Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda

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 || 7|| mamaivānśho jīva-loke jīva-bhūtaḥ sanātanaḥmanaḥ-ṣhaṣhṭhānīndriyāṇi prakṛiti-sthāni karṣhati The embodied souls in this material world are My eternal fragmental parts. But bound by material nature, they are struggling with the six senses including the mind.____________Chapter 15, Verse 8 शरीरं यदवाप्नोति यच्चाप्युत्क्रामतीश्वर: |गृहीत्वैतानि संयाति वायुर्गन्धानिवाशयात् || 8|| śharīraṁ yad avāpnoti yach chāpy utkrāmatīśhvaraḥgṛihītvaitāni sanyāti vāyur gandhān ivāśhayāt As the air carries fragrance from place to place, so does the embodied soul carry the mind and senses with it, when it leaves an old body and enters a new one.____________Chapter 15, Verse 9 श्रोत्रं चक्षु: स्पर्शनं च रसनं घ्राणमेव च |अधिष्ठाय मनश्चायं विषयानुपसेवते || 9|| śhrotraṁ chakṣhuḥ sparśhanaṁ cha rasanaṁ ghrāṇam eva chaadhiṣhṭhāya manaśh chāyaṁ viṣhayān upasevate Using the sense perceptions of the ears, eyes, skin, tongue, and nose, which are grouped around the mind, the embodied soul savors the objects of the senses.

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2026

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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."

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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."

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2026

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 session was recorded on May 31, 2022. 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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 opening01:40 — 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 disturbing thoughts and impurities?40:41 — If awareness and experience seem mutually dependent, how can awareness be the ultimate reality?51:22 — How should a student deal with pressure, competition, and still find life’s real purpose and peace?01:12:53 — Can the Katha Upanishad’s chariot analogy be reinterpreted through chidabhasa and reflected consciousness in Advaita? 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor...📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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. The core talk is followed by a Q&A session exploring the intersection of these spiritual truths with modern dilemmas, including AI, the "hard problem" of consciousness, and practical habits for finding focus and fearlessness in daily life.0:00 — The Parable of the Washerman and the Diamond 5:25 — The Equation of Experience (C + O = E) 9:08 — Insight 1: Consciousness is One 13:33 — Insight 2: Consciousness is Continuous 16:57 — Insight 3: Consciousness is Unchanging 18:43 — Insight 4: The Light of Lights 23:01 — Insight 5: Consciousness is Your True Self 26:18 — Defining Intelligence vs. Consciousness in AI 35:12 — Overcoming Fear and Seeking Security 39:03 — 4 Spiritual Practices for Modern Life 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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, bhakti yoga, and jnana yoga to purify the mind, sharpen the intellect, reduce desires, and move toward true peace, self-mastery, and ultimately Self-realization. Dr. Janki Santoke (PhD, Philosophy) is a senior disciple of world-renowned guru, Swami A. Parthasarathy. She has spent more than three decades disseminating the knowledge of Vedanta to the general public, helping enhance the quality of their lives. She facilitates this through online weekly sessions, public talks, workshops, seminars, retreats and written articles. To learn more, please visit: https://janki.santoke.com This talk was recorded on April 19, 2026. 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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 || 6|| na tad bhāsayate sūryo na śhaśhāṅko na pāvakaḥyad gatvā na nivartante tad dhāma paramaṁ mama Neither the sun nor the moon, nor fire can illumine that Supreme Abode of Mine. Having gone There, one does not return to this material world again.____________ 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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 जितसङ्गदोषाअध्यात्मनित्या विनिवृत्तकामा: |द्वन्द्वैर्विमुक्ता: सुखदु:खसंज्ञैर्गच्छन्त्यमूढा: पदमव्ययं तत् || 5||nirmāna-mohā jita-saṅga-doṣhāadhyātma-nityā vinivṛitta-kāmāḥdvandvair vimuktāḥ sukha-duḥkha-sanjñairgachchhanty amūḍhāḥ padam avyayaṁ tat ⧫ Free from pride and delusion, overcoming the evil of attachment, ever devoted to spiritual pursuits, rid of desires and the dual throng named pleasure and pain, the wise go to the immutable goal. _________________ 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

Transcribed - Published: 4 May 2026

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 - Invocation00:46 - Easter, immortality, and the promise of religion02:46 - The axe of non-attachment in the Bhagavad Gita06:34 - Christ as an ideal of renunciation09:40 - Renunciation as the turning point in every yoga18:02 - Detachment as moving toward the higher, not fighting the lower28:51 - Beginning the search for the real30:30 - Worldly devotion and true devotion to God

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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."

