Best Swami Vivekananda Saraswati Podcasts (2024)

1
111 – Ashtanga Yoga and Freedom | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:01:35

5y ago1:01:35

1:01:35

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The eight limbs of Patanjali’s Yoga completely remove the impure inherited tendencies of the mind. First, one practices ethical disciplines and then acquires a good posture for meditation. Then, one is able to obtain an effortless and free yogic concentration. This concentration leads to spiritual insight and the p…

1
110 – Samskaras: the Mystery of Human Character | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 56:38

5y ago56:38

56:38

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture constitutes a review of the process by which Yoga leads us beyond mental conflicts and to inner contentment. Mental conflicts come from hidden inherited tendencies from past lives - Samskaras. This idea is Patanjali’s major contribution to psychology. By taking care of these samskaras, we can transcend…

1
109 – Cloud of Virtue: What the Great Prophets Had | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 55:46

5y ago55:46

55:46

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The mind is not the real I, the real I is Purusha. Reason has its limits but this instinctive wisdom goes beyond this. That’s why great prophets could do things and say things whose meaning only become apparent after a long time. They had special insight. They found the whole foundation of truth within themselves. …

1
108 – The Real Seer is Self-Revealing | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:03:25

5y ago1:03:25

1:03:25

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture contains a detailed analysis of the nature of the real seer, Purusha or Atman, according to multiple approaches. Verses: IV.17, IV.18, IV.19, IV.20By Vedanta Society, San Francisco

1
107 – The Unchanging Behind the Changing | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 59:55

5y ago59:55

59:55

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Vivarta Satkaryavada in Advaita Vedanta is reviewed. Nominalism of Buddhism is also explained. Advaita, according to Shankaracharya, is a combination of Absolute Idealism and Realism. Verses: IV.15, IV.16, IV.17, IV.18By Vedanta Society, San Francisco

1
106 – Objects and Minds in Buddhism and Yoga | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 51:39

5y ago51:39

51:39

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. A comparison is made between Buddhist schools of philosophy and Yoga on the question of the relationship between minds and objects. Verses: IV.14, IV.15By Vedanta Society, San Francisco

1
105 – Continuing Our Spiritual Journey across Space, Time, and Lives | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:04:11

5y ago1:04:11

1:04:11

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Our tendencies from previous life cycles are re-expressed when put into an appropriate environment. When we suddenly feel at home with a profound philosophical idea, it means we have some previous acquaintance. This allows us to continue our spiritual evolution. Verses: IV.9, IV.10, IV.11…

1
104 – Desires Without Beginning But With an End | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:03:10

5y ago1:03:10

1:03:10

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. There are good, bad, and mixed actions. These actions lead to tendencies that will manifest when the appropriate environment is available. Even though there is a separation in time and place, these manifestations form a continuous link. The different kinds of karmas are discussed in this context. These tendencies a…

1
103 – Manifestation of Divinity Already in Man | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:08:02

5y ago1:08:02

1:08:02

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. All power is already within us. We remove the obstacles to manifest the divinity within us. Verses: IV.1, IV.2, IV.3, IV.4, IV.5, IV.6By Vedanta Society, San Francisco

1
102 - Liberation From Ourselves | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:09:39

5y ago1:09:39

1:09:39

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Kaivalyam, liberation means liberation from ourselves. We are trapped in a cycle of actions, mental impressions, tendencies, and then repeated action. By changing our identification we begin to evolve. Our obstacles are in the form of Klesas, obsessive likes and dislikes. This creates a conflict between what the in…

1
101 – Reaching the Soul: Transcendence of Ritambhara-Prajna | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:03:56

5y ago1:03:56

1:03:56

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. With Ritambhara-Prajna, the higher intuitive insight also comes with the confirmation that it is true. This knowledge creates a great Vritti that counters the innumerable conflicting Vrittis in the mental system. This knowledge goes beyond all ordinary tools of knowledge such as direct sensory perception or inferen…

1
100 – Realization is Religion, the Rest is Preparation | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:01:45

5y ago1:01:45

1:01:45

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Ritambhara-Prajna is a kind of spiritual intuition filled with infallible truth. It goes beyond all normal human tools of epistemology. A person with this insight is a Rishi, seer. The testimony recorded in the scriptures is the authentic testimony of those endowed with this knowledge. By Guru-Disciple tradition, a…

1
99 – Dehypnotization: Reverse Evolution | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:06:07

5y ago1:06:07

1:06:07

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Shabda, Artha, Jnana, sound, meaning, and knowledge are still mixed up in Savitarka-Samadhi. At Nirvitarka-Samadhi, the three are no longer mixed, only the resulting knowledge remains and therefore there are no more conflicting thoughts. Prakriti is the source of material evolution in Sankhya philosophy. All of the…

1
98 – Sound, Meaning, Knowledge: Together and Separate | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:02:17

