What does it mean to be truly well? While we invest enormous effort in improving the world around us, our homes, careers, and circumstances, we rarely turn that same attention inward. Drawing on Vedanta, one of the world's oldest philosophies, this session explores a practical framework for inner wellness rooted in the relationship between the mind and the intellect. The mind, our feeling and impulse centre, constantly pulls us towards desire, distraction, and attachment. The intellect, when developed, gives us the capacity to observe the mind, make clear decisions, and relate to the world with greater freedom. When the intellect is in charge, we are no longer victims of our desires, our anxieties about the future, or our expectations of others, and that shift is the foundation of a life lived with energy, clarity, and contentment.

0:00 E70 Questions and Answers
0:48 Q&A Q1: Why do we become attached to the spiritual path itself? Isn't it important how we practice spirituality?
17:33 Q&A Q2: A question is arising about suffering, the mind, and self-control. The mind has a tendency to want to relive experiences it likes and avoid experiences it doesn't like, thus lingering in a past perception. With regard to trauma, is it useful to fully feel one's own suffering rather than engage the super ego, use defensive awareness, or spiritual bypassing as a way of avoiding it? Out of one's own suffering, potentially what arises is deep compassion and the capacity to engage fully and with empathy with the suffering of others. To engage the intellect prematurely and practice self-control will certainly reduce the attachment, and as a consequence the individual may experience less suffering, but potentially it could also give rise to more emptiness. Many sages and wise beings lost a parent in early childhood — Shankaracharya, Ramakrishna, Ramana Maharshi — and became wise and deeply compassionate beings.
25:33 Q&A Q3: Can Vedanta and a biblical environment overlap in the same environment? I'm asking from the point of view of a workplace.
31:52 Q&A Q4: How do I recognize the real 'I' in daily life rather than just understanding it intellectually?
44:06 Q&A Q5: How does one determine whether one is fulfilling another's need or is aggravating their desires? Is it necessary to make this discrimination?

0:00 The Rise of the Human

48:21 Q&A Q1: How do I know if my reasoning is weak?

50:12 Q&A Q2: I have great difficulty in knowing myself. How can I improve?56:30 Q&A Q3: Could you elaborate on what happens when we die with perspectives from Advaita Vedanta and other spiritual and philosophical traditions? There seem to be many diverse views on this — which one do we believe?

00:00 Return to Authentic Self

The lecture features the below:

Concept of God

Gross and Subtle Intellect Distinction

Understanding States of Consciousness

Enlightenment

0:00 E67 Beyond the World into the I52:59 Q&A Q1: In which state would you say you manifest and create from, given the info you may receive?55:52 Q&A Q2: Will being smart help to have a good subtle intellect?

0:00 E66 Q&A Session
0:46 Q&A Q1: What is the best way to deal with people who are on the gross level and cause unnecessary problems? How does one refrain from being upset and holding on to resentment, which we know is not good for us? How best can a person deal with this toxic behavior?
14:14 Q&A Q2: What is the difference between an unselfish and a selfless person with reference to their spiritual pursuits?
17:37 Q&A Q3: What is your relationship with A Parthasarathy, the author of the Vedanta books that you mention?
27:31 Q&A Q4: Where can I buy or access the books you recommended for learning Vedanta?
28:25 Q&A Q5: When it comes to how we show up on social media, I can't help but think of our "prostitute" archetype coming into play — the part of us that trades visibility, approval, or validation for attention. Do you think there are both positives and negatives to lean into? And if so, how can we stay aware enough to keep a healthy balance?
35:47 Q&A Q6: What is the best way to limit or stop wrong imagination or suspicion? For example, I always build up stories in my mind about close people doing things behind my back. Even though I know this is not the truth, I find it difficult to stop this kind of thinking.
40:28 Q&A Q7: How can self-inquiry and looking at the shadow help in breaking the mask when the mind or the intellect uses Vedanta as a defense mechanism? How to separate knowledge from internalised truth?

E65 Clarity and Confusion

0:00 E64 Less is More
48:42 Q&A Q1: As far as taking loved ones for granted, do you think it is because our nervous system isn't used to love, kindness, or peace and therefore self-sabotages? If so, how do we prevent getting to that point or fix it?
51:45 Q&A Q2: How do we manage the desire for ongoing challenges in various areas?
54:24 Q&A Q3: It doesn't seem practical or realistic that one can be happy if they do not have the means to fulfill their desires, perhaps even basic desires.
1:02:16 Q&A Q4: Is it that we can't have it all and we should work to be content with that, or that we already have it all and we should work to realize that? What role does the spirit or atma have in managing desires?

E63 Questions and Answers

E62 Freedom and Frustration