship of devatas inclusive within worship of Krishna?
• 1310) Why does Krishna say the devatas are different from him in chp 7 and same with him in chp 10?
• 1309) Does karshati in Gita 15.07 refer to attraction or struggle?
• 1308) Why does the Gita 15.1 compare the Vedas to leaves?
• 1307) How do we develop the qualities the Gita recommends?
• 1306) How can I overcome sleepiness when studying the Gita?
• 1305) Parenting Principles from Bhagavad-gita
• 1304) Death and the search for meaning
• 1303) Does the Gita contain verses against meat-eating?
• 1302) What does the Gita say about attachment, detachment and rupture in relationships?
• 1301) How exactly is work worship – is bad work also worship?
• 1300) Deconstructing Shishupala’s character assassination of Krishna

August 2015

• 1299) Appreciating Bhagavatam as rasa shastra
• 1298) Temptations may come, we don’t have to welcome
• 1297) How are the Bhagavatam’s cantos named?
• 1296) Essence of Gita 5 – Choose God over the world
• 1295) Essence of Gita 4 – God helps those who let him help them
• 1294) Essence of Gita 3 – Devotion connects us vertically and horizontally
• 1293) Essence of Gita 2 – Direct love towards the ultimate object
• 1292) Essence of Gita 1 – Love is eternal
• 1291) How can knowledge alone free us from karmic bondage, as Gita 4.14 says?
• 1290) Is a person in Krishna consciousness transcendental to varnashrama?
• 1289) When Arjuna had enough mind control to perform great austerities, why does he say that he can’t control the mind?
• 1288) How has surrender in Gita 2.7 changed Arjuna’s consciousness when he expresses the same sentiment in 1.35 and 2.8?
• 1287) When Krishna calls as divine the vision for seeing the Universal Form, why does Vishvanatha Chakravarti call it a downgrade of vision?
• 1286) 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?
• 1285) How was Sanjay able to see the Universal Form without being given special eyes by Krishna?
• 1284) Should the Bhagavad-gita be made India’s national book?
• 1283) Why did Yudhisthira while gambling Draupadi describe her physical beauty publicly?
• 1282) Why did Arjuna to avenge Abhimanyu kill the weaker Jayadratha and not a stronger opponent like Karna?
• 1281) When an eye for an eye will make everyone blind, why does the Gita teach that?

July 2015

• 1280) In Bhagavatam canto 2, what is the relation between Parikshitas question and Brahmas listing various avataras?
• 1279) In Gita 13.24 why does Krishna say that he has spoken about the modes when he hasn’t spoken about them?
• 1278) Gita Metaphors 2 – Wind 1 – A Boat Amidst a Storm
• 1277) Gita 13.26 – Hearing is foundational to the topmost yoga
• 1276) Lust brings out our lower side – love, our higher side
• 1275) Gita 18.61 – Krishna doesn’t cause our worldly wandering – he frees us from the cause of that wandering
• 1274) Gita 09.02 – The most powerful knowledge brings about the most auspicious destruction
• 1273) Bhagavad Gita Metaphors 1 – Introduction
• 1272) Gita 02.52 – Take the intelligence beyond the illusion of knowledge
• 1271) Gita 03.41 – Alluring sense objects are the trigger, not the cause, of lust
• 1270) Gita 13.27 – Let sensory perception stimulate spiritual contemplation
• 1269) Gita 16.10 – Differentiate between kama as an enemy and kama as a purusha-artha
• 1268) Gita 18.73 – Harmony with the Supreme is the sure sign of enlightenment
• 1267) Gita 02.72 – Spiritual connectedness can provide peace even amidst violence
• 1266) Gita 16.17 – Devotion is a matter of inner intention, not outer ostentation
• 1265) Gita 14.01 – The Gita’s jnana section higlights its bhakti essence
• 1264) Gita 18.35 – Expecting the worst of everything is ignorant, not transcendent
• 1263) Gita 17.03 – Gita’s categorization goes deeper than just believers and nonbelievers
• 1262) Gita 14.18 – The modes present choices and propel us to choose
• 1261) Gita 14.02 – Take shelter of the knowledge that inspires us to take shelter of Krishna
• 1260) Gita 14.13 – Illumination and action make our life all-round productive
• 1259) Gita 02.66 – We need Krishna-connection to keep our intelligence and mind on track
• 1258) Gita 18.35 – We don’t lack determination – we lack direction for our determination
• 1257) Defiance used in the service of devotion – Ramayana reflection
• 1256) Brahma Samhita 5.30 – venum kvanantam – The creator adores his creator
• 1255) Gita 14.11 – Is our acquistion of knowledge done with knowledge?
• 1254) Gita 14.16 – Goodness detoxifies our consciousness
• 1253) Gita 16.16 – The more we are spiritually deprived, the more become materialy depraved
• 1252) Gita 18.57 – Don’t renounce work – offer work to Krishna
• 1251) Gita 14.12 – Passion produces workoholism – protect yourself by devotion
• 1250) Focus on the universality of suffering, not its variety
• 1249) Focus on the universality of suffering, not its variety
• 1248) How do the sages’ austerities produce fire?
• 1247) Why is Dattatreya described so briefly in the Bhagavatam – what is the significance?
• 1246) How was Kunti ever truthful when she lied to conceal Bhima’s identity?
• 1245) Why was there ajnata vasa in Mahabharata, but not in Ramayana?

June 2015

• 1244) Are there some Deities that are jagruta?
• 1243) Krishna went to Kubja to satisfy her desires – how to understand?
• 1242) Why did the Pandavas blindly follow Kunti’s uninformed words to share Draupadi?
• 1241) Why did Bhishma and other elders stay silent when Draupadi was being disrobed?
• 1240) Do the modes come from Krishna or from prakriti?
• 1239) In Gita 6.35 what does abhyasa and vairagya mean?
• 1238) Is work worship?
• 1237) If even sinful devotees are considered saintly should we not look for trustworthiness in relating with devotees?
• 1236) Should we work without worrying about result or work for Krishna?
• 1235) In Gita 3.1 what does intelligence and fruitive work refer to?
• 1234) Karna’s tragic choice

May 2015

• 1233) Conceptual, conversational and chronological background of the Bhagavatam’s creation narrative
• 1232) Are jnana and karma complementary instead of hierarchical?
• 1231) Gita 07.18 – Krishna is so hungry for love that he deems those who become his devotees charitable
• 1230) Gita 07.17 – Jnana favorable to bhakti intensifies our connection with Krishna
• 1229) Gita 07.16 – Approaching Krishna for any reason is auspicious
• 1228) Gita 07.15 – Scriptural categorization of non-devotees is living, not frozen
• 1227) Gita 07.14 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position brings intellectual force to our call of devotion
• 1226) Gita 07.13 – The modes sabotage our prospects of coming out of material existence
• 1225) Gita 07.12 – The Gita’s vision of God is not pantheistic but panentheistic
• 1224) Gita 07.11 – Kama manifests the divine when harmonized with dharma
• 1223) Gita 07.10 – All seeds are exhaustible, but Krishna is the inexhaustible seed
• 1222) Gita 07.09 – Krishna underlies diverse manifestations as earth, fire, life and ascetic
• 1221) Gita 07.08 – Krishna is the essence that makes all taste accessible through water
• 1220) Gita 07.07 – Krishna is the substance underlying all appearance
• 1219) Gita 07.06 – Nothing exists outside the purview of Krishna’s energies
• 1218) Gita 07.05 – The Absolute Truth is immutable, but its energies are mutable
• 1217) Gita 07.04 – Sankhya when seen devotionally reveals Krishna’s glory
• 1216) Does Krishna’s not being able to remember the Gita later in the Mahabharata prove that some higher being spoke the Gita through him?
• 1215) Bhagavatam first canto study 6 – 1.2.9-1.2.15 – Bhakti leads to realization of the Absolute Truth
• 1214) Bhagavatam first canto study 5 – 1.2.1-1.2.8 – The Bhagavatam’s speaker and subject are radically exalted
• 1213) Gita 07.03 – The rarity of knowing Krishna reveals the mercy we have the opportunity to relish
• 1212) Gita 07.02 – Understand the appearance and the substance of everything
• 1211) Gita 07.01 – Hearing paves our way to the summit of yoga
• 1210) Gita 06.47 – The perfection of yoga is not disconnection from matter but connection with Krishna

April 2015

• 1209) What does “avyakta” mean in the Gita’s eighth chapter?
• 1208) How can we work for Krishna and avoid contaminating association in our workplaces?
• 1207) When Upadeshamrita is for seekers, why does it start by telling who can become a guru?
• 1206) Gita 06.46 – Focus on transcendence is superior to any material attainment – gross or subtle
• 1205) How is Krishna attained by doing duty – doesn’t one need to rise to love for him?
• 1204) How does mastery in yajna lead to Krishna consciousness?
• 1203) As Krishna is the ultimate beneficiary, is devata prasad also Krishna-prasad?
• 1202) If yajnas are not done will there be no rains?
• 1201) What is the destination of those who take devatas’ prasad?
• 1200) Gita 06.45 – Past-life attraction and present determination leads yogi to perfection
• 1199) Gita 06.44 – Past-life’s spiritual practice manifests as inexplicable irresistible attraction to transcendence
• 1198) Meaningless material existence becomes meaningful through the human form (Churning the Bhagavatam 1)
• 1197) Why did Dhirtarashtra ask for eyes to see the universal form but refuse the eyes to see the Kurukshetra war?
• 1196) Was Drona a pure devotee? Was he a spiritual teacher?
• 1195) Gita 06.43 – Spiritual inclination is the credit that carries over beyond the corpse
• 1194) Gita 06.42 – Having past spiritual impressions reinforced in a present life is extremely fortunate
• 1193) Why are the Gita’s first and last chapters of Krishna’s instructions its longest chapters?
• 1192) Material existence without the human form is pointless
• 1191) What do the terms karya karana kartrtva adhyatma adhibhuta and adhiyajna in SB 2.5.19 mean?
• 1190) Why does Prabhupada say in Gita 2.38p that sankhya doesn’t refer to and does refer to the Bhagavatam’s sankhya?
• 1189) How is internal cleanliness a bodily austerity?
• 1188) What is the difference between austerity and penance?
• 1187) Gita 06.41 – The deviated yogi loses neither materially nor spiritually
• 1186) Which are the important commentaries on the Gita?
• 1185) Why are there so many commentaries on the Gita?
• 1184) Gita 06.40 – Krishna reveals how an apparently lose-lose situation is actually win-win
• 1183) Bhagavatam Overview – Canto 1 – Setting the Scene of Devotion in Separation
• 1182) Gita 06.39 – Doubts are natural due to our limitedness – seek the unlimited
• 1181) What exactly was Bharata Maharaj’s mistake?
• 1180) How could Bharata Maharaj have become attached to a deer after renouncing the world?
• 1179) Gita 06.38 – The problems we perceive reflect our level of consciousness
• 1178) When neither yajnik-brahmanis nor their husbands get Krishna’s shelter, what is the point of that pastime?
• 1177) Why is Vritrasura portrayed as a demon in the Rig-Veda and as a devotee in the Bhagavatam?
• 1176) Why does Jiva Goswami deem Bhagavatam 2.2.37 the book’s phala-shruti?
• 1175) How can we avoid getting lost in the many conversations in the Bhagavatam?
• 1174) Which are the important commentaries on the Bhagavatam?
• 1173) Gita 06.37 – Considering future problems is a sign of intelligence
• 1172) What is the difference between energies in Gita chp 7 and potencies in chp 9?
• 1171) Gita 06.36 – Mind control is essential – and possible by proper process
• 1170) Gita 06.35 – The supreme teacher offers guidance – and confidence
• 1169) Gita 06.34 – The mind is dangerous like an unstoppable storm
• 1168) What is the difference between giving up action and renunciation in Gita 3.4?
• 1167) Did others apart from Arjuna see Krishna’s universal form?
• 1166) Gita 06.33 – Seeing equally is tough, but seeing devotionally is easier
• 1165) Gita 06.32 – The topmost yogi sees everyone with benevolence, not indifference
• 1164) Why did Hanuman not defeat Vali?
• 1163) Hanuman – An endearing blend of bhakti and shakti
• 1162) Gita 06.31 – See oneness in Krishna’s various manifestations – not Krishna and the soul
• 1161) Gita 06.30 – The perception of Krishna everywhere takes one beyond the reach of illusion
• 1160) Gita 06.29 – By seeing sameness in the material, yogi penetrates to the supreme spiritual substance
• 1159) Gita 06.28 – To get the best happiness, connect with God, not sense objects
• 1158) Gita 06.27 – Joy is the natural fruity of purity

