Vedic Worldview

Latest Episodes:

The Beauty of Sanskrit Feb 05, 2023

Show notes

While many of us think of language as something that evolved from the grunts and noises made by our prehistoric ancestors, Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Veda, has a very unique distinction; it’s an ‘inspired’ or cognized language, reflecting the intention of Nature through sound.

Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, majoring in Sanskrit, Thom is well placed to give us an overview of its origin and a demonstration of its beauty.

He explains how its custodians have preserved its integrity over the centuries, protecting it from the inevitable change of common use.

And for those of us who don’t want to dive deeply into understanding it more fully, he explains why we don’t need to understand Sanskrit intellectually in order to benefit from its meaning or intent.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The First Child of the Language of Nature

[02:45] Rishi - One with Super Subtle Perception

[04:28] Sounds Like...

[06:35] Seeing the Sounds

[08:38] Lingua Franca

[10:29] An Absolute Language

[11:32] Fluid Languages

[12:32] Olde English

[14:19] An Effect Without Understanding

[17:00] The Means Alone Won't Get You There

[18:25] A Lifetime of Learning Isn't Enough

[19:28] Sama Veda - Enlivening Our Experience of the Unified Field

[21:23] Puja

[23:32] A Beautiful Sound On Its Own

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Tantra - Embracing the Art of Brinkmanship Jan 29, 2023

Show notes

Mention tantra and most people think of sexual practices designed to prolong the sexual experience or to add a ‘spiritual’ element to it. While the principle of tantra can certainly be applied to sex, it’s actually a concept that has much broader and more interesting applications.

Strictly speaking, when properly applied, even the art of procrastination, as distinct from the habit of avoidance, can be said to be a form of tantra.

As Thom explains in this episode, tantra is a form of brinkmanship, the ability to hover at the border of two different states, either conceptually or physically. As you’ll hear, it’s an art that Vedic Meditators become quite accomplished at…

Episode Highlights:

[00:55] Tantra Has Evaded All Attempts at Consistent Definition

[03:37] Understanding Tantra is Pivotal to the Development of a Vedic Meditator

[05:44] Creativity at Work Requires the Pressure of Present-Moment Awareness

[08:13] Tantric Awareness No Longer Fears Boundaries

[10:17] Boundaries Are Places of Rich and Condensed Knowledge

[12:34] Helium as a Gas to a Superfluid

[14:12] Superfluid Helium is a Quantum Mechanical Phenomenon

[16:37] Tantra Is a Consciousness State

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Worst-case Scenarios | Parts Work | Intentions and Goal Setting Jan 22, 2023

Show notes

There’s no shortage of questions from our podcast audience, which is perfect because Thom is never short of an answer…

The common thread throughout this Q&A episode is that we’re all much more empowered than we might think.

Thom reminds us that Nature loves it when we commit, and that rather than preparing ourselves for worst-case scenarios, we must assume that we’re acting on Nature’s behalf and get behind our intention, and then act accordingly.

He gives us clues as to how we can use the present to inspire our past and the future to inspire our present. You'll need to flex the way you think about time but, as always, Thom gives us an elegant analogy to work with.

And to round things off, he takes the intention message one step further, inviting us to be flexible with our expectations and to be ready, and willing, to change plans at a moment’s notice.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Should We Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios?

[01:33] A - Collectives Create the Governance That Surrounds Them

[04:07] Government is in a Dependency Role

[06:11] Continue to Provide, No Matter Where the Funding Comes From

[07:55] "Here We'll Build Our Next Ashram"

[09:21] "The Money Will Come From Where it is Now"

[11:27] Seagull Parable from the Upanishad

[13:06] Millions of Birds Drying out the Ocean

[14:18] Garuda and Varuna

[16:23] Q - What is the Vedic World View of Parts Work?

[17:03] A - Reinspiring Consciousness

[18:50] One Contiguous Flow

[21:05] Inspiration From the Future

[23:22] Q - Does Intention and Goal Setting Contradict the Vedic Worldview?

[23:55] A - I Am Totality

[26:27] Nature's Bait and Switch

[27:50] This is Nature Itself Thinking

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The Role of the Mistaken Intellect in Evolution Jan 15, 2023

Show notes

Vedic wisdom is full of contrasting ideas. We’re told that evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, yet we’re also told that the intellect is ‘mistaken’ and that it holds us back from experiencing enlightened forms of Consciousness.

Can both be true? Can we be both mistaken and be playing a role in evolution at the same time? Here’s your chance to find out.

This is another masterclass on the Vedic Worldview, an episode worthy of your full attention and one that you’ll want to listen to a few times over to fully understand what it means for you and your own personal evolution. If you have trouble celebrating your ‘flaws’ this will go a long way to putting that to rest.

