Events Platfrom: Moksha

Tat Tvam Asi—“That Thou Art”—is one of the great Mahāvākyas of the Upaniṣads and a foundational statement of Advaita Vedānta. This talk will explore the philosophical significance of this profound declaration, examining the meaning of tat (That), tvam (Thou), and asi (Art), and how their apparent difference is resolved through the Upaniṣadic teaching. Drawing upon the Chāndogya Upaniṣad, the talk will explore the pedagogical context in which the Mahāvākya is taught and the gradual unfolding of its meaning

The talk shall discuss Vande Mataram through the philosophical lens of the Śākta tradition, exploring its vision of the Motherland as the Divine Mother. It shall examine the interrelationship of Vīra Bhakti, and Śaraṇāgati, showing how these culminate in a sacred call to action. The discussion shall further explore the idea of the nation as an extension of the Self, demonstrating how Vande Mataram transcends political nationalism to present a spiritual vision in which service to the Motherland becomes an expression of self-realisation and divine consciousness.

Brahmavid Ashirvada Paddhati of Vidyaranya is a profound meditative and assertive exposition of Advaita Vedanta. In this text, the seeker engaged in Jnana Yoga undertakes a contemplative process of affirming the non-dual identity of Jiva and Brahman. Through a series of deeply reflective declarations, the sadhaka systematically negates the limiting attributes associated with individuality — such as identification with the body, mind, senses, and intellect — and gradually abides in the awareness of one’s true nature as Parabrahman. The work thus serves not merely as a philosophical treatise, but as a practical guide to Advaitic contemplation and inner transformation.

In the upcoming talk, Prof. C. S. R. Prabhu will explore the spiritual depth and contemplative methodology embedded in Brahmavid Ashirvada Paddhati. The lecture will highlight how Vidyaranya employs meditative assertions as a means of transcending Jivatva and realizing the supreme non-dual reality. Drawing from the rich tradition of Advaita Vedanta, the session promises to provide valuable insights into the experiential dimensions of self-knowledge and the inward journey from individuality to Brahman-consciousness.

Stories transmit what sūtras alone cannot: philosophy embodied. The sages of India’s great wisdom traditions did not philosophize in the abstract. Their insights were forged in life — in bodies broken, abandoned, and cloistered. It is through their stories that we encounter exemplars of wisdom in the world. This talk explores three Indic sage stories (from The Stories Behind the Poses), each illuminating core Vedāntic concepts — ātman, avidyā, karma, and mokṣa — through narrative rather than doctrine. From Aṣṭāvakra’s deformed body in Janaka’s court, to Matsyendra’s twelve years in the belly of a fish, to Bharadvāja’s three lifetimes of incomplete learning, these tales show that wisdom is not information but transformation. Stories teach you when you least expect it, which is why they’re so effective.

A dipstick with college mates, friends, and relatives claimed that almost no one had read the Holy Gita. This was concerning. The Gita is an ancient treasure, filled with wisdom—an excellent guide to peace and happiness. It is a misconception that the Gita is meant for 70-year-olds in the last phase of their lives. It is a day-to-day guide for every human being to finding peace and solace in today’s challenging world.

This talk is an attempt to get the message of the Gita to a larger audience.

Many sincere practitioners face a familiar paradox: meditation sometimes unfolds effortlessly, yet at other times remains resistant despite discipline and experience. This challenge is not new. In the Bhagavad Gītā, Arjuna admits that the mind is “harder to control than the wind,” while modern thinkers such as Yuval Noah Harari have noted that analytical brilliance can hinder, rather than support, meditation.

Drawing on the Upaniṣhads and their commentarial tradition, this session explores why the mind naturally turns outward, how meditation differs from concentration, and why Vedānta understands meditation as an expression of inner readiness rather than an act of will. A simple Meditation States Monitor, generated using AI, will be used illustratively to support reflection and explore meditative states.