The Bird in the Cage

The Bird in the Cage

Why is that woman blithely dusting the birdcage when it’s the bird itself, obviously sick or hungry, that urgently needs attention? She seems so caught up in polishing her golden cage that she’s forgotten all about the poor creature.

The Seige on the Kingdom of Puranjana

The Seige on the Kingdom of Puranjana

Attacked incessantly for one hundred years the five-hooded serpent began to lose his strength and Puranjana became extremely anxious. One may struggle against time for one hundred years, but eventually one’s vitality weakens, and one’s bodily limbs become feeble.

The Chariot of the Body

The Chariot of the Body

Our material body is a lot like a chariot. It has five horses (the senses of hearing, touch, sight, taste, and smell). Each of us is a spiritual soul riding within-we are the passenger. And to keep the horses on course, we have the reins (our mind) and the driver (our intelligence).

The Eyes to See the “I”

The Eyes to See the “I”

I can see my body, and in a way I can see my mind and intelligence. Now then, what about the “I” who’s doing all this seeing? Can I see the “I”? by Amogha Dasa As we all know, the organ for seeing is the eye. The eye catches the light rays reflected by whatever […]

Life and Death

Life and Death

“What is that force without which a living body becomes a dead body? That’s the one thing the experts can’t quite put their finger on.” by Mandalesvara dasa What is life? … A child is born. You can see his natural luster, feel the warmth of his body, hear his crying. All his vital functions […]

Who am I? Understanding Ourselves

Who am I? Understanding Ourselves

For the anti-material particle, which is the vital force, there is never birth nor death. Nor, having once been, does it ever cease to be. It is unborn, eternal, ever-existing, undying and primeval. When the material body is annihilated, the anti-material particle is never affected.

Journey to the Real Self

It is by intelligence that I can understand that this body is not me. I may say, “My hand, my head, my arm,” but the use of the possessive pronoun indicates that these are my possessions and that I am situated apart from them.

Reflections At The Zoo

Reflections At The Zoo

I spent an afternoon at the Zoo with my two-year-old son. As I carried him from the elephant compound to the lion house to the bird sanctuary, I began to wish I had heeded my wife’s advice to bring along the stroller. “Why He knows how to walk.”