Vedic Worldview

The Ultimate Discipline

10 februari 2025 | 26 min

Established in Being, Perform Action

3 februari 2025 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Unlike rules-based teachings prevalent in both modern and ancient texts, Vedic teachings are renowned for not prescribing commandments or rigid “rules.” Instead, Veda offer timeless wisdom through lessons that we can interpret and apply according to our level of consciousness.

One of the core Vedic teachings, The Mahabharata, contains a specific set of chapters known as the Bhagavad Gita — the Song of God. Within these chapters lies a profound teaching distilled into just five words that, if fully understood and implemented, have the power to end our suffering.

In English, these words are: “Established in Being, perform action.”

In this episode, Thom unpacks the meaning and transformative impact of this teaching. He also shares the technique that enables all of us to integrate this wisdom into our daily lives.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the Bhagavad Gita, we invite you to take a look at Thom’s Exploring the Bhagavad Gita series of courses.

These engaging and lively courses examine how the ancient and profound lessons of the Bhagavad Gita can be applied to modern life.

You can find out more at https://thomknoles.com/bhagavad-gita/,

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The God Song

[03:34] Mahabharata

[05:29] Pandavas and Kauravas

[08:12] Krishna’s Choice: Army or Advisor/Charioteer?

[09:47] Arjuna’s Dilemma

[13:09] Go Beyond All Relativity, Perform Action

[16:29] How to Solve All Problems

[19:11] Brahman Saṃsparsash: The Kiss of Totality

[22:12] The Universe Having a Human Experience

Useful Links

Criticism, Manipulation, Verbal Abuse

27 januari 2025 | 25 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We often find ourselves unsettled by the words of others—criticism, manipulation, and verbal abuse are just a few examples of communication that can feel hurtful. But does it have to be this way?

In this Q&A episode, Thom explains with clarity who truly holds responsibility for the hurt caused by critical or unkind words. The best part? By following his recommendations, you can free yourself from ever being at the mercy of someone else’s words again.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - How do we positively handle criticism?

[00:50] A - Your Critics Are Your Best Friends

[02:54] Thank You

[05:50] Q - How should we respond to criticism when it’s harsh?

[05:56] A - With Compassion and Gratitude

[09:13] We Want to Find the Gold

[10:39] Q - What’s the best way to handle manipulation or manipulative behaviors?

[10:45] A - Manipulative Behavior Requires a Reward

[13:44] A Suffering Competition

[16:32] The Greatest Crime Against Nature

[17:59] Q - Can you share any strategies for responding to verbal abuse?

[18:03] A - Just a Noise

[20:02] A - They Must Be Suffering

Useful Links

The Distinction Between Kama and Prema

20 januari 2025 | 23 min

Narcissism - The Cause and a Solution

13 januari 2025 | 28 min

How to Manage Dopamine and Other Feel-Good Chemicals Naturally

6 januari 2025 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The pursuit of altered states of consciousness through substances like drugs and alcohol is an age-old practice. Despite their potential risks and negative consequences, these substances continue to be widely used with an increasing variety of options available.

In recent decades, a new challenge has emerged: the conscious or unconscious manipulation of our body's feel-good chemistry. Activities like excessive social media use, compulsive shopping, and overindulgence in sugary foods can trigger dopamine releases, creating a short-lived sense of pleasure.

This "more-is-better" mentality often leads to addiction and various chronic health issues.

In this episode, Thom explores the impact of the more-is-better mentality and proposes a more balanced and sustainable approach to well-being. By focusing on natural methods, such as Vedic Meditation, we can harness our body's innate ability to produce feel-good chemicals without relying on external substances or compulsive behaviors.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] An Obsession With Control

[02:53] Dopamine Should be Left Alone

[05:41] Scurvy: The Unintended Consequence of Vitamin C Supplements

[09:05] It's Better for You to De-Excite

[11:34] Active Ingredient Mentality

[14:22] Undesirable Effects

[16:48] Nature Knows Best How to Organize

[18:56] It's What You Do with What You Eat

[21:48] Awaken Perfect Balance in the Human Brain

Useful Links

Got Questions on Your Mind?

30 december 2024 | 35 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this episode, Thom explores the corners of the mind, in response to listener questions about various aspects of the mind: how we think, what we think, why we do things, and so on.

Thom answers the perpetual question about controlling the subconscious mind and sets the record straight on using affirmations.

Thom also gives us a shortcut to overcoming motivational blocks and provides a sustainable solution for anyone who lacks self-compassion or struggles with feelings of low self-worth.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - What’s the best way to control your subconscious mind?

[00:49] A - Avoid it Like the Plague

[03:01] Become One with the Home of All the Laws of Nature

[06:39] Q - Do Affirmations Make a Difference?

[06:42] A - The Opposite is True and I’m Trying to Make it True

[08:18] Internalized Locus of Control

[10:43] Aham Brahmasmi - I am Totality

[14:23] Go Beyond Thought Entirely

[16:22] Q - How can I overcome motivational blocks?

[16:26] A - Choicelessness is the Hallmark of Cosmic Motivation

[19:26] Tidings of Comfort and Joy

[23:03] Q - How can I overcome a lack of compassion for myself and feelings of low self-worth?

[23:10] A - Think Like a Scientist

[25:32] Support of the Bank of Goodwill

[27:14] “But, but…”

[29:29] You Have Infinite Potential

[32:04] Equip Yourself Properly with Vedic Meditation

Useful Links

Overcoming Loneliness in a Disconnected World

23 december 2024 | 18 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There are more humans on the planet today than ever before, and we have more ways of connecting with each other than ever before, yet loneliness has reached epidemic proportions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international commission on the problem last year, reporting that the health risks from loneliness are as bad as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and are even greater than those associated with obesity and physical inactivity.

The US Surgeon-General released a report on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, reporting that even in the years prior to Covid lockdowns, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And Japan, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, even has a minister in charge of measures for loneliness and isolation.

Thom outlines some solutions to loneliness in this podcast episode, reminding us that connectivity and connection are very different things, and that, ultimately, it’s our job to make ourselves socially relevant.

Thom also outlines an advantage that Vedic meditators have, making it possible to be alone while still enjoying rich company.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Pheromone Clouds

[02:50] Adaptive Mechanisms

[05:36] Enriching Our Presence Through Vedic Meditation

[07:03] Stepping Out of the Illusion of Loneliness

[08:56] Social Chocolate

[11:36] Sociological Exercise

[13:16] Social Relevance

[14:28] Human Interaction - Surgeon General Recommended

Useful Links

The Myth of Hard Work

16 december 2024 | 20 min

How to Cope with Toxic Behavior

9 december 2024 | 24 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

If you’ve noticed an increase in the use of the word “toxic” in relation to human behavior in recent years, you’d be right. Its use has become so prevalent, that Oxford Dictionaries named "toxic" as their Word of the Year in 2018.

Oxford noted a 45% increase in lookups for the word on their website and observed its expanded usage beyond its literal meaning to describe various social and political issues.

Of course, it’s tempting to look for causes and attempt to fix them at the source. The rise in the use of social media, for example, has undoubtedly contributed to this increase, so we might be tempted to control toxicity there.

Thom proposes a radically different cause in this episode, backing it up with a solution that puts us in control of potentially toxic behavior around us, rather than being at the mercy of it.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Toxophilus - Poisoned Arrows

[02:56] Source of All, Course of All, Goal of All

[05:14] Too Big to Be Made Toxic

[07:58] The Capacity to Be Toxified

[09:21] Robust and Resilient

[12:25] Overloads of Experience

[14:19] Premature Cognitive Commitments

[16:06] Unprecedented Rest Through Vedic Meditation

[18:56] A Net Position of Structural Integrity

[20:10] Attain to Personal Invincibility

Useful Links

How to Control Election Outcomes

2 december 2024 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Most listeners of The Vedic Worldview live in democracies and are all too familiar with the fact that irrespective of who is elected, there will always be a faction of the population who is disappointed and another who is pleased with the outcome.

For those on the side of disappointment, many times the next thought that occurs is despondency or powerlessness. “What was my vote all for?” they might ask.

While it might seem like one vote has little impact, Thom suggests otherwise. In this episode, he shares how Vedic meditators, in particular, have a unique ability to influence outcomes—not through politics, but by elevating collective consciousness.

Thom explains that true power for change doesn’t lie in government institutions like Congress or Parliament but in our capacity to transform consciousness.

This episode revisits and continues with the themes from a previous discussion, The Crisis of Governance and Your Role in Its Resolution. You can listen to it here: https://thomknoles.com/podcast/crisis-governance-role-resolution/.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The Origins of Governance

[03:56] The Concept of Democracy

[06:46] The Average of the Collective

[08:55] Step Out of Mistaken Intellect

[11:48] Ultimate Identity

[14:43] The Importance of Direct Experience

[17:31] Be a Satisfactory Citizen

[19:57] Dharma - Your Personal Role in the Evolution of Things

[22:01] I’m Not in Charge of What I’m Experiencing

[24:50] Escaping an Impossible Situation

[28:14] A Critical Mass for a Phase Transition

[30:06] The Temperature of the Collective

[32:14] Radiate Life for All to Enjoy

Useful Links

Questions About Social Discomfort

25 november 2024 | 31 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Welcome to another Q&A episode, with Thom fielding a range of questions from listeners with a common thread of social discomfort.

Thom holds forth on the subjects of social division, embarrassment, how to accept compliments gracefully, how to strengthen relationships in tough times, and anger, specifically whether or not enlightened masters can be angry.

As always, it’s an episode with universal appeal that could potentially tick off a few boxes in your own evolutionary journey.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - Why are people so divided right now?

[00:48] A - Destructive Normalization

[02:05] Mistaken Identity

[04:03] The It-ification of Other Humans

[05:51] Be an Inspiration to Others to Learn Vedic Meditation

[08:07] Q - How can we recover after embarrassing ourselves?

[08:11] A - Get Yourself a Sense of Humor

[09:53] The Human Condition is Not a Serious Condition

[12:09] Q - How can I accept compliments gracefully?

[12:19] A - Words Can’t Even Express Your Greatness

[14:11] Thank You

[16:44] Q - How can we strengthen a relationship during tough times?

[16:49] A - Alliances vs Relationships

[19:33] Honor the Best Interests of Each of You

[21:28] Vedic Meditation Reminds You Who You Really Are

[23:09] Work on Our Capacity to Give

[25:16] Q - Can enlightened masters be angry?

[25:20] A - Moments of Strong Expression

[27:32] Be Masterful Without Being Angry

Useful Links

What's it Like to Be You? Understanding Empathy

18 november 2024 | 21 min

The Purpose of Education

11 november 2024 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In a world where education is available to nearly everyone, one might expect that the major challenges facing humanity would have been solved by now, leading to a more prosperous and harmonious existence.

But, as we can clearly see, that’s far from the reality.

In this episode, Thom explores the underlying cause: education today is focused on the wrong outcomes.

Thom offers a profound solution—an approach that cultivates students who are able to tap into infinite creative intelligence, unlocking problem-solving abilities far beyond what mere knowledge accumulation can provide.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] What Is a Problem For You?

[02:35] Archimedes and Leverage

[06:29] Do You Have Problem-Solving Techniques?

[08:10] University - Unified Diversity

[10:51] What Kind of Human Have They Become?

[12:29] Credentialed Persons

[13:45] Highly-Qualified Uber Drivers

[15:17] Knowledgeable in Very Certain Areas

[17:23] Ignore, Ignore, Ignore

[20:53] Increase Knowledge of the Knower

[22:51] Knowledge of the Knower

[24:57] Vedic Meditation Awakens the Home of All Knowledge

Useful Links

Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga

6 november 2024 | 51 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

One could easily spend a lifetime exploring Vedic literature and still barely scratch the surface in terms of the wisdom that’s available to us. Between the four Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda, the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, the six schools of Vedic philosophy, and countless other written and oral texts or translations, there’s no shortage of avenues to explore.

And even if you could absorb them all in a lifetime, you’d probably need to reread them to understand them from a more evolved point of view.

Fortunately, the Vedic worldview is that all this wisdom is experiential, and we can shortcut the process of attaining wisdom through “knowledge of the Knower.”

Thom provides an example of this in this assessment of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, a subset of The Yoga Sutras.

Thom clarifies that the piecemeal approach of trying to check off the eight limbs through our actions in order to attain the state of Yoga, is a misguided approach to take, and that practicing Vedic Meditation provides an express route that accelerates our personal evolution.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Yoga Sutras

[02:36] Ashta Anga

[03:44] Yoga - Unification

[06:27] Samadhi

[07:39] The Simultaneous Arrival of Balance

[09:57] 1. Yama and Its Five Qualities

[13:21] Outcomes vs Causes

[15:05] 2. Niyama and Its Five Observances

[20:18] 3. Asana - The Sequential Elaboration of Limbs

[23:32] Asana for Transcendence

[24:51] 4. Pranayama - Administration of Breath

[27:00] 5. Pratyahara - Inward Intentionality

[29:31] Reversing Habits of the Senses

[32:05] 6. Dharana - Inward Movement

[33:41] 7. Dhyana - Arriving at the Subtlest Layer of Thought

[35:14] 8. Samadhi - Being Knows Itself

[36:50] Samadhi Affects Yama

[39:50] Spontaneous Self-Sufficiency

[41:34] Samadhi Affects Niyama

[45:09] Samadhi Affects All Other Limbs

[46:56] A Process of Verification and Validation

Useful Links

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Revenge vs Justice

27 oktober 2024 | 28 min

Leela Shakti - Play Power

20 oktober 2024 | 20 min

Karma, Charm, Art, and Suffering

13 oktober 2024 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Listeners are steering the ship once again, in our latest Q&A episode.

Thom answers a question about karma and how it fits into the dynamics of our relationships. It turns out that it’s our relationship with our Self that matters most.

Thom also tackles a question about charm, in particular, how we can adapt when charm doesn’t seem to be as supported by Nature as we would expect.

Finally, Thom gives a definitive answer to the age-old question, can there be art without suffering? It’s a question that could easily be answered with one word, but Thom provides a rationale that leaves us in no doubt about the role of suffering in art.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - How do karmic relationships with others work?

[01:20] A - Karma: Action That Binds You

[03:24] The Knot of Karma

[05:22] Kṛiya - Spontaneous Right Action

[07:29] Untying the Knots of Karma

[09:25] Moving in the Direction of Kṛiya

[12:15] Vedic Meditation - Losing the Tendency to Create Problems

[14:12] Q - How can I understand the nuances of charm?

[14:52] A - A Big Bundle of Capability

[16:55] Charm and Aversion

[18:52] Thinning Out of Charm

[20:02] Moving from Capability to the Field of Need

[22:27] Witnessing vs. Engaging

[23:53] Witnessing the Self in Action Through Others

[26:03] Engage or Witness: Do What You Can

[27:45] Q - Can There Be Art Without Suffering?

[27:47] A - The Most Artistically Productive Era?

[29:25] What Creates Great Art?

[30:33] Artistic Talents Despite Suffering

[32:17] The Artistic Gift

Useful Links

Kumbha Mela - A Celebration Like No Other

6 oktober 2024 | 24 min

The Great Puruṣārtha - Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha

29 september 2024 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Followers of Vedic wisdom often refer to the four goals, Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, as something we should aspire to in our lives.

While these are, indeed, qualities that mark our level of consciousness, in this episode, Thom clarifies the status of these four qualities. In doing so, he also clarifies the meanings of each of the four qualities, which are often referred to in overly simplistic, and slightly misleading terms.

As always, Thom will put the horse back in front of the cart, and equip us with a process that will ensure we embody these four qualities to the best of our ability at all times.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The Four Goals

[05:30] Your True Dharma

[08:00] Tat Wale Baba - Abundant in All Things

[10:27] No Abundance: What a Terrible Life

[12:41] What True Abundance Looks Like

[14:26] The Ability to Extract Maximum Pleasure

[17:11] Living in a Dual Awareness

[19:15] Attaining Puruṣārtha Through Vedic Meditation

[21:45] Self-Realization by Numbers

[23:57] The Process is the Outcome

[26:03] Measuring Rods of Enlightenment

Useful Links

Laws of Nature - How to Align with Evolution and Avoid Suffering

22 september 2024 | 32 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Most of us think of laws of Nature as being those laws that determine how the environment behaves on a physical level. The Vedic worldview expands the scope of these laws to include consciousness itself, and its constantly-evolving intentions.

This effectively makes Nature a conscious entity, hence why you’ll often find us spelling it with a capital N.

In this episode Thom gives us a masterclass on how to live in alignment with the laws of Nature, taking into consideration not just the variability of the physical laws of nature, with a small n, but also the ever-changing intentions of Nature, with a big N.

It’s an approach that guarantees to reduce, and ultimately eliminate suffering from our lives.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - What Are the Laws of Nature?
[00:51] A - Patterns of Cause and Effect
[02:25] Elegance - The Pinnacle of Sophistication
[04:12] Science's Evolving View of Nature
[06:31] Laws that Change With the Need of the Time
[08:36] A Universe Becoming Conscious of Itself
[10:58] Your Role in the Evolutionary Flow
[12:58] Survival Through Evolution
[15:24] Survival is a Product
[17:20] Reduce Suffering - Act in Tune with Nature
[19:07] Vedic Meditation and Laws of Nature
[21:08] Be The Universe
[23:44] Survival is a Product of Evolution
[25:42] Theory + Practice = Science
[28:15] Practice Vedic Meditation and Become an Effective Agent of Evolution

Useful Links

What is the Impact of Witnessing an Eclipse?

15 september 2024 | 23 min

Quantum Mechanics for Beginners

8 september 2024 | 25 min

Spiritual Mediums, Right and Wrong, Partners Who Don't Meditate

1 september 2024 | 34 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Listeners are running the show again today, with another of our popular Q&A sessions.

This time around, Thom tackles a question on spiritual mediums, and whether we can trust what they say. His answer may surprise you.

He also answers a question about right and wrong, using the Bhagavad Gita to set the context for spontaneous right action.

And he also puts a listener’s mind at rest, in answer to a question about whether a Vedic meditator can successfully be in a relationship with a non meditator.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Are spiritual mediums communicating with people who have passed away?

[01:11] A - Accuracy and Purpose of Mediumship

[03:26] A Misunderstanding of What It's Like to be Dead

[05:30] Communicating from One State to Another

[07:13] How Exact Are the Medium-Delivered Messages?

[08:40] Vedic Meditation is More Effective Than Seeking Messages from the Departed

[10:16] Limitations of Mediums in Spiritual Communication

[11:55] Controlling Behavior Towards the Departed

[13:29] Let Go of the Need to Control and Embrace Self-Sufficiency

[14:49] Q - Is There a General Right and Wrong in Life?

[15:50] Q - The Paradox of Right and Wrong

[16:54] The Bhagavad Gita

[19:08] Thinking From the Narrow End of the Funnel

[21:41] Spontaneous Right Action

[23:52] Q - Can a Vedic Meditator be in a Relationship With a Non-Meditator?

[24:46] A - We Want the Pizzaz

[26:56] Consciousness Dynamics in Relationships

[29:03] Embrace and Learn from Each Other’s Views

[30:46] Being Different Makes Relationships Better

Useful Links

Yagyas - Awakening Impulses of Creative Intelligence

25 augusti 2024 | 24 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Ceremonial fires have been used in most cultures for millenia. Often these fires just have a symbolic purpose, but the Vedic worldview has a particular use of fire, in combination with sounds and offerings, which has a specific impact on consciousness itself.

In this episode, Thom gives an entry-level view of yagyas, a fascinating and specialized process that can be used to awaken impulses of creative intelligence and allow us to reveal more of what Nature intends for us. A yagya is a bridge between desire and manifestation, so to speak, giving us a helping hand to make our potential a reality.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Sanskrit - The Unambiguous Language

[03:41] Awakening the Impulses of Creative Intelligence

[05:59] Name and Form are Infinitely Correlated Indeed

[07:50] Serving the Intention of the Knower

[10:38] Stirring the Depths of Consciousness

[12:27] Agni - The Sound Nature Makes When Intending Fire

[15:29] Bring Forth All the Gifts

[18:22] Favorable Conditions in the Consciousness of the Knower

[20:06] Increasing Capability

Useful Links

Who’s Who: Understanding Sanskrit Titles

18 augusti 2024 | 36 min

The Bhagavad Gita - Lessons in Life from the Battlefield

12 augusti 2024 | 44 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most pivotal spiritual texts of all time. Its teachings have been taught for millenia throughout India, and outside of India for the past 100 years or so, inspiring billions with insights into how we can reduce suffering in our own lives.

In this episode, Thom gives us a brief introduction to the Bhagavad Gita as a primer for his upcoming three-day course in which he’ll take a deep dive into the subject, alongside fellow Vedic Meditation Initiator and Vedic literature aficionado, Jamey Hood. You can find out more about the upcoming course at https://thomknoles.com/bhagavad-gita/.

Note: The prerequisite of Thom’s new course on the Bhagavad Gita is the completion of a qualified Vedic Meditation training.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Song of God

[04:46] The Mahabharata

[07:21] Veda Vyasa

[10:27] The Kurus

[14:02] A Battlefield at Kurukshetra

[16:46] A Deal with Krishna

[19:05] Arjuna - The Invincible Archer

[21:09] I Won't Fight!

[24:03] The Despondency of Arjuna

[26:07] Learning to Meditate on the Battlefield

[29:44] Transcend the Problem

[31:28] What Makes a War Story so Pivotal?

[35:30] Fulfillment is a Consciousness State

[37:26] The Ultimate Spiritual Experience

[39:13] A Study Course with Thom

Useful Links

Masculinity in the Modern Age

11 augusti 2024 | 23 min

The Science and Art of Mantras

4 augusti 2024 | 37 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In the modern world, mantras come in all shapes and sizes. Though they originate from the Vedic tradition, it’s becoming more and more common to see/hear mantras used in a more modern context, as political slogans or even as a rallying cry to get people behind a common cause.

Modern and ancient mantras all have a similar purpose, to alter the thinking of the listener and/or the speaker of the mantra.

In this episode, Thom Knoles delves into the origins and concept of mantras, and explores the various functions and intentions of some mantras that have been used consistently for thousands of years.

Thom explains the functional differences and applications of these mantras, including their role in Vedic Meditation and their broader use in various aspects of life. It’s a deep dive into the scientific and practical aspects of mantras, providing insights into their transformative potential.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Name and Form are Infinitely Correlated

[03:09] Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning of Mantra

[04:44] Nivar Tatvam - Go Where You Are Not

[08:00] Bija Mantra - Working on the Level of Sound

[09:51] Right Mantra for the Right Person

[11:48] Drawing Towards the Source of Thought

[13:34] Effortlessness is a Skill Set

[16:02] Vaidya Mantras

[18:53] Om and Omkaraz

[22:01] Gayatri Mantra and Surya Namaskar

[24:25] Rishi - A Seer of Vedic zSounds

[26:40] Sanskrit: The Sound of Nature's Intention

[29:24] Expressive vs. Symbolic Languages

[31:13] Thought-inducing Mantras

[33:02] Mantras for All Occasions

Useful Links

The Fallacy of Control

28 juli 2024 | 32 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Most of us attempt to control other people or situations more often than we like to admit it. Much of the time we’re not even conscious of it, but control shows up in our lives in so many ways.

In this episode, Thom addresses the fallacy of control. This is a series of curated questions and answers from Thom’s online Satsang community, a resource for receiving lectures, sharing group meditations, and submitting questions for Thom to answer in real time. If you’d like to know more about Satsang, please visit the website.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Satsang

[01:26] Is IVF Unnatural or Controlling?

[02:05] Where Do Babies Come From?

[03:33] Hit and Miss

[05:27] Is It Charming?

[06:13] A Bizarre Comparison

[08:26] Another Analogy

[09:55] A Growing Body of Knowledge

[11:41] A Beautiful Soul Wanting Embodiment

[13:36] Simple, Natural, Innocent

[14:58] Responding to Nature's Invitation

[17:30] How Can I Release Control in Professional Situations?

[18:01] Loyalty-Based Administration

[19:06] Fear-Based Administration

[20:02] The Absolute Theory of Management

[22:06] Be an Exemplar

[24:10] How Can I Align With My Partner when Our Communication Styles Differ?

[24:24] Get Rid of Our Superiority Complex

[25:12] Birds of Different Feathers

[26:21] What's Your Point?

[28:02] Be Willing to Invest the Time

[29:12] Satsang

Useful Links

An Invitation to Vedic Meditation Initiator Training

20 juli 2024 | 13 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The pinnacle of the journey for any meditator is to become an Initiator of Vedic Meditation.

Not only does it give you the tools and opportunity to teach the technique to others, but it also gives a quantum boost to your own evolution.

The opportunity to spend 12 weeks in the birthplace of our technique, absorbing Vedic wisdom from Thom and other course leaders, and the chance to develop lifelong bonds with new friends and colleagues from far and wide is unequaled.

In this bonus episode, Thom extends an invitation to join him in January for our 2025 round of Initiator Training. Get ready to be inspired, and to maybe make the potentially life-changing decision to apply.

Listen to the episode, then go here for more details: https://thomknoles.com/initiator-training/

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] A Sacred Setting

[02:11] Program Structure

[03:25] High Rounding

[04:54] Representing the Shankaracharya Tradition

[05:48] Independent Initiators

[07:28] A Life-Altering Endeavor

[09:04] Apply to Create the Fondest Memories of Your Life

Useful Links

Guru Purnima - The Origin and Significance

18 juli 2024 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

This episode of The Vedic Worldview explains the significance of Guru Purnima, which falls on this weekend, July 20-21. Vedic meditators are invited to join Guru Purnima celebrations with Thom and other Vedic Meditation Initiators around the world over the course of the weekend. If you'd like to join these celebrations, please visit thomknoles.com/guru-purnima for details of events near you.

The Vedic calendar is full of days of celebration, but one of the most revered of these celebrations is Guru Purnima.

It’s a day where we honor all the teachers, and the teachings in our life, the lessons that have contributed to our evolution.

In this episode, Thom discusses the origins and significance of this important and much-loved celebration.

Los Angeles Guru Purnima Celebration - thomknoles.com/los-angeles-guru-purnima-celebration/
Los Angeles Celebration with Thom Knoles - thomknoles.com/guru-purnima/

Episode Highlights:

[01:23] Movable Dates

[04:29] Soma Chandra

[05:50] Many Moons Ago

[07:18] Apaurasheya - Not Authored By Anyone

[10:15] Vyasa Purnima

[12:29] Guru Puja

[13:58] The Waxing Full Moon

[16:37] Holding Awareness of Life's Teachers and Life's Lessons

[18:11] Guru Deva

Useful Links

The Guru Gita - Song of the Guru

14 juli 2024 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this episode, we're celebrating the student-guru relationship, and the role it has in our evolution. Each year we celebrate this relationship, and the all the teachers and teachings in our life, with Guru Purnima. Vedic meditators are invited to join Guru Purnima celebrations with Thom and other Vedic Meditation Initiators around the world during the weekend of July 20-21, 2024. If you'd like to join these celebrations, please visit thomknoles.com/guru-purnima for details of events near you.

The word Guru is very much misunderstood outside of India. Parodies often show the Guru as being someone who makes demands of their followers, and the disciple as being one who blindly follows the instructions of the Guru.

But the truth of the relationship is much deeper than that, and it goes both ways.

The wisdom of the teacher is brought forth by curiosity of the student, which in turn leads to a level of earned trust in the teacher from the student. Thus the student follows the instructions of the teacher with eyes wide open, not blindly, as most Western mischaracterizations of this relationship suggest.

In this episode, Thom previews the Guru Gita, the song of the Guru, which eloquently and elegantly explains the teacher-student relationship. It gives us a benchmark to know when we’ve had the well-deserved great good fortune to invite a Guru into our life who is worthy enough to support our evolution.

Episode Highlights:

[01:33] The Process of Illumination

[04:14] Grades of Manifestation

[06:54] Elements of the Self

[09:41] Expanded Awareness

[11:17] Sensing the Cascades of Cause and Effect

[13:42] Skanda Purana

[16:10] The Song of the Guru

[18:56] Sweet Surrender

[21:58] Stop Trying to Control Everything with Thinking

[23:42] Guru-Disciple Relationship

[25:39] How to Make Use of the Guru Gita

[28:06] Nama Rupa Sahitam Bhavati Eva

[30:09] Well-deserved, Self-created Good Fortune

Useful Links

The Pain of Childbirth

7 juli 2024 | 18 min

Mastering the Siddhis

30 juni 2024 | 25 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Vedic meditators are blessed with a life-changing technique that can make a profound difference in their lives.

Many meditators, though, seek to progress even further, and tap into the vast well of Vedic wisdom that is available to us all.

One avenue for further progress is knowledge of and initiation into practicing the “Siddhis.” These advanced practices allow us to tap into extraordinary human capabilities and realize more of our human potential.

In this episode, Thom gives us a brief overview of Mastering the Siddhis, his popular course which covers a vast array of the Siddhis practices, and is available only through approved Vedic Meditation Initiators.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Maharishi Patanjali

[04:02] Yoga is a State

[06:47] Sutra - A Short Aphorism

[09:22] Closing the Gap Between Individuality and Universality

[11:36] Siddhi - Extraordinary Human Capability

[13:07] A Foundation for Greater Capabilities

[15:23] The Ability to Master and Capture Cause and Effect

[18:12] MTS - A Course of Six Instalments

[20:51] Enjoy Life to the Fullest More Easily

Useful Links

How to Make Things Right

23 juni 2024 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

As Vedic meditators, we have the distinct advantage of knowing that evolution is the only thing ever happening. So, if this is the case, do we ever need to make things right?

Aren’t they right already?

In this episode, Thom reminds us that we aren’t just pawns in some cosmic storyline that’s out of our control and that we aren’t just here to witness the story as it unfolds.

In fact, as Vedic meditators, we have an additional responsibility to not just perceive when things need to be put right, but to step up and do what’s needed to maintain the evolutionary storyline.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Has Anything Actually Gone Wrong?

[02:27] Vedanta - The Final Conclusion

[04:10] The Big Bang

[06:09] What Happened?

[07:55] Who is this I?

[09:53] Am I Being Called to Make Things Right?

[11:47] Influencing the Storyline

[13:28] Extended You

[15:08] Scratching the Itch

[16:37] Invitation and Capability

[18:52] The Mahabharata - A Cracking Good Tale

[20:57] This Isn't How I Want the Story to Go

[22:46] You Can't Just be the Knower

Useful Links

Questions on Spiritual Principles

16 juni 2024 | 42 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Spiritual principles can sometimes seem straightforward when we hear them, but when we put them into practice, we might find them difficult to uphold.

This is especially the case when the principles have been misunderstood or misinterpreted.

In this episode, Thom tackles some misconceptions about “charm,” wealth, and vegetarianism in answer to some listener questions.

These are important principles to understand correctly so we can transcend old ways of thinking and get closer to achieving the 200% of life that Thom often refers to.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Is it evolutionary to move towards greater suffering?

[02:57] A - Dynamic Interaction

[05:26] The Demands of Social Relevance

[07:47] The Interactive Edge of Your Inner Potential

[09:12] A Sustainable Lifestyle

[10:42] Q - Is Wealth Compatible with Spiritual Principles?

[11:20] A - False Assumptions

[13:44] Desire and Fulfillment

[16:27] It Would be Good to Have a Helicopter

[19:36] The Universe Itself Desiring

[22:29] The Formula - Transcend All of This

[24:55] Transcending Transport

[26:51] The Ultimate State to Be In

[28:45] The Master of All You Survey

[30:51] Q - Do you have to be vegetarian to be spiritual?

[31:12] A - Follow Charm

[32:38] Deer Hunters

[34:55] State of Consciousness is Primary

[37:39] Transcend

Useful Links

Austerity and Enlightenment

9 juni 2024 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

As humans, we often draw conclusions based on observations. However, these observations can frequently lead us down the wrong path.

Take, for instance, the assumption that wisdom or enlightenment demands an austere or stoic life. This belief stems from centuries of observing monastics and ascetics, who have traditionally been custodians of wisdom.

This can lead people to think either, a) that they must lead an austere life to become enlightened, or b) that enlightenment is out of reach for them because they can’t imagine themselves leading an austere life.

Thom sets the record straight in this episode, exploring the history of the custodians of Vedic wisdom, and the origin story that led to this misunderstanding, at least with respect to Vedic knowledge.

It will come as a relief to many and put enlightenment back within reach of those who might think it’s beyond their scope in this lifetime.

Thom also shares the technique that we can all use to accelerate the process.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] False Assumptions about Enlightenment and Monastic Living

[02:46] Living a Tasteful Life in Enlightenment

[04:51] Origin of the Misconception

[06:36] Shukadeva's Vision

[08:45] Geography's Role in India's Civilization

[10:40] Shukadeva's Foresight

[12:41] Emergence of Monastic Orders

[14:50] Colonization and the Monastic Tradition

[16:38] Buddha's Pursuit of Enlightenment

[18:29] Transitioning from Monastic to Householder Enlightenment

[20:32] Maharishi's 200 Percent Joys of Life

[21:58] We Cannot Gain Enlightenment by Suffering More

Useful Links

You Deserve the Best

2 juni 2024 | 14 min

Embracing the Sweet Truth

26 maj 2024 | 19 min

Mind, Intellect, Ego

19 maj 2024 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

What’s the distinction between mind, intellect and ego? And what are their functions? Unlike many modern psychological approaches, the Vedic worldview honors and celebrates the role of all three.

