Wisdom of the Sages

The Ramayana doesn’t just tell an ancient story—it reveals eternal truths. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore one of the most profound contrasts in the epic: how Ravana and Hanuman each approach Sita. What unfolds is not just mythological drama—it’s a powerful spiritual teaching. Sita is the personification of good fortune herself. In bhakti wisdom, how we approach her—whether with reverence and devotion or with a mood of exploitation—determines the auspiciousness or inauspiciousness that flows though our lives. This isn’t just about Sita and Ravana. It’s about all of us and the world around us.  And yes, the Pope gets a shout-out. So do monkeys with torches. Key Highlights: * Ravana, Hanuman, and the spiritual do’s and don’ts of divine energy * Why auspiciousness isn’t random—it’s relational * The Pope, Easter, and holy humility * Monkeys vs. modern weapons: Why the jungle army wins * The arc of the moral universe is long—but don’t worry, zoom out * Why Sita’s curse beat Ravana’s black magic 🎧 Tune in for timeless wisdom, epic storytelling, and spiritual depth—with just enough monkey mischief to keep it fun. 📿 Subscribe and join the daily pilgrimage of the heart. #BhaktiWisdom #GoddessOfFortune #RamayanaTruths #JusticeAndKarma #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualTransformation #HanumanPower ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

Is trying to understand spiritual truth a futile task? Is it all beyond words and beyond the logical understanding of the human mind? In this Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustubha Das, with guest host Kishori Gopi, takes on one of the deepest questions of spiritual life—whether the ultimate reality can be known, described, or even spoken of. Drawing from the ancient dialectic between Advaita Vedanta and Bhakti Vedanta, they explore how the Absolute is perceived across different schools of Indian philosophy, and whether Krishna’s teachings are meant to be understood—or simply surrendered to. Then, things get bold and existential: If we’re not the body or the mind… why not just commit suicide? This intense question opens the door to a profound discussion on karma, the soul’s journey, and why trying to “opt out” is ill advised. Morgan Freeman shows up. So does Groundhog Day. Somehow it all makes sense. Key Highlights * The Bhakti perspective: Krishna can be understood—and described—in rich detail * How Shankara’s “neti neti” approach led to the idea of the indescribable Absolute * Karma as a cosmic reformatory system * Why suicide doesn’t break the cycle—just moves it like a whack-a-mole * What Newton might say about karma (and why we’re not totally convinced) * “They muddy the waters to make them seem deep.” — Nietzsche, and also Kaustubha 🔥 🌟 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join a global community exploring life’s most important questions through the lens of ancient yoga wisdom. 🎧 Listen now. Think deeply. Laugh as well. #VedantaQandA #BhaktiYoga #KarmaExplained #BeyondWords #SpiritualPhilosophy #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #NetiNeti #MorganFreemanOnVedanta ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

Loss comes for everyone—but the Bhakti yogi faces it not with fear, but with training, trust, and transcendence. In this powerful episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam prepares us for the moments that shake our identity, strip our attachments, and invite us into deeper surrender. From philosophical insight to real-life stories, they reveal how detachment isn’t cold or passive—it’s the soul’s doorway to freedom. Key Highlights: * “Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose.” — Yoda (Bhakti approves.) * Why loss is not punishment—but a spiritual upgrade in disguise. * Chest-waxing and ego-stripping: a painful but necessary metaphor for spiritual growth. * The man who thought his wealth could buy him a free pass at the barber shop—and what that reveals about false identity. * What it means to live as if nothing is yours, and love as if everything is. * The yogi’s mindset: clarity in chaos, faith in the face of death. 🎧 Tune in now and discover how the Bhakti tradition reframes loss as grace, grief as growth, and endings as the beginning of true connection. #LettingGo #FearOfLoss #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualTransformation #SrimadBhagavatam #EgoToEternity #YogaHumor #WisdomOfTheSages #BarberShopEgo #ChestWaxMetaphors ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

In this deep-dive Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustuba Das and guest co-host Kishori Gopi explore one of life’s most profound questions: What is my purpose? Drawing from the teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the writings of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and the ancient tradition of Vedānta, they unpack the layered meaning of dharma—from temporary duties to the soul’s eternal calling. Whether you’re a spiritual seeker, a yoga teacher, a parent, or simply navigating life’s changing roles, this conversation will challenge, inspire, and clarify your inner compass. Discover how your svadharma (individual calling) fits into a larger journey of evolution toward bhakti—the soul’s natural expression of love. Key Highlights: * The difference between temporary dharma and eternal dharma * Why success in life isn’t about achievement, but alignment * The secret purpose behind your everyday responsibilities * What the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam reveals about the highest truth 🎧 This episode is a must-listen for anyone reflecting on their place in the world and longing to connect with something deeper. 🌟 Subscribe for daily spiritual insights and join thousands on the transformative path of bhakti yoga. #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualAwakening #Dharma #VedantaWisdom #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #PurposeDrivenLife #YogaPhilosophy #VedicWisdom #SelfRealization #KarmaJnanaBhakti ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

