Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda

Join Swami Sarvapriyananda and the late Padma Shri Prof. Robert Thurman as they engage in a dialogue exploring the nature of consciousness through the lenses of Vedanta, Buddhism, and Madhyamika philosophy. A thought-provoking conversation on reality, self, and the deeper questions of human existence. This is a session from the International Conference on Vedanta at Stony Brook University in May 2...

Swami Anubhavananda is a renowned Vedanta teacher known for his joyful and practical message of “Be Happy.” He served as an acharya (teacher) at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, a postgraduate academy for Vedantic studies, and is the founder of the Sat Bhavana Trust. He is widely respected for his engaging and insightful discourses on the Bhagavad Gita, Upanishads, Patanjali Yoga Sutras, Srimad B...

Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana is an ordained nun of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, and is currently posted at the Vivekananda Retreat in Ridgely, New York ( https://ridgely.org ). For many years, Shuddhatmaprana has been active in the publication work of the Ramakrishna Order, editing numerous books and articles. She has also written many articles and is the author of two books – The Div...

Dr. Aleksandar Uskokov is Senior Lector in Sanskrit in the South Asian Studies Council. He works in Indian philosophy and the history of ideas, primarily in the traditions of Vedānta, Mīmāṁsā, and Vaishnavism. He holds a PhD in South Asian Languages and Civilizations from the University of Chicago, and a BA and an MA in philosophy from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje. His most rec...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M." This sessio...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M." This sessio...

Swami Sarvapriyananda continues teaching verse 6 from the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga, the Yoga of the Supreme Being, of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad Gita, 'the Song of God,' unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta. ____________ Chapter 15, Verse 7 ममैवांशो जीवलोके जीवभूत: सनातन: | मन:षष्ठानीन्द्रियाणि प्रकृतिस्थानि कर्षति...

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote th...

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote th...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M." This sessio...

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Apr 12th, 2026. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Invocation and opening 01:40 — Is enlightenment just a brain event, or different from dissociation and neurological experiences? 19:17 — How does one move from witness-consciousness to Turiya in practice? 29:31 — What should one do when mantra japa brings up...

Swami Sarvapriyananda delivers a talk on the fundamental nature of consciousness at ‪@southparkcommons‬ : https://www.southparkcommons.com/ Using the simple framework of C + O = E (Consciousness + Object = Experience) he unpacks ancient insights from Advaita Vedanta. He explores how our true self is the unchanging witness to the ever-changing objects of the world—including our own bodies and minds...

Dr. Janki Santoke explores the Vedantic understanding of happiness, explaining that lasting joy cannot be found in external objects, achievements, relationships, or even spiritual institutions, but must be discovered and cultivated within oneself. She defines happiness as the cessation of mental agitation, traces agitation to desire, and shows how Vedanta offers a practical path through karma yoga...

Swami Sarvapriyananda continues teaching verse 6 from the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga, the Yoga of the Supreme Being, of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad Gita, 'the Song of God,' unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta. ____________ Chapter 15, Verse 6 न तद्भासयते सूर्यो न शशाङ्को न पावक: | यद्गत्वा न निवर्तन्ते तद्धाम परमं मम...

Swami Sarvapriyananda continues teaching verse 5 from the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga, the Yoga of the Supreme Being, of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad Gita, 'the Song of God,' unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta. ____________ Chapter 15, Verse 5 निर्मानमोहा जितसङ्गदोषा अध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामा: | द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ता...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reflects on the Bhagavad Gita’s image of the “axe of non-attachment,” showing how renunciation is not a negative rejection of life but a turning from the lower to the higher. He explains that true detachment means loosening the hold of worldly desires, ego, and endless striving so that one can direct life toward God-realization, freedom, and immortality. 00:00 - Invocation 00...

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote th...

Swami Sarvapriyananda explores how modern science, especially neuroscience, consciousness studies, and AI, is beginning to circle back to questions Vedanta has examined for centuries. The lecture shows that while science has become increasingly sophisticated in studying the brain and mental processes, the fundamental mystery of consciousness remains unresolved, and Vedantic insights may offer a de...

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 29th, 2026. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Invocation and opening 01:32 - Why Vedanta first says you are consciousness and not body-mind if everything is Brahman anyway. 22:05 - How to distinguish pure Self from awareness that seems to arise through body and mind. 50:48 - If I am only consciousness a...

Divine Personalities | Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda’s offers an inspiring overview of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu’s life, from his early brilliance in Navadvipa to his transformation into a world-teacher of ecstatic devotion. The talk highlights Chaitanya’s message of divine love, the chanting of God’s name, and his enduring influence on bhakti spirituality. • 0:00 Opening prayer and i...

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarvapriyananda Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote th...

Swami Sarvapriyananda continues teaching verses 1-4 from the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga, the Yoga of the Supreme Being, of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad Gita, 'the Song of God,' unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta. ____________ Chapter 15, Verse 1 श्रीभगवानुवाच | ऊर्ध्वमूलमध:शाखमश्वत्थं प्राहुरव्ययम् | छन्दांसि यस्य पर...

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the oldest and most foundational Principal Upanishads of Hinduism, is being taught in this lecture series by Swami Sarvapriyananda. Belonging to the Śukla Yajurveda and forming the concluding portion of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, its name means “the great forest.” The text comprises six chapters organized into the Madhu, Yājñavalkya (Muni), and Khila kāṇḍas, and i...

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the oldest and most foundational Principal Upanishads of Hinduism, is being taught in this lecture series by Swami Sarvapriyananda. Belonging to the Śukla Yajurveda and forming the concluding portion of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, its name means “the great forest.” The text comprises six chapters organized into the Madhu, Yājñavalkya (Muni), and Khila kāṇḍas, and i...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M."