March 2015

• 1157) Gita 06.26 – Overcome discouragement with the inner light and the inner map
• 1156) Gita 06.26 – Expect and correct the mind’s restlessness
• 1155) Gita 06.25 – Don’t expect overnight change – determinedly make gradual changes
• 1154) Gita 06.24 – Determination means rejection of dejection
• 1153) The Recipe for Ruining Relationships – Ramayana Wisdom 1
• 1152) Nāmarāmāyaṇam (The Ramayana conveyed in 108 names)
• 1151) Gita 06.23 – Yoga brings disconnection from our infatuation with misery
• 1150) The Gita’s progression from third person references to first person references
• 1149) Gita 06.22 – Seek the achievement beyond hankering and lamentation
• 1148) Gita 06.21 – The intelligence opens the door to trans-sensory happiness
• 1147) Gita 06.20 – Stop outer obsession to begin inner perception
• 1146) Gita 06.19 – Minimize the wind of disturbing desires to maximize the flame of meditation
• 1145) Gita 06.18 – Self-control leads to real self-awareness
• 1144) Gita 06.17 – Material regulation cataylzes yogic liberation
• 1143) Gita 06.16 – Take responsibility for determining bodily balance
• 1142) Ramayana’s enduring message – Rise from me to we
• 1141) Value Education and Spirituality 35 – Ramayana 17 – Hanuman 2 – Never lose heart
• 1140) Gita 06.15 – Yoga brings mental regulation and spiritual liberation
• 1139) Value Education 34 – Ramayana 16 – Hanuman 1 – Overcome distractions by determination
• 1138) Value Education 33 – Ramayana 15 – Jambavan – Help bring the best out of others
• 1137) Value Education 32 – Ramayana 14 – Angada – Overcome dissension by focus on common
• 1136) Value Education 31 – Ramayana 13 – Sugriva – Comforts breed ingratitude
• 1135) Gita 06.14 – Use material dispassion to establish spiritual connection
• 1134) Can only those who don’t break brahmchari-vrata attain the kingdom of God?
• 1133) Why is Bhagavatam 2.6 called the Purusha-Sukta confirmed?
• 1132) Gita 06.13 – Physical position is meant to facilitate mental absorption
• 1131) On seeing the Pandavas forces why does Duryodhana approach Drona not Bhishma?
• 1130) Gita 06.12 – Concentration is the foundation for purification
• 1129) Gita 06.11 – Seek a balance between externals and internals
• 1128) Gita 06.10 – Popular yoga is not spiritual yoga
• 1127) Gita 06.09 – Equal vision towards those who relate unequally is challenging
• 1126) Gita 06.08 – Realization brings satisfaction and equal vision
• 1125) Gita 06.07 – The controlled mind disregards dualities and discovers the Supersoul
• 1124) Gita 06.06 – Train the mind as a horse is trained
• 1123) Gita 06.05 – The responsibility for controlling the mind rests on us
• 1122) Gita 06.04 – Rigorous renunciation characterizes the yogarudha stage
• 1121) Gita 06.03 – Different levels require different methods for progress
• 1120) Gita 06.02 – Renunciation of matter and connection with spirit share the same purpose
• 1119) Gita 06.01 – Renunciation means to give up the shelter of work’s fruits
• 1118) Did Arjuna know Krishna’s supreme position in the Gita’s first chapter?
• 1117) Could Krishna not convince Arjuna with philosophy alone and so he displayed the Universal Form?
• 1116) How could Bhima drink Dushashana’s blood?
• 1115) Did Bhima kill Duryodhana or just wound him?
• 1114) Do sadhaka-devotees also become free all worldly obligations?
• 1113) How does the Vedic rule of “no reactions in killing aggressors” apply today?
• 1112) Gita 05.29 – Peace comes by devotion to the all-powerful, all-loving Lord
• 1111) Gita.05.28 – Controlling the external and the internal brings liberation
• 1110) Gita 05.27 – Shut out the sense objects to seek inwards
• 1109) Gita 05.26 – Success on the spiritual path will come surely and soon

February 2015

• 1108) Gita 05.25 – Removing impurities empowers us to rip apart the facade of dualities
• 1107) Gita 05.24 – The inner is the way to the spiritual
• 1106) Gita 05.23 – The war against lust is a war of attrition
• 1105) Gita 05.22 – The so-called pleasure is the source of trouble
• 1104) Gita 05.21 – Give up outer pleasure and seek inexhaustible inner happiness
• 1103) Gita 05.20 – Equanimity is meant to make us not emotionless, but purposeful
• 1102) How can we best present the Gita to intellectuals who feel Prabhupada’s Gita is too devotional?
• 1101) Why does Prabhupada say that Haridasa Thakura is superior to Lord Shiva?
• 1100) Gita 05.19 – Sameness of perception is the situation of liberation
• 1099) Is simplicity and non-duplicity the same as humility or truthfulness?
• 1098) Did the Gita originally have 745 verses?
• 1097) Gita 05.18 – Spiritual realization grants equal vision towards all
• 1096) Is the Gita relevant today?
• 1095) Gita 05.17 – Spiritualize all the channels of consciousness to gain liberating knowledge
• 1094) Gita 05.16 – Knowledge illumines our inner territory and reveals the indwelling Lord
• 1093) Gita 05.15 – The judge is not responsible for the criminal’s conviction
• 1092) Gita 05.14 – The more we become detached, the more we master the body
• 1091) Gita 05.13 – The bodily city metaphor conveys our difference from our sensory gates
• 1090) Gita 05.12 – Action per se is not binding – attached action is
• 1089) Gita 05.11 – Change the motivation for action from gratification to purification
• 1088) Gita 05.10 – Live in the world but be not of the world
• 1087) Does Krishna consider Arjuna’s concerns about destruction of family meaningless?
• 1086) Does the Gita offer spiritual solution to spiritual problem or to material problem?
• 1085) What a saint learned from a prostitute   

January 2015

• 1084) What a saint learned from a prostitute
• 1083) Let intelligence take from the poison phase to the nectar phase
• 1082) Gita 05.09 – Contact of senses & sense objects is not the problem – infatuation with the contact is
• 1081) Gita 05.08 – Don’t take credit for actions done by bodily mechanisms
• 1080) Why did Bhishma in his previous life as Vasu steal Vashistha’s cow?
• 1079) Why does Arjuna brag that he is greater than Dwarkavasis in the brahmana son’s stealing pastime?
• 1078) Gita 05.07 – Inner purity ensures outer action without reaction
• 1077) Gita 05.06 – Renunciation without yogic connection is distressing
• 1076) Gita 05.05 – Sankhya and yoga aim for the same destination, yet they aren’t same
• 1075) Gita 05.04 – See beyond the diversity of process to the commonality of purpose
• 1074) Gita 05.03 – Renunciation in action is lasting renunciation
• 1073) Gita 05.02 – The path that takes us away from bondage fastest is the best
• 1072) Gita 05.01 – Understand meanings of terms from context, not from preconception
• 1071) Gita 04.42 – Win the inner war with spiritual knowledge and fight the outer war
• 1070) Gita 04.41 – Knowledge and faith can be symbiotic
• 1069) Gita 04.40 – Don’t let doubts deprive you of happiness
• 1068) Gita 04.39 – Faith is the pre-condition for knowledge
• 1067) Gita 04.38 – Don’t reduce jnana to jnana-yoga
• 1066) Gita 04.37 – The fire of knowledge reduces karma to ashes
• 1065) Gita 04.36 – The subjunctive case underscores the redemptive power of spiritual knowledge
• 1064) Gita 04.35 – Knowledge takes us beyond illusion and reveals connection of everything with Krishna
• 1063) Gita 04.34 – Learn from guru how to do karma as yajna and attain jnana
• 1062) Gita 04.33 – Let action be permeated by knowledge and culminate in knowledge
• 1061) Gita 04.32 – Knowing the unity among various yajnas grants liberation
• 1060) Gita 04.31 – Happiness in this world and the next don’t have to be mutually exclusive
• 1059) Gita 04.30 – The knowers of yajna attain purification, satisfaction and liberation
• 1058) Gita 04.28 – Apply the yajna priniciple to a broad spectrum of religious activities
• 1057) Gita 04.27 – Ceassation of all sensory and respiratory activity is a yajna
• 1056) Gita 04.26 – The mood of sacrifice spiritualizes both the householder and the renounced orders
• 1055) Gita 04.25 – Re-envision both karma-kanda and jnana-kanda as yajna
• 1054) Gita 04.24 – When our vision becomes spiritual, our action and destination also become spiritual
• 1053) Gita 04.23 – Sacrifice is not just an activity, but a mood that pervades all activity
• 1052) Is Krishna’s reference to Arjuna as Bharata spiritual because the Bharata dynasty is filled with liberated souls?
• 1051) If Krishna addresses Arjuna as per the bodily conception, does it mean that Krishna is in the bodily conception?
• 1050) Gita 04.22 – See scriptural principle in the light of its social context to find its practicability
• 1049) Gita 04.21 – Nirasha is not disappointment in fulfilling desire, but detachment from the fever to fulfill desire
• 1048) Gita 04.20 – The more we give up material shelters, the more we seek spiritual shelter
• 1047) Gita 04.19 – Discern the path of liberation with the vision of the enlightened, not the ignorant
• 1046) Gita 04.18 – Comprehend inaction in action and action in inaction through contextualization
• 1045) Gita 04.17 – Action-reaction correlation is incomprehensible, but right action is discernible
• 1044) Gita 04.16 – Don’t simplistically equate dictionary meaning with scriptural meaning
• 1043) Gita 04.15 – Follow the successful to be successful
• 1042) Gita 04.14 – Knowledge of Krishna’s position protects us from karmic subjugation
• 1041) Gita 04.13 – Krishna is the non-doer because he is non-discriminating
• 1040) Gita 04.12 – Demigod worship is quick fix in the world of religion
• 1039) Gita 04.11 – Appreciate the profundity of Krishna’s reciprocity and universality
• 1038) Gita 04.10 – Overcome 3 obstructive attitudes for taking shelter of Krishna
• 1037) Gita 04.09 – Attainment of Krishna is not rebirth, but release from rebirth
• 1036) Gita 04.08 – Let Krishna establish dharma within
• 1035) Gita 04.07 – Universality of opportunity defines and distinguishes dharma
• 1034) Gita 04.06 – Don’t presume familiarity with concepts due to familiarity with terms
• 1033) Gita 04.05 – Krishna spiritual position is not affected by his material location
• 1032) Gita 04.04 – Accept responsibility for clear communication – don’t affix blame for unclear communication
• 1031) Gita 04.03 – Krishna reveals his glory to those who delight in that glory
• 1030) Gita 04.02 – The Gita lives through those who live the Gita
• 1029) Gita 04.01 – Yogic knowledge comes from transcendental source through extra-terrestrial route to terrestrial recipient
• 1028) Gita 03.43 – Use intelligence to pursue transcendence and subdue lust
• 1027) Gita 03.42 – In the line of fire from lust the soul is the last
• 1026) Gita 03.41 – Regulation is the foundation for purification
• 1025) Gita 03.40 – Lust has taken over our knowledge-acquiring mechanism
• 1024) Gita 03.39 – The eternal enemy blinds, binds and burns
• 1023) Gita 03.38 – No one is exempt from lust’s delusion
• 1022) Gita 03.37 – Inner enemies are more dangerous than outer enemies
• 1021) Gita 03.36 – Alien desires become our own and impel us to sin
• 1020) Gita 03.35 – Credit lies in sticking to duty under duress, not in changing duty
• 1019) Gita 03.34 – Don’t let sensory urges steal dharmic credits
• 1018) Gita 03.33 – Our varna nature needs to be channelized, not repressed
• 1017) Gita 03.32 – Turning away from Krishna defeats the purpose of knowledge
• 1016) Gita 03.31 – Krishna’s words are eternal and faith-worthy

