
Wisdom of the Sages
Truths about life from the timeless wisdom of the Bhakti-yoga tradition - fun, relevant, and deep. Learn about dharma, yoga, bhakti, and how it relates to all the basic questions of life. This show is about how to live your best life, let go of the external distractions, and uncover the spiritual happiness that lies within the heart as the true nature of the soul.
Raghunath and Kaustubha's connection goes back to their teens in the New York Hardcore Punk Scene of the early 80s, through serving together as Bhakti-yogi monks in the 90's, to sharing their experiences in the world of yoga in the 21st century.
Latest episodes

Jun 15, 2024 • 59min
1343: Q & A Volume 229

Jun 13, 2024 • 57min
1342: The Divine Person Behind the Spiritual Energy
Inferring the Divine string holding everything together / 3 levels of the absolute truth / Krishna is the most attentive friend / Krishna’s not our stepping stone / We are individual, eternal sparks of the divine / Sacrifice means understanding we are not the center / Krishna is the unconditional love we’re looking for SB 7.10.48-49

Jun 10, 2024 • 1h
1341: The 4 Questions – An Interview with Author, Vaisesika Dasa
the ability to ask a question of great consequence is a power laying dormant within us / ask the BIG questions / in order to receive rewarding answers, what is important for the questioner? / marrying our purpose / enjoyment, renunciation or dedication? / what is the lesson? - an aphorism to shift from negative to positive thinking / our power is always in the present moment / full attention

Jun 9, 2024 • 53min
1340: Q&A Volume 228
How can we transcend karma? / How should someone on a spiritual path react when todl they are being passive aggressive? / Why does Krishan appeal to Arjuna on a materialistic level in the Bhagavad-gita?

Jun 8, 2024 • 1h 5min
1339: What is a Guru? – An Interview with Brighupada Das
Bhrigupad Das (Mans Broo) is a lecturer in Religious Studies at Abo Akademi University. He gained his PhD in 2003 with a thesis on the guru in Gaudiya Vaishnavism.

Jun 7, 2024 • 59min
1338: How Yogis Develop Spiritual Bodies
What if this isn’t THE reality? / Leo Tolstoy - “Our life is but one of the dreams of that more real life, and so it is endlessly, until the very last one, the very real life of God.” / video games are double illusion / our desire for movies, VR, and fantasy reveal that illusion doesn’t satisfy - we need to go back to reality / even the evil king Sishupala has a back story / karma - acknowledging our own responsibility in our suffering helps us heal and cultivates virtue / how to develop a spiritual body - full absorption in seeing God everywhere / there’s regular Dharma, and then there is Bhagavat Dharma / just by hearing about Krishna one is liberated / the truth will set you free SB 7.10.40-47

Jun 6, 2024 • 1h 1min
1337: Raghu Brings the Dhammapada to Bible Study
a traditional yogi's appreciation of Bhakti in the West / the irony of how the claim of cultural appropriation can play into the hands of the oppressors / reincarnation in Johnathon Livingston Seagull / the fallacy of original sin / the fallacy of eternal damnation / the logical strength of reincarnation / the fallacy of reunion in heaven / Raghunath brings the Dhammapada to His Christian Club / contemplate and feel the distinction between your self, mind and body / the full evolution is love / our meditation on determines our destination SB 7.10.36-39

Jun 5, 2024 • 57min
1336: The Worst Thing You Can Do for Your Spiritual Life
“In order to love your enemies, you must begin by analyzing your self." — Martin Luther King Jr. / the worst thing you can do for your spiritual life / in the healthy state of awareness, Krishna’s name makes us cry / resentment and anger shrivels us up / cultivating gratitude - we can’t control other people, but we can control our attitudes / best to leave murders and psychopaths for professionals / shifting from the vision of bodily differences to spiritual commonality / except for the uncontrolled and misguided mind, there is no enemy within this world / We need to feel “All These people are here, but primarily, I’m always living with God in my heart.” SB 7.10.30-35 Check out www.Kavachadesigns.com and use Coupon code wots30 for 30% off — valid for three days only !

Jun 4, 2024 • 58min
1335: Karma - How We Invest in Our Own Bondage
George Harrison on the only reason we’re on this planet / we live in a virtual reality governed by the law of karma / breaking the addiction to external pleasures through addiction to internal experience / stay in the kirtan and keep the vibe high / when Raghu and Kaustubha will be like when they get old / Krishna gets personally involved in the karmic destiny of His devotees / tat kuruṣva mad-arpaṇam - do that as an offering to Me / Bhakti relieves the fever of anxiety / Guru nishta can change our karmic destiny / the automated penal system of Karma / from the germ up to Indra, they all get their karma / what if we could see the karmic course of our own past lives? SB 7.10.27-29

Jun 3, 2024 • 55min
1334: Duty - the First Step in Conquering the Mind
“Getting distracted by trifles is the easiest thing in the world… Focus on your main duty.” - Epictetus / if you sincerely want Truth, that’s god consciousness / duty drags you back on track / western vs eastern attitudes toward duty / Too much choice makes a person miserable / duty makes the mind more peaceful / duty is prescribed specifically according to one’s mindset / the days of the employer / we’re indebted to our forefathers, the great sages, human society, etc. / one connected with the Supreme has no more debts / Brahma’s non-envious demeanor / all yogic rules and regulations serve one goal - to always remember Krishna SB 7.10.23-26