Vedic Worldview

Latest Episodes:

The Meaning of Non-Attachment Oct 02, 2022

Show notes

As Eastern philosophies have spread in popularity throughout the world in the past thirty years or so, ‘detachment’ has become somewhat of a buzzword.

It has become a spiritual scorecard of sorts, the theory being that the more detached one is, the more enlightened one is. Or not…

In this episode Thom sets the record straight, explaining the distinction between detachment, which implies attachment in the first place, and non attachment, which negates any attachment at all.

It’s a subtle distinction but it’s much more than just a semantic argument.

While one can fake detachment, thus creating another form of attachment, one can’t fake non attachment. As usual, Thom also shows us how to become non attached, without the strain of having to fake it till we make it.

Episode Highlights

[00:54] Maharishi Patanjali and Yoga Sutra

[03:19] That's Not What Yoga Is

[05:21] Asana, Pranayama, Dhyan

[07:38] Yoga Sutra

[10:24] Not Just Any Old Meditation

[12:46] Vairagya is Not Detachment

[14:56] Detachment Isn't Possible

[16:47] Non-attachment May Occur

[18:57] Neti - Not This

[20:32] Detachment is Not a Practice

[22:12] Detach from Detachment

Useful Links

info@thomknoles.com

https://thomknoles.com/

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https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles

https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles

https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Affairs of the Heart Sep 25, 2022

Show notes

It’s time for another Ask Me Anything episode, with this one focused on affairs of the heart.

Thom answers a listener’s question about the desirability of a ‘heart awakening’ and explains why being ‘grounded in the unbounded’ is a more preferable state to aim for.

He takes on the question of whether partners in a relationship should ‘be on the same path’ or not, and how to manage the dynamic when they aren’t.

And he gives sage advice for a listener asking about the importance of following through on commitments when our heart is no longer committed to them.

As always, another round of practical suggestions for everyday situations that we find ourselves in.

[00:45] Q - Should I be Hoping for a Heart Awakening?

[00:58] A - Experiencing Empathy

[02:37] Empathy Can Be an Overshadowing Feeling

[04:39] Spontaneous Ideal Interaction

[06:37] A Completely Useless State to Be In

[08:05] Grounded in the Unbounded

[10:00] Q - Can a Relationship Flourish if We Are On Different Paths?

[10:15] A - Why We're in a Relationship

[12:12] Who is Suffering in a Relationship?

[14:00] What is Suffering?

[15:42] Sharing the Load

[17:10] Be a Shining Example

[18:02] Q - How do We Honor Commitments that No Longer Feel Relevant?

[18:21] A - Commitments Become Unsustainable with Time

[20:27] The Problem of Severability

[22:04] Forgiveness of a Promise

[23:48] The Five Fundamentals of Progress

[24:51] Time is a Great Healer

Useful Links
info@thomknoles.com
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

My Maharishi - Reviving Ayurveda and The Big Bang Sep 18, 2022

Show notes

Courage under fire is seen as an admirable quality, but grace under fire even much more so.

In this amusing anecdote, Thom shares an example of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s equanimity amidst a timely mishap.

Though the mishap itself was relatively minor, the event itself was not; a conference which was pivotal in the revival of ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and practices, and their subsequent spread throughout the world.

[00:55] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi Revives Ayurveda

[02:46] Balancing Agents

[04:49] Three Masters of Ayurveda

[06:33] Masterful Pulse Diagnosis

[07:48] Master of Minerals

[08:36] Marker of the Plant World

[10:13] Amrit Kalash

[11:23] Maharishi Nagar

[12:45] Learning from the Masters

[13:51] Bright Lights

[15:08] Where the Big Bang Comes From

[17:22] Where the Little Bang Comes From

[19:07] Perpetual Big Bang

Releasing Stress in New York City Sep 11, 2022

Show notes

9/11/2001 is a date that’s been imprinted in our memories worldwide. New York City, at the epicenter of the terror attacks, was shaken to its core, literally and figuratively.

Visiting New York City very soon after, Thom witnessed a distinct shift in the way New Yorkers were relating to each other.

Thom shares his reflections on that visit in the episode, noting in particular how the 9/11 tragedy brought New Yorkers together for a brief period, and how it seeded what has since become a very large community of Vedic Meditators in the city.

But with over 18 million people living in the metro area, a lot more meditators are needed to address the collective stress that stands in the way of New York becoming even more of an iconic city than she already is.

Thom will be visiting New York City from October 9th to 20th to teach Vedic Meditation and give various talks. To find out more and to register for any of these events, please visit thomknoles.com/newyork. Jai Guru Deva.

