Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on April 27, 2014.

In this talk, Swami Bhaskarananda explains that the “battle within” is the struggle to bring the mind under control and find lasting peace. Through a memorable example of a student who sought solitude for meditation but found his own mind to be the most persistent companion, he shows that peace cannot be gained merely by changing outer circumstances. He then outlines the Vedantic understanding of the mind as the antahkarana, the inner instrument of knowing, and describes its functions as manas (cognition and doubt), buddhi (discernment), chitta (memory), and ahankara (the sense of “I”). Restlessness, he notes, arises when the mind becomes turbulent and conflicted, much as Arjuna’s mind was in the Bhagavad Gita.

Swami Bhaskarananda connects inner conflict to the play of the three gunas: sattva (clarity and peace), rajas (restlessness and desire), and tamas (inertia and confusion). Desire for sense objects, he explains, fuels agitation and can cascade into anger, delusion, and poor judgment. The practical remedy is spiritual practice that increases sattva—prayer, chanting, and disciplined living—so the discerning faculty of the mind can restrain turbulence. As the mind grows calmer and purer, one gains the capacity to see that the ego is not the true Self, and inner victory becomes possible through steadiness in divine awareness.

Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on April 20, 2014.

In this Easter talk, Swami Bhaskarananda presents a Vedantic interpretation of the resurrection of Jesus, affirming him as a divine incarnation whose life and message restored spirituality during a time of decline. He explains that divine incarnations appear when righteousness weakens, manifesting extraordinary unselfishness and spiritual power. Drawing parallels with figures such as Sri Krishna, Buddha, and Sri Ramakrishna, he emphasizes that the hallmark of true divinity is complete self-sacrifice and compassion. He also recounts the crucifixion and resurrection narratives from the Gospels, noting their variations while affirming their shared testimony that Jesus was not bound by death.

From a yogic perspective, Swami Bhaskarananda interprets the resurrection as an instance of the highest spiritual absorption, or samadhi, in which bodily functions may cease and later resume. He explains that only rare souls—divine incarnations—can enter and return from such a state. The talk broadens into a reflection on heaven, spiritual planes of existence, and the ultimate Vedantic teaching that the same divine consciousness dwells in all beings. Easter, he concludes, symbolizes not merely a historical event but the triumph of divine consciousness over limitation, calling each person to manifest the divinity within.

Recorded at the Vedanta Society of Western Washington on April 13, 2014.

In this talk, Swami Bhaskarananda explores the relationship between truthfulness and spiritual growth by distinguishing between truth as mere factual description and truth as deeper, implied meaning. Using stories and everyday examples, he shows how the same event can be interpreted in different ways, and why literalism—especially in matters of religion—can distort understanding and lead to harm. He emphasizes that spiritual life is supported not by superficial correctness alone, but by discernment, context, and a sincere commitment to what is truly meant.

Swami Bhaskarananda then turns to the practice of truthfulness as a discipline of thought, speech, and conduct. He explains the difference between “convenient” truthfulness and truthfulness that remains firm even when it is personally difficult, noting that selfishness is a major obstacle to genuine honesty. He also addresses ethical complexity through episodes from the Mahabharata, including cases where telling the literal truth can endanger innocent lives, and where protecting what is right may require restraint or even a deliberate untruth. Finally, he contrasts relative truths with the highest truth described in Vedanta: the changeless, eternal reality of Brahman. Establishing oneself in truthfulness, he says, strengthens the mind, supports unselfishness, and prepares one for knowledge of the Self.