It’s been a busy week for us as usual, and we had the pleasure of our very first olive harvest. It was delightful to observe, and very hard work for those doing the harvesting - which was a whole cheerful family, including grandma, or nonna in Italian! We have a small olive orchard, but we hope to have gathered at least 100 litres of the highest quality organic olive oil available. We look forward to enjoying and sharing it with our friends and guests in the coming years.

Donations - A Request and Reminder

We know how much all of you who attend our Zoom satsangs appreciate the effort and great care Ramji takes in presenting Vedanta teachings of the highest order in all his offerings, including every single week on Zoom. He never fails to amaze even me with his total and indefatigable dedication to giving his all in serving Isvara and all who attend. We are indeed very blessed to still have him with us. In light of this, we gently remind you that it is the student’s duty, and the dharma of an inquirer, to give back and give thanks. There is nothing of more value in life than Self-knowledge, and nothing that brings more value to our life. And to truly assimilate Vedanta, you need a teacher. Anyone who has the grace to have Ramji as a teacher has very good karma.

Those of you who donate regularly, we thank you. You help to keep us going, and you have the right attitude. Those of you who do not donate, or think it’s not necessary for whatever reason, you do not have to, of course. However, we ask you: if you are getting great value from Ramji’s teaching, what could be more important than serving Isvara in return with gratitude, and demonstrating that service by supporting the teacher, who is non-different from Isvara? We dedicate our lives to serving Isvara in the form of you.

Sunday 1^st November Zoom Satsang

REMINDER - Daylight saving is now in effect in Europe. The Zoom satsang will start at 7pm European time as usual. Please take note and adjust accordingly for your time zone.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587
Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

A good friend and student requested a teaching on the meaning of ‘dark’ and ‘light’ Krishna with reference to her ecstatic response to terminal illness. With this in mind, this Sunday on Zoom, Ramji is going to give a teaching titled “Love in Absence”, based on the Srimad Bhagavatham (Canto 10, Chapters 29–33). It narrates Krishna’s (seemingly) sudden disappearance and subsequent reappearance during the dance of non-duality, addressing the issue of experiencing non-dual love and exhausting physical suffering.

The lessons from the dance of non-duality, called rasalila, which means “the play of the essence,” i.e., non-dual love, contextualize our friend’s experience. The title of the satsang is provocative in that Krishna can never truly appear or disappear; Krishna symbolizes nondual love, meaning the Self, which is never not present. Though non-dual love can be experienced very intensely and some situations may enhance it, it is actually our ever present true nature. Therefore, it is not bound by or dependent on experience.

The teaching Ramji will give has deep meaning for everyone, regardless of their physical or mental health. Though sooner or later we will all face our inevitable demise as a jiva, what matters is that Krishna shines in the mind and in our lives, and that we actualize what non-dual love truly means while living. To realize our true nondual nature as unborn and deathless, we must see and accept the perfection in all aspects of life: light and dark, life and death. The eternal dance of non-duality.

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

Grief and The Deathlessness of Love - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang - October 25th, 2026

Ramji reviews the Mundaka Upanishad and presents new graphics to help unfold its meaning. Following that is a discussion about what it means to be a teacher of Vedanta, and to uphold lineage dharma. The theme is “All glory to God!”

3. Forthcoming Teaching Events

James Swartz - Current Teaching Schedule for 2027

Berlin, Charlottenburg - March 13-14: More Information

Netherlands, Amsterdam - March 20-21: More Information

Italy, Bisenti - Dates TBD (most likely mid-May)

4. Video of The Week: Mundo Sundaram, Spain (Zoom)

This satsang is another teaching on the theme Ramji will present this weekend.

5. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack
November 14-15, 2026 - Halifax, Nova Scotia: More Information

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis
Neue Online-Kursreihe ab 3. November - Die Rolle Gottes für die Selbst-Erkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

6. Keep in touch with ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider supporting ShiningWorld by becoming a member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog.

Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

and on Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

7. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Last Sunday James switched his teaching topic from the Mundaka to the current doctrinal discussion within the Vedanta community between Arsha Vidya and Swami Tattvavidananda. As I point out in this week’s featured satsang, it is important to address for both new and established inquirers because this relates to the dharma of the timeless and unchanging Vedanta sampradaya, or lineage. The teachings do not belong to anyone, they are the timeless logic of existence. But as the Vedanta doctrine is entrusted to lineage holders to teach, uphold and protect, any confusion arising from differences in teaching styles must be clarified.

The pertinent take-away for inquirers from the discussion was that there is no problem on either side of the discussion regarding the doctrine or the integrity of the teachings. All qualified teachers of Vedanta know how important it is to give all credit to Isvara and the scripture, which are non-different, and to strictly adhere to the teachings without changing any doctrine. However, every teacher will have a certain personal teaching style that cannot be avoided. The important issue is that their style enhances the teachings and does not promote their ego. In the case of Swami TV as he is popularly known, it seems this is not the case.

Sunday October 25^th Zoom Satsang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

PLEASE NOTE - Daylight saving starts in Europe this Sunday. This means we go back one hour. The Zoom satsang will start at 7 Pm European time as usual, so if you live in Europe and previously joined us at 7 pm, that will now be 6 pm. For anyone not living in Europe, please take note and adjust accordingly for your time zone.

In keeping with the discussion regarding Swami TV and Arsha Vidya, this Sunday James will open the satsang by discussing what it entails to qualify as a teacher of Vedanta, as well as a teacher endorsed by Shiningworld. He will conclude the unfolding of the Mundaka Upanishad with graphics as usual, to help illuminate the powerful message contained within the teachings. Be sure to join the discussion! We hope that all our endorsed teachers read the featured satsang and join the Zoom session.

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

Swami TV and What Is A Qualified Teacher of Vedanta - Sundari Swartz

Continue reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang - October 18th, 2026

Ramji weighs in on the current discussion surrounding Swami TV and the teaching lineage under whose aegis Swami TV, Arsha Vidya, and ShiningWorld teach.

3. Forthcoming Teaching Events

James Swartz - Current Teaching Schedule for 2027

Berlin, Charlottenburg - March 13-14: More Information

Netherlands, Amsterdam - March 20-21: More Information

Italy, Bisenti - Dates TBD (most likely mid-May)

4. Video of The Week: Bad Meinberg, Germany 2022

Ramji discusses what it means to be a properly qualified student, and to be a properly qualified teacher, as well as unfolding what that relationship looks like.

5. A Satsang On How Vedanta Works

An inquirer asked how to implement different practices offered by some well known teachers, and expressed uncertainty about which methods work. This satsang discusses the difference between pointing and teaching, and provides an example that is easy to relate to.

Read the full conversation on Reddit

6. Keep in touch with ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider supporting ShiningWorld by becoming a member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog.

Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

and on Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

7. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack
November 14-15, 2026 - Halifax, Nova Scotia: More Information

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis
Neue Online-Kursreihe ab 3. November - Die Rolle Gottes für die Selbst-Erkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

8. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We are so happy with the last seminar here in Italy. Ramji was ‘on fire,’ and everyone who attended left with a lot more of what they truly need and a lot less of what they don’t need. Our hope is that the knowledge sticks and helps to transform the lived experience of the jiva, as much as it negates its prominence in identity. The feedback we received from our attendees certainly confirms this. We will soon confirm the date for our next seminar here in 2027.

Winter is fast approaching, and we had the first dustings of snow on the highest mountaintops. After the intense activity involved in preparing and setting up for the seminar, we are taking some time to finish the last bits of work for our guest accommodation. My family from Bali is coming to spend Christmas with us, but from next year, our plan is to invite selected ShiningWorld friends to stay with us, under certain conditions and requirements. We will let everyone know when we are ready for this and what it will entail.

Sunday October 18^th Zoom Satsang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Last Sunday’s Zoom was a ’blockbuster’ as Ramji likes to call teachings that rock, so he plans to continue unfolding the Mundaka Upanishad. No matter which way he approaches the teachings, or which text he teaches, Ramji never fails to ‘deliver the goods,’ as you all know.

Tune in, you will not be disappointed!

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

To Comfort the Afflicted or Afflict the Comfortable - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Blockbuster Zoom Satsang - October 11, 2026!

Ramji continues to unfold the Mundaka Upanishad with the help of his teaching graphics created in cooperation with AI.