While they may not always function perfectly – like the 'mistaken intellect' often discussed by Thom – each of these elements plays a specific and essential role in our evolution.

Thom explains in this episode, that rather than putting our efforts into “getting rid of the ego,” we’re best served by enlisting our ego as a cooperative component in our quest for enlightenment. Ironically, it’s allowing the ego to transcend itself, that gives it the ability to truly know its ultimate, unchanging essence.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Vedic Psychology on Mind, Intellect, and Ego

[02:32] Manas

[03:53] What Remains Unchanged Within Us?

[05:21] Mind Stays the Same

[06:39] Two Elements of Manas

[07:49] Buddhi

[08:54] Ego in Western Psychology

[11:47] Vedic Ego (Ahaṃkar)

[13:32] Intellect's Role in Ego Formation

[14:41] The Ego Structure

[16:22] Ahaṃkar in Vedic Meditation

[18:03] You Minus All the Thoughts

[19:24] True Nature of the Self

[20:48] When Mantra Surpasses Ego

[22:31] Ego's Experience of The Unbounded Field

[24:03] Ego + Cosmic Consciousness

[25:57] No Ego, No Enlightenment

Useful Links

My Maharishi - A Paragon of Abundance and Self-Sufficiency

12 maj 2024 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

When most people think of abundance or self-sufficiency, they think of cash and assets, having the wealth to do what they want when they want it. In fact, for many people, it’s a driving goal to become “financially independent” so as to have more choices in their lives.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi took an alternative approach, demonstrating that true freedom and true abundance actually require us to surrender our sense of choice and to simply follow the call of Nature.

Through this approach, he was able to accomplish more in half a lifetime, than most of us would accomplish many lifetimes over, all while remaining ”penniless” himself.

Thom shares some real-life examples from his experiences with Maharishi in this episode, giving us a taste of the true meaning of wealth.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Five Blind Men and an Elephant

[03:11] Different Perceptions of Maharishi

[04:31] Maharishi's Simple Possessions

[08:34] Wooden Sandals and Shahtoosh

[10:19] Traveling the World Without a Penny

[12:08] Maharishi's Persuasive Consciousness State

[13:55] Why Maharishi Didn't Have to Think Before Acting

[15:54] Follow Charm and See What Happens

[16:53] Helicopter Came

[17:46] Simple, Natural and Innocent

[19:12] Charm, Action, and Results

[20:17] The Inexorable Forces of Nature

[22:01] Be a Maharishi Yourself

Useful Links

Intervention, Evolution, Contribution, Equilibrium

5 maj 2024 | 34 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We’re celebrating episode 200 of The Vedic Worldview by featuring more questions from listeners and answers from Thom. The questions cover a variety of topics…

To what extent should we intervene when we see someone potentially harming others, especially young children?
Will enlightenment for all mean an end to humanity?
How do we meet the demands of the moment?
How can we counteract toxic masculinity?

It’s a mixed bag, with each question and each answer having relevance to us all, Enjoy…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - How to Deal with Loved Ones Causing Suffering?

[01:18] A - Become an Inspiration

[02:57] Silence for Wise Influence

[04:44] Align Knowledge with Inquiry Levels

[06:40] Responsible Intervention in Egregious Situations

[08:27] Foster Inspiration for Societal Change

[09:27] Q - Will Enlightenment for All End Humanity?

[10:08] A - The Cycle of Evolution and Reincarnation

[11:51] Impact of Human Enlightenment on Reincarnation Patterns

[13:26] Q - How to Discover My Purpose and Contribution?

[14:06] A - Spontaneous Right Action

[15:48] In the Zone with Vedic Meditation

[17:32] Changing Course to Stay on Course

[19:35] Strategy, Tactics, and Frictionless Flow

[21:41] Q - How to Balance Masculine and Feminine Energies to Counteract Toxic Masculinity?

[22:07] A - Masculine and Feminine Archetypes

[24:08] Break the Symmetry

[25:53] Avoid Lopsided Perspectives Through Transcendence

[27:39] The Secret to Removing Toxicity

[29:43] Achieving Balance with Regular Meditation Practice

Useful Links

Vedanta - The Final Conclusion

28 april 2024 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Modern science and ancient Vedic wisdom often take different routes to reach the same destination.

Many of the concepts of Ayurveda, for example, have been known and understood for millennia, yet modern science is only just now catching up with some of these principles, and explaining them from the scientific point of view.

Perhaps the most profound slice of Vedic wisdom, Vedanta, is another frontier that modern science, quantum physics specifically, has only recently crossed.

There is only one thing. This has been the final conclusion of The Veda, Vedanta, for well over 5,000 years, and now quantum physics has come to the same conclusion.

Thom explains Vedanta, and its correlation with quantum physics, in this episode, and shares the technique we can all use to not just understand Vedanta at a theoretical level, but to embody it at an experiential level.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Meaning of Vedanta

[02:57] Physics and Vedanta

[04:50] "You Are It"

[06:56] You Are the Unified Field

[09:02] The World Embodies Vedanta in Unity Consciousness

[10:24] The Greatest Challenge of Unity Consciousness

[12:06] Defining Empty Space

[15:27] The Purpose of Vedanta

Useful Links

I Had an Awakening Experience. Now What?

21 april 2024 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There’s no end to the number of ways we can have awakening experiences. It can come as an epiphany, a realization, a side-effect of taking a hallucinogen, a near-death experience, or even just a spontaneous event while sipping a cup of tea.

While reports on such experiences vary dramatically, they consistently feature a high level of contrast between these normal and our regular day-to-day experiences, and a longing to have more of the same.

Thom explains the mechanics of such events in this episode, and how we can cultivate awakening experiences on a more consistent basis. Importantly, he describes awakenings as the enlivening of something that is dormant within us, making such experiences more accessible than most might think.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Realizations

[02:35] Bija Mantra: Gateway to Transcendence

[04:25] Awakening the Unified Field

[06:39] Breaking Free from the Web of Constant Thought

[08:23] Bliss is the Product of Supreme Inner Contentedness

[10:19] Stabilizing the Inner Awakening

[12:06] Transient Transcendence: Near-Death Experience

[13:58] Varieties of Awakening

[15:40] Transcendence in the Junction Points

[17:29] Transcendence in Consciousness States

[19:15] Irregular Transcendent Experiences

[21:31] The Role of Vedic Meditation in Systematic Awakening

[23:18] The Truth Behind Meditation and Transcendence

[26:11] From Awakening to Enlightenment: Vedic Meditation's Promise

Useful Links

Minimizing Violence Through Ahiṃsa

14 april 2024 | 32 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Ahiṃsa is a term made famous outside India, in large part, as a result of Mahatma Gandhi's ‘non-violent’ approach to securing independence for India.

It’s often thought of as pacifism, rejecting violence altogether. For some, that means non-violence towards fellow humans, and for others, it means non-violence towards all living beings.

As is often the case, this common understanding of Ahiṃsa is incomplete. Thom explains the meaning of Ahiṃsa in this episode and clarifies the role of Ahiṃsa in our personal evolutionary process.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Yoga – A Place Inside of Us

[02:48] Ashtanga, Samadhi, and Ahiṃsa

[05:16] Misinterpretation of Ahiṃsa

[06:54] Story of Meditation and Ahiṃsa

[08:37] Ahiṃsa in Practice

[10:26] The Reality of Ahiṃsa

[12:06] Inevitability of Hiṃsa in Life

[13:56] Pure Ahiṃsa Can Never Be Achieved by Human

[16:01] Yoga and Ahiṃsa

[17:57] Vedic Worldview on Veganism

[19:28] Gandhi's Non-Violent Approach to Indian Independence

[21:17] Influence of Vedic Philosophy on Gandhi

[24:04] Ahiṃsa in Warfare

[25:43] Ahiṃsa Unfolds Naturally through Meditation Practice

[27:32] Nishkama Karma Yoga

Useful Links

How to Inspire Worthy Enquiry

7 april 2024 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Wisdom is of little use unless it’s shared, however it can go to waste if it’s shared where it isn’t wanted. It can even have a damaging effect if it’s shared where it’s unwelcome.

So when you have wisdom that you know would be valuable, knowledge about Vedic Meditation for example, how can you inspire others to receive that wisdom willingly?

Thom frequently talks about “worthy enquiry” on the podcast, and in this episode he dives more deeply into the subject. He explains the concept of worthy enquiry and it’s origin, which is deeply embedded in Vedic history.

He also explains how we can inspire worthy enquiry, and provides reassurance that even if we don’t, we’re in good company…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Wise Do Not Bewilder the Ignorant

[02:27] Loving Controllers

[04:32] Wise and Trusted Counselor

[06:15] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - The Ultimate Inspirer

[08:06] Subtle Ridicule

[10:13] Not an Absolute Sure Shot

[11:31] An Incident on an International Border

[13:17] Mangoes Don't Come from Walnut Trees

[14:55] Knowers of Reality

[16:16] Radiate Life for All to Enjoy

Useful Links

The Symbology of the Shiva Lingam

31 mars 2024 | 31 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

One of the mistakes often made by those outside of India is to look at Vedic symbology in superficial terms.

The Shiva Lingam is one such symbol. Frequently viewed as a representation of male and female genitalia, it actually has a much deeper and richer significance than this.

Thom gives us an entry-level look at the subject in this episode, correcting the misuse of the term Shiva Lingam, and clarifying its symbolism.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] A Sacred Form

[02:40] Shakti: The Fabric of Creation

[04:31] Yoni

[06:44] Parashakti and Parashiva

[08:57] Union of Yoni and Lingam

[11:01] Masculine and Feminine in Vedic Perspective

[12:34] Ardhanarishvara: Fusion of Masculine and Feminine

[15:12] Interplay of Masculine and Feminine Energies

[16:59] Omnisexuality

[18:59] Shiva and God Consciousness

[20:42] Consciousness Through Different States

[22:22] From Transcendental to Cosmic Consciousness

[24:11] Five Facets of Supreme Being

[26:20] Shiva - The Supreme Being

[27:52] Every Being is a Manifestation of Mother Divine

Useful Links

Devas 101

24 mars 2024 | 48 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

All of us are used to perceiving the world around us in terms of varying objective characteristics; hard and soft, hot and cold, solid and fluid, and so on.

We might even attribute subjective qualities to the world around us; hostile, inviting, harsh, comfortable…

But does it make sense to attribute ‘personality’ to the world around us?

In the Vedic worldview, it doesn’t just “make” sense, but it’s actually a natural consequence of the refinement of the senses that we can perceive personality in everything around us.

In this episode, Thom gives us an entry-level look into the worlds of Devas. He shares a tempting glimpse into the delights that await us, especially those who maintain their regular twice-daily practice of Vedic Meditation.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Deva: More Than Just Shining One

[04:17] Vedic Literature and the Devas

[06:35] Power of Mantras

[08:55] Letting Go of External Distractions

[10:38] Fascination of Subtle Mind States

[12:15] Enchantment in the Super-Subtle Mind

[13:57] Ritam: Transition to Pure Transcendence

[16:27] The Laws of Nature

[18:57] From Snow to Flow: Nature's Transformations

[20:55] The Source of All Laws: Consciousness

[23:02] Sharpening Your Senses Through Meditation

[25:24] The Shining Ones

[28:24] Development of God Consciousness

[31:02] Benefits of Experiencing the Devic World

[33:14] The Wise Seers

[35:38] Progression to Cosmic and Deva Consciousness

[37:37] Consciousness Is Everything

[39:58] Your Inner Observer

[42:17] Deva Quality in Meditation

[44:16] Let Deva Consciousness Come to You Naturally

Useful Links

AI, Sacred Cows, Exceptional Children

17 mars 2024 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s another Q&A episode with Thom, answering questions with a common thread of consciousness running through them.

He starts off by tackling the question of consciousness and AI, before exploring the consciousness of cows, and bulls for that matter, and what it is about their consciousness that makes them sacred (Hint:evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening).

And he also helps a mother navigate the responsibility of supporting a child whose consciousness gives him levels of perception beyond the ordinary.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Does AI Have the Potential to Experience Consciousness?

[00:54] Consciousness Is the Foundation of Everything

[02:38] AI Is Already Conscious

[05:47] The Repertoire of AI

[07:05] Q - Why is the cow sacred in the Vedic Worldview?

[07:11] A - Cows Everywhere in India

[09:06] The Legal Sacredness of Cows

[10:28] A Very Simple Thing

[12:24] Fond of Dairy

[13:27] Q - How to Support a Sensitive Toddler?

[14:16] A - Wise Do Not Bewilder Ignorant

[16:11] Honor and Validate Your Child's Perceptual Abilities

Useful Links

How Do I Alleviate the Suffering of Others?

10 mars 2024 | 14 min

The Fruits of Action

4 mars 2024 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Desire is one of the most misunderstood facets across all Wisdom traditions. Teachers often teach, and readers often misinterpret, some of the writings of the texts, both from Veda as well as other ancient wisdom cultures, as meaning that desire is bad, or that the key to enlightenment is to eliminate our desires.

One such example of this misunderstanding is the Vedic epic Bhagavad Gita, specifically Chapter 2, Verse 47, in which Krishna tells Arjuna, “Live not for the fruits of action.”

The misinterpretation of this text leads many to think that desire itself is the cause of suffering, and thus attempt to suppress or ignore desires in the hope of avoiding suffering.

Thom sets the record straight in this episode, clarifying the purpose of desire, and giving us a technique whereby we can ensure that our desires are not just aligned with Nature, but serve to meet the need of the time.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] What’s the Point of Taking Action?

[00:55] Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata

[03:12] Arjuna and Krishna: The Central Characters of Mahabharata

[05:07] Krishna's Guidance

[06:38] The Song of God

[08:16] Krishna's Message on the Fruits of Action

[10:27] What is the Need of the Time?

[12:07] What is Cosmic Desire?

[14:03] Beyond the Scope of the Intellect

[15:59] Let Charm be the Driver of Action

[17:32] Surrender to Nature's Intelligence

[19:36] Cosmic Intelligence in Action

[20:44] We Don't Want Options

[22:47] Move Beyond Fruits

Useful Links

Why the Long Hair?

26 februari 2024 | 28 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

While most of us think of hair in terms of current fashion trends and style ourselves accordingly, (or not!), most long-lasting schools of thought still have customs related to hair based on traditions that have lasted millenia.

The Vedic worldview is no different, and in fact, many of the traditions related to the hair can be traced back to Vedic origins.

In this episode, Thom explains that hair has a very subtle yet specific function, beyond just keeping the head or the body warm, that dictates a style of relating to the world, or even retreating from the world.

While it may not affect how you manage your own hair, it will give insights into the ways in which many masters, monks, sadhus and other teachers manage theirs.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Hair as a Conduit

[02:06] One Set of Tubes After Another

[04:12] A Larger Information Base

[06:11] Signaling the Phase of Life

[08:15] Hair that Grows Unfettered

[10:21] Three Kinds of Characters

[11:58] What's Cooking in the Outside World?

[13:36] Please Tell Me All About Everything

[14:51] Shakya Muni

[16:14] Demonstrating Self Sufficiency

[17:58] Stop Cutting Your Hair

[20:30] The Best Time to Get a Haircut

[22:00] Don't Let Your Life Go in Orbit Around Here

[23:51] Don't Make a Big Issue of It

Useful Links

My Maharishi - Humor Incarnate

19 februari 2024 | 22 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Spiritual leaders are often perceived as being stern and serious, in some cases even humorless. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, while he could be serious when needed, was famous for his smile, his laugh, and his sense of humor in general.

In this episode, Thom shares some anecdotes from his 26-plus years of being with Maharishi, where Maharishi put his sense of humor on display. Some of these were public displays, while others were from behind the scenes; all of the stories reflect Maharishi’s famous quote, “We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not be serious.”

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Maharishi's Humor

[02:36] Maharishi's Way of Answering Serious Questions

[04:59] The Million-Pound Reply

[06:09] A Lover of Analogies

[07:29] The Complaint About Meditation

[09:12] Fifty Dollar Bet on Effortless Mantra

[11:17] Think Mantra Without Effort

[11:59] "I Am an Imposter."

[13:35] Journalist Wanted to Expose Maharishi

[15:15] "I'm Here to Find and Report Facts."

[16:39] Laughter-Filled Meeting With Maharishi

[18:03] Surprising Turns: Maharishi's Impact on the Journalist

[18:56] A Force Five Hurricane of Happiness

Useful Links

Dark Room Retreats

12 februari 2024 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Silent retreats and cave retreats are nothing new and have been around for millenia, giving seekers an escape from the demands of daily life and a chance to simply let the mind be with itself.

A modern twist on this is the use of Dark Room Retreats, a growing business model where the cave might be swapped for a cabin, and food and other needs are provided for you, leaving you alone to experience the potential bliss of sensory deprivation.

In this episode, Thom shares his own experience with cave retreats, along with his perspective on dark room retreats.

He also shares an alternative method for sensory deprivation. One that doesn’t require dark rooms or even silence but which still yields the bliss we might be looking for if we were to consider a dark retreat.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Awakening the Mind's Innermost Potential

[02:41] Techniques of Sensory Deprivation

[04:33] How do I Experience Pure Consciousness?

[06:32] Deep Rest in Vedic Meditation

[08:35] The Charm of Silence

[12:02] The Reason the Mind Falls Mute

[13:39] Modern Technology's Impact on the Search for Bliss

[14:52] Limits of Sensory Deprivation in Achieving Bliss

[16:52] Reduced Oxygen Consumption - The Measure of Deep Rest

[18:20] Testing Bliss Levels

[20:03] Extended Meditation in Solitude

[21:37] Sensory Deprivation as a Test, Not a Shortcut to Bliss

[23:42] Left With Your Own Joy

[25:27] Passing the Bliss Exam

[26:45] The Bliss of Being Beyond Relativity

Useful Links

Ayurveda - A Definition and a Display

5 februari 2024 | 25 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Ayurveda is often defined as “the science of life, but this definition is somewhat simplistic, and doesn’t fully describe the origin and intent of the word.

In this episode, in answer to a listener’s question, Thom gives a deeper explanation of the subject, including its origins and a fuller description of its meaning.

This question and answer sets the stage nicely for the follow up contribution from a listener, which is effectively a display of both Ayurveda and self-referral in action.

No matter what your level of understanding of Ayurveda is currently, this episode is sure to deepen your appreciation for it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Can You Describe Ayurveda from the Sanskrit Perspective?

[01:01] A - Knowledge has Organizing Power

[02:50] Apaurasheya - Without and Author

[05:06] Veda Vyasa Categorizing the Vedas

[07:03] The Four Vedas and Their Significance

[08:56] Ayurveda: A Subordinate Veda of Rig Veda

[10:53] Breathing and Longevity in Ayurveda

[12:35] Ayurveda's Goal: Maximizing Joy in Relevant Longevity

[14:25] Q - Seeking Vedic Guidance on My Journey to Wellness

[16:38] A - The Rishi in You

[18:37] Autodidact of Veda

[20:17] Learn from a Vedic Master to Accelerate Progress

Useful Links

How to Move Forward from a Divorce or Separation

29 januari 2024 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

A quick scan of the internet tells us that divorce and separation rank highly for most people as far as stressful events go, often coming second only after the death of a loved one.

This is not surprising, given how much weight is put into the idea of committed relationships being permanent in most cultures around the world.

Thom reminds us in this episode that, given that change is always occurring, perhaps our expectations of permanence in relationships are unrealistic in the first place.

With that being the case, he offers up an alternative perspective, one that recognizes and honors change and which allows us to decouple progressively and without unwanted stress.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] It's All About Happiness

[02:50] Reframing Relationships and Life Changes

[04:09] Change and Renewal in Relationships

[05:27] Relationship Expiry and Transitioning to Happiness

[06:27] Contemplating Divorce (for 60 Years)

[07:50] Experimenting with Happiness

[09:07] A/B A/B Design to Be Happier

[10:48] No Mistakes

[12:28] Separation as a Catalyst for Personal Transformation

[13:56] Unwedding

[16:05] The Unfair Advantage of a Vedic Meditator

[17:12] Harnessing the Power of Baseline Happiness

[18:47] Change Ownership: Embracing the Unpredictable

[20:20] The Aftermath of Change: Crafting a Positive Narrative

[21:57] Bring it On.

Useful Links

Can Art Be Separated from the Artist?

22 januari 2024 | 18 min

The Light Inside: Empowering Incarcerated People Through Meditation

15 januari 2024 | 54 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In October 2023, Thom Knoles participated in a panel discussion at a fundraiser event for The Light Inside, an organization providing Vedic Meditation courses for inmates in prisons in the United States, with plans to operate internationally.

Other panelists included: Joh Jarvis, a Vedic Meditation Initiator and the founder of The Light Inside; Rev. Dr. Michelle Anne Simmons, founder of Why Not Prosper, an organization that provides support for women after they exit the prison system, and a board member of The Light Inside; and Robert Hammond, also a Vedic Meditation Initiator and a board member of The Light Inside, facilitated the discussion.

This episode is a slightly truncated recording of that event, with a short introduction from Joh Jarvis. As well as reflections on Thom’s own experiences working in prisons, we hear about the impact The Light Inside is having on prisoners and everyone else whose lives they touch.

The Light Inside website: www.the-lightinside.org

Why Not Prosper website: https://www.why-not-prosper.org/

The Compassion Prison Project website: https://compassionprisonproject.org/

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Setting the Context

[03:25] Step Inside the Circle

[04:52] Introductions

[06:12] Collective Responsibility for Change

[08:09] Unlocking Baseline Happiness for World Peace

[09:26] From Incarceration to Inner Peace

[11:06] Starting The Light Inside

[12:35] Teaching in Rikers Island

[13:57] Purpose and Vision of The Light Inside

[14:59] Meditation in Rikers Island

[16:29] Spiritual Alignment of Reverend Michelle to The Light Inside

[17:41] Transformative Experience in Jail

[18:50] From Resentment to Revelation

[19:53] Meditation as a Tool for Recovery and Personal Growth

[21:09] Beyond Therapies: The Impact of Self-Forgiveness and Meditation

[22:14] Teaching Tools for a New Path

[23:58] Teaching Meditation in the Toughest Jails

[25:47] Passing the Test

[28:52] Freedom Behind Bars

[30:26] Transforming Lives in San Quentin

[32:06] Meditation's Impact on Rival Gangs

[33:25] Changes in Inmates Doing Meditation

[34:41] Challenges and Transformations in Rikers Island

[35:45] "I Sound Less Angry."

[37:11] Power of Leadership in Culture Change

[39:27] Culture Change in the Prison

[40:50] Strategic Teaching: Engaging Prison Guards to Impact Inmates

[43:15] Mental Health in Prisons

[45:02] Meditation as a Coping Mechanism

[46:06] Supporting The Light Inside

[47:24] Spreading the Light

[48:36] A Different Workplace

[50:19] Tenderness Amongst Violence and Chaos

Useful Links
[email protected]

Exploring the Veda

8 januari 2024 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

“Knowledge is structured in consciousness.” This is one of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s most famous quotes.

Five simple words that don’t just convey a meaning, they also embody that meaning.

You might hear this quote and think you “get it,” but when you revisit it later on, when your consciousness has broadened even further, then you realize that there’s actually an even deeper level of meaning to it, and now you “really get it.”

And when you revisit it later on, you realize there’s an even deeper level of meaning to it…

This is part of a self-fulfilling loop, whereby knowledge progressively becomes wisdom, wisdom that can be applied in real time, in response to the circumstances we find ourselves in.

Vedic meditators have a distinct advantage in this, taking twenty minutes twice each day to visit the home of all knowledge, to refine the process of Knowing, to become the Knower of the Known.

But Vedic Meditators also have an additional advantage; access to Thom’s most popular and enduring course, Exploring the Veda, a program that was recorded more than 20 years ago. It was a response to the need of the time, a need that is even more relevant now than it was back then, hence why hundreds of meditators take the course, or even repeat the course, every year.

Think of it as your Masters in Knowledge and Consciousness, an opportunity to accelerate your understanding, not just of the laws of Nature, but the nature of Nature itself.

In this episode, Thom delivers a brief precis of Exploring the Veda, and invites you to enquire with your local Vedic Meditation Initiator to find out when they might be holding the course locally.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What is the Veda?

[02:39] Exploring the Veda in Eighteen Hour Increments

[05:04] The Magic of Bija Mantras

[07:19] 20 Minutes to Inner Silence

[10:03] Passing Through the Veda Field

[12:28] Creation, Maintenance, and Destruction

[15:03] Exploring the Veda Course

[16:31] Learning how the Laws of Nature Work

Useful Links

How to Prepare for the Year Ahead

31 december 2023 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The holiday season can be an emotional roller coaster for many.

December celebrations can bring highs and lows, even for those who aren’t part of the Judeo-Christian community, but then New Year comes around, marking a line in the sand where we can start afresh.

At least in theory, anyway.

The reality is that most folks set themselves heightened expectations for the year, inevitably leading to frustration and disappointment within a pretty short time.

Thom invites us in this episode to reevaluate our approach to New Years, looking at it from a more evolutionary perspective, setting ourselves up to be in sync with Nature’s expectations, rather than pushing against them.

He gives us the opportunity to be active participants in the unfolding of the year ahead, rather than being reluctant victims, battling circumstances and struggling to keep ourselves afloat.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] An Arbitrary Decision

[03:00] More of the Same in 2024

[04:58] The Five Fundamentals of Progress

[06:00] Stability

[09:28] Infinite Organizing Power of Knowledge

[11:17] Our Constant Resolution

[13:32] Adaptability

[16:38] Interacting Successfully with the Need of the Time

[17:59] Let's be Designers of Change

Useful Links

Time, Dark Matter, Surrendering vs Passive

25 december 2023 | 22 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s another Q&A episode, this time with a common thread of perception running through each of the questions and answers.

Thom tackles the question of time; specifically, how we can control our perception of time and how we can slow it down like it used to feel as children.

He explores the mystery of dark matter from the Vedic perspective, and how it relates to how we live our daily lives.

He also provides clarity on the distinction between surrender and passivity and why we need to know the difference so we can meet the need of the time.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Can We Slow Down Time?

[00:53] A - Happier Time Passes More Quickly

[01:43] A Wonderful Co-Incidence

[03:20] Blessed Solitude to Slow Down Time

[05:13] Witness the Five Senses

[06:40] Access the Ability to Slow Down Time

[07:53] Q- What Is the Impact of Euclid's Launch on Dark Matter, the Universe, and Life?

[08:13] A - Reinterpreting Darkness and Light in the Universe

[09:51] Limitations of Human Perception in the Universe

[11:22] Dark Matter Mystery

[13:13] Dark Matter as a Return to the Unmanifest Field

[15:43] Q- What Is the Difference Between Surrendering and Passive Behavior in Life?

[16:06] A - Surrender But Don't Be Passive

[17:54] When Nature Says Go

Useful Links

The Relationship Between Manifestation and Charm

18 december 2023 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Manifestation has become somewhat of a buzzword in the past 20 years or so. The promise of having your desires met easily and effortlessly is a compelling proposition.

So much so that often a disproportionate effort is put into a supposed “process” of manifestation, affirmations, visualizations, and so on, than is put into doing the thing that might be required for the manifestation to occur.

Thom sets the record straight in this episode, looking at manifestation through the lens of “charm,” a specific mechanism of desire that we can use as a compass of sorts, but which doesn’t leave us at risk of the disappointment of unmet expectations.

If you'd like to learn more about the subject of charm, we invite you to take Thom's popular course, The Art of Following Charm. This course will help you to overcome indecisiveness and to understand the nature of your intuition and desires.

You can find out more at thomknoles.com/charm. That's thomknoles.com/charm

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Stop Manifesting What You Don't Want

[02:31] Desire in the Manifestation Process

[04:12] Desire and Fulfillment

[06:04] Unified Field of Consciousness and Evolution

[08:31] Preferences and Charm

[10:15] "I, Me, Mine"

[12:14] Manifest that S#!^

[14:21] Who is This "I"?

[16:17] Charm, Meditation, and Evolution

[17:59] The Alchemy of Change

Useful Links

Self-Referral Happiness vs Object-Referral Happiness

11 december 2023 | 40 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

What makes you happy? Most people could come up with a long list of answers to this question.

Ironically, it’s all the things that make us happy that make us unhappy as well; either because we have them but the happiness wears off, or we find out there’s something/someone else that we might like better, or we have them but lose them, or we find that they don’t make us as happy as we thought they would…

It’s a never-ending cycle of whack-a-mole that leaves most people with short periods of happiness, with longer periods of frustration, disappointment, and “wanting” in between.

In this episode, Thom offers up an alternative approach to happiness, one that’s infinitely more reliable and which allows us to enjoy the delights and variety of life without leaving us at the mercy of external circumstances.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Two Kinds of Happiness

[02:43] Man's Ever-changing Happiness in the Upanishad

[04:45] Object-referral Happiness

[06:59] The Challenge of Being Happy

[09:03] Control Freaks of Happiness

[10:48] When Happiness Becomes a Obsession

[12:46] Self-referral Happiness

[15:07] Where Thoughts Come From

[17:33] Energy in Thoughts

[19:42] Making Sense of Our Thoughts

[21:28] Finding Calm Through Vedic Meditation

[23:31] The Magic of Repeating Sounds in Meditation

[25:57] The Joy of Vedic Meditation

[28:03] Going Beyond Ordinary Happiness

[30:31] Making Inner Happiness Your Foundation

[32:45] Balancing Inner and Outer Happiness

[34:53] Liberation from Chasing Happiness

Useful Links

Mindset Minus Mind Games

4 december 2023 | 17 min

Soma - The Fluid Dynamics of Consciousness

27 november 2023 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There’s no shortage of options for people “researching” chemical shortcuts to spiritual experiences.

While psychedelic drugs such as LSD, or hallucinogens such as ayahuasca, frequently have enough of an impact to arouse curiosity and experimentation, they don’t offer reliable, repeatable experiences, let alone still allow one to function reliably in day-to-day life.

This is because they are mistaking biochemistry as being a cause of spiritual experiences rather than an effect of spiritual experience. As Thom frequently reminds us, consciousness, conceives, governs, constructs and prints out the body, not the other way around.

In this episode Thom describes the function and origin of Soma, the ultimate celestial biochemical.

Importantly, Thom makes the distinction between it being an effect of consciousness, rather than a cause of spiritual experiences.

He lays out the simple steps we can take to switch on our own Soma plant, and to enable spiritual experiences far more profound than those offered by artificial means, while still remaining relevant to those around us.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Vedas

[02:54] Soma Mandala

[05:23] What Does Soma Do?

[07:11] Overcoming Mistaken Identity with Soma

[09:25] Soma's Influence on Cosmic and God Consciousness

[11:38] Soma and Sensory Perception

[13:35] Soma's Path to Unity Consciousness

[15:34] Soma's Stress-Relieving Powers

Useful Links

How to Have Thanksgiving Every Day

20 november 2023 | 16 min

Progressive Change, Perspective, and the Past

13 november 2023 | 29 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

One of the biggest struggles people have is in coming to terms with apparent problems, whether they be current problems, or problems from the past.

While we might be able to grasp the concept of evolution or progressive change intellectually, when the experience becomes uncomfortable it becomes more difficult to rationalize.

In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners seeking resolution to problems that seem too big to be solved, or that have gone beyond the time when something can be done.

It’s a reminder that perspective isn’t just an intellectual process, and that it’s a byproduct of consciousness.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Why do Things Seem to be Getting Worse?

[00:55] A - Battle of Bedtime and Entertainment

[02:40] Evolution and Corrections

[04:40] Meditation Broaden Our Awareness

[06:59] Mother is at Home

[09:09] Change is Not Optional

[11:53] Embrace the Change

[13:51] Q - How do we Handle Grief about the Changing Climate?

[14:06] A - Human Adaptation Throughout History

[15:48] Infrastructure and Global Warming

[17:33] Be Active

[19:41] Embrace Adaptation and Innovation

[21:43] Q - Can it Be Useful to Revisit the Past?

[22:07] A - Time Is a Contiguous Continuum

[24:16] Have Proper Perspective

[24:46] Embrace Future Perspective

Useful Links

Sankalpa - A Fresh Perspective on Bucket Lists

6 november 2023 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Desire is one of the most demonized characteristics of human behavior. Some schools of thought argue that desire is the cause of all our suffering, and that the path to enlightenment is to become detached from them.

Thom sets the record straight in this episode, using the concept of Sankalpa to clarify both the function and importance of desire, and giving us a primer on how to ensure our desires remain relevant to our evolution and aligned with Nature’s intention.

And if you want to take the subject further, you might also like to explore Thom’s online course, The Art of Charm - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/. This course is open to all graduates of a qualified Vedic Meditation course.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Sangha Kalpa

[03:14] Misconceptions About Sankalpa

[05:06] The Origin of Desire in Vedic Philosophy

[07:13] Buddhism vs. Vedic Worldview on Desire

[08:59] Desire and Suffering in Buddha's Teachings

[11:12] Authorship of Desire

[13:27] Ruchika: The Element of Charm

[15:59] Fulfillment as Inner Contentedness

[18:29] Charm - Nature's Compass for Desires

[21:11] Desires Over Time: The Sankalpa Accumulation

[23:13] Transcending Unfulfilled Desires

[25:49] Embracing Fresh Desires and Letting Go of the Old

[28:22] How Meditation Refreshes Your Desires

[30:20] Old vs. New Desires

[32:26] Explore the Charm Course

Useful Links

The Simple Science of Happiness: Be Here Nowra Public Talk

29 oktober 2023 | 89 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In June 2023, Thom was the guest of honor at a talk in Nowra, South of Sydney in Australia, on the subject, The Simple Science of Happiness.