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2026

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 deeper framework for understanding it. 00:00 - Introduction00:50 - Consciousness and Vedanta03:19 - Science and spirituality must meet09:04 - The hard problem of consciousness21:31 - Why neuroscience still has not solved consciousness27:13 - Consciousness first, not matter first54:53 - AI, quantum theory, and Vedantic parallels

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2026

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 opening01:32 - 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 and a witness, what is the meaning of life and experience.01:00:48 - Why Vivekananda’s emphasis on service can seem different from Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings.01:11:43 - Why profound inner experience should point to one universal Atman rather than only a local conscious state.01:24:24 - Where Ananda fits into the description “Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma.”

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2026

Divine Personalities | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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 introduction • 2:00 Birth, early life, and scholarship in Navadvipa • 11:00 Spiritual transformation at Gaya • 13:00 Kirtan, devotion, and the power of God’s name • 27:30 Jagai and Madhai; Chaitanya’s compassion • 32:00 Renunciation and journey to Puri • 40:00 Sacred stories and devotional travels • 45:00 Ecstatic love of Jagannath Puri

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2026

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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."

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2026

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 पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || 1||śhrī-bhagavān uvāchaūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayamchhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit ⧫ The Blessed Lord said, "They speak of the immutable Ashwatham tree, with its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedas." He who knows it is the knower of the Vedas. Chapter 15, Verse 2 अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखागुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: |अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानिकर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके || 2||adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhāguṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥadhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatānikarmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke ⧫ Its branches, nurtured by the gunas spread below and above, its shoots are the sense objects, and its rootlings are stretched below, producing actions in the world of men. Verse 3 & 4 न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यतेनान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा |अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा || 3||तत: पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यंयस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूय: |तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्येयत: प्रवृत्ति: प्रसृता पुराणी || 4||na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyatenānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhāaśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlamasaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvātataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁyasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥtam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadyeyataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī ⧫ Its form as such is not experienced here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its continuity. Having severed this deep-rooted Ashwatha tree with the strong weapon of non-attachment, one should next seek that goal, reaching which they do not return, saying 'I seek refuge in that primordial Purusha from whom this eternal process has sprung.'

Transcribed - Published: 5 April 2026

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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany... Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite....

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany... Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite....

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2026

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."

Transcribed - Published: 23 March 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches 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 पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || 1||śhrī-bhagavān uvāchaūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayamchhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit ⧫ The Blessed Lord said, "They speak of the immutable Ashwatham tree, with its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedas." He who knows it is the knower of the Vedas. Chapter 15, Verse 2 अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखागुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: |अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानिकर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके || 2||adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhāguṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥadhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatānikarmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke ⧫ Its branches, nurtured by the gunas spread below and above, its shoots are the sense objects, and its rootlings are stretched below, producing actions in the world of men. Verse 3 & 4 न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यतेनान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा |अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा || 3||तत: पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यंयस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूय: |तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्येयत: प्रवृत्ति: प्रसृता पुराणी || 4||na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyatenānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhāaśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlamasaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvātataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁyasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥtam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadyeyataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī ⧫ Its form as such is not experienced here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its continuity. Having severed this deep-rooted Ashwatha tree with the strong weapon of non-attachment, one should next seek that goal, reaching which they do not return, saying 'I seek refuge in that primordial Purusha from whom this eternal process has sprung.'🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New York

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2026

In this lecture, Rabbi Benjamin Spratt reflects on the human search for the Divine through the lens of Jewish theology, exploring how uncertainty, questioning, and evolving ideas of God are central to authentic spiritual life. Drawing on Jewish thought and interfaith dialogue, he suggests that faith is not about rigid certainty but about a continuing journey of inquiry, humility, and deeper connection with the sacred. Rabbi Benjamin Spratt grew up in Salt Lake City and was ordained by The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in May 2008, with a concentration in Jewish Philosophy. In his years at JTS, he received many awards and prizes in Talmud, philosophy, homiletics, and Bible.Rabbi Spratt spent his early years exploring his Jewish identity. His Jewish journey took him through the Conservative, Renewal, Orthodox, and Reconstructionist worlds of Judaism before finding a home within the Reform movement. Rabbi Spratt now serves as senior rabbi of Congregation Rodeph Sholom. https://rodephsholom.org 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany... Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite.... 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

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 session was recorded on May 3, 2022.

Transcribed - Published: 16 March 2026

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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany... Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite....

