Vedic Worldview

Avoiding the Unwanted Effects of Om Through Pranava Oct 22, 2023

Show notes

Anyone who has attended hatha yoga classes outside of India at some time has probably been invited by the teacher to begin or end the class with a group chant of the sound of Om. Or maybe they’ve experimented with the use of Om in a meditation practice.

It can sound and feel beautiful, and when we hear it chanted by a group of monks it can have a deeply resonant effect on the body and the mind.

But what most people don’t realize is that the sound of Om has a very specific intention, and it’s not an intention that most of us would want for ourselves.

In this episode, Thom gives us reason to be more discriminate when it comes to making the sound of Om, as well as offering up a loophole, so to speak, that allows us to reference it without making the sound.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What Is Om and Why Is It Important?

[03:00] Pranava: The Secret Behind Om

[05:16] Omkara: The Spiritual Layer of Om

[08:05] Om and Its Impact on Daily Life

[10:05] The Influence of Om

[12:15] Financial Detachment and Om Chanting

[14:03] Replacing Om with Shri

[16:02] Strategic vs. Tactical Use of Om

[17:45] Why We Don't Use Om as a Mantra in Vedic Meditation

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Third Eye - What it is and What You Need to Know About it. Oct 15, 2023

Show notes

Spiritual seekers can often be found experimenting with different techniques to “open their third eye” in the hope that it will give them insights they might not otherwise have, or at least to tick a box on their evolutionary progress score sheet.

In fact the reference to it as a third eye can often lead people down the path of mood making, where they think they are literally seeing things with their third eye rather than imagining them.

In this episode, Thom clarifies just what type of insights one might get from the third eye, and the factors that allow these insights to happen. It’s a down-to-earth explanation that reinforces the need to have a technique that reliably releases stress from the body.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Third Eye - The Eye of Wisdom

[03:12] Symbolism of the Third Eye

[05:26] Soma

[07:55] The Vedic View of Consciousness

[10:06] The Flow of Consciousness: Soma

[12:40] Stress Reduction and Soma Generation

[15:03] Enhancing Awareness Through Soma Flow

[17:08] Transformation Through Vedic Meditation and Soma

[19:07] The Third Eye's Role in Expanding Consciousness

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Solution to All Problems Oct 08, 2023

Show notes

If we look at the origin of the word “problem,” we see that it originally meant to “throw forward” for discussion.

In mathematics, problem is still used in the same context, in that we find a solution to an equation, with the equation being the problem.

In day-to-day life, though, problems are more than just propositions; they are actual issues that need to be solved rather than just propositions to ponder.

Or are they?

In this episode, Thom “throws forward” a new proposition for us to ponder, one that can practically and logically allow our problems to go away…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Solution to All Problems

[02:57] Problem Solving

[05:32] Solutions in Less Excited States

[07:31] Darkness Is Beautiful

[09:33] Problem Is Actually a Consciousness State

[11:48] Archimedes and Problem Resolution

[14:06] See Obstacles as Opportunities

[16:16] Evolution of Solutions

[18:17] There's a Problem

[20:24] There's No Problem

[22:28] The Pathway to Solution

[24:33] Get Knowledge of the Knower

[26:39] Practice Vedic Meditation and Reveal Inner Knowledge

[29:02] From Problem Consciousness to Solution Consciousness

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Are Body-Based Goals Evolutionary? Oct 01, 2023

Show notes

One of the features of modern life that sets us apart from our ancestors is our focus on the shape, form and function of our bodies, or “looking good,” so to speak.

Though many of us give little thought to the subject, some are obsessed with how we present ourselves physically, and most of us are somewhere in between.

It would be fair to say, though, that we’re probably much more “body-centric” than our grandparents or earlier generations were.

So is such behavior evolutionary or does it slow us down and keep us at the superficial level of life?

In this episode, a listener poses a question to Thom about the compatibility of body-based goals with our evolution, and whether they hold us back or not.

As is often the case, Thom makes the distinction between cause and effect, and gives us clear instructions on where to focus our efforts.

Episode Highlights:

[00:58] What's Beyond the Body?

[02:46] Overcoming Odds for Enlightenment: Ashtavakra and Helen Keller

[04:11] Magnificent Creatures

[07:00] Tat Wale Baba

[08:18] Jata

[10:00] Consciousness Shapes Appearance

[12:18] Aligning with the Laws of Nature

[14:01] Know Your Body

[16:01] Perfecting Health with Ayurveda

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

A Vedic Perspective on Postpartum Depression Sep 24, 2023

Show notes

Carrying a child, giving birth and raising a baby places a huge burden on mothers, physically and emotionally. Each mother’s experience is unique and there is no reliable user guide showing how to navigate this transformational stage of life.

And while everyone concerned hopes for the mother to have a joyful experience, for many that’s not the case. Though it’s only received medical recognition in recent decades, postpartum depression, (aka postnatal depression) has been a part of the motherhood journey for millenia.

In this episode Thom explores the Vedic perspective on postpartum depression, highlighting the fact that it’s much more common than we might think, and inviting us to take a compassionate position, even to the point of reframing our relationships with our own mothers.