[00:00:45] No Appointments

[00:02:42] Retiring from Teaching

[00:05:22] "What About New York City?"

[00:07:24] Journey to NYC

[00:09:34] Something Unusual in the Streets of New York

[00:11:44] Embraced the Stranger

[00:13:44] Healing the Wound of New Yorkers

[00:15:26] Why Should We Need to Have a Tragedy?

[00:17:13] New Tour in NYC

[00:19:08] An Invitation to New York

The Ganges - More Than Just a River Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

Few rivers have a name as iconic as the Ganges River in India.

At over 1550 miles (2,500 kms) long, it winds its way from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, passing a population of over 650 million along the way, making it the most populated river basin in the world.

But there is more to the Ganges than just a body of water meandering through the landscape.

In this episode, Thom brings his beloved Ganges to life. He explains why she plays such a significant role in the spiritual life of Indian citizens and visitors who come from around the world just to bathe in her icy waters.

Thom leaves us in no doubt that the Ganges will justifiably play a pivotal role in our upcoming 2023 retreat in Rishikesh.

If you'd like to attend the retreat with Thom in Rishikesh India from January 8th to 18th, 2023, please visit Thom's website for more details, https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ or follow the link in the show notes.

[00:00:45] Mother Ganga

[00:03:17] The Goddess Whom Everyone Can See

[00:05:25] Taking a Dip in Ganga

[00:07:19] An Invitation from Swami Kailashanand Giri

[00:09:06] Removing Karma from the Physiology

Upanishad - The King and the Swordsmith Sep 04, 2022

Show notes

We’re all familiar with the saying, don’t use a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but how about using a sword to clean a finger?

Vedic literature is full of delightful fables that use analogies to deliver profound life lessons. In this episode Thom gives us some background on Upanishad, Vedic fables heard ‘while sitting at the feet of a Master’ before sharing a tale of a King and a swordsmith.

It’s a delightful reminder that our Vedic Meditation technique has a very specific and powerful purpose, and a demonstration of how to dig a little deeper than the superficial interpretation of a story.

Treat this episode as a taste test of more Upanishad tales to come in future episodes.

[00:45] Sitting at the Feet of a Master

[02:46] Sanskrit - The First Child of the Language of Nature

[04:56] Lingua Franca

[07:09] Sounds Like...

[09:26] Rishi - A Five-Senses Hyperactive Perceiver

[10:51] When a Rishi Hears the Sound of Nature

[12:47] The Stuff of Fable

[14:23] The Impact of Upanishad on the West

[16:35] Kenopanishad

[18:36] Defense of a Kingdom

[21:11] The Then-Known World

[23:08] Is it Sharp?

[24:52] A Demonstration of Trust

[26:17] A Clean Finger

[27:32] Remove the Mistake

[28:42] The Pathology of Acquisition

[30:17] Products of Stress Accumulation

[32:52] The Removal of the Mistake

[34:25] A Ridiculously Simple Way

Is Vedic Meditation the Only Meditation Technique That Allows Transcendence? Aug 28, 2022

Show notes

Regular listeners know already that the power of Vedic Meditation lies in the ability to allow transcendence. But is it the only way? And how do you know if you’ve transcended?

Prompted by a question from a listener, Thom takes a brief look at other meditation techniques and compares them to Vedic Meditation with respect to transcendence.

He also explains the clues the experience leaves to allow us to conclude that transcendence has taken place.

While meditation can have many functions, we have a choice between a technique that is specifically designed to help us transcend, or other ‘tiring ways’ which are designed for other purposes but may result in occasional transcendence.

[00:45] Q - Is Vedic Meditation the Only Meditation Technique That Allows Transcendence?

[01:10] A - Other Meditation Techniques

[03:06] The Mind is Thinking, Thinking, Thinking

[04:24] Creating the Moment of Bliss

[06:19] Many Tiring Ways of Transcending

[08:05] Cognitive Processes

[10:28] Less Volume of Thought

[11:40] Mantra is Here

[13:12] Mantra is Not Here

[14:40] This is Transcendence

[16:20] Implicit Bliss

[18:09] I Must Have Transcended

How to Get Out of a Rut Aug 21, 2022

Show notes

A rut, the ever-repeating known, can be a double-edged sword. While some find comfort in a rut, others feel restless.

The restless are at a distinct advantage. Rather than waiting for the inevitable change that brings an end to the ever-repeating known, they opt for the role of change agent, and design their own path out of the rut, instead of having one designed for them.

