Vedic Worldview

Latest Episodes:

Gratitude, Community, and Mixing Mantras Jan 16, 2022

Show notes

Our listeners are setting the agenda again in this episode, another of our regular “Ask Me Anything” series.

Thom starts with what you might find to be a surprising twist on gratitude. While gratitude is, of course, a good thing, sometimes our perspective can distort our level of gratitude, or even what we might be grateful for. Thom refers to one of our favorite teachings from Guru Dev, who told us, “You deserve the best…”

In answer to a question about the role of community in our self realization, Thom points out that our evolution actually removes our sense of separateness, making community the natural consideration in anything and everything that we do. He describes Cosmic Consciousness as ‘the ultimate social experience.’

And on the matter of ‘mixing mantras’, he points out that Vedic Meditation, while being compatible with, and complementary to, any other practice, it needs to be practiced specifically as it has been taught, without any ‘modifications’ by the practitioner. In doing so, each practice will have its intended benefit, and not be watered down, or even harmed by another.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q- Is There a Truth to Gratitude Being a Divine Emotion?

[01:01] You Deserve the Best

[02:30] You Have to Accept It

[03:57] You Are Not Wretched

[04:59] What Does Expecting the Best Do to Our Sense of Gratitude?

[06:16] How Do We Show Our Gratitude?

[07:31] Vineeta: Humble Pride

[08:59] Too Much Gratitude

[10:11] Q - How Can Community Play a Positive Role in Realizing the Higher Self?

[10:56] The Funnel of Consciousness

[12:04] Cosmic Consciousness - The Ultimate Social Experience

[13:45] The True Meaning of Tribe

[15:22] Unity and Empathy

[16:49] Siddhi: An Extraordinary Human Capability

[18:22] Expanding Our Capacity to Be a Relevant Member Of Any Social Group

[19:43] Having and Developing Shared Experience

[20:59] Q - Can I Use a Different Mantra to Practice Vedic Meditation?

[21:56] All Roads Lead to Rome

[22:36] An Appropriate Mantra

[24:18] No Damage is Done

[25:36] Vedic Meditation Will Only Bring Aid to Everything Life Supporting

[26:31] Let Vedic Meditation Be Its Own Practice

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Alcohol and Vedic Meditation Part 1 Jan 09, 2022

Show notes

What is the Vedic worldview on alcohol and alcohol consumption?

In some ways, the ‘goal’ of consuming alcohol and the goal of Vedic Meditation are contradictory. While Vedic Meditation increases our sense of Self, drinking alcohol does the opposite.

However, a Vedic Meditation teacher will never tell a student they should stop drinking. In fact, the only thing a Vedic Meditation teacher advise is to meditate twice a day. This alone will put us in a position to make better choices for ourselves.

In some cases, that may be the choice to reduce drinking alcohol, or even to stop drinking altogether. In other cases, the desire to drink might simply just go away so there isn’t even a choice required. And in other cases still, there might be a desire to reduce alcohol and a recognition that some extra help is needed with that.

In this episode, Thom takes a broad look at alcohol from the physiological and scientific perspective and also from a spiritual perspective. Whether you are a drinker or not, it’s a discussion that goes beyond the ‘should or shouldn’t’ angle that often distorts thinking on the subject.

Episode Highlights:

[00:47] The Impact of Alcohol on Developing Higher Consciousness States

[01:59] Q- Can You Share More About The Vedic Worldview on Alcohol Consumption?

[02:07] Alcohol is Not a Barrier to Vedic Meditation

[03:48] Not Speaking From Experience

[05:23] Feeling Rosy

[06:42] Vedic Meditation Can Reduce the Desire for Alcohol

[08:40] Meditation Decreases Our Body's Tolerance for Toxicity

[09:59] The Effects of Alcohol

[11:12] Irreplaceable Brain Cells

[12:41] A Natural Choice Gets Made

[14:14] Justifying the Choice to Drink Alcohol

[15:23] Fermented Grape Juice or Unfermented Grape Juice?

