The Vedic World View

Welcome to another Q&A episode, with Thom fielding a range of questions from listeners with a common thread of social discomfort.Thom holds forth on the subjects of social division, embarrassment, how to accept compliments gracefully, how to strengthen relationships in tough times, and anger, specifically whether or not enlightened masters can be angry.As always, it’s an episode with universal appeal that could potentially tick off a few boxes in your own evolutionary journey.Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - Why are people so divided right now?[00:48] A - Destructive Normalization[02:05] Mistaken Identity[04:03] The It-ification of Other Humans[05:51] Be an Inspiration to Others to Learn Vedic Meditation[08:07] Q - How can we recover after embarrassing ourselves?[08:11] A - Get Yourself a Sense of Humor[09:53] The Human Condition is Not a Serious Condition[12:09] Q - How can I accept compliments gracefully?[12:19] A - Words Can’t Even Express Your Greatness[14:11] Thank You[16:44] Q - How can we strengthen a

Being an empath might seem like a gift—experiencing what someone else is going through must surely deepen our understanding of one another.But in this podcast, Thom brings a surprising twist to the concept. He explains that not all empathy is created equal; different levels of empathy can lead to very different outcomes. While some forms can unintentionally add to our suffering, "high-grade empathy" is what actually alleviates it.Thom leaves us with a clear sense of how to cultivate this higher level of empathy so we’re better equipped to bring true comfort and understanding into our interactions.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Direct Experience of Being Another[02:56] Moving in the Direction of Unity Consciousness Through Vedic Meditation[05:47] An Extension of One’s Own Inner Self[07:55] Big Toe Consciousness[09:39] Siddhis - Extraordinary Human Capabilities[11:52] Limping Dog Suffering[13:42] Capability to Alleviate Suffering[15:35] You Are Totality[18:01] Knowledge is for ActionUseful Links:info@thomknoles.com

In a world where education is available to nearly everyone, one might expect that the major challenges facing humanity would have been solved by now, leading to a more prosperous and harmonious existence. But, as we can clearly see, that’s far from the reality.In this episode, Thom explores the underlying cause: education today is focused on the wrong outcomes.Thom offers a profound solution—an approach that cultivates students who are able to tap into infinite creative intelligence, unlocking problem-solving abilities far beyond what mere knowledge accumulation can provide.Episode Highlights[00:45] What Is a Problem For You?[02:35] Archimedes and Leverage[06:29] Do You Have Problem-Solving Techniques?[08:10] University - Unified Diversity[10:51] What Kind of Human Have They Become?[12:29] Credentialed Persons[13:45] Highly-Qualified Uber Drivers[15:17] Knowledgeable in Very Certain Areas[17:23] Ignore, Ignore, Ignore[20:53] Increase Knowledge of the Knower[22:51] Knowledge of the Knower[24:57] Vedic Meditati

One could easily spend a lifetime exploring Vedic literature and still barely scratch the surface in terms of the wisdom that’s available to us. Between the four Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda, the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, the six schools of Vedic philosophy, and countless other written and oral texts or translations, there’s no shortage of avenues to explore.And even if you could absorb them all in a lifetime, you’d probably need to reread them to understand them from a more evolved point of view.  Fortunately, the Vedic worldview is that all this wisdom is experiential, and we can shortcut the process of attaining wisdom through “knowledge of the Knower.” Thom provides an example of this in this assessment of Patanjali's Eight Limbs of Yoga, a subset of The Yoga Sutras. Thom clarifies that the piecemeal approach of trying to check off the eight limbs through our actions in order to attain the state of Yoga, is a misguided approach to take, and that practicing Vedic Meditation

We often hear cries for justice when what’s being called for is actually revenge. So, what exactly is justice? And how do we distinguish the difference between the two? In this episode Thom lays out the Vedic perspective on revenge and justice, giving us clear guidelines to follow, and indicators on when we might have favored revenge over justice. Fortunately the distinction between the two is unambiguous and will leave us in no doubt moving forward as to whether we are leaning towards justice or revenge in our actions.Episode Highlights[00:45] Restoration of Balance[05:03] Was It Just?[07:33] Misguided Avengers[10:28] Satisfaction Through Moksha - Liberation[12:50] Karma - Actions or Thoughts That Bind You[15:43] A Futile Act[19:48] Does Nature Know What It's Doing?[21:33] Aham Brahmasmi - I Am Totality[23:53] Further StudiesUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles

One thing that sets the Vedic worldview apart from other schools of thought is the notion that everything that we get to witness, every form, every phenomena, is the unfolding of an epic story.Thom explains the mechanism of evolution in this episode, including the infinite organizing power that it takes for stories to play out, with play being the operative word. Seeing our lives unfold in this way offers us an opportunity to reconsider our own stories from a vast, more Universal perspective.Episode Highlights:[00:45] The Writing of the Gods[02:53] The Infinite Organizing Power Attributed to The Feminine[04:50] Play Power of The Totality[07:41] Simplicity to Sophistication[09:15] Sequential Elaboration[11:55] Elevational Theater[14:04] Plateaus and the Status Quo[16:02] Leela Shakti and the History of The UniverseUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom

Listeners are steering the ship once again, in our latest Q&A episode.Thom answers a question about karma and how it fits into the dynamics of our relationships. It turns out that it’s our relationship with our Self that matters most.Thom also tackles a question about charm, in particular, how we can adapt when charm doesn’t seem to be as supported by Nature as we would expect.Finally, Thom gives a definitive answer to the age-old question, can there be art without suffering? It’s a question that could easily be answered with one word, but Thom provides a rationale that leaves us in no doubt about the role of suffering in art.Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - How do karmic relationships with others work?[01:20] A - Karma: Action That Binds You[03:24] The Knot of Karma[05:22] Kṛiya - Spontaneous Right Action[07:29] Untying the Knots of Karma[09:25] Moving in the Direction of Kṛiya[12:15] Vedic Meditation - Losing the Tendency to Create Problems[14:12] Q - How can I understand the nuances of charm?[14:52] A -

If you've ever wondered where one of the world's most astonishing gatherings takes place, look no further than the Kumbha Mela. This grand festival of spiritual significance draws tens of millions of devotees from around the globe in a display of harmony, wisdom and tolerance like no other.Having been to several Kumbha Melas over the past 50 years, and currently preparing to attend the next Kumbha Mela in January 2025, Thom is well equipped to give us a small but enticing glimpse into the significance and the spectacle of this truly unique phenomenon. Episode Highlights[00:45] A Contained Celebration[03:25] Triveni - Where Three Sacred Rivers Meet[06:03] Maha Kumbha Mela[08:10] Diversity of the Mela[10:05] Millions at Kumbha Mela[12:41] Ardh Kumbha Mela[14:50] Kumbha Mela 2025[16:29] Maintaining Order and Safety[18:52] Om Namah Shivaya[20:37] A Once-in-a-Lifetime ExperienceUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps:

Followers of Vedic wisdom often refer to the four goals, Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, as something we should aspire to in our lives.While these are, indeed, qualities that mark our level of consciousness, in this episode, Thom clarifies the status of these four qualities. In doing so, he also clarifies the meanings of each of the four qualities, which are often referred to in overly simplistic, and slightly misleading terms.As always, Thom will put the horse back in front of the cart, and equip us with a process that will ensure we embody these four qualities to the best of our ability at all times. Episode Highlights[00:45] The Four Goals[05:30] Your True Dharma[08:00] Tat Wale Baba - Abundant in All Things[10:27] No Abundance: What a Terrible Life[12:41] What True Abundance Looks Like[14:26] The Ability to Extract Maximum Pleasure[17:11] Living in a Dual Awareness[19:15] Attaining Puruṣārtha Through Vedic Meditation[21:45] Self-Realization by Numbers[23:57] The Process is the Outcome[26:03] Measuring Ro

Most of us think of laws of Nature as being those laws that determine how the environment behaves on a physical level. The Vedic worldview expands the scope of these laws to include consciousness itself, and its constantly-evolving intentions. This effectively makes Nature a conscious entity, hence why you’ll often find us spelling it with a capital N.In this episode Thom gives us a masterclass on how to live in alignment with the laws of Nature, taking into consideration not just the variability of the physical laws of nature, with a small n, but also the ever-changing intentions of Nature, with a big N.It’s an approach that guarantees to reduce, and ultimately eliminate suffering from our lives. Episode Highlights:[00:45] Q - What Are the Laws of Nature?[00:51] A - Patterns of Cause and Effect[02:25] Elegance - The Pinnacle of Sophistication[04:12] Science's Evolving View of Nature[06:31] Laws that Change With the Need of the Time[08:25] Boiling Water in Your Hand[09:52] A Universe Becoming Conscious of Its

