Vedic Worldview

The Function of Dreaming Consciousness Aug 13, 2023

Show notes

Why do we have dreams and what do they mean?

Some schools of thought attempt to attribute specific meanings and interpretations of dreams, but the Vedic stance is somewhat different.

The Vedic worldview recognizes seven different states of consciousness, including dreaming, but as Thom explains in this episode, not all dreams are dreams, and none of them require interpretation…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] What Does My Dream Mean?

[02:18] One More Possibility Gone

[03:57] The Illusion of Dream Duration

[05:53] Dreams and Rapid Eye Movement (REM)

[07:23] Dreaming in the Waking State

[08:52] Dreams as Expressions of Stress Release

[10:39] Sigmund Freud's Dream Theory

[12:20] Brain's Storytelling Mechanism in Dreams

[13:52] A Story Unfolds

[15:15] Let It Go

[17:03] Release of Stress

[18:41] Exploring Turiya: Beyond the Three Relative States

[20:40] Lucid Dreaming to Transcendent Experiences

[22:53] Nature Does Not Speak in Code

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The Role of Devotion in Our Evolution Aug 06, 2023

Show notes

Devotion is often heralded as a path to enlightenment, but what does that mean? To whom or to what should we be devoted to?

Thom presents the Vedic position on devotion in this episode, teaching us that devotion is an effect rather than a cause, an outcome rather than an action.

It’s a compelling case that gives us full control over our ability to experience devotion and the rich rewards that come with it.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The First Element of Devotion

[02:50] The Significance of Personalized Mantras

[05:01] The Proposition of Learning

[06:39] Another Extraordinary Thing

[08:02] Commitment to Regular Practice of Vedic Meditation

[09:20] How Did You Live Without It?

[10:45] Devotion & Dedication

[12:55] Deva-Ocean

[14:47] A Supreme Form of Love

[16:58] Falling in Love with Our Self

[18:54] Unity Points and Recognition of Self

[20:23] Transition from Love to Devotion

[22:47] Mood-Making is Not Recommended

[24:12] Dedicated Practice and the Emergence of Devotion

[26:16] Devotion as a Natural State of Consciousness

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The Function and Relevance of Kirtan Jul 30, 2023

Show notes

Kirtan has become popular outside of India in recent decades. The heightened feelings that can arise from devotional chanting have made it a compelling activity for many wanting to experience Vedic wisdom at the level of feeling.

But there’s a lot more to kirtan than meets the ear.

In this fascinating episode, Thom discusses the origins and the function of kirtan, and explains how it can be experienced optimally and with deep reverence.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] Bhajan - A Devotional Hymn of Praise

[01:30] A Taste of Home Away from Home

[02:58] Hare Krishna

[05:22] Attuned With the Qualities of Divine Beings

[07:00] Mahakumbha Mela

[08:54] Sangham Triveni

[10:47] Millions of Moonlit People

[12:12] Kirtan En Masse

[13:31] Kirtan Around the Corner

[15:08] Anukirtana

[16:36] Rounding on Retreat

[18:33] Agnimile Purohitam

[20:24] An Effect on Consciousness

[22:42] The Witness Benefits Most Greatly

[24:07] Anukirtanam and Vedic Meditation

[25:30] Puja in Person

[27:14] Maintaining the Purity of the Teaching

[28:06] The Forgotten Art of Transcendence

[29:41] A Regal Recipient

[31:03] A Preference for Listening

[32:16] Transcendent Relief

[33:42] Nishkam Karma Yoga

[34:56] Pronouncing Impulses of Creative Intelligence

[36:17] I Want Wawa

[38:09] Yagya

[40:08] Destructive Interference

[42:15] Become the Innocent Witness

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India - The Cradle of Civilization Jul 23, 2023

Show notes

Few countries match India for its vast variety of people, cultures, languages, and of course, styles of cuisine.

While most of us appreciate different aspects of this vast and colorful nation, few of us have a worthy appreciation of the role India has played in shaping civilizations outside of India.