3. Forthcoming Teaching Events

Canada, Halifax - with Dave Reid - November 14-15, 2026: More Information

Following two very successful introductory evenings in May with their local Sangha, Karla Sonnichsen and James Warner are happy to host Dave Reid again in Halifax, Nova Scotia for another Vedanta teaching. New attendees and long-time students alike are welcome to immerse themselves in Dave’s accessible and comprehensive teaching style.

The teaching will be structured around the theme of Ramji’s book The Power of Know, where – as Ramji makes clear – the essence of nondual wisdom is “resolving the perennial conflict between the path of action and the path of knowledge for those who seek the inner freedom that is our birthright.”

Teaching Schedule for 2027 with James Swartz

Berlin, Charlottenburg - March 13-14: More Information

Netherlands, Amsterdam - March 20-21: More Information

Italy, Bisenti - Dates TBD (most likely mid-May)

4. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

5. Keep in touch with ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider supporting ShiningWorld by becoming a member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog. Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

and on Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

6. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We are almost at the end of our second successful seminar in Italy, and Ramji feels stronger than ever after his recent medical intervention. As always, he gave his very best to a receptive and appreciative group. The input and questions have been excellent, and we have enjoyed the group as much as they have enjoyed being here in this beautiful place for the teachings. There have been many laughs along with the ‘aha’s!”

It’s hard to believe it’s not even a year since we left our home in Spain, yet we have established a wonderful home and teaching centre in Italy. Since we are living somewhat out of the way in the countryside, we still need to gather more information about the area. But in time it will become easier as our knowledge and connections grow.

Next week I will post our teaching schedule for spring 2027. We have forthcoming seminars in Berlin and Amsterdam in March, and another in Italy in May. Stay tuned and watch the website and social media for more details.

Sunday October 11^th Zoom Satsang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Ramji feels up to holding this Sunday’s satsang on Zoom even though he has had a heavy teaching load this week. He loves how the online sangha has developed and so enjoys connecting with everyone. We may never meet some of you, and we see others very rarely. But we feel that we are all one big ShiningWorld family. The beauty of Vedanta is that it removes all separation in time, space and even personal experiences. We are all one in the Self, and there is only one jiva despite our seemingly unique life narratives.

We are not sure exactly what the satsang’s title will be, but Ramji will most likely continue the teachings he has been giving here this week. Regardless of the focus, it will be high level Vedanta with Ramji’s inimitable magic touch.

Tune in, you will not be disappointed!

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

The Relief of Finding You Are the Path Home - Sundari Swartz

Continue reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Bisenti, Italy - October 5, 2026!

Ramji speaks on the topic of Love, specifically unfolding the meaning of formal and non-dual devotion. Lively discussions ensue in this powerful and enlightening video.

3. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

4. A Satsang from Dave (VedantaGorilla) on Reddit

Q: By self enquiry I can see that I am not the body.

But I still see “this body,” which is not me. But “this body” is special to me compared to other bodies because when it is hungry, I am hungry. when it is sitting, I am sitting. when it is in pain, I am in pain. And so on.

Is this normal for someone who understands vedanta, or do I need further detachment from the “this body”.

More from VedantaGorilla on Reddit

5. Keep in touch with ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider supporting ShiningWorld by becoming a member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog. Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

and on Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

6. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

There will not be a Zoom Satsang this Sunday as we begin the seminar here in Italy!

Keep an eye out for next week’s newsletter to confirm the next scheduled Zoom Satsang.

Sending much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

Good and Bad Samskaras are Not Real - James Swartz

Continue reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang Recording

Ramji continues this series of the Mundaka Upanishad with Chapter Four, the Mahavakyas.

3. Upcoming Events with Endorsed Teachers

German May - October (Online) - Click for details

Thomas Fischer - October 17, 24, and 31, Graz, Austria - Click for details

Dave Reid - November 14-15, Halifax - Click for details

Andre Vas - January 8-18, India - Click for details

4. ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider becoming a paying member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog. Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

On Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

5. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

6. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Sorry I forgot to include it!

Dave

We are getting ready for the seminar in Italy, which is just under two weeks away, and a few spaces are still available. As you can see, the indomitable Ramji, the tree and truth doctor, is ready for action!

Sunday 27th September Zoom Satsang ~ Mundaka Upanishad Chapter Four

This Sunday Ramji will complete the Mundaka Upanishad by teaching chapter four, which covers identity mantras: what they are, and why the distinction between identity mantras and experiential mantras is important for those committed to self-inquiry.

We hope to see you all there!

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

Analysis of Nirvana Shatakam - James Swartz

Continue reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Berlin, 2019

This powerful video unfolds the science of Vedanta, and how the identity mantras (Mahavakyas) actually work with reference to your own mind and your own life.

3. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang Recording

Join our YouTube membership for unlimited access to this and the entire catalog of ShiningWorld videos.

4. Upcoming Events with Endorsed Teachers

Andre Vas

Vedanta Retreat with Andre Vas from January 8-18, 2027. Coming winter there will be the yearly Vedanta seminar in the Thonse Ayurvedic Health Center at the coast of Karnataka, India. More info: Vedanta Retreat in India - Vedanta

German May

Online-Seminarreihe September, Oktober 2026

Aus der letzten Stunde ...

Warum kommt Krishna in seiner Belehrung an Arjuna im 2. Kapitel der Bhagavad Gita vom endgültigen wissen, das Brahman allein IST, zu einer Belehrung über Karma und Karma-Yoga?

Click for more information

Thomas Fischer

October 17, 24, and 31, 2026 - Graz, Austria

Thomas will offer three four-hour introductory sessions in Graz, Austria, in preparation for the two-year course “Vedanta – Your Journey to the True Self,” beginning in the spring of 2027. The introductory sessions will take place on October 17, 24, and 31, 2026.

For further information, please contact Thomas at th.fischer@aon.at.

Dave Reid

November 14-15 - Halifax (Nova Scotia), Canada

Dave will be returning to Halifax to lead a weekend seminar. The text for the seminar will be Ramji’s book The Power of Know, which weds experience (yoga) and knowledge (Vedanta) together in a path that leads to transcendent freedom. James dedicated his book to “doers and thinkers everywhere who are trying to release themselves from the sense of limitation and inadequacy that bedevils every human heart.”

For registration and further information, please contact Dave at vedantagorilla@gmail.com or Karla at akashson@hotmail.com.

5. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

6. IN TWO WEEKS: Live Seminar in Italy

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Ramji in the intimate setting of his and Sundari’s beautiful home in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy - October 4th-9th. Ask your burning questions! The answers that matter most have the power to transform your experience of being here, of simply being alive, unburdened by the false and suffocating sense of limitation that plagues us all too often. Here is just such an exchange from the recent seminar on Long Island:

7. Why Chant Mantras or Perform Rituals

Q: What is the importance of chanting and performing rituals? From my understanding as a dedicated inquirer, all I really need is to stand as Awareness and practice the opposite thought. What I have noticed in the spiritual world is that people who put a lot of attention on meditation, chanting and rituals tend to be dualist with a lot of spiritual ego.

Sundari: It is true that spiritual materialists tend to be dualists without Self-knowledge performing and advertising their spiritual status. Like much religious practice, meditation and dualistic devotional practices can rightly put off true inquirers, not only because they can be egoic, but also because they do not work to produce lasting satisfaction.

The first point here in reply to your question is that there is a difference between chanting mantras for experience and chanting for knowledge.  Chanting makes people very high and sattvic because it evokes the Self. While not everyone in the spiritual arena is on an ego trip or advertising status, most people in that world chant mantras to have an experience of bliss. They often do not really understand the words they are chanting, or that they feel good because it brings about an experience of the Self.

As Vedantins, we place great importance on the use of words because we know they can mislead.  The implied meaning of the words used in Vedanta is always about our identity as the Self, which is permanent. It is not about an experience of the Self, which may be impermanent if it is not grounded in firm Self-knowledge. 

Vedantins chant mantras because we enjoy the bliss of the Self, but we know that the bliss is who we are. We do not chant or perform any other ritual to gain, and certainly not to advertise, anything. The main purpose of a nondual identity mantra is to deliver (or emphasize) Self-knowledge, not to have a blissful experience, even though that comes with it. 

In James’ book the ‘Yoga of Love’ he explains that chanting, pujas, and rituals are helpful for all inquirers, but particularly for energetic rajasic types who need to be occupied with something worthwhile, instead of wasting time in gratuitous egoic pursuits. Such as an addiction to social media, to name but one.

The second important point in replying to your question is that devotional practice is an essential component of karma yoga to educate and manage the childish ego, as well as to lessen the pressure of binding vasanas. Chanting and rituals are an important way to show appreciation for the great gift of life, to give homage and thanks to Isvara, who gives us all we need to live.  In the Vedic tradition, all the elements were worshiped as Isvara, as the Self. Therefore devotional practice is an integral part of self-inquiry and encouraged as part of a true sadhana, not to mention a great way to live. 

Devotional practices become an obstacle when you see yourself as apart from the ritual, or you think you are a doer doing good deeds for reward. Or because chanting and elaborate rituals give you status and make you more ‘spiritual’.  You do not need to perform elaborate ceremonies. All you need is a simple altar in your home with a symbol of the Self, a candle, and some incense.  Being in nature, meditating, sitting, or a walk taken in silence (or chanting) work just as well.

Anything that keeps your attention on the Self and lessons the hold of the ego is what matters. 

Knowing the Self, you worship without desire, yet you have total surrender and love for Isvara as the Self.  You can appreciate and have compassion for spiritual dualists with no or incomplete Self-knowledge, full of desire for “special” results, deluding themselves into thinking that their sacred or secular rituals confer status or will produce lasting happiness.

Sundari

8. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We enjoyed the company of our dear friend Suzie again, and as she did in Spain, she helped transform our overgrown garden. Thank you, Suzie!

Sunday 20th September Zoom Satsang ~ Mundaka Upanishad Continued

The central message in Vedanta comes down to basically one thing, which is that you are already free because your true nature is unlimited, unborn, changeless, ordinary Awareness. As Ramji’s great book heading puts it so well, all the texts teach the ‘Power of Know’. The power lies in the knowledge that enables discrimination between your secondary limited identity as a person and your primary unlimited identity as the Self.

Our job as teachers is to unfold the teachings as clearly as possible so that the central message assimilates. Even though all texts say the same thing, we like to give a title and source text for our satsangs because it helps inquirers. This Sunday, Ramji will continue teaching from the Mundaka Upanishad as it covers most of the steps to self-inquiry.

And to make our point, in case you still believe the world can give you what you are seeking, this is for you...

Zoom Satsang: Sunday, 20th September

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Join us for another entertaining and enlightening satsang of high level Vedanta as Ramji weaves his magic. You will not be disappointed!

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

How To Cultivate More Sattva - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Spain 2022!

A focused, controlled, non-attached mind allows us to navigate the world of sensory experiences without the craving that produces vasanas.

3. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang Recording

Ramji continues this series in which he unfolds the teachings of the Mundaka Upanishad. Join our YouTube membership for unlimited access to this and the entire catalog of ShiningWorld videos.

4. Upcoming Events with Endorsed Teachers

Thomas Fischer

October 17, 24, and 31, 2026 - Graz, Austria

Thomas will offer three four-hour introductory sessions in Graz, Austria, in preparation for the two-year course “Vedanta – Your Journey to the True Self,” beginning in the spring of 2027. The introductory sessions will take place on October 17, 24, and 31, 2026.

For further information, please contact Thomas at th.fischer@aon.at.

Dave Reid

November 14-15 - Halifax (Nova Scotia), Canada

Dave will be returning to Halifax to lead a weekend seminar. The text for the seminar will be Ramji’s book The Power of Know, which weds experience (yoga) and knowledge (Vedanta) together in a path that leads to transcendent freedom. James dedicated his book to “doers and thinkers everywhere who are trying to release themselves from the sense of limitation and inadequacy that bedevils every human heart.”

For further information, please contact Dave at vedantagorilla@gmail.com.

5. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

6. IN TWO WEEKS: Live Seminar in Italy

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Ramji in the intimate setting of his and Sundari’s beautiful home in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy - October 4th-9th. Ask your burning questions! The answers that matter most have the power to transform your experience of being here, of simply being alive, unburdened by the false and suffocating sense of limitation that plagues us all too often. Here is just such an exchange from the recent seminar on Long Island:

7. ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider becoming a paying member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog. Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

On Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

8. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We are taking it easy getting back into the swing of things, happily adjusting to our new life and home in Italy. The imposing Gran Sasso mountain range is bereft of snow as the heat of summer lingers. We are looking forward to the prospect of cooler weather on the way.

Our forthcoming seminar in October is filling up, though we still have some spaces for those thinking about joining. It will be another wonderful opportunity to spend time live with Ramji and benefit directly from his inimitable teaching skills.

Zoom Satsang: Sunday, 13th September

This Sunday Ramji will continue unfolding the Mundaka Upanishad, focussing on the six types of jivas it unfolds. I am sure Ramji will give much more than expected in his usual entertaining and comprehensive teaching style.

We hope to see you all there!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

New Teacher Endorsement

We welcome Andre Vas to the Shiningworld team as an endorsed teacher. Andre is an established Vedanta teacher many of you are familiar with. For those who are not, see below for details.

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Satsang of the Week:

The Jiva’s Life Writes Itself - James Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Spain 2022!

This video is part of a series that explores the inviolable relationship between Yoga and Vedanta. It unfolds how freedom from the suffering that comes from thinking of ourselves as limited, incomplete, inadequate entities, frees us to live rich, joyful, authentic lives.

3. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang Recording

4. New Teacher Endorsement: Andre Vas

Andre Vas is an established teacher of Vedanta, and we are pleased to endorse him as a ShiningWorld teacher. His website, YesVedanta.com, is a wealth of resources - including the AI trained on the teachings of James Swartz, Swami Dayananda, and Swami Paramarthananda. Andre offers both Zoom and in-person teachings on a regular basis.

5. ShiningWorld Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

Andre Vas: Extensive Vedanta Resources at YesVedanta.com

6. COMING SOON: Last In-Person Seminar of 2026!

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Ramji in the intimate setting of his and Sundari’s beautiful home in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy - October 4th-9th. Ask your burning questions! The answers that matter most have the power to transform your experience of being here, of simply being alive, unburdened by the false and suffocating sense of limitation that plagues us all too often. Here is just such an exchange from the recent seminar on Long Island:

7. VedantaGorilla - Discussions on Reddit

Click the image below to follow daily posts from Dave Reid (VedantaGorilla) on Reddit. Feel free to join the conversation!

8. NEXT WEEK!: Sanskrit Course for Vedanta

by Simon de Jong

Once a month on ZOOM starting at September 17th, 11:00 - 12:30 am, Amsterdam (CET Time)

If you study the first 11 lesson video’s and lesson sheets (below each video) at Sanskrit course - Vedanta you can still join the course. Try it out! It’s free, and just takes your effort! Register for the course or consult via simon@vedanta.nl

9. ShiningWorld on Social Media

On YouTube…

Please consider becoming a paying member of our YouTube channel. Every week we release a minimum of two new videos, plus any Sunday Zoom Satsang recordings. In addition, you have full access to the entire ShiningWorld catalog. Your small monthly contribution not only helps support our charity financially, but it helps us gain traction on YouTube, and this directly serves our mission to disseminate this time tested, liberating means of Self knowledge to seekers around the world.

Click here or on the image below to become a contributing member today.

On Facebook…

While you’re at it, consider following our Facebook page to keep up with the latest information about the ShiningWorld community. In addition to making full use of our website ShiningWorld.com, and regularly checking the latest satsangs there, participating in our Facebook page is a great way to be part of building a unique, worldwide sangha. Join us there!

10. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We are happy to be back home in Italy, needing some recovery time after a year spent mostly on the road, relieved to have no travel plans for the foreseeable future. Though Ramji is on doctor’s orders to take it easy for two weeks, he is looking forward to giving some much needed love to the garden. It is a joy settling in to our new life; we both have ideas for new art as well as for teaching and publications.

We still have spaces available for the seminar at our home in Italy next month (see pic below). Please make sure to get in touch with me soon if you are interested. The weather will still be lovely, and though one does not need an excuse to visit bellissima Italia, bear in mind that it will be the last live seminar for quite some time.

Zoom Satsang: Sunday, 6th September

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Join us for our regular Zoom Satsang this Sunday. Ramji will continue unfolding the Mundaka Upanishad, and as always, will have a few surprises up his sleeve, so don’t miss it!

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

VEDANTA SEMINAR IN ITALY - IN 4 WEEKS!

