Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati Explains Advaita VedAnta in a Nutshell

On the occasion of MahAshivarAtri 2023, I am publishing this episode featuring Swami Sakshatkrtanandaji's elegant explanations of fundamental tenets of the Hindu philosophical system known as non-dualism, or Advaita VedAnta.
He is one of the foremost teachers of this traditional method of questioning and understanding ourselves and the world around us. His crystalline explanations as answers to my questions are priceless, so I do urge you to listen to the whole episode. It will be worth putting up with the uneven audio quality many times over!
Swami-ji offers wise counsel on how Hindus in the West can keep their faith relevant and how Advaita VedAnta offers people everywhere and of all beliefs a practical way to lead a contented life.
I recorded this interview in Rishikesh, India which has a unique role in the history of the Hindu faith. It was once, centuries ago, an exclusive preserve of ascetics and renunciate monks, a place that was hard to reach and harder to survive in, far from the noise and crowds. A place reserved for those who chose to not participate in conventional society and opt instead for sadhana (spiritual discipline) and austerities amidst the natural environment of the Himalayas and the holy river Ganga.
Rishikesh, an ancient holy site, later became known as the place where the Beatles descended in the '60s to seek refuge with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and Transcendental Meditation. Today, it is a bustling town with all the amenities of any large urban center. Yet, the historic ashrams along the banks of the Ganga still stand and continue to provide education and training for spiritual aspirants from around the world. Many Hindu Indian-Americans like myself travel to India to visit sacred sites such as Rishikesh. It is an experience that serves to reinvigorate faith and reconnect ties to cultural heritage. 
I wanted to publish this episode on the occasion of MahAshivarAtri (February 18, 2023), an annual Hindu festival marked across India and Hindu communities around the world. Lord Shiva is especially venerated in Rishikesh because he is the lord of ascetics, always absorbed in meditation. On MahAshivarAtri, the Great Night of Lord Shiva, he reveals his power and glory through his tandava dance to rebalance the energy forces at play in the cosmos.

Much more to come on many of the themes embedded in this episode!

With profound gratitude to:
-Swami Sakshatkrtananda Saraswati, Swami Dayananda Ashram, Rishikesh, India
Website: www.dayananda.org
-My mother, Swamini Vedavedyananda Saraswati, Charleston, SC, for introducing me to Sw. Sakshatji, Sw. Dayanandaji, Advaita Vedanta, Hinduism, and so much more! 

additional audio credit: xserra-temple-iit-mumbai from freesound.org

Credits:
theme music track: timbre-loopcentury-bhajan from freesound.org