In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. Understanding ourselves through svadhyaya (self-study) leads us to nurture empathy for ourselves and others, which helps us be fully present through our body language, attention, and prioritization. Buddhi (understanding) fosters fearlessness t…

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of th…

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of th…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. When we have gratitude for all that we have and do not have in our lives, it leads us to practice dana (generosity). This fosters daya (grace), which in turn makes life easier and more gracious for ourselves and those in our lives. Join us in e…

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of th…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This episode will dive into embracing responsibilities without anxiety or blame by practicing santosha (contentment) through having a cheerful attitude and embracing the lightness that comes from doing what is right, regardless of outcomes. Acc…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. When we are engaged in conflict with those we are close to, virati (independence) acts as a shield. This shield is built by recognizing that true joy cannot be found externally, avoiding labeling, embracing detachment, and depending on Divinity…

What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into Engli…

While our lives often seem to revolve around our children, this episode guides us through how to remember that we are seekers first and our relationship with Divinity transcends lifetimes. Join us in exploring the three tiers of prayer - seeking something, being grateful, and just being with Divinity - and how we can evolve to surrender. In this se…

On this episode of Live Vedanta, we will flow through the second half of our review of Courageous Caregiving through the lens of Vibhishana Gita. This is a good opportunity for us to pause and reflect on how we can practice Bala (Stamina), Viveka (Prioritization), Dama (Discipline), and Parahita (Empathy), Kshama (Forgiveness), Krpa (Kindness), and…

What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into Engli…

Welcome back to Live Vedanta! If you haven’t joined us before, you can catch up on our current season where we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through the lens of Vibhishana Gita. In this episode, we will review how we can cultivate Sauraja (Courage), Dhiraja (Determination), Satya (Integrity), and Shila (Nobility). These discourses a…

When faced with hardships and our will to persevere weakens, we often feel overwhelmed and impatient with ourselves and others. Those with stronger willpower are more patient and balanced and remain unaffected by their contexts. Samata (balance) is when our willpower is stronger than world power; this is accomplished by being focused and remaining …

One of the biggest punyas (merits) is to have krpa (kindness), wherein one which is one who follows the right actions, marked by selflessness and devoid of calculation. Krpa is also defined as grace: By engaging in activities that bring us joy, we are able to feel more grace. When we feel more grace, we and can remember and appreciate those who hav…

What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivekji of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, …

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. Forgiving others and oneself is often the biggest struggle in caregiving. We often as we hold onto past mistakes and create more stress around it, in turn holding us back from finding joy. By starting to practice shama (quieting the mind) and a…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This episode focuses on the idea of parahita (empathy), which starts at the thought level with a general concern for others and their well-being and then moves onto comforting them with words and ultimately taking action. Cultivating empathy re…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. In the constantly moving world around us, focusing our attention on dama (calmness of the body) through discipline can be the catalyst to developing a quieter mind, still the intellect, and finally silence the ego. Building small habits with ou…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This episode focuses on viveka (prioritization) and prompts us to reflect on our purpose, and whether the people we surround ourselves with and the things we do with our time help us reach that purpose. Noticing where our time goes reveals our …

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This episode will guide us in cultivating physical and mental strength which are essential for caregiving. Modeling this bala (stamina) even when we find it difficult is extremely helpful in guiding our kids to reflect the same. These discourse…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This week, we are taking a closer look at Shila (nobility) through the lens of being a good role model rooted in strong character. Our thoughts shape our actions, and consistent actions reinforce our thoughts, creating lasting personality impre…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This week, we’re exploring satya, or integrity. How can we align our thoughts, words, and actions to stay true? These discourses are from our Parenting Culture community, a space for seekers striving to be better in their caregiving responsibil…

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. This week, we are illuminating dhiraja (determination). These discourses are from our Parenting Culture community, a space for seekers striving to be better in their caregiving responsibilities through the practice of self-development. You can …

Welcome to Season 7 of Live Vedanta! In this season, we will be sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving, based on the wisdom of Vibhishana Gita. These discourses are from our Parenting Culture community, a space for seekers striving to be better in their caregiving responsibilities through the practice of self-development. For those on the journe…

This the last episode of Sea Change, our mini-series on the experiences that have changed us. Ryan shares his profound experience of getting to know God, sharing his journey from recovery to a life of service as an ER physician. If you or someone you love is at risk of harming themselves, or needs some help with mental health, call the National Sui…

Sea Change is our mini-series on the experiences that have changed us. One seeker shares her experience, over voicemail, about finding grace through divorce. Interested in joining Efforts for HERstory? We have lots planned for this upcoming month! For those on the journey of self-development, Chinmaya Mission Niagara provides a community forum to l…

Sea Change is our mini-series on the experiences that have changed us. Many of us know the story of immigrating to the United States... but what about deciding to move back to India? In this episode, we're talking to Praveen about caregiving through challenges and keeping the faith that our context is custom-designed for our content. For those on t…

Sea Change is our mini-series on the experiences that have changed us. How do love ourselves when we are alone? In this episode, we're talking to Prem about how a period with the least external movement -- the COVID-19 pandemic -- offered the deepest internal transformation. Want to join one of our 2024-25 weekly courses for self-development? Join …

We're exploring your stories of transition through the lens of Vedanta. Welcome to Sea Change, a mini-series on the experiences that have changed us. In this episode, we're talking to Shri Sumanji about discovering purpose during a time of deep transformation and deep loss. Want to join one of our 2024-25 weekly courses for self-development? Join o…

We're exploring your stories of transition through the lens of Vedanta. Welcome to Sea Change, a mini-series on the experiences that have transformed us. In this episode, we're talking to Sudarshan about embracing independence and grounding into purpose during college. Want to join one of our 2024-25 weekly courses for self-development? Join one of…

We're exploring your stories of transition through the lens of Vedanta. Welcome to Sea Change, a mini-series on the experiences that have transformed us. In this episode, we're talking to Juhi about staying true to herself in college. Want to join one of our 2024-25 weekly courses for self-development? Join one of our free open homes to connect wit…

Before we begin our next season, we're exploring your stories of transition through the lens of Vedanta. Welcome to Sea Change, a mini-series on the experiences that have transformed us. In this first episode, we're talking to Lavanya about a moment in her life that demanded taking a pause. Want to reflect on a transition in your life through the l…

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…