We have had requests from many who want to learn more about Vedanta, but are unable to attend our classes. We are happy to now present some outstanding talks.

.  Click to hear a RealAudio sample. 

Bhakti Yoga uses the power of our feelings and emotions to lead us to God. It is the most natural spiritual practice and is best suited for most people. This scripture is also knows as the Narada Bhakti Sutras. Taught by Swami Prabhavananda from 1961-1962, these classes have a lively feel of enthusiasm and conviction that will make the talks a classic for years to come. 

Learn how your emotions and feelings will lead you to God without contradicting the mind. Each tape has two lectures of about 45 minutes each. 1) Buy the complete set of fifteen tapes, or 30 lectures, for $88.00. This is a special sale price as we phase out our audio tapes. 2) Subscribe to the tape series for $5.95 per tape. One tape will be sent each month for 15 months. You can cancel at any time. 3) Or purchase them individually for $5.95.

This tape series is a product of the Vedanta Archives Project. We also offer Classes on the Sermon on the Mount According to Vedanta, taught by Swami Prabhavananda.

The total collection of tapes consists of 30 classes on "The Narada Bhakti Sutras" given in 1961 and l962 by Swami Prabhavananda, the founder of the Vedanta Society of Southern California. What follows is a short summary of some of the points in each. At the end of each class the Swami answers questions from the audience. The questions are free-ranging and have always been popular. A companion to the series is the book Narada's Way of Divine Love, published by Vedanta Press. We suggest you use the book to go along with the classes

  Class No. 1 11/2/61 The first class gives an introduction to the gospel of Divine love by the great sage Narada. We have to understand that this study gives us knowledge of God. This is not a value for a lifetime like all other studies but an eternal value. Narada's teachings show us the ways, methods and means by which we can find and unite ourselves with God. 

Class No. 2 11/9/61 Who is Narada? He is mentioned first in the Chandogya Upanishad, one of the oldest Upanishads of a pre-historic date. Then Narada is mentioned in the Srimad Bhagavatam. The swami tells the story. Sri Ramakrishna speaks of Narada as an ever-free soul who is born again and again for the good of mankind. Seers will expound the teachings to anybody who feels the need and necessity for God. 

Class No. 3 11/16/61 The path of love or devotion is the most natural and the easiest process to God realization. The swami describes the four classes of people who feel the need for God. 

Class No. 4 11/30/61 In order to understand the aphorisms we have to understand why it is that we must love God and what the objective is and what will be the effect in our life. In order to study anything in our life we have to know what will be the result. Narada gives us the culmination of love. When there comes intense love for God, you experience God in his reality. The swami explains why Narada does not use the word God. Instead he talks of "It" and God as an Impersonal Reality. He also talks about the unique states of Sri Ramakrishna and others and their personal and impersonal experiences of God. There are many heavens according to the Indian idea. Swami describes these and explains who will be able to surpass all through intense love for the Divine. 

Class No. 5 12/7/61 In this class, we learn how to unfold that intense love which is already within us and that psychic powers are great obstacles to spiritual development. The talk describes the characteristics of a perfect individual and how we can gain control over our mind and senses. Class No. 6 12/14/61 Classdiscusses such topics as the ideal of renunciation and whole-souled devotion to God, the struggle to keep recollectedness of God, how to attain love for God, and how long we need to read scriptures and study teachings. 

Class No. 7 12/21/61 When intense love for God arises, we attain the total knowledge of God. We begin our spiritual struggle as a dualist and advance to the non-dual experience of perfection in Godhead. Swami explains what this perfection means, the difference between ordinary love and love for God, and the experience of samadhi of Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and other great souls. 

Class No. 8 1/4/62 How is our life effected when we have grown love for God. Jesus pointed out as the supreme goal: "Be perfect, even as the Father that is in heaven is perfect." Also covered are the characteristics of love as described by different sages, the methods and means to attain love, the need for association with people who think of God. 

Class No. 9 1/11/62 How do we create an interest in God? That is the whole secret, because we concentrate our mind on anything we are interested in. Then our loves grows 

Class No. 10 1/18/62 The swami explains the one condition to realize God as the supreme goal. Meditation on God when intensely active and meditating on God when intensely quiet. Also explained is the difference between lust (sex) and love and a description of the four ways to reach God. 

