The International Gita Forum returns to Singapore from Oct 25 to 27, bringing distinguished Hindu monk and philosopher Swami Sarvapriyananda to discuss the relevance of the Bhagavad Gita in an increasingly complex, technology-driven world.
The three-day event, titled Beyond the Matrix – Discovering the Supreme Self, will be held at PGP Hall Auditorium (Level 2) from 7pm each evening.
Based on Chapter 15 of the Bhagavad Gita, the forum will explore questions of identity, consciousness, spiritual freedom and the search for lasting happiness.
The Bhagavad Gita, one of Hinduism’s most influential philosophical texts, presents a dialogue between warrior prince Arjuna and Lord Krishna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.
Its teachings address moral dilemmas, personal responsibilities and the challenge of making difficult decisions while remaining guided by wisdom.
The forum aims to connect these ancient ideas with the pressures and uncertainties of modern life.
Swami Sarvapriyananda, a monk of the Ramakrishna Order, is the minister and spiritual leader of the Vedanta Society of New York, established by Swami Vivekananda in 1894.
Known for explaining complex philosophical concepts in accessible language, he specialises in Advaita Vedanta, the non-dual philosophy that examines the fundamental unity of existence.
He joined the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in 1994, took monastic vows in 2004 and assumed leadership of the New York society in 2017.
He was also a fellow at Harvard Divinity School during 2019-2020.
Beyond traditional spiritual discourse, Swami Sarvapriyananda has increasingly engaged with contemporary debates surrounding artificial intelligence, consciousness and ethics.
He has participated in discussions at AI company Anthropic and the University of Oxford, exploring whether intelligent machines can possess consciousness.
His collaboration with AI researcher Blaise Agüera y Arcas and physicist Carlo Rovelli resulted in the September 2025 essay Consciousness Across Three Worldviews, examining connections between Vedanta, computer science and physics.
A separate Youth Forum, The Silicon Soul: Finding Fulfilment in the Age of AI, will take place on October 25 at 7pm in PGP Hall Function Room (Level 3).
Both programmes offer free admission, although online registration is compulsory.
Registration details are available at www.gitajayanti.org.sg.
Prasadam will be served after the sessions.