Many languages have an ancestral relationship with Sanskrit, the original spoken language of India. Vedic astrologers were centuries ahead of their European counterparts when it came to understanding the movement of celestial objects.

India played a pivotal role in shaping the way we use numbers, being among the first (if not the first) to introduce zero as a number. And many modern myths and legends can be traced back to Vedic literature.

While it would take multiple series of documentaries to celebrate the ancient Indian influence on modern life, in this episode Thom celebrates the most crucial contribution India has made, and preserved, over the centuries. It’s an influence that continues to play a crucial role today, and will do so for millenia to come.

If you’d like to experience India first hand with Thom, he invites you to join him on his annual retreat, held in January each year. Visit https://thomknoles.com/india for more information.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Untouched for Millenia

[03:00] The Pioneers of Neolithic Living

[04:38] The Art of Questioning Consciousness

[06:49] The Discovery of Turiya: Fourth State of Consciousness

[08:59] The Veda and Vedic Civilization

[11:27] The Expansion of Consciousness States

[13:45] India's Resilience Against Invasions

[16:00] Global Hub for Consciousness Exploration

Useful Links

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My Maharishi - A Second Father to Me Jul 16, 2023

Show notes

While most of us have mentors or figures that have a significant impact on our lives, few of us have the great good fortune to spend much time with a great leader such as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

In this episode, Thom reflects on both the origin story of his relationship with Maharishi, and the final chapter of the “in-person” interactions he had with him.

It’s a sweet tale that gives us a deeper appreciation of Guru-Student relationships, how the tradition of Masters that have been custodians of Vedic wisdom has evolved over time, and how the consciousness of the tradition is maintained throughout the centuries.

Episode Highlights:

(00:45) A Great Seer

(02:22) MIU

(04:24) A Second Father

(06:04) Give Me a Quote

(08:31) A Good Night's Sleep

(10:38) Om

(12:59) All Rise

(14:44) A Force Five Hurricane of Happiness

(16:27) Jai Guru Deva

(18:03) An Exclamation of Joy

(20:13) Angavastra Dhoti

(22:22) Asana

(24:22) Guru Purnima

(26:24) Puja

(27:46) An Advanced Technique

(29:10) An Alternative to the Advanced Technique

(31:09) Minimize the Effort, Maximize the Success

(33:17) A Peculiar Phenomenon

(35:05) Not Different to Me

(37:46) The Field

(39:02) Seelisberg, Switzerland

(41:05) The Resurgence of Ayurveda

(43:34) The Call to Return Home

(45:14) Rich People Problems

(47:21) The Waiting State of Consciousness

(48:52) "Then What?"

(50:07) A Reliable Connection

(51:56) "You Got It?"

(54:10) Accepting the Graduation

(55:48) The Last Time in Person

(57:15) I and U Became M

(01:00:35) A Drop Disappearing from the Ocean

(01:02:02) A Loudspeaker of the Tradition

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Our Role in Parent-Child Relationships Jul 09, 2023

Show notes

Why do we choose our parents and why do our children choose us?

Working out the evolutionary function of parent-child relationships is tricky, and quite possibly a waste of time. While it might satisfy the intellect to come up with an answer, the contributing factors are likely to be more complex than the intellect can process.

What we can do though, is to become exemplars in the relationship, whether it be with our parents, or with our children. We can bypass the need to know, or the need to control the dynamic, and shine the light for parents and children to follow, should they choose two.

Thom explains more in this Q&A episode…

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q-Why Did I Choose My Parents?

[01:12] A-The Purpose of Jiva

[03:33] The Menu of Potential Parents

[05:40] Governing Agents in Our Lives

[07:34] Gratitude for Challenging Home Life

[09:20] The Curse and Blessing of Materialism

[11:24] Parenting Our Parents

[14:13] The Gift of Enlightenment

[16:29] Q-How to Inspire Stubborn Child's Knowledge Without Force?

[17:09] A-Inspiration

[18:43] Teachable Moment

[21:05] Encouraging Self-Discovery in Children

Useful Links

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Why do We Self Sabotage Ourselves? Jul 02, 2023

Show notes

There’s no shortage of self judgments we can make that don’t make us feel good, and self sabotage is up there with the best.

