Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda

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...

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 York

http://www...

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."

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 uvācha

ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam

chhandānsi 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.

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.

<...

Inside the Dream of Vasistha: The Fusion of Trika and Advaita Vedanta in the Yogavasistha by Prof. Sthaneshwar Timalsina

Dr. 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...

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."

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 uvācha

ūrdhva-mūlam adhaḥ-śhākham aśhvatthaṁ prāhur avyayam

chhandānsi 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.

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."

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

<...

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...

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...

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.

__________

<...

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."

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 Yajnavalk...

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...

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.org

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 Yajnavalk...

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...

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarvapriyananda

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

Ve...

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 Yajnavalk...

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...

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...

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...

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.org

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...

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?

Philips Goldberg's new book, "Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life", is now available: https://a.co/d/49rZCwL

Philip Goldberg is the author or co-author of numerous books; a public speaker and workshop leader; a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher and ordained Interfaith Minister. A resident of Great Barrington, MA, in the heart of the Berkshires, he hosts the Spirit Matters podcast, posts frequently on Substack, conducts online courses and workshops, and contributes regularly to several publications. To learn more, Visit: https://www.philipgoldberg.com

► To...

Prof. Pigliucci's new book, "Beyond Stoicism: A Guide to the Good Life with Stoics, Skeptics, Epicureans, and Other Ancient Philosophers", is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fhbr6nl

Professor Massimo Pigliucci is an American philosopher and biologist who is professor of philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and former editor in chief for the online magazine Scientia Salon. He is a critic of pseudoscience and creationism, and an advocate for secularism and science education. His recent work has focused on stoicism.

<...

Swami Satyamayananda joined the Vedanta Society of Southern California as Assistant Minister in December of 2018. He became a member of the Ramakrishna Order at Advaita Ashrama, Kolkata in 1988. An initiated disciple of Swami Bhuteshananda (the twelfth president of the Order), he served in various capacities at Advaita Ashrama. In 2008, he joined the Probationers’ Training Centre, Belur Math, as an Acharya (teacher).

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  

Web: http://vedantany.org

Soundcloud:   / vedantany  

iTunes Podcas...

Bernardo Kastrup is a Dutch philosopher and computer engineer whose work centres on consciousness studies and analytic idealism, a form of metaphysical idealism developed within the analytic tradition. He questions physicalism and argues that consciousness lies at the foundation of reality.

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  

Web: http://vedantany.org

Soundcloud:   / vedantany  

iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...

Facebook:

Karma and Rebirth in Hinduism by Swami Medhananda is available on Amazon: https://a.co/d/6alxn9M

https://www.cambridge.org/core/elemen...

This scholarly book provides an argumentative introduction to the doctrines of karma and rebirth in Hinduism. It explains how various Hindu texts, traditions, and figures have understood the philosophical nuances of karma and rebirth. It also acquaints readers with some of the most important academic debates about these doctrines.

Swami Medhananda (Ayon Maharaj) is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order and Senior Research Fellow in Philosophy...

Swami Nishpapananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, and an assistant minister at the Vedanta Society of St Louis, where he has resided since 1974. He became interested in Vedanta through college course work, joined the Order in 1981 and received final monastic vows in India in 1995. A graduate of Washington University, Swami Nishpapananda manages the book and multi-media publications of the Vedanta Society and is active in inter-faith work in the St Louis area.

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Ve...

wami Sarvapriyananda explores Christian spirituality through the lens of Vedanta. He delves into the core teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount offering a unique Vedantic perspective. This talk emphasizes humility, non-violent resistance, and the universal truth found across religions.

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  

Web: http://vedantany.org

Soundcloud:   / vedantany  

iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX...

Facebook:

Professor Massimo Pigliucci, K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy, The City College of New York. Professor Massimo Pigliucci is an American philosopher and biologist who is professor of philosophy at the City College of New York, former co-host of the Rationally Speaking Podcast, and former editor in chief for the online magazine Scientia Salon. He is a critic of pseudoscience and creationism, and an advocate for secularism and science education. His recent work has focused on stoicism.

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

...

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...

Sri Sarada Devi, affectionately known as Holy Mother, was a spiritual leader and the wife of Sri Ramakrishna, one of the most highly revered saints in India. She is revered as a symbol of universal motherhood, whose wisdom and spiritual grandeur remained hidden beneath her natural veil of modesty. Holy Mother was not only devoted wife to Sri Ramakrishna but also his spiritual companion and object of worship.

► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate

Vedanta NY Archives:    / vedantanewyorkarchives  

Web: http://vedantan...

Swami Nishpapananda is a monk of the Ramakrishna Order of India, and an assistant minister at the Vedanta Society of St Louis, where he has resided since 1974. He became interested in Vedanta through college course work, joined the Order in 1981 and received final monastic vows in India in 1995. A graduate of Washington University, Swami Nishpapananda manages the book and multi-media publications of the Vedanta Society and is active in inter-faith work in the St Louis area.

Swami Nishpapananda explains that while in the waking state we seek fulfillment through outward activity, the joy we...

Dr. 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...

Dr. Jeffery D. Long, the Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies, specializes in the religions and philosophies of India. He is the author of several books and numerous articles, as well as the editor of the series Explorations in Indic Traditions for Lexington Books. In 2020, he received Elizabethtown College’s Ranck Award for Excellence in Research, and in 2022, his book, Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds, received the Rajinder and Jyoti Gandhi Book Award for Excellence in Theology, Philosophy, and Critical Reflection from the Dharma Academy of North America. He has spoken in numerous ve...