December 2014

• 1015) Gita 03.30 – Focus not on detaching from the entangling but on attaching to the liberating
• 1014) Gita 03.29 – The wise should elevate, not agitate, the ignorant
• 1013) Gita 03.28 – To know the truth means to see how spirit can stay disentangled from matter during action
• 1012) Gita 03.27 – Mistaking initiation of action with its execution is illusion
• 1011) Gita 03.26 – Don’t exhibit your high level – attract people to one level higher
• 1010) Gita 03.25 – The detached and the attached differ not in action but in intention
• 1009) Gita 03.24 – Krishna turns on its head Arjuna’s argument about varna-sankara
• 1008) Gita 03.23 – Walk your talk
• 1007) Gita 03.22 – Krishna’s supreme position redefines duty as lila
• 1006) Gita 03.21 – We learn from others’ examples and set examples for others
• 1005) Gita 03.20 – Examples make the conceptual tangible
• 1004) Gita 03.19 – Detached dutifulness opens the door to perfection
• 1003) Gita 03.18 – The independent are bound to neither action nor renunciation
• 1002) Gita 03.17 – Only those who rejoice internally are released from external duty
• 1001) Gita 03.16 – Those who don’t sacrifice waste their life
• 1000) Gita 03.15 – Yajna makes the transcendental accessible
• 999) Gita 03.14 – The principle of cosmic exchange is not pre-scientific but universal
• 998) 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
• 997) Gita 03.12 – Secular humanism makes humans honest thieves
• 996) Gita 03.11 – We live not just in a universe but in a universal government
• 995) Gita 03.10 – Don’t let familiarity take the mystery out of nature
• 994) Gita 03.09 – Nature of action is determined by its intent, not its form
• 993) Gita 03.08 – Material duty maintains material stability and facilitates spiritual focus
• 992) Gita 03.07 – Regulation is more conducive for advancement than renunciation
• 991) Gita 03.06 – Outer renunciation with inner sensual contemplation is self-delusion
• 990) Gita 03.05 – Inaction is unnatural, materially and spiritually
• 989) Gita 03.04 – Don’t equate the external with the essential
• 988) Gita 03.03 – Krishna’s instructions are not contradictory, but multi-level
• 987) Gita 03.02 – When scripture doesn’t fit into our mental framework, the framework needs change
• 986) Gita 03.01 – The Gita’s complex multi-level message is intellectually challenging and fulfilling
• 985) Gita 02.72 – Nirvana may be extinction, but brahma-nirvana is not
• 984) Gita 02.71 – Peace comes not by relocation, but by renunciation
• 983) Gita 02.70 – Be filled with higher purpose to transcend lower desires
• 982) Gita 02.69 – Be special above the ordinary, not among the ordinary
• 981) Gita 02.68 – Be a soul-deliverer, not a soul-killer
• 980) Gita 02.67 – Be swept by the wind of spiritual desire, not material desire
• 979) Gita 02.66 – Without inner connection, we end with agitation and frustration
• 978) Gita 02.65 – Purification makes external intelligence internal
• 977) Was Arjuna aware of the soul’s existence before hearing the Gita?
• 976) Gita 02.64 – Material regulation is the launching pad for spiritual liberation
• 975) Gita 02.63 – Irritation, delusion, oblivion, stupefaction, destruction – Last 5 of 8 stages to falldown
• 974) Gita 02.62 – Whatever catches our attention catches us
• 973) Gita 02.61 – Control, concentration, conquest – three stages in dealing with the senses
• 972) Gita 02.60 – Endeavoring and discerning are not enough for sense control
• 971) Gita 02.59 – Complement renunciation of the material with contemplation on the spiritual
• 970) Gita 02.58 – Withdraw consciousness inwards as a basic defense mechanism
• 969) Gita 02.57 – Stay unaffected by the material by being focussed on the spiritual
• 968) Gita 02.56 – Emotional non-entanglement with the material characterizes the seer
• 967) Gita 02.55 – Rejection of mental desires and satisfaction in the self define the self-realized
• 966) Gita 02.54 – Non-literal meaning illumines when literal meaning stumps
• 965) Gita 02.53 – Persistent absorption comes by consistent rejection of distraction
• 964) Gita 02.52 – Shastra without guru can be a deluding forest for the intelligence
• 963) Gita 02.51 – Same action with higher motivation bestows higher destination
• 962) Gita 02.50 – Yoga facilitates individualized artistic infusion of work with devotion
• 961) Gita 02.49 – The good becomes bad when it becomes the enemy of the best
• 960) Gita 02.48 – Yoga requires material indifference to provide spiritual transcendence
• 959) Gita 02.47 – Make sense of four counterintuitive assertions by seeing the full picture
• 958) Gita 02.46 – Understand multivalence of Veda to grasp how transcending the Vedas fulfills their purpose
• 957) Gita 02.44 – Prevent attachment from abducting consciousness by intelligence and taste
• 956) Gita 02.43 – The Vedic masterplan uses dharma to raise people from kama to prema
• 955) Gita 02.42 – Flowery words of Vedas distract from their ultimate wisdom
• 954) Gita 02.41 – Intent shapes intelligence
• 953) Gita 02.40 – The spiritual path comes with a no-loss and a fear-relieving guarantee
• 952) Gita 02.39 – Use buddhi to transform theoretical sankhya into practical yoga
• 951) Gita 02.38 – To reconcile the Gita’s contradictions, recognize the multi-level nature of its discussions
• 950) Gita 02.37 – Knowledge of atma and dharma redefines lose-lose situation as win-win
• 949) Gita 02.36 – Behave respectably to bring respectability to Krishna’s message
• 948) Gita 02.35 – The variance between our intention and people’s perception causes mortifying misconception
• 947) Gita 02.34 – Engage the power of honor to encourage honorable action
• 946) Gita 02.33 – Honorable position brings obligation of tangible contribution
• 945) Gita 02.32 – Dharma rewards success according to each varna’s definition of success
• 944) Gita 02.31 – Dharma is not a blanket injunction but an individualized customization
• 943) Gita 02.30 – Knowlege of the soul is not a call for resignation but for action
• 942) Gita 02.29 – Perception, verbalization, reception and incomprehension wrt soul are all amazing
• 941) Gita 02.28 – The mutability of everything materially magnifies the futility of grief
• 940) Gita 02.27 – See death not as a future event, but as an ongoing process
• 939) Gita 02.26 – Materialism makes meaning meaningless and lamentation pointless
• 938) Gita 02.25 – Contemplate the inconceivable to relish the spiritual
• 937) Gita 02.24 – The soul can’t be stopped from going anywhere nor forced to go anywhere
• 936) Gita 02.23 – The utter indestrutibility of the soul underlies the path of difficult duty
• 935) Gita 02.22 – The dress metaphor redefines death not as a miserable termination but as a welcome transition
• 934) Gita 02.21 – Integrate knowledge of the soul with the purpose of that knowledge
• 933) Gita 02.20 – The soul doesn’t undergo the six changes that matter does
• 932) In SB 1.2.7 if the knowledge is acquired through devotion how is it causeless?
• 931) In SB 1.2.2 what does the trees’ echoing Vyasadeva’s call to Shukadeva mean?
• 930) Gita 02.19 – The soul’s non-doership points to the complexity of matter-spirit interaction
• 929) Gita 02.18 – The immeasurability of soul points to its non-literal non-metaphorical measure
• 928) Gita 02.17 – Nothing can destroy the soul because it pervades everything
• 927) Gita 02.16 – Matter has no existence in the sense of having no lasting consequence
• 926) Gita 02.15 – Those unaffected by the temporary attain the eternal
• 925) Gita 02.14 – The material is peripheral, unavoidable and ephemeral – so tolerate it
• 924) Gita 02.13 – The body is changing, not just growing – so focus on the unchanging
• 923) Gita 02.12 – Spirit is not just eternal but also plural
• 922) Gita 02.11 – The ability to harmonize the walk with the talk characterizes the wise
• 921) Gita 02.10 – Change in the seeker’s mood evokes change in the teacher’s mood
• 920) Gita 02.09 – The decision of inaction reflects desperation to learn
• 919) Gita 02.08 – Outer success can’t remove inner distress
• 918) Gita 02.07 – Arjuna exhibits 3 characteristics of an ideal disciple
• 917) Gita 02.06 – Find way through lose-lose problems by seeking emotional distance
• 916) Gita 02.05 – Hard choices have to be made to avoid harder consequences
• 915) Gita 02.04 – Resolve conflicts among different roles by raising consciousness
• 914) Gita 02.03 – Fight degrading temptation by remembering honoroble position
• 913) Gita 02.02 – Arya – Spiritual denotation, historical concoction and modern connotation
• 912) Gita 02.01 – Arjuna’s analysis only aggravates his agony
• 911) Gita 01.46 – When the eye disheartens, let the ear hearten
• 910) Gita 01.45 – Sound arguments from a fragmented perception are actually unsound
• 909) Gita 01.44 – Arjuna’s reasoning is wrong, but his capacity for reasoning is laudable
• 908) Gita 01.43 – Hell forever is a subjective feeling, not an objective fact
• 907) Gita 01.42 – Three meanings of dharma
• 906) Gita 01.41 – Unwanted progeny – what does unwanted mean?
• 905) Gita 01.40 – Protecting women and ensuring good progeny are important social responsibilities
• 904) Gita 01.39 – As soon as dharma weakens adharma attacks
• 903) Gita 01.38 – Don’t let the anartha-maddened make us similarly mad
• 902) Gita 01.37 – Greed gives us a tunnel vision of reality
• 901) Gita 01.36 – Contemplate contextual karmic considerations before acting
• 900) Gita 01.35 – Arjuna’s profit-loss calculations miss the most important factor
• 899) Gita 01.34 – Arjuna’s evolved emotion and reason ready to be raised to the summit by Gita wisdom
• 898) Gita 01.33 – The contrasting words of Arjuna and Duryodhana reveal their consciousness’ levels
• 897) Gita 01.32 – Whom we live for determines the quality of our life
• 896) Gita 01.31 – Material long-term is not long-term enough
• 895) Gita 01.30 – Where materialism shows a dead end spirituality shows the way ahead
• 894) Gita 01.29 – The inner attack of emotions does what no outer attack of enemies could have done
• 893) Gita 01.28 – To avoid being consumed by material emotions, cultivate spiritual emotions
• 892) What exactly is the point of the nivrtta tarshair (SB 10.01.04) verse?
• 891) Gita 01.27 – Undiscerning visual perception erodes spiritual conviction
• 890) Gita 01.26 – The brutality of the imminent fratricide sinks in
• 889) Gita 01.25 – Over-reliance on visual perception ends in illusion
• 888) Gita 01.24 – Conquer lethargy to attain excellence in service
• 887) Gita 01.23 – How the evil got so many allies
• 886) Gita 01.22 – A last sight of the battling brethren
• 885) Gita 01.21 – The surprising request to see what is already known
• 884) Gita 01.20 – The monkey standard is permeated with the divine monkey’s presence
• 883) Gita 01.19 – Kauravas’ bravado battered and shattered by Pandavas’ bravery
• 882) Gita 01.18 – The Pandavas’ illustrious sons gallantly serve their parents
• 881) Gita 01.17 – Weapons are warrior’s ornaments
• 880) Krishna’s moods in the Gita – Gita Jayanti class
• 879) If we dont understand something in the Gita should we re-read it till we understand before going ahead?
• 878) What is the joking referred to in Gita 1.25 purport?

November 2014

• 877) If the Gita is contextual, why is it considered such an important scripture?
• 876) Is Modi anti-secular in giving the Gita to other heads of state?
• 875) Is the Gita a religious book or a secular book?
• 874) Why does Gita 7.25 use yoga-maya instead of maha-maya?
• 873) Does the Gita ask Arjuna to choose job over family?
• 872) Was Bhishma an impersonalist – he refers to Krishna in the third person not the second person?
• 871) What is the difference between spiritual, transcendental and devotional?
• 870) Retreat within to treat without
• 869) Value Education 14 – Mahabharata 8 – Draupadi – Ask not why this but how now
• 868) Value Education 13 – Mahabharata 7 – Yudhisthira 1 – Gambling
• 867) Value Education 12 – Mahabharata 6 – Karna 3 – Respond to adversity with integrity
• 866) Value Education 11 – Mahabharata 5 – Karna 2 – Life of honor is more important than
• 865) Value Education and Spirituality 10 – Mahabharata 4 – Karna 1 – Choose friends that bring out our best, not our worst

October 2014

• 864) Value Education 29 – Ramayana 11 – Vali 2 – Judging without understanding ruins relationships
• 863) Does papa-yonayah in Gita 9.32 refer to a fourth category?
• 862) Does Gita 18.56 refer to karma-yoga or bhakti-yoga?
• 861) How can a material process karma-yoga grow into the transcendental process bhakti-yoga?
• 860) Value Education 30 – Ramayana 12 – Vali 3 – Real repentance is seen in rectification
• 859) Value Education and Spirituality 28 – Ramayana 10 – Vali 1 – Judging without understanding ruins relationships
• 858) Value Education and Spirituality 27 – Ramayana 9 – Shabari – See not the body’s caste – see the heart’s character
• 857) Value Education and Spirituality 26 – Ramayana 8 – Jatayu – Fight atrocities against women
• 856) Value Education and Spirituality 25 – Ramayana 7 – Lakshmana – Don’t ascribe intention to what is spoken in tension
• 855) Value Education and Spirituality 24 – Ramayana 6 – The illusory dear – Use intelligence to see beyond appearance to substance
• 854) Value Education and Spirituality 23 – Ramayana 5 – Shurapanakha – Don’t let the selfish exploit our sexual vulnerabiity
• 853) Value Education and Spirituality 22 – Ramayana 4 – Bharata – Stick to integrity amidst opportunity for immorality
• 852) Value Education and Spirituality 21 – Ramayana 3 – Dasharatha – Honor one’s word even at great personal cost
• 851) Value Education and Spirituality 20 – Ramayana 2 – Rama – Go beyond fight or flight to choose the best response
• 850) Value Education and Spirituality 19 – Ramayana 1 – Kaikeyi – Don’t be deluded by malicious misinformers
• 849) Is karma-yoga superior to jnana-yoga according to the Gita chp 3?
• 848) Why does the Bhagavad-gita immediately after rejecting bodily identity address Arjuna with names which reinforce that very identity?
• 847) Which dictionary meaning of the word ‘mind’ does the Gita refer to?
• 846) Mind the mind
• 845) Do vaishyas have to do brahminical occupation to come to goodness for practicing bhakti?
• 844) Why do we counter-push against lower modes and not against goodness?
• 843) When Arjuna’s chariot was destroyed after the MB war, why does he say in SB “The chariot is the same”?
• 842) Are those who come to Krishna even for material benefit mahatmas?
• 841) Is the jnani of Gita 7.17 one of the four categories of 7.16?
• 840) When Prabhupada’s Gita is so obviously not as it is, how can he call it as it is?
• 839) What are the ten principles of godly life mentioned in Gita 16.1-3 purport?
• 838) Never lose heart
• 837) Which other Purana mentions that Bhagavatam is the commentary on the Vedanta Sutra?
• 836) Bhagavatam-daily 5 – 11.06.44 – Hearing about Krishna is auspicious and delicious
• 835) Redefine success
• 834) Bhagavatam-daily 4 – 11.06.43 – We can’t tolerate separation from Krishna, but the mind misleads us
• 833) We can’t wish away our bodily identity – we have to work our way through it
• 832) Bhagavatam-daily 3 – 11.06.42 – Trust not just Krishna’s power, but also his intelligence
• 831) Gita 01.16 – The individual conches manifest individual warrior’s virility
• 830) Bhagavatam-daily 2 – 11.06.41 – Submission is the way out of confusion
• 829) Gita 01.15 – The top trio in the Pandava army start the action
• 828) Bhagavatam-daily 1 – 11.06.40 – Philosophy offers shelter when the world’s shelters fail
• 827) Gita 01.14 – The dramatically humble entry of the hero
• 826) Be concerned not disturbed
• 825) Gita 01.13 – Rituals of war express and stimulate the martial spirit
• 824) Bali M rejects Shukracharya, yet Vamana respects him – Why?
• 823) Did Bali M surrender out of devotion or fear of dishonor?
• 822) Opportunity in Adversity
• 821) Gita 01.12 – The valorous grandsire stops the politicking
• 820) Gita 01.11 – The manipulator misses the one who matters most
• 819) Is the doer the ego as Gita 18.58 states or the modes as Gita 3.27 states?
• 818) Spiritualizing our work
• 817) Gita 01.10 – Mulitiple meanings of same word reveal the possibilities of multiple interpretations
• 816) Gita 01.09 – Listing the warriors’ qualities for enlisting their commitment
• 815) Words shape worlds – watch your words
• 814) Just as a bigger Mahabharata exists in the heavens does a bigger Gita also exist?
• 813) What is the meaning of the Gita statement about the moon being the most prominent nakshatra?
• 812) Why did Ravana despite being obstinate listen to Maricha first and give up his plan to abduct Sita?
• 811) After seeing Rama’s power why did Akampana not flee entirely as did Maricha?
• 810) How does Akampana reach Lanka before Shurapanakha?
• 809) Dussehra meditation – Differentiating between obstinacy and determination
• 808) Does the Gita recommend Deity worship?
• 807) Different approaches to Gita study: historical, literary, philosophical, revelational, descriptive, prescriptive

