AskSwami Q&A - Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 28th, 2025.

List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:30 - How can there be "pure experience", if there is no object to experience?

17:19 - Does this enlightened one have the ability to manipulate time?

21:32 - Can consciousness truly be objectified and recognized directly?

33:32 - What should I do if I want this to be my last birth? Is God with form part of Maya?

53:06 - Who is experiencing qualia?

28,001 views Oct 31, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Oct 19th, 2025.

List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:52 - If Brahman is the only reality, doesn’t “Neti, Neti” also reject Brahman?

17:52 - What is the link between Brahman and Jiva?

38:28 - Are not the theories you are discussing also limited?

41:54 - How do we apply Vedanta in our day-to-day life?

51:02 - Why is consciousness considered to be different from the mi...

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 15th, 2025.

List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

00:48 - What is the difference between the soul and awareness?

10:39 - How do we break the link between the real and reflected consciousness? 

27:44 - How is knowledge different from experience?

36:02 - Is enlightenment obtained during meditation or while interacting with the world?

49:38 - Is artificial super-intelligence a feasibility?  Could this lead to the end of humanity?

59:27 - Can we de...

10,864 views May 25, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 11th, 2025.

List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

05:02 - At death, does a fully realized Jivatman merge with Brahman, or does it maintain its identity?

16:11 - The Nasadiya Sukta says there is neither existence nor non-existence. But Swami Vivekananda said that creation is eternal. How can these be reconciled?

24:29 - What is this ignorance and where does it exist?

32:02 - I no...

24,905 views Apr 15, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 23rd, 2025. List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

01:43 - Explain the two ways of approaching non-duality: “I am all of it” vs “I am none of it”?

15:24 - Is devotion (bhakti) merely an aid to knowledge in Advaita, or something more?

29:58 - Is the intense love of God (parabhakti) a form of insanity or mysticism?

36:16 - Is Advaita Vedanta falsifiable?

52:06 - The importan...

40,831 views Mar 3, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Feb 23rd, 2025. List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

02:10 - How should we pray? What should we pray for?

07:19 - I intend to become a monk. How can I maintain inner peace in the midst of the world before joining?

14:48 - What is the best way to read through a text with others?

18:50 - Is reflected consciousness the same as witness consciousness?<...

45,947 views Feb 5, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jan 26th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps:

00:00 - Intro

06:25 - How do I see myself as Brahman but still act ethically and lovingly in the world?

22:50 - How do I know that I, this Awareness, am Everything?

43:45 - If Consciousness is the ultimate reality, is God imaginary?

53:35 - How can I think of and worship God when I state...

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 K...

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...

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 - Ho...

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 d...

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...

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 - Ho...

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 realizati...

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...

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 Bra...

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...

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 happe...

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 c...

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 th...

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 li...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.vedant...

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 Ve...

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...

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...

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/5IrD...

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 V...

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 mirr...

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...

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 spir...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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: ht...

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...

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 wat...

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...

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...

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 ci...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...