We're producing a short series on transitions of all kinds... and we need your help! Share your story of a meaningful transition in your life through the lens of Vedanta at https://www.speakpipe.com/livevedanta. Stories can be anonymous, if needed, and shared over one or two voice messages. For those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mis…

In this Freedom Talk, originally published in 2022, we ask the questions: What does Sanatana Dharma tell us about women’s rights? What do you do if your parents do not accept or agree with your dreams and aspirations? FREEDOM TALKS are our bite-sized episodes with Vivekji featuring questions from seekers across the world. Want to join Meaningful Mo…

FREEDOM TALKS are our bite-sized episodes with Vivekji featuring questions from seekers across the world. In today's episode, we ask the questions: How to deal with expectations from close ones? How to balance time, resources, and effort between serving while focusing on self-development? What is the significance of eclipses, especially during preg…

Welcome to the last episode of Season 6! We feel restricted by life, tangled and wrapped up in the cobwebs of circumstances outside, and the chaos of mental noise inside. But do we realize that we can unlearn our limits by simply disidentifying from what we’re not? Are we prioritizing what’s external and ephemeral, or what’s closest, our own Spirit…

Our minds have normalized a level of turbulence, of juggling all of life’s uncomfortable circumstances without ever really understanding them. But what are we focusing all our energy on: the changing, or the Changeless? Are we tuned into the noise in our lives, or the Silence that supports (om) them all? Are we stuck in the quicksand of worrying ab…

It's so easy to get wrapped up in the external battle of life. The expectations we have can rob us from becoming fearless (abhaya). We want to control life as much as we can because we think it will make us happy, when really being an observer (saksi) would really help us take control of our internal self. This internal feeling of joy can only come…

All of us want to be happy and we do whatever it takes to feel joyous. The problem is we think we can create happiness so we end up going on an emotional roller coaster. This roller coaster can slow down when we increase our inquiry (vichara) and decrease projection. The more we inquire the more we realize the relative is not the absolute which cul…

Most of us are following life’s default script -- wake, eat, work, sleep, repeat. But is this working? We receive lots of advice (upadesha) from those we respect on how to be great, but are we actually following? The greatest revelations (mahavakya) of visionaries are accessible to us, but do we trust in them? There are so many opportunities for re…

Life is a trek through a dark forest. It takes lots of endurance (titiksha) to keep up the energy despite all the discomforts and pinpricks. It takes loads of faith (shraddha) to hold onto what you know is ahead, but can’t yet see. It takes boatloads of absorption (samadhana) to stay focused on the path without succumbing to imaginary fears. And it…

We're revisiting another Freedom Talk, one of our bite-sized episodes with Vivekji featuring questions from seekers across the world. In this episode, we ask the questions: What is the difference in reflection and inquiry? What is the difference between contemplation and inquiry? How should a seeker transition from one keystone to the next in their…

In this next mini episode from our series of Freedom Talks, we ask the questions: How should we handle people who always misinterpret our actions in a negative connotation even though we have good intentions? What to do when we are taken advantage of by others? Can we align our goals with our guide? And if yes, how? How can an introvert handle the …

Many of us probably have probably at some point felt we have/had a reactive personality, we felt distracted, or dull. How can one develop a calmness of body (dama), quietude of mind (sama), and understanding (uparama) so that one can have a more balanced inner world? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring …

We all feel we can create joy but that only leads to disappointment. When we have guidance in our lives we realize that joy cannot be created. How can one go from acting (karma), to depending (bhakti), to having insight (jnana), to prioritizing (viveka) to independence (vairagya)? How does one step lead to the next on this journey to joy? On this s…

Our mind is like a river -- sometimes it’s dashing and splashing with a never-ending flow of uncontrollable tides, and other times it’s calm and serene, slowly passing by like a lazy river. How do we tame this mind, so that we can use it for our own Higher purpose, rather than be controlled by its instinctive, impulsive, lightning-fast strikes? How…

In life we have many ups and downs. Why do we feel moments of happiness and other times moments of sadness or anger? What can we do to always have this feeling of completeness no matter the situation? In this episode Vivekji talks about how our sense of individuality (jiva) leads to attachment or incompleteness and how this cycle continues because …