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2026

Prof. Jeffery Long is the Carl W. Ziegler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies at Elizabeth Town College, Pennsylvania, where he has taught since receiving his doctoral degree from the University of Chicago's School of Divinity in 2000. He has written many books and articles, including Hinuism in America, A Convergence of Worlds, which won the Rajendra & Jyoti Award for Theology, Philosophy, and Critical Engagement in 2022. His latest book is Discovering Indian Philosophy: An Introduction to Hindu, Jain, and Buddhist Thought. This year, he published a volume of Hindu Primary Sources with his colleague, Dr. Ravi Gupta, with Oxford University Press. He has spoken at a wide variety of venues, both national and international, including three presentations at the United Nations. He has also been interviewed for a PBS documentary on the life and teachings of swami Vivekananda and for the History Channel series 'Holy Marvels.' Dr. Long took initiation into the Vedantic tradition in 2005 and is a frequent speaker at Vedanta Societies across the US 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York. 📜 Content Use Policyhttps://www.vedantany.org/content-policy

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda explores the Vedantic ideal of the harmony of religions as taught by Sri Ramakrishna and interpreted by Swami Vivekananda, showing that religions are not identical but diverse paths suited to different human temperaments, all leading toward the same ultimate reality. Moving beyond mere tolerance, the lecture emphasizes acceptance grounded in spiritual experience, highlighting Sri Ramakrishna’s direct realization of God through multiple religious traditions as the foundation for genuine interfaith harmony. Intro Music Credit :    • Raghupati Raghav Raja Ram Violin Cover | र...   🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York. 📜 Content Use Policyhttps://www.vedantany.org/content-policy

Transcribed - Published: 8 March 2026

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."

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches 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 पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || 1||śhrī-bhagavān uvāchaūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayamchhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit ⧫ The Blessed Lord said, "They speak of the immutable Ashwatham tree, with its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedas." He who knows it is the knower of the Vedas. Chapter 15, Verse 2 अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखागुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: |अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानिकर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके || 2||adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhāguṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥadhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatānikarmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke ⧫ Its branches, nurtured by the gunas spread below and above, its shoots are the sense objects, and its rootlings are stretched below, producing actions in the world of men. Verse 3 & 4 न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यतेनान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा |अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा || 3||तत: पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यंयस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूय: |तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्येयत: प्रवृत्ति: प्रसृता पुराणी || 4||na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyatenānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhāaśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlamasaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvātataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁyasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥtam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadyeyataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī ⧫ Its form as such is not experienced here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its continuity. Having severed this deep-rooted Ashwatha tree with the strong weapon of non-attachment, one should next seek that goal, reaching which they do not return, saying 'I seek refuge in that primordial Purusha from whom this eternal process has sprung.'

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2026

n this exploration of the Shanti Mantra Purnamadah Purnamidam, Swami Sarvapriyananda reflects on the meaning of “The Infinite Alone Remains,” explaining that the same infinite reality (Purnam) appears as God, the world, and our own true Self . Drawing from the Upanishads and the life of Sri Ramakrishna, he shows that the infinite is beyond all limitations of space, time, and object—yet is fully present here and now. The lecture reveals how Vedanta resolves the apparent difference between the individual and the divine, culminating in the insight that the one infinite reality alone exists, expressing itself in countless forms. 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York. 📜 Content Use Policyhttps://www.vedantany.org/content-policy

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2026

Inside the Dream of Vasistha: The Fusion of Trika and Advaita Vedanta in the Yogavasistha by Prof. Sthaneshwar TimalsinaDr. Sthaneshwar Timalsina received academic and philological training from Mahendra Sanskrit University in Kathmandu; Sampurnananda Sanskrit University in Varanasi; as well as Martin Luther University in Germany, where he acquired his Ph.D. in Classical Indian Philosophy. While working on his dissertation, Dr. Timalsina taught at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Washington University in St. Louis. Since 2005, he taught in both the Department for the Study of Religions and the Department of Philosophy at San Diego State University. He is currently the Endowed Chair of Indic Studies at Stony Brook University, New York in the Department of Asian & Asian American Studies. ​He has long dedicated himself to the goal of preserving the traditions he inherited in a modern, institutionalized way. This goal dates back to Acharya's time in Nepal, where he founded the Department of Tantric Studies at Nepal Sanskrit University in Kathmandu. Today, Acharya's work as a University Professor allows śāstric traditions to be brought to conversations in the global academic field. 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New Yorkhttp://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit UsWebsite: https://vedantany.orgApple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channelsYouTube (Main Channel):    / @vedantany  YouTube (Archives):    / @vedantanyarchives  Facebook:   / vedantany  X / Twitter:   / vedantany   📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyanandahttps://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda   • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy...     • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv...     • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda     • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy...   🪔 About VedantaVedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This ChannelThis is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York. 📜 Content Use Policyhttps://www.vedantany.org/content-policy

Transcribed - Published: 22 February 2026

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."

