AskSwami Q&A - Swami Sarvapriyananda

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Apr 12th, 2026

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Apr 12th, 2026. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Invocation and opening 01:40 — Is enlightenment just a brain event, or different from dissociation and neurological experiences? 19:17 — How does one move from witness-consciousness to Turiya in practice? 29:31 — What should one do when mantra japa brings up disturbing thoughts and impurities? 40:41 — If awareness and experience seem mutually dependent, how can awareness be the ultimate reality? 51:22 — How should a student deal with pressure, competition, and still find life’s real purpose and peace? 01:12:53 — Can the Katha Upanishad’s chariot analogy be reinterpreted through chidabhasa and reflected consciousness in Advaita? 🙏 Please Support the Vedanta Society of New York http://www.vedantany.org/donate 🌐 Please Visit Us Website: https://vedantany.org Apple & Spotify Podcasts: https://www.vedantany.org/media-channels YouTube (Main Channel): / @vedantany YouTube (Archives): / @vedantanyarchives Facebook: / vedantany X / Twitter: / vedantany 📙 Books by Swami Sarvapriyananda https://www.vedantany.org/swamis-books Lecture Series by Swami Sarvapriyananda 📓 Introductory Lectures: https://www.vedantany.org/introductor... 📚 Vedanta Scriptures: https://www.vedantany.org/by-scriptures 🧩 Lectures by Topics: https://www.vedantany.org/by-topic 💬 AskSwami Q&A: https://www.vedantany.org/ask-swami-qa 📖 Scriptures Taught by Swami Sarvapriyananda • Aparokshanubhuti | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Bhagavad Gita | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Brihadaranyaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriy... • Dṛg Dṛśya Viveka | Swami Sarvapriyananda • The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami Sarv... • Isha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Katha Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Kena Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Mandukya Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Mundaka Upanishad | Swami Sarvapriyananda • Vedantasara of Sadananda | Swami Sarvapriy... 🪔 About Vedanta Vedanta is among the world’s oldest spiritual philosophies and one of its most inclusive. Rooted in the Vedas, India’s sacred scriptures, Vedanta upholds the unity of all existence, the divinity of the soul, and harmony among religions. 🏛️ About This Channel This is the official channel of the Vedanta Society of New York, a spiritual institution affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India and holds the distinction of being its first established Center, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894. Swami Sarvapriyananda currently serves as the Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

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Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Mar 29th, 2026

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 29th, 2026. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Invocation and opening 01:32 - Why Vedanta first says you are consciousness and not body-mind if everything is Brahman anyway. 22:05 - How to distinguish pure Self from awareness that seems to arise through body and mind. 50:48 - If I am only consciousness and a witness, what is the meaning of life and experience. 01:00:48 - Why Vivekananda’s emphasis on service can seem different from Sri Ramakrishna’s teachings. 01:11:43 - Why profound inner experience should point to one universal Atman rather than only a local conscious state. 01:24:24 - Where Ananda fits into the description “Satyam Jnanam Anantam Brahma.”

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Dec 28th, 2025

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 28th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:30 - How can there be "pure experience", if there is no object to experience? 17:19 - Does this enlightened one have the ability to manipulate time? 21:32 - Can consciousness truly be objectified and recognized directly? 33:32 - What should I do if I want this to be my last birth? Is God with form part of Maya? 53:06 - Who is experiencing qualia? 01:02:14 - It seems possible that AI could create conscious beings, but it could never create pure consciousness. Why then is there debate about this issue? 01:13:17 - If AI incorporates living cells, could it then be conscious? 01:15:34 - Does Indian philosophy have a position on AI? ► To support the Vedanta Society of New York: http://www.vedantany.org/donate Vedanta NY Archives: / vedantanewyorkarchives Web: http://vedantany.org Soundcloud: / vedantany iTunes Podcast: http://bit.ly/vedanta-talks-itunes Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IrDmqX... Facebook: / 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.

