Lectures by Topic
YouTube Playlists
Advaita Vedanta
Advaita Vedanta is a school of Hindu philosophy that emphasizes the non-dual nature of reality. The term “Advaita” means “not two” and refers to the idea that the ultimate reality is one without a second.
The Four Yogas
Lectures on the four main paths by which a follower can reach moksha, or liberation. These paths are bhakti, the path of devotion; gnana, the path of knowledge; karma, the path of selfless service; and raja, the royal path of meditation.
Practical Vedanta
Practical Vedanta aims to apply the teachings of Vedanta in our daily lives. It is a way of life that emphasizes the importance of spiritualizing every moment and movement.
Meditation
Meditation is a practice that trains the mind to be more self-aware, to look inward, or to reach a state of realization. It has a rich history in India, where both Buddhist and Hindu traditions have contributed to it.
Jnana Yoga
Jnana Yoga is one of the four main paths of yoga, and is focused on the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom. It is based on the idea that the ultimate reality is non-dual and that the phenomenal world is an illusory appearance of the ultimate reality.
Mandukya Upanishad
Selected lectures on The Mandukya Upanishad. Complete series can be found here. The Upanishad is the shortest of all the Upanishads, and is assigned to Atharvaveda. The Upanishad discusses the meaning and significance of the syllable Aum (Om) and presents various explanations and theories on what it means and signifies.
Ashtavakra Gita
The Ashtavakra Gita is in the form of a dialogue between the sage Ashtavakra and Janaka, king of Mithila. It is a radical version of non-dualist philosophy that insists on the complete unreality of the external world and absolute oneness of existence. The text offers a comprehensive guide to achieving self-realization and liberation from the cycle of birth and death
Panchadasi by Vidyaranya
Panchadasi is a comprehensive manual of Advaita Vedanta written in the fourteenth century CE by Vidyaranya, previously known as Madhavacharya. The book discusses the differentiation of Brahman and the Self and explains the nature of Brahman, the Self, Prakriti, Maya, Avidya, Jiva, Prajna, and the five elements.
Upadesa Saram
The Upadesa Saram is a spiritual text written by the Indian sage Sri Ramana Maharshi. It consists of thirty verses that provide a concise and profound summary of the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. The text emphasizes the importance of self-inquiry and the realization of the true nature of the Self.
The Lamp of Bliss - Brihadharanyaka Upanishad
"If a man knows the Self as ‘I am this,’ then desiring what and for whose sake will he suffer in the wake of the body?" Based on this verse from the Brihadharanyaka Upanishad (Mantra 4.4.12) and the associated commentary from Vidyaranya Swami (7th Chapter of Panchadasi), Swami Sarvapriyananda provides inspiration and strength to help us cope with these difficult times.
Adhyasa Bhashya
Adhyasa Bhashya is a commentary by Adi Shankara on the Brahma Sutras, which is a foundational text of Vedanta philosophy. The term “adhyasa” refers to the superimposition of one thing on another, and in this context, it refers to the superimposition of the phenomenal world on the ultimate reality, which is called Brahman.
Yoga Vasistha Sara
The Yoga Vasistha Sara (Nectar of Supreme Knowledge) is a condensed version of the Yoga Vasistha, a classical Hindu text that explains the precepts of Advaita philosophy in the form of a dialogue between Sri Rama and his preceptor Sage Vasistha.
Bhagavad Gita
Selected lectures on The Bhagavad Gita. Complete series can be found here. The Gita is a 700-verse Hindu scripture that is part of the epic Mahabharata. The text is set in a narrative framework of dialogue between the warrior prince Arjuna and his charioteer guide Lord Krishna. The dialogue covers a broad range of spiritual topics, touching upon moral and ethical dilemmas, and philosophical issues that go far beyond the war that Arjuna faces.
Divine Personalities
Lectures on the life and teachings of divine personalities from various spiritual traditions.
Conversations with Swami Sarvapriyananda
Swami Sarvapriyananda in conversation with scholars and monks.
Other Venues
Swami Sarvapriyananda's lectures outside of the Vedanta Society of New York.
Harmony of Religions
Lecture emphasizing the harmony of religions - an idea that all religions share a common spiritual essence and that there are multiple paths to the ultimate reality or God.
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