Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda

In this discourse, Swami Sarvapriyananda covers only the part of the Upanishad called "Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi Samvada (Mantras: 2.4.1 to 2.4.14)"The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, one of the oldest and most foundational Principal Upanishads of Hinduism, is being taught in this lecture series by Swami Sarvapriyananda. Belonging to the Śukla Yajurveda and forming the concluding portion of the Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa, its name means “the great forest.” The text comprises six chapters organized into the Madhu, Yājñavalkya (Muni), and Khila kāṇḍas, and is tenth in the traditional canon of 108 Upanishads. Renowned for its profound nondual philosophy, it includes the celebrated dialogue between Yājñavalkya and his wife Maitreyi, where all love is shown to be ultimately directed toward the Self (Ātman), whose realization as identical with Brahman leads to immortality and infinite bliss. For more information, please visit:https://www.vedantany.org/brihadarany...

Swami Sarvapriyananda teaches verses 23-25 from the fourteenth chapter of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad Gita, 'the Song of God,' unfolds the highest truths of Vedanta.Chapter 14 is devoted to understanding the Gunatreya Vibhaga Yoga, or the three qualities/components (gunas) of Maya. Swami Sarvapriyananda explains that other than the Atma, everything in nature is the play of the three gunas. This insight and transcending the play of the three gunas is the doorway to infinity.__________Chapter 14, verse 23उदासीनवदासीनो गुणैर्यो न विचाल्यते |गुणा वर्तन्त इत्येवं योऽवतिष्ठति नेङ्गते || 23||udāsīna-vad āsīno guṇair yo na vichālyateguṇā vartanta ity evaṁ yo ’vatiṣhṭhati neṅgate⧫ He who rests like one indifferent and is not disturbed by the gunas, who realizes that the gunas alone function is steady and does not waver.Chapter 14, verse 24समदु:खसुख: स्वस्थ: समलोष्टाश्मकाञ्चन: |तुल्यप्रियाप्रियो धीरस्तुल्यनिन्दात्मसंस्तुति: || 24||sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ sva-sthaḥ sama-loṣhṭāśhma-kāñchanaḥtulya-priyāpriyo dhīras tulya-nindātma-sanstutiḥ⧫ Alike in pleasure and pain, self-abiding regarding a clod of earth, a stone, and gold as of equal worth, calm and the same toward agreeable and disagreeable objects, and the same to praise and blame bestowed on him.Chapter 14, verse 25मानापमानयोस्तुल्यस्तुल्यो मित्रारिपक्षयो: |सर्वारम्भपरित्यागी गुणातीत: स उच्यते || 25||mānāpamānayos tulyas tulyo mitrāri-pakṣhayoḥsarvārambha-parityāgī guṇātītaḥ sa uchyate⧫ The same in honor and dishonor, the same toward friend and foe, habituated to renounce all actions, such a person is said to have transcended the three gunas.

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."

A deep dive into the Yajnavalkya–Maitreyi dialogue from the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad. Discussions cover renunciation versus Vedic ritual, why rituals cannot grant liberation, and what qualifies one to pursue Vedanta. The talk explores the nature of love as longing for the Self and how realizing the Self transforms limited attachment into universal love.

A deep dive into the three gunas—sattva, rajas, tamas—and how they shape mind and behavior. The talk explores what it means to be beyond these qualities and how such a person acts without personal desire. Lively stories from the Ramakrishna Order illustrate varied conduct of the enlightened. Practical guidance centers on cultivating witness consciousness rather than judging others.

A deep dive into how the mind creates bondage and freedom, and the power of strong affirmation to transform identity. Practical Vedantic methods for inquiry and moment-to-moment practice are explored. Alternatives like heartfelt devotion, surrender to the Divine Mother, and combining jnana, bhakti and prapatti are discussed. Stories about King Janaka and karma illustrate living enlightened action.

Dive deep into the intriguing concepts of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad! Discover the profound dialogue between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi about love and spirituality. Explore the Advaita interpretation of the Purnamada mantra and its relationship to Brahman, Jiva, and Jagat. Examine Bhattri Prapanchya's critiques and Shankaracharya's rebuttals on the nature of Brahman. Reflect on the practical fruits of realizing Purnam, embracing freedom from fear and suffering, while uncovering the essence of non-dual identity!

Explore the fascinating dynamics of the three gunas: sattva, rajas, and tamas. Discover how actions yield different results—purity, pain, or ignorance. Delve into the post-death journeys influenced by these gunas. Learn the importance of seeing them as the doers while recognizing the self as the witness. Uncover practical steps to transcend their binding nature and achieve lasting bliss. The wisdom of realizing one's true self beyond the mind's limitations is key to immortality and freedom from suffering.

Swami Sarvapriyananda explores the profound teachings of Sri Ramakrishna, focusing on the harmony of religions and the multifaceted nature of Kali. He delves into the interplay between Brahman and Shakti, explaining the universe's creation through powerful metaphors like the spider's web. The discussion includes the Shakta view of liberation and the essential role of grace, while also emphasizing that spiritual life can thrive within worldly duties. Listeners gain practical advice on devotion, discipline, and the transformative power of the mind.

Delve into the depths of the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, exploring its significance in Vedanta. Discover the intriguing dialogue between Yajnavalkya and Maitreyi on love and spirituality. Unpack the Purnam mantra, revealing its philosophical richness through the concepts of absolute infinity and the identity of God and self. Learn about the emergence of the relative from the absolute and the implications of Vedantic practices for realizing one's true nature. Conclude with a discussion on the critiques of dualist readings and the essence of Brahman.