The host of the talk was Barron Hanson, a Nowra local and a Vedic Meditation Initiator (teacher) who has created Be Here Nowra, a community happiness project committed to increasing the number of meditators in the town and researching the benefits arising.

This episode is a recording from that event, including a discussion between Thom and Barron, and Q&A with the audience.

To find out more about Be Here Nowra you can visit their website at https://www.beherenowra.com/ or on Instagram @beherenowra.

Episode Highlights:

[06:02] Be Here Nowra: The Birth of a Transformational Idea

[08:11] From Sydney to Goulburn: Freedom Behind Bars

[09:38] Journey to Nowra: Nature, Art, and Indigenous Wisdom

[11:31] Q- What is Happiness?

[11:41] The Harmony of Inner Potential and External Demands

[12:44] Q-How Does Happiness Affect the Body on a Neurophysiological Level?

[12:53] The Ever-Changing Human Body

[14:28] Thoughts and Body Chemistry

[16:10] Q-How Does Collective Consciousness Relate to Individual Health?

[16:30] The Science of Collective Consciousness

[18:33] Impact of Meditation on the Collective Consciousness

[20:46] Q-What Changes Can We Expect If 1% of a Population Start Meditating?

[21:14] Measuring the Impact: Crime Rates and Meditation

[22:51] More People Meditating, How Bad Can That Be?

[24:21] Q-What Role Family and Community Play in Happiness?

[25:23] The Tribal Roots of Human Social Behavior

[26:50] Shared Experience: How We Define Our Sense of Self and Others

[28:22] Q-How Can Parents Be Happy When Their Children Are Sad?

[28:42] An Ideal Parent

[30:10] Meditation in Parenthood

[31:53] What Truly Makes a Family

[33:20] Q- What Role Does Sadness Play in Happiness?

[33:39] Contrast

[35:45] Q- What Are the Two Types of Happiness?

[36:00] Object Referral Happiness: When Events Define Emotions

[37:23] Baseline Happiness: Finding Inner Certainty

[39:05] Embrace Baseline Inner Contentedness: The Foundation for Happiness

[39:56] Q-How Does Meditation Give Us Baseline Happiness?

[40:01] Meditation and the Exploration of Mind's Bubbles

[41:47] Awakening Baseline Happiness through Meditation

[43:57] Q- Why Doesn't Everyone Choose Happiness If It's So Simple?

[44:04] The Discoveries From Tooth Brushing to Meditation

[45:26] Meditation as Hygiene: Cleansing the Stress of Everyday Life

[47:15] Maharishi's Wisdom: It's Not About Happiness, It's About Normalcy

[47:57] Q-Are Modern City Dwellers More Stressed Than People from 200 Years Ago?

[48:12] Stress in the Modern World: Is It Really on the Rise?

[50:14] Q-What Role Social Media Is Playing in the Current Global Happiness?

[50:23] The Reality of Social Media

[52:30] Q-What Role Does Love Play in Our Happiness?

[53:03] Stress and Missed Opportunities for Love

[54:26] The Link Between Love and Happiness

[56:09] Q-How to Build a Meditation-Focused Community?

[56:33] Community Meditation: A Worthwhile Experiment

[57:51] Q - Why Vedic Meditation Over Other Techniques or Apps?

[58:04] It's Effortless

[01:01:16] Q - Does the Number of Thoughts Decrease with Baseline Happiness?

[01:03:59] Q - Can Growth Overshadow the Objective?

[01:05:07] Knowing When Enough is Enough

[01:08:39] Q - How Can Vedic Meditation Help Us Discern Truth?

[01:09:19] Reducing Suggestibility

[01:12:12] Q - How Can Vedic Meditation Shift Repetitive Thought Patterns?

[01:12:32] Removing the Stress

[01:17:17] Q - Can Happiness and High Consciousness Coexist?

[01:17:26] Everything's Dying

[01:20:37] Q - How Can We Support Young People?

[01:21:12] What's Your True Identity?

[01:24:40] Jai Guru Deva

Useful Links

Awakening Abundance - Preview Episode

26 oktober 2023 | 22 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

This special episode of The Vedic Worldview is a preview episode of Thom’s newly released course, Awakening Abundance.

Though the wisdom has been around for millenia, the Vedic perspective on abundance will be fresh to most listeners.

It bucks the trendy solutions of “wealth mindset,” “law of attraction,” “accumulation” and “leverage” and offers up a simpler, more fundamental approach to the subject. It’s an approach that’s within reach for all listeners.

Thom’s course includes over six hours of lectures and Q&A sessions, recorded in front of a live audience.

You can register for Awakening Abundance at https://thomknoles.com/abundance-course/.

If you register before November 18, 2023, you will also be able to participate in an additional live online Q&A session with Thom, where you may even have your own question answered.

Enjoy the preview.

Episode Highlights:

[01:08] Abundance = Knowledge

[03:50] What Are You?

[05:27] The Unified Field Behaves in a Particular Way

[07:43] Abundance - Everything You Want, When You Want It

[10:37] We Start Hoarding

[12:32] The Delusion of What You Are

[13:29] The Most Abundant Man I Ever Met

[15:42] Abundance is Self Sufficiency

Useful Links

Avoiding the Unwanted Effects of Om Through Pranava

23 oktober 2023 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Anyone who has attended hatha yoga classes outside of India at some time has probably been invited by the teacher to begin or end the class with a group chant of the sound of Om. Or maybe they’ve experimented with the use of Om in a meditation practice.

It can sound and feel beautiful, and when we hear it chanted by a group of monks it can have a deeply resonant effect on the body and the mind.

But what most people don’t realize is that the sound of Om has a very specific intention, and it’s not an intention that most of us would want for ourselves.

In this episode, Thom gives us reason to be more discriminate when it comes to making the sound of Om, as well as offering up a loophole, so to speak, that allows us to reference it without making the sound.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What Is Om and Why Is It Important?

[03:00] Pranava: The Secret Behind Om

[05:16] Omkara: The Spiritual Layer of Om

[08:05] Om and Its Impact on Daily Life

[10:05] The Influence of Om

[12:15] Financial Detachment and Om Chanting

[14:03] Replacing Om with Shri

[16:02] Strategic vs. Tactical Use of Om

[17:45] Why We Don't Use Om as a Mantra in Vedic Meditation

Useful Links

The Third Eye - What it is and What You Need to Know About it.

15 oktober 2023 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Spiritual seekers can often be found experimenting with different techniques to “open their third eye” in the hope that it will give them insights they might not otherwise have, or at least to tick a box on their evolutionary progress score sheet.

In fact the reference to it as a third eye can often lead people down the path of mood making, where they think they are literally seeing things with their third eye rather than imagining them.

In this episode, Thom clarifies just what type of insights one might get from the third eye, and the factors that allow these insights to happen. It’s a down-to-earth explanation that reinforces the need to have a technique that reliably releases stress from the body.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Third Eye - The Eye of Wisdom

[03:12] Symbolism of the Third Eye

[05:26] Soma

[07:55] The Vedic View of Consciousness

[10:06] The Flow of Consciousness: Soma

[12:40] Stress Reduction and Soma Generation

[15:03] Enhancing Awareness Through Soma Flow

[17:08] Transformation Through Vedic Meditation and Soma

[19:07] The Third Eye's Role in Expanding Consciousness

Useful Links

The Solution to All Problems

8 oktober 2023 | 33 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

If we look at the origin of the word “problem,” we see that it originally meant to “throw forward” for discussion.

In mathematics, problem is still used in the same context, in that we find a solution to an equation, with the equation being the problem.

In day-to-day life, though, problems are more than just propositions; they are actual issues that need to be solved rather than just propositions to ponder.

Or are they?

In this episode, Thom “throws forward” a new proposition for us to ponder, one that can practically and logically allow our problems to go away…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Solution to All Problems

[02:57] Problem Solving

[05:32] Solutions in Less Excited States

[07:31] Darkness Is Beautiful

[09:33] Problem Is Actually a Consciousness State

[11:48] Archimedes and Problem Resolution

[14:06] See Obstacles as Opportunities

[16:16] Evolution of Solutions

[18:17] There's a Problem

[20:24] There's No Problem

[22:28] The Pathway to Solution

[24:33] Get Knowledge of the Knower

[26:39] Practice Vedic Meditation and Reveal Inner Knowledge

[29:02] From Problem Consciousness to Solution Consciousness

Useful Links

Are Body-Based Goals Evolutionary?

1 oktober 2023 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

One of the features of modern life that sets us apart from our ancestors is our focus on the shape, form and function of our bodies, or “looking good,” so to speak.

Though many of us give little thought to the subject, some are obsessed with how we present ourselves physically, and most of us are somewhere in between.

It would be fair to say, though, that we’re probably much more “body-centric” than our grandparents or earlier generations were.

So is such behavior evolutionary or does it slow us down and keep us at the superficial level of life?

In this episode, a listener poses a question to Thom about the compatibility of body-based goals with our evolution, and whether they hold us back or not.

As is often the case, Thom makes the distinction between cause and effect, and gives us clear instructions on where to focus our efforts.

Episode Highlights:

[00:58] What's Beyond the Body?

[02:46] Overcoming Odds for Enlightenment: Ashtavakra and Helen Keller

[04:11] Magnificent Creatures

[07:00] Tat Wale Baba

[08:18] Jata

[10:00] Consciousness Shapes Appearance

[12:18] Aligning with the Laws of Nature

[14:01] Know Your Body

[16:01] Perfecting Health with Ayurveda

Useful Links

A Vedic Perspective on Postpartum Depression

24 september 2023 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Carrying a child, giving birth and raising a baby places a huge burden on mothers, physically and emotionally. Each mother’s experience is unique and there is no reliable user guide showing how to navigate this transformational stage of life.

And while everyone concerned hopes for the mother to have a joyful experience, for many that’s not the case. Though it’s only received medical recognition in recent decades, postpartum depression, (aka postnatal depression) has been a part of the motherhood journey for millenia.

In this episode Thom explores the Vedic perspective on postpartum depression, highlighting the fact that it’s much more common than we might think, and inviting us to take a compassionate position, even to the point of reframing our relationships with our own mothers.

Episode Highlights

[00:47] The Magnificent Gift of Motherhood

[03:04] The Needy Sound of a Baby

[05:36] A Peaceful Pregnancy: The Ayurveda Way

[08:03] Ayurvedic Herbs for New Mothers

[10:08] Walking in Mom's Shoes

[11:58] Vedic Meditation for Mothers To Be

Useful Links

The Mechanics of Stress and Stress Release

17 september 2023 | 54 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

All of us are familiar with the feeling of being stressed, or the results of accumulating stress in the body, but, how many of us actually know the mechanics of this process?

We know we can feel frustrated, annoyed, angry, fearful, sad, anxious, and so on, but where do these feelings come from, and why do we all react differently to them?

Thom takes a deep dive into the subject today, looking at the mechanics of stress, how we feel it, where it goes, what happens when we have too much of it, and, most importantly, what we can do to remove it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Nature of Stress

[02:39] Adaptation Energy

[05:33] Depleting the Adaptation Energy Account

[07:34] Stress Response: Fight or Flight

[10:08] Effects of Stress on Skin

[11:48] Hydration and Stress

[13:20] Digestive System and Stress Effects

[14:43] Tunnel Vision

[16:23] Dramatic Reactions

[17:30] The Memory of Stress Reactions

[19:55] Universality of Stress Reactivity

[21:39] Accumulation of Stress Memories

[23:24] Stored Stress and Faded Memories

[24:51] The Meditator's Advantage: Stay/Play Response

[27:03] The Silence of Bliss

[29:13] Body's Adaptation to the Mind

[31:34] Past Stress and Present Beingness

[33:44] Un-Stressing and Detoxification through Meditation

[36:01] Dissolving Stress During Vedic Meditation

[38:04] The Impact of Regular Vedic Meditation

[40:46] Factors Affecting the Dissolution of Stress

[42:45] Rounding in Vedic Meditation Retreats

[45:34] Getting Stressed Is Not Bad, But Staying Stressed Is

[47:37] Turiya - The Fourth State of Consciousness

[49:42] Systematic Accumulation of Stress in Today's World

Useful Links

Inspiration, Apathy vs Non-Attachment, An End to Humanity?

10 september 2023 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s Q&A time once again.

In this episode Thom helps out a listener who doesn’t know why it might be important for her spouse to learn Vedic Meditation. Thom includes the possibility that it might in fact not be important for him to learn

He discusses the distinction between apathy and non-attachment, and the very simple yet distinct indicator that tells us which we might be experiencing.

And he considers a hypothetical scenario where all of humanity becomes enlightened. More specifically, he discusses where the supply of souls seeking enlightenment comes from.

Needless to say, we won’t be running out of souls any time soon…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Is it Important for My Spouse to Learn Vedic Meditation?

[01:48] A - The Importance of Personal Inspiration

[03:31] Even Rocks Melt

[00:05:38] A Little Bit Silly

[06:53] Leveraging Role Models - Arthur Ashe's Example

[09:29] Winning Over a Resistant Husband

[11:20] Q - What Is the Difference Between Apathy and Non-Attachment?

[11:35] A - Apathy as a General Condition

[13:23] Non-Attachment and the Freedom to Let Go

[15:21] The Dynamic Nature of Non-Attachment

[18:08] Q - What Happens to Enlightened Souls After Death?

[18:21] A - The Enlightenment State - Cosmic Intelligence

[20:46] No Reincarnation for the Enlightened

[22:33] Cosmic Intelligence Continues Its Work

[24:55] Cosmic Intelligence in New Generations

Useful Links

The Role of Beliefs in Dharma

3 september 2023 | 15 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Our beliefs play a fundamental role in how we engage in life. What we learn in our early years becomes our guide as to the actions that we choose to take or not take in our lives.

For the most part these beliefs serve us well. They help us to live in harmony with our surroundings and our community, but are there points where we must set aside our beliefs for the higher good?

Most of us find ourselves from time to time, much like Arjuna on the battlefield with Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, in situations where our “duty” is at odds with our beliefs.

In this episode, Thom lays out a plan of action not too dissimilar from Krishna’s response to Arjuna, a plan that we can all put into practice easily on the battlefield of life.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Virtuous Behavior

[03:30] Dynamic Nature of Ethical Principles

[04:49] Awakening Consciousness Through Meditation

[07:01] Living Dharma: Aligning with Intentionality

[09:31] Reinterpreting Dharma: Beyond Roles and Professions

[11:14] Journey of Self-Discovery: From Virtues to Dharma

Useful Links

Does Charm Always Feel Easy?

27 augusti 2023 | 16 min

Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Integrity

20 augusti 2023 | 35 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The ease with which we can travel has blurred many cultural boundaries over the past couple of hundred years, and especially so in the past 50 years.

On any given day you could start your day with a Vedic Meditation practice originating in India (of course), followed by Capoeira from Brazil in the park, have a croissant for breakfast, attend Spanish language lessons in the morning, enjoy Yum Cha from Hong Kong for lunch, spend the afternoon at a local indigenous cultural experience, meditate again before a Middle Eastern dinner, then watch an opera sung in Italian for the evening.

It’s not a typical day by any means. but these are the options available to many of us.

They build our understanding and appreciation of each other and add color to our world, but at what point does appreciation become appropriation?

How can we maintain cultural integrity without overstepping the mark? Thom explores this subject through the lens of Vedic wisdom and its application to modern life.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] None of Us is an Island

[03:22] There Shall be No Italian Food

[05:44] Representing a Culture

[08:33] Is There any Theft Occurring?

[10:22] The Shankaracharya Tradition

[12:46] Troth of Initiator

[14:12] The Command to Teach Vedic Meditation

[16:41] The Layer Known as Yoga

[19:29] Yogastha Kuru Karmani

[21:40] Training and Accreditation to Preserve Cultural Traditions

[23:33] The Secret Knowledge

[25:57] Climb to Authentic Knowledge

[28:25] Embracing Knowledge from Non-Native Practitioners

[30:42] Invitation to Deepen Understanding of Indian Traditions

Useful Links

The Function of Dreaming Consciousness

13 augusti 2023 | 27 min

The Role of Devotion in Our Evolution

6 augusti 2023 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Devotion is often heralded as a path to enlightenment, but what does that mean? To whom or to what should we be devoted to?

Thom presents the Vedic position on devotion in this episode, teaching us that devotion is an effect rather than a cause, an outcome rather than an action.

It’s a compelling case that gives us full control over our ability to experience devotion and the rich rewards that come with it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The First Element of Devotion

[02:50] The Significance of Personalized Mantras

[05:01] The Proposition of Learning

[06:39] Another Extraordinary Thing

[08:02] Commitment to Regular Practice of Vedic Meditation

[09:20] How Did You Live Without It?

[10:45] Devotion & Dedication

[12:55] Deva-Ocean

[14:47] A Supreme Form of Love

[16:58] Falling in Love with Our Self

[18:54] Unity Points and Recognition of Self

[20:23] Transition from Love to Devotion

[22:47] Mood-Making is Not Recommended

[24:12] Dedicated Practice and the Emergence of Devotion

[26:16] Devotion as a Natural State of Consciousness

Useful Links

The Function and Relevance of Kirtan

30 juli 2023 | 46 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Kirtan has become popular outside of India in recent decades. The heightened feelings that can arise from devotional chanting have made it a compelling activity for many wanting to experience Vedic wisdom at the level of feeling.

But there’s a lot more to kirtan than meets the ear.

In this fascinating episode, Thom discusses the origins and the function of kirtan, and explains how it can be experienced optimally and with deep reverence.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Bhajan - A Devotional Hymn of Praise

[01:30] A Taste of Home Away from Home

[02:58] Hare Krishna

[05:22] Attuned With the Qualities of Divine Beings

[07:00] Mahakumbha Mela

[08:54] Sangham Triveni

[10:47] Millions of Moonlit People

[12:12] Kirtan En Masse

[13:31] Kirtan Around the Corner

[15:08] Anukirtana

[16:36] Rounding on Retreat

[18:33] Agnimile Purohitam

[20:24] An Effect on Consciousness

[22:42] The Witness Benefits Most Greatly

[24:07] Anukirtanam and Vedic Meditation

[25:30] Puja in Person

[27:14] Maintaining the Purity of the Teaching

[28:06] The Forgotten Art of Transcendence

[29:41] A Regal Recipient

[31:03] A Preference for Listening

[32:16] Transcendent Relief

[33:42] Nishkam Karma Yoga

[34:56] Pronouncing Impulses of Creative Intelligence

[36:17] I Want Wawa

[38:09] Yagya

[40:08] Destructive Interference

[42:15] Become the Innocent Witness

Useful Links

India - The Cradle of Civilization

23 juli 2023 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few countries match India for its vast variety of people, cultures, languages, and of course, styles of cuisine.

While most of us appreciate different aspects of this vast and colorful nation, few of us have a worthy appreciation of the role India has played in shaping civilizations outside of India.

Many languages have an ancestral relationship with Sanskrit, the original spoken language of India. Vedic astrologers were centuries ahead of their European counterparts when it came to understanding the movement of celestial objects.

India played a pivotal role in shaping the way we use numbers, being among the first (if not the first) to introduce zero as a number. And many modern myths and legends can be traced back to Vedic literature.

While it would take multiple series of documentaries to celebrate the ancient Indian influence on modern life, in this episode Thom celebrates the most crucial contribution India has made, and preserved, over the centuries. It’s an influence that continues to play a crucial role today, and will do so for millenia to come.

If you’d like to experience India first hand with Thom, he invites you to join him on his annual retreat, held in January each year. Visit https://thomknoles.com/india for more information.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Untouched for Millenia

[03:00] The Pioneers of Neolithic Living

[04:38] The Art of Questioning Consciousness

[06:49] The Discovery of Turiya: Fourth State of Consciousness

[08:59] The Veda and Vedic Civilization

[11:27] The Expansion of Consciousness States

[13:45] India's Resilience Against Invasions

[16:00] Global Hub for Consciousness Exploration

Useful Links

My Maharishi - A Second Father to Me

16 juli 2023 | 65 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

While most of us have mentors or figures that have a significant impact on our lives, few of us have the great good fortune to spend much time with a great leader such as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In this episode, Thom reflects on both the origin story of his relationship with Maharishi, and the final chapter of the “in-person” interactions he had with him.

It’s a sweet tale that gives us a deeper appreciation of Guru-Student relationships, how the tradition of Masters that have been custodians of Vedic wisdom has evolved over time, and how the consciousness of the tradition is maintained throughout the centuries.

Episode Highlights:

(00:45) A Great Seer

(02:22) MIU

(04:24) A Second Father

(06:04) Give Me a Quote

(08:31) A Good Night's Sleep

(10:38) Om

(12:59) All Rise

(14:44) A Force Five Hurricane of Happiness

(16:27) Jai Guru Deva

(18:03) An Exclamation of Joy

(20:13) Angavastra Dhoti

(22:22) Asana

(24:22) Guru Purnima

(26:24) Puja

(27:46) An Advanced Technique

(29:10) An Alternative to the Advanced Technique

(31:09) Minimize the Effort, Maximize the Success

(33:17) A Peculiar Phenomenon

(35:05) Not Different to Me

(37:46) The Field

(39:02) Seelisberg, Switzerland

(41:05) The Resurgence of Ayurveda

(43:34) The Call to Return Home

(45:14) Rich People Problems

(47:21) The Waiting State of Consciousness

(48:52) "Then What?"

(50:07) A Reliable Connection

(51:56) "You Got It?"

(54:10) Accepting the Graduation

(55:48) The Last Time in Person

(57:15) I and U Became M

(01:00:35) A Drop Disappearing from the Ocean

(01:02:02) A Loudspeaker of the Tradition

Useful Links

Our Role in Parent-Child Relationships

9 juli 2023 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Why do we choose our parents and why do our children choose us?

Working out the evolutionary function of parent-child relationships is tricky, and quite possibly a waste of time. While it might satisfy the intellect to come up with an answer, the contributing factors are likely to be more complex than the intellect can process.

What we can do though, is to become exemplars in the relationship, whether it be with our parents, or with our children. We can bypass the need to know, or the need to control the dynamic, and shine the light for parents and children to follow, should they choose two.

Thom explains more in this Q&A episode…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q-Why Did I Choose My Parents?

[01:12] A-The Purpose of Jiva

[03:33] The Menu of Potential Parents

[05:40] Governing Agents in Our Lives

[07:34] Gratitude for Challenging Home Life

[09:20] The Curse and Blessing of Materialism

[11:24] Parenting Our Parents

[14:13] The Gift of Enlightenment

[16:29] Q-How to Inspire Stubborn Child's Knowledge Without Force?

[17:09] A-Inspiration

[18:43] Teachable Moment

[21:05] Encouraging Self-Discovery in Children

Useful Links

Why do We Self Sabotage Ourselves?

2 juli 2023 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There’s no shortage of self judgments we can make that don’t make us feel good, and self sabotage is up there with the best.

It provides a talking point for countless therapy sessions, and gives us plenty of ammunition for those moments when we’re trying to rationalize our actions.

So what is self sabotage and why do we do it? The good news is that, like all things, it has an evolutionary function.

Thom explains in more detail in this episode, releasing us from the need to explain ourselves in the process.

Episode Highlights:

[03:32] Mood Changes

[05:03] Breaking Free from the Habit of Constant Mental Activity

[07:08] The Endless Quest for Something Better

[09:16] Dreams as Stress Release

[11:02] Dreams and Realities

[12:48] Dreaming Within Dreams

[14:29] The Relationship Between Consciousness and Suffering

[16:11] It's All Part of a Learning Curve

[18:40] The Interplay Between Capability and Suffering

[20:41] Pursuing Happiness Amidst Discomfort

[22:35] Thoughts and Bodily Functions

[24:49] The Deep Inner Workings of the Human Mind

[26:28] Enjoyable Crying Episodes

[28:58] You're Going to Be So Happy from Your Sadness

[30:26] Attaining Satisfactory Sadness

[31:54] Embrace Vedic Meditation to Seek Happiness

[33:55] The Suffering Experiment

[35:27] Don't-do-it Lectures Don't Work

[37:17] Feeling Good All the Time

[38:51] Letting Go of Suffering

[40:24] All That Is

[42:25] Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage

[44:21] Expose Yourself to a Deeper Understanding

Useful Links

World Peace is an Inside Job

25 juni 2023 | 40 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

War is a 24/7 business, and none of us have lived through a time when there isn’t war raging in some part of the world, whether it be a full-blown international conflict, or a localized civil war.

So the idea of world peace might seem like a pipe dream, something over which we have no control.

In this episode, Thom reminds us of the magnitude of the problem, and educates us on the magnitude of the solution.

It turns out that the solution is actually more simple than we might think, and that our contribution to the solution is more significant than we might realize…

Episode Highlights:

[03:34] The Endless Cycle of War: From the Past to the Present

[05:52] Individual Peace is the Basis of World Peace

[07:31] The Evolution of Industrial Killing

[09:23] Stalemate

[11:36] The Nightmare of Another World War

[13:46] The Paradox of Democracy and Nuclear Weapons

[15:32] Finding Happiness Beyond Money

[17:23] The Limits of Material Wealth in Achieving Happiness

[18:58] This Elusive Thing Called Happiness

[20:56] Exploring the Relationship Between Thought and Energy

[22:54] Ananda: Finding Happiness Through Our Inner Being

[25:12] Path to Inner Peace

[27:25] Feel Happy from Inside Yourself

[29:33] The Power of Inner Happiness

[31:29] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Vision for Global Peace

[33:35] The Power of One Percent

[35:36] It's Just a Matter of Time

[37:16] Our Contribution to World Peace

Useful Links

The Akashic Record Explained

18 juni 2023 | 28 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

“Readings” of the Akashic record have become popular in recent years. In our quest to understand the mysteries behind who we are, how we got here, and why this, that or the other thing happened, the promise of the Akashic record is compelling.

But what exactly is the Akashic record? Can you actually access it? And, if so, how?

Thom explains the true meaning of the Akashic record in this episode, which reflects the wisdom of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s famous quote, “Knowledge is structured in consciousness.”

It’s a reminder that no matter what tools we call upon, the only limitation to our access to knowledge that’s relevant for us to have, is our state of consciousness.

Episode Highlights:

[03:11] Mastering Sanskrit Pronunciation

[06:17] Maha Bhuta: The Five Great Elements

[09:18] Chit and Consciousness

[12:29] Reverse Engineering The Universe: Understanding the Beginning of Time

[14:35] Akashic Record Holds the Secrets of The Universe

[17:29] The Two Truths: Temporal and Transcendent

[19:54] The Unchanging and Ever-Changing Nature of Truth

[22:32] Unlocking Hidden Truths with Vedic Meditation

Useful Links

The Relationship Between Trust and Charm

11 juni 2023 | 19 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

A lot of weight is put on the notion of having “trust” in our choices. And while many of us do so, we might find ourselves analyzing the results of our choices and debating whether the trust was warranted or not.

The Vedic worldview has a different perspective on this, and finds trust to be an unreliable companion. In fact it’s the need for trust that leads to the need for it to be evaluated.

The Vedic position is reminiscent of the lesson delivered from Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield in the Bhagavad Gita, “Established in Being, perform action.”

Thom explains in this episode, the distinction between trust and charm. Charm being the tool available to Vedic meditators, that provides the impulse to take action without the need for trust, or even the need to analyze the results after the fact.

It’s a subtle but essential distinction for those interested in accelerating their evolution.

And if you’d like to reduce your dependence on trust and dig a little deeper into the subject, Thom’s course, The Art of Following Charm is a perfect next step.

Episode Highlights:

[02:45] The Distinction Between Trust and Knowledge

[04:49] How to Gain Knowledge and Transcend Trust

[06:26] The Laws of Nature are Changing All the Time

[08:30] From Aversion to Charm: The Role of Vedic Meditation in Shifting Perspectives

[10:18] The Power of Charm in Making Choices

[12:17] The Most Reliable Indicator of What is Evolutionary

[14:06] Lack of Charm for a Full Moon Party

[15:19] Do I Need to Know Why?

Useful Links

The Evolutionary Function of Suicide

4 juni 2023 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In a recent episode, Thom explored the subject of where suicidal thoughts come from. And while this might help us understand the origins of suicidal thoughts, it doesn’t explain the evolutionary role that suicide plays.

Thom takes us deeper in this episode and delivers a comforting perspective, which doesn’t condone suicide as such but explains how it is at least evolutionary.

Importantly, he explains that while it may be evolutionary, there are even more evolutionary alternatives available.

This is a must-listen episode for anyone affected by, or harboring suicidal thoughts.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis:

In the United States: Dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org

In Australia: Dial 13 11 14 or go to https://www.lifeline.org.au/

In all other countries, visit this page for your local prevention hotline: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - What is the Evolutionary Function of Suicide?

[00:57] A - An Extreme Form of Self Destruction

[02:35] Going Beyond the One Body Mentality

[03:59] Risky Behavior

[05:43] Imbibing

[07:34] Long, Slow Suicide

[08:54] There's No Escape

[10:45] What's Causing the Suffering?

[12:39] Life Without Suffering

[14:48] Sensing What Nature is Up To

[17:13] Self Knowledge

[18:50] Radiating Life for All to Enjoy

[20:57] What is Our Contribution?

[22:46] A Lighthouse in the Darkness of Ignorance

Useful Links

Understanding the Caste System of India

29 maj 2023 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

When we think of India, many people question the fairness of the so-called caste system, which, on the face of it, appears to divide the population into different classes, based on the family one is born into.

This perception appears to limit the opportunities people have in their lifetime, and some even think that being born into a “lower” caste can be a result of so-called “bad karma.”

In this episode, Thom sets the record straight, describing the actual structure and function of the caste system, and how it came to be distorted to the point that it effectively became a class system.

He includes a beautiful example from the Tradition of Masters that have been the custodians of Vedic Meditation over the centuries, of one particular Master who flexed his caste to be even more fully of service than he already was.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Caste System in India

[02:14] The Four Castes or Varnas

[04:40] The Caste System: A British Creation

[06:47] Four within Four

[09:02] Adi Shankara: The Brahmin Who Considered Himself a Shudra

[11:04] Gandhi's Legacy in Abolishing the Caste System

[13:15] The True Vedic Civilization

Useful Links

Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?

21 maj 2023 | 21 min

Punya - How to Increase Your Deserving Power

14 maj 2023 | 32 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Good fortune is often seen as some kind of cosmic reward for good behavior. “If I do good things, then good things will happen to me.” This has actually evolved as a misunderstanding of the concept of karma.

Rather than being a reward, the Vedic position on good fortune is that it is actually a result. More specifically, it’s a result of enhanced consciousness, brought about by the removal of stresses that prevent us from seeing the most evolutionary opportunities available to us.

Thom explains this in more detail in this episode, in which he clarifies the meaning of punya, or deserving power, and he explains the path to maximizing your punya.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What is Deserving Power?

[02:38] How Our State of Consciousness Shapes Reality

[04:49] Who Am I Really?

[06:37] The Power of Pure Consciousness: Embracing the Unmanifest

[08:32] Transcendence and Truth: The Key to Understanding Self

[10:30] Punya: Finding Your True Self

[12:25] How to Get 90% Punya

[14:27] Authenticity in the Age of Social Media

[16:12] Low Punya & High Punya

[17:57] The Young Man Who Knew It All

[19:45] "I Don't Care About My Body."

[21:22] Non-Negotiable Strategy of Vedic Meditation

[23:29] The Oceanic Consciousness: Adopting the River of Life

[25:37] Embracing Totality: The Journey to Cosmic Consciousness

[27:39] 100% Punya: The Key to Living a Life of Fullness

Useful Links

Yudhishthira and the Most Wondrous Thing

7 maj 2023 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi said on more than one occasion that free will was God’s greatest gift to mankind. And while that may well be, we have to ask ourselves whether we actually make the most of this gift.

In this episode, Thom takes us to a pivotal moment in The Mahabharata, when Yudhishthira, the offspring of Dharma, and Arjuna’s older brother, puts his wisdom to the test to restore the lives of his brothers.

Like much of The Mahabharata, and most Vedic literature, it makes a sobering point about how we can take more responsibility for our own evolution, and bring and end to the cycle of life and death.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Sequence in the Form of Storyline

[03:18] Mahabharata: The Story of India's Royal Family

[05:06] Exile of the Pandava Brothers and Draupadi

[07:30] Nakula and The Crane

[09:24] A Genetic Advantage

[11:44] Hurtling Towards Death

[13:39] A Pivotal Point

[14:56] The Most Valuable Asset

[17:36] The Ultimate Vedic Teaching

[20:03] This is What I Am

[21:57] We Form an Opinion of Ourselves

[23:57] I Am Also This

[25:51] I Am a Human Being, Not Just a Human Doing.

[27:30] Longevity is a Fatal Condition

[29:57] Make Great Priorities in Life

[31:48] Living in Heaven-on-Earth Status

Useful Links

Navigating Family Relationships When Times Are Difficult

30 april 2023 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Family relationships aren’t usually simple or straight forward.

