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, EngageUseful 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/

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 EnjoyUseful 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/

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 FearUseful 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/

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 CharmUseful LinksThe Art of Following Charm Course - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/ 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/

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 EffectUseful 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/

Travelling with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi meant there was never a time for a dull moment.In this episode, Thom shares some adventures of a particular trip to Brazil, with an unexpected detour to Germany. With Maharishi, Thom soon learned that the unexpected was always to be expected. Maharishi wasn’t just a passionate teacher of following ‘charm,’ but he was also a 24/7 exponent of it, even at 3 am...Episode Highlights: [00:05] An Invitation From Rio for Maharishi[02:03] Drawing Restfulness Into the Working State[03:31] His Asana[04:16] Maharishi's Visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral[06:10] "I'm Always Enjoying Myself"[07:42] "We're Going to Germany"[09:29] Neem Stick: Maharishi's Toothbrush[10:53] A Financier of Maharishi's Needs[12:11] "She Will Run All of That"[14:07] His Magnetic Charisma[15:30] Maharishi's Unplanned Lecture At The Airport[17:02] One of the Best-Documented Lives Imaginable[19:39] Maharishi Isn't a Person, He's a Phenomenon[21:35] Maharishi's Great Skill 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/

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 WisdomUseful 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/

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 TimeUseful 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/

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 HinduismUseful 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/

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 stressUseful 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/