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For someone who always takes the safer route, unsafe choices are never an option. However, for Swami Sarvapriyananda, his first and last unsafe decision of becoming a monk after finishing his MBA course resulted in him abandoning all possibilities of a lucrative career and having his own family. In this talk, Swami Sarvapriyananda explores that one pivotal decision and how it turned out to be life-changing. He talks about the spiritual quest everyone should undertake- questioning the purpose of one's life and existence. He elaborates on the four aspects of this quest- Gyan Yog or knowledge, Dhayan Yog or meditation, Bhakti Yog or devotion, and Karma Yog or actions. Citing Swami Vivekananda as an inspiration, he further emphasizes the need to be spiritual for anyone and everyone, irrespective of their domains.
Swami Sarvapriyananda is a Hindu monk of the Ramakrishna Order for more than 25 years. Currently, he is the head of the Vedanta Society of New York, a position he has been serving since January 2017. He was also in residence at Harvard Divinity School at Harvard University last year. He frequently speaks at events centred on the teachings of Advaita Vedanta. His spiritual lectures and teachings on the various texts of Advaita Vedanta are widely popular and followed by people worldwide. His series of lectures titled "Who am I?" are some of his most-watched talks. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx