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Vedic Worldview

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Sep 4, 2022 • 37min

Upanishad - The King and the Swordsmith

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 WayUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Aug 28, 2022 • 21min

Is Vedic Meditation the Only Meditation Technique That Allows Transcendence?

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 Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Aug 21, 2022 • 18min

How to Get Out of a Rut

A rut, the ever-repeating known, can be a double-edged sword. While some find comfort in a rut, others feel restless.The restless are at a distinct advantage. Rather than waiting for the inevitable change that brings an end to the ever-repeating known, they opt for the role of change agent, and design their own path out of the rut, instead of having one designed for them.In this episode, Thom explains the simple formula for any change agent to follow to get out of a rut. Regular contact with the unbounded, followed by meaningful voluntary service in one form or another.Thom’s message is a call to arms for any agent of progressive change who is ready to report for duty. [00:45] Stop Ignoring the Obvious[03:12] Nivar Tatvam - Go Where You Are Not[04:36] Let the Mind be Easy[06:19] Step Back into the Relative[07:31] Colorfast Cloth[09:08] Alternating Back and Forth[10:19] Premature Contentedness - The Greatest Obstacle to Enlightenment[12:22] Seva - Service[14:42] Evolve Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Aug 18, 2022 • 15min

Come Sit with Me in Rishikesh - An Invitation to My 2023 India Retreat

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 Linkshttps://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/info@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Aug 14, 2022 • 48min

The Yugas and the Importance of Understanding Them Correctly

Dive into the fascinating world of Yugas, periods in Vedic texts that reveal more than just linear time. Explore how our understanding of consciousness shapes our perception of Veda. Unravel the chaos of Kali Yuga and its fleeting truths compared to the enduring wisdom of Satya Yuga. Discover the significance of sound and mantra in Vedic literature, and how these ancient concepts connect to modern human evolution. This enlightening discussion invites you to reflect on the depths of Vedic consciousness and its timeless relevance.
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Aug 7, 2022 • 49min

Parental Stress - From the Womb to the Grave

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 Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Jul 31, 2022 • 25min

My Maharishi in Nepal

Who do you call when you’re the King of Nepal and you want to teach 100,000 subjects how to meditate? Who else but Maharishi Mahesh Yogi?The year was 1974 and Thom Knoles was there. In this episode Thom shares details of the adventure, a demonstration of Maharishi’s can-do attitude to his mission in life, and his matter-of-fact approach to getting the job done.Episode Highlights: [00:45] What Did Maharishi Do?[03:16] Nepal — The Last Vedic Kingdom[04:26] Maharishi in Switzerland[05:45] A Summons From The King[07:31] The Raj Guru to The King of Nepal[09:31] Zurich to New Delhi to Kathmandu[11:35] An Audience of One Hundred Thousand[13:58] "Where was I?"[16:04] Equanimity[18:10] Nitya Samadhi[20:15] Readiness to Meet Any Demand[22:31] The Vedic University in NepalUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Jul 24, 2022 • 12min

How to Not Be Offended

“None taken.”We all know we have an element of choice when it comes to ‘taking offense,’ yet often that's not the choice we make. In this episode, Thom explains why that is, and what it takes to become impossible to offend.  Episode Highlights: [00:45] Q - How Can We Not Be Easily Offended By Others?[00:52] A - “I’ll be the offended one.”[02:33] Doubts About Our Own True Nature[04:23] Your Universal Status[06:34] "You are a bush."[08:04] Insecure Attachment[09:12] Impossible to be OffendedUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Jul 17, 2022 • 36min

Life Beyond Earth

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 UniverseUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/
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Jul 10, 2022 • 40min

Parental Readiness, Compliance with Nature, and Cosmic Consciousness

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

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