This Q&A episode offers a bold reminder: a deep and transformational spiritual experience isn’t reserved for mystics in the mountains—it’s available to you right now, anywhere. Kaustubha and guest Co-host Kishori Gopi unpack the Bhagavad-gītā’s ancient key to overcoming seasonal depression, emotional heaviness, and the constant ups and downs of modern life: detachment from the shifting mind, and connection to the ever-radiant soul within. Learn how simply observing your thoughts and emotions—rather than identifying with them—is not just mindfulness, but a moment of true spiritual awakening. Also in this episode: * What the Gītā says about seasonal sadness and inner stability * The profound power of stepping back from the mind and witnessing the soul * How weather, darkness, and emotional struggle can become fuel for real growth * How to raise God-connected kids in challenging circumstances * Navigating Catholicism, Krishna bhakti  Whether your long winter is literal or emotional—this episode will help you rediscover your luminosity and find clarity on how to guide others, especially your children, toward the same. 🎧 Tune in now and learn how to access what’s already within you. #SpiritualExperienceNow #SeasonalDepression #BhagavadGitaWisdom #ParentingAndBhakti #Mindfulness #KrishnaConsciousness #BhaktiYoga #InnerPeace #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

Every life holds a hidden epic. In this stirring episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unlock the timeless teachings of the Ramayana and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to reveal how Lord Ram’s divine story is far more than mythology—it’s a living guide for our own transformation. Alongside the insights of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, the sages explore what it truly means to conquer inner demons and rise to the occasion of your own sacred adventure. But this episode goes deeper than just inspiration. It offers a bold clarification of what līlā truly is—and what it’s not. It’s a common spiritual misstep to view the pain, confusion, and trauma of material life as brahman engaged in “divine play,” mistaking our suffering for the līlā of the Supreme. Raghunath and Kaustubha draw a clear line: true līlā is not the fractured experience of conditioned life, but the ecstatic, conscious, and love-saturated interactions of Krishna with His eternal energies—Ram and Sita, Radha and Krishna, Lakshman, Hanuman, and the gopīs, etc. To conflate the two is to miss the sweetness of bhakti, to remain trapped in illusion, and to miss the opportunity to enter into eternal līlā—the highest potential of the self. Key Highlights: * Why the Ramayana is more than story—it’s a training ground for the soul * The crucial difference between true līlā and conditioned suffering * Why Lord Ram left without resentment—and how we can too * How to starve the inner Ravana and awaken your inner Hanuman * What it really means to return from the forest with “boons” for the world Join us and rediscover your highest potential—not by pretending to be the hero, but by walking the sacred path of one who’s learning how to love. 🌟 Subscribe and walk the hero’s path with us, through ancient wisdom, daily insights, and the transformative power of bhakti. 🎧 Tune in now! #Ramayana #BhaktiYoga #HerosJourney #KrishnaLila #Vedanta #InnerDemons #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualPodcast #TrueLila #JosephCampbell #LordRam #SitaRam #SrimadBhagavatam SB 9.10.1-7 ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

“You Won’t Rise to the Occasion—You’ll Default to Your Training”. In this episode we explore how ancient yogic wisdom aligns with the discipline of elite athletes, soldiers, and spiritual seekers. Learn how the mind, when trained in remembrance and devotion, naturally turns toward the Divine—even at the moment of death. This episode is a clarion call to train your heart, shape your consciousness, and live with purpose so that when the test comes, you’re not grasping for last-minute wisdom—you’re simply doing what you’ve always done: remembering who you’ve been meditating on all along. Drawing from the timeless teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Kaustubha, and special guest Kishori Gopi dive deep into the life of King Katvanga, a warrior-king who turned his final moment into his finest moment—not by chance, but by a lifetime of conscious preparation. Key Highlights: * “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail”—why your daily practice shapes your destiny * What King Katvanga teaches us about detachment, clarity, and the power of a single moment * How to build your spiritual default setting through consistent sādhanā * The Bhagavad-gītā’s teaching on death, remembrance, and ultimate transformation * Why even the devas admired a king who asked for no boon but truth 🎧 Don’t miss this episode that bridges warrior mindset, yogic philosophy, and bhakti devotion into a single, life-shifting meditation. 🌟 Subscribe for daily wisdom and join the global bhakti movement. #BhaktiTraining #KingKatvanga #DefaultToYourTraining #SrimadBhagavatam #WisdomOfTheSages #SpiritualDiscipline #YogaOfDeath #RememberKrishna #BhaktiYoga #TrainTheMind #VedantaWisdom #FinalMoment #ConsciousLiving #SādhanāLifestyle SB 9.9.41-49 ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

