Wisdom of the Sages

“There are more fake gurus and false teachers in this world than the number of stars in the visible universe.” In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the subtle difference between a true spiritual guide and a manipulative pretender. Drawing from Elif Shafak’s The Forty Rules of Love and Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura’s insights on the Putana story from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, they unpack how pseudo-gurus present themselves as nourishing but actually poison the soul. Topics Include: – The guru as a transparent medium for divine light – Signs of manipulation vs. signs of true guidance – The ancient symbolism of Putana and how it applies today – Why charisma isn’t a qualification for spiritual leadership Spirituality calls for an open heart — but not blind trust. Discernment is essential on the path. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

When everything you cling to — your children, your partner, your dreams — slips through your fingers, what are you left with? Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into George Harrison’s All Things Must Pass, the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, and their own stories to explore why loneliness and loss may hold the key to our deepest connection. From Beatles breakups and bittersweet summers to cowherd wisdom and comic book collectibles, they reflect on how impermanence — revealed by time and destiny — can feel devastating but is actually a sacred opportunity to turn within. 🎧 Listen now and join thousands worldwide on the path of Bhakti. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

The cosmos whispers a message: when life revolves around a center, harmony follows. When it doesn’t, we feel the dissonance. But are we listening? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how the universe models harmony for us — through stars, through music, through the very structure of nature — showing that life works best when it revolves around a center. They discuss the tonal center of a musical composition — that gravitational point every musician tunes to — and how even one out‑of‑tune string creates unease. Is the dissonance we feel simply because we’ve lost touch with our center? Far from limiting us, the center frees us — enabling us to improvise beautifully within harmony. And then comes the Śrīmad‑Bhāgavatam’s stunning vision of the spiritual realm: a divine world where every soul revolves joyfully around its center, creating perfect bliss. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

Why do we resist turning inward — and what does it cost us? In this spirited episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha confront the uncomfortable truth: that we each have a choice to make — either we discover our true self, or we don’t. And if we don’t, we risk living an empty life and perpetuating cycles of conflict and injustice. Drawing from the words of Henry David Thoreau, the insights of Black Elk, and the timeless teachings of Bhakti Yoga, they unpack how society’s “conveyor belt” keeps us distracted, how desires and fears cloud our inner vision, and how real healing and real justice can only begin with the soul. They also explore the yogic science of purification: how austerity purifies the senses, charity purifies material possessions, and satisfaction purifies the mind — and how these practices open the door to inner peace that transforms not just ourselves but the world around us. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

Kahlil Gibran meets the Bhakti Yoga tradition in this sharp and spirited episode of Wisdom of the Sages. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how real spiritual practice is carried from the temple into every corner of your life — where daily routines, relationships, and even messy moments become sacred offerings. From Saratoga’s healing springs to Krishna’s father giving away two million cows, this episode uncovers the deeper meaning of ritual, how devotion purifies the mind, and how love transforms the way we see the world. Highlights include: * Khalil Gibran’s line: “Your daily life is your temple and your religion. Whenever you enter into it take with you your all.” * Why ritual without heart is just empty choreography. * How devotion purifies the mind like the body’s organs purify the blood. * The joy of seeing Krishna — and sacredness — in everyone and everything. ✨ Subscribe and join thousands discovering how to live a sacred life, wherever you are. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

In this wildly entertaining episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha return from their whirlwind retreat and European adventure to tackle what really brings happiness and success—and why chasing them is a losing game. With a healthy dose of humor and wisdom (and a few “squirrel-level-three” tangents), they explore Victor Frankl’s profound insight: that fulfillment comes not by pursuing it directly, but by dedicating yourself to something higher. From “getting chieft” in Italy to a Krishna miracle in Bosnia to the cows, sages, and values that uphold a spiritual civilization, this episode is packed with laughs, life lessons, and even some Tony Robbins shoutouts. Key Highlights: * Why even demons need a pep talk sometimes (and what we can learn from it). * The rip current of bhakti—and how it sweeps unsuspecting spouses & teenagers into the ocean of devotion. * Scrooge McDuck, hardcore kids, and the real meaning of success. * How cows, Brahmins, and good values quietly keep the world sane. * Why Prabhupāda’s devotees were “really hard to snap” (and what that says about true conviction). * “Squirrels Without Borders”—the new foundation no one asked for but everyone needs. 👉 Subscribe & join thousands on the journey of bhakti, where the squirrels are free and the wisdom is deep. 🎧 Listen now & laugh your way to enlightenment. #BhaktiYoga #VictorFrankl #SpiritualValues #WisdomOfTheSages #SquirrelsWithoutBorders ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

Paul Simon’s bittersweet lyrics set the stage for this raw and funny exploration of why even life-changing insights often slip through our fingers. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the slippery nature of spiritual determination — and how each of us can make the simple but bold choice to live a meaningful life before the clock runs out. This episode blends music, humor, and timeless wisdom from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Highlights include: •⁠  ⁠What Paul Simon teaches us about missing our moment •⁠  ⁠How Kamsa fell back into old ways after glimpsing wisdom — and why we do too •⁠  ⁠Why meaning matters more than magnitude in what we do •⁠  ⁠The elements of a Vishnu-centered society — and the surprising roles of cows and brahmanas Don’t let your breakthroughs slip away — tune in now! SB 10.4.28-41 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

The most obvious and pervasive realities are often the hardest to see. Like fish who don’t realize they’re swimming in water, we move through samsara — the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth — unaware of the forces shaping us. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the illusion that my experience is the most real, vivid, and important, and explore how yoga wisdom teaches us to zoom out, recognize our connection to the whole, and break free from self-centered existence. Drawing on David Foster Wallace’s “default setting,” the story of the fish and the water, and King Yudhiṣṭhira’s profound greeting in the Mahābhārata, they reveal how to stop reacting to immediate causes — and start seeing the supreme cause behind everything. Highlights: •⁠  ⁠Why samsara — and its lessons — often go unseen •⁠  ⁠The illusion of separateness and self-importance •⁠  ⁠How to greet others in the spirit of liberation •⁠  ⁠How a rock star’s madness reveals the trap of ego •⁠  ⁠Why we stay busy counteracting symptoms while ignoring the cause Subscribe and join thousands on the path from illusion to liberation. SB 10.4.26-27 ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

When Karma Meets Dharma: Contradictions of Destiny and Duty Do the choices you made in your past life shape the family, friends, and circumstances you’re born into? And how do bhakti-yogis navigate a path of dharma that sometimes seems to contradict itself — demanding sacrifice, mercy, or even revenge — all in the name of love? In this live Q&A from Tuscany, Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle two profound questions: how to take radical responsibility (karma) and how to recognize the right course of action when dharma appears to point in conflicting directions. From choosing your parents before birth to uncovering the love hidden in even the toughest moral dilemmas, this conversation reveals how karma and dharma lead us toward spiritual growth — if we trust the divine plan. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108

When the Grim Reaper shows up wearing a peacock feather and playing a flute, you know it’s time to rethink your priorities. This episode of Wisdom of the Sages dives into the 10th Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, where Time itself — in the form of Krishna — comes calling, leaving tyrants like Kamsa in panic. Live from Italy, Raghunath explores how fear, loss, and even death can awaken us to life’s deeper purpose, with a mix of timeless wisdom, vivid storytelling, and plenty of laughs. 🎙️ Highlights include: * Kamsa: the world’s most obsessed (and doomed) Krishna fanboy * How to survive stabbing, hailstorms, and heartbreak with grace * Mother Nature’s trident and what it’s really teaching you * Why nobody needs you — and that’s good news * Why vacations don’t fulfill you — but mantra does * How Krishna “calls off the falcon” of karma when you surrender Tune in and discover how even fear can become a doorway to freedom when you see through the illusion. ********************************************************************* LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108