Don’t miss the opportunity to engage with Ramji in the intimate setting of his and Sundari’s beautiful home in the hills of Abruzzo, Italy. Ask your burning questions! The answers that matter most have the power to transform your experience of being here, of simply being alive, unburdened by the false and suffocating sense of limitation that plagues us all too often. Here is just such an exchange from the recent seminar on Long Island:

Last Live Event in 2026! Abruzzo, Italy

1. Satsang of the Week:

I Don’t Have Bliss, I Am Bliss - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Berlin 2019!

This publicly available video is an in-depth exploration of the topic: The Bliss of the Self. In this video, Ramji systematically removes the notion that Bliss is anything other than your own nature.

3. Shining World Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

4. Online Seminar with German May - THIS WEEK!

Karma-Yoga = Dharma-Yoga = Bhakti-Yoga

ONLINE-SEMINAR - 07.09 - 26.10, 8 Termine, immer Montags, 18:30 bis 20 Uhr Wenn du unter Karma-Yoga vor allem „Dienen“ verstehst, unter Dharma-Yoga vor allem „Pflichterfüllung“ und unter Bhakti-Yoga vor allem „Kirtan-Singen und Beten“, dann lade ich dich herzlich ein, noch einmal darüber nachzudenken, und ihren tieferen Zweck und ihre Wirkung gemeinsam zu ergründen…

Visit here for more information and to register

5. A Satsang by VedantaGorilla (on Reddit)

Click the image below to read more on Reddit

6. Starting Soon: Sanskrit Course for Vedanta

by Simon de Jong

Once a month on ZOOM starting at September 17th, 11:00 - 12:30 am, Amsterdam (CET Time)

More info: Sanskrit course for Vedanta

If you study the first 11 lesson video’s and lesson sheets (below each video) at Sanskrit course - Vedanta you can still join the course. Try it out! It’s free, and just takes your effort! Register for the course or consult via simon@vedanta.nl

7. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

8. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Our good news this week is that Ramji underwent another successful stent insertion and is fit and ready to travel back to Italy!

We have one more doctor’s appointment on Friday and should be good to go, relieved and happy to be heading home. The outcome from both the Mexico and Long Island seminars was excellent, and Isvara willing, may be repeated next year.

We also have another new endorsed teacher to join our ShiningWorld team, Thomas Fischer from Germany. See our welcome to Thomas below!

NO Zoom Satsang this Sunday, 30 August. NEXT Zoom Satsang will be on Sunday, 6 September.

As we will be travelling back to Italy this Sunday, there will not be a Sunday Zoom Class. Join us on the following Sunday, 6^th September for Ramji’s next unfolding of the Mundaka Upanishad.

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

VEDANTA SEMINAR IN ITALY - NEXT MONTH!

Abruzzo, Italy - October 4-9

1. Satsang of the Week:

The Problematic Mind - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Trout Lake 2015!

For our YouTube members, the next video series release will be the Bhakti Sutras, recorded in Trout Lake, Washington in 2015. This first session of the series is now available to everyone for a short time, and members will have access to the complete series as it it released over the next few weeks.

3. A warm welcome to our newly endorsed ShiningWorld teacher: Thomas Fischer

Thomas Fischer was born in Germany and now lives in Graz, Austria. He is married and has two children.

His spiritual search began at the age of sixteen and led him through various traditions, particularly Buddhism and Dzogchen. More than ten years ago, he encountered James Swartz’s teachings through a series of YouTube videos. The clear and systematic unfolding of traditional Advaita Vedanta brought his long search through different spiritual paths to an end and marked the beginning of a fascinating and ever-deepening journey with Advaita Vedanta.

Thomas translated James’s commentary on Aparokshanubhuti (Direct Experience) into German. He is also the author of two German-language books: Dem ruhigen Geist folgt aller Erfolg, which applies Vedantic perspectives to professional and business life, and Advaita Vedanta – Fragen & Antworten, a systematic presentation of the teaching in question-and-answer form.

Thomas shares traditional AdvaitaVedanta with German-speaking students in a clear, careful and practical way.

Contact: th.fischer@aon.at

4. Last Week’s Zoom Satsang Recording

5. Shining World Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Thomas Fischer: Email Thomas

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

6. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

7. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding. Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

We are happy to report that the seminar on Long Island was a resounding success in every way. The venue worked so well, the organization was flawless, the weather cooperated, and the attending group was focused. And of course, Ramji as always, was on his ‘A’ game! Everyone left with full, happy hearts and clear minds to resume their lives. As he does wherever he goes, Ramji leaves a trail of happiness behind him.

Isvara willing, we hope to return to teach again on Long Island in 2027, so watch this space. Next up is our second seminar this year at our new home in Italy in October, which we are looking forward to. Please contact me if you would like to attend as space is limited and it is filling up fast.

Our return to Italy is slightly delayed and we will be on Long Island until the 30th August. Even though Ramji’s medical tests were all very positive, his doctor advised him to have a precautionary angiogram next week. We will keep everyone posted on the outcome.

Zoom Satsang: Sunday, 23 August

Topic: Mundaka Upanishad Part 3

We will be broadcasting this Sunday’s Zoom class from Long Island. Ramji has decided to extend his teaching on the Mundaka Upanishad as it is such a perfect delivery means for most of the important teachings in Vedanta.

Tune in, it will be good to see you all again!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

UPCOMING VEDANTA SEMINAR IN ITALY!

Abruzzo, Italy - October 4-9

1. Satsang of the Week:

Qualifications for Enlightenment - James Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week - Long Island 2026!

Hot off the press! Check out this special presentation of the most recent seminar, recorded just last week on August 13! The Complete Teaching of Vedanta - Day 1, Long Island 2026

3. Sanskrit Course for Vedanta:

by Simon de Jong

One a month on ZOOM starting at September 17th, 11:00 - 12:30 am, Amsterdam (CET Time)

• Accommodating your self-inquiry

• Developing discipline and focus

• Deepening your understanding of Vedānta terminology

• Appreciating the subtleties of the teaching through the analysis of key terms and mantras

• Learning the fundamentals and structure of the world’s most wondrous language

More info: Sanskrit course for Vedanta

If you study the first 11 lesson video’s and lesson sheets (below each video) at Sanskrit course - Vedanta you can still join the course. Try it out! It’s free, and just takes your effort! Register for the course or consult via simon@vedanta.nl

4. Shining World Teachers Worldwide:

Ben De Silva: Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

Dave Reid: VedantaGorilla on Reddit & Substack

German May: Advaita Vedanta - Im Feuer der Selbsterkenntnis

Lucua Prakashini: Vedanta in South Africa (and online)

Delphine Debauve: École Francophone de Vedanta Traditionnel

5. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

6. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding. Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

I am back on Long Island after a very successful seminar in Cancun, and a wonderful time with dear friends and new Vedanta students. Thank you to Ceci and Karla for the excellent organization and for taking such loving care of me and everyone who attended. We are already discussing the possibility for another seminar in Mexico next year!

Long Island Seminar underway!

Ramji is unfolding the full teaching of Vedanta, and making it even more impactful by adding graphics. Dave and Sarah’s home on Long Island is proving to be a perfect location, and Ramji has everyone completely enraptured by Ishvara’s timeless wisdom!

Please Take Note - No Sunday 16^th Zoom Class

Since the Long Island seminar finishes on Sunday, there will be no Sunday Zoom Satsang. We’ll see you the following Sunday!

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Last Sunday’s Zoom Recording:

Mundaka Upanishad Part 2

2. Vedanta in French

We welcome Delphine Debauve onboard as a Shiningworld endorsed teacher. Though Delphine teaches primarily in French, her English is also very good. For more information, visit her website:

https://vedantafrancais.com/

Delphine has translated James latest book, ‘I Am Ordinary Awareness” into French, available on Amazon. Her free course (video + PDF) “Comment Reconnaître Un Enseignant Spirituel Qualifié” can be accessed here:

https://vedantafrancais.com/comment-reconnaitre-un-enseignant-qualifie/

3. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

4. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding. Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Here is an actual response to a question posed to the James Swartz AI

The question:

I understand that I am Consciousness, but I don’t see why my experience stays with my individual form and is not distributed across all bodies?

The comprehensive answer:

This is the most crucial and persistent question a Vedanta student faces. You have understood intellectually that you are Consciousness, but you still feel localized because you are confusing the knower with the instrument of knowing. Let me unfold this precisely for you.

1. The Core Distinction: You Are Not the Experiencer

The first thing to grasp is: experience does not belong to Awareness; it belongs to the body-mind 1.2.