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches 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 पर्णानि यस्तं वेद स वेदवित् || 1||śhrī-bhagavān uvāchaūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayamchhandānsi yasya parṇāni yas taṁ veda sa veda-vit ⧫ The Blessed Lord said, "They speak of the immutable Ashwatham tree, with its roots above and its branches below, whose leaves are the Vedas." He who knows it is the knower of the Vedas. Chapter 15, Verse 2 अधश्चोर्ध्वं प्रसृतास्तस्य शाखागुणप्रवृद्धा विषयप्रवाला: |अधश्च मूलान्यनुसन्ततानिकर्मानुबन्धीनि मनुष्यलोके || 2||adhaśh chordhvaṁ prasṛitās tasya śhākhāguṇa-pravṛiddhā viṣhaya-pravālāḥadhaśh cha mūlāny anusantatānikarmānubandhīni manuṣhya-loke ⧫ Its branches, nurtured by the gunas spread below and above, its shoots are the sense objects, and its rootlings are stretched below, producing actions in the world of men. Verse 3 & 4 न रूपमस्येह तथोपलभ्यतेनान्तो न चादिर्न च सम्प्रतिष्ठा |अश्वत्थमेनं सुविरूढमूलमसङ्गशस्त्रेण दृढेन छित्त्वा || 3||तत: पदं तत्परिमार्गितव्यंयस्मिन्गता न निवर्तन्ति भूय: |तमेव चाद्यं पुरुषं प्रपद्येयत: प्रवृत्ति: प्रसृता पुराणी || 4||na rūpam asyeha tathopalabhyatenānto na chādir na cha sampratiṣhṭhāaśhvattham enaṁ su-virūḍha-mūlamasaṅga-śhastreṇa dṛiḍhena chhittvātataḥ padaṁ tat parimārgitavyaṁyasmin gatā na nivartanti bhūyaḥtam eva chādyaṁ puruṣhaṁ prapadyeyataḥ pravṛittiḥ prasṛitā purāṇī ⧫ Its form as such is not experienced here, nor its end, nor its beginning, nor its continuity. Having severed this deep-rooted Ashwatha tree with the strong weapon of non-attachment, one should next seek that goal, reaching which they do not return, saying 'I seek refuge in that primordial Purusha from whom this eternal process has sprung.'

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2026

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."

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches verses 26-27 from the fourteenth chapter 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 14 is devoted to understanding the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components (gunas) of Maya. Swami Sarvapriyananda explains that, other than the Atma, everything in nature is the play of the three gunas. This insight, and transcending the play of the three gunas, is the doorway to infinity.________________Chapter 14, verse 26 मां च योऽव्यभिचारेण भक्तियोगेन सेवते |स गुणान्समतीत्यैतान्ब्रह्मभूयाय कल्पते || 26||māṁ cha yo ’vyabhichāreṇa bhakti-yogena sevatesa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate ⧫ He who serves me alone through the unswerving yoga of devotion transcends the three gunas and becomes fit for the state of Brahman. Chapter 14, verse 27 ब्रह्मणो हि प्रतिष्ठाहममृतस्याव्ययस्य च |शाश्वतस्य च धर्मस्य सुखस्यैकान्तिकस्य च || 27||brahmaṇo hi pratiṣhṭhāham amṛitasyāvyayasya chaśhāśhvatasya cha dharmasya sukhasyaikāntikasya cha ⧫ For I am the embodiment of Brahman of immutable immortality, of the eternal religion, and absolute bliss

Transcribed - Published: 16 February 2026

In this discourse, Swami Sarvapriyananda covers only the part of the Upanishad called "Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada (Mantras: 2.4.1 to 2.4.14)"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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany...

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2026

In this discourse, Swami Sarvapriyananda covers only the part of the Upanishad called "Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada (Mantras: 2.4.1 to 2.4.14)" 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 is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit: https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany...

Transcribed - Published: 2 February 2026

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches verses 23-25 from the fourteenth chapter 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 14 is devoted to understanding the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components (gunas) of Maya. Swami Sarvapriyananda explains that other than the Atma, everything in nature is the play of the three gunas. This insight and transcending the play of the three gunas is the doorway to infinity.__________ Chapter 14, verse 23 उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते |गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते || 23||udāsīna-vad āsīno guṇair yo na vichālyateguṇā vartanta ity evaṁ yo ’vatiṣhṭhati neṅgate ⧫ He who rests like one indifferent and is not disturbed by the gunas, who realizes that the gunas alone function is steady and does not waver. Chapter 14, verse 24 समदु:खसुख: स्वस्थ: समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चन: |तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुति: || 24||sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ sva-sthaḥ sama-loṣhṭāśhma-kāñchanaḥtulya-priyāpriyo dhīras tulya-nindātma-sanstutiḥ ⧫ Alike in pleasure and pain, self-abiding regarding a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as of equal worth, calm and the same toward agreeable and disagreeable objects, and the same to praise and blame bestowed on him. Chapter 14, verse 25 मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो: |सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीत: स उच्यते || 25||mānāpamānayos tulyas tulyo mitrāri-pakṣhayoḥsarvārambha-parityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa uchyate ⧫ The same in honor and dishonor, the same toward friend and foe, habituated to renounce all actions, such a person is said to have transcended the three gunas.

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2026

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."

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2026

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Sanskrit: बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्, IAST: Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is tenth in the Muktikā or "canon of 108 Upanishads".Brihadaranyaka literally means "great wilderness or forest". The Upanishad forms the last part, that is the fourteenth kānda of Śatapatha Brāhmana of "Śhukla Yajurveda". The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad has six adhyayas (chapters) in total. It includes three sections: Madhu kānda (the 4th and 5th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana), Muni kānda (or Yajnavalkya Kanda, the 6th and 7th chapter of 14th kānda of Satapatha Brahmana) and Khila kānda (the 8th and 9th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana). The first and second chapters of the Upanishad's Madhu kānda consists of six brahmanas each, with varying number of hymns per brahmana. The first chapter of the Upanishad's Yajnavalkya kānda consists of nine brahmanams, while the second has six brahmanas. The Khila kānda of the Upanishad has fifteen brahmanas in its first chapter, and five brahmanas in the second chapter.In the fourth brahmana of the Second chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi engage in a dialogue about love and spirituality. Yajnavalkya states that one doesn't connect with and love forms, nor does one connect or love mind, rather one connects with the Self, the Self of one's own and one's beloved. All love is for the sake of one's Self, and the Oneness one realizes in the Self of the beloved. He then asserts that this knowledge of the Self, the Self, and Brahman is what makes one immortal, and the connection is also immortal. All longing is the longing for the Self, as the Self represents the true, the immortal, the real, and infinite bliss. Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite....

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2026

Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda, this episode is part of a series of talks that unfold the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of God". Chapter 14 is devoted to an understanding of the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components of Maya. The entire universe is created by a projection of the three gunas - satva, rajas, and tamas. Understanding the science of the three gunas and how we can apply it to our lives is the focus of Chapter 14. However, Sri Krishna explains that while the three Gunas comprehensively describe human nature, transcending the three Gunas through knowledge and remaining steadfast in your true nature as Atman in this body, and in this life, is the doorway to infinity and leads to oneness with God. In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda explains verses 21 and 22 of Chapter 14.------- Chapter 14, Verse 21 अर्जुन उवाच |कैर्लिङ्गैस्त्रीन्गुणानेतानतीतो भवति प्रभो |किमाचार: कथं चैतांस्त्रीन्गुणानतिवर्तते || 21||arjuna uvāchakair liṅgais trīn guṇān etān atīto bhavati prabhokim āchāraḥ kathaṁ chaitāns trīn guṇān ativartate ⧫ Arjuna said, " By what characteristics, Oh Lord, is one who has transcended the three gunas known? What is his conduct? And how does he transcend these three gunas?" Chapter 14, Verse 22 श्रीभगवानुवाच |प्रकाशं च प्रवृत्तिं च मोहमेव च पाण्डव |न द्वेष्टि सम्प्रवृत्तानि न निवृत्तानि काङ् क्षति || 22||śhrī-bhagavān uvāchaprakāśhaṁ cha pravṛittiṁ cha moham eva cha pāṇḍavana dveṣhṭi sampravṛittāni na nivṛittāni kāṅkṣhati ⧫ The Blessed Lord said, he who does not hate when the light of knowledge, activity or delusion arise, of son of Pandu, or desires them when they cease.

Transcribed - Published: 26 January 2026

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 session was recorded on Feb 15, 2022. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  Web: http://vedantany.orgSoundcloud:   / vedantany  iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...Facebook:   / vedantany   ABOUT VEDANTAVedanta 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 USVedanta 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.

Transcribed - Published: 25 January 2026

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Sanskrit: बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्, IAST: Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is tenth in the Muktikā or "canon of 108 Upanishads".Brihadaranyaka literally means "great wilderness or forest". The Upanishad forms the last part, that is the fourteenth kānda of Śatapatha Brāhmana of "Śhukla Yajurveda". The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad has six adhyayas (chapters) in total. It includes three sections: Madhu kānda (the 4th and 5th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana), Muni kānda (or Yajnavalkya Kanda, the 6th and 7th chapter of 14th kānda of Satapatha Brahmana) and Khila kānda (the 8th and 9th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana). The first and second chapters of the Upanishad's Madhu kānda consists of six brahmanas each, with varying number of hymns per brahmana. The first chapter of the Upanishad's Yajnavalkya kānda consists of nine brahmanams, while the second has six brahmanas. The Khila kānda of the Upanishad has fifteen brahmanas in its first chapter, and five brahmanas in the second chapter.In the fourth brahmana of the Second chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi engage in a dialogue about love and spirituality. Yajnavalkya states that one doesn't connect with and love forms, nor does one connect or love mind, rather one connects with the Self, the Self of one's own and one's beloved. All love is for the sake of one's Self, and the Oneness one realizes in the Self of the beloved. He then asserts that this knowledge of the Self, the Self, and Brahman is what makes one immortal, and the connection is also immortal. All longing is the longing for the Self, as the Self represents the true, the immortal, the real, and infinite bliss. Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite.... ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2026

Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda, this episode is part of a series of talks that unfold the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of God". Chapter 14 is devoted to an understanding of the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components of Maya. The entire universe is created by a projection of the three gunas - satva, rajas, and tamas. Understanding the science of the three gunas and how we can apply it to our lives is the focus of Chapter 14. In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda explains verses 16-20 of Chapter 14. ------------------------- Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 16 कर्मण: सुकृतस्याहु: सात्त्विकं निर्मलं फलम् |रजसस्तु फलं दु:खमज्ञानं तमस: फलम् || 16||karmaṇaḥ sukṛitasyāhuḥ sāttvikaṁ nirmalaṁ phalamrajasas tu phalaṁ duḥkham ajñānaṁ tamasaḥ phalam ⧫ The result of righteous actions is said to be satvica and pure, the result of rajas is pain, while ignorance is the result of tamas Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 17 सत्त्वात्सञ्जायते ज्ञानं रजसो लोभ एव च |प्रमादमोहौ तमसो भवतोऽज्ञानमेव च || 17||sattvāt sañjāyate jñānaṁ rajaso lobha eva chapramāda-mohau tamaso bhavato ’jñānam eva cha ⧫ From satva results knowledge, from rajas only greed, and from tamas nothing but inadvertence, delusion, and ignorance. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 18 ऊर्ध्वं गच्छन्ति सत्त्वस्था मध्ये तिष्ठन्ति राजसा: |जघन्यगुणवृत्तिस्था अधो गच्छन्ति तामसा: || 18||ūrdhvaṁ gachchhanti sattva-sthā madhye tiṣhṭhanti rājasāḥjaghanya-guṇa-vṛitti-sthā adho gachchhanti tāmasāḥ ⧫ Those who abide in satva go upward to the higher spheres, the rajasica dwell in the middle spheres, and the tamasica, dwelling in the function of the lower gunas, go down to the lowest spheres. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 19 नान्यं गुणेभ्य: कर्तारं यदा द्रष्टानुपश्यति |गुणेभ्यश्च परं वेत्ति मद्भावं सोऽधिगच्छति || 19||nānyaṁ guṇebhyaḥ kartāraṁ yadā draṣhṭānupaśhyatiguṇebhyaśh cha paraṁ vetti mad-bhāvaṁ so ’dhigachchhati ⧫ When the seer beholds no active agent other than the gunas and knows that which is beyond the gunas, he attains My being Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 20 गुणानेतानतीत्य त्रीन्देही देहसमुद्भवान् |जन्ममृत्युजरादु:खैर्विमुक्तोऽमृतमश्रुते || 20||guṇān etān atītya trīn dehī deha-samudbhavānjanma-mṛityu-jarā-duḥkhair vimukto ’mṛitam aśhnute ⧫ Having transcended these three gunas, which are the cause of this body (and mind), the embodied self, bereft of birth, death, old age, and misery, attains immortality

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2026

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami 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 session was recorded on Feb 8, 2022. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  Web: http://vedantany.orgSoundcloud:   / vedantany  iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...Facebook:   / vedantany   ABOUT VEDANTAVedanta 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 USVedanta 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.