Everything and everyone around us are made up of matter (prakriti) but do we depend on these things or people to make us feel complete (purusha)? When we know all is changing and existence is the only constant, then why do we ever feel anything but joy? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at t…

We often find ourselves feeling weighed down by changing circumstances and unending responsibilities -- but are our ropes really external, or internal? When we look inwards at our own temperament (guna), do we find ourselves tired and complaining in laziness (tamas), anxious about results in selfishness (rajas), or living with vision and inner harm…

Like Neo in The Matrix, has something always felt wrong about the world? Why is everyone looking for a permanent happiness in impermanent places, and then after it doesn’t last, wondering what they’re still missing? Why do we project (vikshepa) happiness onto every new food, vacation, and position, rather than remember where happiness always was? W…

Why does it feel like there is so much separation in the world? Is it because we are always competing with each other? What is deeper than our form (rupa) and personalities (varna)? How are we all so different, yet the exact same? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-de…

We may sometimes wonder why we are the way we are. Why do we do the things we do? Our actions are caused by our thoughts (vrtti) and those thoughts come from our print (vasanas), which is who we are because of our past actions. But how can we change the core of who we are? What tools (upadhi) can we use to reach our higher purpose? On this season o…

Like weary travelers endlessly stumbling after illusions of water in the burning desert, we spend most of our lives running after one inner demand after another. When does the chase end? Are we carrying boulders of emotional baggage in our memory (chitta), or are we learning from the past to move on? Do we allow the leech that is the Ego (ahankara)…

When using our gadgets in our daily lives, there’s one thing we never forget to do: plug them in. Well, what are we plugged into? Do we feel drained, and out of battery? Are we investing in a more efficient input (prana), to live deeper than it? Are we allowing the mind (manah) to interpret the world, or are we directing it within? Do we find the i…

What does it truly mean to feel fortunate (bhagya)? What are some ways we can get to this feeling of serenity? Vivekji teaches us one way to invest in feeling fortunate is to know that all is temporary. Realizing that even the body (deha) is an equipment we have to help us uncover our true nature. On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway t…

When dealing with uncomfortable situations, many of us try to escape from mental pain (dukha nivrtti), such as stress, anxiety, fear, etc. We try escaping by engaging in activities that we think will bring us joy. But what is a practical and permanent way to face those uncomfortable situations? How can we go from trying to escape discomfort to stri…

Reset and recharge your relationships for the new year! Vivekji's new course, Harmony in Relationships, is crafted to enhance collaboration, deepen understanding, and foster lasting connections. It gives participants a unique opportunity to take a step back and reflect on how they collaborate in personal, professional, or social settings. Take a pe…

Many times in life, we find ourselves tired -- completely exhausted in running the seemingly endless race of responsibilities. When we’re lacking in inspiration to keep going, where do we find purpose (puruṣhārtha) in all this? How do we choose between what’s easy and pleasurable (preyas) vs. what’s peaceful and visionary (shreyas)? On this season …

Living is like a mirror. When we are angry, the world is angry. When we are happy, the world is happy. What can we do to cheerfully evolve into a courageous personality? What are the steps we can take to become more integrated? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-devel…

What is the purpose of living? It is to be joyous. But how? What are some steps we can take to dive deeper into our purpose? How can we do this with all the ups and downs life throws at us? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-development. The more we understand these w…

The path to Peace is a long one, filled with many hills of transformation and valleys of feeling stuck. Through this, are we living for Peace with the intensity needed to actually evolve? Are we seeking (sadhana) with the discipline (brahmacharya) needed to conserve our energy, and the sensitivity (ahimsa) to be considerate of others? On this seaso…

We all know how much we’re capable of -- but we rarely live up to our highest potential. Since we know we need to change, how do we build the resolve (sankalpa) needed? How can a guide (guru) unleash our latent potential, bringing us Divine grace (krpa) and opening our eyes to the endless blessings (prasada) that surround us? On this season of Live…