Many people go to great lengths to view eclipses, sometimes traveling thousands of miles to witness the shadow of the Moon passing across the Sun or the shadow of the Earth crossing the Moon.In Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, however, such events can be seen as inauspicious, and the recommendation might be that we take shelter from them rather than expose ourselves to them.But such things are not so cut and dry. In this episode, Thom proposes that the impact of an eclipse depends, as does the impact of most things, on the consciousness state of the observer.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Parashara Saṃhita[02:40] Self-referral Consciousness and Object-referral Consciousness[05:59] What's in the Sky and What's Not in the Sky[09:00] Who are You and What are You?[11:10] What is the Nature of the Knower?[13:15] Degrees of Suffering[16:23] Reinforcing Totality Consciousness Through Vedic Meditation[18:58] A Little Bit of a Muddying EffectUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/the

When we think of quantum mechanics, most of us conjure up images of nutty professors and blackboards filled with incomprehensible equations. Though quantum mechanics does indeed have a lot to do with seemingly incomprehensible math, the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are well worth understanding as they give us a fresh perspective on which to view the Universe we live in.In this episode, Thom gives us a lay-person overview of the essentials of quantum mechanics. Importantly, he explains how our consciousness shapes our world and why we should always question our assumptions.  Episode Highlights:[00:45] The Quest for Quarks[04:33] Ignore That[07:28] The Ultimate Discovery of Physics[09:30] Consciousness in Physics[11:28] There Are No Particles[13:01] Questioning Assumptions[15:50] You Live in a Universe that is a Response to Your Expectation[19:15] The Aristotelian DemandUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomkn

Listeners are running the show again today, with another of our popular Q&A sessions.This time around, Thom tackles a question on spiritual mediums, and whether we can trust what they say. His answer may surprise you.He also answers a question about right and wrong, using the Bhagavad Gita to set the context for spontaneous right action.And he also puts a listener’s mind at rest, in answer to a question about whether a Vedic meditator can successfully be in a relationship with a non meditator.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Q - Are spiritual mediums communicating with people who have passed away?[01:11] A - Accuracy and Purpose of Mediumship[03:26] A Misunderstanding of What It's Like to be Dead[05:30] Communicating from One State to Another[07:13] How Exact Are the Medium-Delivered Messages?[08:40] Vedic Meditation is More Effective Than Seeking Messages from the Departed[10:16] Limitations of Mediums in Spiritual Communication[11:55] Controlling Behavior Towards the Departed[13:29] Let Go of the Need to Cont

Ceremonial fires have been used in most cultures for millenia. Often these fires just have a symbolic purpose, but the Vedic worldview has a particular use of fire, in combination with sounds and offerings, which has a specific impact on consciousness itself.In this episode, Thom gives an entry-level view of yagyas, a fascinating and specialized process that can be used to awaken impulses of creative intelligence and allow us to reveal more of what Nature intends for us. A yagya is a bridge between desire and manifestation, so to speak, giving us a helping hand to make our potential a reality.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Sanskrit - The Unambiguous Language[03:41] Awakening the Impulses of Creative Intelligence[05:59] Name and Form are Infinitely Correlated Indeed[07:50] Serving the Intention of the Knower[10:38] Stirring the Depths of Consciousness[12:27] Agni - The Sound Nature Makes When Intending Fire[15:29] Bring Forth All the Gifts[18:22] Favorable Conditions in the Consciousness of the Knower[20:06] Incre

Sanskrit terminology has been slowly creeping into common usage outside of India, quite often incorrectly. Yoga, for example, has a widely understood meaning outside of India, which doesn’t reflect the actual meaning of the word. In this episode, Thom explains the meaning behind many of the titles applied to or bestowed upon various positions within the Vedic realm. You’ll learn the definitions for titles such as swami, yogi, yogini, and guru and understand the true meaning of these terms.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Umbrella Terms[02:22] Acharya[04:04] The Figurative Meaning[05:59] The Connotative Meaning[06:32] Grihasta and Grihasti[09:15] Vanaprasta and Vanaprasti[12:04] Sannyasz[15:58] Yogi[16:57] Guru[17:44] Mahamandaleshwar, Swami and Akhara[20:51] Maharaj[23:37] Pandit or Pundit[24:50] Maharishi, Maharishika[26:50] Satguru or Sadguru[28:43] Sadhu, Saddhaka, Saddhaki[30:03] Shishya or Shishyi[30:03] Swami[32:01] Yogi, Yogini and YogaUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instag