This is a matter of design, because our karmic blueprint brings us into family situations where we can play out the dramas necessary for our evolution.

In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners about the dynamics of family relationships during times of difficulty.

He discusses how to cope with family relationships that have broken down, and how to show adult children how they can make the most of their world, even when outer circumstances appear tough.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - How Can I Find Peace of Mind After My Adult Son Has Abandoned Me as His Mother?

[00:50] A - A Wry Sense of Humor

[02:54] Accepting the Reality of Your Child's Consciousness State

[04:36] Expanding Your Sense of Self After Abandonment

[06:22] The Transcendent Influence of a Conscious Mother

[08:14] Q - How to with Emotionally Abusive Family Members?

[08:28] A - Guru Deva's Message — You Deserve the Best

[10:22] Soma — How Our Responses Feed Bad Behavior

[12:33] Dealing with Soma Bandits in Relationships

[14:43] Good Behavior Gets Soma

[15:39] Not Available for a Hold-up

[17:09] Q - How Can I Communicate with Discouraged Adult Children?

[17:32] A - The Uncertainty Principle

[19:29] Creative Intelligence Always Finds Employment

[21:52] Be the Guru

[22:45] An End to All Uncertainty

Useful Links

AI and Singularity. Is this the beginning of the end?

23 april 2023 | 43 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

By the time 2023 comes to a close, there’s a very good chance that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a front runner for the Word of the Year. Since the release of ChatGPT late last year, the use and development of AI tools for day-to-day purposes has exploded.

People are coming up with creative ways of using AI to take on some of their regular tasks, and often even to take on their creative workload.

There’s no doubt that AI is a boon to humanity and that it comes with great benefits, but is there any downside to having a tool as powerful as this? Is there a chance that we’re one step closer to the reality that so many ‘science fiction’ movies and books have described, where the robots take over?

Of course we’ll have Thom’s views on the subject in this episode, and in fairness to AI, we also gave it a chance to participate, and posed the question to ChatGPT, What would Thom Knoles say about AI and Singularity?

Read the answer below and listen to Thom’s view on the matter on the podcast, then you can be the judge as to how accurate the answer was…

Question: Good morning. What would Thom Knole's say about AI and Singularity?

Answer: Thom Knoles is a Vedic meditation teacher and I cannot say for certain what his views on Al and Singularity are. However, generally speaking, the Vedic tradition emphasizes the importance of human consciousness and inner development. In this tradition, the ultimate goal of human life is to realize one's true nature and attain a state of enlightenment.

Regarding Al and Singularity, some Vedic teachings may suggest that while technological advancements can be useful, they cannot replace the importance of human consciousness and spiritual evolution. It may be said that Al, no matter how advanced, lacks consciousness and self-awareness, which are essential components of human life.

However, without specific information on Thom Knoles' personal views on the subject, I cannot give a more specific answer.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What Would Thom Knoles Say About AI and Singularity?

[03:04] AI Singularity

[05:08] Is-ness to Am-ness to I-ness to My-ness

[07:49] The Breaking of Symmetry

[10:14] The Evolution of Technology: From Fire to AI

[12:03] Cascades of Technologies and Capabilities

[14:12] The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Technology

[15:56] The Abuse of Technology

[17:55] A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

[20:11] Is Technology Bad?

[22:11] The Mirage of Fulfilling Life

[24:29] Finding Fulfillment in the Bliss Layer

[26:17] Awaken the Full Potential of Consciousness

[28:47] The Larval Stages of AI: What Lies Ahead?

[30:32] Fire 3.0

[33:10] Y2K and AI: False Alarms or Real Threats?

[35:34] Is AI a Potential Danger or a Tool for Enlightenment?

[37:50] Interacting Effectively with the Demands of the World?

[39:34] The Potential for Humanity

Useful Links

How to Cope in Tough Economic Times

16 april 2023 | 29 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few things stir up fear quite like the economy does. Though few of us could even accurately define what “the economy” actually is, talk of a tough economy is enough to cause most people worry.

Whether it be mortgage increases, rising inflation, falling stock prices, or looming recessions, as soon as the financial experts start talking down the economy, large parts of the population start seeing problems with their own situation that they don’t understand, let alone know how to solve.

Given the infinite variety of economic situations that each of us face, coming up with universal tactics that we could all apply is an impossible task. But while there may not be a viable universal tactical approach that we could all take, there is a viable universal strategic approach that we can take.

In fact it’s so universal, that it isn’t just applicable to economic situations, and can apply to any problem or challenge that comes our way…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Tough Economic Features

[02:25] Contributing Factors

[04:13] Problem is a Consciousness State

[05:46] The Impact of Consciousness on Coping with Economic Hardship

[07:31] Overloading the Brain

[09:07] Fight-Flight Reactivity

[10:46] Stress Accumulation vs Deep Restfulness

[12:56] Unleash Your Brain's Potential with Vedic Meditation

[16:57] Accurate Expectations via Vedic Meditation

[18:52] "Where's the Money Going to Come From?"

[20:27] Opulence at $5 a Day

[21:31] Sleeping on the Couch in the Presidential Suite

[22:53] A Fully Awakened Brain

[24:12] How to Deal with Problems

[25:41] Welcome to the Solution to All Problems

Useful Links

https://thomknoles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles

https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

https://thomknoles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles

https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Impact of Habits on Our Evolution

11 april 2023 | 22 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

If we look at the origin of the word habit, it comes from Latin, meaning have, or consist of. Hence the once common saying, Habits maketh man.

So if our habits essentially define, in a sense, who we are, then it makes sense for us to adopt habits that are more evolutionary in nature than others.

This episode is a sneak preview of what to expect from Thom’s new course, Evolutionary Habits.

It goes beyond the common approach of simply using discipline and willpower to force change, and inspires a fundamental shift in how we think of ourselves, thus inspiring change elegantly, rather than forcing it upon ourselves from a sense of lack or inadequacy.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Who Am I? What Am I?

[02:43] Your Habits Shape Your Reality

[04:53] The Big Bang

[07:17] Evolution is Inexorable

[09:15] This Entity I Call Myself

[11:09] You Can't Step Into the Same Body Twice

[12:47] Your Thoughts Shape Your Physical Self

[14:36] The Fundamental Aspect of Habituation

[16:02] A Very Positive Change

[17:22] The Habit of Identifying Oneself Correctly

Useful Links

https://thomknoles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles

https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Maya is Not an Illusion

9 april 2023 | 15 min

My Non-Vedic Reading List

2 april 2023 | 18 min

Questions About Karma

26 mars 2023 | 51 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The notion of karma raises a lot of questions, often because the concept is totally misunderstood. It’s most commonly seen as a cosmic form of reward and punishment, but nothing could be further from the truth.

It is certainly a tool for course correction, but it doesn’t come with any of the judgment that is attributed to it.

In this episode, Thom addresses listener questions, tackling issues such as instant karma vs delayed karma, why we still seem to experience karmic effects even when we’re doing all that we can to advance our evolutionary progress, and why we might choose a life of suffering rather than comfort.

These are common questions, but the answers Thom gives are by no means common. This is an episode you might want to put on repeat for a while so the learning can really sink in.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Why does karma have varying timeframes for resolution?

[00:54] A - The Cause of Karma

[03:21] Relationship Between Karma and Kriyā

[05:36] Instant Karma

[07:28] Moving Between Karma and Kriyā Zones

[09:52] The Relationship Between Meditation and Karma

[11:52] The Role of Meditation in Preventing and Resolving Karma

[13:39] How to Undo Karma

[16:22] Instant Detection of Karma

[18:35] Q - Can current difficulties be a result of karmic habits?

[19:09] Karmic Debt

[21:46] Mastering Rounding for a Deeper Meditation Practice

[23:50] The Power of Rounding in Dissolving Karma

[26:29] Don't be a Bull in a China Shop

[28:57] Q - Why does consciousness choose life in an abusive environment?

[29:21] The Story of Ashtavakra: Spiritual Guru with Deformity

[31:26] Ashtavakra's Calloused Chin

[33:35] The Role of Karma in Ashtavakra's Life Story

[35:33] Ashtavakra's Choice

[37:41] Buddha: The Abusive Life of a Child in a Palace

[39:25] Enlightenment of Buddha

[41:38] Karma and Unfinished Business

[43:29] Ideal Families Don't Guarantee Enlightenment

[45:29] The Science of Jyotish

[47:23] We Make the Choice of Birth Timing and Parents

Useful Links

https://thomknoles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles

https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Rising Tide of Anxiety - the Cause and the Solution

19 mars 2023 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Anxiety is a downward spiral that many struggle to control. It’s the price many are paying for living in an overstimulated world.

We’re bombarded with messaging from countless sources hundreds of times a day, and these are competing with our own restless minds, churning away with the same repeated thoughts, day after day after day.

In this episode, Thom explains the dangers of living in a state of “object-referral,” where you live at the mercy of circumstances, rather than a state of “self-referral,” where you have a solid foundation that anxiety finds unsustainable. Importantly, he outlines the solution, in practical terms that anyone wanting to take back control can implement effectively and swiftly.

Episode Highlights:

[01:03] Becoming Aware of Our Challenges

[02:55] Immense Rise in the Capacity to Commune

[05:06] Failure to Commune is Characterizing Human Interaction Today

[07:52] Meditation Allows Deep-Rooted Stresses to Dissolve

[09:58] Being a Time Bomb of Stress Reactivity is Not the Solution

[12:04] We Can't Rely on the Two Percenters

[14:14] To What Extent am I Individually Awakening My Fullest Potential?

[16:28] Accelerate Your Own Personal Development

Useful Links

https://thomknoles.com/

https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles

https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Satsang - An Invitation from Thom Knoles

15 mars 2023 | 4 min

My Vedic Reading List

12 mars 2023 | 24 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Read any good books lately? Vedic literature is rich in timeless content, and few epics have lasted the thousands of years that some of the Vedic epics have survived.

Vedic epics combine the best of drama and unforgettable storytelling while still being steeped in deep wisdom at every turn. It is this powerful combination that continues to make them as relevant today as 5,000 years ago.

Thom shares a couple of his favorites in this episode, and gives us a helping hand by recommending specific translations that will make more sense to those of us who are not Vedic scholars.

And to help us even further, he suggests a couple of more contemporary books, both written by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to help us deepen our understanding of how to lead a rich and fulfilling life.

Suggested Reading:

The Science of Being and the Art of Living by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on the Bhagavad Gita - a translation and commentary by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

The Mahabharata, translation by Ramesh Menon

The Ramayana, translation by Ramesh Menon

Love and God

by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

Episode Highlights:

[00:52] The Vedic Worldview Podcast

[02:38] The Science of Being and Art of Living - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

[04:47] The Bhagavad Gita – Vyasa

[08:01] Krishna's Enjoinment to Battle

[10:33] The Mahabharata – Vyasa

[14:52] Vyasa - A Great Sage

[17:17] The Ramayana – Valmiki

[20:02] Love and God - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

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Where Do Suicidal Thoughts Come From?

6 mars 2023 | 48 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Get ready for a fresh perspective on suicide and suicidal thoughts.

In response to a question from a listener, Thom gives us a lot to contemplate in this episode, including redefining how we think about suicide, introducing the concept of “long suicide,” and reminding us that body death doesn’t mean consciousness death or bring an end to suffering.

He talks about the role Vedic Meditation can have in easing the suffering at the source of suicidal thoughts, and also affirms that you are worthy of, and must seek, professional help if suicidal thoughts have become a regular part of your thinking or if it’s something you feel inclined to act on.

Even if you aren’t contemplating suicide, this is wisdom we should all take on board, for the inevitable occasion when we might be able to influence someone considering a premature end to their life.

If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts or are experiencing a mental health crisis:
In the United States: Dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
In Australia: Dial 13 11 14 or go to https://www.lifeline.org.au/
In all other countries, visit this page for your local prevention hotline: https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Where Do Suicidal Thoughts Come From?

[02:06] A - Seeking Help: A Necessary Step for Mental Health

[04:08] Break the Stigma

[05:45] What Happens to Consciousness After Death

[07:35] Nihilism, Atheism, and Suicide

[09:44] Natural Curiosity of Body Death

[11:25] Suicide is Not Self-Destruction

[13:35] Guru Deva - the Supreme Authority in the Vedic Worldview

[15:57] Guru Deva Bestows Epithets

[18:06] Guru Deva Dropped his Body

[20:18] Did Guru Deva Commit Suicide?

[22:23] Why Guru Deva Dropped his Body

[24:29] Cosmic Intelligence and the End of a Physical Body

[26:21] Witness of All Intellects

[28:36] Suicide: An Act of Desperation or Cosmic Intelligence?

[30:32] Zero Effectiveness of Warnings and Campaigns

[33:04] This is Not Suicide

[35:05] We Don't Call It Suicide

[36:46] What You Can Do?

[38:56] How Vedic Meditation Can Help

[41:00] Consciousness Beyond Physical Death: Insights from a Near-Death Experience

[43:03] Live Your Life Without Suffering

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Shruti - The Sound of Manifestation

27 februari 2023 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Vedic Meditators frequently report heightened perception of the sense organs.

Colors may become crisper, shades of light and dark may become more ‘interesting,’ subtler tastes may be detected in food, and smells may be detected, even in the most minute concentrations.

One of the most curious sensations happens at the level of hearing. In the same way that the mind is able to experience the subtlety of Being becoming manifest, the hearing organs are able to experience the sound of Being becoming manifest.

Thom explains both the mechanics and the result of this process.

For many Vedic meditators, this episode will be a revelation, an explanation for that sweet, sweet sound, humming away in the background as a constant companion in day-to-day life, and for others it will be a preview of coming attractions.

And for those who haven’t learned Vedic Meditation, perhaps this will inspire you to learn the technique so you too can hear the sound of manifestation.

Episode Highlights:

[00:52] An Arcane Subject

[02:20] It's Not Tinnitus

[03:49] Increasing Acuity of Perception

[05:31] The Nectar of the Bliss Experience

[07:29] The Sound of the Symmetry Breaking

[09:18] Divine Which is Heard

[11:07] Bringing Your Consciousness State Forward

[12:21] Symphonic Sound

[13:40] The Sound of the Veda

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Mood Making - What it is and Why We Should Avoid it

20 februari 2023 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Most groups or communities have a few pretentious players within them; people who wear a mask or ‘put on a show’ to attract attention to themselves and to elevate their status.

While one might think that the “spiritual” arena might be beyond such behavior, regrettably that’s not the case.

In some circles they might be called “wannabees,” but Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had a special name for such people; mood makers.

While they are relatively easy to spot, in this episode Thom shares the signs to look for in a mood maker.

If nothing else, this gives us an opportunity to check in on our own conduct and to ensure that we haven’t inadvertently become a mood maker ourselves.

Episode Highlights:

[00:53] The Temptation of Mood Making

[02:25] Faking It Till You Make It

[03:28] Badges of Rank

[05:15] A Big Blob on the Floor

[06:28] Our Destiny Summed Up on the Floor of Whole Foods

[07:42] God-given Parking Spaces

[09:08] Simple, Natural, Innocent

[11:05] Have a Proper Meal With Me

[12:20] "I'm Eating Brahman."

[14:17] Be Adorable to Nature

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The Difference Between Luck and Good Fortune

13 februari 2023 | 13 min

The Beauty of Sanskrit

6 februari 2023 | 27 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

While many of us think of language as something that evolved from the grunts and noises made by our prehistoric ancestors, Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Veda, has a very unique distinction; it’s an ‘inspired’ or cognized language, reflecting the intention of Nature through sound.

Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, majoring in Sanskrit, Thom is well placed to give us an overview of its origin and a demonstration of its beauty.

He explains how its custodians have preserved its integrity over the centuries, protecting it from the inevitable change of common use.

And for those of us who don’t want to dive deeply into understanding it more fully, he explains why we don’t need to understand Sanskrit intellectually in order to benefit from its meaning or intent.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The First Child of the Language of Nature

[02:45] Rishi - One with Super Subtle Perception

[04:28] Sounds Like...

[06:35] Seeing the Sounds

[08:38] Lingua Franca

[10:29] An Absolute Language

[11:32] Fluid Languages

[12:32] Olde English

[14:19] An Effect Without Understanding

[17:00] The Means Alone Won't Get You There

[18:25] A Lifetime of Learning Isn't Enough

[19:28] Sama Veda - Enlivening Our Experience of the Unified Field

[21:23] Puja

[23:32] A Beautiful Sound On Its Own

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Tantra - Embracing the Art of Brinkmanship

30 januari 2023 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Mention tantra and most people think of sexual practices designed to prolong the sexual experience or to add a ‘spiritual’ element to it. While the principle of tantra can certainly be applied to sex, it’s actually a concept that has much broader and more interesting applications.

Strictly speaking, when properly applied, even the art of procrastination, as distinct from the habit of avoidance, can be said to be a form of tantra.

As Thom explains in this episode, tantra is a form of brinkmanship, the ability to hover at the border of two different states, either conceptually or physically. As you’ll hear, it’s an art that Vedic Meditators become quite accomplished at…

Episode Highlights:

[00:55] Tantra Has Evaded All Attempts at Consistent Definition

[03:37] Understanding Tantra is Pivotal to the Development of a Vedic Meditator

[05:44] Creativity at Work Requires the Pressure of Present-Moment Awareness

[08:13] Tantric Awareness No Longer Fears Boundaries

[10:17] Boundaries Are Places of Rich and Condensed Knowledge

[12:34] Helium as a Gas to a Superfluid

[14:12] Superfluid Helium is a Quantum Mechanical Phenomenon

[16:37] Tantra Is a Consciousness State

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Worst-case Scenarios | Parts Work | Intentions and Goal Setting

23 januari 2023 | 31 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There’s no shortage of questions from our podcast audience, which is perfect because Thom is never short of an answer…

The common thread throughout this Q&A episode is that we’re all much more empowered than we might think.

Thom reminds us that Nature loves it when we commit, and that rather than preparing ourselves for worst-case scenarios, we must assume that we’re acting on Nature’s behalf and get behind our intention, and then act accordingly.

He gives us clues as to how we can use the present to inspire our past and the future to inspire our present. You'll need to flex the way you think about time but, as always, Thom gives us an elegant analogy to work with.

And to round things off, he takes the intention message one step further, inviting us to be flexible with our expectations and to be ready, and willing, to change plans at a moment’s notice.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Should We Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios?

[01:33] A - Collectives Create the Governance That Surrounds Them

[04:07] Government is in a Dependency Role

[06:11] Continue to Provide, No Matter Where the Funding Comes From

[07:55] "Here We'll Build Our Next Ashram"

[09:21] "The Money Will Come From Where it is Now"

[11:27] Seagull Parable from the Upanishad

[13:06] Millions of Birds Drying out the Ocean

[14:18] Garuda and Varuna

[16:23] Q - What is the Vedic World View of Parts Work?

[17:03] A - Reinspiring Consciousness

[18:50] One Contiguous Flow

[21:05] Inspiration From the Future

[23:22] Q - Does Intention and Goal Setting Contradict the Vedic Worldview?

[23:55] A - I Am Totality

[26:27] Nature's Bait and Switch

[27:50] This is Nature Itself Thinking

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The Role of the Mistaken Intellect in Evolution

16 januari 2023 | 63 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Vedic wisdom is full of contrasting ideas. We’re told that evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, yet we’re also told that the intellect is ‘mistaken’ and that it holds us back from experiencing enlightened forms of Consciousness.

Can both be true? Can we be both mistaken and be playing a role in evolution at the same time? Here’s your chance to find out.

This is another masterclass on the Vedic Worldview, an episode worthy of your full attention and one that you’ll want to listen to a few times over to fully understand what it means for you and your own personal evolution. If you have trouble celebrating your ‘flaws’ this will go a long way to putting that to rest.

Episode Highlights

[00:53] Pragya Aparadha

[01:55] Structure of Human Consciousness - Intellect

[03:44] Individual Ego and Cosmic Ego

[05:58] Experiencing Psycho-genesis - the Source of Thought

[07:59] Transcendance is the Unified Field Itself

[09:59] Every Thought is a Stream of Energy and Intelligence

[12:22] Bio-friendly Universe

[14:29] Mind Experiencing Dual Awareness

[16:26] Neuroplasticity of the Brain

[18:29] Joy of the Combination of Two Activities is Greater than Keeping them Separate

[20:44] Ritam - Thinking and Being at the Same Time

[22:51] Stabilizing Ritam

[24:47] A Very Fantastic Experience

[26:38] Neuroplasticity Allows for Stabilization of Two States Simultaneously

[28:31] Cosmic Consciousness

[31:21] The Power of the Mistaken Intellect

[34:07] Intellect has Handicaps

[35:52] Intellect Was the Bouncer to the Ego Structure

[37:39] Rehabilitation of the Sense of Self through Meditation

[39:44] Intellect is the Last Thing to Capitulate

[42:05] It Takes a Thorn to Remove a Thorn

[43:42] Mistaken Intellect Sabotages Our Best Internal Knowledge

[46:32] Prosecutorial Intellect and Advocacy Intellect

[48:51] The Resolute Intellect

[50:46] Pulling Back the String of the Bow

[53:05] Mistaken Intellect is the Last Thing to Allow Enlightenment to Zoom Forth

[55:07] Guru - Remover of Darkness

[57:16] Vedic Meditation Retreats Awakening the Resolute Intellect

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My Time in Prison

9 januari 2023 | 22 min

The Vedic Perspective on the New Year

2 januari 2023 | 15 min

Vedic and Australian Aboriginal Connections. Evolution and Devolution

26 december 2022 | 38 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

This Ask Thom Anything episode explores ancient cultures, the process of evolution and the possibility of devolution.

Thom shares an anecdote about a journey to outback Australia as an envoy for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to seek the blessing of Aboriginal Elders, where he discovered an unexpected, though not surprising, connection between the ancient people of Australia and those of India.

And in answers to two totally separate questions, he explains the evolutionary leap that made us the ‘smartest’ species on the planet, though potentially too smart for our own good.

It’s a salient reminder that we all need to be vigilant with our Vedic Meditation practice and to share the benefits widely if we want the human species to continue to be part of Nature’s evolutionary process.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - What's the Connection Between Australian Aboriginal and Vedic Culture

[01:29] Indigenous People who Possessed Knowledge of Transcending

[02:38] "You Want to Talk to the Old Fellas?"

[04:28] Making Arrangements to See the Old Fellas

[06:17] Clean Sheets and Some Good Tucker

[07:32] Remarkable State of Contentedness

[09:41] We'd Like to Teach All the Fellas

[11:20] It'll Be Alright

[13:22] Q - What is the Truth About the Brain's Evolution?

[13:44] A - Darwinistic Evolution

[16:23] Science Likes One Original Miracle

[18:05] Bio-Friendly Universe

[20:32] Timing was Perfect for a Consciousness Revolution

[21:45] Evolutionary Pressures Caused Pivotal Evolutionary Change

[24:30] Q - Can We Evolve Regressively?

[25:23] A - Dumbing Down of Consciousness

[26:18] Intelligent Enough. Not Intelligent Enough

[28:08] A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

[29:27] Critical Mass of People Meditating

[30:55] The Few Lead the Many

[33:01] Not Smart Enough to Prevent Our Own Self-extinction?

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Trust vs Certainty

19 december 2022 | 37 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

How much trust did you have that the sun would rise this morning? And even if it was hidden by clouds, did you still trust that it was there?

Unless you live near one of the polar caps, where you can go for months without seeing the sun, no doubt you had enough certainty that you didn’t need to apply any trust at all. You were certain it was going to rise and can be certain it will rise again tomorrow.

Much of the stress in our lives is caused by uncertainty, which we smooth over by applying trust or faith to a situation or to a person, but that’s an approach that leaves us exposed to outside influences.

In this episode, Thom shares a sure-fire approach to dial up the certainty in our lives and to make us resilient to the uncertainty that we need to keep life interesting.

We are certain you’ll enjoy this episode :-).

Episode Highlights

[01:02] Object-referral Way of Looking at the World

[03:31] Problem Means Problem Consciousness

[05:10] No More Problem

[06:01] Self-referral Consciousness Commences with Vedic Meditation

[07:53] Consciousness Field is the Knower, Knowing and Known

[09:55] We Start Taking More Responsibility for What we Are Experiencing

[11:40] Percentage of Self-referral Awareness

[13:47] Internal Locus of Control

[15:18] External Locus of Control

[17:16] Faith and Trust - Suspension of Disbelief

[19:41] Certainty is Better than Trust

[21:18] Absolute Supreme Knowledge

[23:02] Vedic Rishis Don't Operate on the Level of Trust

[25:06] Knowledge Has Organizing Power

[27:21] Knowledge of the Knower has Infinite Organising Power

[29:26] Capture the Fort - Then the Entire Territory Belongs to You

[31:24] Water the Roots of the Tree - the Underlying Transcendental Field of the Tree

[33:44] Someone Who Meditates Becomes an Agent of the Evolutionary Process

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The Three Gunas

12 december 2022 | 41 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, but what’s the mechanism behind evolution?

The Vedic perspective tells us that everything that happens in ‘the relative’ is governed by the three ‘gunas.’

In this episode Thom describes the three gunas as balancing agents, engaged in a constant interplay of intention, action and inaction, ensuring that everything is created in perfect harmony, and remains relevant for just as long as it needs to be, and no more.

He also explains how Vedic Meditation, the art of transcending the three gunas, can be our most powerful weapon, even in the toughest of life’s battles.

Episode Highlights

[00:56] Bhagavad Gita - Song of the Supreme Consciousness Field

[03:20] Cousins Go to War

[05:30] Arjuna Deeply Conflicted

[07:57] "You Could Have Avoided All of This"

[09:45] "Your Cousins will Destroy the Entire Culture of India"

[11:53] Nistraigunyo Bhavarjuna

[13:51] Yogastha Kuru Karmani

[15:56] Evolutionary Force is Causing Ever More Elegant and Sophisticated Forms

[18:13] Humans - Relatively Inept Athletes

[20:03] But a Highly Sophisticated Human Brain

[22:01] Capacity to See Cascades of Cause

[23:42] Upright Neurocentric Arthropods

[24:45] Sattva, Rajas and Tamas - Three Balancing Agents

[26:09] Inertia of Stillness

[27:46] Inertia - A Way to Stop the Vehicle

[29:46] Change is Inevitable

[32:01] Meditation - Be Without the Three Gunas

[34:24] The Yoga Consciousness State gives the Expanded Perspective

[36:41] Turiya - the Fourth Consciousness State

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Mata, Pita, Guru

5 december 2022 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We could be forgiven for thinking that Mata, Pita and Guru, Mother, Father, and ‘Teacher,’ refer to specific people in our life. But as we’ve come to expect from Vedic wisdom, there is much more to these words than meets the eye.

In this episode Thom explains the connotative meaning of this triumvirate and the role that they play, moment to moment, in our lives.

While most of us see life as a series of events happening to us, those who view life through the lens of Mata, Pita and Guru, see it as a series of events happening for us. No points for guessing which approach leads to the least suffering.

Episode Highlights

[00:56] The Three-Part Body of Knowledge

[02:36] Mata - The Gestator

[03:56] Matrix

[05:21] The Source of All New Moments

[06:45] Purification Takes Place

[07:46] Pita; The Instigator of Change

[08:41] Source and Cause

[09:47] Thought - A Stream of Energy and Intelligence

[12:03] A Thing Stimulates You to Have a Thought

[13:50] The Third Element - Guru

[15:29] "We Can Make Money Out of This."

[17:04] Truth of Snake-fear

[18:22] Darkness Remover

[20:40] Guru; The Shedder of Light

[22:20] Mata, Pita, Guru — Fundamental to Living a Happy Life

Useful Links

*Alzheimer’s Association.

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Memory and Dementia

28 november 2022 | 53 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors in the USA dies with some form of dementia*. And with the rapidly-aging population, numbers are expected to double within the next thirty years.

These are sobering statistics but in this episode, Thom puts forward the Vedic perspective on the subject and a simple solution, which, ironically, lies in reviving our lost ability to forget.

With so many cognitive demands placed on us each day, and our obsessive need to remember, Thom reminds us that our twice-daily dose of Vedic Meditation gives our brain the much-needed respite from the demands of the day, and the chance to avoid the forced shut-down that dementia often provides in later life.

It’s a hopeful message that could help many better understand the condition they fear more than any other.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The Value of Memory

[03:19] Fight/Flight Response

[05:30] Structural and Material Changes that Pertain to Fighting or Fleeing

[07:07] The Stress of Stress

[08:31] Our Immune System - Reducing Neoplsams

[10:21] Stress And Cancer

[12:28] We Get Stressed by Everything

[14:20] Our Memory and Memory in the Cells

[16:11] Power of Consciousness

[17:53] Hundreds of Thousands of Mantras

[20:05] Prime Property of the Mantra

[24:01] Forgetting and Remembrance Phenomenon

[25:43] Letting Go of Irrelevancy

[27:59] Letting Go of Attachment

[29:44] Forget and Remember

[31:49] The Major Problem

[34:11] Purpose of Memory

[36:45] Your Contribution to Evolution

[38:35] What is it You're Remembering and Forgetting?

[40:03] What Form of Dying Frightens You the Most?

[42:01] Everything is Forgotten

[43:55] This Happened, and That Will Happen.

[45:59] Enjoy Forgetfulness

[48:17] Remembering the Right Things

Useful Links

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My Time in Australia

24 november 2022 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

With a father as a high-ranking officer in the US Air Force, Thom Knoles has been traveling internationally from a very young age. Under the wing of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Thom traveled even more, visiting countries with him on almost every continent.

But the country Thom has spent the most time in, outside of the USA, is his home away from home, Australia.

As a fresh-faced teenager, his keen interest in surfing led him to choose Australia as his destination of choice to set himself up as his meditation teaching career got under way.

Thom reminisces on his time spent there and the legacy of tens of thousands of meditators still active in Australia, and growing each day.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Early Contact with Australians

[02:51] The Art and Sport of Surfing

[05:13] One-Way Airfare

[07:08] 10 Jobs for Every One Person

[08:56] An Immigrant in Australia

[10:47] "What Do You Do for a Crust Mate?"

[12:30] Rhyming Slang of Outback Australians

[14:30] Yoga and Meditation Studio in Sylvania

[16:09] Maharishi Domicile in Switzerland

[18:08] Relatively Close to India

[19:39] A Tremendous Amount of Hospitality

[21:24] 10,000 Students

[23:29] Prisoners and Politicians

[26:01] Drawing People from Across Sydney

[27:38] Australia - the Crucible that Formed and Forged Thom Knoles

[29:30] Australia's Great Naturalness

[31:14] Robustness and Willingness to Take on a Challenge

[32:59] 20,000 Vedic Meditators in Sydney Region

Useful Links

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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Protest - Enhancing Vedic Meditation - Japa Meditation

21 november 2022 | 28 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We’re turning over the content of the podcast to our listeners once again, with another Ask Thom Anything episode, this time with a recurring theme of ‘effectiveness.’

Protest has become fashionable in recent years but Mary from Australia wonders how effective it is, especially in the absence of ‘worthy inquiry.’

Saskia, also from Australia, asks about the effectiveness of Nadi Shodana and the correct use of ‘Rounding’ to support our Vedic Meditation practice.

And Sophia in the USA wants to know if Japa Meditation has the same effect as, or could be considered to be a type of, Vedic Meditation.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Is Protest Effective?

[01:44] A - Less Outrage

[03:13] Change Naturally and Spontaneously Occurs

[05:07] Thought Police

[06:59] Large-Scale Social Backlash

[08:46] Raise our Own Consciousness

[09:45] Q - What Are the Benefits of Nadi Shodana and How Many Rounds Are Ideal Before Meditation?

[10:03] A - Pranayama

[11:59] Rounding

[13:24] At-Home Program

[14:53] Industrial-Strength Meditation

[16:08] Q - Is Japa Vedic Meditation?

[16:24] A - Some Resemblance

[17:07] Bija Mantra

[19:11] Japa Ajapa

[20:59] Bija Mantra Moves in the Direction of Being

[23:35] Effortlessness, Not Concentration and Control

Useful Links

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My Maharishi - No Problem

14 november 2022 | 18 min

The Holy Tradition and The Role of Gurus in Modern Times

7 november 2022 | 43 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Word of mouth is an unreliable means of communicating even at the best of times. And while the written word should theoretically be more accurate and more trustworthy than the spoken word, history has shown that that’s not the case.

Words can be so easily misunderstood and misinterpreted that they can’t be relied upon to convey wisdom accurately over time.

So what’s the most reliable way to preserve ancient truths and keep them relevant to the times?

In this episode Thom explores the limitations of the intellect and the role of consciousness in creating a ‘direct line’ when it comes to accessing the wisdom needed for evolutionary progress to be made.

He also explains the role of a Guru in ensuring that they develop successors with the consciousness and capability to adapt teachings to meet the need of the time, and from generation to generation, without diluting the purity of the original teaching.

In short, it’s an explanation that it’s not what you know that’s important, it’s ‘how’ you know.

Jai Guru Deva.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] The Role of Tradition in Vedic Worldview

[03:37] Irrelevant Reaction

[06:04] Our Brain is Not Being Used to Its Full Potential

[08:19] The Brain as a Machine

[10:33] What is Our Brain Capable Of?

[12:08] Brain Development

[13:50] This is Veda

[16:26] Eureka!