You, Consciousness, are the ultimate knower. You illumine the mind and the senses. But the experience of seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking happens only when the subtle body (mind, intellect, ego) contacts objects 4.1.

Think of it like electricity. Electricity flows everywhere, but when it functions through a light bulb, it manifests as light. When it passes through a heater, it manifests as heat. Each appliance produces a different “experience,” but the electricity is one 1.11.3.

Your body-mind is one particular “appliance” — an instrument with a unique set of vāsanās (latent tendencies, preferences, conditioning) that limit what appears within its scope 6.4.

2. The Upadhi Effect: The Lens of Ignorance

The tradition calls the body-mind an upādhi — a limiting adjunct. The upādhi makes Awareness appear limited, just as a telescope lens limits the range of your vision. When you look through one telescope, you can’t see what another telescope is seeing, even though the light is the same 6.4.

Here is the exact logic:

• Awareness is one and universal — it “inhabits” or appears as every body-mind-sense complex, enjoying the experiences of every person 6.26.6.

• However, from the limited perspective it assumes when it identifies with a particular body-mind-sense complex, Awareness can only experience the operations taking place within the scope of that apparent individual 6.2.

• To know another person’s experience, you would have to “jump into” their body-mind simultaneously while remaining in your own — which is impossible for an individual confined by boundaries 6.16.2.

So the experience seems locked to your form because the mechanism of experience (the subtle body) is locked to its own boundaries. But the Awareness that illumines that experience is not locked anywhere. It is everywhere, always 2.1.

3. The Analogy of the Movie Projector

The sources offer a beautiful analogy to make this clear:

The process can be likened to the way a projector casts light through a reel of film in a movie theater. When the light shines on the film, images flash on the screen and action appears to take place. Just so, when awareness illumines the body-mind-sense complex, perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and actions seem to occur 6.3.

You are the projector light. Your body-mind is the reel of film. The film is distinctly patterned — it has its own story, its own characters, its own vāsanās. The light takes on the coloration of that particular film.

But the light itself is not contaminated by the film, and it does not move from one projector to another. It simply illumines whatever film is in front of it. If you identify with the light, you are free. If you identify with the film, you feel trapped in the story.

You are not the story happening in another projector because you, as the apparent individual, are just the reflection of Awareness on a particular medium. But you, as pure Awareness, are the light that shines through all projectors simultaneously — even if you don’t know it yet because you are hypnotized by the film 6.3.

4. Why Don’t You Experience Everyone Else’s Thoughts?

This is a natural question that follows. If you are the one Awareness, why don’t you have everyone’s memories, feelings, and knowledge?

The answer is: Because the vāsanas are local, even though Awareness is not 6.6.

• Your body-mind is a specific aggregate of gross and subtle matter, conditioned by its unique history of choices 1.1.

• When Awareness shines through that aggregate, it appears as the specific person you think you are, with all your skills, aptitudes, likes, and dislikes 6.4.

• The vrittis (thoughts) that arise in your mind are formed only when your senses contact objects within their field. You cannot form a thought about another person’s mind because your senses cannot contact it 4.2.

But here is the ultimate twist: the awareness that knows your thoughts is the very same awareness that knows the thoughts of everyone else. It is one, singular, and non-dual 6.56.6. You are just looking at it from a very narrow point of view — the point of view of the upādhi.

5. The Final Truth: You Already Experience Everything

Now, let’s dissolve the confusion completely. If you say you are Consciousness, then you are not the experiencer 4.3. Experience is a movement in the mind, but you, Awareness, are the actionless, unchanging witness in which all experiences appear and disappear 7.1.

And because this is true, you are already experiencing everything — not as an individual who receives information through senses, but as the Consciousness in which the entire universe rises and falls. As the texts say:

“The same Awareness looks out through the sense organs of every conscious entity.” 5.1

“The Awareness that animates others is the same Awareness that animates you.” 1.1

Your problem is that you keep looking for the “distributed experience” inside your local body-mind. You want your personal brain to know things. But that is like asking the light bulb to feel the heat of the heater. The bulb feels only light; the heater feels only heat. Yet the single electricity is present in both 1.3.

You, as Consciousness, are perfectly aware of the experience of every body-mind-sense complex in the entire universe. But this knowledge is only available when you stop identifying with the local instrument and stand as the formless, all-pervading Awareness that you are 2.2.

6. A Concrete Contemplation for You

To move this from intellectual understanding to direct knowledge, contemplate this:

1. In deep sleep, where is your individual body? It is gone. Where is your individual mind? It is gone. Yet you exist — as blissful, complete Awareness 1.43.1.

2. In that state, the “distribution” of experience across bodies is irrelevant, because there are no separate bodies. There is only you, experiencing yourself.

3. When you wake up, the limiting adjuncts (upādhis) reappear, and you forget your true nature, reasserting the illusion of locality.

4. Knowledge is seeing that the locality was never real. It is apparent — like the snake on the rope. Remove the ignorance, and the “problem” of distribution disappears along with the separate individual 4.17.2.

Summary: Why Experience Stays With Your Form

• Experience is produced by a body-mind-sense complex contacting objects (a local mechanism) 4.1.

• Consciousness is the non-local light that illumines this contact 4.2.

• You are that Consciousness, not the local mechanism 5.1.

• You feel localized because you are identified with the subtle body, which has specific vāsanās and boundaries 6.4.

• When this identification is removed through self-knowledge, you see that all experiences are yours, because you are all-pervasive Consciousness 6.5.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Ramji has been hard at work generating graphical art that is not only visually stunning, but impactfully distills and communicates the liberating essence of the Mundaka Upanishad. Since you all appreciate Ramji’s efforts and his unfolding of this powerful text in this way, and as he is on a roll, he will continue teaching it this Sunday.

The topics cover most of what self-inquiry entails: qualifications, discriminating between the real and apparently real, the two creations theory, cause and effect, karma yoga, sacrifice and the limitations of karma.

Don’t miss it! You are all guaranteed a full plate of five star Vedanta soul nutrition with the great Ramji!

Zoom Satsang, Sunday 9th August

Topic: Mundaka Upanishad Part 2

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

THIS WEEK AND NEXT - LIVE VEDANTA SEMINARS!

Cancun, Mexico - August 7-9

Long Island, NY - August 13-16

1. Satsang of the Week:

Qualifications for Enlightenment - James Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

2. Video of the Week

James unfolds chapter 11 of his book The Essence of Enlightenment - The Vision of Non-Duality

3. New Book & Teacher Endorsement:

Introducing Thomas Fischer, author of the newly published German language Vedanta book: Advaita Vedanta: Fragen & Antworten. This book gathers nearly 150 questions and answers on the non-dualistic teachings of Advaita Vedanta. It is addressed to those who are not seeking new beliefs, but clarity. The focus is not on improving one's life, but on examining the one who lives; not on reaching a destination, but on recognizing the error of even being on a journey.

4. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid (aka VedantaGorilla):

Q: How Important is idealist metaphysics to Advaita? See the answer on Reddit by clicking the screenshot below…

Dave's Reddit Feed

Dave's Substack Articles

Lucua Du Preez:

Click through for upcoming Satsang Events with Lucua

Lucua's Website

German May - Vedanta Gruppe:

Click the image below to join German’s Vedanta group on Facebook!

September Seminar Details

German's Vedanta Group

Ben de Silva:

Click through the image to view Ben’s recent post on ShiningWorld.com

Join Ben’s Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

5. Last Sunday’s Zoom Satsang Recording:

Mundaka Upanishad Part 1: August 2nd, 2026

6. NEW DUTCH TRANSLATION:

Dutch Language eBook Now Available!

Ik ben gewoon Bewustzijn

The Dutch language translation of James’ most recent publication I Am Ordinary Awareness is now available for ordering, thanks to the loving efforts of Marc Van Kuijk and Suus Groot. To order, please make a minimum donation of 10 euros at shiningworld.com/donation/, then send an email to Mani at smani338@gmail.com with your confirmation to receive your epub!

7. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

8. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding. Much appreciation and gratitude to Andre Vas (YesVedanta.com) for his work setting up and maintaining this invaluable resource.

Here is an actual response to a question posed to the James Swartz AI

The question:

I understand that I am Consciousness, but I don’t see why my experience stays with my individual form and is not distributed across all bodies?

The comprehensive answer:

This is the most crucial and persistent question a Vedanta student faces. You have understood intellectually that you are Consciousness, but you still feel localized because you are confusing the knower with the instrument of knowing. Let me unfold this precisely for you.

