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: 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 Bhagavad Gita lectures from Swami Sarvapriyanda are now available thorough the above Soundcloud, iTunes, and Google Podcast links. 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 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 householders in connection to the spiritual growth and God realization? Q.4-14:52 - How do you think about Kriya-Yoga? Would you recommend practicing this? Q.5-18:05 - Based on the discussion of Brahman & Universe with the reference of Pot & Clay analogy- A) How can Pure consciousness being a subject be treated as an object? B) How do we know we are all pervading one consciousness when consciousness forgets itself? C) Is there any role of the reflected consciousness in the above mentioned example? Q.6-34:41 - Why does anything appear in pure consciousness at all? Q.7-45:30 - What is the nature of thread that connects the samskaras of one “Jeeva” even after death? Q.8- 45:55 - If we are all same, the witness consciousness or God how does the Law of Karma affect us? Q.9-46:18 - Why do you think Karma does not adequately explain evil & suffering? Q.10-1:08:35 - Why, when and how did Karma start? Q.11-1:20:40 - Is there any meeting point between visualization of goals or meditation and Karma Yoga? ► 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 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 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 watch the absence of thoughts in the Deep sleep state? Q.5 – 32:49 – According to ‘Mandukya’, when try to focus on the sense of “I” find focusing on ‘Ego’ somewhere in the chest, who is sensing it? Q.6 – 34:22 – The knowledge of “I” gives enormous peace, but how to live life in the light of this knowledge? How is it relevant in the struggle of life? Q.7 – 46:06 – What kind of tools be needed to lessen the guilt that felt if can’t serve your close people in the way it should be? ► 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 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 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 thoughts, or is it our karma that makes our destiny? 14:56 -- What exactly is meant by the term ""faultlines"" with regards to pointing out the ""errors in Maya?"" (referencing a previous lecture in which Swami Sarvapriyanandaji had used this term). 42:25 -- a) Could the Blissful experience of sleep be due to sleep related hormones (serotonin, endorphins etc.) rather than to the Bliss inherent in Consciousness? 45:47 -- a) In deep sleep, is the Bliss we experience the ""Ananda"" of ""Sat-Chit- Ananda?"" 48:23 -- b) Unconsciousness seems to be different from deep sleep, because it seems to be completely blank. Additionally, after coming up from that state, one doesn't feel rested or peaceful. On the contrary, one often feels uneasy. But ultimately, if it is Ananda, it should be there everywhere (in deep sleep as well as unconsciousness) shouldn't it? 50:50 -- c) So is it that the happiness of deep sleep is due to serotonin and/or other chemicals that are involved in neurochemical processes? 55:13 -- One can say that the substratum of human Consciousness is Pure Awareness. How can we extend it to include the whole material Universe, and posit that Pure Consciousness is its substratum? 59:22 -- Should we assume that each one of us has our own consciousness, and if so, what about events which affect all of us? How do we explain that shared public reality? 1:05:57 -- Is Consciousness separate from the brain? 1:12:52 -- a) Is it true that householders should not chant only ""Om,"" but instead use some syllable along with it (such as ""Hari Om"" etc.)? Will simply chanting ""Om"" (as a householder) have adverse effects? 1:14:42 -- b) Could ""namakam"" and ""chamakam"" (Vedic mantras) be used as worship mantras in rituals, upasana, self-Knowledge, God-realization, jnana etc.? 1:20:50 -- How is Consciousness experienced? How do we know/grasp it? What exactly is Consciousness, Atman, Awareness, Pure Consciousness, Brahman etc.? 1:26:16 -- The Awareness, or Consciousness (Atma, Chaitanya etc.) is common to all of us. Rather, we are That. Then what accounts for the differences between us (between Vivekananda and the rest of us, yogis who have extraordinary powers, psychic powers, siddhis etc.)? ► 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 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 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 the mind? 27:17 -- What works the mind if Pure Consciousness is not affected by the material world, and is only the Witness? What is it that enjoys the senses, the body, or the mind? 30:58 -- a) Nirguna Brahman is manifested in a body. Who decides that body (as in the case of Sri Ramakrishna, other Avatars/Incarnations of God etc.)? b) Does this Avatar/Incarnation concept contradict the Advaitic idea of ""That Thou Art""? 37:45 -- a) What makes the difference between the mind of Swami Vivekananda and my mind? If the mind of a saint is pure, what purified it? Did Pure Conciousness purify it? b) In that case, I am the same Pure Consciousness. Why doesn't it purify me? 42:23 -- When the body is damaged or dies, only this body stops working. Why does it lose its Consciousness? 45:01 -- How do memory or samskaras travel from one birth to another? If mind and body are destroyed, where does the samskara get stored? 47:49 -- Does Awareness always need a vehicle for it to exist? 51:47 -- How do you avoid pride in the path of Advaita? 