[18:49] Maintaining the Purity

[20:51] The Vedic Worldview is Inexhaustible

[22:48] Limitations of Newton's Theory

[24:31] Quantum Mechanics Can Explain Things

[26:38] Maharishi Gifted Me...

[28:12] How Do You Get That?

[30:00] Why Do We Exist?

[31:28] The Dishwasher

[33:13] The Gardener

[34:44] The Colorless Sap

[36:13] Refining My Capability

[37:26] My Great Joy

[39:01] The Meaning of Jai Guru Deva

Useful Links

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My Maharishi - My Exemplar

30 oktober 2022 | 37 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The impact that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had on the world is inestimable. With millions of people practicing the meditation technique that he popularized around the world, and many thousands more learning each year, the ripple effect of his work will last for centuries to come.

And not just here on earth. It’s fitting that Maharishi’s three favorite words, Jai Guru Deva, inspired lyrics within the famous Beatles song, Across the Universe, which, in 2008, became the first song beamed by NASA into deep space.

But what was it like being up close with Maharishi? In this episode Thom shares some of his observations from his 25 plus years of direct contact with Maharishi in India and throughout the world, often around the clock and for weeks and months on end.

He describes Maharishi’s most endearing characteristics and the impact they had on him personally, declaring that Maharishi shaped him to become the man he is today.

And for bonus value, he also shares the origins of another song from The Beatles that can be attributed to being influenced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] What Maharishi Was Like

[03:14] An Inspiration to The Beatles

[04:58] A Great Grace

[07:17] Glory to Guru Deva

[09:23] An Artful Walk

[10:06] An Armful of Flowers

[11:09] A Car Seat in Sydney

[12:39] A Coffee Table and a Deerskin

[14:26] Questions From the Floor

[16:14] Response to Worthy Inquiry

[17:13] Dear Prudence

[18:56] Contagious Laughter

[20:18] Hari the Cook

[21:52] Feeling the Food

[23:14] An Incessant Phenomenon

[24:28] A Great Buzz of Activity

[25:58] The Colorless Sap

[28:06] What Happened?

[29:57] Is It Understood?

[31:57] From This Angle, From That Angle

[33:24] Creating Me

Useful Links

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Omnisexuality

26 oktober 2022 | 11 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

What’s the Vedic worldview on sexuality?

Gender expression and sexual identity have been hot topics in recent years as more and more people choose to abandon gender and sexual stereotypes.

And while Vedic civilization was way ahead of its time in terms of accepting gender diversity, it turns out that sexuality may not be as important as it's made out to be.

In this bonus episode, Thom proposes a viewpoint whereby we can all look at sexuality from a different perspective and focus on a more reliable source of identity.

And if you’d like to dive a little deeper into the subject, Thom has a new course on Omnisexuality, available for people who have learned Vedic Meditation from a qualified and endorsed (by Thom) Vedic Meditation Teacher.

PS - This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at a public event so please forgive the slightly less-the-perfect audio quality.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - What’s the Vedic World View on Sexuality?

[01:23] Why Stop at Five?

[03:03] Doing is Not Identity

[04:51] Sexuality is a Thing That You Do

[06:43] Three Minutes...

[07:49] Be Open to Change

[08:37] Thom's Course on Omnisexuality

Useful Links

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Law of Attraction, Time Travel, Influences on the Body

23 oktober 2022 | 31 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

More listener questions on the podcast this episode, with the focus on the metaphysical.

Thom puts a surprising twist in his answer to a question on time travel and gives us clues as to how we can sense the future in the making.

He has an emphatic response to a question about the Law of Attraction, one that will help you make your mind up if you’re in doubt about whether it’s real or not.

And he gives us some advice as to how we can use external influences to our benefit when it comes to our health and wellbeing (Spoiler alert: It’s an inside job!).

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - Is Time Travel Possible?

[00:49] A - What Does Now Mean?

[02:20] Deva

[04:53] Capturing Past and Future

[06:35] You Sense the Future in the Making

[08:33] Constructing the Future

[10:28] That's Time Travel

[12:03] Q - Is the Law of Attraction a Myth?

[12:07] A - "Don't Be a Defeatist."

[13:46] Individuality is on a Mission

[15:32] The Universe is Not Your Sugar Daddy

[17:26] Attraction Has Nothing to Do With Anything

[19:40] Q - Is the Body Influenced by EMR or Plant Essences?

[20:32] A - Let There Be Light

[21:57] Let's Make Ourselves Resilient

[23:54] Will We Dodge Bullets or Become Bulletproof?

[25:46] Stabilize and Purify

[27:18] Self Realization for All Purposes

Useful Links

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Upanishad: The General and the Sergeant

16 oktober 2022 | 30 min

The Age of Enlightenment

9 oktober 2022 | 42 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was ahead of his time in 1975, when he predicted an end to The Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, among many other changes that he foresaw as arising from the dawning of the ‘Age of Enlightenment.’

With The Cold War showing no signs of thawing at the time, most people saw it as a fanciful notion at best. Yet Maharishi, the great seer, saw it as an inevitable outcome of the shift in consciousness that was growing in pace at the time.

Following on from our recent episode, The Yugas and the Importance of Understanding Them Correctly, in this episode Thom discusses Kali Yuga, the age of ignorance, in more detail.

He explains the role of consciousness and how enlightenment and ignorance can coexist, just as the moon can bring light to the night. Most importantly, he explains that the age of ignorance doesn’t place limits on our experience, individually or collectively.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] Kali Yuga—The Age of Ignorance

[02:48] The Dawning of the Age of Enlightenment

[04:44] Seven Days of Silence

[06:44] The Cold War at its Peak

[08:21] The Mutually-Assured Destruction Philosophy

[09:53] Things Will Get Better

[10:51] Enjoying the Good News

[12:00] Incremental Improvements

[13:42] Dawning Cannot But Happen in Darkness

[15:55] Part of the Solution

[17:31] The Meditator's Advantage

[19:19] There is a Lot of Work to be Done

[20:30] Underutilized Potential

[21:46] Impatient Behavior

[23:42] Demands Become Pivot Points

[25:38] Liberating Our Full Potential

[27:11] Resisting the Progress

[29:43] I Am Also the Big Self

[31:30] We Become Lighthouses

[32:52] This is What Light Does

[34:59] Who Knew?

[36:44] Become Masters of the Transcendental Smile

[37:50] We Feel Very Secure

Useful Links

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The Meaning of Non-Attachment

2 oktober 2022 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

As Eastern philosophies have spread in popularity throughout the world in the past thirty years or so, ‘detachment’ has become somewhat of a buzzword.

It has become a spiritual scorecard of sorts, the theory being that the more detached one is, the more enlightened one is. Or not…

In this episode Thom sets the record straight, explaining the distinction between detachment, which implies attachment in the first place, and non attachment, which negates any attachment at all.

It’s a subtle distinction but it’s much more than just a semantic argument.

While one can fake detachment, thus creating another form of attachment, one can’t fake non attachment. As usual, Thom also shows us how to become non attached, without the strain of having to fake it till we make it.

Episode Highlights

[00:54] Maharishi Patanjali and Yoga Sutra

[03:19] That's Not What Yoga Is

[05:21] Asana, Pranayama, Dhyan

[07:38] Yoga Sutra

[10:24] Not Just Any Old Meditation

[12:46] Vairagya is Not Detachment

[14:56] Detachment Isn't Possible

[16:47] Non-attachment May Occur

[18:57] Neti - Not This

[20:32] Detachment is Not a Practice

[22:12] Detach from Detachment

Useful Links

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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Affairs of the Heart

25 september 2022 | 29 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s time for another Ask Me Anything episode, with this one focused on affairs of the heart.

Thom answers a listener’s question about the desirability of a ‘heart awakening’ and explains why being ‘grounded in the unbounded’ is a more preferable state to aim for.

He takes on the question of whether partners in a relationship should ‘be on the same path’ or not, and how to manage the dynamic when they aren’t.

And he gives sage advice for a listener asking about the importance of following through on commitments when our heart is no longer committed to them.

As always, another round of practical suggestions for everyday situations that we find ourselves in.

[00:45] Q - Should I be Hoping for a Heart Awakening?

[00:58] A - Experiencing Empathy

[02:37] Empathy Can Be an Overshadowing Feeling

[04:39] Spontaneous Ideal Interaction

[06:37] A Completely Useless State to Be In

[08:05] Grounded in the Unbounded

[10:00] Q - Can a Relationship Flourish if We Are On Different Paths?

[10:15] A - Why We're in a Relationship

[12:12] Who is Suffering in a Relationship?

[14:00] What is Suffering?

[15:42] Sharing the Load

[17:10] Be a Shining Example

[18:02] Q - How do We Honor Commitments that No Longer Feel Relevant?

[18:21] A - Commitments Become Unsustainable with Time

[20:27] The Problem of Severability

[22:04] Forgiveness of a Promise

[23:48] The Five Fundamentals of Progress

[24:51] Time is a Great Healer

Useful Links
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My Maharishi - Reviving Ayurveda and The Big Bang

18 september 2022 | 22 min

Releasing Stress in New York City

11 september 2022 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

9/11/2001 is a date that’s been imprinted in our memories worldwide. New York City, at the epicenter of the terror attacks, was shaken to its core, literally and figuratively.

Visiting New York City very soon after, Thom witnessed a distinct shift in the way New Yorkers were relating to each other.

Thom shares his reflections on that visit in the episode, noting in particular how the 9/11 tragedy brought New Yorkers together for a brief period, and how it seeded what has since become a very large community of Vedic Meditators in the city.

But with over 18 million people living in the metro area, a lot more meditators are needed to address the collective stress that stands in the way of New York becoming even more of an iconic city than she already is.

Thom will be visiting New York City from October 9th to 20th to teach Vedic Meditation and give various talks. To find out more and to register for any of these events, please visit thomknoles.com/newyork. Jai Guru Deva.

[00:00:45] No Appointments

[00:02:42] Retiring from Teaching

[00:05:22] "What About New York City?"

[00:07:24] Journey to NYC

[00:09:34] Something Unusual in the Streets of New York

[00:11:44] Embraced the Stranger

[00:13:44] Healing the Wound of New Yorkers

[00:15:26] Why Should We Need to Have a Tragedy?

[00:17:13] New Tour in NYC

[00:19:08] An Invitation to New York

Useful Links
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The Ganges - More Than Just a River

8 september 2022 | 13 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few rivers have a name as iconic as the Ganges River in India.

At over 1550 miles (2,500 kms) long, it winds its way from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, passing a population of over 650 million along the way, making it the most populated river basin in the world.

But there is more to the Ganges than just a body of water meandering through the landscape.

In this episode, Thom brings his beloved Ganges to life. He explains why she plays such a significant role in the spiritual life of Indian citizens and visitors who come from around the world just to bathe in her icy waters.

Thom leaves us in no doubt that the Ganges will justifiably play a pivotal role in our upcoming 2023 retreat in Rishikesh.

If you'd like to attend the retreat with Thom in Rishikesh India from January 8th to 18th, 2023, please visit Thom's website for more details, https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ or follow the link in the show notes.

[00:00:45] Mother Ganga

[00:03:17] The Goddess Whom Everyone Can See

[00:05:25] Taking a Dip in Ganga

[00:07:19] An Invitation from Swami Kailashanand Giri

[00:09:06] Removing Karma from the Physiology

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Upanishad - The King and the Swordsmith

4 september 2022 | 38 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We’re all familiar with the saying, don’t use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but how about using a sword to clean a finger?

Vedic literature is full of delightful fables that use analogies to deliver profound life lessons. In this episode Thom gives us some background on Upanishad, Vedic fables heard ‘while sitting at the feet of a Master’ before sharing a tale of a King and a swordsmith.

It’s a delightful reminder that our Vedic Meditation technique has a very specific and powerful purpose, and a demonstration of how to dig a little deeper than the superficial interpretation of a story.

Treat this episode as a taste test of more Upanishad tales to come in future episodes.

[00:45] Sitting at the Feet of a Master

[02:46] Sanskrit - The First Child of the Language of Nature

[04:56] Lingua Franca

[07:09] Sounds Like...

[09:26] Rishi - A Five-Senses Hyperactive Perceiver

[10:51] When a Rishi Hears the Sound of Nature

[12:47] The Stuff of Fable

[14:23] The Impact of Upanishad on the West

[16:35] Kenopanishad

[18:36] Defense of a Kingdom

[21:11] The Then-Known World

[23:08] Is it Sharp?

[24:52] A Demonstration of Trust

[26:17] A Clean Finger

[27:32] Remove the Mistake

[28:42] The Pathology of Acquisition

[30:17] Products of Stress Accumulation

[32:52] The Removal of the Mistake

[34:25] A Ridiculously Simple Way

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Is Vedic Meditation the Only Meditation Technique That Allows Transcendence?

28 augusti 2022 | 22 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Regular listeners know already that the power of Vedic Meditation lies in the ability to allow transcendence. But is it the only way? And how do you know if you’ve transcended?

Prompted by a question from a listener, Thom takes a brief look at other meditation techniques and compares them to Vedic Meditation with respect to transcendence.

He also explains the clues the experience leaves to allow us to conclude that transcendence has taken place.

While meditation can have many functions, we have a choice between a technique that is specifically designed to help us transcend, or other ‘tiring ways’ which are designed for other purposes but may result in occasional transcendence.

[00:45] Q - Is Vedic Meditation the Only Meditation Technique That Allows Transcendence?

[01:10] A - Other Meditation Techniques

[03:06] The Mind is Thinking, Thinking, Thinking

[04:24] Creating the Moment of Bliss

[06:19] Many Tiring Ways of Transcending

[08:05] Cognitive Processes

[10:28] Less Volume of Thought

[11:40] Mantra is Here

[13:12] Mantra is Not Here

[14:40] This is Transcendence

[16:20] Implicit Bliss

[18:09] I Must Have Transcended

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How to Get Out of a Rut

21 augusti 2022 | 19 min

Come Sit with Me in Rishikesh - An Invitation to My 2023 India Retreat

18 augusti 2022 | 16 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

If the idea of a Vedic Meditation retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas with Thom Knoles sounds appealing, then this episode is for you.

After a two-year hiatus, Thom is returning to Rishikesh and is extending a warm welcome to Vedic Meditators, and aspiring meditators alike, for a 10-day experience like no other.

Thom explains why Rishikesh is the first and perfect choice for such a retreat, making it a pilgrimage to the acknowledged home of meditation and yoga.

He outlines the daily routine and some of the highlights to look forward to, such as visits to the Ganges River and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s former ashram, and time spent as guests of His Holiness Swami Kailashanand Giri, the Shankaracharya-elect and the Master of our tradition.

With luxury accommodations and gourmet food at the famous Divine Hotel, , your stay will be truly memorable.

Let Thom whet your appetite with this special bonus episode, then make your way to https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ to register.

Jai Guru Deva.

[00:01:19] Upanishad - Sitting at the Feet

[00:02:38] Rishikesh - A Holy Name for a Holy Place

[00:04:53] Bringing an End to Ignorance

[00:06:25] Ending the Day With Sama Veda

[00:07:43] Honored Guests

[00:09:05] A Divine Place to Learn Vedic Meditation

[00:10:52] You Were in Rishikesh?

Useful Links
https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/
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The Yugas and the Importance of Understanding Them Correctly

14 augusti 2022 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We learned recently on the podcast that knowledge is structured in consciousness. From this we can deduce that our understanding of Veda is dependent on our level of consciousness. It’s not just our intellectual understanding though, it’s also our ability to ‘perceive’ Veda.

One example of this is the perception of ‘Yugas,’ epochs or periods of time that are referenced frequently in the various Vedic texts.

When taken at face value, these Yugas appear to be linear periods, happening in a particular sequence, but, as Thom explains in this episode, there is more to the Yugas than meets the eye…

NB - At the conclusion of the episode you will find mention of Thom’s popular course, Exploring the Veda - You can find teachers facilitating this course around the world at this link - https://thomknoles.com/vedic-meditation-teacher-directory/.

[00:00:56] What are the Yugas?

[00:03:21] Veda Cannot Be Deeply Understood by English Alone.

[00:05:33] Four Major Divisions of Veda

[00:07:52] Ritambhara Pragya

[00:09:44] Awakening the Sequential Elaboration of Sound

[00:12:30] Chronology of the Yugas

[00:14:17] Divisions and Subdivisions of Veda

[00:16:39] Veda of the Treta Yuga

[00:17:54] Dwapara Yuga - Home of the Great Epics of India

[00:20:08] The Yuga Cycle

[00:22:14] The Vedic Idea of Time

[00:23:53] The Linear Approach to Understanding the Yugas

[00:26:02] Satya Yuga — The Age of Truth

[00:27:47] Ayurveda - Self Healthcare

[00:29:03] Gandharva Veda - The Sound Dynamic

[00:30:48] Dhanur Veda - The Supreme Arts of Governance

[00:31:56] Sthapatya Veda - Science of Architecture

[00:34:17] The Treta Yuga Layer of Human Consciousness

[00:35:32] The Dwapara Yuga Layer of Human Consciousness

[00:36:15] The Fall From the Status Quo

[00:38:05] The Saw-toothed Evolutionary Process

[00:39:00] Understanding the Pattern

[00:40:16] Trapped in Kali Yuga

[00:41:07] The World of Constant Change

[00:41:46] Escaping Kali Yuga Through Vedic Meditation

[00:43:50] The Purpose of Vedic Meditation

[00:45:00] More Than a Bunch of Fairy Tales

[00:46:02] Exploring the Veda - Course Available Worldwide

Useful Links
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Parental Stress - From the Womb to the Grave

7 augusti 2022 | 50 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few would doubt that being a parent can be stressful, but being the child of a parent has its own set of demands and challenges.

The common thread through this, another ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode of The Vedic Worldview, is the theme of parental stress, both from the parent’s perspective and also from the child’s.

Thom explores the impact the stress of a mother has on a child in the womb, and shows us how to keep inherited stresses in perspective.

He helps us navigate the age-old question of how to cope with rebellious teenagers, reminding us that rebellion isn’t always as bad as it may seem, and that inspiration is the greatest tool a parent has available to them.

And he shares some comforting wisdom on how to cope with the most difficult stress a parent could ever face, the death of a child.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Is Fear Passed on to the Child While in the Womb?

[01:06] A - Awareness of Progressive Change

[03:45] Babies Have Qualities of the Biochemistry of Their Mother

[06:19] Mother Divine - Qualities Passed by Every Mother to Every Baby

[07:51] Elephants Walk; Dogs Bark

[09:15] Inherited Ability

[10:40] Rediscover the Elephantine Grace

[12:26] Mother is at Home

[14:05] Nothing Can Overshadow Mother Divine

[15:59] Q- When a child is rebellious, how can we best support them?

[16:13] The Trap of Being Loving Controllers

[17:44] Be the Best Example for Your Children

[19:25] Clean Up Your Own Backyard First

[20:37] A Great Cruelty

[21:35] I Have to Be an Adult

[23:26] Empathizing With the Youth

[24:30] "I don't trust the way I raised you."

[26:37] From Violent Guerrilla to Inspiring Head of State

[28:45] Let Go of the Loving Controller

[29:39] Be an Inspiration to Your Children

[31:03] Q- How Do We Deal With the Death of a Child?

[31:09] Life and Death is Not the Polarity

[33:17] For How Long is it Relevant for Us to Reside in a Body?

[35:29] This is Not Our First Life

[37:06] What Are the Gifts That Child Brought to Us?

[38:02] All Suffering is Obedient to One Principle

[39:10] Become Masters of Being Adaptive

[40:27] To Cope With Loss, Become a Philosopher

[42:19] Life is Not How Long a Human Body Lasts

[44:08] For Whom Are We Grieving?

[45:54] Bring an End to Your Suffering

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My Maharishi in Nepal

31 juli 2022 | 26 min

How to Not Be Offended

24 juli 2022 | 13 min

Life Beyond Earth

17 juli 2022 | 37 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Is there anybody out there? Humankind has been asking this question for millenia, and with the ability to conceive of space travel only being a recent phenomenon, the likelihood of finding an answer to the question has seemed unlikely up till now.

But does space travel actually increase the likelihood of finding an answer even remotely? Between the laws of physics and the vast size of the universe, the likelihood of an objective answer goes from zero to zero.

So in reality, all space travel has done is given us another way to fantasize about how we might come into contact with life beyond Earth.

In this episode, Thom explains the limitations of an objective approach in depth, but he doesn’t leave us without hope. Relying on the principle that ‘knowledge is structured in consciousness,’ he suggests that the answer might be closer than we think.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] SEETI - The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

[02:51] Our Fascination With People from Outer Space

[04:56] Is Our Universe Bio-friendly?

[06:18] There is Only One Thing

[07:17] Unified Field and Quantum Mechanics

[09:25] Consciousness is a Property of the One Thing

[11:38] This Makes the Mind Boggle

[13:12] The Laws of Physics

[14:59] Speed of Light

[16:40] Infinite Mass in a Speck of Dust

[18:28] Ancient Light Visible in the Present

[20:22] Challenging the Assumption of Modern Science

[21:47] Why Can We See It All?

[23:22] The Objective Means of Gaining Knowledge

[24:53] How Do I Find Out if I'm Living in a Bio-friendly Universe?

[25:54] Inner Space - The Subjective Means of Gaining Knowledge

[27:50] The One Caveat - Gaining Knowledge has to be Relevant

[29:11] Pure Knowingness on the Level of Being

[30:54] Just Like Einstein

[32:40] The Product of a Bio-Friendly Trend in the Universe

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Parental Readiness, Compliance with Nature, and Cosmic Consciousness

10 juli 2022 | 41 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s Q&A time once again.

In answer to a young man questioning the timing of parenthood, Thom explains the role the child has in its own incarnation, and reminds us to be led by charm rather than the intellect in our decisions.

He also explains how our intellect interferes with our innate connection with the laws of Nature.

And he tackles two questions on Cosmic Consciousness. One from a listener seeking clarity on his own experiences of Cosmic Consciousness, and one from another listener about the relationship between stress and Cosmic Consciousness.

Something for everyone and, as always, something to inspire us to maintain our practice of Vedic Meditation.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] How Do You Know When You're Ready to Be a Parent?

[01:30] A Jiva Who Wants to Be Born

[03:35] Karma - Unfinished Business

[05:02] The Shankaracharya Tradition

[07:13] The Only Safe Move

[08:28] Great Liberties

[09:39] Q- Why Do We Need to Learn or Re-learn the Laws of Nature?

[10:00] Hride — The Layer of Us in Connection With Nature

[12:12] The Innocent Experience of Charm

[14:06] Awakening Our Inborn Talent

[15:19] Culturing the Fine Level of Feeling

[17:08] Snowed Under By Intellectualism

[18:34] Q- Can Practicing Vedic Meditation Twice a Day Bring More Clarity to My Experience?

[19:16] The Fortunate Experience of Cosmic Consciousness

[20:52] Culturing Your Experience

[21:56] Attaining Higher States of Consciousness

[23:26] Q- How Does Cosmic Consciousness Become Permanent?

[24:08] Cosmic Consciousness is a Natural Condition

[25:06] Understanding Stress Properly

[27:03] Two Aspects of Stress

[30:43] Inability to Accumulate Stress

[32:26] A Line in the Sand

[33:48] The Experiencer

[35:32] I Am Totality Having a Human Experience

Useful Links
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Why We Have Cravings

3 juli 2022 | 15 min

My Maharishi - David Frost

26 juni 2022 | 21 min

Knowledge is Structured in Consciousness

19 juni 2022 | 18 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

IYKYK. If you know, you know. Or do you? Is knowledge as reliable as we think it to be?

“Knowledge is structured in consciousness,” is one of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's most profound and most frequently shared quotes. Ironically, one’s understanding of the quote is also dependent on one’s consciousness.

Thom’s explanation of Maharishi’s quote gives us an opportunity to reflect on that which we ‘know,’ and even our own process of knowing and how this evolves along with our states of consciousness.

It’s a reminder that things are not always as they seem, and to remain flexible in how we view the world and our place in it.

Episode Highlights:
[00:51] Two Methods of Gaining Knowledge

[01:38] The Objective Means of Gaining Knowledge

[03:20] The Subjective Means of Gaining Knowledge

[05:10] Knowledge Has Infinite Organizing Power

[06:42] Awakening Knowledge of How Things Work

[07:52] The Criticisms of Albert Einstein

[09:29] The Universe Can Only Behave in Ways that I Can Understand

[10:50] You Are One With the Cosmos

[11:58] Knowledge is Different in Different States of Consciousness

[12:47] Consciousness Dictates Our Behavior

[14:03] The State of Consciousness of the Reporter

Useful Links
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What Makes The Sacred Powerful?

12 juni 2022 | 53 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Many of us invoke the common phrase “Is nothing sacred?!” when we feel that something of value to us isn’t experienced the same way by others. What if we told you that everything could be sacred, to the extent that we make it so?

All of us hold certain things sacred in our lives, whether it be a memento, an icon, a place, a ritual, maybe some kind of religious artifact or even a cuddly toy from our childhood. But how often do we give thought to what it is that makes these things sacred for us?

This episode is a reminder from Thom that we can get more depth, more richness out of life, firstly by appreciating how we make things sacred, and secondly by choosing to make more things sacred in our life.

Thom invites us to go beyond the symbolic nature of that which we hold sacred and to actually have a conscious relationship with it.

He also shares how nothing is off the table when it comes to holding something sacred, leaving us open to the possibility of living a life where nothing is taken for granted and everything is available for appreciation.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What Makes Things Sacred?

[02:47] Prana Pratishtha — Becoming the Sentient

[04:40] Everyone has Experienced Love

[06:23] Bringing Sentience Together in an Alliance

[07:49] The Process of Navajo Weaving...

[09:13] Prana Pratistha in Action

[10:47] The World Reflects Back to Us

[13:00] The Man Who Enjoyed Himself in Prison

[15:06] The World is for Us as We Can Be for it

[17:04] Shoes-Off Rooms

[18:39] A Special Room

[19:41] Nobody's Watching

[21:13] Prana Pratishtha Creates a State of Consciousness

[22:37] The Unified Field Starts to Undulate

[24:43] Everything is Natural

[25:42] The Capacity to Awaken Consciousness

[27:26] Many Layers of Sophistication

[28:29] Two Dreamers Don't Dream the Same Dream

[29:57] Infinite Potential

[31:18] Turiya—The Fourth Consciousness State

[33:07] Cosmic Consciousness—The Fifth State

[35:09] God Consciousness and Unity Consciousness

[36:48] Consciousness Manifests Itself in One's Surroundings

[38:11] Same World, Different Experience

[39:55] What Effect Are We Having on the World?

[41:18] Inviting the World Into Our Consciousness State

[42:36] Nothing is Inanimate.

[44:45] The Gold and the Diamond Qualities

[45:54] Disgusting

[46:58] Make the World We Want to Make

[48:31] Culturing Our Environment

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Duality and Non-Duality

5 juni 2022 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The terms duality and non-duality are becoming more commonly used and can have different meanings in different contexts.

In ‘spiritual circles’ duality is often seen as a cause of suffering, or even the cause of suffering, but, in and of itself, duality is actually benign.

In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners about duality and non-duality from different perspectives.

He explains that duality and non-duality cannot be considered from an either/or point of view and that Totality is a more complete approach, taking both sides of the equation.

Thom also looks at how our fixations on one point of view over another might appear to cause suffering, but really are just highlighting the absence of baseline happiness.

Episode Highlights:

[00:47] Q- Can you Make Comments on Non-duality, Advaita, and Vedanta?

[02:06] The Truth of the Word Vedanta

[04:16] The Tradition of Vedanta

[05:49] Brahman - Totality Consciousness

[07:11] The Problem With the Word Advaita

[09:22] Q- Does Duality Brings About Suffering?

[09:54] The Cause of Everyone's Suffering

[11:49] Behaviors That Amplify the Misery

[13:58] Everyone Wants Freedom. Freedom to Do What?

[16:02] A Fulfilled Person

[18:00] Becoming a Very Ideal Citizen

[19:29] Happy People are Safe to Be Free

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The Ultimate Path to Becoming a Vedic Meditation Initiator

31 maj 2022 | 37 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We celebrate this, the 100th episode of The Vedic Worldview, by covering one of Thom’s favorite subjects, Vedic Meditation Initiator Training.

Building on the last episode, Become a Teacher of Vedic Meditation, Thom explains why his training is the ultimate path for anyone considering becoming a Vedic Meditation Initiator.

While there are many more trainings available than there were just a few short years ago, many of which offer a simpler or more convenient path of learning, Thom explains that it’s their convenience that makes them unsuitable for anyone serious about becoming an Initiator.

He describes the 10,000-year-old tradition that has given us access to the wisdom behind Vedic Meditation in its purest form, and his commitment to maintain that purity.

If you’re serious about becoming a Vedic Meditation Initiator, you can find out more about Vedic Meditation Initiator Training with Thom Knoles.

Episode Highlights:
[00:45] Vedic Meditator Initiator Training 2023, Rishikesh, India

[01:16] 'Creative' Initiator Training

[02:47] The Masterful Approach to Initiator Training

[03:55] Shankaracharya - The Teaching Tradition

[05:46] The Most Memorable Camaraderie

[06:55] Bypassing Shoddy Guesswork

[08:27] A Long Line of Wisdom

[09:53] Does This Sound Like Something I Would Do?

[11:34] The Opposite of Knowledge

[13:11] The Balance Between Purity and Accessibility

[14:24] The Danger of the Ever-Repeating Known

[16:48] We Want to Be Change Designers

[19:14] Initiator Training is Not for Everyone

[20:34] The Most Precious Thing

[22:09] You Deserve Plan A

[23:42] This is How It's Done

[25:18] Diligence About Integrity

[26:05] I Learned His Thinking

[27:54] Check Here. Don't Check.

[30:05] Align Your Thinking With the Enlightened Mind

[31:43] Jump the Hurdles You Need to Jump

[33:27] You Are a Bright Star

Useful Links
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Become a Teacher of Vedic Meditation

29 maj 2022 | 15 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Imagine meeting someone in the street who fondly remembers you for teaching them Vedic Meditation and sharing the profound impact it’s had on their lives.

This is a regular occurrence for Vedic Meditation teachers around the world, and especially so for Thom, who has taught tens of thousands of students over the past 50 plus years.

It’s an honor and a privilege to earn the title of a Vedic Meditation ‘Initiator’ and to learn with Thom and to be endorsed by Thom is one of the highest positions one can take as an ‘agent of progressive change.’

In this episode, Thom invites you to apply to join him on his 2023 training, to be held in Rishikesh, India. The training only happens once a year, so if you’re feeling charm to move in this direction, now is your chance to do so.

Listen to this episode then visit https://thomknoles.com/initiator-training/ for more details about the application process.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] How Can You Contribute to the Creation of an Ideal Society?

[02:41] Be a Vedic Meditation Teacher to Help Revolutionize Society
[04:35] Meeting the Demand of the Time

[06:29] There’s Always a Room for Meditation Teachers

[07:36] Vedic Meditation Initiator Training 2023

[09:16] Radiating Life for All to Enjoy

[10:40] How Do You Know if You Are Ready for Initiator Training?

[12:18] Revolutionizing Lives in a Matter of Days

Useful Links
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Depression and the Role of Vedic Meditation

22 maj 2022 | 13 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Despite the myriad advances made by humans over the centuries, depression is a condition that seems to be consistently on the rise. We can all do more, have more and experience more than our ancestors could have possibly dreamed of, yet so many of us struggle to find a sense of peace within ourselves.

In this episode, Thom explores the subject of depression and the role that Vedic Meditation can play in reversing the cycle of depression and anxiety-related conditions.

With depression often having serious and life-threatening consequences, Thom advocates a multipronged approach: appropriate professional care supported by Vedic Meditation to relieve the stress that brought it about.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Anger With Good Manners

[02:02] Two Flavors of Depression

[03:03] Reversing the Vicious Cycle Through Vedic Meditation

[04:31] Accumulating Distorted Memories and Maladaptive Reactions

[06:14] The Vicious Cycle of Anxiety and Depression

[07:50] A Feedback Loop of Mutual Enrichment

[08:56] An Enormous Aid to Depression

Useful Links
[email protected]
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Search for Self Identity

15 maj 2022 | 53 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Who do you think you are? What do you think you are?

We can all find myriad ways to describe ourselves and we often rely on these descriptors to give us our ‘sense of identity.’ “I’m a mother of three, a nuclear physicist, a passionate tango dancer and an advocate for animal rights…”

The problem with this approach is that our descriptors are always subject to change, and even subject to debate in some cases.

We’re only ‘young’ until we become not so young. We’re only ‘successful’ until we redefine what success is, which is often based on someone else’s judgment. We’re only X until it becomes more fashionable to be Y and it suits us better to become one of those…

So is it any wonder that most of us have this gnawing sense of uncertainty. We’re trying to build a sense of identity on the shifting sands of circumstances and subjective judgments. And as soon as we do settle on a solid sense of identity, something changes to make it shaky again.

Thom’s got your back though. By the end of this episode you’ll ‘hardly know yourself,’ but if you follow Thom’s counsel, you’ll know yourself better than you ever have.

Episode highlights:

[00:50] Who We Are and What We Are

[02:02] "I'm a This. I'm a That."

[03:17] "Nobody Knows Me at All"

[04:30] The Distinction Between Consciousness and The Absolute

[06:21] Change Defines Relativity

[07:57] I Exist

[09:28] The Evolution of Psychology

[11:13] Nurturance Shapes the Way You See Yourself

[12:47] The Vedic Concept of Psyche

[14:24] Are We Alone in The Universe?

[15:21] "What Are We Actually?"

[16:05] The Body is Constantly in Flux

[17:15] Unsatisfying Pronouns

[18:46] Out of Africa

[20:28] What Are You Actually?

[21:20] Tat Wale Baba

[22:49] Ageless Rishi

[24:07] A Forest Dweller

[25:00] "I am London"

[26:04] "That Also"

[27:10] Also "That Also"

[27:55] A Mantra is Resonant With the Thinker of It

[29:19] "I Am Totality"

[31:13] A Return to Homeostasis

[32:35] In Symbiosis With Our Environment

[33:48] The Microbiome in Our Gut

[35:18] An Exchange of Energy and Intelligence

[36:38] I Am Not this Body that Changes Constantly

[38:03] The Crescendo of the Development of Human Consciousness

[39:32] Rigid Attachment

[40:23] "Don't Say the C Word"

[41:45] There is Nothing Worse Than a Human Being Not Knowing Why They Exist

[43:01] Vedanta - The Highest Science of the Vedic Worldview

[44:44] Brahman and Brahmin

[46:26] Totality is Not Separate

[47:46] Brahman is Not Pervaded or Infused into Anything; It IS Everything

[49:07] The Fulfillment of the Search for Identity

[50:07] The True Santosha

Useful Links
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Catholicism and the Vedic Worldview, Negative Thinking vs Intuition, Helping the Dying

8 maj 2022 | 29 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s Q&A time again and this one has something for everyone.

The first question for Thom is about the relationship between Catholicism and the Vedic Worldview. Whether you are Catholic or not, Thom’s answer will be of interest as he affirms the compatibility of the Vedic worldview, not just with Christianity, but with religion in general.

And if you have trouble distinguishing between negative thinking and intuitive insights, Thom’s answer to the second question in this episode will help you with this dilemma. You’ll be pleased to know the answer is pretty straight forward.

And last but not least, a situation that we’ll all face more than once in our lifetime, how to help someone who is nearing the end of their life. Thom gives us an easy choice to make, whether to be a ‘needy one’ or a ‘capable one’. No points for guessing which option is more evolutionary for all concerned.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Can You Elaborate on Jesus Christ and the Vedic Worldview as Compared with the Catholic View?

[01:27] A - There is No Conflict Between Catholic Beliefs and Vedic Philosophy

[03:06] Universal Wisdom

[04:57] Catholicism Shares Much With Vedic Philosophy

[06:33] There is No Religious Requirement to Practice Vedic Meditation

[07:45] Meditation is an Aid to Christian Growth

[09:38] Q - How Can You Distinguish a Negative Thought From the One That is Trying to Tell You Something?

[09:57] A - Vedic Mediation Enhances Meditators' Awareness

[11:45] Moving Frictionlessly and Effortlessly From One Place to the Next

[13:27] Red Lights and Green Lights

[14:17] Negative Thoughts vs Feelings

[16:08] Q - How Can We Help Those Who Are Nearing the End of Their Lives?

[16:44] A - Understand How a Dying Person Feels

[18:20] Unfinished Business

[20:00] Mistakes People Make With the Dying

[21:43] Conscious Protectors

[23:41] Agenda Free

[25:14] The Needy Ones and the Capable Ones

Useful Links
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Does Vedic Meditation Expose Us to Evil Influences?

1 maj 2022 | 9 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Does “opening the mind” through Vedic Meditation create a portal or opportunity for evil or satanic influences to enter the mind?

This question is relatively easy to answer. In fact, in this episode Thom doesn’t even get to the second part of the question and spends a short time addressing the first part, the notion of Vedic Meditation opening the mind.

While it’s certainly true that Vedic meditators are usually open-minded people, this is in the sense of being broad minded rather than having an exposed or vulnerable mind.

Vedic Meditation actually has the opposite effect. It dissipates stress and reduces the likelihood of suggestibility and allows one to become more aligned with the laws of Nature, rather than being susceptible to anything opposing the laws of Nature.

So if you’re feeling the need to build a ‘spiritual firewall’ for yourself, this is the episode for you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] An Open Mind About Vedic Meditation

[02:08] One Becomes What One Sees

[03:34] The Impact of Vedic Meditation

[05:28] Meditators Need Not Be Concerned About the Biased Views

Useful Links
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The Importance of Puja to Vedic Meditation

24 april 2022 | 19 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few would argue that we often lack reverence in modern day-to-day living.

Toasts are given and glasses are raised, often at the drop of a hat. Families might go for years without even sitting at the same table for a meal, let alone saying grace or giving thanks for a shared meal and loving company.

One notable exception to this trend is the use of Puja when a student of Vedic Meditation receives their mantra. It’s a beautiful and important tradition that any committed teacher of Vedic Meditation takes seriously.

In this episode, Thom explains the significance and purpose of Puja, and why we treat the process with the respect that it deserves, not just to honor the generations of masters that have kept the tradition alive, but also to honor the student, and to welcome them to what will likely be the most progressive step they will take in their evolution.

Episode Highlights:

[00:49] Touching On the State of Being

[02:17] Puja - A Ceremony of Gratitude

[03:58] The Troth of a Vedic Meditation Teacher

[05:23] A Model of Ideal Teaching

[06:45] “Initiation Day”

[08:23] Face to Face, In Person

[10:16] A Tradition of Knowledge

[11:40] A Teacher in Good Standing

[13:09] Learning Vedic Meditation The Hard Way

[14:32] A Great Teacher Has Standards

Useful Links
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Ask Me Anything - Parenting Solutions

17 april 2022 | 26 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Few situations make us second guess ourselves more than those that we come across as parents or guardians of children.

In this episode, Thom provides some guidance for parents who face some fairly typical situations, balancing the needs of their children with their own self care, as well as one parent facing a parent’s worst-case scenario, a child at risk of taking their own life.

Rather than being prescriptive about what each parent ‘should do’ in relation to their child, this episode is a reminder that Vedic Meditation is ‘a tool in our parenting quiver’ that can put us in the best position to find our own answers and make the best decisions we can in any given situation.

PS - If you haven’t listened to it already, you might also be interested in listening to Thom’s episode on Raising Conscious Children [https://thomknoles.com/podcast/raising-conscious-children/].

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- What is Your View on Sleeping With Our Children Vs. Teaching Them To Sleep On Their Own?

[03:13] Children Want a Comforting Launch Pad To Put Them Into Sleep

[04:22] Be a Spiritual Coach to Your Child

[05:16] A Comforting Presence During the Phase Transition

[06:13] Our Goal is Self-Sufficiency for Our Children

[06:50] Create Those Memories You Would Like to Have

[07:46] Your Number One Priority as a Parent

[08:38] Relax and Be In the Present Moment With Our Child

[09:31] Q - Can You Give Advice on Postpartum Meditation and the Effects on the Newborn?

[09:52] Practice Meditation On a Catch-As-Catch-Can Basis

[11:29] Your Child is Your New Spiritual Master

[12:22] Don't Be Concerned About Meditating Too Much

[13:05] Our Primary Spiritual Program

[14:22] One of the Tools In Your Mothering Quiver

[15:24] Mommy, I Think You Should Meditate

[16:17] Give the Baby Everything You Can Give the Baby

[16:50] Q - How Can I Create a Life of Joy While Living In Fear of Losing My Child?

[17:04] Meditation is Your Coping Mechanism

[18:49] Look After Yourself

[20:15] Arjuna's Dilemma On the Battlefield

[21:51] Developing A Resolute Intellect

Useful Links
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What is Consciousness?

10 april 2022 | 14 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

What is consciousness? Well, the ultimate answer to this question is, ‘everything,’ but, ironically, our ability to understand this depends on our own level of consciousness.

In other words, our ability to truly understand what consciousness is, relies on consciousness itself and our experience of it. And by the time we get to the point where we actually understand the answer to the question, the question becomes irrelevant.

The good news is, we have a simple technique at our disposal, Vedic Meditation, which gives us an experience of Pure Consciousness on a regular basis. And even though we may struggle to find the words to define what consciousness is, we at least have a reference point to develop our own understanding of what it truly is.

Combine that reference point with Thom’s wisdom in this episode, and you’ll be well on the way to answering the question yourself.

Bookmark this episode and come back to it on a regular basis, at least until you’ve answered the question for yourself.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Fundamental Existential Truth of the Known Universe

[01:32] The State of Three-In-One

[03:51] What Relevance Would the Universe Have If Consciousness Didn't Exist?

[05:38] Friday Night at UCLA

[06:51] Expanding and Contracting Our Consciousness

[07:38] Isolating Consciousness Through Vedic Meditation

[09:06] Pure Consciousness in its Absolute Form

[10:29] Repertoire of Capability

[12:09] A Ridiculously Simple Proposition

Useful Links
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Love is a Self-Referral Phenomenon

3 april 2022 | 52 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

None of us can imagine a world without love, but how many of us actually know what love truly is?

Is it the romantic, idealized love that we see in story and song all around us, or is there something deeper, something ‘richer’ than what we’ve been ‘sold’ over the centuries.

As you would expect, the Vedic worldview holds that there is something deeper and richer to love than that which the vast majority of us experience.

Ironically, the thing that prevents us from experiencing true love for others, is the lack of Self love. Listen in as Thom explains the ‘mechanics’ of love and the Self-referral phenomenon that it is.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] I Love Your Shoes

[01:54] Let's Take Love Seriously

[02:40] Existence is Made Relevant by Consciousness

[04:15] Is-ness and Am-ness

[06:07] A Response Proves Consciousness

[07:38] Why Does the One Become Many?

[09:35] Love is a Desirable State

[10:48] The Love of Self for Itself

[12:00] Sympathetic Vibration

[13:44] Resonance

[14:45] What Makes Love a Selective Phenomenon?

[16:21] Self Recognizing The Self

[17:39] I Love When You Are Like Me

[19:03] Under the Same Roof

[20:34] We Don't Want a Mirror Image of Ourself

[21:59] Love is a Product of Relatability

[23:42] State of Consciousness Explains Behaviors

[25:12] Empathy - Experience What Other Person is Experiencing

[26:19] I Reject the Person Because S/he is Unlike Me

[28:09] Our Capacity to See the Bigger Picture

[29:44] Have You Always Been Such a Gorgeous Being?

[31:05] All Things Are Love in Potential

[32:17] Transcendence Helps Us Discover Sympathetic Vibration

[34:04] Consciousness Experiencing Consciousness

[35:37] The State of Oneness

[37:23] Step Beyond the Incessant Tendency to Think

[38:49] The Reservoir of Infinite Creativity

[40:24] Your Social Responsibility

[41:55] A Disciplined Approach to the Release of Attention

[43:00] What is the Mechanism for Love?

[44:29] Unity Consciousness - The Highest Pinnacle of Human Development

[46:21] When We Have Unity Consciousness, We're Living Love

[48:06] Discover the Self With Non-Self With Vedic Meditation

Useful Links
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https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

My Maharishi - The Beginning at Rameshwaram

27 mars 2022 | 21 min

Spirituality vs Money, Tradition of Vedic Meditation, Dharma and Self Expression

20 mars 2022 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The spotlight in this Ask Me Anything episode is on spiritual life…

Is spiritual life compatible with earning money? (Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding yes).

Is the tradition of Vedic Meditation truly ancient? (Also yes).

And what’s the relationship between Dharma and self expression? (No spoiler alert for this one).

The underlying message in all of Thom’s answers in this episode, is the importance of Self referral.

Too often we’re influenced by the thinking of others, whether they be those closest to us, or in the broader community, and this reduces our ability to both give and receive the fullest expression of life.

By accessing the big S Self, through our twice-daily practice of Vedic Meditation, we can transcend the rules, the expectations and experiences of others and live an authentic, abundant and inspired life.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- How Can I Combine Spiritual Life with Earning Money?

[00:58] An Obsolete Idea

[02:22] The Risk of Invasion

[04:19] The Monastic Tradition of Shukadeva

[06:04] Householders as Rishis

[07:25] Access to Maximum Creativity

[08:53] A Life of 200%

[09:37] Spirituality is Not Based on Suffering

[10:47] Q- Does the Technique of Vedic Meditation Come From an Ancient Lineage?

[11:20] The State of Consciousness of the Enquirer

[12:23] One of the Greatest Masters That Ever Lived

[13:20] Basing Our Lives on Direct Experience

[14:07] Come to India and See for Yourself

[15:09] Q- What is the Relationship Between Dharma and Self Expression?

[15:23] Capital S, Self Expression

[16:14] A Social Responsibility

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Vedic Meditation vs. Detached or Dissociative States

13 mars 2022 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Humans have a natural tendency to try to explain phenomena outside of our experience from within a limited understanding of the ways in which the world works. We’ll theorize about an event or situation to reassure ourselves that we know what’s going on, when in fact we may not.

Vedic meditators sometimes find themselves on the receiving end of such behavior. Through regular practice of meditation, they don’t just transcend thinking, but they also transcend ‘normal’ responses to situations. They become less ‘reactive’ to situations that others might find stressful and are generally less affected by the ‘ups and downs’ of regular life.

A non-meditator might witness this and try to rationalize it by labelling the meditator as ‘detached’ or even ‘dissociative’ when in fact there is something much more desirable going on. Thom explains this in more detail in this episode.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Does Meditation Make People Detached or Dissociative?

[01:02] Cosmic Consciousness - All-Inclusive Awareness

[02:13] Non-Attached and Non-Involved

[03:20] All I Am is a Body That's Dying

[04:25] The Externalized Locus of Control

[06:16] Freedom Without Bliss is Dangerous

[07:26] What Does Freedom Mean?

[08:16] The Capability of Growth at Speed

[10:02] Who Will Bring the Greatest Amount of Social Change?

[11:31] A Tendency Towards Greater Acceptability

[12:56] Meditators Are Creating True Revolution

[15:08] Standard Procedure for People With Psychopathological Conditions

[16:43] People Who Can Create Maximum Change With Least Action

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The Fundamentals of Being an Agent of Progressive Change (Pace Gallery Lecture)

7 mars 2022 | 56 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

You’ll need a pen and paper, and zero distractions, for this episode, which is nothing less than a masterclass in evolution.

Delivered in front of a live audience, at the Pace Gallery in New York City in 2021, Thom explains what an ‘agent of progressive change’ is, and why it’s incumbent on us to step up to the plate and take on that role for ourselves.

More than just a call to arms, it’s a practical ‘workshop’ covering the five fundamental elements of being an agent of progressive change.

If you truly want to accelerate your personal evolution, next to a twice-daily practice of Vedic Meditation, you’d be hard pressed to find a quicker route than this.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Survival is a Result of Thriving

[02:20] We Live Inside of a Consciousness State that We've Created

[03:35] Five Elements of Progressive Change

[05:00] Stability

[06:29] Ananda - A Supremely-Contented State

[08:29] Not Enslaved by Outside Phenomena

[09:18] Adaptation Energy

[10:32] Circumstantial Happiness

[11:41] "In Order to Have Disappointment, You Need to Have an Appointment"

[12:55] Premature Cognitive Commitments

[14:09] 100,000 Stress Triggers

[15:15] Meditation Resets Our Expectations

[16:20] Integration

[17:48] Evolve

[18:50] The Cognitive Revolution

[20:20] The Capacity to Witness Oneself Thinking

[21:05] The Storage of Accumulated Stress is Eating Up 98% of Our Brain's Computing Power

[22:21] Purification

[23:51] Letting Go of Things With Ease

[25:39] Challenging Assumptions

[26:59] Non-Symbiotic Parasites

[28:12] 5 - Willingness to Grow

[29:40] We Are Doing Dated Things Already

[30:41] Every Part of Your Body is Constantly Being Replaced

[32:09] Consciousness Becomes Body Chemistry

[33:27] Capacity for Progressive Change

[34:29] Question

[34:37] Every Particle in the Universe Comes Out From a Non-Changing Field

[36:01] The Self Moving Inside the Self

[36:48] The Colorless Sap

[38:21] Q- Are There Practical Ways Other Than Meditation to Let Go Of Useless Habits?

[39:38] Maharishi's Mud on Your Hands Analogy

[40:49] Why Therapy Works So Well

[41:58] The Advantageous Position of Knowing

[42:38] Q- How Can Destructive Forces Like Genocide Be Evolutionary?

[43:17] All Bodies End Up Dying

[44:56] We All Move in the Direction of Recognition of Unity

[46:44] Unity Points

[48:00] You're Loving You

[49:26] The Need for Less-Sophisticated States

[50:32] The Average Age of Cambodia in the 1980s was 17 Years

[51:20] The Need for Longevity

[52:41] Self-Referential Awareness

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Alcohol and Vedic Meditation Part 2

28 februari 2022 | 35 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

With alcohol being so prevalent in society, it takes more than one episode of the podcast to cover questions on the subject adequately.

In this episode, Thom explores the question of being able to replicate the effects of alcohol ‘naturally,’ and explains the difference between alcohol and drugs or spirit medicine in this regard.

He discusses references in Vedic texts to alcohol, and how to distinguish between actual references to alcohol and metaphorical references to the effects of ‘Soma’ in the body.

Lastly, the role of Vedic Meditation in helping someone attain sobriety is covered from two different angles. Whether alcohol is part of your life or not, this episode will give you a deeper understanding of mechanics for why alcohol has become a part the lives of so many.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- How Can You Replicate the Effects of Alcohol Naturally?

[01:31] Understanding the Pathway of Alcohol

[03:19] Alcohol Destroys Brain Functioning

[04:16] Selective Poisoning of the Brain

[05:17] Inhibitions Can Be Good

[06:54] What Meditation Does For Us in Contrast to Inhibition

[08:04] Strengthening the Good Inhibitions

[09:02] Q- Can You Discuss the Mention of Alcohol in Ancient Indian Texts and Modern Culture?

[09:18] Soma- The Cocktail of All the Bliss Chemicals

[11:04] The Unsustainable vs the Sustainable

[13:12] Q- Is it Common for People Struggling With Imbibing to Take to Vedic Meditation Enthusiastically?

[13:39] Imbibers Are Brave People

[15:28] "There Has to Be Something More Than This"

[16:43] Turiya - The Fourth Consciousness State

[18:25] Godhead - Where Individuality Meetis Universality

[20:01] An Imbiber is a Seeker

[21:09] Q- What's the Spiritual Explanation for the Worse Experience in the Early Days of Sobriety

[21:26] People Experience Different Feelings While Becoming Sober

[23:19] The Process of Diminishing Returns

[25:09] Habituation to Our Former Devotion

[26:57] Monkey Traps

[28:24] Addiction Makes You Lose Your Freedom

[29:39] Your Problems Are Forgotten

[30:54] Letting Go Through Vedic Meditation

[31:45] A Pleasure Greater Than Any Addiction

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Communing With the Dead, Fear of Dying, Post-Death Transitions

21 februari 2022 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Death and dying is the common thread of this, another Ask Me Anything episode.

Having already embraced the Vedic worldview as it relates to death, two of our listeners pose questions about relating with loved ones who are no longer in the body they knew them to have.

Thom’s replies provide reassurance to all of us, and remind us that we already have the skills necessary to maintain relationships and cope with transitions that come about through the body death of those that we love.

And another listener, who has overcome a fear of her own death, questions Thom about fears relating to the process of dying, specifically any pain or suffering that might come with that. Thom delivers some comfort by taking us to the other end of the life journey, the process of birth.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- How to Deepen Communication With the Deceased?

[01:17] There is No World "Out There"

[01:56] The Kittens Experiment

[03:07] The Difference Between a Kitten Brain and Human Brain

[04:16] Loving From a Distance

[05:16] Not In the Body

[06:21] Abstract Communing

[07:47] A Little Quiet Conversation Inside

[08:52] Using the Consciousness the Way It is Designed

[09:24] Q- How Do I Address Fear of Pre-Death Pain and Suffering?

[09:46] The Sensation Base Experienced By Mothers

[11:14] Boons From Shri Krishna

[12:51] A Boon For Krishna's Mother

[14:10] Q- Do We Know When a Loved One is Reincarnated?

[15:12] Enjoyment vs Attachment

[15:56] Adaptation

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My Maharishi - Relationships

14 februari 2022 | 15 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The messaging around relationships can be somewhat strained when Valentine’s Day rolls around each year.

Today’s episode is a breath of fresh air though, as Thom shares with us some of the wisdom about relationships that he picked up from his 25+ years with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

This wisdom can be applied to all relationships, romantic or otherwise, and begins with the importance of understanding the consciousness of those to whom we wish to relate with.

Without such an understanding, relationships are relegated to mostly shoddy guesswork, often putting the relationship under stress, rather than giving it strength.

Thom offers a new foundation of understanding from which we learn that ‘love is the only possibility,’ and that to find shared experience in every relationship, we should be looking to be ‘in the business of creating the memories that we wish to have.’

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Being Able to Give

[01:49] Love is the Only Possibility

[03:02] Giving Too Much

[04:30] "What's In It For Me?"

[06:02] The Neediness Competition

[07:00] Creating Greater Resiliency

[08:36] The Best Shot at Longevity in a Relationship

[09:38] The Desire for Shared Experience is Embedded in Us

[10:56] Marker

[11:48] Creating Memories We Wish to Have

Useful Links
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Nivar-Tatvam - Go Where You Are Not

7 februari 2022 | 24 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Mark Twain once famously said, “I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” Guru Dev, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the master of Thom’s master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, had no such problem, and was known for being economical with his words.

He was able to condense his wisdom into a one-word call to action that people would travel hundreds of miles to hear. It’s a call to action that’s available to everyone, simply by learning Vedic Meditation.

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] Guru Dev - An Unusual Child

[02:41] The Runaway Child

[04:02] Guru Dev Finds His Master

[05:26] A Solitary Life in the Forest

[06:53] Monarch of All the Yogis- The Shankaracharya

[08:10] The One Word Speech

[09:27] Nivar-Tatvam

[10:57] Go Where You Are Not

[11:45] Whatever We've Been Thinking Lately

[13:07] The Invitation of the Vedic Meditation Initiator

[14:32] Thinking, Thinking, Thinking, Thinking, Action

[15:12] Step Beyond Thought Entirely

[16:26] Dip the Cloth, Fade the Cloth

[17:55] Back and Forth

[20:08] The Embodiment of Nivar-Tatvam

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Raising Conscious Children

31 januari 2022 | 36 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Parents know what’s best for their children. Or do they?

Parents and other primary caregivers often have trouble distinguishing the difference between who we want our children to be, and who they came here to be. Often that difference is vast, and difficult to know, especially when the path of the child has so many unknowns to it.

And let’s face it, most parents or guardians have trouble understanding what their own path is, let alone determining what the path of their child ‘should’ be, so thinking we know what’s best for our children is a bit too much to expect.

In this episode, Thom tells it like it is. He reminds us that it’s not our job to shape or mold our children, but to provide an environment where they can shape themselves. Nature always wins and she always leaves clues, so let’s surrender our preferences and learn to read the clues, and teach our children to read them, so they can evolve according to Nature’s agenda, rather than our own.

And if you aren’t a parent, or don’t plan to be, please listen in anyway. We all have a role in nurturing the next generation, and we can all learn from the wisdom of the Vedic worldview.

Episode Highlights:

[00:47] Raising Enlightened Children

[02:15] Our Contributions for the Future Generation

[03:28] Foresight for Future Generations

[05:27] The Custodian of the Consciousness of the Youth

[06:33] Where Does Consciousness Come From?

[07:52] Lord Buddha and the Hallway of Mirrors

[09:16] 8 Million Lifetimes as a Human Being

[10:36] Such a Thing as Suffering

[12:04] The Quickening

[13:30] A Checklist of Unfulfilled Desires

[15:14] I'm Beginning to Forget

[16:33] How Can the Grownups Help?

[17:51] The Mis-takes That Adults Often Make

[19:10] Vicarious Enjoyment

[19:58] The Primary Mission of Adults as Caregivers

[21:01] Dharma, One's Personal Role in the Evolution of Things

[22:15] "I'm Not Here to Tell You What to Do"

[23:49] "What is My Highest Nature?"

[25:34] You Don't Know Who These Children Are Yet

[26:13] We Don't Force Our Children To Meditate

[27:14] Teaching by Precept

[28:27] "We Have This Problem Child..."

[29:51] "My Parents Don't Listen to Me."

[30:52] "Do You Trust the Way You've Raised Me?"

[31:58] Awakening to the Wisdom of the Children

[33:16] Help Them Do the Experiments

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Free Will vs Destiny

24 januari 2022 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s the ultimate bout, Destiny vs Free Will, the subject that’s had philosophers debating for centuries.

Despite the centuries of debate, the subject still remains unresolved. Or does it?

The Vedic perspective is quite simple. In fact, there isn’t even a contest because Free Will and Destiny are actually both on the same team.

Will you exercise Free Will to listen to this podcast, or is it part of your Destiny? You’ll have to listen to find out…

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] How Much Free Will Do We Have?

[02:10] "I'm Going to Change My Mind"

[03:15] The Truth of the Destiny Vs. Free Will Thing

[05:17] There is Only One Consciousness State

[07:00] "I Am That. You Are That..."

[08:46] "I Am the Source of All the Thoughts."

[10:30] We Make Arrangements for Our Suffering

[11:40] "Oh No. What Did I Do?"

[12:46] Seeing Cause and Effect

[14:16] Becoming a True Revolutionary, Practicing Vedic Meditation

[16:00] Losing Our Rage

[17:50] We Are Not the Judge of Others

[19:31] Realization of Free-Willed Determining Consciousness

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Gratitude, Community, and Mixing Mantras

17 januari 2022 | 30 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Our listeners are setting the agenda again in this episode, another of our regular “Ask Me Anything” series.

Thom starts with what you might find to be a surprising twist on gratitude. While gratitude is, of course, a good thing, sometimes our perspective can distort our level of gratitude, or even what we might be grateful for. Thom refers to one of our favorite teachings from Guru Dev, who told us, “You deserve the best…”

In answer to a question about the role of community in our self realization, Thom points out that our evolution actually removes our sense of separateness, making community the natural consideration in anything and everything that we do. He describes Cosmic Consciousness as ‘the ultimate social experience.’

And on the matter of ‘mixing mantras’, he points out that Vedic Meditation, while being compatible with, and complementary to, any other practice, it needs to be practiced specifically as it has been taught, without any ‘modifications’ by the practitioner. In doing so, each practice will have its intended benefit, and not be watered down, or even harmed by another.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Is There a Truth to Gratitude Being a Divine Emotion?

[01:01] You Deserve the Best

[02:30] You Have to Accept It

[03:57] You Are Not Wretched

[04:59] What Does Expecting the Best Do to Our Sense of Gratitude?

[06:16] How Do We Show Our Gratitude?

[07:31] Vineeta: Humble Pride

[08:59] Too Much Gratitude

[10:11] Q - How Can Community Play a Positive Role in Realizing the Higher Self?

[10:56] The Funnel of Consciousness

[12:04] Cosmic Consciousness - The Ultimate Social Experience

[13:45] The True Meaning of Tribe

[15:22] Unity and Empathy

[16:49] Siddhi: An Extraordinary Human Capability

[18:22] Expanding Our Capacity to Be a Relevant Member Of Any Social Group

[19:43] Having and Developing Shared Experience

[20:59] Q - Can I Use a Different Mantra to Practice Vedic Meditation?

[21:56] All Roads Lead to Rome

[22:36] An Appropriate Mantra

[24:18] No Damage is Done

[25:36] Vedic Meditation Will Only Bring Aid to Everything Life Supporting

[26:31] Let Vedic Meditation Be Its Own Practice

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Alcohol and Vedic Meditation Part 1

10 januari 2022 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

What is the Vedic worldview on alcohol and alcohol consumption?

In some ways, the ‘goal’ of consuming alcohol and the goal of Vedic Meditation are contradictory. While Vedic Meditation increases our sense of Self, drinking alcohol does the opposite.

However, a Vedic Meditation teacher will never tell a student they should stop drinking. In fact, the only thing a Vedic Meditation teacher advise is to meditate twice a day. This alone will put us in a position to make better choices for ourselves.

In some cases, that may be the choice to reduce drinking alcohol, or even to stop drinking altogether. In other cases, the desire to drink might simply just go away so there isn’t even a choice required. And in other cases still, there might be a desire to reduce alcohol and a recognition that some extra help is needed with that.

In this episode, Thom takes a broad look at alcohol from the physiological and scientific perspective and also from a spiritual perspective. Whether you are a drinker or not, it’s a discussion that goes beyond the ‘should or shouldn’t’ angle that often distorts thinking on the subject.

Episode Highlights:

[00:47] The Impact of Alcohol on Developing Higher Consciousness States

[01:59] Q- Can You Share More About The Vedic Worldview on Alcohol Consumption?

[02:07] Alcohol is Not a Barrier to Vedic Meditation

[03:48] Not Speaking From Experience

[05:23] Feeling Rosy

[06:42] Vedic Meditation Can Reduce the Desire for Alcohol

[08:40] Meditation Decreases Our Body's Tolerance for Toxicity

[09:59] The Effects of Alcohol

[11:12] Irreplaceable Brain Cells

[12:41] A Natural Choice Gets Made

[14:14] Justifying the Choice to Drink Alcohol

[15:23] Fermented Grape Juice or Unfermented Grape Juice?

[16:12] A Very Graceful Intoxication

[17:10] Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body

[18:38] Alcohol Decreases Longevity

[20:02] The Rule of Exceptions

[21:19] The Spiritual Angle

[23:00] The Chemistry of Bliss

[25:16] Meditators Live Longer With a Younger Body Function

[26:26] Meeting Challenges Adequately

[27:42] Alexander the Great Invaded India and Came Back With a Vedic Guru

[29:07] The Deities Associated with Alcohol

[32:37] A 12-Step Program

[34:04] The Home of All the Laws of Nature

[35:20] Beholden to a Gangster

[37:05] The Big Self Takes Charge

[39:00] Vedic Meditation Initiates the Awakening in You

[40:06] Less Resistance to Seeking Help

[41:48] The Process of Intoxication

[42:44] "I'm Not Intoxicated"

[43:53] Witnessing Intoxication

[45:44] I Could Start Drinking Any Day

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Shanti Patha - A Song for All Times

3 januari 2022 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Have you ever wondered about the song that Thom sings at the beginning of each episode of The Vedic Worldview?

More than just a song, Shanti Patha is a ‘sloka’, or Sanskrit verse or chant,that you’ll often hear throughout India, and with good cause. Shanti Patha is a credo, a manifesto if you like, of how we can conduct ourselves, so we can enjoy a sense of community together, rather than feeling separate from, and fearful of, each other.

Even if we just follow the ‘teaching’ of the song at the literal level of the English translation, we would get enormous benefit from it. But if we dive deeper into the true meaning of the words, which Thom does in this episode, we reveal a richer understanding that can guide us in our day-to-day lives.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] The Manifesto of the Process of the Vedic Worldview

[03:26] Saha Nav Avatu—Let Us Be Together

[04:47] Be Conscious Without Thoughts

[06:13] Bliss: The Supreme Inner Contentedness

[07:58] Saha Nau Bhunaktu—Let Us Eat Together

[09:35] Saha Viryam Karavavahai—Let Us Be Vital Together

[11:07] Tejasvi Nav Adhitam Astu—Never Shall We Denounce Anyone

[12:29] Ma Vidvishavahai—Never Entertain Negativity

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My Maharishi - January in Silence

27 december 2021 | 18 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

For a large part of the population, the first week of January is a period of regret. Regret about some of the food and drink choices made over the festive season, and perhaps regret from some of the New Years’ Resolutions that are turning out to be not so resolute as they might have wished.

This, of course, was never a problem for Thom’s Master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Being in such a highly-evolved state, he was simply beyond the stage where he could make choices that he would regret.

Maharishi’s routine for the New Year was almost the exact opposite to pretty much the entire population that lives by the Gregorian calendar. In this episode Thom shares the details of this routine, which revolved around an annual seven-day period of solitude, silence and fasting.

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] Seven Days of Silence

[02:21] Leftover Tasks

[03:50] No Interruptions

[04:59] Who's There in the Waiting Room?

[06:33] Where Shall We Spend Christmas?

[07:44] Music for the Cows

[08:46] Rich People Problems

[09:52] Emerging from the Silence

[11:41] Grand Plans for the Year Ahead

[13:39] Maharishi's Birthday Gift to the World

[14:53] A Memorable Routine

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Colonization, Gossip and Jealousy, Giving Away Our Power

20 december 2021 | 28 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s time for another Q&A episode with Thom, this time covering a range of questions with a similar theme, acquiescing our power to others.

In answer to a question about the harm of colonization, he reminds us that it’s not such a recent phenomenon, that humans have had an inclination to dominate groups from other regions for millenia, and will likely continue to do so. Thom explains that the societies that endure are those that remain invincible and who give back more than they take from their invaders.

He discusses jealousy and gossip, and how we can liberate ourselves from the effects of the thoughts or words of others. It all boils down to a single false idea that can quite easily be dispelled.

And in a slightly different vein, Thom explains the role of envy, as opposed to jealousy, and how we can use it to assert more power rather than to relinquish it, and how we can help others do the same.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - How Did Europe Get Away With Colonizing the World?