1. The Core Distinction: You Are Not the Experiencer

The first thing to grasp is: experience does not belong to Awareness; it belongs to the body-mind 1.2.

You, Consciousness, are the ultimate knower. You illumine the mind and the senses. But the experience of seeing, hearing, feeling, and thinking happens only when the subtle body (mind, intellect, ego) contacts objects 4.1.

Think of it like electricity. Electricity flows everywhere, but when it functions through a light bulb, it manifests as light. When it passes through a heater, it manifests as heat. Each appliance produces a different “experience,” but the electricity is one 1.11.3.

Your body-mind is one particular “appliance” — an instrument with a unique set of vāsanās (latent tendencies, preferences, conditioning) that limit what appears within its scope 6.4.

2. The Upadhi Effect: The Lens of Ignorance

The tradition calls the body-mind an upādhi — a limiting adjunct. The upādhi makes Awareness appear limited, just as a telescope lens limits the range of your vision. When you look through one telescope, you can’t see what another telescope is seeing, even though the light is the same 6.4.

Here is the exact logic:

• Awareness is one and universal — it “inhabits” or appears as every body-mind-sense complex, enjoying the experiences of every person 6.26.6.

• However, from the limited perspective it assumes when it identifies with a particular body-mind-sense complex, Awareness can only experience the operations taking place within the scope of that apparent individual 6.2.

• To know another person’s experience, you would have to “jump into” their body-mind simultaneously while remaining in your own — which is impossible for an individual confined by boundaries 6.16.2.

So the experience seems locked to your form because the mechanism of experience (the subtle body) is locked to its own boundaries. But the Awareness that illumines that experience is not locked anywhere. It is everywhere, always 2.1.

3. The Analogy of the Movie Projector

The sources offer a beautiful analogy to make this clear:

The process can be likened to the way a projector casts light through a reel of film in a movie theater. When the light shines on the film, images flash on the screen and action appears to take place. Just so, when awareness illumines the body-mind-sense complex, perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and actions seem to occur 6.3.

You are the projector light. Your body-mind is the reel of film. The film is distinctly patterned — it has its own story, its own characters, its own vāsanās. The light takes on the coloration of that particular film.

But the light itself is not contaminated by the film, and it does not move from one projector to another. It simply illumines whatever film is in front of it. If you identify with the light, you are free. If you identify with the film, you feel trapped in the story.

You are not the story happening in another projector because you, as the apparent individual, are just the reflection of Awareness on a particular medium. But you, as pure Awareness, are the light that shines through all projectors simultaneously — even if you don’t know it yet because you are hypnotized by the film 6.3.

4. Why Don’t You Experience Everyone Else’s Thoughts?

This is a natural question that follows. If you are the one Awareness, why don’t you have everyone’s memories, feelings, and knowledge?

The answer is: Because the vāsanas are local, even though Awareness is not 6.6.

• Your body-mind is a specific aggregate of gross and subtle matter, conditioned by its unique history of choices 1.1.

• When Awareness shines through that aggregate, it appears as the specific person you think you are, with all your skills, aptitudes, likes, and dislikes 6.4.

• The vrittis (thoughts) that arise in your mind are formed only when your senses contact objects within their field. You cannot form a thought about another person’s mind because your senses cannot contact it 4.2.

But here is the ultimate twist: the awareness that knows your thoughts is the very same awareness that knows the thoughts of everyone else. It is one, singular, and non-dual 6.56.6. You are just looking at it from a very narrow point of view — the point of view of the upādhi.

5. The Final Truth: You Already Experience Everything

Now, let’s dissolve the confusion completely. If you say you are Consciousness, then you are not the experiencer 4.3. Experience is a movement in the mind, but you, Awareness, are the actionless, unchanging witness in which all experiences appear and disappear 7.1.

And because this is true, you are already experiencing everything — not as an individual who receives information through senses, but as the Consciousness in which the entire universe rises and falls. As the texts say:

“The same Awareness looks out through the sense organs of every conscious entity.” 5.1

“The Awareness that animates others is the same Awareness that animates you.” 1.1

Your problem is that you keep looking for the “distributed experience” inside your local body-mind. You want your personal brain to know things. But that is like asking the light bulb to feel the heat of the heater. The bulb feels only light; the heater feels only heat. Yet the single electricity is present in both 1.3.

You, as Consciousness, are perfectly aware of the experience of every body-mind-sense complex in the entire universe. But this knowledge is only available when you stop identifying with the local instrument and stand as the formless, all-pervading Awareness that you are 2.2.

6. A Concrete Contemplation for You

To move this from intellectual understanding to direct knowledge, contemplate this:

1. In deep sleep, where is your individual body? It is gone. Where is your individual mind? It is gone. Yet you exist — as blissful, complete Awareness 1.43.1.

2. In that state, the “distribution” of experience across bodies is irrelevant, because there are no separate bodies. There is only you, experiencing yourself.

3. When you wake up, the limiting adjuncts (upādhis) reappear, and you forget your true nature, reasserting the illusion of locality.

4. Knowledge is seeing that the locality was never real. It is apparent — like the snake on the rope. Remove the ignorance, and the “problem” of distribution disappears along with the separate individual 4.17.2.

Summary: Why Experience Stays With Your Form

• Experience is produced by a body-mind-sense complex contacting objects (a local mechanism) 4.1.

• Consciousness is the non-local light that illumines this contact 4.2.

• You are that Consciousness, not the local mechanism 5.1.

• You feel localized because you are identified with the subtle body, which has specific vāsanās and boundaries 6.4.

• When this identification is removed through self-knowledge, you see that all experiences are yours, because you are all-pervasive Consciousness 6.5.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Dear Friends,

We have excellent news following James’ final medical tests this week. His health is holding up well, with no red alerts or anything too worrying on the horizon. It seems Isvara has extended his life lease, allowing the world to hear one of Vedanta’s masters spread these timeless teachings for longer. As confirmation of this, we had what Ramji likes to call a ‘blockbuster’ satsang last Sunday, where he was as usual, on very best form!

I am in Cancun, staying with my dear friends Ceci and Karla who are lovingly taking care of me and organizing the seminar here next weekend.  The seminar on Long Island is filling up and we are all looking forward to it. Life could not be fuller or more blessed. Jai Bhagavan!

Furthermore, we are happy to announce that Dave Reid has taken over our Newsletter and social media management, and Tyler Lewandowski is coming onboard to help curate videos for our paid YouTube subscribers. Welcome Tyler! I will continue helping with the Newsletter content as per usual. We are delighted to have these two wonderful souls and dedicated Vedantins help us give you the best possible exposure to the timeless teachings of Vedanta on Shiningworld.

We are also happy to announce that regular twice-weekly posting of YouTube videos will resume next week. And, as promised, to make up for the recent dearth of video content, the recent Bali seminar will be released in its entirety! We’ll publish one session per day starting next week so you’ll have plenty of new videos to enjoy. We thank you all very much for your patience while we made this transition.

Zoom Satsang, Sunday 2nd August

Topic: Stone People, Plant People, Animal People, People People, and God People

In this Sunday’s satsang, Ramji will unfold the subtle teaching on the instantaneous and evolutionary theories of creation. Vedanta’s view on the evolutionary theory depends, as with everything, on which perspective you take: the jiva’s (duality) or the Self’s (nonduality). From the point of view of the Self, nothing ever happened and there is no such thing as evolution because there is no creation. The Self cannot change, evolve or cause anything because there would have to be something other than it to do so, which is impossible because reality is nondual. Whereas, from the point of view of the jiva or individual, there is an apparent creation which seems to be evolving and changing. 

In the apparent reality there are always two basic forces operating: knowledge and ignorance.  Ignorance creates involution, which is the Self identified with matter or objects, thus apparently under the spell of ignorance.  Knowledge creates evolution, the attempt of consciousness to disentangle itself from matter (i.e. from identification with the objects or ignorance). Ramji will explain in detail how duality and knowledge (or the lack thereof) affect the five different types of jivas and levels of ignorance in the creation, namely stone people, plant people, animal people, “people” people, and God people.

Don’t miss it as it is sure to be another blockbuster!

