Vedic Worldview

Dive into the complexities of karma, where it’s more than just reward and punishment. Discover the differences between instant and delayed karma, and how our struggles can stem from karmic habits. The significance of meditation in untangling karmic knots is emphasized, along with the transformative power of 'rounding.' Explore the profound life of saint Ashtavakra, illustrating how adversity fuels enlightenment. Finally, consider how birth circumstances are intricately tied to karma and cosmic influences.

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 DevelopmentUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

This bonus episode is an invitation from Thom for Vedic meditators to join his new Satsang online community.Satsang is more than just an online community. It's your 24/7 home where you can transform Vedic knowledge into personal wisdom that you can use in your day-to-day life.For more details about Satsang, please visit https://thomknoles.com/community.And if you aren't a Vedic meditator yet, you can find out how you can learn via our International Vedic Meditation Teacher Directory - https://thomknoles.com/vedic-meditation-teacher-directory/Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/info@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/  

Discover the timeless wisdom embedded in ancient Vedic literature. The discussion highlights powerful epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, emphasizing their relevance today. The speaker shares insightful translations and contemporary works by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi that guide us towards a fulfilling life. Dive into the moral dilemmas faced by characters in the Bhagavad Gita as they navigate personal conflicts on the battlefield. Uncover the layers of meaning behind these stories and their spiritual significance.

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.orgIn 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 Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

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 VedaUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

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 NatureUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Oxford Dictionary defines luck as: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions, or, chance considered as a force that causes good or bad things to happen.Long-term listeners will straight away see that chance is incompatible with the Vedic worldview, hence luck isn’t likely to pass scrutiny either. So how then do we account for the fact that sometimes we seem lucky, or perhaps others seem lucky, and sometimes we don’t? In this episode Thom explains the Vedic perspective on luck and good fortune. The good news is, we have more control over it than most people think. Episode Highlights:[00:53] A Degree of Randomicity[02:52] Well-Deserved, Self-Created Good Fortune[05:09] There is Intelligence Involved[06:13] Unconscious Design of Unhappiness[08:04] Conscious Design of Happiness Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com  https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Discover the fascinating origins of Sanskrit, the language considered an ‘inspired’ reflection of Nature's intention. Explore its unique onomatopoeic qualities and how sound interacts with consciousness. Learn about the custodians who have preserved its integrity over centuries. Understand how one can benefit from Sanskrit's meaning without fully grasping it intellectually. Delve into the concept of sound as a medium for experiencing the unified field, revealing the beauty and depth of this ancient language.

Tantra isn't just about sexuality; it's a dynamic art of brinkmanship that stretches the mind. The conversation reveals how embracing tantric awareness can enhance personal development and creativity. Boundaries aren't limits; they're rich grounds for growth and discovery. Using helium's transition from gas to superfluid as a metaphor, they explore how Tantra represents deeper consciousness and cultivates profound experiences in meditation. This journey helps redefine our understanding of existence and transformation.