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Swami Tattwamayananda’s exposition of the Mandukya Upanishad with Karika was given at the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) from April 13, 2012, to December 20, 2013, in a series of 44 lectures. The Mandukya Upanisad belongs to the Atharva Veda tradition and consists of 12 mantras. According to many modern scholars, it is the first systematic treatise on the philosophy of Advaita Vedanta. The Mandukya Karika is a commentary in 215 metrical verses by Gaudapada Acharya who is the first well-known exponent of the doctrine of ...

These lectures on the topic of "Viveka-chudamani"- The Crest-Jewel of Wisdom of Sri Shankaracharya were delivered by Swami Tattwamayananda at the Lake Tahoe Retreat of the Vedanta Society of Northern California (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) on July 14 - 22, 2018. Introduction to “Viveka-chudamani" - The Crest-Jewel of Spiritual WisdomSri Shankaracharya holds a pre-eminent position among the world's master-minds and spiritual teachers. 'Viveka-chudamani' is one of his introductory treatises (traditionally called 'prakarana-granthas') on Advaita Vedanta and is usually studied and ...

Sri Sarada Devi, the spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna, lived from December 22, 1853 to July 20, 1920. Called the Holy Mother by her devotees, she was born in Jayrambati, a village in Bengal. She was both a nun and a mother, the final arbiter of all spiritual matters at Belur Math, yet also the caretaker of her niece. To the many devotees who came to her in India and from abroad, she was their mother. She took care of their physical and spiritual needs as well as taught them spiritual wisdom. She hid her great spiritual attainments and power behind a veil of modesty. To a fortunate few, she...

Swami Tattwamayananda, currently the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, (originally founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) served in various centers of the Ramakrishna Order in India as editor, publisher, and teacher of Sanskrit, Advaitic texts such as Sri Shankaracharya's commentaries on the 'Prasthanatraya' (the fundamental Sanskrit texts of Vedanta philosophy), Buddhism and Indian philosophy. He underwent traditional training in Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit, Vedic and Vedantic literature for many years, from his early days. Before coming to the United States...

Swami Tattwamayananda’s exposition of Patanjali's Yoga Sutras was given at the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) from October 10, 2014 to December 21, 2018 in a series of 111 lectures. These lectures include a mixture of philosophy both Eastern and Western, history, psychology, comparative theology, mysticism, classical parables, and simple everyday examples. Patanjali was a great Indian sage who wrote major treatises on Ayurveda, Sanskrit grammar and Yoga. The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali contain 195 sutras organized into four chapters....

Swami Tattwamayananda, currently the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, (originally founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) served in various centers of the Ramakrishna Order in India as editor, publisher, and teacher of Sanskrit, Advaitic texts such as Sri Shankaracharya's commentaries on the 'Prasthanatraya' (the fundamental Sanskrit texts of Vedanta philosophy), Buddhism and Indian philosophy. He underwent traditional training in Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit, Vedic and Vedantic literature for many years, from his early days. Before coming to the United States...

“Suppose at the Name of the Lord your hair stands on end or tears of joy start from your eyes; verily I say unto you the term is over for your ‘work for the Lord.’” – Sri Ramakrishna (1836 – 1886). These are the first words of the great Hindu saint Sri Ramakrishna chronicled by his future disciple, Mahendranath Gupta (M.) in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. It is an extraordinary document of spirituality, which makes spirituality simple to practice for a person in any situation in life. Spirituality can be practiced while continuing to carry out the duties and responsibilities of ...

The Speaker's Introduction:Swami Tattwamayananda, currently the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, (originally founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) served in various centers of the Ramakrishna Order in India as editor, publisher, and teacher of Sanskrit, Advaitic texts such as Sri Shankaracharya's commentaries on the 'Prasthanatraya' (the fundamental Sanskrit texts of Vedanta philosophy), Buddhism and Indian philosophy. He underwent traditional training in Hindu scriptures, Sanskrit, Vedic and Vedantic literature for many years, from his early days. Before ...

Swami Tattwamayananda’s class on Srimad Bhagavad Gita is held at the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) on Friday evenings in the First Universal Hindu Temple in the West (founded by Swami Trigunatitananda in 1905). Classes are held on Friday night at 7:30 pm. All are most welcome.The Srimad Bhagavad Gita is the most important spiritual classic of Hinduism.Swami Tattwamayananda, currently the Minister of the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco, (originally founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) served in various ...

An Introduction to " Drg-Drsya-Viveka " Sri Shankaracharya holds a pre-eminent position among the world's master-minds and spiritual teachers. 'Drg-Drsya-Viveka' is one of the great Acharya's introductory treatises (traditionally called 'prakarana-granthas') on Advaita Vedanta which teaches the identity and oneness of the individual Jiva and Paramatman. This small but important book of forty-six verses describes not only different forms of samadhi but also, more importantly, expounds some of the basic doctrines of Advaita Vedanta following a method known as 'Anvaya-vyatireka' (...

“The teachers of the science of Yoga, therefore, declare that religion is not only based upon the experience of ancient times, but that no man can be religious until he has the same perceptions himself. Yoga is the science which teaches us how to get these perceptions.” (Swami Vivekananda Raja Yoga, page 15)The tradition of yoga philosophy in India takes Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras as its fundamental text. The author of these sutras was the ancient sage Patanjali who is also well-known for fundamental contributions in other fields of Indian philosophy. This unique tradition and text give a ...

This podcast contains discourses on the Srimad Bhagavata Purana by Swami Tattwamayananda. The Srimad Bhagavata Purana is as sacred as the Bhagavad Gita, as authentic as the Vedas, and as metaphysically deep as the Upanishads. Its author is Vyasa. It is presented in 12 skandas. It is given in answer to the question, “what should a dying man do?” The answer is to die with God’s name on your lips and God’s form in your heart. Containing innumerable classic devotional stories, dialogues, and characters, the Srimad Bhagavata Purana illustrates in an unforgettable way exactly how to do ...

Swami Tattwamayananda’s exposition of the TAITTIRIYA UPANISHAD was given at the Lake Tahoe Retreat run by the Vedanta Society of Northern California, San Francisco (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1900) from July 27, 2019, to August 4, 2019, in a series of 9 lectures. The Taittiriya Upanisad comprise the 7th, 8th, and 9th chapters of the larger Taittiriya Aranyaka that belongs to the Yajur Veda tradition. The Upanishad contains 31 anuvakas (lessons): 12 in the Siksa-valli, 9 in the Ananda-valli, and 10 in the Bhrigu-valli. Sri Shankaracharya’s (788-820 CE) commented on the Taittiriya ...