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Do all paths lead to the same goal?

A common notion about the Bhagavad Gita and about Vedic traditions in general is that 'all paths lead to the same goal'. Although this might sound like a liberal or broad-minded statement, it has no logical basis. If we sit on a flight to Kolkata, we will not reach Delhi. If all paths lead to the same goal, why do we need to choose a particular flight to a specific destination? In our daily life also, we are choosy about what we buy and where we buy it from, we send our children to a particular school or we choose a particular holiday destination. So, if every path could lead to the same destination, why do we need so much planning? Surprisingly, we do not make such a statement when it comes to our personal life, but when it comes to spiritual life, something we do not have much idea about, we believe we can say anything. Whatever we say must have an authentic source. When it comes to spirituality or anything related to it, scriptures must be the basis. In the Bhagavad Gita (9....
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Why did Lord Krishna not marry Radharani?

Before we answer this question, we need to understand who Radharani (also known as Radha) is. Most people consider Radharani to be an ordinary cowherd girl and try to apply a mundane understanding to Her personality. However, Radharani is none other than the 'adi-shakti' or original energy of Lord Krishna. In fact, She is not different from Him. In other words, She is God in the female form. Whenever Lord Krishna comes to this world, She accompanies him to engage in beautiful, loving pastimes along with the other gopis who are Her incarnations.  Chaitanya Charitamrita (1.5) describes: radha krishna-pranaya-vikritir hladini shaktir asmad  ekatmanav api bhuvi pura deha-bhedam gatau tau 'The loving affairs of Shri Radha and Krishna are transcendental manifestations of the Lord's internal pleasure-giving potency. Although Radha and Krishna are one in Their identity, previously They separated Themselves.' Despite being the Supreme Lord, Lord Krishna engages i...
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Can I be spiritual without being religious?

Spirituality, as the word indicates, is that which is connected with the spirit, the soul and God, which are all realities existing on the spiritual platform. Religion refers to those processes and actions that help one to come to the spiritual platform. Many people in modern times think of spirituality as anything that makes them feel good-'I went to a mountainside resort, it was a very spiritual place. Why? 'Because it made me feel good.' That is not spiritual. The Bhagavad Gita explains that spiritual knowledge begins with understanding that we are not the body, but the soul. So spirituality is the whole realm connected with the spirit-soul, God, their spiritual relationship, and how that relationship can be revived. Religion, on the other hand, refers to those activities that help example, the concept of praying, chanting God's names, one connect with the higher spiritual reality. For worshipping or meditating on His form, associating with devotees on th...
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How can we control our jealousy and ego?

By understanding that our abilities and the abilities of others come from God and thus, they belong to Him.  In the Bhagavad Gita (10.42), Lord Krishna says: yad yad vibhutimat sattvam shrimad urjitam eva va  tat tad evavagachchha tvam mama tejo 'nsha-sambhavam 'Whatever you see as beautiful, glorious, or powerful, know it to spring from but a spark of My splendour.' Whatever gifts we have, such as good looks, speech, memory, wealth and so on, are gifts from Lord Krishna. If we remember this, we will always remember to be humble and have no ego. We must feel grateful to God for whatever gifts He has given us, and we must ideally use them to connect ourselves back to Him. This attitude will bring us greater happiness than the happiness that we might otherwise get by bragging about our abilities and trying to attract respect and praise from others. When we see good qualities in others, we must remember the same principle. This is God's grace upon them and how ...
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Why do bad things happen to good people?

The simple answer is our past karma. Let us understand this with an analogy. In villages, people use huge granaries to store their grains. The specialty of these granaries is that we pour grains into them from the top, but when we need to take some out, we do so through a hole at the bottom, which is closed with a cover. Suppose we had week ago, put 'D' quality grains into the granary a 'C' quality grains four days ago, 'B' quality grains two days ago and 'A' quality grains three hours ago. And suddenly, we want our 'A' quality grains, which we know we recently put into the granary. So, we open the cover at the bottom in excitement and lo and behold! What comes out? The 'D' quality grains. As we continue to take the grains out, we get to the 'C' quality grains, and we get frustrated because we cannot understand why we are not getting our 'A' quality grains, which we put into the granary just a few hours a ago. This is how ...
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What happens after death?

Death is a reality that no one wants to talk about, but also something that no one can avoid. Some people believe that life is over after death, and this is the only life we have. However, the scriptures, which are the word of God and our guidebooks, say differently. In fact, this is one of the first topics Lord Krishna discusses in the Bhagavad Gita (2.13): debino 'smin yatha dehe kaumaram yauvanam jara tatha dehantara-praptir dhiras tatra na muhyati 'As the embodied soul continuously passes, in this body, from boyhood to youth to old age, the soul similarly passes into another body at death. An intelligent person is not bewildered by such a change.' He also says in the Bhagavad Gita (2.27): jatasya hi dhruvo mrityur  dhruvam janma mritasya cha tasmad apariharye 'rthe  na tvam shocitum arhasi 'One who has taken his birth is sure to die, and after death, one is sure to take birth again. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament....
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In the Ramayana, why did Lord Rama kill Vali from behind a tree?

Lord Rama's killing of Vali is elaborately discussed in Valmiki's Ramayana and has been analysed by many great spiritual teachers.  Due to a misunderstanding between Vali and Sugriva, the two inseparable brothers, the older and stronger Vali had driven Sugriva from their kingdom and was constantly seeking to eliminate him forever. Sugriva had to live in fear until Lord Rama, who was sent into exile, arrived and promised to help Sugriva restore peace in his life, which could only happen when Vali was killed as all efforts for a reconciliation had failed. As per the Lord's arrangement, Sugriva challenged Vali to a combat, but he was defeated and barely managed to escape with his life. On the urging of the Lord, Sugriva challenged his brother again. When the fight was in progress, Lord Rama hid behind a tree and shot an arrow that struck Vali, who immediately collapsed to the ground. He was furious as he had been shot at in a cowardly manner, and he questioned Lord Rama about ...
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