AskSwami Q&A - Swami Sarvapriyananda (Vedanta Society of New York)

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 24th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:53 - How can I reconcile devotion and non-dual knowledge? 23:27 - If I realize I am pure consciousness, do I also have a vision of God with form? 31:21 - What is Mahat (universal intelligence) in the Samkhya philosophy? 34:24 - Is it possible to practice Bhakti without God or deities? 36:28 - Can you talk about your experience with the monk who said "we are missing it a thousand times every moment"? 54:03 - Can consciousness remain by itself without appearing as objects? 59:13 - Why should I strive for enlightenment? 01:09:00 - How can I keep up study of Advaita without losing interest? 01:14:33 - Is the experience of nothingness in deep sleep the same as the experience after death, or for enlightened souls? 01:18:15 - Does everyone have to go through experience/enjoyment in the world before enlightenment? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on March 3rd, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:32 - Where is ignorance? Is it separate from Brahman? 23:41 - What is the difference between consciousness, awareness, and mindfulness? 32:10 - Is Vrittijnana the same as reflected consciousness? 32:29 - Is Consciousness static, or is it a process? 35:51 - Does existence manifest from consciousness? 37:24 - Who is it that goes from birth to birth; who attains realization? 47:53 - How does a layperson choose a life partner and still hold on to the spiritual path? 50:54 - How can realization come from Karma Yoga or Bhakti Yoga? 01:04:36 - Is there a non-dual way of understanding the practice of vairagya? 01:08:27 - Can an intellectual understanding dispel ignorance, or is something else needed? 01:15:46 - What can we do to hold on to a higher spiritual state? 01:26:48 - How do the bright and dark paths mentioned in the Gita relate to meditation? 01:28:30 - If you are not skilled in meditation, can you still reach the goal? 01:29:20 - What if your life partner drives you away from spiritual life? Is it ok to engage in multiple types of spiritual practice? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Question and Answer session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jan 6th, 2019. Questions/times-stamps in comments. ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY List of Questions with Timestamps: 2:35 - How does the One appear as the many? What is Maya? 21:19 - Is awareness experienced as an object? 34:19 - Does Sri Ramakrishana’s Vijnana Vedanta imply dualism? 44:43 - Is the Anahata Sound (unstruck sound) same as Brahman? 48:20 - Are the universe and the Absolute the same thing? Is the universe real? 59:07 - How can I be aware of my true nature at all times? 1:17:12 - Dealing with disturbances during meditation. 1:29:35 - Is faith needed in Advaita Vedanta? Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York

We now have new channel - Vedanta New York Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Here you will find: • Audio lectures on Mandukya Karika and Bhagavad Gita given by Swami Sarvapriyananda Ji. • Audio lectures by late Swami Pavitrananda Ji and Swami Tathagatananda Ji (previous swamis of the Vedanta Society of New York) • Future uploads will also include audio lectures on Pancadasi and Vedantasara taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda Ji. Please subscribe to this channel to remain connected to the spiritual discourses given at the Vedanta Society of New York. Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 28th, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 01:00 - What does Vedanta say about justice in society? 16:15 - How do we drop identification with the body? 26:55 - Why does the Quran say that Prophet Muhammad is the last prophet? 37:44 - If I am Brahman, who is under delusion? And If Brahman is fulfilled, what need does Brahman have for power? (Second question repeated at 42:05) 51:06 - What is Vedanta's approach to the Anatman of Buddhism? 01:16:25 - Is the reflected consciousness the same as the pramata (the knower)? 01:25:32 - How can the law of Karma explain the sudden loss of so many lives in the current pandemic? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Feb 26th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:17 - How does one love consciousness? 20:04 - What is the purpose of professional ambition and duty? 28:46 - In our waking state, is there a way to find the unity of pure consciousness? 52:15 - Isn't consciousness interrupted in deep sleep? 57:01 - How do you overcome sorrow that comes from seeing the suffering of others? 01:04:28 - How has Karma manifested itself to give rise to the universe? 01:14:58 - If consciousness is universal, why aren't inert objects aware? Isn't consciousness dependent on the senses and mind? 01:25:51 - How can one get rid of unwanted vasanas (desires)? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 25th, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:50 -- (a) How does one select a path to follow? (b) How to recognize a Guru? 2:20 -- What is my duty in life? 22:52 -- Is Ramakrishna a 'Shankara Advaitin'? 27:30 -- In Vedanta, all that we experience are objects for consciousness. Even the sense of 'I' is an object, but it disappears in deep sleep. So, "I", who am not there in deep sleep, claim that 'I slept' - when I wake up. How do you reconcile this? 35:07 -- Performing duties of life drains my energy and yet I don't feel that I am growing, spiritually. How to make spiritual progress, even while performing my duties? 43:12 -- In text-based meditation technique, I'm faced with external disturbances - such as - ticking of clock, chirping of bird, etc. and the internal & external get mixed up. What is the way out? 51:00 -- I am often faced with people who misunderstand me because I am a spiritual seeker & indulge in spiritual practices. What should I do? 54:50 -- How does Consciousness arise in form from Shunya in Buddhist view? 1:10:00 -- I experience compassion for some people, and no compassion for others. So, should I wait for grace, or should I keep working at it? 1:40:00 -- My problem in mediation is: How do I move from my infatuation with Prana (Vedanta), to the non-moving state (Buddhism)? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Apr 21st, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - What is the nature of sorrow? 23:00 - What is the difference between Samsara in Buddhism and Vedanta? How does progress in modern medical science relate to Brahman? 32:06 - If I am Brahman then why should I worship God or do karma yoga? 38:32 - Does Advaita claim that it is evolving, or does it claim to be complete? 42:50 - When do we know that we are experiencing pure consciousness and not the reflected consciousness? 53:30 - How there can be no such thing as absolute evil? 58:47 - Can medical science detect a state of enlightenment? 01:06:08 - What is true detachment and how is it achieved? 01:17:18 - How can we reconcile truth and ahimsa (non-injury)? 01:26:06 - Does God consider the devotee to be different from Himself? 01:29:57 - When Swami Vivekananda encouraged Karma Yoga for the upliftment of India, did he contradict his teaching on Bhakti Yoga? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on December 6th, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:24 - How can we understand the real nature of the self? 14:25 - How can we develop detachment from material pursuits? 17:58 - How is moksha defined in Vedanta? 23:24 - What is Vedantic meditation? 32:45 - How do I choose my ishta devata? 37:30 - How do we know that Brahman is the ultimate reality? 41:44 - If everything is an appearance, how is karma kept track of? 50:30 - Is it true that time and space are illusions? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on November 1st, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:37 - How does consciousness appear in all things? What is needed to see this underlying truth? 19:00 - How can we say there is consciousness in deep sleep? 29:17 - Does the 7th mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad state that Turiya is not consciousness? 36:35 - It is said that Brahman is existence-consciousness-bliss. Is it fair to say that Brahman is existence, with consciousness and bliss? 44:42 - If the universe appears in consciousness as a city appears in a mirror, is there something external to consciousness that appears in consciousness? 56:27 - [Part 1] How do we know if we are progressing in spiritual life? 01:01:41 - [Part 2] How can an enlightened person be recognized? 01:03:23 - [Part 3] What are some practical suggestions for practicing pratyahara (withdrawal from the external world)? ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Apr 10th, 2022. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:24 - Isn't enlightenment part of Maya? 16:05 - The witness consciousness, sat, chit, ananda, the basis of all truths, cannot perform any action. The mind removes its own veil. How can we turn this understanding into meditation? 34:10 - In the Gospel, Sri Ramakrishna says to "dive deep". What does this mean? 50:05 - What does Sri Ramakrishna mean when he tells Naren "He who was Rama and he who was Krishna was born again as Ramakrishna, but not in your Vedantic sense"? 59:30 - How do I know if I am progressing spiritually? How can one recognize an enlightened being? 01:15:25 - Why is there a tradition of fear in relation to God? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 25th, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 1:00 -- a) Involuntary thoughts are mostly negative and bad. How do we uproot them? b) If we are what we think, will these negative thoughts bring us suffering/misery? If we become what we think, then how does karma come into play? Some people seem to be positive thinkers, even if they are not necessarily good people. However, their lives seem to be quite good and peaceful. So it it our thoughts, or is it our karma that makes our destiny? 14:56 -- What exactly is meant by the term ""faultlines"" with regards to pointing out the ""errors in Maya?"" (referencing a previous lecture in which Swami Sarvapriyanandaji had used this term). 42:25 -- a) Could the Blissful experience of sleep be due to sleep related hormones (serotonin, endorphins etc.) rather than to the Bliss inherent in Consciousness? 45:47 -- a) In deep sleep, is the Bliss we experience the ""Ananda"" of ""Sat-Chit- Ananda?"" 48:23 -- b) Unconsciousness seems to be different from deep sleep, because it seems to be completely blank. Additionally, after coming up from that state, one doesn't feel rested or peaceful. On the contrary, one often feels uneasy. But ultimately, if it is Ananda, it should be there everywhere (in deep sleep as well as unconsciousness) shouldn't it? 50:50 -- c) So is it that the happiness of deep sleep is due to serotonin and/or other chemicals that are involved in neurochemical processes? 55:13 -- One can say that the substratum of human Consciousness is Pure Awareness. How can we extend it to include the whole material Universe, and posit that Pure Consciousness is its substratum? 59:22 -- Should we assume that each one of us has our own consciousness, and if so, what about events which affect all of us? How do we explain that shared public reality? 1:05:57 -- Is Consciousness separate from the brain? 1:12:52 -- a) Is it true that householders should not chant only ""Om,"" but instead use some syllable along with it (such as ""Hari Om"" etc.)? Will simply chanting ""Om"" (as a householder) have adverse effects? 1:14:42 -- b) Could ""namakam"" and ""chamakam"" (Vedic mantras) be used as worship mantras in rituals, upasana, self-Knowledge, God-realization, jnana etc.? 1:20:50 -- How is Consciousness experienced? How do we know/grasp it? What exactly is Consciousness, Atman, Awareness, Pure Consciousness, Brahman etc.? 1:26:16 -- The Awareness, or Consciousness (Atma, Chaitanya etc.) is common to all of us. Rather, we are That. Then what accounts for the differences between us (between Vivekananda and the rest of us, yogis who have extraordinary powers, psychic powers, siddhis etc.)? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 5th, 2022. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:32 - How is it that the self is in all beings from the chit (consciousness) perspective? 18:37 - Where is my consciousness when I am sleeping? Can I use sleep as a spiritual practice? 26:55 - Will a realized person retain their individuality after enlightenment? 40:38 - Why do we call this world false? 55:53 - What does Sri Ramakrishna mean by going into the black water (in reference to samadhi)? 01:00:30 - If we want to take up a life of renunciation, what practices should be followed? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 7th, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 05:10 - What happens to the reflected consciousness after death, and after enlightenment? 19:10 - What is my swadharma? 35:20 - What is the difference between the knower and the witness? 41:20 - Where does Sri Ramakrishna stand in the triad of Iswara, Jiva, and Jagat? 51:15 - Is enlightenment a gradual process or a “wow” moment? 01:02:40 - What is Shraddha? 01:15:33 - Is there any overlap between psychotherapy and Vedanta? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Oct 24th, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:35 - If the Self is the only reality, who is the doer? 12:05 - How can it be said that Self is free, and yet all beings are in the Self? 27:24 - What is the role of psychedelics in mystical experience? 39:30 - Why is the path of Bhakti supposed to be dualistic? 51:05 - Why is fear of God discussed in religion? 57:27 - How can we deal with thoughts of dispassion towards the world? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on April 29th, 2018. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:48 -- Acharyas repeatedly say You are That Infinite Existence, I am the Awareness Absolute etc. Who is the ""I"" and ""you"" that the teaching is referring to? Whom or what experiences whom or what? 8:43 -- What is ""citta""? What is the difference between ""citta"" and ""consciousness""? 18:28 -- Everything we do is prompted by thoughts, which are the functions of the mind. So how does one experience Consciousness in its purity without the mind? 27:17 -- What works the mind if Pure Consciousness is not affected by the material world, and is only the Witness? What is it that enjoys the senses, the body, or the mind? 30:58 -- a) Nirguna Brahman is manifested in a body. Who decides that body (as in the case of Sri Ramakrishna, other Avatars/Incarnations of God etc.)? b) Does this Avatar/Incarnation concept contradict the Advaitic idea of ""That Thou Art""? 37:45 -- a) What makes the difference between the mind of Swami Vivekananda and my mind? If the mind of a saint is pure, what purified it? Did Pure Conciousness purify it? b) In that case, I am the same Pure Consciousness. Why doesn't it purify me? 42:23 -- When the body is damaged or dies, only this body stops working. Why does it lose its Consciousness? 45:01 -- How do memory or samskaras travel from one birth to another? If mind and body are destroyed, where does the samskara get stored? 47:49 -- Does Awareness always need a vehicle for it to exist? 51:47 -- How do you avoid pride in the path of Advaita? 59:50 -- Shravana, manana, nidhidhyasana (hearing, pondering, assimilating). These constitute the method by which one realizes Brahman (if one has good fortune). If that happens, then one should be filled with Bliss. And if a person thinks that he has had that realization, but is not filled with Bliss, then one can conclude that he did not have the realization. Correct? 1:02:49 -- What is the exact meaning/significance of ""Om"" in relation to the Mandukya Upanishad? 1:09:15 -- a) How can we approach everyday activities at various stages of our life with an attitude of service, and in a manner that avoids undue stress and brings peace? 1:09:53 -- b) How do we carry on the daily activities of life without stress, without strain? 1:18:39 -- a) What is the difference between ""kuladevi"" (family deity) and ""isha devata"" (chosen deity)? 1:20:22 -- b) What is the significance (if any) of various experiences had during meditation (vibrations, sounds, colors, bright light, darkness etc.)? 1:22:33 -- a) Is what I experience right now the appearance OF reality, or appearance AS reality? Why doesn't Reality reveal Itself in its originality? For that matter, why don't (or can't) we see the Reality as It is? 1:25:22 -- b) Why does the play of Consciousness give so many negative experiences (sorrow, suffering, pain, fear, frustration, failure, boredom etc.)? 1:28:07 -- c) Doesn't the experience of Maya run counter to the principle of nondualism, or is Maya also a part of Reality? If so, how? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on February 21st, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:51 - What separates the individual soul from Brahman? 08:53 - Can the self be self-aware without mind or object? 16:26 - You have said that maya projects the universe and veils the truth. Is this the same as the Samkhya philosophy? 25:50 - What is the closest concept in Vedanta to the ideas of the spirit and the soul? 39:39 - Is Advaita Vedanta escapism? 48:09 - Is Vedanta the same as subjective idealism? 55:15 - How can I be sure that consciousness is not manufactured by the brain? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Question and Answer session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Sept 30, 2018. Questions in brief with time-stamps: 0:37 - Controlling the mind and turning it towards God. 33:37 - Understanding superconsciousness. 44:18 - Need of a Guru and spiritual initiation (Mantra Diksha). 54:30 - Thoughts and the Cosmic Mind. 57:50 - How do we know if Advaita Vedanta is true? 1:16:15 - How do we know if consciousness is ever-present? 1:25:00 - Dealing with sleepiness during meditation. 1:01:25 - God-centered vs. Self-enquiry based religions. ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Bhagavad Gita lectures from Swami Sarvapriyanda are now available thorough the above Soundcloud, iTunes, and Google Podcast links. ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 31st, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 00:50 - We say Brahman is the only reality and the world is Maya (illusion). Then what causes the world to appear? 14:27 - What does 'Bindu Naad Kalaa' mean? 16:40 -- What is the difference between 'Jeeva' (sentient beings) and 'Jada' (insentient things)? If both are manifestation of Brahman, then what Karma makes one thing 'Jeeva' and the other 'Jada'? 26:50 - In Bhakti traditions, God is understood to have love and compassion. What is the relation of God of Advaita with the God of Bhakti traditions? 35:10 - Why is Advaitic meditation (Nidhidhyasana) sometimes considered better than Yogic meditation (meditation of Patanjali Yoga Sutras)? 52:10 - How does one make the mind one-pointed? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jan 22nd, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:22 - Can Brahman be equally immanent and transcendent? 21:37 - Who is the doer of action? 33:15 - Swamiji, what is your daily routine? 34:34 - Can art lead us to the infinite? What is the nature of abhyasa? What is the nature of vairagya? 54:20 - If Buddhism believes in reincarnation, why not the Atman? 01:01:40 - What do you mean by an appearance in consciousness? Is it permitted to think of consciousness with qualities? 01:06:36 - How can we be sure that this waking world does not occur in our mind like a dream? 01:12:50 - Does moksha happen at once, or does it happen over time? 01:17:10 - Why are there so many different perspectives on moksha? 01:19:14 - Can there be spontaneous enlightenment without spiritual practice? 01:23:24 - How can reality be truly One? 01:34:01 - When a spiritual seeker becomes stuck, is a guru necessary?  ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on April 7th, 2019. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:00 - On Vedantic meditation. 9:20 - How to overcome the fear of unknown and revel in the silence. 19:36 - In Nirvanashatakam, bliss is first negated but then accepted. Which is it? Difference between Ananda and happiness. 28:47 - Do negative emotions persists after Enlightenment? 48:10 - Should we trust our own insights? 50:28 - How to combine Vedantic meditation with the practice of Mantra meditation. 58:20 - How can the universe come out of nothing? Does Advaita Vedanta recognize an Omnipotent, Omniscient and Omnipresent God? 1:10:18 - Which meditation should we practice - Vedantic or Mantra? 1:11:32 - Is the presence of a life force (Prana) an illusion? ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Questions for future talks can be sent to: askswami@vedantany.org Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York

Swami Sarvapriyananda conducts a Q&A session followed by his discourse on 'Realization'. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:08 - How do desires transmigrate after death? 11:50 - A step-by-step examination of the challenges one faces in grasping the ‘Witness’ 23:03 - The spiritual heaven in Vedanta. 25:16 - How to manifest the knowledge of Advaita? 46:00 - Who made God? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on October 11th, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:03 - Is the awakening of the Kundalini and the recognition of our real nature as the spirit the same as Aparokshanubhuti? 11:08 - If you are already Brahman, what is the purpose of a appearing as a sentient being and finding Brahman? 18:35 - How do I know that this awareness that I am is the infinite? 29:00 - [Part 1] How do we have duality in experience when reality is non-dual? 37:54 - [Part 2] If Brahman is neutral, why does Brahman manifest? 47:28 - If Brahman cannot be experienced as an object, what kind of experience is there in Nirvikalpa Samadhi? 55:45 - Why do we believe there is one awareness and not many awarenesses? ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 19, 2017. List of questions answered in this session of AskSwami: 0:09 -- Difference between the mind of a yogi and the mind of a worldly person. 9:14 -- Do our senses tell us what is real? 18:17 -- What entity becomes liberated? 24:00 -- Karma, redemption, suffering, and beyond. 34:17 -- What is the purpose of life? Why the game of life? 40:06 -- Can karma affect an enlightened person? 47:20 -- Who is witnessing the mind? 54:19 -- Who is deluded by maya? 58:57 -- When is a person ready for spiritual life? 1:09:04 -- Is there suffering outside of the mind? 1:14:10 -- Can art lead us to reality?" ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Twitter: http://Twitter.com/VedantaNY Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jan 23rd, 2022. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:53 - Is it possible to experience Turiya temporarily? 11:28 - Why does Drg-Drsya-Viveka indicate that only the avaccheda (limitation) theory explains the appearance of one consciousness as many consciousnesses? 28:28 - If there is ultimately no free will, how is Karma applicable? 40:14 - Who created the universe, Iswara or Hiranyagarba? Why is it said that Hiranyagarba has maximum bliss? 53:05 - How is the witness consciousness really free, if it cannot choose what it wants to witness? 56:09 - If both bliss and pain are in the mind, why is Atman described as pure bliss, and not also pure pain? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 3rd, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: • 6:25 -- How to know the Self when It cannot be objectified? Is inference sufficient? • 27:30 -- While we agree that waking, dreaming, and deep sleep are experienced in consciousness, why can't we say that they are real instead of unreal since they are indeed experienced? • 44:50 -- If the realization of atman is an experiential reality, then why is there a logical conflict between different spiritual traditions? Does it mean that the realized master's have different experiences? • 54:35 -- If consciousness illumines Maya, then why does it need the support of Maya to realize itself? ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 27th, 2018 List of Questions with Timestamps: Q.1- 1:05 – What is the recommended approach to teach “Vedanta” to the children? Q.2 – 5:16 – Is the concept “Ekajeevavada” connected to the “Hard problem of Consciousness”? Q.3 – 15:14 – Since it is a way to reach God by serving the suffered has God created suffering in this world? Is he not biased then? Q.4 – 26:05 – Is it the mind watching the thoughts without generating further thoughts (subsiding other thoughts) or is it the witness consciousness? If it’s mind why can’t watch the absence of thoughts in the Deep sleep state? Q.5 – 32:49 – According to ‘Mandukya’, when try to focus on the sense of “I” find focusing on ‘Ego’ somewhere in the chest, who is sensing it? Q.6 – 34:22 – The knowledge of “I” gives enormous peace, but how to live life in the light of this knowledge? How is it relevant in the struggle of life? Q.7 – 46:06 – What kind of tools be needed to lessen the guilt that felt if can’t serve your close people in the way it should be? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 19th, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - What is the relationship between the reflected consciousness and pure consciousness? 18:30 - When we obtain knowledge of true consciousness, how is it that we continue to experience the current reality? 27:00 - Are the scriptures useless with regard to swadharma? 32:46 - How can we keep children involved with spiritual concepts? 37:11 - If the universe is continuously rising and falling, is the universe something different from the Atman? 44:14 - How can we resolve the conflict between our spiritual journey and responsibilities in daily life? 55:28 - Which is correct, Jiva is Shiva, or everything is a dream? 59:58 - Is all this philosophy just something that has been fed to us? 01:06:00 - How can we define God for a young person? 01:14:26 - What is the relationship between a pure mind and a scattered mind? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 5th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:46 - Why do we need to search for the unchanging self? 13:06 - Is it ok to pray to God to satisfy our desires? 26:48 - If avidya (ignorance) is in Brahman, isn't it real? 32:07 - What is Vedanta's view on vegetarianism? 34:35 - How can I develop pure love? 40:07 - Can pure consciousness change the appearance of reality? 48:13 - Can God be both impersonal and personal? 56:01 - Is the anandamaya kosha (bliss sheath) really blissful? 01:02:19 - How does the concept of dependent origination map into Advaitic concepts? 01:06:46 - How is the cycle of reincarnation possible? 01:16:37 - Is there a concept in Hinduism about a personal God that can suffer? 01:21:15 - If all is Brahman, what is wrong with Maya? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 13th, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:05 - How can realization occur in the mind, if the mind is actually false? 06:51 - If I am pure consciousness, why do unwanted situations appear to me? 15:43 - Is it true that the "ego" consciousness sets the wheel of karma in motion? 20:28 - How can we make the leap from the individual to the universal consciousness? 40:33 - How is bliss the same as existence and consciousness? 50:00 - If Brahman through Maya becomes God, why surrender to God? 57:15 - How can I turn intellectual realization into a living reality? 01:07:27 - Can science lead us to the ultimate truth? 01:19:07 - The path of Raja Yoga allows us to "turn off" the world and see the ultimate reality. Is this superior to the path of Jnana Yoga? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Questions for future talks can be sent to: askswami@vedantany.org Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on March 17th, 2019. ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:33 - How can one remember their past lives? 6:43 - Are we many or one? Is ignorance in Brahman or java? 19:56 - Different categories of spiritual seekers as per the Gita. 28:50 - Is one’s attitude towards God a part of maya? How is it different for the liberated? 40:07 - How can I apply Vedanta to family life? 51:55 - How can one be aware of ones desires bubbling up in the mind? 1:05:33 - How to introduce the concept of Atman to children? 1:09:52 - How can I establish my goals in life? 1:15:00 - How do we contemplate and approach the topic of death? Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Feb 25th, 2018. List of Questions with Timestamps: Q.1-0:40 – What might be the difference between the eyes opened and closed while trying to do meditation? Q.2 – 3:25 – With closed eyes I can see the inner light but with opened eyes it’s not the case. What is it that notices the difference while trying doing meditation with closed eyes and opened eyes? Q.3- 6:35 – Does pure consciousness have intention or it is my own realization of pure consciousness that creates circumstances? Q.4- 8:58 – Being the creator of my own dreams why can’t see it from other’s perspective? Q.5- 16:35 – In my dreams do I get the result of my actions or something else? Q.6-28:02 – How do I get up and say that I slept peacefully and didn’t know anything? Here the active mind trying to recall the inactive mind, how did that happen? Q.7-33:54 – Who is looking out to the body, what is the ground of existence of it and how the digestion, breathing & other physiological activities are done in deep sleep? Q.8-37:08 – Does an enlightened person have any choice to go to the highest of “Brahmaloka” after “Mahasamadhi”? Q.9-45:04 – I have recently come across the concept of sentient robots. How can one harmonize it with Advaita Vedanta Philosophy? Q.10-50:26 – Among the two paths of spirituality namely Bhakti (Devotion) and Jnana (Knowledge), which one is the right? Q.11- 55:51 – If I am one with God (according to Advaita Vedanta concept) what is the necessity of worshiping as the worshiper and worshipped are the same? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jun 18th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 04:17 - All knowledge depends on the knower, known, and instrument of knowledge, yet we are taught that we are none of these. How can this be reconciled? 