Vedic Worldview

Quantum Mechanics for Beginners Sep 08, 2024

Show notes

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 Demand

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Spiritual Mediums, Right and Wrong, Partners Who Don't Meditate Sep 01, 2024

Show notes

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 Control and Embrace Self-Sufficiency

[14:49] Q - Is There a General Right and Wrong in Life?

[15:50] Q - The Paradox of Right and Wrong

[16:54] The Bhagavad Gita

[19:08] Thinking From the Narrow End of the Funnel

[21:41] Spontaneous Right Action

[23:52] Q - Can a Vedic Meditator be in a Relationship With a Non-Meditator?

[24:46] A - We Want the Pizzaz

[26:56] Consciousness Dynamics in Relationships

[29:03] Embrace and Learn from Each Other’s Views

[30:46] Being Different Makes Relationships Better

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Yagyas - Awakening Impulses of Creative Intelligence Aug 25, 2024

Show notes

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] Increasing Capability

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Who’s Who: Understanding Sanskrit Titles Aug 18, 2024

Show notes

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 Yoga

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Bhagavad Gita - Lessons in Life from the Battlefield Aug 12, 2024

Show notes

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 the Battlefield

[29:44] Transcend the Problem

[31:28] What Makes a War Story so Pivotal?

[35:30] Fulfillment is a Consciousness State

[37:26] The Ultimate Spiritual Experience

[39:13] A Study Course with Thom

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Masculinity in the Modern Age Aug 11, 2024

Show notes

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 Human

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Science and Art of Mantras Aug 04, 2024

Show notes

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] Nivar Tatvam - Go Where You Are Not

[08:00] Bija Mantra - Working on the Level of Sound

[09:51] Right Mantra for the Right Person

[11:48] Drawing Towards the Source of Thought

[13:34] Effortlessness is a Skill Set

[16:02] Vaidya Mantras

[18:53] Om and Omkaraz

[22:01] Gayatri Mantra and Surya Namaskar

[24:25] Rishi - A Seer of Vedic zSounds

[26:40] Sanskrit: The Sound of Nature's Intention

[29:24] Expressive vs. Symbolic Languages

[31:13] Thought-inducing Mantras

[33:02] Mantras for All Occasions

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Fallacy of Control Jul 28, 2024

Show notes

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 Absolute Theory of Management

[22:06] Be an Exemplar

[24:10] How Can I Align With My Partner when Our Communication Styles Differ?

[24:24] Get Rid of Our Superiority Complex

[25:12] Birds of Different Feathers

[26:21] What's Your Point?

[28:02] Be Willing to Invest the Time

[29:12] Satsang

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

An Invitation to Vedic Meditation Initiator Training Jul 20, 2024

Show notes

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 Life

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com