The Axe of Non-Attachment | Cutting Through Illusion || Swami Sarvapriyananda

The Axe of Non-Attachment | Cutting Through Illusion || Swami Sarvapriyananda

Author: Vedanta Society of New York April 24, 2026 Duration: 1:25:30

Swami Sarvapriyananda reflects on the Bhagavad Gita’s image of the “axe of non-attachment,” showing how renunciation is not a negative rejection of life but a turning from the lower to the higher. He explains that true detachment means loosening the hold of worldly desires, ego, and endless striving so that one can direct life toward God-realization, freedom, and immortality.


00:00 - Invocation

00:46 - Easter, immortality, and the promise of religion

02:46 - The axe of non-attachment in the Bhagavad Gita

06:34 - Christ as an ideal of renunciation

09:40 - Renunciation as the turning point in every yoga

18:02 - Detachment as moving toward the higher, not fighting the lower

28:51 - Beginning the search for the real

30:30 - Worldly devotion and true devotion to God


Within the quiet sanctuary of the Vedanta Society of New York, a voice explores the profound depths of an ancient tradition. Vedanta Talks-Swami Sarvapriyananda presents the teacher's illuminating discourses, recorded live, which delve into one of humanity's oldest and most comprehensive spiritual philosophies. Rooted in the wisdom of the Vedas, Vedanta is not merely a historical subject but a living inquiry into the nature of reality itself. Each episode feels like a personal audience, where Swami Sarvapriyananda articulates core principles-such as the essential oneness of all existence and the inherent divinity within each person-with remarkable clarity and contemporary relevance. This podcast, offered by the Society founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1894, makes this expansive philosophy accessible, demonstrating how its timeless insights foster genuine personal growth and a meaningful understanding of life's biggest questions. The conversations naturally extend to the harmony found among all religious paths, providing a unifying perspective for seekers from any background. Tuning into this podcast is an invitation to reflect deeply, moving beyond abstract theory to practical wisdom that resonates long after each talk concludes.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Vedanta Talks - Swami Sarvapriyananda
Podcast Episodes
Avadhūta Gītā Retreat | Session 2 | Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:27
This video is part of the Avadhūta Gītā Spiritual Retreat presented by the Vedanta Study Circle of Boston (AVG).This recording is Session 2 of the retreat and explores the timeless teachings of the Avadhūta Gītā under th…
Avadhūta Gītā Retreat | Session 1| Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:32
This video is part of the Avadhūta Gītā Spiritual Retreat presented by the Vedanta Study Circle of Boston (AVG). This recording is Session 1 of the retreat and explores the timeless teachings of the Avadhūta Gītā under t…
Being without Becoming | Swami Anubhavananda Saraswati [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:25
Swami Anubhavananda is a renowned Vedanta teacher known for his joyful and practical message of “Be Happy.” He served as an acharya (teacher) at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya in Mumbai, a postgraduate academy for Vedantic studi…
The Joy of Spiritual Practice | Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:55
Pravrajika Shuddhatmaprana is an ordained nun of the Vedanta Society of Southern California, and is currently posted at the Vivekananda Retreat in Ridgely, New York (https://ridgely.org). For many years, Shuddhatmaprana…
Gospel | Chapter 6: Dec 1882 (Part 3) | Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:06
Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The tex…
Gospel | Chapter 6: Dec 1882 (Part 2) | Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:15
Swami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri Ramakrishna Kathamrita by Swami Nikhilananda. The tex…
177. Bhagavad Gita | Chapter 15, Verses 7-9 | Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:37
Swami Sarvapriyananda continues teaching verse 6 from the fifteenth chapter, entitled Purushottama Yoga, the Yoga of the Supreme Being, of the Bhagavad Gita. This series of talks by Swami Sarvapriyananda on the Bhagavad…
Gospel | Chapter 6: Nov 1882 | Swami Sarvapriyananda [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:33
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna | Swami SarvapriyanandaSwami Sarvapriyananda reads and discusses the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is an English translation of the Bengali spiritual text Sri Sri…