Episode Highlights

[00:53] Pragya Aparadha

[01:55] Structure of Human Consciousness - Intellect

[03:44] Individual Ego and Cosmic Ego

[05:58] Experiencing Psycho-genesis - the Source of Thought

[07:59] Transcendance is the Unified Field Itself

[09:59] Every Thought is a Stream of Energy and Intelligence

[12:22] Bio-friendly Universe

[14:29] Mind Experiencing Dual Awareness

[16:26] Neuroplasticity of the Brain

[18:29] Joy of the Combination of Two Activities is Greater than Keeping them Separate

[20:44] Ritam - Thinking and Being at the Same Time

[22:51] Stabilizing Ritam

[24:47] A Very Fantastic Experience

[26:38] Neuroplasticity Allows for Stabilization of Two States Simultaneously

[28:31] Cosmic Consciousness

[31:21] The Power of the Mistaken Intellect

[34:07] Intellect has Handicaps

[35:52] Intellect Was the Bouncer to the Ego Structure

[37:39] Rehabilitation of the Sense of Self through Meditation

[39:44] Intellect is the Last Thing to Capitulate

[42:05] It Takes a Thorn to Remove a Thorn

[43:42] Mistaken Intellect Sabotages Our Best Internal Knowledge

[46:32] Prosecutorial Intellect and Advocacy Intellect

[48:51] The Resolute Intellect

[50:46] Pulling Back the String of the Bow

[53:05] Mistaken Intellect is the Last Thing to Allow Enlightenment to Zoom Forth

[55:07] Guru - Remover of Darkness

[57:16] Vedic Meditation Retreats Awakening the Resolute Intellect

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My Time in Prison Jan 08, 2023

Show notes

Most people are surprised to hear that Thom Knoles has spent time in prison. And not just one prison. Several in fact.

And not just in one country. He’s spent time in multiple prisons in Australia and the United States of America.

Listen in as Thom shares the tale of how he took control of his own destiny, and changed the destiny of hundreds of others in the process.

NB - See here for The Light Inside project that Thom mentions on the podcast.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] A Deep Conviction

[03:01] The Starry World

[05:08] Jyotish - Vedic Astrology

[06:47] Prison is in Your Future.

[08:27] "Go to Prison."

[09:47] Freedom Behind Bars

[12:53] Multiple Prison Stays

[14:24] Meditation in Prison

[18:01] The Light Inside

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The Vedic Perspective on the New Year Jan 01, 2023

Show notes

Happy New Year! Or is it?

While large parts of the world celebrate the start of a new calendar year on January 1st, much of the world celebrates the New Year at other times. Many cultures base their New Year on events in Nature, astronomical events, or a combination of both.

In this episode, Thom explains the basis for the Vedic New Year and the rationale behind it.

While it isn’t celebrated as ‘enthusiastically’ as New Year is in the West, it marks a significant stage in the rhythm of life and is worthy of our attention each time it comes around, even if we have another New Year celebration that’s more significant to us.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Gregorian Calendar

[01:41] Cues From Nature

[03:24] Solstices and Equinoxes

[04:46] Yuletide

[05:51] Gap Week

[07:39] Vernal Equinox

[09:01] Spring - When We See the Fecundity of the Earth

[10:47] Creating Additional Joy

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Vedic and Australian Aboriginal Connections. Evolution and Devolution Dec 25, 2022

Show notes

This Ask Thom Anything episode explores ancient cultures, the process of evolution and the possibility of devolution.

Thom shares an anecdote about a journey to outback Australia as an envoy for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to seek the blessing of Aboriginal Elders, where he discovered an unexpected, though not surprising, connection between the ancient people of Australia and those of India.

And in answers to two totally separate questions, he explains the evolutionary leap that made us the ‘smartest’ species on the planet, though potentially too smart for our own good.

It’s a salient reminder that we all need to be vigilant with our Vedic Meditation practice and to share the benefits widely if we want the human species to continue to be part of Nature’s evolutionary process.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - What's the Connection Between Australian Aboriginal and Vedic Culture

[01:29] Indigenous People who Possessed Knowledge of Transcending

[02:38] "You Want to Talk to the Old Fellas?"

[04:28] Making Arrangements to See the Old Fellas

[06:17] Clean Sheets and Some Good Tucker

[07:32] Remarkable State of Contentedness

[09:41] We'd Like to Teach All the Fellas

[11:20] It'll Be Alright

[13:22] Q - What is the Truth About the Brain's Evolution?

[13:44] A - Darwinistic Evolution

[16:23] Science Likes One Original Miracle

[18:05] Bio-Friendly Universe

[20:32] Timing was Perfect for a Consciousness Revolution

[21:45] Evolutionary Pressures Caused Pivotal Evolutionary Change

[24:30] Q - Can We Evolve Regressively?

