Ask Swami 11/01/2020

Q&A session lead by Swami Sarvapriyananda at the Vedanta Society of New York on November 1st, 2020. List of questions with timestamps: 00:00 - Intro 02:37 - How does consciousness appear in all things? What is needed to see this underlying truth? 19:00 - How can we say there is consciousness in deep sleep? 29:17 - Does the 7th mantra of the Mandukya Upanishad state that Turiya is not consciousness? 36:35 - It is said that Brahman is existence-consciousness-bliss. Is it fair to say that Brahman is existence, with consciousness and bliss? 44:42 - If the universe appears in consciousness as a city appears in a mirror, is there something external to consciousness that appears in consciousness? 56:27 - [Part 1] How do we know if we are progressing in spiritual life? 01:01:41 - [Part 2] How can an enlightened person be recognized? 01:03:23 - [Part 3] What are some practical suggestions for practicing pratyahara (withdrawal from the external world)?