5y ago1:02:17

1:02:17

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Shabda, Artha, Jnana, sound, meaning, and knowledge are usually mixed up. When we reach Savitarka Samadhi, we are able to gain deep insight into things. At this stage, Shabda, Artha, and Jnana are still mixed up. A Sanskrit verse explains that geniuses are known to have deviations in life if they do not have spirit…

1
97 – Crystal Mind and Blessedness | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:00:44

5y ago1:00:44

1:00:44

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Deep inner contentment gives us a feeling of being spiritually rich. When the Vrittis have become weakened, a person’s mind becomes like a crystal. It reflects the light of whatever it meditates upon clearly. This concentration with freedom comes only when it is preceded by the practice of Yamas and Niyamas, the 10…

1
94 – Pravrtti: Transcendental Experience Destroys Doubt | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:07:35

5y ago1:07:35

1:07:35

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The practices of Pranayama and friendliness toward fellow spiritual seekers can help us conquer our obstacles. Intellectual conviction only goes skin deep. Pravrtti, transcendental experience, will reinforce our belief that we are on the right track. There is also a higher type of experience, which is beyond all so…

1
95 – Mental System is a Mirror Reflecting Our Spiritual Nature | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:11:52

5y ago1:11:52

1:11:52

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Patanjali explains that regulating human relationships, Pranayama, transcendental experiences, and meditation on the heart of a holy person can lead to deep contentment. We take on the characteristics of that which we meditate upon. Some dreams give a feeling of blessedness. They can also be a support. The mental s…

1
96 – Concentration with Freedom is Samapatti | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:05:02

5y ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The higher aspiration of Yoga is to reach a state of Nirodha, complete freedom from obsessive likes and dislikes, Vrittis, of the mind. Before reaching that stage, several stages of concentration are classified: restlessness, dullness, swinging between extremes, and one-pointed. Kshina-Vrtti is a state when the min…

1
92 – Countering Despair: Four Doors to Peace | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:11:25

5y ago1:11:25

1:11:25

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. What makes a Buddha or a Christ is the sense of Atha, the desire for something higher in life. When this higher aspiration comes, obstacles and despair are inevitable. In order to conquer them focusing on one chosen high ideal is recommended. We can conserve our energy resources by a developing an inner filtering m…

1
93 – Prana: Cutting New Channels Through the Mental System | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:12:29

5y ago1:12:29

1:12:29

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Indifference is a vaccination towards contagious negativity. It is not insensitivity but enlightened sensitivity. Pranayama can lead to peace of mind. The breath is a thin thread linking us to the cosmic energy. Prana cuts new channels through the mental system. When we try to cut new channels, the mind and body ma…

1
91 – Prana: Infinite Cosmic Energy | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 58:37

5y ago58:37

58:37

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. In order to gain inner contentment, Citta-Prasada, we can practice regulating our human relationships according to friendship, compassion, admiration, and indifference. Another method is Pranayama, breath work, but this must be undertaken with proper ethical disciplines, Yamas and Niyamas. Spiritual concentration w…

1
90 – Managing Human Relationships: Joy Without Its Opposite | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 53:53

5y ago53:53

53:53

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. There is a conflict between what our mind allows us to do and what the intellect wants to do. For this reason, many unexpected mental obstacles appear when we try to progress in spiritual life. We do selfless work to purify the mental stream. Having joy without its opposite or inner contentment is the key to progre…

1
89 – Danger of Delusions | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:07:50

5y ago1:07:50

1:07:50

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Obstacles inevitably arise when we take to spiritual life. Bhranti Darshana, false experience is a very dangerous one. It can either come in the form of feeling we have made great progress when we have not or feeling we are not making progress even though we are. Also, there is the problem of not being able to reta…

1
88 – The 9 Psychological Obstacles | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 56:18

5y ago56:18

56:18

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Spiritual practice is bitter at the beginning and sweet at the end. When Japa matures and our mind ascends, we find the obstacles to spiritual practice disappearing. Patanjali gives a comprehensive list of psychological obstacles. Being aware of them clears the way for further progress. A sense of sanctity for spir…

1
87 – Grace and Self-Effort: A Lamp Lighted | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:06:25

5y ago1:06:25

1:06:25

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. God in Yoga is omniscient, beyond all sorrow, and the teacher of all teachers. A seeker’s spiritual practices prepare him to receive God’s grace. He can then recognize God’s grace as his grace. A spiritual teacher helps lead him to that stage by removing darkness. The theory of Pratika, symbols, is explained. OM is…

1
86 – As We Evolve, Our Conception of God Evolves | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:04:28

5y ago1:04:28

1:04:28

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. With Shraddha, a sense of sanctity attached to spiritual practice, comes complete awareness, Smrti. An example of the development of modern Japan is given to illustrate the intensity of practice. Devotion to God is another option for intensification. In Yoga, God is the teacher of all teachers, not a conventional c…

