The Isha Upanishad (Sanskrit: ईशोपनिषद्, IAST: Īśopaniṣad), also known as Shri Ishopanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, or Vajasaneyi Samhita Upanishad, is one of the shortest Upanishads, embedded as the final chapter (adhyāya) of the Shukla Yajurveda. It is a Mukhya (primary, principal) Upanishad, and is known in two recensions, called Kanva (VSK) and Madhyandina (VSM). The Upanishad is a brief poem, consisting of 17 or 18 verses, depending on the recension.

It is a key scripture of the Vedanta sub-schools, and an influential Śruti to diverse schools of Hinduism. It is the 40th chapter of Yajurveda. The name of the text derives from its incipit, īśā vāsyam, "enveloped by the Lord", or "hidden in the Lord (Self)". The text discusses the Atman (Self) theory of Hinduism, and is referenced by both Dvaita (dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism) sub-schools of Vedanta.

It is classified as a "poetic Upanishad" along with Kena, Katha, Svetasvatara and Mundaka by Paul Deussen (1908).

Reference book:

1. Eight Upanisads Vol. 2 translated by Swami Gambhirananda - https://www.vedanta.com/store/Eight-U...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M."

This session was recorded on May 4, 2021.

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches Verses 19-21 from the Thirteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of "The Song of God".

🔆 Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 13 Verse 19:

प्रकृतिं पुरुषं चैव विद्ध्यनादी उभावपि |

विकारांश्च गुणांश्चैव विद्धि प्रकृतिसम्भवान् ||19||

Prakṛitiṁ puruṣhaṁ chaiva viddhy anādī ubhāv api

vikārānśh cha guṇānśh chaiva viddhi prakṛiti-sambhavān ||19||

🔴 Know both Prakrti (Nature) and Purusa (Spirit) to be beginningless, eternal verities. Know also that all changeful objects and attributes (that constitute the world of daily experience) are sprung from Prakrti.

🔆 Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 13 Verse 20:

कार्यकारणकर्तृत्वे हेतु: प्रकृतिरुच्यते |

पुरुष: सुखदु:खानां भोक्तृत्वे हेतुरुच्यते ||20||

Kārya-kāraṇa-kartṛitve hetuḥ prakṛitir uchyate

puruṣhaḥ sukha-duḥkhānāṁ bhoktṛitve hetur uchyate ||20||

🔴 Prakrti is the cause of the formation and functioning of the body and the senses, while it is the Purusa that experiences pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow.

🔆 Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 13 Verse 21:

पुरुष: प्रकृतिस्थो हि भुङक्ते प्रकृतिजान्गुणान् |

कारणं गुणसङ्गोऽस्य सदसद्योनिजन्मसु ||21||

Puruṣhaḥ prakṛiti-stho hi bhuṅkte prakṛiti-jān guṇān

kāraṇaṁ guṇa-saṅgo ’sya sad-asad-yoni-janmasu ||21||

🔴 Seated in bodies, which are the products of Prakrti, the Purusa enjoys the objects and qualities born of Prakrti. Attachment to these objects is the cause of the Spirit getting embodiments in evil or exalted wombs.

The Isha Upanishad (Sanskrit: ईशोपनिषद्, IAST: Īśopaniṣad), also known as Shri Ishopanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, or Vajasaneyi Samhita Upanishad, is one of the shortest Upanishads, embedded as the final chapter (adhyāya) of the Shukla Yajurveda. It is a Mukhya (primary, principal) Upanishad, and is known in two recensions, called Kanva (VSK) and Madhyandina (VSM). The Upanishad is a brief poem, consisting of 17 or 18 verses, depending on the recension.

It is a key scripture of the Vedanta sub-schools, and an influential Śruti to diverse schools of Hinduism. It is the 40th chapter of Yajurveda. The name of the text derives from its incipit, īśā vāsyam, "enveloped by the Lord", or "hidden in the Lord (Self)". The text discusses the Atman (Self) theory of Hinduism, and is referenced by both Dvaita (dualism) and Advaita (non-dualism) sub-schools of Vedanta.

It is classified as a "poetic Upanishad" along with Kena, Katha, Svetasvatara and Mundaka by Paul Deussen (1908).

Reference book:

1. Eight Upanisads Vol. 2 translated by Swami Gambhirananda - https://www.vedanta.com/store/Eight-U...

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M."

This session was recorded on Apr 27, 2021.

This lecture by Swami Sarvapriyananda summarizes Sri Ramakrishna’s key teachings. It highlights his emphasis on direct experience of God, the validity of all religious paths, and universal accessibility to spiritual realization. The talk covers Sri Ramakrishna’s methods for God realization, his joyous approach to spirituality, and his transformative influence. It presents Sri Ramakrishna as a figure who made spirituality experiential and universally accessible in the modern age.

Opening Music Credits to:  • মূর্ত মহেশ্বর।। স্বামীজী সঙ্গীত।। 🌺 S...  

The Isha Upanishad (Sanskrit: ईशोपनिषद्, IAST: Īśopaniṣad), also known as Shri Ishopanishad, Ishavasya Upanishad, or Vajasaneyi Samhita Upanishad, is one of the shortest Upanishads, embedded as the final chapter (adhyāya) of the Shukla Yajurveda. It is a Mukhya (primary, principal) Upanishad, and is known in two recensions, called Kanva (VSK) and Madhyandina (VSM). The Upanishad is a brief poem, consisting of 17 or 18 verses, depending on the recension.

It is classified as a "poetic Upanishad" along with Kena, Katha, Svetasvatara and Mundaka by Paul Deussen (1908).

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Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches Verse 17 from the Thirteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta through the study of "The Song of God".

🔆 Bhagavad Gita: Chapter 13 Verse 17:

ज्योतिषामपि तज्ज्योतिस्तमस: परमुच्यते |

ज्ञानं ज्ञेयं ज्ञानगम्यं हृदि सर्वस्य विष्ठितम् ||17||

Jyotiṣhām api taj jyotis tamasaḥ param uchyate

jñānaṁ jñeyaṁ jñāna-gamyaṁ hṛidi sarvasya viṣhṭhitam ||17||

🔴 The self-luminous light of consciousness revealing even all that is luminous, He is beyond obscuration by the darkness of ignorance. He, the light of knowledge, He, the quest of knowledge, He, the way to whom is knowledge -- in the inner-most recess of all beings is He established.

Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The text records conversations of Ramakrishna with his disciples, devotees and visitors, recorded by Mahendranath Gupta, who wrote the book under the pseudonym of "M."

This session was recorded on Apr 13, 2021.

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?