Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda

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From Lower Truth to Higher Truth: Vedanta in Practice | Prof. Jeffery Long

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Dec 13, 2025

Guest

Jeffrey D. Long

In this engaging conversation, Jeffrey D. Long, a prominent scholar of Indian religions, dives into the profound aspects of Vedanta. He explores the limits of language in expressing spiritual truths and the distinction between wise silence and ignorance. Long discusses the journey from lower to higher truths, emphasizing the importance of personal spiritual practice. He delves into the concepts of karma and rebirth, advocating for a patient approach to spiritual evolution. His insights into belief versus knowledge illuminate diverse paths, including jnana and bhakti, toward realization.

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insights

INSIGHT

Words Cannot Capture Ultimate Reality

Spiritual realization is beyond words because language is formed in time, space, and causation while the ground of being is not.
This mismatch makes spiritual truths appear paradoxical and best pointed to by symbols and silence.

insights

INSIGHT

Realization Is Uncovering, Not Acquiring

Spiritual life is less about gaining something new and more about shedding ignorance to realize what we already are.
The metaphor of caterpillar to butterfly captures inner transformation rather than external attainment.

insights

INSIGHT

Don't Mistake The Finger For The Moon

Teachings, symbols, and beliefs function like a finger pointing to the moon, not the moon itself.
Mistaking the pointer for the moon leads to fanaticism and spiritual regression.

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The Perennial Philosophy and Vedanta

02:35 • 3min

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Paradox of Spiritual Language

05:29 • 5min

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Silence versus Ignorance

10:39 • 3min

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Words as Fingers Pointing to the Moon

13:43 • 3min

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From Lower Truth to Higher Truth

16:38 • 2min

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Karma, Rebirth, and Life's Work

18:40 • 3min

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Direct Realization versus Secondhand Knowledge

21:35 • 4min

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Working Theory to Transformative Knowledge

25:33 • 6min

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Persistence, Patience, and the Rosebud Image

31:12 • 3min

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Belief, Knowledge, and Avoiding Fanaticism

33:50 • 3min

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Paths to Higher Knowledge

Living With The Himalayan Masters

Swami Rama

"Living with the Himalayan Masters" recounts Swami Rama's experiences and training with various spiritual masters in the Himalayan region. The book offers insights into traditional yogic practices and the guru-disciple relationship. Swami Rama shares stories of his encounters with enlightened beings and describes the rigorous discipline required for spiritual growth. He emphasizes the importance of self-awareness, meditation, and inner transformation. The book serves as a guide to those seeking deeper spiritual understanding and a path to self-realization through ancient wisdom.

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Laozi

The Tao Te Ching is a central text in Taoist philosophy and religion. It consists of 81 brief chapters or sections that discuss the nature of the Tao, which is described as the source and ideal of all existence. The text emphasizes living in harmony with nature, the importance of simplicity, humility, and the interconnectedness of all things. It critiques unnatural actions and social activism based on abstract moralism, advocating for a life of 'nonaction' (wu wei) and spontaneity. The text has been highly influential in Chinese philosophy and has been translated numerous times, making it one of the most translated texts in world literature.

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Swami Prabhavananda

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The Bhagavad Gita is a central text in Hinduism, embedded within the epic Mahabharata. It recounts a dialogue between the warrior-prince Arjuna and his charioteer, Krishna, who is an avatar of the god Vishnu. The text explores themes of dharma (duty), karma (action), and the path to spiritual enlightenment. Krishna advises Arjuna on the importance of performing his duties without attachment to the outcomes, emphasizing the concept of nishkama karma (nonattached action). The Gita synthesizes various strands of Indian religious thought, including Vedic concepts, samkhya yoga, and bhakti (devotion), providing a coherent vision of Hindu philosophy and spiritual practice.

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God speaks

Meher Baba

Meher Baba's "God Speaks" is a profound spiritual text that conveys the essence of his teachings on the nature of God, the path to spiritual realization, and the importance of selfless love. The book presents a direct and uncompromising approach to spiritual understanding, emphasizing the need for complete surrender to the divine will. Baba's teachings challenge conventional notions of spirituality, urging readers to transcend intellectual understanding and experience the divine directly. The book's powerful message and unique perspective have resonated with seekers of spiritual truth. "God Speaks" offers a challenging yet rewarding path to spiritual transformation. The book's enduring appeal lies in its direct and uncompromising approach to spiritual understanding.

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Republic

Plato

Plato's Republic is one of his most famous works, a philosophical dialogue exploring justice, ideal societies, and the nature of reality. It features the allegory of the cave, a powerful metaphor for the limitations of human perception and the pursuit of knowledge. The dialogue delves into various forms of government, analyzing their strengths and weaknesses, ultimately advocating for a philosopher-king to rule the ideal state. The Republic also examines the tripartite soul, proposing that reason, spirit, and appetite must be harmonized for individual and societal well-being. Its enduring influence on political philosophy and ethics makes it a cornerstone of Western thought.

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Autobiography of a Yogi

Paramahansa Yogananda

This book is a detailed account of Paramahansa Yogananda's life, from his childhood in India to his spiritual quest and eventual establishment of the Self-Realization Fellowship in the United States. It includes his encounters with various spiritual figures, his experiences with Kriya Yoga, and his mission to spread the teachings of yoga and meditation to the Western world. The book also delves into the prophesied writing of his autobiography and its significance in spreading the message of yoga globally.

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The perennial philosophy

Aldous Huxley

The Perennial Philosophy, by Aldous Huxley, is a seminal work exploring the common ground between various mystical and religious traditions. Huxley argues for the existence of a universal mystical experience that transcends cultural and religious differences. The book draws on a wide range of sources, including ancient scriptures, philosophical texts, and mystical writings. It explores themes of unity, consciousness, and the nature of reality. Huxley's insightful analysis and eloquent prose have made this book a classic in the field of comparative religion and philosophy.

Dr. Jeffery D. Long, the Carl W. Zeigler Professor of Religion, Philosophy, and Asian Studies, specializes in the religions and philosophies of India. He is the author of several books and numerous articles, as well as the editor of the series Explorations in Indic Traditions for Lexington Books. In 2020, he received Elizabethtown College’s Ranck Award for Excellence in Research, and in 2022, his book, Hinduism in America: A Convergence of Worlds, received the Rajinder and Jyoti Gandhi Book Award for Excellence in Theology, Philosophy, and Critical Reflection from the Dharma Academy of North America. He has spoken in numerous venues, both national and international, including Princeton University, Yale University, the University of Chicago, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Delhi University, and has also given three talks at the United Nations.

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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.

ABOUT US

Vedanta Society of New York is affiliated with the Ramakrishna Order of India. In fact, this is the Order's first Center started by Swami Vivekananda, in 1894. It was a historic event, for the seed of the world-wide Ramakrishna Movement was sown here in New York over a century ago. Swami Sarvapriyananda is the present Resident Minister and Spiritual Leader of the Vedanta Society of New York.

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