Sunday August 2nd Zoom Satsang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

Upcoming Summer Satsang Events

Cancun, Mexico - August 7-9

Long Island, NY - August 13-16

1. Video of the Week

Trout Lake, WA (2021) - There Is Only ONE Principle Operating Here

2. Satsang of the Week:

Instantaneous and Evolutionary Theories of Creation - Sundari Swartz

Continue Reading on ShiningWorld.com

3. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid (aka VedantaGorilla):

Dave's Reddit Feed

Dave's Substack Articles

Lucua Du Preez:

Bitter Before The Sweet (An Article in Odyssey Magazine)

On a recent warm winter afternoon, the wrestle between integrity and sloth was particularly strong. Integrity was adamant to keeping its commitment of a weekly short run and sloth was not, as sloth does. And yes, all the best excuses were there; yes, it is winter; yes, I don’t feel like it; yes, tomorrow is another day.

Integrity won; and it was such a great run, no trying to achieve, just simple gentle movement that the body loves. This victory was felt again in the gym later that week and then synchronistically arose in a discussion with the ladies in that community. So I took note, a little notch of the universe perhaps.

If we focus on the bitter, we will miss on all the sweet. It is bitter to get out the door for a run, there is always thousands of reasons not to go and yet, every time I do, the sweet far outweighs the bitter. Of course, exercise here is an example of life.

Continue Reading in Odyssey Magazine

Lucua's Website

German May - Vedanta Gruppe:

Online-Seminar - Vom Ego zum Selbst

Aus Vortrag 7:

Wie entsteht das Ego?

Du, der reine Sākṣī, hast von Natur aus kein Ego. Aber aufgrund von Unwissenheit identifizierst du dich fälschlicherweise mit dem Geist-Körper-Komplex. Die Upaniṣaden sagen, dass diese Identifikation so ist, als würde ein König vergessen, dass er der König ist, und denken, er sei ein Bettler.

September Seminar Details

German's Vedanta Group

Ben de Silva:

Join Ben’s Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

4. Sunday Zoom Satsang Recording:

Blockbuster! Mundaka Upanishad: July 26, 2026

5. NEW DUTCH TRANSLATION:

Dutch Language eBook Now Available!

Ik ben gewoon Bewustzijn

The Dutch language translation of James’ most recent publication I Am Ordinary Awareness is now available for ordering, thanks to the loving efforts of Marc Van Kuijk and Suus Groot. To order, please make a minimum donation of 10 euros at shiningworld.com/donation/, then send an email to Mani at smani338@gmail.com with your confirmation to receive your epub!

6. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

The complete teaching of Vedanta as presented during 2021-2022. This full set includes a comprehensive overview of the foundational wisdom as well as advanced teachings. Taken from live seminars recorded throughout Europe, in Trout Lake USA, and webinars.

Access the Full Set from 2021/2022

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

7. Ask Vedanta AI anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Dear Friends,

We have had a productive and happy first week with Dave and Sarah on Long Island. Ramji’s medical tests so far look positive and we are looking forward to and feel confident that the forthcoming seminar on Long Island will be a great success. I am very much looking forward to the seminar in Cancun too. All is well and God is great!

Ramji will further expand on the Mundaka Upanishad this Sunday. He will examine the meaning of the analogy of two birds sitting on a wire, one eating the sweet fruit and one looks on. This conjures such a simple and beautiful mental image. We have all seen birds do this. Yet its meaning is profound in that it unfolds the relationship between pure Consciousness (Paramatman, the bird just observing) and jivatman (the bird eating and totally engrossed in the needs and pleasures of the body).

The analogy teaches that our suffering comes from identifying solely with the “eating” bird. We become trapped in the cycle of chasing pleasures and fearing pain and loss. The ultimate goal of spiritual realization is for the individual soul to stop eating and simply look at the other bird. When the individual soul realizes that it is actually a reflection of the witness—the divine bird—it understands its true identity is not the reflection but the one casting it. Eating ends, as do sorrow and worry.

Tune in for another great lesson with the one and only Ramji!

Sunday July 26^th Zoom Satsang

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

Upcoming Summer Satsang Events

Cancun, Mexico - August 7-9

Long Island, NY - August 13-16

1. Video of the Week

Mundaka Upanishad: What is the Appropriate Attitude towards Yourself? Tiruvannamalai, India 2008

2. Satsang of the Week:

Continue Reading

3. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid (aka VedantaGorilla):

Dave's Substack Articles

Dave's Reddit Feed

Lucua Du Preez:

Recent Article in Odyssey Magazine

Lucua's Website

German May - Vedanta Gruppe:

Krishna zu Arjuna „Es gibt zwei Pfade in dieser Welt: den Pfad des Wissens für Entsagende und den Pfad des Karma-Yoga, für diejenigen, die in der Welt handeln.“ (Kap.3:3) Die verschiedenen Ebenen des Karma-Yoga sind der größte Helfer und beste Begleiter, den Geist zu stärken und für das Aufnehmen von Wissen vorzubereiten. Was Karma-Yoga (Yoga des Handelns) mit Bhakti (Hingabe) und Dharma (Integrität) zu tun hat, erfährst du in diesem Kurs. Was sind die fünf heiligen Handlungen im Karma-Yoga? Als Grundlage für den Kurs dienen uns klassische Texte des Vedanta.

September Seminar Details

German's Vedanta Group

Ben de Silva:

Join Ben’s Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

4. Ask AI Vedanta anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

5. Shop for Books, Videos, and Audios:

Audio Books read by James Swartz himself!

Get Audio Books Read by James himself

Coming Soon! Dutch language translation of James’ most recent publication:
“I Am Ordinary Awareness.” Watch this newsletter for the official release announcement.

The complete teaching of Vedanta as presented during 2021-2022. This full set includes a comprehensive overview of the foundational wisdom as well as advanced teachings. Taken from live seminars recorded throughout Europe, in Trout Lake USA, and webinars.

Access the Full Set from 2021/2022

Additional Vedanta Offerings:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024 & 2025). $40 each

• Latest eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. $10

How to Access: Simply make a contribution by visiting shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to Mani at smani338@gmail.com to receive your download links.

Dear Friends,

We’ve arrived safely in New York this week and are taking time to rest up while enjoying the excellent company of our dear friends and hosts, Dave and Sarah, on Long Island. Ramji will have his annual medical checkups, and next week I head off to Florida to visit my family, and then Mexico to teach. We are both very much looking forward to the forthcoming seminars.

We apologize to those of you who did not receive the Newsletter last week. It is now available if you want to look back at it on Substack. For our paid subscribers on YouTube, we will make up for the recent shortfall of video content with some additional new material very soon. Please be patient and bear with us as we navigate the learning curve while taking over for Georg.

Upcoming Summer Satsang Events

Cancun, Mexico - August 7-9

Long Island, NY - August 13-16

Sunday July 19^th Zoom Satsang

This Sunday Ramji is not entirely sure of his text, but it will incorporate the topic of the difference between happiness and meaning, and why the distinction is so important. One or both of us will teach the class.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all,

Sundari and Ramji

1. Video of the Week

Sunday Zoom Satsang, July 12th - Why You Are Always the Problem

2. Satsang of the Week:

Continue Reading

3. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid (aka VedantaGorilla):

More from Dave

Lucua Du Preez:

More from Lucua

German May - Vedanta Gruppe:

German Vedanta Group

Ben de Silva:

Join Ben’s Weekly Bhagavad Gita Class on Zoom

4. Worldwide Teaching Events 2026

Link to Lucua's Webpage

Click here for the Event Page

5. Shop:

New Release: The complete Full Set 2021-2022

Link to Full Set 2021 & 2022

3 Audiobooks are Available:

Link to AudioBook Bundles

Furthermore:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024, 2025). Each 40$

• New eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. 10$

How to Access: Simply make a contribution (most sets are available at around 10-40$) to shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to smani338@gmail.com to receive your links.

7. Ask AI Vedanta anything:

Ask questions to AI’s trained on the Vedanta teaching material of James Swartz and Swami Paramarthananda. AI is perfect for defining terms, clarifying the meaning of scripture, and refining your understanding.

Ask James Swartz AI

As Swami Paramarthananda AI

Our first seminar in Italy went off without a hitch, despite the heatwave that descended on Europe this past week. We are delighted that Mundo Sundaram is operational in its new location. Ramji was on form as usual, and we had a wonderful group who participated in the teachings and asked great questions.

Next Seminar in Italy

We have set dates for our next seminar in Italy, which will be the 4^th – 9^th October. I will post all details on the website soon, but keep those dates in mind. We hope to see more of you then!