[16:12] A Very Graceful Intoxication

[17:10] Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body

[18:38] Alcohol Decreases Longevity

[20:02] The Rule of Exceptions

[21:19] The Spiritual Angle

[23:00] The Chemistry of Bliss

[25:16] Meditators Live Longer With a Younger Body Function

[26:26] Meeting Challenges Adequately

[27:42] Alexander the Great Invaded India and Came Back With a Vedic Guru

[29:07] The Deities Associated with Alcohol

[32:37] A 12-Step Program

[34:04] The Home of All the Laws of Nature

[35:20] Beholden to a Gangster

[37:05] The Big Self Takes Charge

[39:00] Vedic Meditation Initiates the Awakening in You

[40:06] Less Resistance to Seeking Help

[41:48] The Process of Intoxication

[42:44] "I'm Not Intoxicated"

[43:53] Witnessing Intoxication

[45:44] I Could Start Drinking Any Day

Shanti Patha - A Song for All Times Jan 02, 2022

Show notes

Have you ever wondered about the song that Thom sings at the beginning of each episode of The Vedic Worldview?

More than just a song, Shanti Patha is a ‘sloka’, or Sanskrit verse or chant,that you’ll often hear throughout India, and with good cause. Shanti Patha is a credo, a manifesto if you like, of how we can conduct ourselves, so we can enjoy a sense of community together, rather than feeling separate from, and fearful of, each other.

Even if we just follow the ‘teaching’ of the song at the literal level of the English translation, we would get enormous benefit from it. But if we dive deeper into the true meaning of the words, which Thom does in this episode, we reveal a richer understanding that can guide us in our day-to-day lives.

Episode Highlights:

[00:48] The Manifesto of the Process of the Vedic Worldview

[03:26] Saha Nav Avatu—Let Us Be Together

[04:47] Be Conscious Without Thoughts

[06:13] Bliss: The Supreme Inner Contentedness

[07:58] Saha Nau Bhunaktu—Let Us Eat Together

[09:35] Saha Viryam Karavavahai—Let Us Be Vital Together

[11:07] Tejasvi Nav Adhitam Astu—Never Shall We Denounce Anyone

[12:29] Ma Vidvishavahai—Never Entertain Negativity

My Maharishi - January in Silence Dec 26, 2021

Show notes

For a large part of the population, the first week of January is a period of regret. Regret about some of the food and drink choices made over the festive season, and perhaps regret from some of the New Years’ Resolutions that are turning out to be not so resolute as they might have wished.

This, of course, was never a problem for Thom’s Master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Being in such a highly-evolved state, he was simply beyond the stage where he could make choices that he would regret.

Maharishi’s routine for the New Year was almost the exact opposite to pretty much the entire population that lives by the Gregorian calendar. In this episode Thom shares the details of this routine, which revolved around an annual seven-day period of solitude, silence and fasting.

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] Seven Days of Silence

[02:21] Leftover Tasks

[03:50] No Interruptions

[04:59] Who's There in the Waiting Room?

[06:33] Where Shall We Spend Christmas?

[07:44] Music for the Cows

[08:46] Rich People Problems

[09:52] Emerging from the Silence

[11:41] Grand Plans for the Year Ahead

[13:39] Maharishi's Birthday Gift to the World

[14:53] A Memorable Routine

Colonization, Gossip and Jealousy, Giving Away Our Power Dec 19, 2021

Show notes

It’s time for another Q&A episode with Thom, this time covering a range of questions with a similar theme, acquiescing our power to others.

In answer to a question about the harm of colonization, he reminds us that it’s not such a recent phenomenon, that humans have had an inclination to dominate groups from other regions for millenia, and will likely continue to do so. Thom explains that the societies that endure are those that remain invincible and who give back more than they take from their invaders.

He discusses jealousy and gossip, and how we can liberate ourselves from the effects of the thoughts or words of others. It all boils down to a single false idea that can quite easily be dispelled.

And in a slightly different vein, Thom explains the role of envy, as opposed to jealousy, and how we can use it to assert more power rather than to relinquish it, and how we can help others do the same.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - How Did Europe Get Away With Colonizing the World?

[02:11] The Mechanics Behind Colonization

[03:42] Vedic Culture Knows How to Be Invincible

[05:25] Embedded in Human Nature

[06:17] English Became a Tool for India's Revenge Against Colonization

[08:21] Victimising Yourself

[09:38] The Capability of Digesting the Invaders

[11:02] An Ideal Society

[12:44] Q - Can People Harm Us With Their Jealousy and Gossip?

