Best Chinmaya Mission Podcasts (2024)

1
Unlearn Your Limits 24:45

1h ago24:45

24:45

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…

1
No Wonder We Feel Busy 12:44

7d ago12:44

12:44

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…

1
A Seatbelt for Life 36:41

11d ago36:41

36:41

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…

1
Absolute Joy 35:03

18d ago35:03

35:03

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…

1
Alive, but Not Really Living 35:10

25d ago35:10

35:10

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…

1
Logic Can Only Get You So Far 29:47

1M ago29:47

29:47

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…

1
Revisited: What’s the difference between contemplation and inquiry? 9:26

2M ago9:26

9:26

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…

1
Revisited: How can an introvert handle the expectations of family and friends? 15:38

2M ago15:38

15:38

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 …

1
Escaping to Embracing 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

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 …

1
Serve, Smile, Surrender 33:38

3M ago33:38

33:38

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…

1
River of Thoughts 32:50

3M ago32:50

32:50

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…

1
Diving Deeper 31:42

3M ago31:42

31:42

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 …

1
Life is Full of Matter 30:22

4M ago30:22

30:22

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…

1
Do You Realize You’re Bound? 38:14

4M ago38:14

38:14

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…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 67 - 68 - The Power of the Senses and an Integrated Mind and Intellect 23:52

4M ago23:52

23:52

Without steadiness in knowledge, the weakness of just one sense organ can cause one’s downfall. Despite hearing the Geeta, we often are unsteady in the conviction of Krishna’s words and allow the mind to get carried away by sense objects, disobeying the intellect’s guidance! Swamiji beautifully illustrates this through the significance of the Satya…

1
How Do You Know You’re Not Dreaming? 32:38

5M ago32:38

32:38

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…

1
Deep, Deeper, Deepest 33:37

5M ago33:37

33:37

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…

1
Past to Present 23:35

5M ago23:35

23:35

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…

1
Chasing a Mirage 35:36

6M ago35:36

35:36

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)…

1
Plugged into the Higher 31:57

6M ago31:57

31:57

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…

1
Equation to Serenity 27:44

6M ago27:44

27:44

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…

1
Pushing Our Comfort Zone 28:51

7M ago28:51

28:51

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…

1
Reset for the New Year 2:09

7M ago2:09

2:09

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…

1
Living for the Maximum 31:51

7M ago31:51

31:51

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 …

1
Domino Effect 30:21

7M ago30:21

30:21

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…

1
Enjoying to 'In'joying 29:15

8M ago29:15

29:15

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…

1
Raising the Intensity 29:13

8M ago29:13

29:13

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…

1
Potential: Unleashed 31:20

8M ago31:20

31:20

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…

1
Going Deeper 34:03

9M ago34:03

34:03

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…

1
Perpetual Betterment 31:01

9M ago31:01

31:01

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…

1
From Style to Lifestyle 29:26

9M ago29:26

29:26

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…

1
Getting Out of the Hamster Wheel 30:56

10M ago30:56

30:56

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…

1
Game of Life 29:13

10M ago29:13

29:13

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…

1
Dejection to Quietude 27:06

10M ago27:06

27:06

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 …

1
Welcome to Stairway to Serenity 4:44

10M ago4:44

4:44

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…

1
On Freeing: How Do You Know Independent Joy? 40:59

11M ago40:59

40:59

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…

1
On Freeing: How Can One Truly Be Free? 36:07

11M ago36:07

36:07

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…

1
On Challenges: All is Training! 31:44

11M ago31:44

31:44

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…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 66 - 67 - What’s Wrong with Liking My Stuff?! 19:06

1y ago19:06

19:06

Without clear understanding that all that we seek outside is not going to bring us the peace we seek, the mind will always be restless. Swamiji delves deep into our mind’s flawed logic and tendency to dwell on the objects we desire. He also clearly illustrates the journey from agitation to quietness in the mind that we repeatedly go on when pursuin…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 64 - 65 - Going Beyond Likes and Dislikes 20:16

1y ago20:16

20:16

It is not that every object attracts us, but depending on our likes and dislikes that the mind develops a desire for certain objects. Taking our mind through the shopping malls of the world around us, Swamiji clearly illustrates how in the peaceful mind of one who has given up strong likes and dislikes, the seeds of their vasanas get completely roa…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 63 - The Ladder of Fall (2) 25:10

1y ago25:10

25:10

Obsessive desire for anything constitutes lust. Lust when obstructed leads to anger, and this anger deludes us, causing us to lose our ability to discriminate between what is real and unreal. Swamiji illustrates this through an anecdote in the Ramayana, driving home the clear ways in which our desire for the world outside carries us swiftly down th…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 61-63 - The Ladder of Fall (1) 32:06

1y ago32:06

32:06

The mind is easily coloured by sense pleasures and the intellect often justifies indulgence, but Krishna explains how an intellect dedicated to a higher goal can lovingly inspire the mind to master, and not just suppress, the senses. Swamiji also introduces Krishna’s famous ‘ladder of fall’ to help us understand how the uncontrolled mind leads us f…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 59-60 - The Strength of the Senses! 28:15

1y ago28:15

28:15

How much can one abstain from all the temptations of the world? When we stay away from the temptations, they eventually turn away from us too. However, Krishna reminds us that the memory of the pleasures continues to tempt even the most intelligent of us! Having withdrawn the senses, the mind must be alert, vigilant and directed into deeper contemp…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 57- 58 - The Person of Perfection (4) 29:27

1y ago29:27

29:27

Krishna paints this delicate word-picture of a person of perfection on the canvas of Arjuna’s mind. He even anticipates Arjuna’s queries and begins to eliminate them! How can one so easily withdraw from the world? In today’s episode, Swamiji eloquently explains Krishna’s beautiful metaphor comparing the tortoise and the sthitaprajna! The entire Gee…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 56-57 - The Person of Perfection (3) 28:13

1y ago28:13

28:13

Swamiji clearly points out how our raga (attachment), leads to bhaya (fear) and krodha (anger), and the stithaprajna is free from them. Their mind is not dependent on any outer object, hence the level of detachment which they operate from. The person of perfection also sees beyond ‘good’ and ‘bad’, neither complains nor praises, and is ever fixed i…

1
Installing Balance 8:34

1y ago8:34

8:34

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…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 56 - The Person of Perfection (2) 22:37

1+ y ago22:37

22:37

With a variety of tales, Swamiji explains the self-satisfied nature of one who is equanimous. We hear of the sthithaprajna’s unshakeable mental attitude towards joys and sorrows, who accepts all that falls in their lap as the Lord’s grace, and has no fear, attachment or anger towards the world and people around them. The entire Geeta Marathon by Sw…

1
Dedicating to Devi, Together 14:47

1+ y ago14:47

14:47

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 …

1
On Challenges: Are You Tired? 25:17

1+ y ago25:17

25:17

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…

1
Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 54-55 - The Person of Perfection (1) 29:00

1+ y ago29:00

29:00

Having heard of this state of ease, Arjuna is curious to understand such a person of perfection. To the untrained ear, his questions may seem childish, but Krishna understands these prattling questions from His student and begins by speaking of the knowledge the sthitaprajna is rooted in. The entire Geeta Marathon by Swami Swaroopananda can be caug…

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