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Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Oct 19th, 2025

28,001 views Oct 31, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Oct 19th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:52 - If Brahman is the only reality, doesn’t “Neti, Neti” also reject Brahman? 17:52 - What is the link between Brahman and Jiva? 38:28 - Are not the theories you are discussing also limited? 41:54 - How do we apply Vedanta in our day-to-day life? 51:02 - Why is consciousness considered to be different from the mind? 01:09:24 - Is ChatGPT enlightened? 01:29:10 - Isn’t AI relative consciousness? How could it become enlightened?

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Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | June 15th, 2025

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 15th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:48 - What is the difference between the soul and awareness? 10:39 - How do we break the link between the real and reflected consciousness? 27:44 - How is knowledge different from experience? 36:02 - Is enlightenment obtained during meditation or while interacting with the world? 49:38 - Is artificial super-intelligence a feasibility? Could this lead to the end of humanity? 59:27 - Can we design a generalized template for Karma? How can I explain it to my grandchildren? 01:05:55 - Doesn't the "consciousness wave" referred to in Buddhism imply duality? 01:09:27 - What is the difference between realization that the dream is unreal within the dream (lucid dreaming) vs. in the waking world?

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | May 11th, 2025

10,864 views May 25, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 11th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 05:02 - At death, does a fully realized Jivatman merge with Brahman, or does it maintain its identity? 16:11 - The Nasadiya Sukta says there is neither existence nor non-existence. But Swami Vivekananda said that creation is eternal. How can these be reconciled? 24:29 - What is this ignorance and where does it exist? 32:02 - I no longer believe in God or sadhana. What should I do? 38:27 - How can I be free of the ups and downs of frustration and elation? 52:01 - If God exists, why is there so much suffering? How can I make peace with my past faults? 59:22 - The path of Raja Yoga says to shut out the world, while the path of Jnana Yoga requires inquiry into experience. Which one should I follow? 01:11:34 - In the Mahabharata it is said "Dharma protects those who protect it". But Swami Vivekananda heard the divine mother say "Do you protect me or do I protect you?" How can these be reconciled?

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Mar 23rd, 2025

24,905 views Apr 15, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 23rd, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:43 - Explain the two ways of approaching non-duality: “I am all of it” vs “I am none of it”? 15:24 - Is devotion (bhakti) merely an aid to knowledge in Advaita, or something more? 29:58 - Is the intense love of God (parabhakti) a form of insanity or mysticism? 36:16 - Is Advaita Vedanta falsifiable? 52:06 - The importance of asking questions in the study of Vedanta. 58:44 - Should we always practice unconditional love? 01:11:14 - What is the real meaning of ‘jada’ (insentient) in Advaita? 01:20:30 - What is the relationship between Maya and Chit (consciousness)?

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Feb 23rd, 2025

40,831 views Mar 3, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda 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?

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Jan 26th, 2025

45,947 views Feb 5, 2025 AskSwami Q&A | Swami Sarvapriyananda Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jan 26th, 2025. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 06:25 - How do I see myself as Brahman but still act ethically and lovingly in the world? 22:50 - How do I know that I, this Awareness, am Everything? 43:45 - If Consciousness is the ultimate reality, is God imaginary? 53:35 - How can I think of and worship God when I state that He is only Awareness? 01:12:30 - What is the connection between God and Brahman? What is the relationship between Consciousness and Existence? 01:25:09 - Can you speak about free will? 01:33:50 - Can we succeed without the fourfold qualifications in Jnana Yoga?

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Dec 24th, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 24th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:44 – How can Shri Ramakrishna’s statement “only God is your own” be reconciled with Holy Mother’s “everybody is your own”? 17:51 – Does stopping all thoughts reveal pure witness consciousness and lead to realization? 32:18 – Is the gap between two thoughts where pure consciousness shines, and can it only be noticed afterward? 38:43 – How to address fear of meditating after experiencing non-duality and loss of individuality? 49.36 – Why didn’t you adopt Kashmir Shaivism despite its elaboration compared to Advaita Vedanta? 57.36 – What did Swami Vivekananda mean by “Eternal progression is eternal bondage”? 01:04:28 – How to reconcile Buddhist teachings on emptiness with Vedanta’s views on self and no-self? 01:19:48 – Is pure consciousness the same as God, and why are there so many names for God? 01:26:02 – Why doesn’t the Headless Way result in infinite love and bliss as described in non-duality? 01:34:24 – What is the relevance of spiritual teachings in a future dominated by super-intelligent AI? 01:47:18 – How to practice forgiveness effectively and overcome anger? ► 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