19:48 - If science can be used to know the self, does this mean that Vedanta is not a unique instrument for self knowledge? How can science be used for the study of something without objective qualities? 30:24 - How can we remove doubt? How is one guided to know Brahman clearly and continuously? 46:43 - How does one become a monk or nun? 48:56 - How do you explain the problem of evil within the realm of consciousness? 01:01:00 - Is Purusha the same as pure consciousness? When we say “I am imperishable”, how do we know? 01:09:00 - Is consciousness everywhere, not just in living things? What is the glue that binds Brahman and Maya together? 01:18:35 - We are told we are one consciousness. Where does Karma come in? 01:25:49 - Will the witness, sakshi, register anything? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Questions for future talks can be sent to: askswami@vedantany.org Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 5th, 2019. ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:36 - Difference between the ego and the witness. Is consciousness a creation of the brain. 24:34 - Difference between the views that the universe never existed vs the universe is brahman. If we are one consciousness, why do we react differently in different circumstances. 39:18 - If I do not “exist”, how do I approach the demands of the world. 47:18 - How is it possible to attain God while living in the world? How do I choose a guru? Is enlightenment possible without mantra diksha? 56:47 - Distinguishing between vairagya (dispassion) and tamas (darkness). How to practice non-injury but still protect ourself? 1:08:20 - Are your tendencies from past life part of a bigger purpose in the universe? 1:19:40 - What is Advaita Vedanta’s standpoint on karmic liability that leads to rebirth? 1:27:05 - Difference between Jnanindriyan and Buddhindriyan. 1:32:00 - Do Sat, Chit, and Ananda refer to the same thing? Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Feb 27th, 2022. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:40 - How can I worship God if I am one with God? 12:58 - I find it easy to say "I am Brahman", but how can I say "I am Jesus"? 19:32 - When we pray for peace, who are we praying to? 26:38 - My dream borrows material from my waking experience. Where does my waking reality borrow material from? 36:03 - As our identities are ephemeral in dreams, aren't our identities also ephemeral in awareness? How is Advaita as expressed by Nisargadatta different from Advaita taught in the Ramakrishna Order? 46:50 - After having our vices under control, what is the next step forward? After having cleansed the mind, what is the next step in mediation? 01:00:13 - What hope is there for an ordinary householder in achieving realization? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 28th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Is it correct that Turiya is witnessing and illumining waking dreaming and deep sleep? 16:47 - Is enlightenment spontaneous? What is the difference between an enlightened and non-enlightened person?  Can an enlightened person see past, present and future? 33:57 - What is the connection between the reflected consciousness and the ego, body, and real consciousness? 41:41 - How do I cultivate faith? 48:23 - How can Brahman be all-pervading, but beyond time and space? 53:55 - How can revelation happen when we silence the mind? 01:11:28 - What is life, and what is the purpose of life? 01:13:58 - If we can create machines that are self-conscious, what is the need for the Atman? 01:20:30 - If Advaita is the truth, why don't all enlightened persons profess it? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on March 26th, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:29 - How to overcome the problem of death/grief. 13:03 - We do not seem to have control over the thoughts that come. up in the mind. Are we still held accountable for them especially negative thoughts? Can we control them? 21:07 - Do spiritual practices (meditation, mantra, japa, prayer etc.) give us a window of opportunity to choose our reaction to thoughts instead of reacting automatically/instinctively? 24:11 - Is spiritual progress/knowledge lost if one doesn't attain liberation in this life? 32:43 - Is it possible to communicate with departed souls? 40:47 - What Vedantic texts should a spiritual seeker sequentially study? 46:55 - How does one know if one is making progress in meditation? Are there any landmarks? 51:23 - Can/will we lose our way on the spiritual path/spiritual life? Will we get the opportunity to continue from where we left off in the next life? 56:59 - Is death experience an extended deep sleep experience? Is consciousness situated behind our eyes in the form of "drishta"? If our consciousness is not body/eyes, not mind, not memories etc., then the only element left is darkness. Therefore, is our consciousness nothing but darkness? 1:08:42 - What is the nature of "I"? What exactly does it refer to? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 3rd, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - How can a devotee of God say I am That? 18:34 - Can we say that God as consciousness is within us? 21:07 - Are Bhakti and Janna two sides of the same coin? Is one higher than the other? 32:21 - Can Nididhyasana be considered as a series of small awakenings? 37:44 - Is Advaita profoundly different from Western views? 46:02 - Is the ultimate goal of Nididhyasana to realize or to stabilize? 50:19 - If Atman and Brahman are one, why do they appear to be different? 54:58 - Why are there differences in religions when they have all come from enlightened beings? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on January 3rd, 2021. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - What is the role of the mind in self-realization? 41:03 - How can deep sleep be an experience? 49:42 - Is the "I" thought unique? How does investigating it lead to the Atman? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on February 9th, 2020. List of Questions with Timestamps: 5:07 - 1) To whom does enlightenment happen if we are already Brahman? 2) How can we be responsible for all the pain and suffering if we are already Brahman? 3) How can Brahman have no characteristics? 37:50 - If we have family, friends, and relationships can we also reach enlightenment? Can we have both? 41:05 - How can Maya be both real and unreal? 45:58 - How to reconcile the ultimate reality with Maya? 54:20 - A discussion on free will inspired by the Bhagavad Gita. 1:07:53 - 1) Does the Vedanta philosophy evolve? 2) Do new insights from science get integrated? 1:21:00 - Can you say more about the differences between Buddhist teaching and Vedanta teaching? 1:34:18 - Can we not measure in a quantitative way how much we understand? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on February 19th, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 1:25 - Why there is so much suffering in the world? 3:00 - If there is no external God as such, and so with, then whom to pray to & seek protection from adversities & danger? 18:20 - The Upanishad says that Self-realization is a path to transcend sorrow. Is the path of surrender or "Bhakti" also a valid path? 27:00 - (a) How do I overcome the veiling power of Maya - which prevents me from realizing what I already am - Satchidananda Brahman. 34:45 - (b) Is it possible to use Psychotherapy as a way to know oneself? Can a Psychotherapist help us get rid of attraction and aversion? 42:15 - (a) What is the real meaning of the 1st stanza of the DakshinaMurti Stotram by Acharya Shankara. 42:40 - (b) Are we Jiva/living creatures in Brahman's dream? 52:50 - Is the result of Self Realization/Illumination "spiritual retreat"? What do you get out of the Realization? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on April 23rd, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 3:05 - Does spirituality constrain us from the search of infinity in the age of science? 4:05 - According to Vedanta, Brahman is all pervading including matter. Would that make vedantins materialistic? 6:30 - In Vedanta, are we ignoring the problems of society for the sake of spirituality? 12:35 - Does suffering exist due to our inner or external life? 14:00 - Which analogy (snake and rope or clay and pot) is most suitable to describe the non- dual reality of vedanta? 28:00 - Why are spiritual theories generally not as reasonable and convincing as science? 48:30 - If I am Brahman (God), then who do I pray to? 56:40 - Can you please explain the basis of non-dual knowledge? 1:03:20 - Who is most fortunate according to Shankracharya? 1:07:05 - What should I focus on during meditation? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 23rd, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - What is the difference between Vedanta, Samkhya, and Yoga? 12:54 - What should I do to make my buddhi accept the truth? 24:54 - Why are we told to practice dharma when Brahman is in everything? 32:10 - How can we recognize our true nature in everyday experience? 44:16 - Even with many practitioners, how many are really practicing Sanatana Dharma? 49:43 - If Brahman, which is real, appears as name, form and function, how can these be unreal? 57:24 - How can I get my mind to sit in the knowledge of the truth in the midst of life's problems? 01:08:41 - How can we detach from the body and mind when we are attached to them? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on Sept 24th, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 1:00 -- When we are reborn, do we get the same piece of consciousness as we have in this birth? 3:20 -- If whatever we do is Karma then does whatever we think also our Karma? 7:10 -- If same Brahman is residing in me and others, how is my Karma my own, why don't I share somebody else's Karma or vice versa? 11:20 -- What is the point of Karma when the results of the action is delayed and we don't even remember the actions for which we are suffering? How are we supposed to learn the lesson? How do you prove the existence of afterlives, or is it mere a faith or belief. 23:55 -- If so much of what happens to us is due to our Karma in past lives and our tendencies that we have inherited, what is the need of living within the framework of morality? 31:20 -- Where does evil come from? 38:12 -- If the whole world is Brahman, then it suggests the evil is also Brahman. Then how to distinguish between good and evil? If God exists then why is evil more than good in the world? 48:40 -- Tell us more about death and destruction of universe. 1:01:00 -- Why are you stressing more on the teachings of non-dualism of Shankara and neglecting Ramanujacharya's and Madhavacharya's teaching. There are more references of Madhavacharya than Shankara in even Gospels of Ramakrishna. ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Oct 20th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:15 - What is the importance of earnestness and renunciation to progress in spiritual life. 13:37 - Do we need a Guru, and what is the relationship betwen the Gurua dn teh Advaitic Self? 19:31 - Is consciousness the controller of actions or is it just a witness? 31:09 - How do we go from reflected consciousness to ‘I am Brahman’? 41:17 - How can I cultivate a desire to meditate and to form a genuine enjoyment of the practice? 01:04:21 - How can I overcome doubts in spiritual life? 01:09:45 - How can dream state be considered equivalent to the waking state? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 2nd, 2019. List of Questions with Timestamps: 0:33 - Is consciousness present in non-living things? Are they also Brahman? 12:18 - What is the nature of bliss? Is it dependent on the mind? Does a pure being experience bliss all the time? 26:15 - Does your liberation depend upon your karma? 31:50 - Does the presence of Maya imply duality? 36:25 - Does suffering bring us closer to spirituality? Can people who are mentally week resort to spirituality as an escape route? 46:45 - Is it difficult to stay in the non-dual path when the path of knowledge is considered difficult to follow in the current age? 59:25 - Advice for somebody who has experienced a flash of spiritual bliss and is trying to understand and sustain it. 1:02:56 - Explain the verse from the Taittiriya Upanishad: "He who is here in man and he who is in yonder sun—both are one." Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 7th, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 2:30 - What is the difference between individual and cosmic consciousness? How can we realize the reality of one consciousness? 34:18 - Why is private spirituality not spirituality? 39:25 - I am in school and have lost interest in studies. I would rather seek the spiritual truths. What are my options? 47:27 - How can the formless Brahman produce a universe of forms? 56:16 - How can Brahman in Sri Ramakrishna's Vijnana Vedanta be beyond cause and effect if the universe is a real manifestation of shakti? 1:08:11 - I was brought up in a christian tradition but have become interested in Vedanta. Is is possible for a person to be pulled into Vedanta by no conscious effort? ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 24th, 2018. List of Questions with Timestamps: Q.1-0:28 - What is the distinction between Mind and Intellect? Q.2-1:02 - Do I have any say in changing my character’s role in the world that is nothing but “God’s leela”? Q.3-7:45 - How can I determine the spiritual practices in accordance to my temperamental tendency in the day to day life? What are the suggestions proposed by Shree Ramakrishna and the Swamis of Ramakrishna order for the householders in connection to the spiritual growth and God realization? Q.4-14:52 - How do you think about Kriya-Yoga? Would you recommend practicing this? Q.5-18:05 - Based on the discussion of Brahman & Universe with the reference of Pot & Clay analogy- A) How can Pure consciousness being a subject be treated as an object? B) How do we know we are all pervading one consciousness when consciousness forgets itself? C) Is there any role of the reflected consciousness in the above mentioned example? Q.6-34:41 - Why does anything appear in pure consciousness at all? Q.7-45:30 - What is the nature of thread that connects the samskaras of one “Jeeva” even after death? Q.8- 45:55 - If we are all same, the witness consciousness or God how does the Law of Karma affect us? Q.9-46:18 - Why do you think Karma does not adequately explain evil & suffering? Q.10-1:08:35 - Why, when and how did Karma start? Q.11-1:20:40 - Is there any meeting point between visualization of goals or meditation and Karma Yoga? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Sep 29th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:04 - Can atheists achieve enlightenment? 09:17 - If the body is inert (jada), how is it able to generate thoughts? 19:03 - If our real nature is prakash (light) does prakash need to be self-aware? 33:57 - Does removal of ignorance require free will? 46:36 - If Brahman is fulfilled, why does it need to appear as Jiva, Jagat, Isvara? 58:19 - What proof is there of awareness in deep sleep? If deep sleep is the awareness of absence, what is death? 01:10:50 - What should I do if the power of discernment in Vedantic practice is diminished? 01:14:00 - Is breathing Atman? Can the soul depart if it is Brahman? 01:19:41 - My heart is troubled by the suffering around me. How can I hold on to Advaita? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: https://www.youtube.com/c/VedantaNewYorkArchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda as part of a spiritual retreat at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 21st, 2017. List of Questions with Timestamps: 17:20 -- How do I prioritize my time & energy to make spiritual progress, as much as I excel at my work? 35:45 -- (a) Is there any reality in the dream state? (b) My method of meditation keeps on changing because of so many methods I get to learn about; what should I do? 45:55 -- What is the existence of the universe, and how is it related to the spiritual world? 49:55 -- How to provide sufficiently strong arguments to mind, to counter distractions, provocations - such as greed, lust, etc. in order to attain perfect chastity in thought, word & deed? 58:15 -- With advent of artificial intelligence, there have been changes in the job market where youngsters are finding it more and more difficult. What will life look like 50 years from now? ► Support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: http://Soundcloud.com/VedantaNY iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Google Play: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-google-play ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta is one of the world’s most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of India, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmony of religions. ABOUT US Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 24th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:44 – How can Shri Ramakrishna’s statement “only God is your own” be reconciled with Holy Mother’s “everybody is your own”?

17:51 – Does stopping all thoughts reveal pure witness consciousness and lead to realization?

32:18 – Is the gap between two thoughts where pure consciousness shines, and can it only be noticed afterward?

38:43 – How to address fear of meditating after experiencing non-duality and loss of individuality?

49.36 – Why didn’t you adopt Kashmir Shaivism despite its elaboration compared to Advaita Vedanta?

57.36 – What did Swami Vivekananda mean by “Eternal progression is eternal bondage”?

01:04:28 – How to reconcile Buddhist teachings on emptiness with Vedanta’s views on self and no-self?

01:19:48 – Is pure consciousness the same as God, and why are there so many names for God?

01:26:02 – Why doesn’t the Headless Way result in infinite love and bliss as described in non-duality?

01:34:24 – What is the relevance of spiritual teachings in a future dominated by super-intelligent AI?

01:47:18 – How to practice forgiveness effectively and overcome anger?

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