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2026

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (Sanskrit: बृहदारण्यकोपनिषद्, IAST: Bṛhadāraṇyakopaniṣad) is one of the Principal Upanishads and one of the first Upanishadic scriptures of Hinduism. A key scripture to various schools of Hinduism, the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad is tenth in the Muktikā or "canon of 108 Upanishads".Brihadaranyaka literally means "great wilderness or forest". The Upanishad forms the last part, that is the fourteenth kānda of Śatapatha Brāhmana of "Śhukla Yajurveda". The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad has six adhyayas (chapters) in total. It includes three sections: Madhu kānda (the 4th and 5th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana), Muni kānda (or Yajnavalkya Kanda, the 6th and 7th chapter of 14th kānda of Satapatha Brahmana) and Khila kānda (the 8th and 9th chapter of the fourteenth kānda of Satapatha Brahmana). The first and second chapters of the Upanishad's Madhu kānda consists of six brahmanas each, with varying number of hymns per brahmana. The first chapter of the Upanishad's Yajnavalkya kānda consists of nine brahmanams, while the second has six brahmanas. The Khila kānda of the Upanishad has fifteen brahmanas in its first chapter, and five brahmanas in the second chapter.In the fourth brahmana of the Second chapter of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Yajnavalkya and his wife Maitreyi engage in a dialogue about love and spirituality. Yajnavalkya states that one doesn't connect with and love forms, nor does one connect or love mind, rather one connects with the Self, the Self of one's own and one's beloved. All love is for the sake of one's Self, and the Oneness one realizes in the Self of the beloved. He then asserts that this knowledge of the Self, the Self, and Brahman is what makes one immortal, and the connection is also immortal. All longing is the longing for the Self, as the Self represents the true, the immortal, the real, and infinite bliss. Reference material:Book: https://a.co/d/iQqKCWM PDF of the entire Upanishad can be found https://dn790002.ca.archive.org/0/ite....

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda, this episode is part of a series of talks that unfold the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of God". Chapter 14 is devoted to an understanding of the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components of Maya. The entire universe is created by a projection of the three gunas - satva, rajas, and tamas. Understanding the science of the three gunas and how we can apply it to our lives is the focus of Chapter 14. In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches chapter 14, verses 11-15, of the Bhagavad Gita. These verses describe what happens when one guna predominates over another. Swami Sarvapriyananda explains how we can observe this in ourselves but notes that the gunas are part of the material world and, as such, are constantly changing within us, whereas Consciousness, which is what we really are, is pure and constant. _________ Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 11 सर्वद्वारेषु देहेऽस्मिन्प्रकाश उपजायते |ज्ञानं यदा तदा विद्याद्विवृद्धं सत्त्वमित्युत || 11||sarva-dvāreṣhu dehe ’smin prakāśha upajāyatejñānaṁ yadā tadā vidyād vivṛiddhaṁ sattvam ity uta ⧫ When, through all the sense openings in this body, the light of knowledge radiates, then indeed one should know that satva predominates. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 12 लोभ: प्रवृत्तिरारम्भ: कर्मणामशम: स्पृहा |रजस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे भरतर्षभ || 12||lobhaḥ pravṛittir ārambhaḥ karmaṇām aśhamaḥ spṛihārajasy etāni jāyante vivṛiddhe bharatarṣhabha ⧫ Greed, activity, undertaking of works, restlessness, desire - these prevail, oh best of the Bharatas, when rajas predominates. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 13 अप्रकाशोऽप्रवृत्तिश्च प्रमादो मोह एव च |तमस्येतानि जायन्ते विवृद्धे कुरुनन्दन || 13||aprakāśho ’pravṛittiśh cha pramādo moha eva chatamasy etāni jāyante vivṛiddhe kuru-nandana ⧫ Darkness, inactivity, inadvertence, as also delusion, these prevail, oh descendant of Kurus, when tamas predominates. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 14 यदा सत्त्वे प्रवृद्धे तु प्रलयं याति देहभृत् |तदोत्तमविदां लोकानमलान्प्रतिपद्यते || 14||yadā sattve pravṛiddhe tu pralayaṁ yāti deha-bhṛittadottama-vidāṁ lokān amalān pratipadyate ⧫ If the embodied self meets with death when satva is predominant, then it attains the pure spheres of the worshippers of the highest dietes. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 15 रजसि प्रलयं गत्वा कर्मसङ्गिषु जायते |तथा प्रलीनस्तमसि मूढयोनिषु जायते || 15||rajasi pralayaṁ gatvā karma-saṅgiṣhu jāyatetathā pralīnas tamasi mūḍha-yoniṣhu jāyate ⧫ If it [sentient beings] meets with death when rajas is predominant, then it is born among those who are attached to work; likewise, when it meets with death when tamas is predominant, then it is born in the wombs of irrational species.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda, this episode is part of a series of talks that unfold the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of God". In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches chapter 14, verses 6 -10 of the Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 14 is devoted to an understanding of the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components of Maya. The entire universe is created by a projection of the three gunas - satva, rajas, and tamas. Understanding the science of the three gunas and how we can apply it to our lives is the focus of Chapter 14.____________ Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 6: तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् |सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ || 6||tatra sattvaṁ nirmalatvāt prakāśhakam anāmayamsukha-saṅgena badhnāti jñāna-saṅgena chānagha ⧫ Satva, on account of its stainlessness, is luminous and free from evil. Oh, sinless one [Arjuna], it binds the embodied self by attachment to happiness and knowledge Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 7: रजो रागात्मकं विद्धि तृष्णासङ्गसमुद्भवम् |तन्निबध्नाति कौन्तेय कर्मसङ्गेन देहिनम् || 7||rajo rāgātmakaṁ viddhi tṛiṣhṇā-saṅga-samudbhavamtan nibadhnāti kaunteya karma-saṅgena dehinam ⧫ Know rajas to be of the nature of passion, the source of desire and attachment, oh son of Kunti, it binds fast the embodied self by attachment to action. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 8: तमस्त्वज्ञानजं विद्धि मोहनं सर्वदेहिनाम् |प्रमादालस्यनिद्राभिस्तन्निबध्नाति भारत || 8||tamas tv ajñāna-jaṁ viddhi mohanaṁ sarva-dehināmpramādālasya-nidrābhis tan nibadhnāti bhārata ⧫ But know tamas to be born of ignorance and deluding all embodied beings, it binds fast, oh descendant of Bharata, through inadvertence, laziness, and sleep. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 9: सत्त्वं सुखे सञ्जयति रज: कर्मणि भारत |ज्ञानमावृत्य तु तम: प्रमादे सञ्जयत्युत || 9|| sattvaṁ sukhe sañjayati rajaḥ karmaṇi bhāratajñānam āvṛitya tu tamaḥ pramāde sañjayaty uta ⧫ Satva binds one to happiness, rajas, oh descendant of Bharata, binds one to work, while tamas, by covering knowledge, binds one to inadvertence Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 10: रजस्तमश्चाभिभूय सत्त्वं भवति भारत |रज: सत्त्वं तमश्चैव तम: सत्त्वं रजस्तथा || 10|| rajas tamaśh chābhibhūya sattvaṁ bhavati bhāratarajaḥ sattvaṁ tamaśh chaiva tamaḥ sattvaṁ rajas tathā ⧫ Satva manifests, oh descendant of Bharata, as overpowering rajas and tamas, rajas manifests overpowering satva and tamas, and likewise tamas manifests overpowering satva and rajas