[02:11] The Mechanics Behind Colonization

[03:42] Vedic Culture Knows How to Be Invincible

[05:25] Embedded in Human Nature

[06:17] English Became a Tool for India's Revenge Against Colonization

[08:21] Victimising Yourself

[09:38] The Capability of Digesting the Invaders

[11:02] An Ideal Society

[12:44] Q - Can People Harm Us With Their Jealousy and Gossip?

[13:00] I Am Vulnerable (Or Am I?)

[14:20] Liberation From the Effects of Others’ Thoughts

[15:33] People Don't Have Any Idea What We Are

[16:29] Q- What Causes Us to Give Away Our Power?

[16:47] The Truth of the Moment

[18:10] You Are the Unified Field Itself

[19:04] The Difference Between Envy and Jealousy

[20:15] Being an Insignificant Self

[20:59] Getting to the Highest Truth as Quick as Possible

[21:47] The Highest Level of Consciousness There Is

[23:34] The Few Always Lead the Many

[24:19] Beyond Suffering

Useful Links
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Dealing With Family Gatherings

13 december 2021 | 19 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

It’s that time of the year where families come together to experience the joys of the family bond. Greetings are given, embraces exchanged, laughter is shared, tears of joy are shed, and the love is felt.

And then it starts…

The euphoria wears off and the tension kicks in.

It might just be some low level tension that doesn’t really amount to much. Or it could be a full-on dispute that escalates to a large-scale crisis. Or it might be something in between.

Not in every home of course but, for many families, this is the standard operating procedure.

For Vedic meditators this is perfect. It gives us the opportunity to test how ‘colorfast’ our practice has made us. We get to test which of our buttons can no longer be pushed. We get to exercise the cosmic responsibilities that come with being a Vedic meditator.

Sit back, listen in, and let Thom help you prepare for what could be one of your most peaceful festive seasons yet.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Greatest Test

[02:12] A Successful Interaction

[03:41] Becoming Colorfast

[05:40] Avoiding the Fading Effects

[07:00] Making Meditation Relevant Socially

[08:40] Family Interaction

[10:39] Engaging Fully

[12:00] Cosmic Responsibility

[13:27] Non-Negotiable Meditation

[14:07] Wise and Trusted Counsel

[15:27] Engage, Engage, Engage

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Reparenting Psychology and the Vedic Perspective

6 december 2021 | 18 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Reparenting is an often-used psychological technique where one is given, or gives oneself, opportunities to learn the lessons of character or personality development that one might have missed out on through ‘insufficient’ parenting or care during childhood.

It’s a technique that has met with some success, yet, as Thom explains in this episode, there is a missing element that might make this approach incomplete.

The Vedic perspective is that we, including our parents and caregivers, can only act based on the level of our consciousness. This being the case, rather than focusing on repairing the ‘mistakes’ of our parents and caregivers, a more complete approach would be to focus on elevating our own consciousness.

In fact Vedic traditions embody this approach, and teach us to access our own inner guru or teacher, and to bring out the best of our own feminine and masculine qualities, while honoring our parents and caregivers for doing and being the best that they knew to be.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Reparenting Psychology - A Brief Description

[01:28] The Boat of Character and Personality

[02:46] Yagyopavit - The Sacred Thread of Mata Pita Guru

[04:53] Meeting the Demands of Change in the World Successfully

[06:16] Inaccurate Expectations of Our Parents

[07:43] Transcending to Experience Your Big Self

[09:02] Watering the Roots of the Tree

[10:10] Filtering the Very Best Experiences of Our Childhood

[11:53] Sifting the Wheat From the Chaff

[12:40] Attention to Guru

[13:37] Knowledge Has Organizing Power

[14:33] Radiating Life for All to Enjoy

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The Difference Between A Spiritual Awakening and Psychosis

29 november 2021 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Episodes of psychosis and experiences of ‘spiritual awakening’ have one key characteristic in common, they are both experiences that are ‘out of the ordinary.’

This can be problematic, especially if the person making a diagnosis has not had an experience of spiritual awakening themselves.

One key distinction between the two states though, is that a spiritual awakening is accompanied by a stable sense of Self (with a capital S), whereas a psychotic episode is the opposite, and is usually accompanied by an erratic sense of self (with a small s).

A spiritual awakening is desirable, whereas a psychotic state is not. Listen to Thom explain the states in more detail, and how you can deliberately set yourself on a path that makes a spiritual awakening the more likely option for you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The State of Psychosis

[02:19] A Genuine Spiritual Awakening

[03:47] What Are You Minus All the Thoughts?

[05:33] Experiencing What is Beyond Thought

[07:01] Describing Your Experience in Language

[09:01] Dr. Ronald D Laing's Research on Psychosis

[10:30] A World of Psychosis

[12:37] Knowledge Eliminates Fear

Useful Links
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The Art of Following Charm

23 november 2021 | 15 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Frequently on the podcast you’ll hear Thom mention ‘charm.’ While we all have a good understanding of the word charm, in Vedic Meditation circles, charm has a special, more nuanced meaning.

For a Vedic Meditator, charm is like an inner-guidance mechanism, a gentle tug that steers you in the direction of that which is most evolutionary, not just for yourself, but for all of Nature. It’s a subtle form of intuition that feels charming to experience and charming to follow, hence the name we give to it.

In this bonus ‘charm-inducing’ episode, Thom gives us a wee taste test of his soon-to-be-released course, The Art of Following Charm, in which he explores the nature of charm, how to recognize and cultivate it, and how every decision can become a matter of effortless attraction.

Enjoy the episode and, if you feel charmed to do so, we hope you put the art of following charm into practice and join us on the course.

The Art of Following Charm Course - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] The Direction of Evolution

[02:29] The Bija Mantra

[03:54] The Charm of Mantra

[06:11] The Desire of Our Mind to Move Towards More

[07:49] The Home of All the Laws of Nature

[09:38] Kriya - Spontaneous Right Action

[11:24] The Art of Following Charm

Useful Links

The Art of Following Charm Course - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/
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Hypnosis and Vedic Meditation

22 november 2021 | 43 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Hypnosis is often seen as having therapeutic value, a way of overcoming problems caused by an ‘incorrect psyche.’ Because of the layer of silence achieved inside a Vedic Meditation sitting, Vedic Meditation, we’re frequently asked if it is actually a form of hypnosis.

The short answer is no. Vedic Meditation is not hypnosis, but to understand the answer fully requires a closer look at what hypnosis is. Though hypnosis may be done with good intent, and may apparently have some ‘good’ effects, and may appear to be beneficial, essentially it’s a form of manipulation.

So in that sense, hypnosis is in fact the opposite of Vedic Meditation. Vedic Meditation provides an opportunity to transcend the mind, to go beyond the small s self, the field where hypnosis has an impact, to the big “S” Self, where hypnosis has no impact whatsoever, and where the psyche can obtain benefits far beyond anything that hypnosis can deliver, and in perfect alignment with Nature.

Listen to Thom explain this more fully, looking at the subject both from an individual perspective and also from the group perspective, explaining the impact of suggestibility and the role of Vedic Meditation in combating its effects.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Is Vedic Meditation a Form of Hypnosis?

[01:59] - Locus of Control

[03:28] - A Construct of Exterior Influences

[04:52] - The External Locus of Control at Play

[04:58] - Field Dependency and a Narcissistic Approach to Life

[07:49] - Internalized Locus of Control

[08:58] - Who is a Control Freak?

[10:41] - The Loving Controller

[12:06] - The Element Of Suggestibility

[13:45] - The Field-Independent Person

[14:47] - Suggestibility and Influences of the Outside World

[16:44] - Mass Suggestibility

[18:32] - Being: The Fountainhead Of Creative Intelligence

[20:28] - The Cause of the Evolutionary Process

[22:11] - Hypnotizability and Suggestion

[23:42] - Self-Hypnosis

[24:56] - Changing Psyche On The Basis Of Suggestibility

[26:24] - Suggestibility and Terrible Behaviors

[28:07] - Hypnosis for Addiction

[29:31] - The Inexperienced Gardener

[30:41] - Fixing the Symptoms

[31:42] - The Role of Vedic Meditation

[32:42] - Experiencing The Inner Potentiality

[34:43] - Becoming More Ideal Citizens

[36:21] - Creating Social Change

[38:18] - Buckminster Fuller and the Analogy of the Trim Tab

[40:51] - The Consciousness-Spreader Effect

Useful Links
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My Maharishi - Following Charm to Brazil and Germany

15 november 2021 | 25 min

Post-Concussive Symptoms, Misfortune, and Dementia

8 november 2021 | 31 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Can Vedic Meditation heal post-concussive symptoms?

How is the experience of misfortune framed within the Vedic worldview?

Can Vedic Meditation help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia?

In this, another Ask Thom Anything episode, Thom answers all of the above, including details of the broader healing effects of meditation in general.

He reminds us that stress is the greatest cause of disease and that Vedic Meditation is the most powerful means of removing psychological and/or physiological stress, helping us to heal current health difficulties, and to prevent or reduce the effects of future health difficulties.

He also shares a perspective on misfortune and difficulty that we can all make use of, even if we haven’t attained the highest consciousness states yet.

No matter what your perspectives on health or misfortune are, you’ll find great value in hearing Thom speak on the subjects.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] Q- Can Meditation Heal Post-Concussive Symptoms?

[01:05] If They Can Think a Thought…

[02:02] Meditation Also Helps in Dementia.

[04:05] How Vedic Meditation Accelerates the Healing Process from an Injury

[05:28] The Chemistry of Healing

[07:11] The Relationship Between Happiness and Healing

[09:11] Q- How the Experience of Misfortune is Framed Within the Vedic Worldview

[09:41] Misfortune is a Consciousness State

[10:20] Inaccurate Expectations

[11:41] What is a Misfortune?

[12:57] Laws of Nature that Have a Cascade Effect

[14:26] What Causes Misfortune

[15:32] Suffering from the Vedic Perspective

[16:36] The Period of Global Glaciation

[18:09] Ice Age Made Humans a Capable Robust Organism

[19:51] Unity Consciousness

[21:23] Q- Can Vedic Meditation Help Lower the Risk of Alzheimer's or Dementia?

[21:49] Refreshing the Physiology

[23:04] Stress Speeds Up the Decline of the Human Body

[24:34] Slowing Down the Aging Characteristics of the Human Body

[25:47] Accumulation of Stress is the Number One Cause of All Disease

[26:56] A Life of Complete Gracefulness, Knowledge and Wisdom

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Where Do Our Thoughts Come From?

31 oktober 2021 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

All of us think but how often do we contemplate where our thoughts come from? And when we do, how accurate is our answer?

Many of us think thoughts are the work of the brain, stimulated either by the environment or circumstances around us, or by memories of the past or fears of the future.

For most of us, there is also a sense of identity associated with the thoughts we’re having. We define ourselves based on our thoughts, especially those that we repeat on a regular basis.

Given that we have 60,000 plus ‘cognitive processes’ per day, that makes a perfect set up for a never-ending ‘identity crisis.’

It’s only when we give ourselves a chance to bypass the thinking process, to reach a state of pure Being, awareness minus thought, that we get a chance to experience our true identity, the state from which thoughts originate. The more time we spend in this state, the more accurate our thinking becomes, the more aligned we become with Nature.

We invite you to listen to Thom’s explanation then do your own research to verify it for yourself. Enjoy.

Episode Highlights:

[00:50] Are You Your Thoughts?

[02:24] What Are You?

[03:56] The Prime Directive of Our Body

[05:50] Formulation of Your Identity

[07:41] You Are That Field of Pure Creative Intelligence

[09:33] I Am Being

[11:14] I Am The Underlying Field

[12:54] Responding to the Need of the Time

Useful Links

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The Difference Between Vedic Knowledge and Hinduism

24 oktober 2021 | 52 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

A very frequent question Thom receives is "What is the difference between Vedic knowledge, learned through Vedic Meditation, and Hinduism?"

Hinduism, as a religion, is supposed to honor thousands, if not millions, of Gods. This religion offers many offerings to people from all over the world and is practiced by around a billion people in India.

It surprised many to learn that Hinduism does not originate in the Vedic or Sanskrit languages, which makes it quite an intriguing conundrum.

Hinduism in reality is a linguistic construction that came about as a result of British rule in India. Hinduism is a combination of religious beliefs, some of which are based on Vedic understandings, while others may derive from the practices they adopted to show dignity and self-respect while they were dominated by the British.

In this fascinating episode, Thom shares the history of Hinduism and what sets the Vedic worldview apart from Hinduism.

Episode Highlights:

[00:52] - What Distinguishes the Vedic Worldview From Hinduism?

[01:47] - The Origin of Hinduism

[03:51] - The Multi-Pronged Approach of Britain

[05:39] - The Indus River Became Hindus

[07:24] - Hinduism Turned Into a Fabricated Religion

[08:58] - Statuary in India

[10:06] - Hinduism is a Construct

[11:53] - The True Meaning of Yoga

[13:51] - Sanatana Dharma

[15:51] - The Meaning of Veda and Apaurusheya

[18:08] - What Is the Veda

[19:17] - An Exponent of Reality

[21:09] - The Cosmic Law of the Evolutionary Process

[22:51] - The Destruction Operator at Work

[24:38] - The Cycle of Evolution

[25:36] - We Design Suffering for Ourselves

[27:43] - Does God Want You to Suffer?

[28:42] - Suffering and Happiness From the Vedic Perspective

[30:33] - The Purpose of Life is the Expansion of Happiness

[32:31] - Our Brain Personalises the Laws of Nature

[33:40] - The Expression of Your Inner Nature

[35:16] - Why the Vedic Worldview Doesn't Qualify to be a Religion

[37:02] - There is No Concept of God in the Vedic Worldview

[39:12] - Practicing Your Technique Helps You to Grow Your Conscious State

[41:25] - The Vedic Experience of Growth

[42:48] - Medicinal Properties of the Willow Bark

[44:02] - The Problems With Aspirin

[45:21] - The Relationship Between Hinduism and Vedic Knowledge

[46:18] - The Problem Of Active Ingredient Mentality in the West

[47:56] - The Western Approach to Spirituality and Active Ingredient Mentality

[48:56] - Heaven on Earth is the Vedic Worldview

[50:26] - The Difference Between Vedic and Hinduism

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The Revival of Ayurveda

17 oktober 2021 | 21 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Ayurveda, the ‘science of life’ has become very popular in developed nations in recent decades, thanks to the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in reviving this ancient body of wisdom.

Dating back several thousand years, the practice of Ayurvedic techniques was forced ‘underground’ when the British colonized India and imposed their own ‘modern’ approaches to health.

Fortunately, some families passed the wisdom down through the generations, allowing Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to bring three of the greatest minds on the subject together for a long-overdue revival of this timeless body of knowledge.

In this episode, Thom explains some of the details of that revival, and explores some of the key differences between the Ayurvedic and ‘allopathic’ approaches to health. Importantly, he explains how the two approaches are complementary rather than ‘alternative’ to each other.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - The Meaning of Ayurveda

[01:41] - The history and extinction of Ayurveda

[02:59] - Ayurveda was made illegal in India

[04:01] - The revival of Ayurveda by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

[04:56] - The three great masters

[06:15] - The rise of Ayurveda

[07:10] - Panchkarma

[07:50] - Not an alternative to western medicine

[09:06] - The next generation of Ayurvedic practitioners

[10:31] - The difference between Ayurveda and allopathy

[12:14] - Treating the person

[13:38] - The magic bullet

[14:22] - The entire spectrum of human experience

[15:57] - The Vaidya’s

[17:10] - Practicing Vedic Meditation to reduce stress

Useful Links

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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Emotional Healing, Comparison Thinking, Feeling Emotions

10 oktober 2021 | 18 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We are always striving to attain more and more in our lives. But, every now and again, we get the impression that we haven't done enough with our time. No amount of accomplishment is capable of bringing us fulfilment. And, it's also not a bad thing to have a lot of achievements on your scoreboard.

But, more importantly, are we truly enjoying the process or simply trying to finish the race? Unfortunately, even after winning, we often postpone our celebrations until we reach the pinnacle of achievement.

In this Ask Me Anything session, Thom Knoles explains why it is critical to enjoy the process of achieving something and how we cannot fail when we are enjoying the process. Thom also tells how we can experience the natural expression of our emotions.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Q - What is the Vedic Worldview of Emotional Healing?

[01:12] - De-Exciting the Consciousness

[01:54] - Making the Healing Process Rapid

[03:08] - Vedic Meditation is Good for Emotional Healing

[04:19] - Vedic Meditation Awakens Your Brain's Power

[05:53] - The Removal of Stress

[07:28] - Q - How Should We Evaluate Our Accomplishments?

[07:44] - The Process is the Outcome

[08:59] - Baseline Happiness

[10:03] - The Problem of Collective Consciousness

[10:55] - The Best Way to Feel Emotions Without Stuffing Them

[11:22] - We Avoid Mood Making

[12:13] - Establishing Inner Awareness

[13:26] - Becoming Fearless

[14:34] - Paying Attention to the Body Sensations

Useful Links

[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Navratri Sharad - Celebration of the Divine Feminine

6 oktober 2021 | 10 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

When we think of feminine and masculine, typically we tend to think in terms of gender, i.e. female and male but the Vedic worldview has a much broader approach than the arrangement or expression of chromosomes. In Vedic circles the feminine and masculine are seen as aspects of creation, present everywhere and in everything.

Wherever there is masculine there is always feminine, and vice versa, with the feminine often referred to as Mother Divine and celebrated through a vast range of personifications* and a range of festivals or holy days.

One of those festivals is Navratri Sharad, a celebration of triumph over ignorance, held over nine nights and 10 days in the fall of each year (Northern Hemisphere fall, Southern Hemisphere spring).

Though each night of Navratri Sharad honors specific representations of Mother Divine, Thom invites us in this episode to use the festival as a springboard to making the celebration of the feminine an everyday occurrence and an opportunity to continuously explore just what the feminine is and how She is represented in everyday life.

*For more on the personification of aspects of creation, listen to our three-part series on God, Gods and Goddesses.

Sharad Navratri Dates 2021: October 7 (Thursday) to October 15 (Friday)

See here for dates in other years - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navaratri

Episode highlights:

[00:40] Navratri Sharad - Nine Nights of the Divine Mother

[02:22] A Range of Appreciation

[03:14] Connecting the Dots

[04:35] Removing Limitations

[05:43] Vijayadashami - The Tenth Night

[07:00] An Expansive View of Divine Mother

Useful Links

[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

My Maharishi - Daily Life and Travels with My Master

4 oktober 2021 | 13 min

Drugs and Spirit Medicine

26 september 2021 | 58 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Humans have been using substances to have ‘extraordinary experiences’ for millenia.

Sometimes this is motivated by a simple sense of curiosity, and at other times it might be to ‘fill a void,’ while in other cases it might be motivated by a promise of an elusive ‘spiritual experience.’

In some cases it leads to addiction and dependence, while in others it might just be a bucket-list experience that someone moves on from.

In this episode, Thom takes a non-judgemental look at the motivation and impact of such experiences, and outlines an alternative approach, one that’s more sustainable and that leads to a ‘permanent high’ that most people couldn’t even conceive of.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] The Desire to Belong

[02:29] Tribal Life

[04:27] A Sense of Identity

[06:00] Join the Club

[07:14] Human Beings Crave Variety

[08:33] The Nature of the Knower

[09:51] Badge of Rank

[11:29] The Difference Between a Cult and a Religion

[12:39] Shibboleth

[13:25] Drugs

[14:35] Why Drugs Work

[15:59] Endogenous Chemicals

[18:03] The Prime Directive of the Body

[19:32] Ayahuasca, LSD, THC

[21:13] Mimicking Molecules

[22:44] Lizards on LSD and Psychotic Dogs

[24:31] The Confused Body

[26:23] Sublimation and Addiction

[27:47] An Overload of Experience

[29:35] Premature Cognitive Commitments

[31:10] Psychedelic Experiences

[33:11] Where Are the Icons of Drug Use?

[35:19] A Sustainable Systematic Approach

[37:32] What About Soma?

[38:30] Vedic Meditation - A Better Methodology

[39:44] An Overload of Experience

[41:21] Supreme, Inner Contentedness

[43:01] An Experience of Self

[44:57] Our Body is a Drug-Producing Machine

[46:19] Unsustainable Ways to Extraordinary Experiences

[47:26] The 4/20 Club and Counterfeit Substances

[49:13] Consciousness-Led Experiences

[50:35] A Perpetual Psychedelic State

[51:59] Learning the Sustainable Way

[53:28] Being in the Tribe

[54:29] A Regular Daily Practice

Useful Links

[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Vedic Meditation and Mantras

20 september 2021 | 12 min

The Story of Sophie

12 september 2021 | 10 min

My Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Walnut Tree

6 september 2021 | 10 min

5D, Spirit Babies, Success and Support, Paramahansa Yogananda and Kriya Yoga

29 augusti 2021 | 24 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Yet another interesting mix of questions in today’s Ask Me Anything episode with Thom.

In discussing 5D, The Fifth Dimension, Thom explains how premature contentedness is the enemy of enlightenment and that, regardless of what we call it, the true measure of progress is to become an exemplar of Self realized consciousness.

He describes the Vedic worldview on the incarnation of babies (including fetuses) who only remain with us for a short while.

Thom also describes how common measures of ‘success’ (money and fame) are irrelevant to our effectiveness in meeting the need of the time.

In this episode, Thom also pays homage to Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi and an inspiring leader in the 20th century.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Q - Please Comment on 5D (The Fifth Dimension) and Its Effect on Our Meditation Practice

[01:11] Santosha - The Enemy of Enlightenment

[02:10] Premature Contentedness

[03:31] Self Realization Means Self Actualization

[05:11] Chronic Brain Failure

[06:21] Earned Contentedness

[07:20] Q - What is the Relevance of ‘Spirit Babies’ and Reincarnation?

[07:51] Jiva - Individualized Consciousness

[08:49] The Quickening

[09:33] Separating From the Body

[10:34] Karma and Unfinished Business

[12:11] Q - Should We ‘Bend a Little’ to Extend Our Reach and Generate Wealth?

[12:42] Money Means Absolutely Nothing

[13:28] Living an Authentic Life

[14:11] You Minus the Thoughts = Bliss

[14:40] Co-incidence

[15:39] You Are Totality

[16:29] What Good is Money?

[17:19] Q - How Does the Vedic worldview and Paramahansa Yogananda's School of Thought Relate? Can you Compare Kriya Yoga to Vedic Meditation?

[17:42] Yoga - Union of the Individual Mind With Cosmic Mind

[18:49] Kriya Yoga and Nishkam Karma Yoga

[20:07] The Airplane Method and the Jumbo Jet Method

[21:03] A Branch of the Tree

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Curing Insomnia and Finding Purpose through Vedic Meditation

26 augusti 2021 | 14 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this short bonus episode, Thom shares a couple of bite-sized nuggets of wisdom to address two problems of epidemic proportions, insomnia, and a lack of meaning or purpose.

He starts with a delightful story of how Maharishi Mahesh Yogi learned that better sleep was one of the more popular ‘side effects’ of meditation when he first came to the United States. He also explains the cause of insomnia and why Vedic Meditation is the ultimate cure for it.

And in relation to meaning and purpose, Thom outlines that the lack of meaning or purpose comes about because we don’t have a direct experience of our own true, inner nature. Once we have that experience, the experience of true Bliss, which of course we can get through Vedic Meditation, then our role in evolution becomes self evident, and meaning and purpose are naturally met.

Enjoy!

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] Meditation Beats Insomnia

[02:11] The Cause of Insomnia

[03:21] The Unwinding of Stress

[04:51] Deeper Rest Than Sleep Through Meditation

[06:15] Awakening the Mind to Its Fullest Potential

[07:09] A Search for Meaning

[07:44] A Search for Our True Identity

[08:48] What’s This All About?

[09:31] Direct Experience of Bliss

[11:04] Your Real Purpose in Life

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Heroes and Villains

22 augusti 2021 | 45 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

All of us want to be known for something heroic, but who decides who are the heroes and who are the villains? And do the villains perhaps think of themselves as heroic? Would the heroes even be heroes if there were no villains?

In this episode Thom, once again, shines a new light on a subject that has been with humankind since we first developed the ability to create and share experiences and stories.

He explains that it isn’t an either/or argument and offers an alternative option. One that we can all aspire to without the pressure of ‘taking sides’…

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] The Trichotomy of Evolution

[03:12] Writers of History and Drawers of Maps

[04:28] Consciousness Drives Behavior

[06:18] Semi-Omnipotence

[08:11] Bifurcation - Breaking of Symmetry

[10:09] Elevational Theater

[12:02] The Supersymmetric State of Contentedness

[13:37] The Fall From the Status Quo

[15:13] A Sawtooth Pattern of Plateau

[16:55] Succession

[17:45] An Eternity of Torture

[19:23] Saved From Hell

[20:50] Were the Romans Villains?

[22:12] Or Were They Heroes?

[23:42] We’re the Good Guys

[25:02] Standing Outside of Our Indoctrination

[26:31] Communists and Capitalists

[28:09] All Of Us Want to Be Heroic

[29:31] We All Started From the Same Place, But...

[30:53] Holding On to Complacency

[32:31] Being the Seer

[34:17] How is Nature Trending?

[35:35] A True Hero

[37:04] Zero Rigid Attachment

[38:27] Impartial Guidance

[40:20] Become a Rishi

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

How Do I Cultivate a Regular Meditation Practice?

15 augusti 2021 | 9 min

How to Learn Vedic Meditation

13 augusti 2021 | 13 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this bonus episode, ahead of an upcoming visit to New York City, Thom runs through the process of learning Vedic Meditation.

He explains the rationale of spreading the course over four days so you can embed the experience and commence a sustainable daily routine, and develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics and expected results of Vedic Meditation.

He also explains why Vedic Meditation should be taught in person rather than online, and why it’s worth your investment of time and effort to find a teacher who can teach you face to face.

If you’re in New York City or nearby, Thom will be visiting late September (2021) and holding free Introductory Talks ahead of some courses in October. This is a rare opportunity to be taught by Thom, who will have limited capacity while he is there, so please register here for an Introductory Talk.

And if you are not near New York City, or are reading this afterwards, you can find one of many Vedic Meditation teachers trained and approved by Thom to teach the technique by emailing us here with your location and we will get back to you with recommendations.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] New York, New York!

[02:07] Your Vedic Meditation Mantra

[03:17] In-Home Practice, Refinement Together

[04:08] More Practice, Deeper Understanding

[05:13] Developing Your Vedic Meditation Skill

[06:12] Introductory Talk

[07:37] A Commitment to Yourself

[08:49] Why Can’t I Learn Vedic Meditation Online?

[10:02] The Most Effective Way of Learning to Meditate

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Mindfulness vs. Vedic Meditation

8 augusti 2021 | 9 min

What Are the Vedas?

1 augusti 2021 | 15 min

Relaxation vs Vedic Meditation, The Dark Night of the Soul, Death and Dying, Spiritual Diets

25 juli 2021 | 29 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this episode, another in our ongoing series of Ask Thom Anything, Thom explains the distinction between wellness and relaxation activities and why they don’t deliver the same impacts as Vedic Meditation.

He also explores “The dark night of the soul” and describes how contrasting experiences of the mind and body lead to an unstabilized vision.

He gives us some insights into how we can respond when someone is in the dying stage of their life and the advantages we have as Vedic meditators during this stage.

And finally, Thom explains a practical approach to diet when we’re on a spiritual path.

If you’d like to have Thom answer a question on the podcast, you can submit your questions here.

Episode Highlights:

[00:57] Q - Can ‘Wellness Activities’ Be as Effective as Vedic Meditation for Releasing Stress?

[01:47] It Depends on Consciousness

[03:09] They Might Be Relaxing But...

[04:27] An Opportunistic Brain

[05:55] Absolute Unboundedness of Being

[06:51] A Consciousness-Led Approach

[08:00] No Special Environment Required

[08:42] Q - What’s the Vedic Worldview on the Dark Night of the Soul?

[09:07] An Unstabilized Vision

[10:33] The Body’s Prime Directive

[12:12] Unstressing

[13:25] Our Body Needs to Catch Up

[14:27] Mind and Body in Complete Agreement

[15:28] Q - How Can I Navigate Having Someone Dying or Getting Close to Death?

[15:50] Speed Grieving

[16:44] Be the Strong One

[17:57] There is Only Evolution

[19:40] Don’t Be the Needy One

[21:07] Restoring a Sense of Peace and Happiness

[21:51] Q - Do You Recommend a Special Diet for a Spiritual Practice?

[22:04] Toxicity Begins With Your Consciousness State

[23:43] The Art and Science of Ayurveda

[25:23] Balancing Behaviour for Different Body Types

Useful Links:
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https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Is Everything Random or is There Perfect Order?

18 juli 2021 | 55 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Does perfect order exist or is everything random? Pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage and take a seat because you’ll want to lean into this episode.

Thom shares a fascinating exploration of entropy and order, ‘randomicity,’ the laws of thermodynamics, levitating trains, superfluids, superconductors, multitasking, learning to drive, and much more.

You’ll learn how Vedic Meditation can help you defy the laws of thermodynamics and, most importantly, how you can use meditation to answer the question of orderliness vs. randomness through your own direct experience.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Something is Ordered. Something is Not Ordered.

[02:52] Entropy - Decay

[04:37] Advantages of Order vs Disorder

[06:55] The Second and Third Laws of Thermodynamics

[08:42] Absolute Zero

[10:45] A Theoretical State

[11:46] Helium as a Superfluid

[13:07] Uncontainable

[14:20] Zero Viscosity

[15:43] Zero Resistance

[16:34] Lead as a Superconductor

[18:07] Infinite Electrical Circulation

[19:32] Levitation

[21:18] Restoring Order Through Vedic Meditation

[22:59] A Superconscious State

[24:20] The Physiological Advantage of a Meditator

[25:33] Professor Ilya Prigogine and the Thermodynamics of Living Systems

[27:29] Is There Such a Thing as Disorder and Order?

[29:01] Suspending the Second Law of Thermodynamics

[30:34] Superconsciousness Coexisting With Specificity Consciousness

[31:17] Multitasking

[32:38] Learning to Drive

[33:38] Relegation

[34:34] Our Brain is a Massive Computer

[36:21] Developing Cosmic Consciousness

[37:51] Transcendence and Thinking Simultaneously

[39:23] The Fifth Consciousness State

[40:48] Recognizing Order

[42:22] A Perfect Hiding Place for a Snake

[43:08] The Cosmic Perspective

[45:01] The Creation Operator

[45:42] The Maintenance Operator

[46:05] The Destruction Operator

[47:58] Evolution is the Only Thing That’s Happening

[49:29] Does Entropy Exist?

[50:26] Accurate Expectations

[51:25] Perfect Order is All That Exists

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

My Maharishi - Who Was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi?

11 juli 2021 | 20 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Continuing the occasional series of My Maharishi episodes, Thom gives us a few very brief highlights of a truly accomplished life.

Thom shares how Maharishi was larger than life in spite of his small and gracious appearance. He tells us how his title of “The Giggling Guru” contrasted with his ability to satisfy questions about the deepest and most serious aspects of life.

Thom describes how Maharishi embodied the teachings of his own teacher, Guru Dev, and how he became a guru himself.

He also shares how Maharishi first came to teach the meditation practice that we teach today, and why teachers of Vedic Meditation, before teaching a new student, always acknowledges our lineage of teachers that have come before us.

It’s a short but delightful episode that will give insight into the origins of what has become a worldwide phenomenon, the practice that is raising consciousness throughout the word.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Guru - Remover of Darkness

[02:32] Balletic Grace

[04:12] The Giggling Guru

[05:51] Learning by Osmosis

[07:25] A Body as an Agent of Evolutionary Change

[08:38] Big, Important and Urgent

[09:30] Rameswaram

[11:00] The Grace of Guru Dev

[12:19] Folded Hands Everywhere

[14:00] I Want to Replicate Myself

[15:24] Knowledge That Has Stood the Test of Time

[16:30] He Made Me

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Jealousy, Selfishness and Polyamory

4 juli 2021 | 38 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Our first Ask Thom Anything episode was such a hit that we’re making it a regular feature.

In this episode, Thom talks about how to respond to the jealousy of others when we’re following our own evolutionary path, including a delightful background story to how Guru Dev stubbornly followed his own evolutionary path at a very young age.

He also discusses the self-love trend and how to recognize the distinction between self-ish-ness and Self-ness.

Polyamory and monogamy are also addressed, with Thom taking the opportunity to outline the role of a ‘love alliance’ and shared mission in intimate relationships.

If you’d like to have Thom answer a question on the podcast, you can submit your questions here.

Episode Highlights:

[00:57] Q - How Do We Balance Following Our Own Charm With Jealousy That Might Arise In Others

[02:22] We Can’t Control the Experience of Others

[03:05] Jealousy Is…

[04:38] Envy Gone Horribly Wrong

[06:04] A Pathetic Consciousness State

[07:38] I Have to Go to the Himalayas

[08:59] Running Away From Home (At the Age of Six!)

[10:07] The Shankaracharya

[11:30] They Have to Trust That You Know What You Are Doing

[12:49] Occasional Frank Conversations

[14:09] What Are You Doing For Your Own Evolution?