Episode Highlights

[00:47] The Magnificent Gift of Motherhood

[03:04] The Needy Sound of a Baby

[05:36] A Peaceful Pregnancy: The Ayurveda Way

[08:03] Ayurvedic Herbs for New Mothers

[10:08] Walking in Mom's Shoes

[11:58] Vedic Meditation for Mothers To Be

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Mechanics of Stress and Stress Release Sep 17, 2023

Show notes

All of us are familiar with the feeling of being stressed, or the results of accumulating stress in the body, but, how many of us actually know the mechanics of this process?

We know we can feel frustrated, annoyed, angry, fearful, sad, anxious, and so on, but where do these feelings come from, and why do we all react differently to them?

Thom takes a deep dive into the subject today, looking at the mechanics of stress, how we feel it, where it goes, what happens when we have too much of it, and, most importantly, what we can do to remove it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Nature of Stress

[02:39] Adaptation Energy

[05:33] Depleting the Adaptation Energy Account

[07:34] Stress Response: Fight or Flight

[10:08] Effects of Stress on Skin

[11:48] Hydration and Stress

[13:20] Digestive System and Stress Effects

[14:43] Tunnel Vision

[16:23] Dramatic Reactions

[17:30] The Memory of Stress Reactions

[19:55] Universality of Stress Reactivity

[21:39] Accumulation of Stress Memories

[23:24] Stored Stress and Faded Memories

[24:51] The Meditator's Advantage: Stay/Play Response

[27:03] The Silence of Bliss

[29:13] Body's Adaptation to the Mind

[31:34] Past Stress and Present Beingness

[33:44] Un-Stressing and Detoxification through Meditation

[36:01] Dissolving Stress During Vedic Meditation

[38:04] The Impact of Regular Vedic Meditation

[40:46] Factors Affecting the Dissolution of Stress

[42:45] Rounding in Vedic Meditation Retreats

[45:34] Getting Stressed Is Not Bad, But Staying Stressed Is

[47:37] Turiya - The Fourth State of Consciousness

[49:42] Systematic Accumulation of Stress in Today's World

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Inspiration, Apathy vs Non-Attachment, An End to Humanity? Sep 10, 2023

Show notes

It’s Q&A time once again.

In this episode Thom helps out a listener who doesn’t know why it might be important for her spouse to learn Vedic Meditation. Thom includes the possibility that it might in fact not be important for him to learn

He discusses the distinction between apathy and non-attachment, and the very simple yet distinct indicator that tells us which we might be experiencing.

And he considers a hypothetical scenario where all of humanity becomes enlightened. More specifically, he discusses where the supply of souls seeking enlightenment comes from.

Needless to say, we won’t be running out of souls any time soon…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Is it Important for My Spouse to Learn Vedic Meditation?

[01:48] A - The Importance of Personal Inspiration

[03:31] Even Rocks Melt

[00:05:38] A Little Bit Silly

[06:53] Leveraging Role Models - Arthur Ashe's Example

[09:29] Winning Over a Resistant Husband

[11:20] Q - What Is the Difference Between Apathy and Non-Attachment?

[11:35] A - Apathy as a General Condition

[13:23] Non-Attachment and the Freedom to Let Go

[15:21] The Dynamic Nature of Non-Attachment

[18:08] Q - What Happens to Enlightened Souls After Death?

[18:21] A - The Enlightenment State - Cosmic Intelligence

[20:46] No Reincarnation for the Enlightened

[22:33] Cosmic Intelligence Continues Its Work

[24:55] Cosmic Intelligence in New Generations

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

The Role of Beliefs in Dharma Sep 03, 2023

Show notes

Our beliefs play a fundamental role in how we engage in life. What we learn in our early years becomes our guide as to the actions that we choose to take or not take in our lives.

For the most part these beliefs serve us well. They help us to live in harmony with our surroundings and our community, but are there points where we must set aside our beliefs for the higher good?

Most of us find ourselves from time to time, much like Arjuna on the battlefield with Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, in situations where our “duty” is at odds with our beliefs.

In this episode, Thom lays out a plan of action not too dissimilar from Krishna’s response to Arjuna, a plan that we can all put into practice easily on the battlefield of life.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Virtuous Behavior

[03:30] Dynamic Nature of Ethical Principles

[04:49] Awakening Consciousness Through Meditation

[07:01] Living Dharma: Aligning with Intentionality

[09:31] Reinterpreting Dharma: Beyond Roles and Professions

[11:14] Journey of Self-Discovery: From Virtues to Dharma

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

Does Charm Always Feel Easy? Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

Synchronicity has become a buzzword in the past 20 years.

The notion that things can go your way and everything becomes seemingly effortless is considered a sign of evolutionary progress. Some might even say it’s a form of spiritual favoritism.

But is evolution necessarily easy? In particular, does charm always lead us down an easy path?

Thom gives us a short discourse on the matter, inviting us to enjoy the ride that we sometimes find ourselves on when Vedic Meditators follow charm.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Path of Least Resistance

[04:25] Unsustainable Formulae

[06:05] A Higher Level of Function

[08:15] Embracing the Sensations of Change

[11:13] The Sensations of Evolution

[12:37] The Art of Following Charm

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com