Frank:Thank you, Sundari. I agree with what you are saying. I am 61 years old and struggle with intense chronic pain due to high...
Satsang is a compound Sanskrit word that means “keeping the company of the Self.” The Self, Awareness, is the true nature of everyone and one keeps company with it by continually meditating on it in many ways. One of the most effective methods involves discussing non-dual teachings with someone whose knowledge of his or her identity as Awareness is doubt-free, to get clarity with reference to Self inquiry. The satsangs posted here are answers to the questions of many people around the world who are interested in enlightenment and committed to Vedanta as their preferred means of Self knowledge.
Now that Vedanta is well known in Western spiritual circles, it has become commonplace for unqualified “teachers” to identify with it. A qualified teacher is called a mahatma, someone immersed in the Vedic tradition who has been taught the methodology by someone who has been properly taught in an unbroken chain of teachers, through Shankaracharya, back to the Upanishads, the source texts themselves. My teacher, Swami Chinmaya, seen here with his teacher, Swami Tapovan Maharaj, satisfies this qualification. I have not strayed from the tradition since my introduction to it in 1968 and teach traditional Vedanta, although not in the traditional monastic format.
Chinmaya Teaching in a Traditional Setting
Roger:Why does it seem to be such a natural human inclination to want to have control over our future experiences? I findkarma yogareally difficult....
Matt:When you talk aboutkarma, what do you mean exactly? Rory:Karmaliterally means “action.” Anything that you do iskarma, from brushing your teeth first thing to...
Jane:I have difficulties practicingkarma yogabecause I have a problem with theIsvara/God concept. I cannot pray to a higher instance, because the whole concept of...
Matt:You say: “We’re never not experiencing the Self, because there’s nothing else to experience. All that’s necessary is the removal of ignorance about that...
Jane:The great magic show called life – I cannot enjoy it. I am constantly thinking, “Why do I have to deal with this sh**?...
Jane:I have a conflict between the spiritual and the material. On the one hand, I have deep thoughts and value the meaning of Vedanta,...
Dave:I notice that Vedanta doesn’t mention much, if anything, about the importance of love. For many, God is equated with love, i.e. “God is...
Ann:Dear Sundari, time flies! I think of you and James every day. In fact I spend almost every day with you guys☺, listening to...
Stewart:Dear James, one of my spiritual mentors died recently. I did experience a strong wave of grief that day. But at same time I...
Clara:Dear James, I recently read yoursatsangentryThe Complete Teachingand of its necessity for the Western mind or student. I was going to email you to...
Satish:I thought after the high of Trout Lake that I would come home and “come back to earth” in my old routine but nothing...
Gary:Hi, James. You said, “Okay. You are in charge of yoursadhana. But you need to know that you can’t read or practice your way...
Rory:The purpose of this article is to bring together all the tools I’ve found helpful and effective in dealing with and managing thevasanas: those...
Frank:I watched some YouTube by James Swartz, and I have a question re spirituality and therapy. Can you help me find information on this...










