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 longer believe in God or sadhana. What should I do?

38:27 - How can I be free of the ups and downs of frustration and elation?

52:01 - If God exists, why is there so much suffering? How can I make peace with my past faults?

59:22 - The path of Raja Yoga says to shut out the world, while the path of Jnana Yoga requires inquiry into experience. Which one should I follow?

01:11:34 - In the Mahabharata it is said "Dharma protects those who protect it". But Swami Vivekananda heard the divine mother say "Do you protect me or do I protect you?" How can these be reconciled?

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 importance of asking questions in the study of Vedanta.

58:44 - Should we always practice unconditional love?

01:11:14 - What is the real meaning of ‘jada’ (insentient) in Advaita?

01:20:30 - What is the relationship between Maya and Chit (consciousness)?

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?

30:28 - How do I apply Vedanta to day-to-day life?

38:23 - How can the world be an appearance to Brahman?

54:01 - How can I understand consciousness through service?

01:01:21 - How does the mind drop attributes?

01:07:21 - If everything is an illusion why am I not an illusion as well?

01:18:35 - If no company is better than bad company, how can we practice this without hurting others?

01:23:50 - What is it that I want?