59:50 -- Shravana, manana, nidhidhyasana (hearing, pondering, assimilating). These constitute the method by which one realizes Brahman (if one has good fortune). If that happens, then one should be filled with Bliss. And if a person thinks that he has had that realization, but is not filled with Bliss, then one can conclude that he did not have the realization. Correct? 1:02:49 -- What is the exact meaning/significance of ""Om"" in relation to the Mandukya Upanishad? 1:09:15 -- a) How can we approach everyday activities at various stages of our life with an attitude of service, and in a manner that avoids undue stress and brings peace? 1:09:53 -- b) How do we carry on the daily activities of life without stress, without strain? 1:18:39 -- a) What is the difference between ""kuladevi"" (family deity) and ""isha devata"" (chosen deity)? 1:20:22 -- b) What is the significance (if any) of various experiences had during meditation (vibrations, sounds, colors, bright light, darkness etc.)? 1:22:33 -- a) Is what I experience right now the appearance OF reality, or appearance AS reality? Why doesn't Reality reveal Itself in its originality? For that matter, why don't (or can't) we see the Reality as It is? 1:25:22 -- b) Why does the play of Consciousness give so many negative experiences (sorrow, suffering, pain, fear, frustration, failure, boredom etc.)? 1:28:07 -- c) Doesn't the experience of Maya run counter to the principle of nondualism, or is Maya also a part of Reality? If so, how? ► 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 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 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 circumstances? Q.4- 8:58 – Being the creator of my own dreams why can’t see it from other’s perspective? Q.5- 16:35 – In my dreams do I get the result of my actions or something else? Q.6-28:02 – How do I get up and say that I slept peacefully and didn’t know anything? Here the active mind trying to recall the inactive mind, how did that happen? Q.7-33:54 – Who is looking out to the body, what is the ground of existence of it and how the digestion, breathing & other physiological activities are done in deep sleep? Q.8-37:08 – Does an enlightened person have any choice to go to the highest of “Brahmaloka” after “Mahasamadhi”? Q.9-45:04 – I have recently come across the concept of sentient robots. How can one harmonize it with Advaita Vedanta Philosophy? Q.10-50:26 – Among the two paths of spirituality namely Bhakti (Devotion) and Jnana (Knowledge), which one is the right? Q.11- 55:51 – If I am one with God (according to Advaita Vedanta concept) what is the necessity of worshiping as the worshiper and worshipped are the same? ► 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 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 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 is the relation of God of Advaita with the God of Bhakti traditions? 35:10 - Why is Advaitic meditation (Nidhidhyasana) sometimes considered better than Yogic meditation (meditation of Patanjali Yoga Sutras)? 52:10 - How does one make the mind one-pointed? ► 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 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 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 is a person ready for spiritual life? 1:09:04 -- Is there suffering outside of the mind? 1:14:10 -- Can art lead us to reality?" ► To support Vedanta Society of New York: http://bit.ly/SupportVedantaNY Web: http://vedantany.org Twitter: http://Twitter.com/VedantaNY 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 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 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 the action is delayed and we don't even remember the actions for which we are suffering? How are we supposed to learn the lesson? How do you prove the existence of afterlives, or is it mere a faith or belief. 23:55 -- If so much of what happens to us is due to our Karma in past lives and our tendencies that we have inherited, what is the need of living within the framework of morality? 31:20 -- Where does evil come from? 38:12 -- If the whole world is Brahman, then it suggests the evil is also Brahman. Then how to distinguish between good and evil? If God exists then why is evil more than good in the world? 48:40 -- Tell us more about death and destruction of universe. 1:01:00 -- Why are you stressing more on the teachings of non-dualism of Shankara and neglecting Ramanujacharya's and Madhavacharya's teaching. There are more references of Madhavacharya than Shankara in even Gospels of Ramakrishna. ► 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 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 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 up. How do you reconcile this? 35:07 -- Performing duties of life drains my energy and yet I don't feel that I am growing, spiritually. How to make spiritual progress, even while performing my duties? 43:12 -- In text-based meditation technique, I'm faced with external disturbances - such as - ticking of clock, chirping of bird, etc. and the internal & external get mixed up. What is the way out? 51:00 -- I am often faced with people who misunderstand me because I am a spiritual seeker & indulge in spiritual practices. What should I do? 54:50 -- How does Consciousness arise in form from Shunya in Buddhist view? 1:10:00 -- I experience compassion for some people, and no compassion for others. So, should I wait for grace, or should I keep working at it? 1:40:00 -- My problem in mediation is: How do I move from my infatuation with Prana (Vedanta), to the non-moving state (Buddhism)? ► 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 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.