This is Part 2 of our back-to-school series on Live Vedanta. For many, the transition to college can bring more freedoms, a unique opportunity to find one’s passions and to explore one’s career interest, but it can also be a challenging time for many. Here Juhi Kotwani will chat with Brni. Kritikaji, who shares her guidance on how to navigate and respond to the challenges of failure from the lens of Vedanta.

This is Part 1 of our 4-part A Back to School Series on Live Vedanta. From navigating loneliness and evolving friendships to maintaining family connections from a distance, this conversation offers Vedantik tools for clarity and self-rootedness during young adulthood. Whether you're starting college or simply stepping into a new chapter, this episode reminds you that even through change, you can grow with intention and connection. In this episode, Sumanji sits down with Akshaya to explore what it means to live away from home while staying anchored within.

This final episode centers on Puja (To Revere)—honoring true greatness in a way that humbles the ego and uplifts the spirit. Reverence starts with active listening, evolves to active reflecting, then actively living by the example of the wise. A true Guru, or guide, helps us be happier, and in turn, raise happier children.

Pranidhana is the practice of devotion—shifting from parenting through personal identity to parenting as an instrument of the Divine. This path unfolds through satsang (inspiration), lower seva (service with struggle), sadhana (inner work), and finally, Higher seva (selfless service). Santosha, invites us to smile – arising when our actions are offered with sincerity and trust, leading to a calm, joyful presence in parenting. Together, these practices invite us to parent with less control and more allowance.

Shaucha (To Organize) is about more than just physical cleanliness—it's the practice of creating external order to support inner clarity and peace. By organizing our spaces, schedules, and influences, we create a calm foundation for family life. Tapa (To Discipline) builds on this by channeling that order into resilience, helping us and our children grow stronger and more present, even in discomfort.

Satya (non-compromising) is about staying true to your highest values, choosing not to compromise them for lesser desires. Practicing Satya means approaching others with curiosity rather than judgment. Svadhyaya (to understand) teaches that understanding yourself is the key to understanding others. This can be nurtured through daily reflection, solitude, and mindful practices.

Brahmacharya, or non-indulgence, involves maintaining a sattvic (peaceful) state by avoiding excessive comfort and staying physically active with mindful practices like japa. It encourages using convenience as a tool, not a trap. Asteya, or non-arrogating, goes beyond not stealing to include humility—acknowledging that we are part of a greater whole.

In order for us to be able to care for others, we must first care for ourselves by letting go of practices such as self-criticism and doubt. Ahimsa (non-harming) is not only about refraining from causing harm to others - it also applies to ourselves. By switching from having a reactive mind to a more reflective intellect, we can make choices that support our needs instead of our wants. Focusing on convenience over comfort fosters the idea of aparigraha (non-possessing) and helps us prioritize peace over attachment.

When one is alone, their true thoughts, actions, and feelings show through. Through self-awareness, inquiry, and growth, one can let go of the constant thoughts and embrace the stillness of the mind. Unitasking, using planners, and undertaking more meaningful engagements can help us stop overthinking and shift our energy to grow.

In our self-development journey, the only way for one to grow from darkness or negativity, to the light or positivity is through achala (steadiness). In order for us to follow through on recognizing what is right, we need to create a clear and steady mind that is not overwhelmed but is instead inspired.

By practicing what we learn and letting go of our vices, we can create a balanced mind that is unshaken by external forces. In this episode, join us in learning the five practices through which we can practice amala (integration) and create that unshakable mind.

A marker of a courageous parent is one whose humility and faith leads them to always follow through. By recognizing our blessings, practicing generosity, and setting up parameters in our material lives, we can foster true conviction in our self development. Join us in taking time to review our last few virtues on how to surrender our doership and allow Divinity to guide us in being courageous parents.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 16-18.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 13-15.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 10-12.

Practicing shravana (belief), manana (faith), and nididhyasana (trust) in our life helps us deepen our reflection and transforms our belief into unwavering conviction, or vijnana. Adapting our thoughts, words, and actions with this deeper understanding can help us create peace in our lives.

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. Understanding ourselves through svadhyaya (self-study) leads us to nurture empathy for ourselves and others, which helps us be fully present through our body language, attention, and prioritization. Buddhi (understanding) fosters fearlessness through giving us the strength to leave our comfort zone. This helps us engage in proactive understanding, in turn minimizing misinterpretation, and strengthening our personal growth and parenting.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 7-9.

Welcome to Rhythm Divine! What if instead of Shri Krishna chanting the Bhagavad Gita to you in Sanskrit, He was rapping it to you in English? Would you resonate more with His message? A team from across North America, guided by Shri Vivek Gupta of Chinmaya Mission Niagara, has worked to make this a reality, translating the top 70 verses (10%) of the Bhagavad Gita into English, in the same meter as the original -- to bring the authentic message of the Divine into a modern rhythm for contemporary audiences. In this episode, we're tuning into the divine message from Chapters 4-6.

In this season of Live Vedanta, we are sharing insights on Courageous Caregiving through Vibhishana Gita. When we have gratitude for all that we have and do not have in our lives, it leads us to practice dana (generosity). This fosters daya (grace), which in turn makes life easier and more gracious for ourselves and those in our lives. Join us in exploring how Rishi Shuka explains how material wealth should be distributed and how to move from giving resources, to our time, to our effort.