The sacred isn’t far away, or locked away in a temple, a ritual, or some otherworldly realm. The sacred is the invisible thread running through the entire tapestry of life—right here, right now. In this deeply reflective episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the Vedic concept of otam-protam—the warp and weft of reality—revealing how divinity is interwoven through every moment, every element, every being. From the descent of the sacred Ganges to the subtle presence of God in all things, this episode invites you to shift your lens and recognize the divine fabric behind the visible world. Also featured is a moving tribute to Al Barile of SSD—a hardcore punk pioneer whose unexpected connection to the Bhāgavatam is a reminder that even the toughest exteriors can carry a sincere spiritual search within. Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠What “warp and weft” teaches us about the nature of reality •⁠  ⁠C.S. Lewis on the God who walks everywhere incognito •⁠  ⁠Why seeing God in everything is the highest yoga •⁠  ⁠How the Ganga purifies not just bodies, but the mind and heart •⁠  ⁠Al Barile’s surprising connection to bhakti and the search for truth Whether you’re walking through a city street, sitting in nature, or standing in a mosh pit—the thread of the sacred is already there. Learn to see it. 🌿 Subscribe for daily inspiration and join thousands on the bhakti path. 🎧 Listen now! #BhaktiYoga #DivinePresence #SrimadBhagavatam #SacredEverywhere #OtamProtam #AlBarile #WisdomOfTheSages #PunkMeetsBhakti #GangaFlow ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

Can you practice deep spiritual life without walking away from your worldly responsibilities? Or is renunciation—of family, career, and social ties—a necessary cost of devotion? In this essential Q&A edition of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha address one of the most pressing questions for modern spiritual seekers: can the path of bhakti be lived fully without uprooting your life? What unfolds is a powerful conversation about clarity, compassion, and the dangers of spiritual misunderstanding. This episode dives into three thought-provoking questions: •⁠  ⁠Is bhakti really free from the strict renunciations of other yogic paths—or is that just a myth? •⁠  ⁠How do we trust Krishna’s plan without falling into inertia or passivity? •⁠  ⁠How should we respond to skepticism around the bhakti tradition, especially in light of scandal and misrepresentation? Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠Why external renunciation is not the essence of bhakti—and how reorienting our vision of family, work, and social life is often the real path forward. •⁠  ⁠The subtle but vital difference between walking away from the world and seeing it through a new lens of service. •⁠  ⁠What it truly means to “accept what’s favorable and reject what’s unfavorable” for spiritual growth. •⁠  ⁠How to stay steady in your practice even when exposed to harmful or fanatical representations of bhakti. •⁠  ⁠Why spiritual life is about progress, not perfection—and how to build a path that is sustainable, sincere, and real. 🎧 Tune in now for a conversation that redefines what it means to be spiritual in the real world. 🌍 Join the bhakti movement: #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualProgress #WisdomOfTheSages #YogaInModernLife #BhaktiWithoutRenunciation #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualBurnout #SrimadBhagavatam #BhagavadGita #ModernBhakti #DailyWisdom #QandA ********************************************************************* 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 CONNECT ON INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/wisdom_of_the_sages

More than sacred—this is about cosmic justice, karmic cleansing, and the mysterious flow of divine grace. In this provocative conclusion to our two-part deep dive, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack why the Ganges is revered as the purifier of sins and how its sanctity is upheld—not just by myth or ritual, but through the living presence of Krishna and His devotees. What makes a river more than water? How does mercy override karma? And how can we become a river of grace ourselves? Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠The Ganges as a portal of divine compassion—from Vaikuntha to Earth. •⁠  ⁠How saintly souls become walking places of pilgrimage. •⁠  ⁠Grace vs. karma: why fairness isn’t the highest principle in the universe. •⁠  ⁠The mystical relationship between Krishna’s feet, the holy river, and the pure-hearted. •⁠  ⁠Why Bhagiratha’s mission wasn’t just personal—it was a multi-generational act of love. Whether you’ve dipped in her waters or just dreamed of the Himalayas, this episode will change the way you see rivers, saints, and the subtle forces that shape our destiny. 🌊 Subscribe for daily spiritual insight and join a global community seeking truth through the path of bhakti. 🎧 Listen now & flow with us. #GangaRiver #BhaktiYoga #SpiritualGrace #SrimadBhagavatam #HinduWisdom #KarmaAndMercy #HolyRivers #WisdomOfTheSages #Raghunath #Kaustubha