[13:00] I Am Vulnerable (Or Am I?)

[14:20] Liberation From the Effects of Others’ Thoughts

[15:33] People Don't Have Any Idea What We Are

[16:29] Q- What Causes Us to Give Away Our Power?

[16:47] The Truth of the Moment

[18:10] You Are the Unified Field Itself

[19:04] The Difference Between Envy and Jealousy

[20:15] Being an Insignificant Self

[20:59] Getting to the Highest Truth as Quick as Possible

[21:47] The Highest Level of Consciousness There Is

[23:34] The Few Always Lead the Many

[24:19] Beyond Suffering

Dealing With Family Gatherings Dec 12, 2021

Show notes

It’s that time of the year where families come together to experience the joys of the family bond. Greetings are given, embraces exchanged, laughter is shared, tears of joy are shed, and the love is felt.

And then it starts…

The euphoria wears off and the tension kicks in.

It might just be some low level tension that doesn’t really amount to much. Or it could be a full-on dispute that escalates to a large-scale crisis. Or it might be something in between.

Not in every home of course but, for many families, this is the standard operating procedure.

For Vedic meditators this is perfect. It gives us the opportunity to test how ‘colorfast’ our practice has made us. We get to test which of our buttons can no longer be pushed. We get to exercise the cosmic responsibilities that come with being a Vedic meditator.

Sit back, listen in, and let Thom help you prepare for what could be one of your most peaceful festive seasons yet.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Greatest Test

[02:12] A Successful Interaction

[03:41] Becoming Colorfast

[05:40] Avoiding the Fading Effects

[07:00] Making Meditation Relevant Socially

[08:40] Family Interaction

[10:39] Engaging Fully

[12:00] Cosmic Responsibility

[13:27] Non-Negotiable Meditation

[14:07] Wise and Trusted Counsel

[15:27] Engage, Engage, Engage

Reparenting Psychology and the Vedic Perspective Dec 05, 2021

Show notes

Reparenting is an often-used psychological technique where one is given, or gives oneself, opportunities to learn the lessons of character or personality development that one might have missed out on through ‘insufficient’ parenting or care during childhood.

It’s a technique that has met with some success, yet, as Thom explains in this episode, there is a missing element that might make this approach incomplete.

The Vedic perspective is that we, including our parents and caregivers, can only act based on the level of our consciousness. This being the case, rather than focusing on repairing the ‘mistakes’ of our parents and caregivers, a more complete approach would be to focus on elevating our own consciousness.

In fact Vedic traditions embody this approach, and teach us to access our own inner guru or teacher, and to bring out the best of our own feminine and masculine qualities, while honoring our parents and caregivers for doing and being the best that they knew to be.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Reparenting Psychology - A Brief Description

[01:28] The Boat of Character and Personality

[02:46] Yagyopavit - The Sacred Thread of Mata Pita Guru

[04:53] Meeting the Demands of Change in the World Successfully

[06:16] Inaccurate Expectations of Our Parents

[07:43] Transcending to Experience Your Big Self

[09:02] Watering the Roots of the Tree

[10:10] Filtering the Very Best Experiences of Our Childhood

[11:53] Sifting the Wheat From the Chaff

[12:40] Attention to Guru

[13:37] Knowledge Has Organizing Power

[14:33] Radiating Life for All to Enjoy

The Difference Between A Spiritual Awakening and Psychosis Nov 28, 2021

Show notes

Episodes of psychosis and experiences of ‘spiritual awakening’ have one key characteristic in common, they are both experiences that are ‘out of the ordinary.’

This can be problematic, especially if the person making a diagnosis has not had an experience of spiritual awakening themselves.

One key distinction between the two states though, is that a spiritual awakening is accompanied by a stable sense of Self (with a capital S), whereas a psychotic episode is the opposite, and is usually accompanied by an erratic sense of self (with a small s).