It provides a talking point for countless therapy sessions, and gives us plenty of ammunition for those moments when we’re trying to rationalize our actions.

So what is self sabotage and why do we do it? The good news is that, like all things, it has an evolutionary function.

Thom explains in more detail in this episode, releasing us from the need to explain ourselves in the process.

Episode Highlights:

[03:32] Mood Changes

[05:03] Breaking Free from the Habit of Constant Mental Activity

[07:08] The Endless Quest for Something Better

[09:16] Dreams as Stress Release

[11:02] Dreams and Realities

[12:48] Dreaming Within Dreams

[14:29] The Relationship Between Consciousness and Suffering

[16:11] It's All Part of a Learning Curve

[18:40] The Interplay Between Capability and Suffering

[20:41] Pursuing Happiness Amidst Discomfort

[22:35] Thoughts and Bodily Functions

[24:49] The Deep Inner Workings of the Human Mind

[26:28] Enjoyable Crying Episodes

[28:58] You're Going to Be So Happy from Your Sadness

[30:26] Attaining Satisfactory Sadness

[31:54] Embrace Vedic Meditation to Seek Happiness

[33:55] The Suffering Experiment

[35:27] Don't-do-it Lectures Don't Work

[37:17] Feeling Good All the Time

[38:51] Letting Go of Suffering

[40:24] All That Is

[42:25] Breaking the Cycle of Self-Sabotage

[44:21] Expose Yourself to a Deeper Understanding

Useful Links

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World Peace is an Inside Job Jun 25, 2023

Show notes

War is a 24/7 business, and none of us have lived through a time when there isn’t war raging in some part of the world, whether it be a full-blown international conflict, or a localized civil war.

So the idea of world peace might seem like a pipe dream, something over which we have no control.

In this episode, Thom reminds us of the magnitude of the problem, and educates us on the magnitude of the solution.

It turns out that the solution is actually more simple than we might think, and that our contribution to the solution is more significant than we might realize…

Episode Highlights:

[03:34] The Endless Cycle of War: From the Past to the Present

[05:52] Individual Peace is the Basis of World Peace

[07:31] The Evolution of Industrial Killing

[09:23] Stalemate

[11:36] The Nightmare of Another World War

[13:46] The Paradox of Democracy and Nuclear Weapons

[15:32] Finding Happiness Beyond Money

[17:23] The Limits of Material Wealth in Achieving Happiness

[18:58] This Elusive Thing Called Happiness

[20:56] Exploring the Relationship Between Thought and Energy

[22:54] Ananda: Finding Happiness Through Our Inner Being

[25:12] Path to Inner Peace

[27:25] Feel Happy from Inside Yourself

[29:33] The Power of Inner Happiness

[31:29] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Vision for Global Peace

[33:35] The Power of One Percent

[35:36] It's Just a Matter of Time

[37:16] Our Contribution to World Peace

Useful Links

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The Akashic Record Explained Jun 18, 2023

Show notes

“Readings” of the Akashic record have become popular in recent years. In our quest to understand the mysteries behind who we are, how we got here, and why this, that or the other thing happened, the promise of the Akashic record is compelling.

But what exactly is the Akashic record? Can you actually access it? And, if so, how?

Thom explains the true meaning of the Akashic record in this episode, which reflects the wisdom of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s famous quote, “Knowledge is structured in consciousness.”

It’s a reminder that no matter what tools we call upon, the only limitation to our access to knowledge that’s relevant for us to have, is our state of consciousness.

Episode Highlights:

[03:11] Mastering Sanskrit Pronunciation

[06:17] Maha Bhuta: The Five Great Elements

[09:18] Chit and Consciousness

[12:29] Reverse Engineering The Universe: Understanding the Beginning of Time

[14:35] Akashic Record Holds the Secrets of The Universe

[17:29] The Two Truths: Temporal and Transcendent

[19:54] The Unchanging and Ever-Changing Nature of Truth

[22:32] Unlocking Hidden Truths with Vedic Meditation

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com