[25:23] A - Dumbing Down of Consciousness

[26:18] Intelligent Enough. Not Intelligent Enough

[28:08] A Little Knowledge is a Dangerous Thing

[29:27] Critical Mass of People Meditating

[30:55] The Few Lead the Many

[33:01] Not Smart Enough to Prevent Our Own Self-extinction?

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Trust vs Certainty Dec 18, 2022

Show notes

How much trust did you have that the sun would rise this morning? And even if it was hidden by clouds, did you still trust that it was there?

Unless you live near one of the polar caps, where you can go for months without seeing the sun, no doubt you had enough certainty that you didn’t need to apply any trust at all. You were certain it was going to rise and can be certain it will rise again tomorrow.

Much of the stress in our lives is caused by uncertainty, which we smooth over by applying trust or faith to a situation or to a person, but that’s an approach that leaves us exposed to outside influences.

In this episode, Thom shares a sure-fire approach to dial up the certainty in our lives and to make us resilient to the uncertainty that we need to keep life interesting.

We are certain you’ll enjoy this episode :-).

Episode Highlights

[01:02] Object-referral Way of Looking at the World

[03:31] Problem Means Problem Consciousness

[05:10] No More Problem

[06:01] Self-referral Consciousness Commences with Vedic Meditation

[07:53] Consciousness Field is the Knower, Knowing and Known

[09:55] We Start Taking More Responsibility for What we Are Experiencing

[11:40] Percentage of Self-referral Awareness

[13:47] Internal Locus of Control

[15:18] External Locus of Control

[17:16] Faith and Trust - Suspension of Disbelief

[19:41] Certainty is Better than Trust

[21:18] Absolute Supreme Knowledge

[23:02] Vedic Rishis Don't Operate on the Level of Trust

[25:06] Knowledge Has Organizing Power

[27:21] Knowledge of the Knower has Infinite Organising Power

[29:26] Capture the Fort - Then the Entire Territory Belongs to You

[31:24] Water the Roots of the Tree - the Underlying Transcendental Field of the Tree

[33:44] Someone Who Meditates Becomes an Agent of the Evolutionary Process

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The Three Gunas Dec 11, 2022

Show notes

Evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, but what’s the mechanism behind evolution?

The Vedic perspective tells us that everything that happens in ‘the relative’ is governed by the three ‘gunas.’

In this episode Thom describes the three gunas as balancing agents, engaged in a constant interplay of intention, action and inaction, ensuring that everything is created in perfect harmony, and remains relevant for just as long as it needs to be, and no more.

He also explains how Vedic Meditation, the art of transcending the three gunas, can be our most powerful weapon, even in the toughest of life’s battles.

Episode Highlights

[00:56] Bhagavad Gita - Song of the Supreme Consciousness Field

[03:20] Cousins Go to War

[05:30] Arjuna Deeply Conflicted

[07:57] "You Could Have Avoided All of This"

[09:45] "Your Cousins will Destroy the Entire Culture of India"

[11:53] Nistraigunyo Bhavarjuna

[13:51] Yogastha Kuru Karmani

[15:56] Evolutionary Force is Causing Ever More Elegant and Sophisticated Forms

[18:13] Humans - Relatively Inept Athletes

[20:03] But a Highly Sophisticated Human Brain

[22:01] Capacity to See Cascades of Cause

[23:42] Upright Neurocentric Arthropods

[24:45] Sattva, Rajas and Tamas - Three Balancing Agents

[26:09] Inertia of Stillness

[27:46] Inertia - A Way to Stop the Vehicle

[29:46] Change is Inevitable

[32:01] Meditation - Be Without the Three Gunas

[34:24] The Yoga Consciousness State gives the Expanded Perspective

[36:41] Turiya - the Fourth Consciousness State

Mata, Pita, Guru Dec 04, 2022

Show notes

We could be forgiven for thinking that Mata, Pita and Guru, Mother, Father, and ‘Teacher,’ refer to specific people in our life. But as we’ve come to expect from Vedic wisdom, there is much more to these words than meets the eye.

In this episode Thom explains the connotative meaning of this triumvirate and the role that they play, moment to moment, in our lives.

While most of us see life as a series of events happening to us, those who view life through the lens of Mata, Pita and Guru, see it as a series of events happening for us. No points for guessing which approach leads to the least suffering.

Episode Highlights

[00:56] The Three-Part Body of Knowledge

[02:36] Mata - The Gestator

[03:56] Matrix

[05:21] The Source of All New Moments

[06:45] Purification Takes Place

[07:46] Pita; The Instigator of Change

[08:41] Source and Cause

[09:47] Thought - A Stream of Energy and Intelligence

[12:03] A Thing Stimulates You to Have a Thought

[13:50] The Third Element - Guru

[15:29] "We Can Make Money Out of This."