Of all the judgments we make of others—race, religion, nationality, political affiliations, social standing, etc.—perhaps the most excoriating is moral judgment. We can become highly condemnatory when we deem others to have committed a gross moral transgression. Of late, we have often seen banner-waving groups loudly denouncing those whose activities have not met their standards of what they consider morally correct. The situation in the Middle East has evoked this to a significant degree, with

By Madana-gopala Dasa 

Beyond the Binary: Recovering Moral Clarity in a Divided World

When I wrote recently that the “No Kings” protests revealed the soul’s longing for genuine, caring leaders, for the spirit of Lord Rāma rather than another self-serving ruler, some readers accused me of being “too liberal.” Others said that if I spoke about the sacredness of unborn life, I would be branded as a “religious conservative.” It seems that in much of today’s world, nuance and independent thought hav

From Morality to Spirituality

Until people gain the spiritual inspiration that underlies truly good behavior, attempts to legislate morality will inevitably fail.

Daily news reports of things like corruption, nepotism, favoritism, and infidelity have us fed up. Politicians say, “Education in ethics and values is the solution. ” But don’t most people already know right from wrong? I think so. They just feel they’ll fare better in life without following moral codes. And exhortation by moralists o