In this episode, Thom explains the simple formula for any change agent to follow to get out of a rut. Regular contact with the unbounded, followed by meaningful voluntary service in one form or another.

Thom’s message is a call to arms for any agent of progressive change who is ready to report for duty.

[00:45] Stop Ignoring the Obvious

[03:12] Nivar Tatvam - Go Where You Are Not

[04:36] Let the Mind be Easy

[06:19] Step Back into the Relative

[07:31] Colorfast Cloth

[09:08] Alternating Back and Forth

[10:19] Premature Contentedness - The Greatest Obstacle to Enlightenment

[12:22] Seva - Service

[14:42] Evolve

Come Sit with Me in Rishikesh - An Invitation to My 2023 India Retreat Aug 18, 2022

Show notes

If the idea of a Vedic Meditation retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas with Thom Knoles sounds appealing, then this episode is for you.

After a two-year hiatus, Thom is returning to Rishikesh and is extending a warm welcome to Vedic Meditators, and aspiring meditators alike, for a 10-day experience like no other.

Thom explains why Rishikesh is the first and perfect choice for such a retreat, making it a pilgrimage to the acknowledged home of meditation and yoga.

He outlines the daily routine and some of the highlights to look forward to, such as visits to the Ganges River and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s former ashram, and time spent as guests of His Holiness Swami Kailashanand Giri, the Shankaracharya-elect and the Master of our tradition.

With luxury accommodations and gourmet food at the famous Divine Hotel, , your stay will be truly memorable.

Let Thom whet your appetite with this special bonus episode, then make your way to https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ to register.

Jai Guru Deva.

[00:01:19] Upanishad - Sitting at the Feet

[00:02:38] Rishikesh - A Holy Name for a Holy Place

[00:04:53] Bringing an End to Ignorance

[00:06:25] Ending the Day With Sama Veda

[00:07:43] Honored Guests

[00:09:05] A Divine Place to Learn Vedic Meditation

[00:10:52] You Were in Rishikesh?

Useful Links
https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/
info@thomknoles.com
https://thomknoles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/
https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoles
https://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles
https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

The Yugas and the Importance of Understanding Them Correctly Aug 14, 2022

Show notes

We learned recently on the podcast that knowledge is structured in consciousness. From this we can deduce that our understanding of Veda is dependent on our level of consciousness. It’s not just our intellectual understanding though, it’s also our ability to ‘perceive’ Veda.

One example of this is the perception of ‘Yugas,’ epochs or periods of time that are referenced frequently in the various Vedic texts.

When taken at face value, these Yugas appear to be linear periods, happening in a particular sequence, but, as Thom explains in this episode, there is more to the Yugas than meets the eye…

NB - At the conclusion of the episode you will find mention of Thom’s popular course, Exploring the Veda - You can find teachers facilitating this course around the world at this link - https://thomknoles.com/vedic-meditation-teacher-directory/.

[00:00:56] What are the Yugas?

[00:03:21] Veda Cannot Be Deeply Understood by English Alone.

[00:05:33] Four Major Divisions of Veda

[00:07:52] Ritambhara Pragya

[00:09:44] Awakening the Sequential Elaboration of Sound

[00:12:30] Chronology of the Yugas

[00:14:17] Divisions and Subdivisions of Veda

[00:16:39] Veda of the Treta Yuga

[00:17:54] Dwapara Yuga - Home of the Great Epics of India

[00:20:08] The Yuga Cycle

[00:22:14] The Vedic Idea of Time

[00:23:53] The Linear Approach to Understanding the Yugas

[00:26:02] Satya Yuga — The Age of Truth

[00:27:47] Ayurveda - Self Healthcare

[00:29:03] Gandharva Veda - The Sound Dynamic

[00:30:48] Dhanur Veda - The Supreme Arts of Governance

[00:31:56] Sthapatya Veda - Science of Architecture

[00:34:17] The Treta Yuga Layer of Human Consciousness

[00:35:32] The Dwapara Yuga Layer of Human Consciousness

[00:36:15] The Fall From the Status Quo

[00:38:05] The Saw-toothed Evolutionary Process

[00:39:00] Understanding the Pattern

[00:40:16] Trapped in Kali Yuga

[00:41:07] The World of Constant Change

[00:41:46] Escaping Kali Yuga Through Vedic Meditation

[00:43:50] The Purpose of Vedic Meditation

[00:45:00] More Than a Bunch of Fairy Tales

[00:46:02] Exploring the Veda - Course Available Worldwide

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