September 2014

• 806) As yogis become bhaktas at their topmost stage does that mean we should practice yoga before bhakti?
• 805) Gita 01.08 – Attachment makes the absent present
• 804) Why are the divisions of different scriptures called differently – skandha, kanda and parva
• 803) What is the difference between phenomenal and numinous in Gita 7.2
• 802) Gita 01.07 – Repetition of known information conveys prioritization
• 801) Gita 01.06 – Their great warriors counterbalance our greater strength
• 800) Gita 01.05 – Affiliations were shaped by long-term affinity not short-term antipathy
• 799) Gita 01.04 – Our inner frame of reference shapes our outer focus of reference
• 798) Gita 01.03 – The politician seeks martial dedication by emotional manipulation
• 797) What does being free from all dualities mean wrt devotional service?
• 796) What is the difference between a jnani and jnani-yogi?
• 795) Did the Pandavas go to heaven or the spiritual world?
• 794) When Krishna says that the knowledge in disciplic succession was lost, weren’t the four sampradayas available at that time?
• 793) A devotee is already righteous, so why does Krsna say that he becomes righteous in Gita 9.31?
• 792) What is the difference between nitya and shashvata in Gita 2.20?
• 791) How can we convert our work in office into yajna?
• 790) What is the difference between karma yoga, buddhi yoga and bhakti yoga?
• 789) Gita 01.02 – Duryodhana’s choice of conversant reveals his political intent
• 788) If Arjuna was superior to Karna, why does Bhagavatam say he was a small fish in an ocean of giant fishes?
• 787) Gita 01.01 – The transcendental manifests as the geographical
• 786) Why does Krishna refer to someone else as the object of surrender in the Gita 18.62?
• 785) Gita 04.39 – Faith is the necessary but not sufficient condition for knowledge
• 784) Value Education and Spirituality 9 – Mahabharata 3 – Vidura – Be a forgiving not a forgetful friend

August 2014

• 783) What does the Gita’s chp 13 title ‘Nature, enjoyer and consciousness’ refer to?
• 782) Is the universal form in the Gita’s ninth chapter a conceptualization and the eleventh chapter, a revelation?
• 781) What does the Gita’s inverted tree metaphor signify?
• 780) 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?
• 779) What is the theory of reflection Prabhupada refers to in the Gita 2.13 purport?
• 778) Why does Krishna emphasise consciousness at death which is much more uncontrollable than consciousness while living?
• 777) Meditation on the only prayers to Balaram in the Bhagavatam
• 776) 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?
• 775) When opulences are disqualifications for devotion, why does ISKCON preach to the opulent?
• 774) Why do we need to justify the Pandavas’ actions? Isn’t “Krishna told them to do it” enough reason?
• 773) 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
• 772) Bhagavatam first canto study 3 – 1.1.3 – Relish the rasa in association
• 771) Bhagavatam first canto study 2 – 1.1.2 – The pure intention bestows the perfect destination

July 2014

• 770) Mahabharata characters 73 Abhimanyu 2 Confronting conspiracy with courage
• 769) Mahabharata characters 72 Abhimanyu 1 Penetrating the impenetrable phalanx
• 768) If the suffering of great devotees is for their glorification why does Bhishma say Pandavas’ suffering is due to time?
• 767) When the Pandavas were so virtuous why did Krisha let them suffer so much?
• 766) Why was Kunti’s unknowing statement ‘share whatever you have brought’ considered absolute and Draupadai married to all the Pandavas?
• 765) Draupadi forgave Ashwatthama but not the Kauravas. Why?
• 764) Why did Krishna and Arjuna meet each other first time so late in their lives?
• 763) Why did Balaramji favor Duryodhana?
• 762) Arjuna’s virtuous victory – Don’t challenge God’s wisdom; let God’s wisdom challenge you – 2
• 761) Is the expansion of the Mahabharata from its short Jaya version a contamination?
• 760) Arjuna’s virtuous victory – Don’t challenge God’s wisdom; let God’s wisdom challenge you – 1
• 759) Mahabharata characters 71 Ashwatthama The dangerous temptation to punish
• 758) Is the Mahabharata contaminated due to interpolation?
• 757) Why did Duryodhana become vicious despite being born in a virtuous family?
• 756) Did Krishna establish dharma just for 36 years after fighting such a big war?
• 755) Why did Yaksha ask so many questions to the Pandavas?
• 754) Mahabharata characters 70 Karna 5 The tragic end of heroic misdirection
• 753) Why did Krishna not protect Yudhisthira from errors of judgment?
• 752) Draupadi’s courageous devotion amidst the disrobing – Ask not “why this?” but “how now?”
• 751) Did Vikarna get any good result for trying to defend Draupadi’s honor?
• 750) Who was Yuyutsu? How did he come from the Kaurava side to the Pandava side?
• 749) Why did Yudhisthira agree for a second gambling match after the disastrous first gambling match?
• 748) Why did the virtuous Bhishma fight on the side of the vicious Kauravas?
• 747) Did Karna have to choose the side of evil due to his past karma?
• 746) Did Duryodhana have any good qualities?
• 745) What are the authentic sources for learning the Mahabharata?
• 744) How did a ciranjeevi Ashwatthama fight against the virtuous Pandavas?
• 743) Why did Krishna and others not try to reform Duryodhana as reformation is the ultimate goal?
• 742) Mahabharata characters 69 Karna 3 Is word of honor greater than life of honor
• 741) Why do the Bhagavatam and the Mahabharata describe the same stories differently?
• 740) Duryodhana’s blame game 2 – Attribution error and alien abduction
• 739) Duryodhana’s blame game 1 – The unjustified sense of entitlement led to unnecessary envy
• 738) Mahabharata characters 68 Karna 2 Status insecurity leads to shocking immorality
• 737) Mahabharata characters 67 – Karna 1 – Did life give him a raw deal?
• 736) Mahabharata characters 66 Duryodhana 5 Baffled in words, battles and spirits
• 735) Mahabharata characters 65 Duryodhana 4 Incompetence and fault finding personified
• 734) Mahabharata characters 64 Duryodhana 3 Foolishly adding fuel to fire
• 733) Srimad Bhagavad-gita-mahatmyam  THE GLORY OF SRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA  from Sri Vaisnaviya-tantra-sara
• 732) Mahabharata characters 63 Duryodhana 2 Krishna’s magnanimity vs Duryodhna’s obstinacy
• 731) Mahabharata characters 62 Duryodhana 1 The humiliator is humiliated
• 730) Mahabharata characters 61 Draupadi 2 Exemplary devotion amidst tribulation
• 729) Mahabharata characters 60 Draupadi 1 Responding to vice with virtue
• 728) Mahabharata characters 59 – Sahadeva – Using intelligence in the service of dharma
• 727) Mahabharata characters 58 – Nakula – Sustaining unity amidst individuality
• 726) Mahabharata characters 57 – Arjun 20 – World conquest for Ashwamedha-yajna
• 725) Is the Gita’s teaching that women are sinful resposible for female infanticide?
• 724) Mahabharata characters 56 – Arjuna 19 – The difficult disciplining of Ashvatthama
• 723) Mahabharata characters 55 – Arjuna 18 – The final battle with Karna
• 722) Mahabharata characters 54 – Arjun 17 – Devotional surrender amidst mixed feelings at Drona’s death M
• 721) Why did Bhima kill Duryodhana unfairly by hitting him below the waist during their final battle in the Mahabharata war?
• 720) Mahabharata characters 53 – Arjuna 16 – Racing against time with the Lord of time
• 719) Mahabharata characters 52 – Arjuna 15 – Breaking through the wall of the Kaurava forces
• 718) Mahabharata characters 51 – Arjuna 14 – Besting the fearsome elephant and the formidable elephant wa
• 717) Bhagavatam first canto study 1 – 1.1.1 – The Attributes of the Absolute Truth
• 716) If Krishna’s ultimate instruction is to give up all duties for surrendering to him why shouldn’t everyone join the temple?
• 715) Is Krishna omninpresent as his energy or personally as the Supersoul?
• 714) If the Supersoul is present in all atoms and the space between them, what is special about the Superoul in our heart?
• 713) What happens to the Supersoul after death and after liberation?
• 712) Is the Supersoul actually expanded in every heart or is it an appearance of expansion?
• 711) Mahabharata characters 50 – Arjuna 13 – Battling and serving the beloved grandsire
• 710) Mahabharata characters 49 – Arjuna 12 – The Gita goes far beyond violence to transcendence
• 709) Mahabharata characters 48 – Arjuna 11 – The divine heart calls the human heart to the path of love
• 708) Mahabharata Characters 47 – Arjuna 10 – Arguments against and for fighting in the Gita
• 707) Mahabharata Characters 46 – Arjuna 09 – Choose Krishna over the world
• 706) Mahabharata Characters 45 – Arjuna 08 – The stunning victory at Virata
• 705) Mahabharata Characters 44 – Arjuna 07 – Singlehanded triumph over the Nivatkavachas and Kalakanyas
• 704) Mahabharata Characters 43 – Arjuna 05 – Heaven hath no fury like a woman scorned

June 2014

• 703) Mahabharata Characters 42 – Arjuna 05 – Austerity and audacity for the pleasure of Lord Shiva
• 702) Mahabharata Characters 41 – Arjuna 04 – All the gods bested at Khandava
• 701) Mahabharata Characters 40 – Arjuna 03 – The match made with Krishna as the matchmaker
• 700) Mahabharata Characters 39 – Arjuna 02 – Accepting exile to honour virtue
• 699) Mahabharata Characters 38 – Arjuna 01 – Diligence is essential for attaining excellence
• 698) Mahabharata Characters 37 – Bhima 07 – Draupadi’s dishonorers destroyed
• 697) Mahabharata Characters 36 – Bhima 06 – Bhima decimates the Kauravas in the war’s first sixteen days
• 696) Mahabharata Characters 35 – Bhima 05 – Bhima’s heroics during incognito exile
• 695) Mahabharata Characters 34 – Bhima 04 – Meting punishment while giving forgiveness
• 694) Mahabharata Characters 33 – Bhima 03 – An attack on the gods that fulfilled a godly purpose
• 693) Mahabharata Characters 32 – Bhima 02 – No demon is a match to this human
• 692) Mahabharata Characters 31 – Bhima 01 – Growing stronger through danger and disaster
• 691) Mahabharata Characters 30 – Yudhisthira 08 – Dharmaraja’s moments of infamy and glory in the war
• 690) Mahabharata Characters 29 – Yudhisthira 07 – Steadiness through wisdom amidst the war’s worries
• 689) Mahabharata Characters 28 – Yudhisthira 06 – Wisdom wins where strength fails (Nahusha & Yaksha)
• 688) Mahabharata Characters 27 – Yudhisthira 05 – Words of wisdom vs words of anger in the forest
• 687) Mahabharata Characters 26 – Yudhisthira 04 – The Pandavas dishonoured and dispossessed
• 686) How the Gita’s ninth chapter reveals its bhakti essence
• 685) Mahabharata Characters 25 – Yudhisthira 03 – The virtuous victimized in the vicious gambling match
• 684) Mahabharata Characters 24 – Yudhisthira 02 – The world’s king glorifies the supreme king
• 683) Why does the Gita 12.11 include material charity in the bhakti hierarchy?
• 682) Where do religious social workers like Mother Terersa fall in the Gita’s yoga ladder?
• 681) How does karma yoga mature into ashtanga yoga?
• 680) How does the nishkama karma yogi attain knowledge and liberation? Through the same path or by adopting another yoga?
• 679) Does ashtanga yoga always start from jnana yoga?
• 678) 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?
• 677) Mahabharata Characters 23 – Yudhisthira 01 – Sticking to integrity amidst injustice
• 676) Mahabharata Characters 22 – Kunti 03 – Successful amidst misery after misery
• 675) Mahabharata Characters 21 – Kunti 02 – The glorious mother sees the glory of her sons and her Lord
• 674) The nine tensions in the Bhagavatam
• 673) Mahabharata Characters 20 – Kunti 01 – The blessing that made a nightmare and a dream come true
• 672) Mahabharata Characters 19 – Vidura 01 – A true friend, affectionate but not attached
• 671) Mahabharata Characters 18 – Dhritarashtra 04 – Losing Everything Before Losing Blindiness
• 670) What does the identification of Krishna with time mean practically?
• 669) Mahabharata Characters 17 – Dhritarashtra 03 – Blaming destiny for irresponsibility
• 668) Mahabharata Characters 16 – Dhritarashtra 02 – How the attached get manipulated
• 667) Mahabharata Characters 15 – Dhritarashtra 01 – The blindness of attachment begins
• 666) What is the significance of the word avyaya in Gita 9.2?
• 665) If Draupadi was dishonored due to her past karma, why did the Pandavas have to take revenge?
• 664) Mahabharata Characters 14 – Drona 04 – Repaying deceit with deceit
• 663) Mahabharata Characters 13 – Drona 03 – The Blunder Under Pressure
• 662) 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

