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 consciousness dependent on the senses and mind? 01:25:51 - How can one get rid of unwanted vasanas (desires)? ► 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.

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 that this waking world does not occur in our mind like a dream? 01:12:50 - Does moksha happen at once, or does it happen over time? 01:17:10 - Why are there so many different perspectives on moksha? 01:19:14 - Can there be spontaneous enlightenment without spiritual practice? 01:23:24 - How can reality be truly One? 01:34:01 - When a spiritual seeker becomes stuck, is a guru necessary?  ► 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.

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 life of renunciation, what practices should be followed? ► 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.

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 in your Vedantic sense"? 59:30 - How do I know if I am progressing spiritually? How can one recognize an enlightened being? 01:15:25 - Why is there a tradition of fear in relation to God? ► 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.

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 Advaita as expressed by Nisargadatta different from Advaita taught in the Ramakrishna Order? 46:50 - After having our vices under control, what is the next step forward? After having cleansed the mind, what is the next step in mediation? 01:00:13 - What hope is there for an ordinary householder in achieving realization? ► 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.

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 - If both bliss and pain are in the mind, why is Atman described as pure bliss, and not also pure pain? ► 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.

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 our spiritual journey and responsibilities in daily life? 55:28 - Which is correct, Jiva is Shiva, or everything is a dream? 59:58 - Is all this philosophy just something that has been fed to us? 01:06:00 - How can we define God for a young person? 01:14:26 - What is the relationship between a pure mind and a scattered mind? ► 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.

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.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.

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 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.

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 to God? 57:15 - How can I turn intellectual realization into a living reality? 01:07:27 - Can science lead us to the ultimate truth? 01:19:07 - The path of Raja Yoga allows us to "turn off" the world and see the ultimate reality. Is this superior to the path of Jnana Yoga? ► 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.