Wisdom of the Sages

Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das
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Sep 23, 2025 • 55min

1673: The Opposite of Love is Illusion: Bhakti, Dharma, & Mandalas as Reality

Rabindranath Tagore wrote that "Love is the only reality… the ultimate truth at the heart of creation." In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore why the opposite of love isn't hate but illusion, and how failing to see others as sparks of the divine disconnects us from reality itself. From Krishna's cosmic picnic mandala to Lord Jagannāth's worldwide Ratha Yatra, and even a few Roomba and Nutella detours, discover how Bhakti yoga reveals love as the center of all existence. 🌟 Subscribe for daily bhakti wisdom. 🎧 Listen now and let the change begin within. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.1-8 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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Sep 22, 2025 • 60min

1672: Rewiring the Inner World: Why Weren't We Taught This in School?

Bhakti practices like chanting, kīrtan, rising early, study, and satsang aren't side notes—they're the training ground for reshaping the inner world so the outer world follows. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on first encounters with sādhana in Vṛndāvana and dive into Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.12, where Krishna liberates the snake demon Aghāsura and reveals how even a moment of remembrance can transform destiny. Key Highlights: * Daily bhakti practices as inner rewiring. * Why moving won't fix the mind—but sādhana will. * Vṛndāvana as a culture of practice. * Krishna's liberation of Aghāsura and its meaning for us. * How the inner world reshapes the outer. 🌟 Subscribe for daily bhakti wisdom. 🎧 Listen now and let the change begin within. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.12.36-44 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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Sep 17, 2025 • 53min

1671: We Become What We Behold: Choosing the Spiritual Tools That Shape Us

What you hold in your mind shapes you. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Marshall McLuhan's famous line—"We become what we behold"—and connect it with Krishna's teachings in the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Do we let random media and impulses shape us, or do we consciously adopt tools that align with who we want to become? From the media-is-the-message to Bhāgavatam 10.12, we enter Aghāsura's cavernous "cave," watch Krishna rescue His friends, liberate the demon, and trigger a celestial celebration. Along the way: fearlessness vs. recklessness, why a morning program beats doom-scrolling, and how bringing Krishna into the heart quietly lowers the temperature on everyday panic. Key Highlights * McLuhan meets the Gītā: how tools and habits carve our destiny * The cowherd boys' fearless joy vs. reckless "No Fear" bravado * Aghāsura decoded: envy, anxiety, and Krishna's liberating touch * Why a crafted morning program beats algorithmic autopilot * Celestial fireworks—demigods, Gandharvas, and Brahmā's astonishment A practical, provocative look at how the tools we choose today determine the lives we live tomorrow. 🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands worldwide reshaping life with bhakti. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.12.24-35 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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Sep 16, 2025 • 57min

1670: Why We Can't Stand Others' Happiness: A Bhakti Perspective

How is it that we can feel unhappy when we see someone else happy? And what does that reveal about the condition of our mind and heart? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore envy through Shakespeare's words, Patrick Henry's warning, and Aghāsura's jealousy in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.12. They discuss why resentment is a form of spiritual self-sabotage, how bhakti transforms envy into empathy, and why the cowherd boys' simple joy surpasses even the achievements of the greatest yogis. Highlights include: • Shakespeare on envy: "O, how bitter…" • Patrick Henry's verdict: jealousy = the only vice with no pleasure • Aghāsura as cruelty and violence fueled by envy • Why fame is fickle, and why validation addiction cripples meditation • Snapshots of Vrindavan's joy: bugles, lunch bags, peacock feathers, and even sacred "sadness" A lively mix of scripture, reflection, and humor—designed to help us see envy for what it is and train the heart toward genuine joy in others' happiness. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.12.1-24 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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Sep 15, 2025 • 53min

1669: Debate Without Hate: Some Thoughts After the Charlie Kirk Shooting

When debate turnsviolent, yogis reach for higher tools—not more gasoline. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha reflect on the rising culture of outrage and political violence, using the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk as a moment to pause and ask: how can we disagree without dehumanizing? Drawing from Śrī Caitanya's example of gentle but powerful debate, and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam's accounts of Krishna's childhood pastimes, they explore practical bhakti principles that can steady the heart even when the world feels unstable. Key Highlights * The provocateur trap: why inflammatory speech breeds more chaos * Five takeaways for disagreeing without division * Respectful courage vs. performative outrage * Debate as Lord Caitanya modeled it: correction without humiliation * Krishna's butter-boy pastimes as an anchor of joy amid chaos If you're tired of the outrage algorithm but still care deeply about truth, this conversation offers a better toolkit—one rooted in bhakti. 🌟 Follow for daily wisdom and join thousands on the bhakti path—steady mind, open heart, strong spine. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.11.55-59 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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Sep 10, 2025 • 57min

1668: Small Acts, Infinite Meaning | The Pinnacle of Vedānta in Simple Love

Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how the pinnacle of Vedānta and yoga is revealed in the simplest exchange: Mother Yaśodā calling little Kṛṣṇa home for dinner. They unpack why quality of love matters more than quantity of achievement, and why "do small things with great love" isn't just a sweet saying—it's the key to real growth. Drawing from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (10.11), Mother Teresa, Lord Rāma's squirrel story, and reflections from Scottie Scheffler, the world's #1-ranked golfer, they reveal how fleeting victories fade while love endures. From cows and calves to the defeat of Bakasura, this episode shows that even the smallest offerings—when infused with devotion—hold infinite meaning. Tune in as Wisdom of the Sages uncovers how unselfish love, not spectacle or complexity, delivers the deepest fulfillment and the truest yoga. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.11.12-53 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t
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10 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 59min

1667: Born to Give: How the Universe Trains the Soul

Discover how giving is the soul's true nature, as Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Anne Frank's wisdom that generosity never leads to poverty. They delve into the Bhagavad-gītā's peace formula, emphasizing that letting go of possessions alleviates anxiety. Hear how life's challenges become spiritual practices when offered consciously. Learn about Krishna's delightful exchanges with devotees, showing that love, not opulence, is what truly matters. Ultimately, the hosts inspire listeners to embrace giving as a path to joy and connection.
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Sep 8, 2025 • 1h

1666: Modern Minds Stuck in Outrage Cycles — The Bhakti Exit Strategy

Hate shrinks the soul, but devotion expands it. This episode weaves together Booker T. Washington's timeless wisdom with the Bhakti-yoga path of love and transformation. From Washington's refusal to let hatred narrow his soul to Nārada's "curse that cures" and Baby Krishna's Dāmodara pastime, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how bhakti disarms resentment, envy, and bitterness—and replaces them with clarity, compassion, and joy. Discover why contempt is spiritual quicksand, how outrage has become the new addiction, and why love is the only effective recovery plan. With humor, storytelling, and insights from the Bhāgavatam, this episode offers a practical strategy for cutting through outrage and expanding the heart. 🎧 Tune in now and join thousands worldwide on the transformative journey of bhakti. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.10.32-43 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t *********************************************************************
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Sep 3, 2025 • 60min

1665: War & Peace & Bhakti: When Tolstoy's Insight Meets Baby Krishna

Pierre Bezukhov's captivity in War and Peace leads him to a discovery straight out of yogic wisdom: happiness is within, suffering can transform into blessing, and the company of a saintly soul changes everything. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack Tolstoy's descriptions of Pierre's awakening through Platon Karataev and connect them with the bhakti truths of the Bhagavad-Gītā and the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. From Pierre's realization that "Life is everything. Life is God" to baby Krishna's playful liberation of two fallen demigods, the timeless message shines through—what looks like misery may be the doorway to divine joy. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.10.20-31 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t ********************************************************************* To donate or get a set of Srimad Bhagavatam during this Bhadra Purnima, contact Malini here: +1 (669) 289-5563
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Sep 2, 2025 • 1h

1664: The Price of Wealth and the Vision of the Yogi

The Sage Nārada's tough-love blueprint takes center stage as Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how losing comfort—or choosing austerity—acts like "ointment for the eyes," restoring humility, compassion, and spiritual clarity. Along the way, a striking line from Benjamin Franklin sheds light on the danger of being possessed by wealth, while the timeless wisdom of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam reveals why voluntary simplicity has always been the yogi's path to deeper vision. Key Highlights * Franklin's insight: wealth often ends up possessing us. * How wealth dulls empathy and blinds spiritual sight. * Nārada's corrective: austerity as medicine for the heart. * Why suffering can deepen compassion. * Simplicity as the yogic path to clear vision. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.10.13-19 ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp group! https://chat.whatsapp.com/IoClfPirgHXBad5SxjH2i6?mode=ems_copy_t

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