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most pivotal spiritual texts of all time. Its teachings have been taught for millenia throughout India, and outside of India for the past 100 years or so, inspiring billions with insights into how we can reduce suffering in our own lives.In this episode, Thom gives us a brief introduction to the Bhagavad Gita as a primer for his upcoming three-day course in which he’ll take a deep dive into the subject, alongside fellow Vedic Meditation Initiator and Vedic literature aficionado, Jamey Hood. You can find out more about the upcoming course at https://thomknoles.com/bhagavad-gita/.Note: The prerequisite of Thom’s new course on the Bhagavad Gita is the completion of a qualified Vedic Meditation training.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Song of God[04:46] The Mahabharata[07:21] Veda Vyasa[10:27] The Kurus[14:02] A Battlefield at Kurukshetra[16:46] A Deal with Krishna[19:05] Arjuna - The Invincible Archer[21:09] I Won't Fight![24:03] The Despondency of Arjuna[26:07] Learning to Meditate on

What does it mean to be masculine in the modern age? In this episode, Thom strips the discussion back, questioning not just the premise of masculinity, but also the premise of modernity. Thom invites us to reset our expectations of ourselves and others, and to reevaluate our apparent need to compartmentalize behaviors.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Terribly Modern[03:16] What Does It Means to Be a Human?[05:31] Journey from Zygote to Human[07:27] Omnisexuality: Our True Nature[11:22] The Crazy Tiger[13:58] Cultural Inventions[16:14] Ardhanarishvara: The Balance of Masculine and Feminine[18:04] Being vs. Doing: What It Means to Be HumanUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

In the modern world, mantras come in all shapes and sizes. Though they originate from the Vedic tradition, it’s becoming more and more common to see/hear mantras used in a more modern context, as political slogans or even as a rallying cry to get people behind a common cause.Modern and ancient mantras all have a similar purpose, to alter the thinking of the listener and/or the speaker of the mantra.In this episode, Thom Knoles delves into the origins and concept of mantras, and explores the various functions and intentions of some mantras that have been used consistently for thousands of years.  Thom explains the functional differences and applications of these mantras, including their role in Vedic Meditation and their broader use in various aspects of life. It’s a deep dive into the scientific and practical aspects of mantras, providing insights into their transformative potential.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Name and Form are Infinitely Correlated[03:09] Denotative vs. Connotative Meaning of Mantra[04:44] Ni

Most of us attempt to control other people or situations more often than we like to admit it. Much of the time we’re not even conscious of it, but control shows up in our lives in so many ways.In this episode, Thom addresses the fallacy of control. This is a series of curated questions and answers from Thom’s online Satsang community, a resource for receiving lectures, sharing group meditations, and submitting questions for Thom to answer in real time. If you’d like to know more about Satsang, please visit the website.Episode Highlights:[00:00] Satsang[01:26] Is IVF Unnatural or Controlling?[02:05] Where Do Babies Come From?[03:33] Hit and Miss[05:27] Is It Charming?[06:13] A Bizarre Comparison[08:26] Another Analogy[09:55] A Growing Body of Knowledge[11:41] A Beautiful Soul Wanting Embodiment[13:36] Simple, Natural, Innocent[14:58] Responding to Nature's Invitation[17:30] How Can I Release Control in Professional Situations?[18:01] Loyalty-Based Administration[19:06] Fear-Based Administration[20:02] The Abso

The pinnacle of the journey for any meditator is to become an Initiator of Vedic Meditation. Not only does it give you the tools and opportunity to teach the technique to others, but it also gives a quantum boost to your own evolution. The opportunity to spend 12 weeks in the birthplace of our technique, absorbing Vedic wisdom from Thom and other course leaders, and the chance to develop lifelong bonds with new friends and colleagues from far and wide is unequaled.In this bonus episode, Thom extends an invitation to join him in January for our 2025 round of Initiator Training. Get ready to be inspired, and to maybe make the potentially life-changing decision to apply.Listen to the episode, then go here for more details: https://thomknoles.com/initiator-training/Episode Highlights:[00:45] A Sacred Setting[02:11] Program Structure[03:25] High Rounding[04:54] Representing the Shankaracharya Tradition[05:48] Independent Initiators[07:28] A Life-Altering Endeavor[09:04] Apply to Create the Fondest Memories of Your