We are told we are Infinity. But how do we feel we are Infinity? What can we do to deepen our understanding of who we are? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-development. The more we understand these words, the more we can live by them. Want to catch up? Start from th…

We have all heard the saying "as you think so you become." But when we dive deeper into this thought, we ask ourselves: How do we think? Why do we think? What can we do to become more virtuous? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-development. The more we understand the…

Most people live fast lives, full of escaping into pleasure and acting for “style” -- but we often find ourselves feeling incomplete when we live this way. How do we shift our focus to our lifestyle on this journey (yatra), to unite (yoga) with our best selves? How can we live to serve (seva) more than just ourselves, and invoke (bhaja) the deepest…

Living in today’s society can feel like an endless chase. In the midst of constant change in society (samsara), how do we know what restrictions (yama) to put in place, and which commitments (niyama) to hold onto? During breaks such as festivals (utsava), how can we find rest that really lasts? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to S…

Life is like a game. How can we learn to play this game and navigate the ups and downs we are faced with? What are the steps we have to take to go from fear (bhaya) to acceptance, and confusion (moha) to clarity? On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-development. The mor…

In this first episode of Stairway to Serenity, Vivekji introduces the first 3 steps on the path to freedom. How can we go from forgetfulness (avidya) to intentionality, desires (kama) to peace, and attachment (raga) to quietude? This season is accompanied by The Seeker's Wordbook. Written by Vivek Gupta, it features crisp definitions and memorable …

Words matter. They can help us -- or they can hurt us. Examples of this abound in our daily lives, from a misplaced tweet that goes viral to the comforting words of a friend when we need it most. This is also true in Vedanta! On this season of Live Vedanta, entitled Stairway to Serenity, we'll be exploring 100 words at the heart of our self-develop…

How is the one who is independently joyous described? What is one thing they do that makes them completely free? In this last episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, Vivekji teaches the verse that teaches us how to be free once and for all. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedic…

What is the secret to feeling totally free? What is holding us back? In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, Vivekji explains two verses that can help us to reach our goal of freedom. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed an episode? Listen to the…

What is the point of striving? What is the end game? In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, Vivekji teaches a hopeful verse that explains how all challenges we face and the work we do is training for us to be better. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more…

In this mini-episode, we get answers to questions that so many of us have. How do we navigate the busy nature of our day-to-day lives? How do we approach our personal and professional life with the right mindset? How do we tackle the stress that comes with comparing ourselves to others? Like what you hear? On May 6, a unique workshop led by Shri Vi…

How can you join our commitment to contribute, chant, and change to support our Mother Earth? Visit the Dedicating to Devi page and register for our CommUnity challenge. For those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to listen, reflect, and contemplate. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more …

In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, Vivekji explains a verse that guides on how to break from the tiredness of being dependent on external factors to be happy. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed an episode? Listen to the previous episode or…

In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, we are taught to just try! By giving our best in challenging circumstances and focusing on what is in our control, challenges will be less difficult than imagined. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed an ep…

What direction do we go when faced with challenges? How can we see the bigger picture when our circumstances blind us? Let’s listen in on this next episode of Bhagavad Gita 101 on challenges. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed an episode? Lis…

In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, we learn from a verse that guides us through ways we can empower others, even during a conflict. Vivekji explains how these few changes within us can resolve any conflicts we have within or with others. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series with Shri Vivek Gupta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicat…

We're revisiting another one of our Freedom Talks! In this next mini-episode, we ask the questions: What is OM? How can we have compassion towards people whom we find difficult? Want to join Meaningful Mornings? Learn more. For those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to listen, reflect, and cont…

In this episode of Bhagavad Gita 101, Vivekji teaches us practices to help us quieten our minds so we can focus on resolving and accepting. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series from Live Vedanta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed an episode? Listen to the previous episode or start from the beginning.…

In this episode on conflict resolution, Vivekji shares a verse from the Bhagavad Gita that explains the different stages of desire and anger and how we can overcome them to resolve our outer and inner conflicts. The Bhagavad Gita 101 series from Live Vedanta sheds light on contemporary issues of relating, communicating, dedicating, and more. Missed…