We live in an age which treasures freedom as the foremost among cherished values. If governments issue any injunctions restricting citizens’ freedoms, they often receive both widespread flak in the media and vigorous, even violent, opposition from activists. While outer forces sometimes threaten our freedom, it is threatened much more by inner forces: the impulses [...] The post Unspoken threats to our freedom appeared first on Chaitanya Charan Das, Bhagavad Gita ISKCON.
From mean actions to the meaning of actions We sometimes succumb to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, excessive net surfing or even much more injurious indulgences. After such indulgences, we may rationalize, saying everybody does those things nowadays. Or we may beat ourselves up for being so morally corrupt. Either way, we find ourselves indulging [...] The post From mean actions to the meaning of actions appeared first on Chaitanya Charan Das, Bhagavad Gita ISKCON.
Being powerful and being powerless are usually opposite states. But when someone has a power they can’t control — say, an automatic gun whose trigger gets activated and they can’t deactivate it — they are powerfully powerless. We all can end up in a similar situation in today’s world. Why? Because technological advancement has given [...] The post Technological advancement without spiritual advancement makes us powerfully powerless appeared first on Chaitanya Charan Das, Bhagavad Gita ISKCON.
Suppose someone is trying to recover from alcoholism. They may still be subjected to strong cravings to drink. Suppose they feel that those cravings are unbearable. Giving up, they indulge. But such indulgence gives them only temporary relief from the craving; soon, the craving returns with greater force, impelling them to not just drink more [...]
Suppose we wanted to hide what we are doing from others while we are going on a trek through the wilderness. We would cover our tracks. But suppose the soil was such that we couldn’t erase our footprints. Then we would be much more careful of where we went and not presume that our tracks [...]
We all treasure our freedom and would fight if someone tried to enslave us. Yet many of us unconsciously let ourselves get… The post In dealing with our urges, if we don’t consciously choose responsibility, we unconsciously choose slavery first appeared on Begin each day enriched with nuggets of timeless wisdom Article By Chaitanya Charan Das.
When contemporary culture tempts us with addictive indulgences such as drinking, it often offers a common rationalization,… The post What we initially indulge in casually, we eventually indulge in compulsively first appeared on Begin each day enriched with nuggets of timeless wisdom Article By Chaitanya Charan Das.
Suppose we had to push a huge boulder uphill. That would be difficult enough. But on top of it, if we were becoming weak and … The post Indulgence decreases our capacity to push against desire and increase desire’s capacity to push us first appeared on Begin each day enriched with nuggets of timeless wisdom Article By Chaitanya Charan Das.
Freedom from weakness refers to freedom from the lower urges that weaken our determination to act constructively. Our … The post Seek freedom from weakness, not freedom in weakness first appeared on Begin each day enriched with nuggets of timeless wisdom Article By Chaitanya Charan Das.
If someone is enslaved, they would try to break free. If instead someone who is free tried to become enslaved, we would consider…
Suppose a kidnapped person is running away from their abductors. If suddenly they feel themselves being pulled backwards,…
Today’s culture revels in moral relativism. People reject the existence of objective moral principles; they argue …
We sometimes feel cravings for things that we would normally never indulge in real life. Yet we entertain those cravings…
No one desires to become an addict. When people drink, they usually want to have a good time with their friends. However, …
Our materialistic society sets before us worldly goals such as sensations, relations, positions or possessions. Because…
“Are addicts forced to indulge in their addiction? Have they lost their free will?” Such questions often confront …