• 661) Mahabharata Characters 12 – Drona 02 – The Teacher’s Tests
• 660) When this world is duhkhalayam why are the distressed only one of the four categories of people coming to Krishna
• 659) Mahabharata Characters 16 – Dhritarashtra 02 – How the attached get manipulated
• 658) Mahabharata Characters 11 – Drona 01 – From poverty to power
• 657) Demonizing the other doesn’t remove the demons hither
• 656) Mahabharata Characters 10 – Bhishma 09 – The Ideal Departure
• 655) Mahabharata Characters 09 – Bhishma 08 – The Grandsire on the arrow bed
• 654) Why do dharma-shastras say that aggressors should be forgiven?
• 653) Do the dharma-shastras say aggressors shouldn’t be killed and artha-shastras that they should be killed?
• 652) What are dharma-shastra and artha-shastra? How are they different?
• 651) Mahabharata Characters 08 – Bhishma 07 – Transcendental devotion amidst violent confrontation
• 650) Mahabharata Characters 07 – Bhishma 06 – The heartbreaking conflict among loved ones
• 649) Mahabharata Characters 06 – Bhishma 05 – The sacrifice of reputation for devotion
• 648) Mahabharata Characters 05 – Bhishma 04 – The celibate becomes the match-maker
• 647) Mahabharata Characters 04 – Bhishma 03 – A test of faith
• 646) Short introduction to “Fascinating Mahabharata Characters” Course
• 645) Mahabharata Characters 03 – Bhishma 02 – The fatal complication
• 644) Why was Hiranyakashipu not liberated even after being killed by Narasimhadeva?
• 643) Why did Hiranyakashipu let Prahlad return to school after trying to assassinate him?
• 642) How can we make our work into worship when it is not according to our nature and is not connected with Krishna?
• 641) Kunti’s Prayers 6 (SB 01.08.39-43) – The selflessness of pure devotion
• 640) Mahabharata Characters 02 – Bhishma 01 – The fierce vow
• 639) Mahabharata Characters 01 – Three understandings of the timeless classic
• 638) How to make our work into worship (Gita 18.44-45) (Hindi)
• 637) Should a devotee avoid initiation due to not being able to follow the fourth regulative principle fully?
• 636) Was Arjuna’s killing Karna when he was chariot-less not unfair, being against the kshatriya codes?
• 635) Does Krishna compassionately pull impersonalists from Brahman to Bhagavan?
• 634) Why does Ambarish M consider his wealth to be material when he knows that it can be used in Krishna’s service?
• 633) Why does the Bhagavatam, a Vaishnava book, state that Kashi is the greatest of all holy places?
• 632) 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?
• 631) 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?
• 630) How does attachment to result make us the cause of action, as the Gita 2.47 purport states?
• 629) 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?
• 628) 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?
• 627) 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?
• 626) Narasimha Katha Hindi 3 – SB 07.08.14-30 – Love underlies the various dangerous forms of the Lord
• 625) When envy is the cause of our material bondage, how did Shishupala’s envy lead to his liberation?
• 624) 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?
• 623) Is conscience always the voice of the Supersoul? Does everyone’s conscience tell them that meat-eating is wrong?
• 622) Narasimha Katha Hindi 2 – SB 07.08.09-13 – Repressive and reprehensible Hiranyakashipu
• 621) Narasimhadeva’s instructions (SB 07.10.01-23) – Balancing the aspiration for pure devotion with practical action
• 620) Narasimha Katha Hindi 1 – SB 07.08.01-08 – Arrogant Hiranyakashipu confronts gentle but firm Prahlada
• 619) Why does the Gita 18.68 restrict its message of devotion to devotees?
• 618) Arjuna’s memories of Krishna 1 (SB 01.15.04-09) – Make your memory your treasury
• 617) How are the feelings of victory and adventure Krishna’s opulences, especially when people get those feelings in illicit activities such as gambling?
• 616) Did the Pandavas actually complete the full year of ajnata vasa or were they detected before time?
• 615) Kunti’s Prayers 5 – (1.8.35-37) – Don’t deny human emotions in the name of transcendence
• 614) When Ashwatthama’s Brahmastra is charging towards Arjuna how does he get time to do achmana and offer prayers to Krishna before countering it?
• 613) Karna’s critical choice – Word of honor or life of honor?
• 612) Why did Drona despite being a brahmana desire revenge against Drupada?
• 611) Why did Drona despite being virtuous come up with the unfair scheme to kill Abhimanyu?
• 610) When I hear the Mahabharata, I identify much more with Karna than Arjuna. What should I do?
• 609) Why is Parikshit considered the sole survivor of the Pandava dynasty when sons of Bhima and Arjuna like Sutasoma and Babruvahana were still alive?
• 608) Are the demigod worshipers in Gita 9.15 different from normal karma kandis because the Gita refers to them as jnanis?
• 607) Do the ekatvena worshipers of Gita 9.15 refer to 9.11-12 or 12.3-6?

April 2014

• 606) Kunti’s prayers 4 – (1.8.32-1.8.35) – Four reasons for the Lord’s appearance
• 605) What kind of rules and regulations do the prestige-seekers referred to in the Gita 16.17 follow?
• 604) Are the Gita’s instructions applicable in the spiritual world too or only in the material world?
• 603) If the Gita is a transcendental literature, then why does the Gita Mahatmya glorify the attainment of heavenly planets?
• 602) Why do we have a right to do prescribed duties as the Gita 2.47 states?
• 601) Did Prabhupada want to re-write Bhagavad Gita As It Is because he worked very fast to publish it quickly?
• 600) 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?
• 599) Can chanting Hare Krsna help one to assimilate the knowledge of the scriptures more efficiently? How?
• 598) How can I turn my occupational duty into devotional service to Krishna?
• 597) How does contemplating on Krishna differ from mental speculation about Krishna?
• 596) 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?
• 595) How exactly are “those in Krishna consciousness not responsible for their actions”, as Prabhupada states?
• 594) Can Gita 18.14 adhisthanam refer to some place of action other than the body?
• 593) Who is the actual doer according to the Gita?
• 592) How can we reconcile the Gita (3.4) – don’t give up work – and the Bhagavatam (1.5.17) – give up work?
• 591) Did Krishna-Arjuna commit environmental holocaust at Khandava?
• 590) What is the difference between charity in goodness and transcendence?
• 589) Why does Prabhupada talk about the three energies in his purport to the atyahara verse (NoI 2)?
• 588) Why is the edited BBT Gita different from Prabhupada’s unedited original Gita?
• 587) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 10 – 10.02.15-24 – The mysterious appearances of Balarama and Krishna
• 586) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 9 – 10.02.01-14 – The previous lives of Kamsa
• 585) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 8 – 10.01.56-69 – Kamsa brutally persecutes his own family members
• 584) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 7 – 10.01.46-55 – Vasudeva’s plan B to put off catastrophe
• 583) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 6 10.01.36-44 – Vasudeva expertly uses sama, dama and bheda to pacify Kamsa
• 582) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 5 10.01.26-35 – Events leading to Kamsa’s barbarism
• 581) Prayer to Hanumanji – Welcome the Rama-duta in the heart with eagerness
• 580) Why is the Bhagavad-gita so pessimistic? (expanded with four-point analysis)
• 579) Hanuman Appearance – Blend submission and aggression in devotion
• 578) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 4 – 10.01.21-25 – The Lord’s majestic universal rescue operation
• 577) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 3 – 10.01.14-20 – The glory of the speakers and hearers of the Bhagavatam
• 576) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 2 – 10.05.01-13 – Krishna is everyone’s benefactor – I long to hear about him
• 575) Bhagavatam tenth canto study 1 – 10.01.01-04 – Please speak Krishna-katha for benefitting everyone
• 574) How did Nanda and Yashoda allow Krishna to go to Mathura so readily?
• 573) Where was Radharani when the rasa-lila was performed? Why is there no mention of her in the Bhagavatam’s rasa-lila narration?
• 572) What is the connecting link between the Gita’s ninth and tenth chapters?
• 571) In which verses of the Gita’s eight chapter are the Lord’s glories stated?
• 570) When the Pandavas meet Krishna after being exiled to the forest, why do neither mention Krishna’s protecting Draupadi during the gambling match?
• 569) Was the Karna who was defeated by Bhima during the pre-Rajasuya yajna conquest different from the Karna who befriended Duryodhana?
• 568) When the Ramayana says monasteries shouldn’t accept donations from women, why does ISKCON accept donations from women?

March 2014

• 567) The Son of the Sun – part 4
• 566) Do the daivi maya in Gita 7.14 and daivi prakriti in 9.13 to the same thing or different things?
• 565) I am a Physics student. How can I study the Bhagavad-gita scientifically when it seems like a discussion in a story?
• 564) If Karna was not stronger than Arjuna why did Kunti weaken him emotionally and Indra weaken him physically before the war?
• 563) Karna’s colossal blunder
• 562) In the Mahabharata, why are other warriors like Eklavya, Ghatothakcha and Barbarika manipulated to favor Arjuna?
• 561) 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?
• 560) When Vali and Sugriva are born from the union of demigods (Indra and Surya with Aruni) why do they have a monkey form?
• 559) Is the Nectar of Instruction a part of a larger work by Rupa Goswami?
• 558) NoI 17 Texts 10-11 – The glory of pure devotion in parakiya bhava
• 557) NoI 16 Text 9 – The glory of the topmost of all dhamas
• 556) NOI 13 Text 6 – Don’t be misled by material perception of devotees
• 555) Is the jnani in Gita 7.16 and jnanavan in 7.19 the same or different?
• 554) In the Gita chp 8, what is the yogis’ conception of Krishna?
• 553) In NoI 8 purport, what do the dashas from shravana to sampatti refer to?
• 552) In Gita chp 13, what exactly does jneya refer to?
• 551) Are there any examples of yoga-mishra bhaktas becoming kevala bhaktas?
• 550) Can Gita verses be translated differently from Prabhupada’s translations?
• 549) How can we understand Prabhupada’s equating buddhi-yoga in 2.39 purport with bhakti-yoga?
• 548) How do we understand Krishna’s statement to Arjuna that Karna is a better archer than him?
• 547) NoI 16 Text 8 Living in Vraja in spirit
• 546) NoI 14 Text 7 – The science of chanting
• 545) NoI 13 Text 5 – Interacting with devotees at different levels
• 544) NoI 12 Text 5 – Interacting with devotees at different levels
• 543) Gita 18.64-78 – The Gita culminates in a call for pure love (Hindi)
• 542) Gita 18.40-63 – Bhakti is the spiritual summit that also extends down to wherever we may be (Hindi)
• 541) As tapa is not a distinct spiritual path, what does Gita 6.46 tapsvibhyo adhiko yogi refer to?
• 540) Why is the flow the Gita verses not given in Prabhupada’s Gita?
• 539) What is the connection between Gita 6.4 yogarudha stage and 6.5-6 mind’s inimical nature?
• 538) Gita 18.29-39 Choose the intelligence, determination and happiness for attaining auspiciousness (Hindi)
• 537) How can we practically understand the modes influencing us wrt the jnana karma and karta analysis in Gita 18.20-28?
• 536) How are the 6 components of action in Gita 18.18 reduced to 3 in Gita 18.19?
• 535) Gita 18.13-18.28 – The five factors and the three components of action (Hindi)
• 534) Gita 18.01-12 – Don’t garb irresponsibility as renunciation (Hindi)

February 2014

• 533) Gita 17.17-17.28 – Various religions are pathways towards the same sat moutain-peak (Hindi)
• 532) Gita 3.9 enjoins yajna for the satisfaction of Vishnu. Then why does the next section talk about the lower level of karma kanda?
• 531) Gita 2.38 and 2.48 seem very similar. What is the difference between them?
• 530) What is the difference between karma-kanda and sakama karma-yoga? Which does Gita 2.31-37 refer to?
• 529) Gita 2.39 is a linking verse. Which sections in the Gita and which levels in the yoga ladder does it link?
• 528) Is there any difference between nishkama bhakti and shuddha bhakti?
• 527) Do karma-mishra, yoga-mishra, jnana-mishra bhakti come under sakama bhakti?
• 526) Gita 17.07-16 – Understanding food, sacrifice and austerity from material and transcendental perspectives (Hindi)
• 525) Gita 16.13-17.06 – Demoniac mentality in today’s society (Hindi)
• 524) Gita 15.15-16.12 – Purushottama – the highest reality and the qualities that define our natures (Hindi)
• 523) Gita 15.01-14 – Understanding material existence metaphorically and philosophically (Hindi)
• 522) Gita 14.06-27 – Understanding and transcending the modes (Hindi)
• 521) Gita 13.30-14.05 – Jnana Chakshu and the reality of dreams (Hindi)
• 520) The Son of the Sun – Part 3
• 519) Gita 13.18-29 – How the purusha gets bound by prakriti (Hindi)
• 518) Gita 13.08-17 – Understanding jnana and jneya (Hindi)
• 517) Mahabharata Wisdom 2 – Karna 1 – Past life karma comes as this life’s problems (Hindi)
• 516) How are the living symptoms of consciousness manifestations of the subtle body as the Gita 13.6-7 purport says?
• 515) Gita 13.01-07 – Overview of chps 1-12 and understanding Kshetrajna & Kshetra – Hindi
• 514) According to Krishna, which is more important – karma-yoga, bhakti-yoga or both?
• 513) Do our impulses come from outside us or inside us?
• 512) Is karma yoga practical when even the people for whom we sacrifice consider it insane?
• 511) Why does the Bhagavatam say that we shouldn’t endeavor even for our necessities?
• 510) Why did Draupadi insult Duryodhana when he fell in the Maya sabha by saying ‘andhe ka beta andha’?
• 509) The Son of the Sun – Part 2
• 508) The Son of the Sun – Part 1
• 507) Mahabharata wisdom 1 – Ashwatthama – Beware of the temptation to punish (Hindi)
• 506) How is the Gita 4.9 the essence of the Bhagavad-gita?

January 2014

• 505) What is the difference between ‘nishkarma’ & ‘karma’ as explained in Gita & its significance?
• 504) When Krishna is complete, how can he be the beneficiary of our sacrifices, as Gita 5.29 says?
• 503) When the Lord’s glance is purifying why did Mohini-Murti’s glance not purify the demons?
• 502) When Krishna knows everything, how did he not know that Rahu & Ketu were impersonatings as demigods?
• 501) Churing the ocean, the Bhagavatam and the heart – 2
• 500) Churing the ocean, the Bhagavatam and the heart – 1
• 499) Vedic Conception of God is beyond polytheism, monotheism and henotheism ( SB 06 03 05 at ISKCON Juhu)
• 498) Why are we bound to certain patterns of thinking? Doesn’t that make us like pre-programmed robots?

December 2013

• 497) If gambling makes people do foolish things, why are kshatriyas ordained to gamble when challenged?
• 496) Though Yudhishthira is the oldest Pandavas, why does Gita chp 1 mention him after Arjuna & Bhima?
• 495) As all the bodily forms we take are temporary, does that mean the eternal and real is formlessness?
• 494) When sex is an experience of Krishna, as the Gita states, why does Yamunacharya spit at sex desire?
• 493) Are the beliefs “kshatriya martyrs attain heaven” & “jehadi suicide bombers attain paradise” different?
• 492) Isn’t Prabhupada’s Gita 18.65 call to worship Krishna alone and no other Vishnu form fanatical?
• 491) Is Gita 18.55’s impersonal message (vishate tad anantaram) overridden by Prabhupada’s translation?
• 490) If the Gita is a manual why is it so confusing? Why couldn’t it have been clearer?
• 489) Is the Gita an attempted reconciliation of different Upanishadic thoughts and not a revelation?
• 488) SB 7.9.29 – Lust is the fire that seems like a nectar
• 487) Does “knowing in truth” (Gita 4.9) happen by “experiences of Truth” or by “understanding”?
• 486) When Prabhupada’s perfect purports to the Gita are there, why are Gita daily articles needed?
• 485) Six steps to spiritual perfection – Bhagavad Gita 07.01
• 484) How is the material world non-existent as Prabhupada states in the Gita introduction?
• 483) In Gita 13.12 is there any difference between atma-vinigrahah and indriyartheshu vairagya?
• 482) When God Fails – The Bhakti Message in Krishna’s Peace Messenger Pastime
• 481) Did Ekalvaya fight in the Kurukshetra war?
• 480) How to be your own spiritual master
• 479) What is the Gita’s position on deontology?
• 478) What is the Gita’s etiology?
• 477) What is the Gita’s ontology?
• 476) What is the Gita’s soteriology?
• 475) What is the Gita’s eschatology?
• 474) Does Gita 9.32 which says that anyone can begin bhakti apply to those who fall while practicing bhakti?
• 473) Is the Gita 18.66 exclusivist or inclusivist in spirit?
• 472) If we need to see intellectually before we can see visually, what about non-intellectual practitioners?
• 471) Isn’t unconsciousness of Krishna more harmful than unconsciousness of our faults?
• 470) Is there any difference between dambha, darpa and abhimana in Gita 16.04?
• 469) Instead of Vyasadeva begetting a successor king in his deceased brother’s wife couldn’t he have become the king himself?
• 468) 3 measures to prevent falling down and falling away (SB-10-27-22-23)
• 467) What is the authenticity of Lord Rama’s pastimes that are not mentioned in the Ramayana?

November 2013

• 466) When the Supersoul is a judge, how is he neutral? And how is his role reconcilable with deism?
• 465) Can Kuruskshtera be compared to the body, the senses to the Pandavas, the Kauravas to the vices and the war to the inner battle?
• 464) Knotty Verse Series 6 – 11.33 – Is the Gita’s call for violence literal or metaphorical?
• 463) Knotty Gita Verses Series 5 – 03.35 – Does the Gita endorse the caste system?
• 462) Is the Lanka in the south of India the same as Ravana’s Lanka?
• 461) Why did Krishna ask Arjuna to worship Durga before the Mahabharata war?
• 460) Bhagavata Dharma Series 3 – SB 01.02.17-22 – Practice bhakti-yoga cheerfully
• 459) What exactly does the Gita say about ‘work is worship’?
• 458) Bhagavata Dharma Series 2 – SB 01.02.11-16 – How bhakti brings realization of the Absolute Truth
• 457) Bhagavata Dharma Series 1 – SB 01.02.06-10 – How bhakti is the supreme dharma
• 456) The nonviolent violence of the Gita
• 455) Kunti’s prayers (1.8.23-1.8.27) – Krishna’s inconceivable protection contradicts our material preconceptions
• 454) Kunti’s prayers (1.8.18-1.8.22) – Krishna’s inconceivable position can be understood by simple devotion
• 453) Why do jnanis say that bhakti is for the less intelligent and Prabhupada say that only the intelligent can take to bhakti?
• 452) When Yudhisthira says that only foolish people seek worldly things in the famous “ascharyam” verse, why does he seek a kingdom?
• 451) Was Yudhisthira the most immoral among all the Pandavas because he gambled away all of them and even their innocent wife?
• 450) If my sva-dharma is not favourable for my bhakti, then can I accept another dharma favourable for my bhakti?
• 449) Can our prescribed duties be changed according to our likes or dislikes?
• 448) Why do scriptures contain provocative descriptions of female beauty as in the Mohini Murti pastime?
• 447) Wasn’t Arjuna’s taking on the garb of a mendicant to abduct Subhadra immoral?
• 446) Kunti’s prayers (1.8.28-1.8.31) – Krishna gives up his supremacy so that love can reign supreme (Hindi)
• 445) When Uddhava already had so much knowledge about Krishna, why did Krishna send him to learn from the Vrajavasis?
• 444) When Jayadratha didn’t actually kill Abhimanyu, why did Arjuna target him to avenge Abhimanyu’s death?
• 443) Bhishma Stuti SB 1.09.32-38 (Hindi)
• 442) How can we become equally disposed toward every living entity?
• 441) Why does the Avanti brahmana say that the mind is the cause of our suffering and not we ourselves?

October 2013

• 440) Did Dasharatha Maharaj go to heaven instead of the spiritual world?
• 439) The Glory of Gita wisdom (Reflections on the second anniversary of Gita-daily)
• 438) The Multiples Conflicts within the Gita
• 437) Is buddhi-yoga a separate type of yoga apart from the four main yogas?
• 436) What is the meaning of the Gita 6.44 statement that the advanced yogi goes beyond the range of Vedic sound?
• 435) How can we offer all the results of our work to Krishna?
• 434) Comparison of Bhagavata worldview with scientific materialism, Christianity and impersonalism
• 433) Is the world a playground or a battleground?

September 2013

• 432) Does the Vishva-rupa’s devouring the Kauravas prove that the Hindu God is a cannibal, as preachers of some other religion claim?
• 431) How can a butcher be advanced in spiritual knowledge as the Vyadha Gita in the Mahabharata depicts?
• 430) What does the Mahabharata pastime of Draupadi and all the Pandavas except Yudhisthira falling before they reach the top of the Himalayas signify?
• 429) When the Gita says the world is duhkhalayam, does that mean we should face all duhkha passively?
• 428) What is the ideal path to live according to the Bhagavad Gita As It Is?
• 427) How can we excel in our work if we are detached and don’t set goals?
• 426) How Krishna-katha extinguishes the blazing fire of material existence (tava kathamritam explanation) – Hindi
• 425) Tranform adversity into an opportunity for realization and spiritual growth – Avanti brahmana pastime analysis
• 424) In the Krishna seeing Mahavishnu pastime, why does Mahavishnu say that Krishna is his incarnation?
• 423) Bhramara Gita – Radharani’s song to the messenger bee (Radhashtami 2013 Bhagavatam class)
• 422) How do we discover our sva-dharma? Should we wait for the spiritual master to tell us our lifelong service?.mp3
• 421) Why does the Gita emphasize sva-dharma repeatedly from the second chapter (2.31) to the eighteenth chapter (18.47)?
• 420) Does one need to be intellectual to understand Krishna tattvatah, in truth?
• 419) 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

• 418) Is the Shiva-sahasra-nama that glorifies Lord Shiva as supreme an interpolation in the Mahabharata?
• 417) 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?
• 416) Isn’t Balaramji’s killing Romharshana just because of failure to offer respects objectionable?
• 415) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.8-18 How the Chatur Shloki is the essence of the Gita
• 414) 18.56-78 – Krishna reveals his heart of love Gita Study Pune 2013
• 413) 18.36-55 Bhakti in karma yoga and jnana yoga Gita Study Pune 2013
• 412) 18.29-35 The link between Knowledge, Intelligence & Determination Gita Study Pune 2013
• 411) 18.20-28 Cultivating repentence and avoiding lamentation in Sadhana Bhakti Gita Study Pune 2013
• 410) 18.13-19 Understanding Sankhya in Bhagavad-Gita Gita Study Pune 2013
• 409) 18.1-12 Frustration is not the qualification for renunciation Gita Study Pune 2013
• 408) 17.20-28 How Om Tat Sat spiritualizes Yajna, Dana and Tapa Gita Study Mumbai 2013
• 407) 17.11-19 Applying the principles of austerity in our life Gita Study Pune 2013
• 406) 17.1-10 Understanding faith in the three modes Gita Study Pune 2013
• 405) 16.9-24 Demoniac direction of modern society Gita Study Pune 2013
• 404) Is the Vedanta sutra personalist or impersonalist?
• 403) Did Lord Rama have to be separated from Sita due to Bhrigu Muni’s curse to Vishnu?
• 402) Won’t inter-caste marriages lead to varna sankara (unwanted progeny)?
• 401) Did Draupadi love Arjuna more than the other Pandavas as a controversial South Indian novel claims?
• 400) When Krishna tells Arjuna in the Gita to do his duty, why do brahmacharis give up their duty in the name of the Gita?
• 399) Why does Bhishma say in SB 1.9.22 that he is a pure devotee? Shouldn’t a devotee be humble?
• 398) If the soul is inconceivable, why should we bother to conceive it?
• 397) Why does the “yena sarvam idam tatam” in Gita 2.17 refer to the body and not all of existence
• 396) Why is the Gita’s first chapter called a chapter on yoga when it contains no yogic teachings?
• 395) Why is the Gita called yoga-shastra?
• 394) What does the Gita say about love and inter-caste marriages?
• 393) Why does the Krishna book publically present confidential tenth canto pastimes?
• 392) When all did Krishna reveal the universe in his mouth to Mother Yashoda?

July 2013

• 391) As Gajendra had been a Vaishnava king, why did he offer impersonal prayer?
• 390) Is the bridge between India and Lanka Rama-setu?
• 389) How can I understand and apply the Gita?
• 388) Leadership Sutras based on the Bhagavad-gita
• 387) How were Ikshvaku kings rulers of the earth when Ravana was in Lanka?
• 386) Does the Rantideva pastime exemplify social service?
• 385) What does the sentence “From your place at your pace join the race” mean?
• 384) During their spiritual advancement, do devotees see the Supersoul in their heart? How?
• 383) Is the Buddha mentioned in the Bhagavatam different from the historical Buddha?
• 382) As Buddha is mentioned in the Bhagavatam does it prove that it was written after the time of Buddha?
• 381) What does the term Gita wisdom refer to in your Gita-daily articles, when it refers to points not present in the Gita?
• 380) How can we always be conscious that the Paramatma is present within our heart and hear his inner voice?
• 379) How can we apply sarva dharman parityajya in our life as, for example, students?
• 378) As per Gita 10.10 does Krishna help only those who serve him constantly and with love or does he help all his devotees?
• 377) When the verses in the Bhagavatam are counted, why do they turn out to be less than 18,000?
• 376) Why do we need to get rid of good reactions in addition to bad reactions?
• 375) What does the word ’cause’ mean in Gita 2.47 “Never consider yourself to be the cause of the results of your activities…”?
• 374) How Krishna’s stealing the garments of the gopis is not immoral but trans-moral
• 373) What is the difference between monarchy and autocracy as indicated in SB 4.13.11 purport?
• 372) What is the significance of the Gita’s reference to Krishna as Bhagavan because Mahabharata also refers to Shiva as Bhagavan?
• 371) Does ISKCON have its commentary on the Mahabharata?
• 370) Why did Lord Rama run after a deer not realising it was a demon from the beginning?
• 369) Why did Prahlad Maharaj not stop Bali Maharaj from his demoniac activities?
• 368) Why are Ambarish Maharaja and Dhruva Maharaja not counted amongst the 12 mahajans?
• 367) Why didnt Bhishma pitamah stop the Kurus from disrobing Draupadi?
• 366) Why does Brihaspati face no consequence when he did a grievous misdeed as described in the Bhagavatam ninth canto?