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda, this episode is part of a series of talks that unfold the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of the Bhagavad Gita, "The Song of God". In this episode, Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches chapter 14, verse 6 of the Bhagavad Gita. Chapter 14 is devoted to an understanding of the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components of Maya. The entire universe is created by a projection of the three gunas - satva, rajas, and tamas. Understanding the science of the three gunas and how we can apply it to our lives is the focus of Chapter 14. Verse 6 addresses the satva component of Maya. Swami Sarvapriyananda explains this in this episode.____________ Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 14, Verse 6 | Swami Sarvapriyananda तत्र सत्त्वं निर्मलत्वात्प्रकाशकमनामयम् |सुखसङ्गेन बध्नाति ज्ञानसङ्गेन चानघ || 6||tatra sattvaṁ nirmalatvāt prakāśhakam anāmayamsukha-saṅgena badhnāti jñāna-saṅgena chānagha ⧫ Of these, Satva, on account of its stainlessness, is luminous and free from evil. Oh sinless one [Arjuna], it binds the embodied self by attachment to happiness and, by attachment to knowledge.

Transcribed - Published: 12 January 2026

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 session was recorded on Feb 1, 2022. ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  Web: http://vedantany.orgSoundcloud:   / vedantany  iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...Facebook:   / vedantany   ABOUT VEDANTAVedanta 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 USVedanta 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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2026

The Isha Upanishad (Sanskrit: ईशोपनिषद्, IAST: Īśopaniṣad), also known as Shri Ishopanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, or Vajasaneyi Samhita Upanishad, is one of the shortest Upanishads, embedded as the final chapter (adhyāya) of the Shukla Yajurveda. It is a Mukhya (primary, principal) Upanishad, and is known in two recensions, called Kanva (VSK) and Madhyandina (VSM). The Upanishad is a brief poem, consisting of 17 or 18 verses, depending on the recension. It is a key scripture of the Vedanta sub-schools, and an influential Śruti to diverse schools of Hinduism. It is the 40th chapter of Yajurveda. The name of the text derives from its incipit, īśā vāsyam, "enveloped by the Lord", or "hidden in the Lord (Self)". The text discusses the Atman (Self) theory of Hinduism, and is referenced by both Dvaita (dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism) sub-schools of Vedanta. It is classified as a "poetic Upanishad" along with Kena, Katha, Svetasvatara and Mundaka by Paul Deussen (1908). Reference book:1. Eight Upanisads Vol. 2 translated by Swami Gambhirananda - https://www.vedanta.com/store/Eight-U... ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  Web: http://vedantany.orgSoundcloud:   / vedantany  iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunesSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...Facebook:   / vedantany   ABOUT VEDANTAVedanta 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 USVedanta 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.

Transcribed - Published: 6 January 2026