1
85 – Returning to Our True Home: Intensification of Spiritual Life | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 56:52

5y ago56:52

56:52

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The great Indian sage Patanjali wrote major treatises on Ayurveda, Sanskrit grammar, and Yoga. From Samprajnata Samadhi, mastery of nature, we ascend to Asamprajnata Samadhi, freedom from nature. Intensification of practice means constant regulation of the intake of positive food, both mental and physical. Mild, me…

1
84 – This Yoga is My Path: The Characteristic of a Real Yogi | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 56:41

5y ago56:41

56:41

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Smrti, memory, is constant remembrance and awareness. Mindfulness is a modern diluted form of a Buddhist tradition, which practices this Smrti. Shraddha is an untranslatable word, which roughly corresponds to sincerity, dedication, faith, and a sense of sanctity. It allows you to persevere and protects you like a l…

1
83 – All These Delusions Will Vanish | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:01:52

5y ago1:01:52

1:01:52

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Good tendencies liberate us from the bad tendencies but they still do not give freedom. In Shunyavada school of Buddhism, the ultimate reality is beyond all description and non-dual. Desire vanishes and the Soul, Atman, is left in its own splendor. The unmanifest-manifest, Ayakta-Vyakta, the theory of cyclicism is …

1
82 – Beyond Good And Evil | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:09:24

5y ago1:09:24

1:09:24

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Samprajnata Samadhi is mastery over nature. Asamprajnata is freedom from the senses. In Samprajnata Samadhi, the old vrittis are controlled. In Asamprajnata Samadhi, the old vrittis are no longer able to function. We are freed from past tendencies. We are free from the cycle of birth and death. Having transcended t…

1
81 – Asamprajnata Samadhi: Not Only Mastery but Freedom | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 57:36

5y ago57:36

57:36

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Swami Vivekananda says that Samprajnata Samadhi allows mastery over nature, but Asamprajnata Samadhi allows freedom from nature. Buddha had to negate all the hundreds of memories from previous life cycles when he sat for meditation to reach the highest realization. The eighteenth sutra explains that Virama Pratyaya…

1
80 – 25 Cosmic Principles and Mastery of Nature | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 54:31

5y ago54:31

54:31

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Dispassion leads to mastery of nature. The Samkhya philosophy explains the evolution of the material universe from Prakrti to the entire physical and mental world. In addition, there is a sentient witness Purusha. Dispassion leads to Samprajnata Samadhi, concentration filled with transcendental insight, into everyt…

1
77 – Long Practice of Dispassion Leads to Concentration Filled with Transcendental Insight | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 59:57

5y ago59:57

59:57

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with the reminder that stable Yoga-Sadhana can only come when we develop a sense of sanctity towards practice. The two stages of dispassion are discussed. In the first, all tendencies remain only as tendencies. We are able to control them through dispassion. In the second stage, even those tende…

1
78 – Review: Breaking Free From Our Mental Cycles | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 53:08

5y ago53:08

53:08

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with a review of the chapter order of the yoga sutra classes. The world of Vrittis that constitute our mental world, keeps us in a cycle of activities and tendencies. Yoga helps us to break the cycle and evolve. The first step is to use actions, Kriya Yoga, to generate good tendencies. To break …

1
79 – Highest Dispassion: Going Beyond the Three Gunas | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:08:03

5y ago1:08:03

1:08:03

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture beings with a review of Vashikara Vairagya, the first stage of dispassion. The higher vairagya, Para-Vairagya, means going beyond the influence of the three Gunas. The commentators have explained that Pratiprasava, involution, is the process by which these tendencies get dissolved into their causes. At…

1
76 – Renunciation Becomes a Method of Enjoying this World | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:06:09

5y ago1:06:09

1:06:09

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with a reminder of the mental blocks that come from the accumulated Samskaras in our Antahkarana. We can restrain the Vrittis by the practice of feeding good tendencies and remaining indifferent to the negative tendencies of the mind. Swami then discusses the Ishavasya Upanishad’s concept of enj…

1
75 – Detachment Means Identifying With a Higher Ideal | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 56:05

5y ago56:05

56:05

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with a discussion of the Vedanta and Yoga explanation of the variety of human beings. At the physical and spiritual level, all are the same, but at the subtle personality level, there is a great variety. The goal of Yoga is to become free from the trap of this subtle body, Antahkarana. For that,…

1
74 – Directing the Mental River toward Auspiciousness | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:09:10

5y ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with a discussion of the meaning of the invocation verse describing the great sage Patanjali. Nirodha state, the goal of Yoga is reviewed. We can either rest in our true nature or identify with changing sense phenomenon. The five types of mental impressions, Vrittis are reviewed. We are kept rot…

1
73 – Dispassion Becomes Effortless Like a Continuous Flow of Oil | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 53:37

5y ago53:37

53:37

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Most of us are living under the strangle of mental impressions, Vrittis. We must practice detachment from memories, Smrti. Another important practice is to 1) live as much as possible in the company of spiritual aspirants – Maitri, 2) be compassionate towards good people who are struggling to make progress – Karuna…

1
72 – The Most Important Practice: The Meaning of Dispassion | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 57:25

5y ago57:25

57:25

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. In order to cross over the ocean of our accumulated tendencies, vrittis, Patanjali says we must practice Vairagya, dispassion. Vairagya comes with a realization of the impermanence of sensory enjoyments as well as a positive refinement of all our tendencies toward something higher. By the repeated practice of Vaira…

1
71 – You Are Never Too Late | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 53:26

5y ago53:26

53:26

Lecture By Swami Tattwamayananda. We feel complete restfulness in Nidra, deep sleep and in Samadhi because there is no other. The difference is the lack of awareness of that knowledge in deep sleep. Awareness is important to make knowledge functional. Desire is replayed in sleep and in memory. Forgetfulness can free us from negative memories and me…

1
70 – Valid, False, and Imaginary Knowledge All Influence Us | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:06:23

5y ago1:06:23

1:06:23

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Patanjali has given us the knowledge to purify and refine the human mind. Mind functions at the level of experiences and reactions. The knowledge of Yoga was transmitted through a succession of teachers and disciples. There are seven major important commentaries in this line. Our mental tendencies, Samskaras, const…

1
69 – Yoga: Destroying the Magnetism of the Mind | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:03:52

5y ago1:03:52

1:03:52

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The order of the chapters is explained again. The accomplishments of the three great Yoga sages – Patanjali, Vyasa, Shankaracharya - are reviewed. Vyasa’s description of the mind as a magnet for attracting things is explained. The mind also gets attracted to those things that happen to be around. This magnetic powe…

1
68 – Experiences that We Identify With Form Our Character | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:05:47

5y ago1:05:47

1:05:47

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. When we are not identified with a transcendental ideal, every moment becomes an opportunity to identify with a momentary thought current. The tendencies of the mind and the thought currents they generate naturally reveal our true character. In Asamprajnata Samadhi, we transcend this world of Vrittis. The way is thr…

1
67- How to Take Life in Its Completeness | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:15:52

5y ago1:15:52

1:15:52

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. This lecture begins with a discussion of the verse I.2, the definition of yoga as transcendence of the mind. When this is achieved, we rest in our true nature. Otherwise, we identify with the momentary experiences of the mind. The five Klesas, or distractions of Avidya, ignorance, Asmita, egotism, raga, obsessive a…

1
66 – What Is Left is the Buddha | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 58:37

5y ago58:37

58:37

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Atha comes due to the things of life not adding up. The negative movement should be accompanied by a positive progression. The system of vrittis, and the Antahkarana – Manas, Ahamkara, Buddhi, Chittam – is reviewed. It is absolutely to purify the mind of negative desires since “the tiger does come.” You chisel out …

1
65 – Atha: The Spiritual Fitness of the Seeker | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 58:42

5y ago58:42

58:42

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Meaning of words can be conventional or can be etymological. Atha means fitness for taking to spiritual life or Yoga. You can take practice Yamas and Niyamas or take refuge in God to gain fitness. At the end of the dark night of the soul comes complete submission to God. The earlier stages of Kshiptam and Vikshipta…

1
64 – If You Bring Light, Darkness Goes Away Immediately | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 55:44

5y ago55:44

55:44

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. Swami Vivekananda’s example of a worm crawling out of the way of the train is used to illustrate the way human beings have the choice of freedom from slavery to nature. The philosophy of spiritual evolution in Sankhya philosophy as an ascending set of identities is reviewed. Tarakam is the saving inner wisdom. Akra…

1
63 – Running Away or Running Towards Something Higher? | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 1:05:53

5y ago1:05:53

1:05:53

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. If we get tempted after reaching a high level of Samyama, we will have to take many more births to get back on the real track. A great king renounced his kingdom but got attached to a baby deer. He had to be reborn as a deer, then as a human being and finally reached liberation. We should always be aware of the dan…

1
62 – Renunciation of Powers Opens the Gate to Freedom | Patanjali Yoga Sutras | Swami Tattwamayananda 55:36

5y ago55:36

55:36

Lecture by Swami Tattwamayananda. The lecture begins with a review of the three great Indian sages of Yoga: Patanjali, Vyasa, and Shankara. Samyama on good qualities helps us to regulate all external relations. The ultimate goal of yoga is to go beyond all sense enslavement. This is the meaning of Parinama Dukha and Atha. It is a desire for somethi…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Swami Vivekananda Saraswati Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide