Vedic Worldview

Latest Episodes:

Memory and Dementia Nov 27, 2022

Show notes

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors in the USA dies with some form of dementia*. And with the rapidly-aging population, numbers are expected to double within the next thirty years.

These are sobering statistics but in this episode, Thom puts forward the Vedic perspective on the subject and a simple solution, which, ironically, lies in reviving our lost ability to forget.

With so many cognitive demands placed on us each day, and our obsessive need to remember, Thom reminds us that our twice-daily dose of Vedic Meditation gives our brain the much-needed respite from the demands of the day, and the chance to avoid the forced shut-down that dementia often provides in later life.

It’s a hopeful message that could help many better understand the condition they fear more than any other.

*Alzheimer’s Association.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The Value of Memory

[03:19] Fight/Flight Response

[05:30] Structural and Material Changes that Pertain to Fighting or Fleeing

[07:07] The Stress of Stress

[08:31] Our Immune System - Reducing Neoplsams

[10:21] Stress And Cancer

[12:28] We Get Stressed by Everything

[14:20] Our Memory and Memory in the Cells

[16:11] Power of Consciousness

[17:53] Hundreds of Thousands of Mantras

[20:05] Prime Property of the Mantra

[24:01] Forgetting and Remembrance Phenomenon

[25:43] Letting Go of Irrelevancy

[27:59] Letting Go of Attachment

[29:44] Forget and Remember

[31:49] The Major Problem

[34:11] Purpose of Memory

[36:45] Your Contribution to Evolution

[38:35] What is it You're Remembering and Forgetting?

[40:03] What Form of Dying Frightens You the Most?

[42:01] Everything is Forgotten

[43:55] This Happened, and That Will Happen.

[45:59] Enjoy Forgetfulness

[48:17] Remembering the Right Things

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My Time in Australia Nov 23, 2022

Show notes

With a father as a high-ranking officer in the US Air Force, Thom Knoles has been traveling internationally from a very young age. Under the wing of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Thom traveled even more, visiting countries with him on almost every continent.

But the country Thom has spent the most time in, outside of the USA, is his home away from home, Australia.

As a fresh-faced teenager, his keen interest in surfing led him to choose Australia as his destination of choice to set himself up as his meditation teaching career got under way.

Thom reminisces on his time spent there and the legacy of tens of thousands of meditators still active in Australia, and growing each day.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Early Contact with Australians

[02:51] The Art and Sport of Surfing

[05:13] One-Way Airfare

[07:08] 10 Jobs for Every One Person

[08:56] An Immigrant in Australia

[10:47] "What Do You Do for a Crust Mate?"

[12:30] Rhyming Slang of Outback Australians

[14:30] Yoga and Meditation Studio in Sylvania

[16:09] Maharishi Domicile in Switzerland

[18:08] Relatively Close to India

[19:39] A Tremendous Amount of Hospitality

[21:24] 10,000 Students

[23:29] Prisoners and Politicians

[26:01] Drawing People from Across Sydney

[27:38] Australia - the Crucible that Formed and Forged Thom Knoles

[29:30] Australia's Great Naturalness

[31:14] Robustness and Willingness to Take on a Challenge

[32:59] 20,000 Vedic Meditators in Sydney Region

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Protest - Enhancing Vedic Meditation - Japa Meditation Nov 20, 2022

Show notes

We’re turning over the content of the podcast to our listeners once again, with another Ask Thom Anything episode, this time with a recurring theme of ‘effectiveness.’

Protest has become fashionable in recent years but Mary from Australia wonders how effective it is, especially in the absence of ‘worthy inquiry.’

Saskia, also from Australia, asks about the effectiveness of Nadi Shodana and the correct use of ‘Rounding’ to support our Vedic Meditation practice.

And Sophia in the USA wants to know if Japa Meditation has the same effect as, or could be considered to be a type of, Vedic Meditation.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Is Protest Effective?

[01:44] A - Less Outrage

[03:13] Change Naturally and Spontaneously Occurs

[05:07] Thought Police

[06:59] Large-Scale Social Backlash

[08:46] Raise our Own Consciousness

[09:45] Q - What Are the Benefits of Nadi Shodana and How Many Rounds Are Ideal Before Meditation?

[10:03] A - Pranayama

[11:59] Rounding

[13:24] At-Home Program

[14:53] Industrial-Strength Meditation

[16:08] Q - Is Japa Vedic Meditation?

[16:24] A - Some Resemblance

[17:07] Bija Mantra

[19:11] Japa Ajapa

[20:59] Bija Mantra Moves in the Direction of Being

[23:35] Effortlessness, Not Concentration and Control

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My Maharishi - No Problem Nov 13, 2022

Show notes

“No problem.” We’ve all said it on many occasions, and most of us say it, or a variation on it, on a pretty regular basis.

But do we really mean it? And do we know for sure if ‘no problem’ fits the occasion?

In this My Maharishi episode, Thom recounts an interaction where Maharishi Mahesh Yogi held Thom to his word after setting him what seemed to be a relatively simple task.

Thom sums the lesson up nicely at the end and, if nothing else, will get you thinking twice before saying “No problem” again.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] A Force-Five Hurricane of Happiness

[01:48] Night of the Waxing Full Moon in Switzerland

[03:27] Flotillas on the Lake

[05:12] Morning of the Full Moon

[06:32] Roads Blocked Off

[08:02] "Maharishi, There's a Problem."

[09:43] "Thom, Stop Talking."

[12:51] Head of State

[11:02] Find the Highest Principle

[14:20] Problem is a Consciousness State

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The Holy Tradition and The Role of Gurus in Modern Times Nov 06, 2022

Show notes

Word of mouth is an unreliable means of communicating even at the best of times. And while the written word should theoretically be more accurate and more trustworthy than the spoken word, history has shown that that’s not the case.

Words can be so easily misunderstood and misinterpreted that they can’t be relied upon to convey wisdom accurately over time.

So what’s the most reliable way to preserve ancient truths and keep them relevant to the times?

In this episode Thom explores the limitations of the intellect and the role of consciousness in creating a ‘direct line’ when it comes to accessing the wisdom needed for evolutionary progress to be made.

He also explains the role of a Guru in ensuring that they develop successors with the consciousness and capability to adapt teachings to meet the need of the time, and from generation to generation, without diluting the purity of the original teaching.

In short, it’s an explanation that it’s not what you know that’s important, it’s ‘how’ you know.

Jai Guru Deva.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] The Role of Tradition in Vedic Worldview

[03:37] Irrelevant Reaction

[06:04] Our Brain is Not Being Used to Its Full Potential

[08:19] The Brain as a Machine

[10:33] What is Our Brain Capable Of?

[12:08] Brain Development

[13:50] This is Veda

[16:26] Eureka!

[18:49] Maintaining the Purity

[20:51] The Vedic Worldview is Inexhaustible

[22:48] Limitations of Newton's Theory

[24:31] Quantum Mechanics Can Explain Things

[26:38] Maharishi Gifted Me...

[28:12] How Do You Get That?

[30:00] Why Do We Exist?

[31:28] The Dishwasher

[33:13] The Gardener

[34:44] The Colorless Sap

[36:13] Refining My Capability

[37:26] My Great Joy

[39:01] The Meaning of Jai Guru Deva

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My Maharishi - My Exemplar Oct 30, 2022

Show notes

The impact that Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had on the world is inestimable. With millions of people practicing the meditation technique that he popularized around the world, and many thousands more learning each year, the ripple effect of his work will last for centuries to come.

And not just here on earth. It’s fitting that Maharishi’s three favorite words, Jai Guru Deva, inspired lyrics within the famous Beatles song, Across the Universe, which, in 2008, became the first song beamed by NASA into deep space.

But what was it like being up close with Maharishi? In this episode Thom shares some of his observations from his 25 plus years of direct contact with Maharishi in India and throughout the world, often around the clock and for weeks and months on end.

He describes Maharishi’s most endearing characteristics and the impact they had on him personally, declaring that Maharishi shaped him to become the man he is today.

And for bonus value, he also shares the origins of another song from The Beatles that can be attributed to being influenced by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] What Maharishi Was Like

[03:14] An Inspiration to The Beatles

[04:58] A Great Grace

[07:17] Glory to Guru Deva

[09:23] An Artful Walk

[10:06] An Armful of Flowers

[11:09] A Car Seat in Sydney

[12:39] A Coffee Table and a Deerskin

[14:26] Questions From the Floor

[16:14] Response to Worthy Inquiry

[17:13] Dear Prudence

[18:56] Contagious Laughter

[20:18] Hari the Cook

[21:52] Feeling the Food

[23:14] An Incessant Phenomenon

[24:28] A Great Buzz of Activity

[25:58] The Colorless Sap

[28:06] What Happened?

[29:57] Is It Understood?

[31:57] From This Angle, From That Angle

[33:24] Creating Me

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Omnisexuality Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

What’s the Vedic worldview on sexuality?

Gender expression and sexual identity have been hot topics in recent years as more and more people choose to abandon gender and sexual stereotypes.

And while Vedic civilization was way ahead of its time in terms of accepting gender diversity, it turns out that sexuality may not be as important as it's made out to be.

In this bonus episode, Thom proposes a viewpoint whereby we can all look at sexuality from a different perspective and focus on a more reliable source of identity.

And if you’d like to dive a little deeper into the subject, Thom has a new course on Omnisexuality, available for people who have learned Vedic Meditation from a qualified and endorsed (by Thom) Vedic Meditation Teacher.

https://thomknoles.com/omnisexuality

PS - This episode was recorded in front of a live audience at a public event so please forgive the slightly less-the-perfect audio quality.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - What’s the Vedic World View on Sexuality?

[01:23] Why Stop at Five?

[03:03] Doing is Not Identity

[04:51] Sexuality is a Thing That You Do

[06:43] Three Minutes...

[07:49] Be Open to Change

[08:37] Thom's Course on Omnisexuality

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Law of Attraction, Time Travel, Influences on the Body Oct 23, 2022

Show notes

More listener questions on the podcast this episode, with the focus on the metaphysical.

Thom puts a surprising twist in his answer to a question on time travel and gives us clues as to how we can sense the future in the making.

He has an emphatic response to a question about the Law of Attraction, one that will help you make your mind up if you’re in doubt about whether it’s real or not.

And he gives us some advice as to how we can use external influences to our benefit when it comes to our health and wellbeing (Spoiler alert: It’s an inside job!).

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - Is Time Travel Possible?

[00:49] A - What Does Now Mean?

[02:20] Deva

[04:53] Capturing Past and Future

[06:35] You Sense the Future in the Making

[08:33] Constructing the Future

[10:28] That's Time Travel

[12:03] Q - Is the Law of Attraction a Myth?

[12:07] A - "Don't Be a Defeatist."

[13:46] Individuality is on a Mission

[15:32] The Universe is Not Your Sugar Daddy

[17:26] Attraction Has Nothing to Do With Anything

[19:40] Q - Is the Body Influenced by EMR or Plant Essences?

[20:32] A - Let There Be Light

[21:57] Let's Make Ourselves Resilient

[23:54] Will We Dodge Bullets or Become Bulletproof?

[25:46] Stabilize and Purify

[27:18] Self Realization for All Purposes

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Upanishad: The General and the Sergeant Oct 16, 2022

Show notes

Vedic mythos, or storytelling, is often laced with humor to get a point across.

In this episode of the podcast, Thom recounts a tale from the Katha Upanishad, of a Sergeant and a General. It’s a scenario that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of “The Office” or any other workplace sitcom.

Having a character take credit for someone else’s idea and then retelling it back to them is a pretty common gag, but in the Upanishad, it’s much more than just a tool for a cheap laugh.

It’s a profound lesson which, once learned, can be a source of empowerment and a tool for living a more deliberate life.

Episode Highlights

[00:56] Katha Upanishad

[03:19] A Friend in the Sky

[05:27] The Breaking of Unity

[07:31] "You see that hill there?"

[09:57] An Amazing Idea

[11:44] A Source of Thoughts Deep Inside of Us

[14:11] A Wave is Nothing but Ocean

[16:44] Desire

[19:12] I Am Totality

[21:28] A Parody on Praying to God

[22:39] An Unnecessary Step

[23:52] We Just Say Yes

[26:53] Permitted to Act

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The Age of Enlightenment Oct 09, 2022

Show notes

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was ahead of his time in 1975, when he predicted an end to The Cold War and the fall of the Berlin Wall, among many other changes that he foresaw as arising from the dawning of the ‘Age of Enlightenment.’

With The Cold War showing no signs of thawing at the time, most people saw it as a fanciful notion at best. Yet Maharishi, the great seer, saw it as an inevitable outcome of the shift in consciousness that was growing in pace at the time.

Following on from our recent episode, The Yugas and the Importance of Understanding Them Correctly, in this episode Thom discusses Kali Yuga, the age of ignorance, in more detail.

He explains the role of consciousness and how enlightenment and ignorance can coexist, just as the moon can bring light to the night. Most importantly, he explains that the age of ignorance doesn’t place limits on our experience, individually or collectively.

Episode Highlights

[00:55] Kali Yuga—The Age of Ignorance

[02:48] The Dawning of the Age of Enlightenment

[04:44] Seven Days of Silence

[06:44] The Cold War at its Peak

[08:21] The Mutually-Assured Destruction Philosophy

[09:53] Things Will Get Better

[10:51] Enjoying the Good News

[12:00] Incremental Improvements

[13:42] Dawning Cannot But Happen in Darkness

[15:55] Part of the Solution

[17:31] The Meditator's Advantage

[19:19] There is a Lot of Work to be Done

[20:30] Underutilized Potential

[21:46] Impatient Behavior

[23:42] Demands Become Pivot Points

[25:38] Liberating Our Full Potential

[27:11] Resisting the Progress

[29:43] I Am Also the Big Self

[31:30] We Become Lighthouses

[32:52] This is What Light Does

[34:59] Who Knew?

[36:44] Become Masters of the Transcendental Smile

[37:50] We Feel Very Secure

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