June 2013

• 365) Gita Study Pune 2013 – The Yoga Ladder Explained
• 364) Gita Study Pune 2013 15.16-16.8 Importance of Tri Shloki Bhagavad-Gita
• 363) Gita Study Pune 2013 15.6-15 Two ways to attain Jnana Cakshu
• 362) Gita Study Pune 2013 15.1-5 How the material world is comprehensible as well as incomprehensible
• 361) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.16-24 How the analysis of the modes leads to Bhakti
• 360) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.10-15 Examining the modes in today’s society
• 359) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 14.1-9 The background for the Gita’s discussion of the modes
• 358) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 13.20-35 The Bija Vakya of the Gitas last six chapters
• 357) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 13.8-19 Achintyabhedabheda in the Gita
• 356) 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?
• 355) 08.08 – Leave no space to space out
• 354) Why does Krishna talk about controlling the senses to Arjuna when the purpose of the conversation seems to be to incite Arjuna to fight?
• 353) 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?
• 352) When should an upcoming devotee start reading Bhagavatam?
• 351) Is there any online database or on paper of all the vedic scriptures intact for instant access?
• 350) Prabhupada says one who is not able to control mind is animal but in Gita Arjuna says that he cannot control mind. Please explain
• 349) Lord Rama says janani janma bhumischa svargad api gariyasi. How to understand it?
• 348) Why does Prabhupada put in his translations references to Krishna that are not actually there in the Sanskrit verses of the Gita?
• 347) How a devotee transcends worldly miseries through absorption SB 3.22.37
• 346) Directing the four lanes of our consciousness – intellectual emotional devotional and motivational – towards Krishna Gita 5.17
• 345) The antiquity accessibility and glory of the Vedic spiritual path SB 3.22.33
• 344) Self-Control – The Key to Happiness Gita 5.21-24

May 2013

• 343) Why does Krishna refer to two different seasons as his opulences in Gita 10.35?
• 342) Does the mention of Buddha in the Bhagavatam indicate that it was written after Buddha?
• 341) Prayers that differentiate pure devotion from mixed devotion – Prahlad’s prayers SB 7.10.2-7
• 340) Is the Bhagavad-gita shruti or smriti? Did it become important only recently in the Indian tradition?
• 339) What does the Gita 4.24 verse brahmarpanam brahma havir mean? How do we respond to its impersonalist interpretation?
• 338) Understanding Krishnas first-person and third-person referencs in the Gita – part 2
• 337) What is the significance of the Gita’s definition of yoga as equanimity?
• 336) How are instructions in Uddhav Gita higher than instructions in Bhagwat gita?
• 335) Happiness is a byproduct ofabsorption in Krishna SB 10.20.20
• 334) Why does the Gita 8.13 recommend the chanting of om and not Hare Krishna?
• 333) As the soul is higher than the intelligence then how can the intelligence understand the soul as the Gita 3.43 says?
• 332) 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?
• 331) Understanding Krishna first-person and third-person references in the Gita – part 1
• 330) The special place of Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu among the Vedic scriptures – Hindi
• 329) SB 1.7.4-7 – Vyasa’s mystic vision as the seed of the Bhagavatam
• 328) NoI 10 Text 3 – Three directions we may go on deviating from bhakti
• 327) NoI 9 Text 3 How neglect of regulative principles destroys bhakti
• 326) NoI 8 Text 2-3 – Devotional service is not sentimental speculation or imaginative ecstasy
• 325) Gita 13.21-22 Material existence as a virtual reality
• 324) NoI 7 Text 2 – Three levels of contamination due to asat-sanga
• 323) NoI 6 Text 2 – Identifying over-endeavor in spiritual life
• 322) NoI 5 Text 2 – Sociological and philosophical reasons to avoid atyahara
• 321) NoI 4 Text 1 – The exalted level of the “sharira avidya jala” prayer
• 320) The process of bhakti yoga in a nutshell SB 1.2.12
• 319) NoI 3 Text 1 – How to spiritualize anger in devotional service – Mumbai 2013
• 318) NoI 2 Text 1- The need and the means for authentic atonement – Mumbai 2013
• 317) NoI 1 Preface – Understanding the right attitude for a sadhaka – Mumbai 2013
• 316) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 12.12-20 – The last rung in the Gita’s downward ladder of love
• 315) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 12.1-11 Arjuna’s question refers to Brahmavada not Mayavada
• 314) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.47-55 – How Virat Rupa revelation ends in glorification of bhakti
• 313) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.28-46 The Frightening Virat Rupa – Kala Rupa
• 312) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 11.1-27 The Magnificent Virat Rupa
• 311) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.19-42 How the Vibhutis manifest Krishna’s glory
• 310) Gita Study Pune 2013 – 10.1-7 – Review of the first nine chapters of the Gita
• 309) Chronological and Conceptual flow of the Bhagavatam (SB 3.22.8)

April 2013

• 308) 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?
• 307) What is the real translation of Gita 7.21?
• 306) Being the author of Srimad-Bhagavtam why didn’t Srila Vyasadeva speak Srimad-Bhagavatam himself ?
• 305) Ram Jinka Nama Hai song explanation – Rama Navmi 2013 Hindi
• 304) Rama Katha – 4 lessons from the abduction of Sita Hindi
• 303) Ramayana characters 2 – Kaikeyi 2
• 302) Ramayana characters 1 – Kaikeyi (Trapped by Blind Belief and Baseless Doubt) – 1
• 301) 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?
• 300) 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”?
• 299) As Kaikeyi’s demands led to the unfoldment of the Ramayana why is she considered the symbol of ignorance

March 2013

• 298) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.73-78 Concluding messages from the Gita
• 297) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.65-72 – Comprehending dharman parityajya and vraja in 18.66
• 296) Isnt Vyasadeva’s birth illegitimate?
• 295) What is the basis for saying that the mode of goodness is right?
• 294) If Tulsi das was a devotee, why did he want to merge in impersonal brahman?
• 293) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.62-64 Why bhakti is the conclusive message of the Gita
• 292) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.54-62 Bhakti is the summit of spirituality but also reaches down to wherever we are
• 291) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.40-53 Rising to the brahman platform through devotionalized karma yoga within varnashrama
• 290) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.36-39 Choose happiness based on intelligence
• 289) 18.35 Sustaining our determination is our responsibility
• 288) 18.29-34 Intelligence in the three modes and its difference from knowledge in the three modes
• 287) Gita Overview Mumbai18.22-28 How the modes shape the doer and the deed
• 286) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.18-21 The motivations and components of action
• 285) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.12-17 Five factors of action
• 284) Gita Overview Mumbai 18.1-9 When renunciation does and doesn’t bear fruit
• 283) Gita Overview Mumbai 17.23-28 How om tat sat sanctifies and spiritualizes
• 282) 17.15-22 Being soft-spoken and satisfied are matters of choice not just of nature
• 281) Gita Overview Mumbai 17.11-14 Understanding svabhava svakarma and svadharma
• 280) Gita Overview Mumbai 17.5-10 When austerities become demoniac
• 279) Gita Overview Mumbai 17.3-4 Panchopasana and religions in various modes
• 278) Gita Overview Mumbai 16.21-17.2 – Scripture takes us beyond nature nurture and culture
• 277) 16.13-20 The demoniac treat religion as a social cosmetic
• 276) Gita Overview Mumbai 16.8-12 Atheists abuse science for demoniac purposes
• 275) Gita Overview Mumbai 16.1-7 Understanding pravrtti and nivrtti
• 274) Gita Overview Mumbai 15.15-20 Trishloki Gita refutes Mayavada unambiguously
• 273) Gita Overview Mumbai 15.9-14 Krishna arranges for even our material enjoyment
• 272) Gita Overview Mumbai 15.1-8 Analysis of the upside-down tree metaphor
• 271) Gita Overview Mumbai 14.22-27 Become an observer of the consciousness
• 270) Why does Prabhupada’s Gita 6.46 translation of karmi not include nishkama karmis?
• 269) Gita Overview Mumbai 14.17-21 Knowledge arises from sattva not abhyasa
• 268) Gita Overview Mumbai 14.11-16 How knowledge became redefined as the quest for power not truth
• 267) Gita Overview Mumbai 14.1-10 Characteristics of the three modes
• 266) Gita Overview Mumbai 13.20-35 A coherent understanding of the 6 items taught in Chp 13-
• 265) Gita Overview Mumbai 13.13-19 Understanding five koshas and achintyabhedabheda in the Gita
• 264) Gita Overview Mumbai 13.8-12 Role of bhakti in jnana and of jnana in bhakti
• 263) Gita Overview Mumbai 13.1-7 Vyashti and Samashti approaches to understanding reality
• 262) Does Brahma have 4 or 5 heads?
• 261) Gita Overview 12.12-20 Unraveling the mysterious hierarchy of 12.12
• 260) Gita Overview Mumbai 12.1-11 Progression from Virata Rupa to Impersonal Brahman
• 259) Gita Overview Mumbai 11.41-55 Pure devotion reveals all visions

February 2013

• 258) Gita Overview Mumbai 11.24-40 Material destruction paves the way for spiritual ressurection
• 257) Gita Overview Mumbai 11.1-23 The background to understand Vishva-rupa – Yoga aishvarya to rupa aishvarya
• 256) Gita Overview 10.34-42 – Krishna as victory adventure and other opulent manifestations
• 255) Gita Overview Mumbai10.25-33 – Metaphors for understanding Krishna’s glories
• 254) Why was Arjuna so dear to Krishna?
• 253) What is the relation of Vedvyasji with Parashar Muni and King Shantanu?
• 252) Is ISKCON’s claim for a paramapara connection to understand the Gita not an attempt to monopolize the Gita?
• 251) Does the Gita’s instruction that we work without expecting results mean that we work without salaries?
• 250) Why did the gopis worship Katyayani? Can we worship demigods to attain Krishna?
• 249) If Bhishma departed on Makar Sankranti then what is Bhishmashtami?

January 2013

• 248) Srila Prabhupada expert presentation of the Bhagavatam – Hindi
• 247) Why is the Pururava pastime told partially in the ninth canto and then later completeted in the eleventh canto?
• 246) How exactly was Balaramji born? How much is the age difference between him and Krishna?
• 245) Why did Krishna run away when Jarasandha attacked for the 18th time?
• 244) 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?
• 243) When Krishna doesn’t recommend roots as items to be offered to him why do we offer him potatoes?
• 242) “Brahman spoke through Krishna by entering into him like a ghost.” How do we respond to this idea?
• 241) How do we understand that the number of people killed in the Mahabharata war was more than the earth’s population at that time
• 240) Why is sleep considered to be a characteristic of intelligence in the Bhag 3.26.30?
• 239) Mahajanas 4 – Kumaras
• 238) As devotees are sincerely trying to live according to principles can the mithyachari Gita verse 3.6 be applied to them?
• 237) Do the ends justify the means, as your Mahabharata explanations imply? Won’t that justify terrorism too?
• 236) Please explain how we become co-creators with God through sex, as you mention in your Gita-dailies
• 235) Mahajanas 3 – Lord Shiva
• 234) If dharma is our essential nature, then why does the Gita (18.66) ask us to abandon dharma?
• 233) Is the classification of the four kinds of miscreants in Gita 7.15 strict?
• 232) Is the tree at Jyotisar in Kuruskhetra the spot where the Gita was spoken?
• 231) Why is Brahma requesting the Lord Varaha to kill Hiranyaksha before twilight hours when the Lord is omnipotent?
• 230) Wasn’t it immoral for Rama to exile Sita on just a rumour?
• 229) Isnt the Pandavas’ killing their own relatives over a property dispute immoral?
• 228) Winning the Race Against Time – New Year Eve class (Hindi)

December 2012

• 227) How do we refute the Mayavadi interpretation of ‘om purnam adah’?
• 226) Why is Lord Shiva glorified as if he is supreme in the Bhag 8.7?
• 225) Why does Krishna describe Maya as daivi in the Gita 7.14?
• 224) Chatur Shloki Gita 10.8-11 – Gita Jayanti (2012) – Hindi
• 223) Number Magic in the Bhagavad-gita
• 222) Is Sita the daugher of Ravana?
• 221) Mahajanas 2 – Narada Muni (Hindi)
• 220) How de we understand the verse that nondevotees have no good qualities?
• 219) What is the basis for taking the number of wives of Chitraketu non-literally?
• 218) Mahajanas 1 – Brahma (Hindi)
• 217) What is the origin, authenticity and relevance of Tantra?
• 216) How could 64 crore people have fit in the small area known as Kurukshetra?
• 215) What is the difference between renunciation in passion and ignorance?
• 214) Does one have to live in poverty to be able to call out to Krishna sincerely as Bhag 1.8.26 suggests?
• 213) If Drona rejected Eklavya due to his character deficiency, then why didnt he reject Duryodhana too?

November 2012

• 212) Why is the Bhagavatam considered to be the nirnayak scripture?
• 211) What was Srila Prabhupada’s position on Goswami Tulasidas?
• 210) How did Krishna forget the Bhagavad-gita, as he states in the Mahabharata?
• 209) Will knowing more and more about Krishna from the Bhagavatam give us love for him?
• 208) Are there clear references to “love” in the Gita? Are the words “devotional service” and “love” synonymous?
• 207) If Prthu M is an avatara why did he take birth from a material body?
• 206) Can we experience spiritual happiness with material senses and mind?
• 205) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 10.12-10.25 Understanding the concept of Vibhuti
• 204) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 10.1-10.11 Knowledge about Krishna – the rarity the speciality and the methodology
• 203) Gita Study 2012 9.26-9.34 Why is a sinful devotee considered saintly?
• 202) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 Gita 9.16-9.25 The Krishna factor in worship of the Universal Form and demigods
• 201) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 9.10-9.15 The four kinds of causes and the three kinds of jnana-yajna
• 200) Why did Bhishma and Drona fight on the side of the Kauravas?
• 199) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 9.1-9.9 The glory of knowledge about Krishna
• 198) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.23-8.28 Bhakti is superior to the paths of devayana and pitrayana
• 197) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.14-8.22 How the Gita identifies the supreme abode with Krishna’s abode
• 196) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.10-8.13 Understanding yoga-mishra bhakti
• 195) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.5-8.9 How to think of Krishna constantly

October 2012

• 194) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 8.1-8.5 Understanding the link between objects words and concepts
• 193) 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?
• 192) Mahabharata Characters 4 – Duryodhana
• 191) 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?
• 190) Realization comes by moving up and down the ladder of abstraction – Pururava song analysis
• 189) Are the vanaras of Ramayana similar to the monkeys on earth today?
• 188) The Obstinacy of Ravana – Dussehra class
• 187) Prithu Maharaj pastime – III
• 186) Prithu Maharaj pastime – II
• 185) Prithu Maharaj pastime – I
• 184) How Krishna’s glory is revealed in the tenth canto of the Bhagavatam…
• 183) How are the knower and known one in the absolute realm as Srila Prabhupada mentions in the purport of Bhag 1.2.11?
• 182) Why was Duryodhana born with so much power when he had such evil tendencies? (and 4 other questions about Duryodhana)
• 181) Mahabharata Characters 3 – Karna 2 (Hindi)
• 180) 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?
• 179) Mahabharata Characters 2 – Karna 1 (Hindi)
• 178) Mahabharata Characters 1 – Bheeshma (Hindi)
• 177) The Wisdom and Devotion of Queen Kunti (Hindi)
• 176) The Prayers of the Prachetas
• 175) How does the word bhavana in Gita 2.66 refer to fixed mind?
• 174) What is the higher taste for jnanis?
• 173) Is God everything? What exactly does the verse “vasudevah sarvam iti” mean?

September 2012

• 172) The encouraging, more encouraging and most encouraging messages of the Gita
• 171) A Hero’s Prayers at the moment of Death – Vritrasura – Bhagavatam 6.11.18-27
• 170) Morality and Immorality in the Mahabharata – Hindi
• 169) How the Lord tests his devotees – Hindi
• 168) 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

• 167) The Realizations of Pingala – How Frustration leads to Renunciation
• 166) Why did the Lord give spiritual knowledge to the sun-god when he had already given it to Brahma?
• 165) How did Parashurama exist at the same time as another avatar Rama? Why did he oppose Rama?
• 164) Why did Yudhishthira consider the wicked Dhritrashtra as a respectable elder who had to be obeyed? Why didnt he consult Krishna?
• 163) Why did Yudhishthira gamble despite knowing its consequences?
• 162) Team work in the Ramayana
• 161) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.24-30: Are Mayavadi interpretations of Gita justified?
• 160) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.15-23: Those who don’t surrender, surrender, and surrender to Krishnetara
• 159) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.04-14: How Krishna pervades the material world as its essence
• 158) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 07.01-03 – Understanding phenomenon and noumenon
• 157) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 – 06.42-47: The Glory of Bhakti
• 156) Please explain the union of Parasara Muni and Satyavati.
• 155) How do we understand and explain that the Vedas are self-evident truths?
• 154) Why are there talking animals in Ramayana but not in Mahabharata?
• 153) What is the difference between householder devotees and karma-yogis?
• 152) War Against Maya – Mahabharata Days 12 and 13
• 151) Understanding the Universal Form
• 150) Why Srila Prabhupad is using “the Lord’s not forgetting” as proof for his having transcendental body?
• 149) What is the authenticity of the story that Parikshit M stayed in a tower to protect himself?
• 148) What is the meaning of the fifth canto – faith in structure of the universe – protecting the sixth canto – faith in the holy name?
• 147) What is importance of Sandwich analogy to explain Bhagavad Gita from philosophical perspective?
• 146) Why was Dasharath M ready to forgo his word to Vishvamitra but not Kaikeyi?
• 145) How the Bhagavad-gita is special among all books in the world – Gita Jayanti class

July 2012

• 144) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 6.35-41: Understanding the Gita flow from dhyana-yoga to bhakti-yoga.mp3
• 143) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 6.29-34 Krishna’s position in the path of dhyana-yoga
• 142) If Krishna says “Go beyond the Vedas” in Bhagavad Gita, then why do we take the Hare Krishna Mantra from the same Vedas?
• 141) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.22-28 Transforming emotions from obstacles to pathways towards samadhi
• 140) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.15-21 Taking the mind through the five stages of mind control
• 139) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 – 06.08-14 Going from knowledge to realization
• 138) 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?
• 137) What is the basis for equating Arjuna’s Gandiva bow with our determination?
• 136) How is it that Ajamila was 88 years old when he begot 10th son? Because in Satyayuga peoples life span was 1 lac years?
• 135) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 06.01-07 Understanding how the mind deludes
• 134) Gita Study Mumbai 2012 05.24-29: How knowing Krishna brings peace
• 133) Gita Study Mumbai 2012: 05.17-23 The four investments for gaining knowledge of Krishna.mp3
• 132) Gita Study Mumbai 2012: 05.09-16 Understanding who is the actual doer
• 131) 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
• 130) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.34-42 Glories of transcendental knowledge
• 129) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.26-33 Different kinds of yajnas and their underlying principles
• 128) Gita study Mumbai – 2012 04.18-25 How the internal consciousness prevents bondage
• 127) Priyavrata pastimes analysis 2- Where material life and spiritual intersect
• 126) Priyavrata pastimes analysis 1 – Don’t confuse means and ends
• 125) Does the Supersoul control the the soul’s desires?
• 124) Gita study Mumbai 2012 – Different approaches for scriptural study
• 123) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.10-17 Understanding Krishna’s nature
• 122) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.07-09 The three obstacles to knowing Krishna
• 121) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 04.01-06 How the parampara is continued or lost
• 120) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.37-43 Lust is not just dangerous but also treacherous
• 119) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.31-36 The middle way between total supression and unrestricated expression
• 118) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 03.25-30 Four differences between karma kandi and karma yogi
• 117) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.21-24 Are Krishna’s action are immoral
• 116) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.14-20 Playing our part in the cycle of sacrifice
• 115) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.9-13 Understanding the principles and mechanism of yajna
• 114) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 3.1-8 The principles and purposes underlying renunciation
• 113) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.67-72 Going beyond sense control to mind control
• 112) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.62-66 Avoiding undesirable contemplation
• 111) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.55-61 Becoming a sthita prajna
• 110) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.48-54 Understanding and living the three definitions of yoga
• 109) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.46-47 Understanding 4 parts of karmanya va dhikaraste
• 108) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.26-38 Refuting materialism
• 107) Gita study mumbai 2012 – 2.39-45 How karma yoga is superior to karma kanda
• 106) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 2.17-25 Characteristics of the soul
• 105) Gita study mumbai 2012- 2.1-16 Gita begins by refuting mayavada
• 104) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 1.27-46 Giving up horizontal relationship for vertical relationship
• 103) Gita study Mumbai 2012- 1.1-1.25 Introducing Mahabharat character
• 102) In the Bhagavad gita verse 14.6, what does ‘being conditioned by a sense of happiness and knowledge mean’?
• 101) What does the Taittiriya Upanishad mantra “Brahmavidya aponti param” mean?
• 100) What is the Vedic perspective about the book ‘Mrutyunjaya’?
• 99) Do BG 18.20 and 18.21 support a Brahmavad conception of God?
• 98) Scriptures act as Map, Model and Muscle
• 97) BALI acronym of Bali Maharaj glories- 3
• 96) BALI acronym of Bali Maharaj Glories -2
• 95) BALI acronym of Bali maharaj glories
• 94) How hearing does wonders BG 7.1
• 93) Why are the chapters of the Bhagavad-gita named differently by different acharyas?
• 92) What is the difference between freedom from material modes and freedom from reactions of fruitive activities?
• 91) How is Bhagavan higher than Brahman? Ishopanishad 15-16
• 90) Do all paths lead to the same goal? – Ishopanishad 13

June 2012

• 89) Prahlad M prayers 4 – Krishna is more than a desire tree
• 88) Prahlad M prayers 1 – Comprehending the Mystery of Humility
• 87) Prahlad M prayers 3 – Making Misery an incentive for bhakti
• 86) Prahlad M prayers 2 – Steadying and purifying our bhakti
• 85) Why is the Vedanta-sutra not as clear as the Bhagavatam when both deal with the same subject?
• 84) As scriptures are like Deities, can we underline or higlight or make similar marks on them?
• 83) If it is told in the Vedas that “Krishnas tu bhagavan svayam” then why do other Vaishnav sampradaya worship Vishnu and not Krishna?
• 82) 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?
• 81) Understanding “action in inaction and inaction in action” as mentioned in Bhagavad-Gita 5.17.
• 80) When Krishna spoke the Gita to the sun-god, was that Gita exactly the same as was spoken to Arjuna?
• 79) In the Spiritual World, why is Ayodhya at a higher level than the other Vaikuntha Planets?
• 78) Why does Prabhupada say in Bhagavad Gita 2.62 purport that Lord Shiva is not able to control his senses?
• 77) Are the scriptural descriptions about the glories of the holy name exaggerations?
• 76) Why does Srila Prabhupada translate karma-yoga as “devotional service”?

May 2012

• 75) Why does Srila Prabhupada “bhakti” in Bhakti Rasamrita Sindhu as devotion instead of his usual translation “devotional service”?
• 74) As Ravana and Kumbakarna are also devotees in disguise, why do scriptures not glorify them?
• 73) When the soul obviously moves, how do we to explain the Gita 2.24 statement that the soul is immovable?
• 72) As the killing of Hiranyakashipu happened before the garlanding of Narasimhadeva by Prahlad Maharaj, why are both depicted in the same picture?
• 71) Why are the Puranas mentioned separately from Smriti in the verse “shrutismritipuranadi..”?
• 70) Is Vyasadeva not doing self-glorification when he writes “by the mercy of Vyasa” in the Gita ?
• 69) Why does Krishna refer to himself in the third person in the Gita?
• 68) How do we understand when different Vaishnava acharays give different meanings of the same scriptural verse?
• 67) Krishna has himself given the Vedas; then why does he tell us to go beyond the Vedas in the Gita 2.46?
• 66) My heart tells me that jnana-yoga is the best path for me. What should I do?
• 65) References to the Hare Krishna Mahamantra
• 64) If Hiranyakashipu performed austerity for 10,000 years, how was Prahlad just 5 years old when he returned?
• 63) Narasimha Lila – Festival Class (Hindi)
• 62) Prayers of Prahlada Maharaj (Narasimha Chaturdashi Bhagavatam)
• 61) Ishopanishad Systematic Overview Pune 2012 – 15 classes

April 2012

• 60) What happens to demigods when yajna is stopped?
• 59) How do we understand the scriptural statement that we are not the doers?
• 58) When exactly was the Ramayana written – before, during or after the pastimes of Lord Rama?
• 57) How can we trust the Vedas when many Vedic texts have been destroyed and incomplete knowledge is harmful?
• 56) Does the Bhagavad-gita teach that all paths lead to the same goal?
• 55) If consciousness is spiritual, then why is it said to a part of the material field in Chp 13 of the Gita?
• 54) Systematic overview of all Bhagavad-gita verses in 50 hours
• 53) Should I try to resolve every doubt that comes when reading scriptures?
• 52) What does Prabhupada mean when he refers to Drona’s leniency?
• 51) Why did Lord Rama kill the shudra Shambuka for doing the pious activity of tapasya?
• 50) Rama-Lila lectures in Hindi
• 49) In the Gita 1.1, why is Dhritarashtra’s asking “What did they do?” in the past tense instead of the present tense?
• 48) Why did the same Arjuna who didn’t want to kill his own relatives before the war want to kill Yudhishthira?
• 47) How does Kuvera have a lake on the earth?
• 46) How can one understand “action in inaction and inaction in action”
• 45) Is the Ramayana relevant today?

March 2012

• 44) Why are the names of Vedic personalities characteristic of their personalities?
• 43) Gita Overview Hindi
• 42) Bhishma Stuti 1.9.32-42
• 41) Why Draupadi didn’t allow Karna to participate in her swayamvar competition?
• 40) Queen Kunti’s Prayers – 1 (1.8.18-24)
• 39) Gita Overview 2 (2.1-2.30)
• 38) Gita Overview 5 (2.54-3.8)
• 37) Gita Overview 1 (1.1-1.46)

February 2012

• 36) Why do some people consider the Vedas superior to the Puranas?
• 35) Is the incident of Lord Rama worshiping Lord Shiva not mentioned in Valkmiki Ramayan?
• 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?