Class No. 11 1/25/62 In this class, Narada explains why the path of bhakti, devotion or love, is superior to all other paths and why it is the easiest path to follow and how all the other paths are included in the path of devotion. 

Class No. 12 2/1/62 What does it mean to surrender ourselves to God? How do we attain perfection and realize the immortal bliss that is in God? There are many paths to attain supreme love. To any path are two aspects, the negative and the positive. We have to struggle sincerely going slowly with patience and perseverance. 

Class No. 13 2/8/62 The swami explains how it is possible for any one of us to attain supreme love, and what we have to do, and what the role of grace is. 

Class No. 14 2/15/62 Covers the methods and means by which to attain divine love. Swami explains what maya is and who is able to understand it and to cross it. 

Class No. 15 2/22/62 The swami explains the disciplines necessary to realize God, including self-surrender. How is the heart purified? What is the importance of going into solitude 

Class No. 16 3/1/62 In this class, the swami explains how to change our view of life and see the Reality around us. 

Class No. 17 3/22/62 When does love really find true fulfillment? Swami explains the differences of human love and what we experience when we love God. 

Class No. 18 3/29/62 In this class, the swami describes the simultaneous experience of supreme love for God and union with God. Also covered are the different classes of devotees and their motives. 

Class No. 19 4/5/62 Few attain the experience of supreme love for God because few seek to know God. Swami talks about the few as the guideposts for humanity, and what it means to transcend the gunas. 

Class No. 20 4/12/62 Further talk on the supreme ideal, the purpose and goal of love. 

Class No. 21 4/19/62 Discussed are the two stages of love. One is the preparatory stage and the other is the stage of supreme love defined as immortal bliss with an intense experience of God. In spiritual life you need not only scriptures and temples, but a teacher. 

Class No. 22 4/26/62 The swami explains that we have to lose the feeling, "I am the doer." and surrender ourselves completely to God. Other material explained includes the ripe and unripe ego, the qualities which help us grow towards God, and people with a demonic nature. 

Class No. 23 5/3/62 Everyone is not devoted to God at one time. There are only four classes of people that devote themselves to God and Swami explains what they are and what relationship they have with God. A truly great devotee does not care for liberation. He only wants to be able to love God with all his heart and . 

Class No. 24 5/10/62 How can we become intimate with God? What does it mean? What are these experiences that make us a blessing to humanity? 

Class No. 25 5/17/62 Sri Ramakrishna pointed out definitely that the ideal of human life is to attain devotion to God and thereby he also indicated it is to realize God, to be intimate with him, and to become united with him. Shankara (a great Indian saint) said: "May we see with our eyes what is divine, may we hear with our ears what is righteous." When we learn through all our senses to feel God's presence, then our heart becomes purified and we become established in constant recollectedness of God. Then arises the illumined knowledge of God. Narada describes the nature, the characteristics of such illumined souls that are giving holy places their holiness. If you please the Lord, you are pleasing all mankind. A sinner or a saint, it is God in so many forms. 

Class No. 26 5/24/62 The swami explains that there has to be a growth from within. You have to feel the need within you for God, an urge to attain that Infinite being. The feeling that life is empty without God has to come, then spiritual life begins. There is a place for reasoning and discussions. 

Class No. 27 5/31/62 The swami explains that truthfulness is the greatest austerity. We must make the heart and lips the. Also covered is the importance of not only eating pure food, but food that is prepared with the right spirit. 

Class No. 28 6/7/62 How do we practice spiritual disciplines to attain love for God, so that they become natural and normal in our life and character? What is the role in spiritual life of ahimsa(harmlessness), compassion, sincerity, and cheerfulness 

Class No. 29 6/14/62 Transcendental consciousness is the highest samadhi. Of all truths that are, The swami explains that divine love is the greatest truth, and how it manifests itself in eleven different . The swami concludes telling stories of many of the great saints. This class covers the last aphorism of the Narada Bhakti Sutras. 

Class No. 30 6/28/62 This is final class. It is a summary of the entire Narada series.