445. Swami Sarvapriyananda

Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami Sarvapriyananda has been  Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York since January 6, 2017.

Prior to this, he served as assistant minister of the Vedanta Society of Southern California for 13 months, beginning on December 3, 2015.

Swami joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994 and received Sannyas in 2004. Before being posted to the VSSC’s Hollywood Temple, Swami served as an acharya (teacher) of the monastic probationers’ training center at Belur Math. He has served the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in various capacities including being the Vice Principal of the Deoghar Vidyapith Higher Secondary School, Principal of the Shikshana Mandira Teacher Education College at Belur Math, and the first Registrar of the Vivekananda University at Belur Math.

Website: vedantany.org

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Transcripts of this interview:

Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Ethical Foundations of Nondual Spirituality

Video and audio below. Audio also available as a Podcast.

Interview recorded March 3, 2018.

YouTube Video Chapters:

  • 00:00:00 – Introduction to Buddha at the Gas Pump
  • 00:03:51 – Upanishads and Vedanta
  • 00:07:54 – The Philosophy of Non-Duality
  • 00:12:07 – The Expression of Ultimate Truth in Hinduism
  • 00:16:27 – The Duality of Bliss and Reality
  • 00:20:21 – The Comparison between Vedanta and Particle Physics
  • 00:24:43 – Panentheism and the Nature of Reality
  • 00:28:51 – Advaita Vedanta as Maximally Supporting Religion
  • 00:33:04 – Two distinct approaches to religion
  • 00:37:34 – Overcoming Limitations with Advaita Philosophy
  • 00:41:09 – The Cyclical Nature of Knowledge
  • 00:44:39 – The Value of Sharing Between Science and Religion
  • 00:48:36 – The Conflict Between Science and Religion
  • 00:52:49 – Contributions of Advaita and Madhyamaka Buddhism
  • 00:57:07 – The Complexity of Standardizing Instrumental Procedures
  • 01:01:24 – Path to Enlightenment through Different Religions
  • 01:04:55 – The Realization of Pure Essential Nature
  • 01:08:56 – Serving Society in Vedantic Philosophy
  • 01:12:37 – The Perspectives of Enlightened Beings
  • 01:16:44 – The Three Stages of Spiritual Awakening
  • 01:20:38 – The Importance of Practices and Ethical Life in Advaita Vedanta
  • 01:25:08 – The Importance of Bhakti Yoga and Meditation
  • 01:28:45 – The Bliss Amidst Suffering
  • 01:32:52 – The Conduits of Spiritual Wisdom
  • 01:36:45 – The Truth about Enlightenment and Past Karma
  • 01:40:42 – The Three Tiers of Reality
  • 01:44:33 – Experiencing World and Brahman Together
  • 01:48:07 – The Differences between Kashmir Shaivism and Advaita Vedanta
  • 01:52:24 – The Beauty and Intricacy of the World
  • 01:56:21 – Divine Presence in You
  • 01:59:46 – Farewell