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Nov 24th, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Nov 24th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:53 - How can I reconcile devotion and non-dual knowledge? 23:27 - If I realize I am pure consciousness, do I also have a vision of God with form? 31:21 - What is Mahat (universal intelligence) in the Samkhya philosophy? 34:24 - Is it possible to practice Bhakti without God or deities? 36:28 - Can you talk about your experience with the monk who said "

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Oct 20th, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Oct 20th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:15 - What is the importance of earnestness and renunciation to progress in spiritual life. 13:37 - Do we need a Guru, and what is the relationship betwen the Gurua dn teh Advaitic Self? 19:31 - Is consciousness the controller of actions or is it just a witness? 31:09 - How do we go from reflected consciousness to ‘I am Brahman’? 41:17 - How can I cult

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | September 29th, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Sep 29th, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:04 - Can atheists achieve enlightenment? 09:17 - If the body is inert (jada), how is it able to generate thoughts? 19:03 - If our real nature is prakash (light) does prakash need to be self-aware? 33:57 - Does removal of ignorance require free will? 46:36 - If Brahman is fulfilled, why does it need to appear as Jiva, Jagat, Isvara? 58:19 - What proof

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | June 23rd, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on June 23rd, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:09 - What is the difference between Vedanta, Samkhya, and Yoga? 12:54 - What should I do to make my buddhi accept the truth? 24:54 - Why are we told to practice dharma when Brahman is in everything? 32:10 - How can we recognize our true nature in everyday experience? 44:16 - Even with many practitioners, how many are really practicing Sanatana Dharma

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | April 21st, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Apr 21st, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:50 - What is the nature of sorrow? 23:00 - What is the difference between Samsara in Buddhism and Vedanta?  How does progress in modern medical science relate to Brahman?  32:06 - If I am Brahman then why should I worship God or do karma yoga? 38:32 - Does Advaita claim that it is evolving, or does it claim to be complete? 42:50 - When do we know that

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | March 3rd, 2024

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on March 3rd, 2024. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:32 - Where is ignorance?  Is it separate from Brahman? 23:41 - What is the difference between consciousness, awareness, and mindfulness? 32:10 - Is Vrittijnana the same as reflected consciousness?  32:29 - Is Consciousness static, or is it a process?  35:51 - Does existence manifest from consciousness? 37:24 - Who is it that goes from birth to birth;

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Dec 3rd, 2023

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Dec 3rd, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 00:45 - How can a devotee of God say I am That? 18:34 - Can we say that God as consciousness is within us? 21:07 - Are Bhakti and Janna two sides of the same coin? Is one higher than the other? 32:21 - Can Nididhyasana be considered as a series of small awakenings? 37:44 - Is Advaita profoundly different from Western views? 46:02 - Is the ultimate goal

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | June 18th, 2023

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Jun 18th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 04:17 - All knowledge depends on the knower, known, and instrument of knowledge, yet we are taught that we are none of these.  How can this be reconciled? 19:48 - If science can be used to know the self, does this mean that Vedanta is not a unique instrument for self knowledge?  How can science be used for the study of something without objective qualitie

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | Mar 5th, 2023

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on Mar 5th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 01:46 - Why do we need to search for the unchanging self? 13:06 - Is it ok to pray to God to satisfy our desires? 26:48 - If avidya (ignorance) is in Brahman, isn't it real? 32:07 - What is Vedanta's view on vegetarianism? 34:35 - How can I develop pure love? 40:07 - Can pure consciousness change the appearance of reality? 48:13 - Can God be both imperson

Ask Swami with Swami Sarvapriyananda | May 28th, 2023

Q&A session led by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on May 28th, 2023. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 03:00 - Is it correct that Turiya is witnessing and illumining waking dreaming and deep sleep? 16:47 - Is enlightenment spontaneous?  What is the difference between an enlightened and non-enlightened person?   Can an enlightened person see past, present and future? 33:57 - What is the connection between the reflected consciousness and the ego, body, and