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 death? 01:10:50 - What should I do if the power of discernment in Vedantic practice is diminished? 01:14:00 - Is breathing Atman? Can the soul depart if it is Brahman? 01:19:41 - My heart is troubled by the suffering around me. How can I hold on to Advaita? ► 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/5IrDmqXhiGwwyQcIUjRhtB Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VedantaNY ABOUT VEDANTA Vedanta 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 US Vedanta 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.