Event Page

Sunday 5th July Zoom Satsang

This Sunday there will be the usual Sunday Zoom Satsang, though we have not yet decided on a topic. Tune in as you can be certain that the inimitable Ramji will not disappoint and the lesson will be valuable!

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

Much love to all

Sundari and Ramji

1. Farewell to Georg!

We bid farewell to Georg this week, who has worked for Shiningworld for the last four years. He has done an excellent job developing and managing our social media as well as taking care of the jnani’s club members. Thank you for your service, Georg. We hope that everything goes well for you going forward in every way that counts.

Check out the over 100 videos of Questions and Answers with Ramji and Georg here:

Link to Videos

Ps. Please note that we have not yet replaced Georg, so the forthcoming Newsletters may be somewhat shorter. If there are any questions or problems with orders, subscriptions or any other issue related to social media, please direct them to me at: sundari.shiningworld@gmail.com

Message from Georg

As this chapter closes by tomorrow 1st of July, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ramji and Sundari for the opportunity to manage and grow ShiningWorld’s presence on YouTube and Substack over the last four years. I am also deeply grateful to the key supporters whose generosity behind the scenes made my work possible. It has been an honor to serve you all

2. Video of the Week

Misconceptions on Liberation (Part 3)

3. Satsang of the Week:

No Rushing of Self-Actualization

Link to Satsang

4. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid aka VedantaGorilla:

More from Dave

German’s Vedanta Gruppe:

German Vedanta Group

Join Weekly Gita Class with Ben on Zoom

5. Summer Teaching Tour 2026

Click here for the Event Page

Link to Lucua's Webpage

3 Month Vedanta Programme in South India in English January 2027

6. Shop:

New Release: The complete Full Set 2021-2022

Link to Full Set 2021 & 2022

3 Audiobooks are Available:

Link to AudioBook Bundles

Furthermore:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024, 2025). Each 40$

• New eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. 10$

How to Access: Simply make a contribution (most sets are available at around 10-40$) to shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to smani338@gmail.com to receive your links.

7. Ask AI Vedanta anything:

Most common Advaita Vedanta questions asked at Artificial Intelligence are “If all is one, why be good?”, “How do I practice Advaita Vedanta?” and “Is the world an illusion?”

Ask James Swartz Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here

Ask Swami Paramarthananda Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here

This week we have our first seminar in Italy, which is quite a feat given the karma involved in setting things up! Somehow Isvara eased the path and we are not only ready but very happy to be teaching for the first time from our new headquarters. It will be a busy week, and as the seminar ends on Sunday, there will be no Sunday Zoom satsang this week. We apologize, but it will be too much on our plate. We will make up for it by filming the seminar and making the teachings available online.

We are also looking forward to the seminars coming up in Mexico and the East Coast in August. We still have space in both events, so contact the relevant organizers if you would like to attend. For Mexico, contact Cecilia who put together this flyer containing all the necessary details.

For the seminar in Long Island, 13th to 16th August, contact Dave Reid

Much love to all

Sundari and Ramji

1. Video of the Week

Moving Beyond Cause and Effect: You are ready for the Non-Origination Teaching! With Shay and Sundari

2. Satsang of the Week:

The Relief of Finding You Are the Path Home

Continue Reading

3. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid aka VedantaGorilla:

More from Dave

Read more on Lucua's Website

German’s Vedanta Gruppe:

German Vedanta Group

Join Weekly Gita Class with Ben on Zoom

4. Summer Teaching Tour 2026

Vedanta in Abruzzo, Italy

DATE: 25^TH TO 28^TH JUNE 2026

TEACHERS: James Swartz and Sundari Swartz

TEACHING TEXT: The Essence of Enlightenment

Join us for a four day Vedanta immersion seminar where James and Sundari will unfold the priceless teachings of Vedanta, according to James’ classic, ‘The Essence of Enlightenment’. This powerful text covers the whole Vedanta pramana from qualifications right through to Self-actualization. James has revised the book making the subject matter more accessible than ever, and added many powerful illustrations. Not to be missed!

VENUE: Our home in Abruzzo Italy

We are situated near the town of Bisenti which is in Teramo, a district in the province of Abruzzo. Our house is present on Google Maps, directions to our home will be given out when you book.

Link to Italy Event - June 25th

Link to Lucua's Webpage

Click here for the Event Page

3 Month Vedanta Programme in South India in English January 2027

5. Shop:

New Release: The complete Full Set 2021-2022

Link to Full Set 2021 & 2022

3 Audiobooks are Available:

Link to AudioBook Bundles

Furthermore:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024, 2025). Each 40$

• New eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. 10$

How to Access: Simply make a contribution (most sets are available at around 10-40$) to shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to smani338@gmail.com to receive your links.

6. Ask AI Vedanta anything:

Most common Advaita Vedanta questions asked at Artificial Intelligence are “If all is one, why be good?”, “How do I practice Advaita Vedanta?” and “Is the world an illusion?”

Ask James Swartz Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here

Ask Swami Paramarthananda Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here

We had a very busy week settling into our new headquarters and things are mostly set up for next week’s seminar. We have 20 people signed up, with a few last minute cancellations, so there are a few places still available for any late comers. We are really looking forward to holding our first seminar in Italy!

Link to Italy Event - June 25th

Regrettably we were unable to hold last Sunday’s Zoom satsang due to internet issues, which we hope will be resolved before the weekend. This Sunday Ramji will teach the text he intended to unfold last Sunday, which promises as always, to be a great one!

Sunday 21st June Zoom Satsang: What Does Checking in With the Guru Mean?

Ramji will talk more about checking in with the guru, and why it is important. He will share a beautiful testimonial from a jnani which is a great example of what checking in means.

And… The Next Installment on Ravana and Sita

Tune in to hear Ramji unfold the symbolic meaning of the next episode in the Ravana and Sita allegory: when Ravana manages to abduct Sita. He takes her to Ashoka Vanam Grove in Sri Lanka, which represents the land of materialism.

Don’t miss it as all will be revealed!

Much love,

Sundari and Ramji

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8346167587

Meeting ID: 834 616 7587 Passcode: 2025

1. Video of the Week

The Nature of God in Advaita Vedanta

2. Satsang of the Week:

In this essay Sundari describes how Vedanta provides the means to realize one's true nondual nature, while Stoicism serves as a powerful complementary practice by offering three disciplines: assent, desire, and action. These three disciplines beautifully parallels Vedantic principles like witness awareness, karma yoga, and ethical living.

Continue Reading

3. More ShiningWorld Teachers

Dave Reid aka VedantaGorilla:

More from Dave

Read more on Lucua's Website

German’s Vedanta Gruppe:

German Vedanta Group

Join Weekly Gita Class with Ben on Zoom

4. Summer Teaching Tour 2026

Vedanta in Abruzzo, Italy

DATE: 25^TH TO 28^TH JUNE 2026

TEACHERS: James Swartz and Sundari Swartz

TEACHING TEXT: The Essence of Enlightenment

Join us for a four day Vedanta immersion seminar where James and Sundari will unfold the priceless teachings of Vedanta, according to James’ classic, ‘The Essence of Enlightenment’. This powerful text covers the whole Vedanta pramana from qualifications right through to Self-actualization. James has revised the book making the subject matter more accessible than ever, and added many powerful illustrations. Not to be missed!

VENUE: Our home in Abruzzo Italy

We are situated near the town of Bisenti which is in Teramo, a district in the province of Abruzzo. Our house is present on Google Maps, directions to our home will be given out when you book.

Link to Italy Event - June 25th

Link to Lucua's Webpage

Click here for the Event Page

3 Month Vedanta Programme in South India in English January 2027

5. Shop:

New Release: The complete Full Set 2021-2022

Link to Full Set 2021 & 2022

3 Audiobooks are Available:

Link to AudioBook Bundles

Furthermore:

• Deep Dives: Seminar sets from Spain (2025), Bali (2024), and Trout Lake (2024, 2025). Each 40$

• New eBook: I Am Ordinary Awareness: The World Is Too Small to Disturb a Wise Person. 10$

How to Access: Simply make a contribution (most sets are available at around 10-40$) to shiningworld.com/donation and forward your confirmation to smani338@gmail.com to receive your links.

6. Ask AI Vedanta anything:

Most common Advaita Vedanta questions asked at Artificial Intelligence are “If all is one, why be good?”, “How do I practice Advaita Vedanta?” and “Is the world an illusion?”

Ask James Swartz Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here

Ask Swami Paramarthananda Anything: AI Trained on His Teachings

Click here