A spiritual awakening is desirable, whereas a psychotic state is not. Listen to Thom explain the states in more detail, and how you can deliberately set yourself on a path that makes a spiritual awakening the more likely option for you.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The State of Psychosis

[02:19] A Genuine Spiritual Awakening

[03:47] What Are You Minus All the Thoughts?

[05:33] Experiencing What is Beyond Thought

[07:01] Describing Your Experience in Language

[09:01] Dr. Ronald D Laing's Research on Psychosis

[10:30] A World of Psychosis

[12:37] Knowledge Eliminates Fear

The Art of Following Charm Nov 23, 2021

Show notes

Frequently on the podcast you’ll hear Thom mention ‘charm.’ While we all have a good understanding of the word charm, in Vedic Meditation circles, charm has a special, more nuanced meaning.

For a Vedic Meditator, charm is like an inner-guidance mechanism, a gentle tug that steers you in the direction of that which is most evolutionary, not just for yourself, but for all of Nature. It’s a subtle form of intuition that feels charming to experience and charming to follow, hence the name we give to it.

In this bonus ‘charm-inducing’ episode, Thom gives us a wee taste test of his soon-to-be-released course, The Art of Following Charm, in which he explores the nature of charm, how to recognize and cultivate it, and how every decision can become a matter of effortless attraction.

Enjoy the episode and, if you feel charmed to do so, we hope you put the art of following charm into practice and join us on the course.

The Art of Following Charm Course - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/

Episode Highlights:

[00:46] The Direction of Evolution

[02:29] The Bija Mantra

[03:54] The Charm of Mantra

[06:11] The Desire of Our Mind to Move Towards More

[07:49] The Home of All the Laws of Nature

[09:38] Kriya - Spontaneous Right Action

[11:24] The Art of Following Charm

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Hypnosis and Vedic Meditation Nov 21, 2021

Show notes

Hypnosis is often seen as having therapeutic value, a way of overcoming problems caused by an ‘incorrect psyche.’ Because of the layer of silence achieved inside a Vedic Meditation sitting, Vedic Meditation, we’re frequently asked if it is actually a form of hypnosis.

The short answer is no. Vedic Meditation is not hypnosis, but to understand the answer fully requires a closer look at what hypnosis is. Though hypnosis may be done with good intent, and may apparently have some ‘good’ effects, and may appear to be beneficial, essentially it’s a form of manipulation.

So in that sense, hypnosis is in fact the opposite of Vedic Meditation. Vedic Meditation provides an opportunity to transcend the mind, to go beyond the small s self, the field where hypnosis has an impact, to the big “S” Self, where hypnosis has no impact whatsoever, and where the psyche can obtain benefits far beyond anything that hypnosis can deliver, and in perfect alignment with Nature.

Listen to Thom explain this more fully, looking at the subject both from an individual perspective and also from the group perspective, explaining the impact of suggestibility and the role of Vedic Meditation in combating its effects.

Episode Highlights:

[00:00] - Is Vedic Meditation a Form of Hypnosis?

[01:59] - Locus of Control

[03:28] - A Construct of Exterior Influences

[04:52] - The External Locus of Control at Play

[04:58] - Field Dependency and a Narcissistic Approach to Life

[07:49] - Internalized Locus of Control

[08:58] - Who is a Control Freak?

[10:41] - The Loving Controller

[12:06] - The Element Of Suggestibility

[13:45] - The Field-Independent Person

[14:47] - Suggestibility and Influences of the Outside World

[16:44] - Mass Suggestibility

[18:32] - Being: The Fountainhead Of Creative Intelligence

[20:28] - The Cause of the Evolutionary Process

[22:11] - Hypnotizability and Suggestion

[23:42] - Self-Hypnosis

[24:56] - Changing Psyche On The Basis Of Suggestibility

[26:24] - Suggestibility and Terrible Behaviors

[28:07] - Hypnosis for Addiction

[29:31] - The Inexperienced Gardener

[30:41] - Fixing the Symptoms

[31:42] - The Role of Vedic Meditation

[32:42] - Experiencing The Inner Potentiality

[34:43] - Becoming More Ideal Citizens

[36:21] - Creating Social Change

[38:18] - Buckminster Fuller and the Analogy of the Trim Tab

[40:51] - The Consciousness-Spreader Effect

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