[15:27] Growing Out of Social Relationships

[16:19] How Can We Know the Difference Between Self-love and Selfishness?

[17:26] Upper-Case S Self

[18:21] Lower-Case s self

[19:18] Self-ish-ness and Selfness

[20:34] Expanded Consciousness is the First Priority

[21:43] Giving Beyond Conscious Receptivity

[22:53] The Apparent Need for Reciprocity

[24:28] Overcompensating

[25:39] I Am the Fulfillment State Seeking the Need of the Time

[26:45] How Love Evolves

[27:39] Q - What’s the Vedic Worldview on Polyamory and Monogamy?

[28:10] A Love Alliance

[29:04] Shared Mission

[30:10] Differing Standards

[31:30] “Dating”

[32:38] A Field Full of Potential Confusion

[34:00] A Mere Relation-Ship

[34:55] Be Honest About It

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What is Evolution? And What is Our Role in Evolution?

27 juni 2021 | 14 min

God, Gods and Goddesses Part 3

20 juni 2021 | 46 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

In this episode Thom puts a fresh perspective on the phrase “Oh my God” and shows us how there is more to this term than meets the eye.

Having given us a solid foundation to the subject in Part 1 and Part 2, Thom uses this episode to set us up for our own personal experience.

He explains that while there are many commonalities of archetypes across cultures, each of us shapes our experiences of “god” based on our own personal model of the world.This even includes those that have the view that there is no such thing as a god or a deity.

Importantly, he explains that our own experience will be based on our own observations rather than requiring faith of any sort. It’s a paradigm that will provide relief for those who have struggled to make doctrines fit their experience.

In the final analysis, you get to choose your own adventure, and there’s no hurry to come to a conclusion one way or another.

Episode highlights:

[00:40] Experiencing the Celestial Layer

[02:15] Sleeping, Dreaming, Waking

[03:02] Turiya - The Fourth State

[05:10] Colorfast Consciousness

[06:43] Enlightenment Begins

[09:29] Archetypes of Experience Emerge

[11:32] God Consciousness

[13:39] See No Evil

[17:00] Observation Based vs Faith Based

[18:44] A World of Beings

[20:17] Normalizing Capability

[22:29] Grades of Experience

[23:57] Cultural Biases Constructing Deities

[25:33] Lakshmi and Saraswati

[27:37] Surya AKA Apollo

[29:30] Universal and Undeniable Archetypes

[31:10] Same Same But Different

[32:42] Unity Consciousness

[34:10] Sally From Kansas City

[35:04] Ishwara - Supreme Being

[36:03] Ishta Devata

[37:51] Your Call to Action

[38:33] That Dusty Old Podcast

[39:56] The Pinnacle of Human Development

[41:35] Choose Your Own Adventure

[43:11] What Kind of Universe Do You Want?

Useful Links:
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How Do I Choose A Meditation Teacher?

13 juni 2021 | 17 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to choosing a meditation technique, let alone a teacher to learn from. Many don’t choose a teacher at all, and go the do-it-yourself route, perhaps with the help of an app, or an audio or video found online.

While one can certainly receive some benefits from these approaches, Thom shares in this episode that the goal should be to get maximum impact from your meditations, rather than just ‘some’ impact.

Thom explains the value of using an ancient technique, one that’s been proven for thousands of years and used by millions around the world.

He also describes the rigorous process that aspiring Vedic Meditation teachers go through when learning from Thom. Apart from the thousands of hours of practical and learning experience gathered over a number of years, the trainee Initiator also has to prove they can meet and maintain the standard required by the Shankaracharya lineage that has passed down the technique over the years.

Thom’s teacher’s teacher, Guru Dev, once famously said, “You deserve the best…” (see above for the full quote), and if you follow the advice Thom shares in this episode, you can be sure that’s what you’ll be getting.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Getting Maximum Impact

[01:49] An Ancient Tradition

[03:27] Step Beyond Thinking Entirely

[04:57] Healthy Skepticism

[06:19] Mood Making and Pretty Thoughts

[07:21] Rigorous Prerequisites for Becoming a Vedic Meditation Teacher

[09:20] Intensive Training for Vedic Meditation Teachers

[10:29] Graduation as a Vedic Meditation Initiator

[12:03] Effort Well Spent

[13:17] The Promise of Self-Sufficiency

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Process is the Outcome

6 juni 2021 | 53 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We all know that goals are transient. They might bring us some short-term pleasure but the periods between the goals, the goals we actually get that is, are often peppered with consistent feelings of lack, frustration and disappointment.

Despite knowing this, we still live lives where we’re mostly striving for, and only occasionally arriving at, a state of fulfillment. It’s a hamster wheel that’s kept billions of us busy through countless lifetimes.

In this episode, Thom explains that we do this because we’ve got our achievement process backwards. He exposes the ‘fulfillment fallacy’ and gives us a practical method whereby fulfillment becomes an input into the process, rather than being a result of the process.

So if you’re ready to get off the hamster wheel, this episode is just what you need.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Did I Make a Difference?

[03:02] How Do You Get What (You Think) You Want?

[04:49] Creativity and Action

[06:51] Achievement… Then What?

[08:12] What is the Source of Thought?

[09:47] Thought Has Energy

[11:22] Thought Has Measurable Energy

[12:55] Thought Has Intelligence

[14:24] Consciousness Has Thought

[16:20] The Purpose of Thinking

[18:02] Self-Generating Charm Through Vedic Meditation

[19:36] Nothing Gets Better Than This

[21:06] Being - Complete Fulfillment

[22:38] AKA Samadhi

[24:39] How Desperate Are You?

[26:00] The Fulfillment Fallacy

[27:41] Collateral Damage

[29:02] What Needs to be Done?

[30:36] Let It Go

[31:55] An Evolutionary Agenda

[33:46] Exporting Fulfillment

[35:55] The Need of the Time

[38:36] Stirring the Warm Bath

[40:00] You Won’t Get Fulfillment From That

[41:41] Scaling New Heights

[42:56] Baseline Happiness First

[44:12] Stop Seeking It Where It is Not

[46:21] One Percent

[47:52] An Ingenious Thing

[49:36] Living the Outcome While Engaged in the Process

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
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https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
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Manifestation, Relationships, PTSD, Cancel Culture and Using Funk to Empower Yourself

30 maj 2021 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Thom tackles the “cancel culture” of today’s world, and empowers us to make ourselves useful if we find ourselves in a funk. He shows us how to let go of anxious attachment in relationships and puts PTSD in perspective, while giving us the tool to address it.

If you’d like to have Thom answer a question on the podcast, you can submit your questions here.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Q - Please Comment on Our Culture’s Obsession with Manifestation

[01:14] Charm - The Mechanism of Desire

[04:30] Cosmic Management

[06:52] Manifestation and Desire are Related and Simultaneous

[07:56] Q - How Do You Know When to Leave a Relationship?

[08:19] Surrendering Preferences

[10:22] Self-Sufficiency

[12:01] The Business of Creating Memories

[12:11] Q - What’s Thom’s Take on Cancel Culture?

[13:23] Our Source of Identity

[16:10] Do People Like Me?

[18:05] Lord Buddha Got 500 Likes

[19:40] Q - What Do You Do When You Wake Up in an Inexplicable Funk?

[20:11] Exposure to the Unboundedness

[21:46] Expanding Our Event Horizon

[23:10] It’s Not Personal

[24:16] What Do I Have to Teach Today?

[25:51] Exemplary Behavior

[28:26] Q - How Do I Heal Anxious Attachment in Relationships?

[29:14] A Big Bag of Fulfillment

[30:18] Let Go of the Neediness

[32:07] Be Relevant to the Need of the Times

[33:31] Don’t be Overgenerous

[34:36] Reciprocation and Sabotage

[36:25] Back to Self-Sufficiency

[38:00] Q - Does Vedic Meditation Alleviate PTSD?

[38:15] Trauma is Ill-Defined

[41:00] Trauma - Inaccurate Expectations

[42:32] Vedic Meditation, Deep Rest, and Adaptation Energy

[45:14] Reaction and Recovery

Useful Links:
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Is Vedic Meditation Religious?

23 maj 2021 | 10 min

How Enemies Are Created

16 maj 2021 | 50 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

While most of us like to think of ourselves as ‘likeable’, we don’t always see others in the same way. Though we may have many similarities, our differences often stand in the way of having an amicable relationship.

When our differences are too extreme, then feelings of enmity can evolve and, even without trying we can have an ‘enemy’ on our hands. This doesn’t necessarily mean we are at war with them, just noticing our differences enough to put a barrier between us.

There is an alternative. One where we follow our natural human tendency to want to relate and simply do away with enmity altogether.

Our Vedic Meditation practice helps us with this as it takes us to our ultimate form of sameness, the Unified Field, where there is no difference to be found.

Listen in or read the transcript below and become part of the solution.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] The Easiest Thing on Earth

[01:35] Ignoring the Laws of Quantum Mechanics

[02:38] The Beginning of Difference

[03:38] “Out There”

[04:40] “I Wouldn’t Behave That Way”
[06:02] Enemies as Part of Our Storyline

[07:09] Enemies Match Our Expectations

[08:21] You Can’t Kill an Enemy

[09:37] You Can’t Even Vaporize Them

[11:10] Uncreating of Enmity

[12:25] A Grumpy Bus Conductor

[13:50] Spreaders of Happiness

[15:09] A Ripple Effect

[16:22] Reunification

[17:28] Relatability is the Enemy of Enmity

[18:44] It’s Natural to Want to Relate

[19:53] Interested in Sameness

[21:29] Unifying Access to Knowledge

[22:21] Sibling Rivalry Has Always Been a Thing

[23:08] A Better, Transcendental Parental Model

[24:21] The Weapon of Speech

[25:20] Arranging Truths to Awaken Shared Experience

[26:18] We Cannot Afford a Third World War

[27:12] Green Forests Have Green Trees

[28:15] 1% Critical Mass of Meditators

[29:51] A Turning Point

[31:06] Prepare in the Darkness to Celebrate the Dawn

[33:01] We Need to Step Into Our Power of Wisdom

[34:00] People Behaving Desperately

[35:03] The Behaviour of Happy People

[36:29] Playing the Role of the Offended One

[37:59] Utter Indifference to Negativity

[38:46] I Accept Your Consciousness State

[40:01] This is What Goes On

[40:58] Dogs Bark, Elephants Walk

[42:24] Elephantine Consciousness

[43:32] Cosmic Consciousness and the Cascades of Cause and Effect

[44:40] Royal Invincible Grace

[46:16] Making Enmity Redundant

Useful Links:
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God, Gods and Goddesses Part 2

9 maj 2021 | 46 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

As you might expect, Thom is never short of a few words to say on the subject of God, gods and goddesses. He held a ten-day retreat on the subject several years ago and, more recently, published Part One of a three-part podcast series on the subject. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, we invite you to start there as it lays the foundation for this episode, Part Two of the series.

In this episode Thom explores the seven states of consciousness and how they impact our experience and perception of God, gods and goddesses. He explains how shared experience evolves through the different levels, culminating in the ultimate shared experience of all, Unity Consciousness.

Thom reminds us that our experience of God is a personal experience having nothing to do with faith or belief and everything to do with our perception.

As with Part One, you’ll probably want to listen to this several times over to really let the message sink in.

Episode Highlights:

[00:54] Your Experience is Your Own Consciousness State

[02:01] Celestial Layers of Creation

[03:31] Seeing the World in Animate Terms

[05:38] Sleep State of Consciousness

[06:29] Dreaming State of Consciousness

[07:42] The Advantage of Paralysis While Dreaming

[08:50] Nil Shared Experience

[10:29] Waking State of Consciousness

[12:17] Relative States of Consciousness

[13:37] Deprivation of Consciousness

[14:56] Sleep Deprivation

[16:57] Sleep Training

[19:27] Turiya - The Fourth State of Consciousness

[21:01] The Absolute

[22:19] Samadhi

[23:17] A Decrease in Suffering

[24:59] Nitya Samadhi

[26:34] AKA Cosmic Consciousness (26:34)

[27:36] God Consciousness, Unity Consciousness

[29:26] Ishwara – Supreme Being Personalized

[29:45] There is Only One Thing

[31:50] Different Worlds From Different Consciousness States

[33:28] No-thing-ness

[35:37] What is the Action?

[36:13] Creation, Maintenance, and Destruction

[37:43] Knowledge of the Laws of Nature

[38:38] A Mindless Wild Goose Chase

[39:43] Awakening a Field of Bliss

[40:35] Subjective Means of Gaining Knowledge

[42:11] Knowledge of the Knower

Useful Links:
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Goal Setting and the Vedic World View

2 maj 2021 | 10 min

What Is Rounding?

25 april 2021 | 15 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Outside of India, the word yoga has come to mean various forms of dynamic exercises that test your flexibility and strength. Yoga is in fact much more than just these physical exercises, which are more correctly referred to as asanas.

And believe it or not, asanas weren’t created to make us look good in lycra! Asanas were first created to help prepare the body for meditation and union with the Absolute.

In this episode, Thom explains how asanas, pranayama and Vedic Meditation are used in combination, also called ‘rounding,’ to give us ‘industrial-strength meditation’ and to accelerate the benefits we get from ‘standard’ meditation.

He talks about the importance of proper instruction and supervision so we can truly let go and, if necessary, have the support we need if deep stresses are released.

If you haven’t already, talk to your local Vedic Meditation Initiator about learning rounding and attending a rounding retreat so you can enjoy some industrial-strength meditation yourself. And if you are fortunate enough to be able to travel to Sedona, Arizona, sign up to our mailing list so you can be among the first to know when Thom holds his next rounding retreat there.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Asana, Pranayama, Vedic Meditation
[02:01] Releasing Stress
[03:30] Proper Instruction Needed
[04:15] Round and Round and Round
[05:35] Industrial-Strength Meditation
[07:12] In the Same Room
[08:11] Don’t Try This at Home
[09:32] Heightened Consciousness States
[10:40] The Going Home Program

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
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https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

My Maharishi - Moonlight on the River

18 april 2021 | 13 min

What Is Karma?

11 april 2021 | 19 min

God, Gods and Goddesses - Part 1

4 april 2021 | 54 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Does God exist? It’s a question that’s puzzled humankind for millenia and the answer, from the Vedic worldview, is sure to both surprise and delight you, even if you are a hardened atheist.

This is not your standard philosophical debate on the idea of God, gods and goddesses but a matter-of-fact exploration that will liberate you from any dogma surrounding the subject or any social indoctrinations that might be limiting your perception.

Most importantly, you’ll discover that experience trumps faith or belief when it comes to having a definitive answer to the question.

And if you need to listen to this episode two or three times to ‘get it’ that’s okay. In fact, as with all of Thom’s podcast episodes, we recommend it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] God is a Self-Referral Phenomenon

[02:31] Layers of Thinking

[03:57] Who Are You?

[05:15] How Do You Know?

[06:33] Creating A Model of the World

[08:08] The Unknown Becoming Known

[09:24] Everything That’s ‘Out There’ is In Here

[10:35] Agreeing With the Atheists

[11:47] Something Greater Than One’s Own Individuality

[13:36] Consciousness is Independent of the Brain

[15:55] Everything is in the Eye of the Beholder

[17:49] I Love You

[19:47] And I Thought You Loved Me Too

[20:32] Transcendental Being - The Only True Shared Experience

[22:08] God, Gods and Goddesses

[23:00] Removing Distorted Memories of Past Experiences

[24:07] Fight or Flight

[25:30] Premature Cognitive Commitments

[27:31] Distorted Memories in Action

[28:53] Less Stress, Improved Perception

[31:13] The Soma Flows and Perception Grows

[33:17] I See and I Smell

[35:00] A Celestial World Reveals Itself

[37:24] Seeing Gods and Goddesses

[39:30] The World Is For Us As We Can Be For It

[40:57] Your Local Neighborhood God

[42:57] Does God Exist?

[44:07] What is Supreme For You?

[45:39] Albert Einstein and the Universe Are One

[47:32] Established in Being...

[49:12] Recognizing God (Without Faith)

[50:35] Trust in Your Own Personal Experience

Useful Links:
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An Upanishad Story - The Yogi and the Man in the Pond

28 mars 2021 | 19 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Apart from the Veda, one of the many gifts of ancient wisdom from India is the Upanishads. The Upanishads consist of several short parables that give us insight into how we can behave in ways that support our personal and collective evolution.

In this podcast episode, Thom shares the story of a man in a lake who, while immersed in more water than he’d need in a lifetime, remained thirsty. This is a story we all have a need to hear as we all have our own ‘thirst stories’ that are running our lives.

It’s a short yet profound tale that we can use to remind ourselves when we’re making things harder than they need to be.

Enjoy.

Episode Highlights:
[00:00] Upanishad - Sitting at the Feet of…
[02:28] Once Upon a Time There Was a Yogi
[04:08] Who Came Upon an Unusual Sight
[04:57] And Offered Some Help
[06:15] But His Offer Was Rejected
[07:21] Looking Outwards for Sources of Happiness
[08:50] Relief From the Mercy of the Object World
[10:39] An Effortless Mantra - A Vehicle for the Mind
[12:02] Finding What the Mind is Looking For
[13:01] Becoming an Exporter of Happiness
[14:34] Established in Being, Perform Action

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
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What is Stress and How Can You Control It?

21 mars 2021 | 23 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Stress is very much misunderstood. Most people think of stress as something that happens ‘to us,’ that our stress is caused by outside situations or stressful circumstances, but this is not the case. We know this because we can all react differently to the same situation. What makes you stressed might cause no reaction at all in someone else, thus demonstrating that it’s ‘the victim’ that is the source of the stress rather than the circumstances.

In this episode, you’ll learn that not all stress is bad, how and why we have different reactions, how the body reacts when we are stressed, and the link between stress and premature aging.

More importantly, Thom shares the good news about the simple technique of Vedic Meditation and how you can not just manage inbound stress but you can even release accumulated stress in the body, easy and effectively.

Episode Highlights:

[00:44] The Father of Stress

[01:39] General Adaptation Syndrome

[03:18] Fight or Flight

[05:08] There Are No Such Things As Stressful Situations

[06:13] You Have to Change Now

[07:36] It’s Not All Bad

[08:28] Cool Hands. Cool Car

[10:05] Eustress vs Distress

[11:17] A Hearty Effort

[12:21] A Bad Taste

[13:24] System Failure

[14:30] Attack Mode

[15:50] A Heavy Weight to Carry

[16:38] Seeing Red

[18:19] 100,000 Premature Cognitive Commitments

[19:23] Growing Old Before Your Time

[20:08] Eliminate Stress Through Vedic Meditation

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

What is Reincarnation? The Vedic Perspective

14 mars 2021 | 50 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

The subject of reincarnation arouses a lot of curiosity and debate. Those who ‘believe’ in reincarnation seek to understand the mechanisms behind it, and those who don’t, look for ‘proof’ before they consider it a possibility. In this episode, Thom explains the Vedic worldview on reincarnation, putting forward a case to satisfy both the believers and the ‘scienticians.’

He explains that the process of reincarnation doesn't just happen between lifetimes, but that it happens countless times within each lifetime.

He challenges the notion that reincarnation must be proven and measurable, while at the same time offering sufficient proof to even make the most hard-nosed skeptics think deeper on the subject.

He explores the process of enlightenment and describes the impact of ‘punya,’ your cosmic credit rating, on the choices available to you when the time comes to reincarnate.

Importantly, he also reminds us that the belief of Vedic wisdom is an optional philosophy when it comes to one’s practice of Vedic Meditation. Vedic Meditation can be practiced with great effect regardless of one’s philosophical or even religious beliefs.

No matter what your current beliefs are, this is one episode you’ll want to listen to again, and again, and again... :-)

Episode Highlights:

[00:46 ] Belief in Reincarnation is Optional

[02:11] Reincarnation is For the Ignorant

[04:25] What is Reincarnation?

[06:16] Heaven on Earth

[08:34] Maya Koshas and the In-Between State

[10:38] Immeasurable Love and The Scienticians

[12:27] Unheard Of! Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony

[14:39] The Body of the Senses

[15:45] Brain Dead

[16:36] Near-Death Experiences

[18:06] A Reflective State

[19:15] The World is a Model of Your Consciousness State

[20:58] Kitten Consciousness

[22:33] The Brain that Changes Itself

[23:59] The Body is a Reflective State

[25:42] Your World of Assumptions

[27:18] The Field of Being

[28:57] The Vedic Meditator’s Advantage

[30:32] Enlightenment - Cosmic Consciousness

[31:26] Consciousness Seeks Birth

[33:00] Punya - The Cosmic Credit Rating

[34:22] The Quickening

[36:13] Science-Based Reincarnation

[37:46] Consciousness Surviving Body Death

[39:46] The Constant Reality of Reincarnation

[41:16] A Highly-Populated World

[42:22] The Attraction of Wisdom

[43:54] Optional Philosophy

[44:32] E = MC2 - Whether You Are Jewish or Not

[46:02] A Brilliant Toaster

[46:38] Keep on Meditating

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

Extra Resources:
Consciousness Beyond Life: The Science of the Near-Death Experience - Pim van Lommel, MD
https://www.amazon.com/Consciousness-Beyond-Life-Near-Death-Experience/
Life After Death: The Burden of Proof - Deepak Chopra https://www.amazon.com/Life-After-Death-Answers-Paperback/
The Brain That Changes Itself - Norman Doige
https://www.amazon.com/Brain-That-Changes-Itself-Frontiers/

Death is Not Real

1 mars 2021 | 69 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

As Vedic meditators we regularly experience evidence of being more than just a physical body. We can use this to our benefit when it comes to tackling the subject of death, or even tackling death itself; our own or the death of a loved one.

In our twice-daily practice of Vedic Meditation, the connection we experience in The Absolute, the Unified Field of Consciousness, reminds us that we are consciousness having a human experience rather than just a human body experiencing consciousness and thinking. It’s an important paradigm shift that can transform our view of the world

In this podcast, Thom explains in great detail why “death” is unreal and how we can eliminate the fear of death, through knowledge, experience and practice.

He explains the function of love, the structure of our ‘bodies’ (the physical body is just one of many we have), enlightenment and more.

This is a masterclass in life and death that you will want to return to again and again.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] The Mysteries of Life and Death

[01:58] The Meaning of Death

[03:05] Maya - Keeping Up Appearances

[04:47] Nirvana - Liberation

[06:31] Same, Same. But Different.

[08:20] True Love

[09:52] Unification Through Diversity

[11:04] Consciousness Embodied

[12:58] The Unified Field of Consciousness

[15:42] The Transcendent

[17:22] Ritam Bhara Pragya

[18:44] Life, the Universe and Everything

[20:13] The Death Sequence

[22:04] The Purpose of Life

[23:16] Who Are You?

[24:33] Our Shared Agenda

[25:56] What Does This All Mean?

[27:11] Defying Entropy

[28:54] Transcendence is the Answer

[30:37] The Bliss of Being

[32:04] Ou Absolute Baseline

[33:47] More Than Meets The I

[35:13] Enlightenment

[35:55] Not a Body-Dependent Phenomenon

[37:40] A Succession of Nervous Systems

[40:02] Unity Consciousness

[41:57] Compassion - Understanding Through Direct Experience

[40:03] The New Status Quo

[44:39] Dropping the Body

[45:02] Letting Go of Grief

[47:32] Maya Koshas

[49:09] Ananda Maya Kosha

[50:15] Hridaya Maya Kosha

[51:20] A Lifeless Body

[52:56] Continuation of Experience

[54:35] Ignorance Isn’t Bliss

[55:57] Loving More Than a Body

[58:38] Feeling Left Out

[01:00:02] Longevity is Fatal

[01:01:28] Heaven on Earth

[01:02:50] Knowledge Eliminates Fear

[01:04:04] The End of the Human Body

[01:05:00] Make Hay While the Sun Shines

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
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What Is Dharma?

15 februari 2021 | 13 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Dharma, like many other Sanskrit words and phrases, is not well understood by many with an interest in Vedic wisdom. It is often simplified to such an extent that it loses its true meaning.

‘Purpose’ is perhaps the most common misinterpretation of the word dharma. Many try to narrow their dharma down to a specific mission or purpose that they hope becomes a legacy for which they will be remembered.

But dharma is much more interesting, more exciting even, than a singular mission or role in life. In a constantly-changing ever-evolving universe, our dharma changes year by year, day by day, minute by minute.

So rather than defining our life, our dharma defines our moments.

In this episode Thom explains, as elegantly as always, that our dharma is to be vigilant, to become attuned to the need of the times and be an agent for progressive change. It requires us to surrender to our role in the evolution of things.

And the key to living our dharma? Let’s just say our twice daily practice of daily Vedic Meditation gives us a distinct advantage.

Episode Highlights:

[00:43] Dharma – Your Role in the Evolution of Things

[02:00] Complex, Sophisticated and Elegant

[03:48] A Constantly-Evolving Bio-Friendly Universe

[06:12] What is Your Role in Evolution?

[06:49] The Bliss of Being

[07:52] Your Dharma—An Agent of Progressive Change

[09:28] Mistaken Identity

[10:14] Perfectly Available at Every Given Moment

Useful Links:
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https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

Creation, Maintenance and Destruction - The Qualities of the Evolutionary Process

1 februari 2021 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Everything is always evolving thus, by definition, everything is always changing. Yet many of us resist change. We prefer the comfort of the status quo and get distressed when things meet their natural end.

The Vedic worldview however, recognizes all aspects of the evolutionary process, creation, maintenance and destruction, not reluctantly, but with reverence. So much so that each aspect is assigned its own deity, Brahma for creation, Vishnu for maintenance, and Shiva for destruction.

Understanding the role of all three, and the interdependence of all three, is essential to living a carefree, yet practical and evolutionary life.

In this episode Thom-ji ‘opens the discussion’ on creation, maintenance and destruction. He guides us to choose which one we might be an agent for, without prejudicing the work of the others.

This is fundamental Vedic wisdom that most modern schools of thought approach with resignation rather than embracing with the respect it deserves. Listen in or read the transcript below to get clues on how you can live a life well led.

Episode Highlights:

[00:42] The Qualities of the Evolutionary Process

[02:55] Brahma - The Creation Operator

[06:58] Vishnu - The Maintenance Operator

[10.00] Shiva - The Destruction Operator

[12:32] Change is Inevitable, Resistance is Futile

[15:42] Vedic Meditation - The Gateway to Adaptability

[21:30] Faulty Perception + Inaccurate Expectations = Suffering

[25:30] Becoming an Agent For the Creation Operator

[29:10] No Problem

[30:12] Unblocking the Brain

[32:22] Embrace the Unknown With Enthusiasm

[35:51] A Carefree Approach

[39:07] Choose Your Path

[41:45] Practicing Ignorance

[43:35] A Life Well Led

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

What Is Freedom?

18 januari 2021 | 58 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

All of us aspire to attain freedom in one form or another, but for most of us, we craft our idea of freedom based on an expected set of circumstances - time, money, power, environment, relationships, and more.

The trouble with this approach is that circumstances are subject to change and inevitably lead to disappointment. Freedom through acquisition of circumstances can never truly deliver on its promise, at least not in any sustainable way.

In this episode, Thom sets you free from this paradigm and shows you that freedom is truly an "inside job." You already have everything you need to experience freedom in its purest form.

Beneath all our layers of unrealistic expectations is a sense of freedom that cannot be given to us, nor can it be taken away. It's our job to learn how to uncover the freedom that lies deep within all of us.

Episode Highlights:

[00:34] Freedom. Nirvana. Liberation.

[01:59] Nature's Way

[04:21] True Freedom

[07:41] Mistaken Identity

[10:11] Fear-Based Administration

[14:59] Self Realization Inspires True Freedom

[17:17] Spontaneous Right Action

[20:15] A Matter of Practice - Vedic Meditation

[23:07] Three Fields of Life

[26:39] The Mantra - A Mental Vehicle to Effortless Being

[31:55] Liberation From Outcome-Oriented Awareness

[34:35] Meeting the Need of the Time

[38:25] You Can’t Import Happiness

[42:01] Regular Experience Makes the Difference

[43:33] Established in Being, Perform Action

[45:29] Dye Hard - How to Stop Happiness From Fading Away

[53:16] Cosmic Consciousness - All-Inclusive Awareness

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

The Crisis of Governance and Your Role in Its Resolution

4 januari 2021 | 52 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

We hear a lot about the problems of governance, whether it be government at the highest level, or the administrators of smaller bodies in society, schools, businesses, etc.

In this episode, Thom explains that the crisis of governance is not with ‘the government’ or whatever other body is ‘in charge’, but rather with our view that ‘they’ are the problem, and that there is little or nothing ‘we’ can do about it.

The Vedic worldview is that everything is structured in consciousness, including governments, and the only way to effect change is to effect consciousness.

Thom shares that governments reflect the consciousness of the people, even in a dictatorship, and so our own role is to take responsibility for our own consciousness, and to be an example, an exemplar, for others to do the same. This is the only way in which governance can improve and the crisis can be resolved.

Of course, Vedic Meditation, being the most efficient means to bring about a change in consciousness, has a role to play in this process.

Here are some highlights from the episode, which you can listen to via the player, or read via the transcript, below.

Episode Highlights:

[01:58] A Reflection of the Average State of Consciousness

[04:00] The Crisis of Identity - Self and ‘Other’

[07:57] Self Sufficiency Is the Seed of Revolution

[15:11] Dependence of the Individual Leads to Dependence On Government

[17:38] Spreading Self Sufficiency By Example

[21:01] The Ideal Individual Is the Basis of Ideal Government

[21:41] Vedic Meditation Produces Ideal Individuals

[27:06] The Spreader Effect - 1% of the Population Leading the Way Through Vedic Meditation

[29:59] Individual Peace is the Basis of World Peace

[33:14] Social Change is Not Going to Come From the Top Down

[36:14] The First Science - The Science of Self Discovery

[40.32] Challenge Your Assumptions About What is Possible

[43:28] Self Realization + Action = Self Actualization

[48:29] All Suffering is Based on Inaccurate Expectations

Jai Guru Deva.

Useful Links:
[email protected]
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

Truth - That Which Never Changes

18 juli 2020 | 45 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Thom Knoles discusses Truth as that which does not change, how it can be detected in all fields of life, and how, by allowing change to form our sense of identity, we succumb to suggestibility. Vedic Meditation takes our awareness from the field of ever-change into an experience of that which is beyond change, and reveals to us the truth of our own identity, as an implicit statement of pure knowingness.

Episode Highlights:

[00:56] Truth is That Which Never Changes

[02:36] Non-Change is Not Possible in the Relative World

[05:28] Who is the ‘I’?

[07:39] Evolution is a Truth

[10:52] Catastrophe is Relative

[13:10] Expanding Our Repertoire

[15:32] Knowledge is Always for Action

[17:24] Are We Alone?

[20:47] Between the Changing and Never Changing

[22:53] Vedic Meditation as a Path to Being

[24:28] The Splitting of Truths

[28:42] Sat-chit-ananda - Absolute, Consciousness, Bliss

[28:58] Change is Exhausting

[37:12] Transcending The Relative Provides Relief

[41:41] Accessing the Self Through Vedic Meditation

[43:39] There is No ‘Other’

Useful Links:

[email protected]

thomknoles.com/podcast/

Thom on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/

Thom on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles/

Thom on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/thom-knoles-a3a90a1a3/

Fear and Fearlessness - The Pinnacle of the Development of Human Consciousness

5 maj 2020 | 48 min

Self-Reliance And The Few Who Lead the Many

25 mars 2020 | 43 min

The Relevance of Yoga Today with Eddie Stern

5 mars 2020 | 75 min

State of Consciousness and Social Change

25 december 2019 | 49 min

A quick update that early registration is now open for Thom's upcoming annual retreat in Sedona, Arizona, this Memorial Day weekend from May 22nd to 26.

This is Thom's first retreat in the United States since the epic Maha Kumbha Mela held earlier this year in Prayagraj, India, so Thom has many fascinating new stories to share. The Sedona Rounding Retreat is also your opportunity to gift yourself profound rest and industrial-strength meditation through the daily rounding program.

This is your chance to transcend uncertainty in the ever-changing world and celebrate spring surrounded by nature, supported by community, and immersed in wisdom with Thom. Early registration discounts expire on March 17th, and you can find out more at thomknoles.com/sedona.

Jai Guru Deva.

Thom Knoles discusses the social relevance of expanded awareness, how consciousness alone dictates behavior, and the mechanics of the spreader effect: how having merely 1% of the population practising Vedic Meditation is demonstrated to stimulate spontaneous right action in the broader, non-meditating community.

Episode Highlights:

[00:42] Behaviour and Consciousness

[03:52] Our Inability to Control Others

[07:15] What Are People Going to Think?

[09:28] Fear-Based Administration

[11:07] Backlash is Counterproductive

[14:15] Further Proof

[17:57] A Social Failure

[19:10] All-Inclusive Awareness - Cosmic Consciousness

[25:22] Meeting the Greatest Need of the Time

[27:41] Violating the Laws of Nature

[31:03] Greater Productivity Through Vedic Meditation

[34:48] Being the Inspiration for Change

[36:16] A Solution to People Problems

[39:05] The Maharishi Effect - A 1% Tipping Point

[42:50] Nature Requires Adaptive Behaviours

[46:54] Transition From an Age of Ignorance to an Age of Enlightenment

Useful Links: