Vedic Worldview

Latest Episodes:

The Story of Sophie Sep 12, 2021

Show notes

After 50 plus years of instructing Vedic Meditation, and 50,000 plus students, Thom Knoles has accumulated thousands of shared memories with these students.

In this episode Thom shares a delightful anecdote about Sophie, who learned Vedic Meditation with Thom when she was only eight years old, and how Sophie’s wisdom helped Thom teach the concept of Cosmic Consciousness to a roomful of adults.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Sophie from New York

[02:09] What will come into your consciousness state?

[03:25] Cosmic Consciousness

[04:58] Deep Diving

[06:19] A Simple Explanation

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My Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and the Walnut Tree Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

While Maharishi Mahesh Yogi spent thousands of hours teaching his students formally, often it was the day-to-day life situations that provided the most profound teaching moments.

In this, another instalment of the My Maharishi series, Thom shares a delightful anecdote of a picnic in Switzerland that gave rise to one of Maharishi’s most famous sayings, “You can't stop someone from behaving according to their level of consciousness.”

Enjoy this short but sweet episode.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Out in the Field

[01:51] The Numbers Game
[02:32] A Picnic in Switzerland

[04:04] A Photo Opportunity

[05:15] A Trivializing Gesture

[06:17] Don’t Expect Mangoes From a Walnut Tree

[07:17] Consciousness Dictates Behavior

5D, Spirit Babies, Success and Support, Paramahansa Yogananda and Kriya Yoga Aug 29, 2021

Show notes

Yet another interesting mix of questions in today’s Ask Me Anything episode with Thom.

In discussing 5D, The Fifth Dimension, Thom explains how premature contentedness is the enemy of enlightenment and that, regardless of what we call it, the true measure of progress is to become an exemplar of Self realized consciousness.

He describes the Vedic worldview on the incarnation of babies (including fetuses) who only remain with us for a short while.

Thom also describes how common measures of ‘success’ (money and fame) are irrelevant to our effectiveness in meeting the need of the time.

In this episode, Thom also pays homage to Paramahansa Yogananda, author of Autobiography of a Yogi and an inspiring leader in the 20th century.
Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Q - Please Comment on 5D (The Fifth Dimension) and Its Effect on Our Meditation Practice

[01:11] Santosha - The Enemy of Enlightenment

[02:10] Premature Contentedness

[03:31] Self Realization Means Self Actualization

[05:11] Chronic Brain Failure

[06:21] Earned Contentedness

[07:20] Q - What is the Relevance of ‘Spirit Babies’ and Reincarnation?

[07:51] Jiva - Individualized Consciousness

[08:49] The Quickening

[09:33] Separating From the Body

[10:34] Karma and Unfinished Business

[12:11] Q - Should We ‘Bend a Little’ to Extend Our Reach and Generate Wealth?

[12:42] Money Means Absolutely Nothing

[13:28] Living an Authentic Life

[14:11] You Minus the Thoughts = Bliss

[14:40] Co-incidence

[15:39] You Are Totality

[16:29] What Good is Money?

[17:19] Q - How Does the Vedic worldview and Paramahansa Yogananda's School of Thought Relate? Can you Compare Kriya Yoga to Vedic Meditation?

[17:42] Yoga - Union of the Individual Mind With Cosmic Mind

[18:49] Kriya Yoga and Nishkam Karma Yoga

[20:07] The Airplane Method and the Jumbo Jet Method

[21:03] A Branch of the Tree

Curing Insomnia and Finding Purpose through Vedic Meditation Aug 26, 2021

Show notes

In this short bonus episode, Thom shares a couple of bite-sized nuggets of wisdom to address two problems of epidemic proportions, insomnia, and a lack of meaning or purpose.

He starts with a delightful story of how Maharishi Mahesh Yogi learned that better sleep was one of the more popular ‘side effects’ of meditation when he first came to the United States. He also explains the cause of insomnia and why Vedic Meditation is the ultimate cure for it.

And in relation to meaning and purpose, Thom outlines that the lack of meaning or purpose comes about because we don’t have a direct experience of our own true, inner nature. Once we have that experience, the experience of true Bliss, which of course we can get through Vedic Meditation, then our role in evolution becomes self evident, and meaning and purpose are naturally met.

Enjoy!
Episode Highlights:

[00:48] Meditation Beats Insomnia

[02:11] The Cause of Insomnia

[03:21] The Unwinding of Stress

[04:51] Deeper Rest Than Sleep Through Meditation

[06:15] Awakening the Mind to Its Fullest Potential

[07:09] A Search for Meaning

[07:44] A Search for Our True Identity

[08:48] What’s This All About?

[09:31] Direct Experience of Bliss

[11:04] Your Real Purpose in Life

Heroes and Villains Aug 22, 2021

Show notes

All of us want to be known for something heroic, but who decides who are the heroes and who are the villains? And do the villains perhaps think of themselves as heroic? Would the heroes even be heroes if there were no villains?

In this episode Thom, once again, shines a new light on a subject that has been with humankind since we first developed the ability to create and share experiences and stories.

He explains that it isn’t an either/or argument and offers an alternative option. One that we can all aspire to without the pressure of ‘taking sides’…

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] The Trichotomy of Evolution

[03:12] Writers of History and Drawers of Maps

[04:28] Consciousness Drives Behavior

[06:18] Semi-Omnipotence

[08:11] Bifurcation - Breaking of Symmetry

[10:09] Elevational Theater

[12:02] The Supersymmetric State of Contentedness

[13:37] The Fall From the Status Quo

[15:13] A Sawtooth Pattern of Plateau

[16:55] Succession

[17:45] An Eternity of Torture

[19:23] Saved From Hell

[20:50] Were the Romans Villains?

[22:12] Or Were They Heroes?

[23:42] We’re the Good Guys

[25:02] Standing Outside of Our Indoctrination

[26:31] Communists and Capitalists

[28:09] All Of Us Want to Be Heroic

[29:31] We All Started From the Same Place, But...

[30:53] Holding On to Complacency

[32:31] Being the Seer

[34:17] How is Nature Trending?

[35:35] A True Hero

[37:04] Zero Rigid Attachment

[38:27] Impartial Guidance

[40:20] Become a Rishi

How Do I Cultivate a Regular Meditation Practice? Aug 15, 2021

Show notes

This is a question that can be answered in three simple words, but listen in for a complete and satisfying explanation from Thom.

Using an analogy that we can all relate to, Thom explains that the discomfort caused by not meditating should be enough to inspire us to keep practicing regularly, twice a day.

It’s a short and concise episode that should strengthen your resolve to keep your meditation practice regular.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] A Little Device Was Invented

[01:59] It’s Not a Chore

[03:19] A Kind of Anathema

[04:03] No Harm

[04:51] Superseding Other Techniques

[06:10] Six Weeks and You’ll Never Look Back

How to Learn Vedic Meditation Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

In this bonus episode, ahead of an upcoming visit to New York City, Thom runs through the process of learning Vedic Meditation.

He explains the rationale of spreading the course over four days so you can embed the experience and commence a sustainable daily routine, and develop a deeper understanding of the mechanics and expected results of Vedic Meditation.

He also explains why Vedic Meditation should be taught in person rather than online, and why it’s worth your investment of time and effort to find a teacher who can teach you face to face.

If you’re in New York City or nearby, Thom will be visiting late September (2021) and holding free Introductory Talks ahead of some courses in October. This is a rare opportunity to be taught by Thom, who will have limited capacity while he is there, so please register here for an Introductory Talk.

And if you are not near New York City, or are reading this afterwards, you can find one of many Vedic Meditation teachers trained and approved by Thom to teach the technique by emailing us here with your location and we will get back to you with recommendations.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] New York, New York!

[02:07] Your Vedic Meditation Mantra

[03:17] In-Home Practice, Refinement Together

[04:08] More Practice, Deeper Understanding

[05:13] Developing Your Vedic Meditation Skill

[06:12] Introductory Talk

[07:37] A Commitment to Yourself

[08:49] Why Can’t I Learn Vedic Meditation Online?

[10:02] The Most Effective Way of Learning to Meditate

Mindfulness vs. Vedic Meditation Aug 08, 2021

Show notes

Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword in recent years. There’s no shortage of teachers, books, apps or other tools to help us practice mindfulness.

But how does mindfulness compare with Vedic Meditation? Is there a comparison at all or do they have different functions altogether?

Thom explains the difference between the two in a way that leaves no doubt as to which one has the most profound effect.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] Vedic Meditation Isn’t Really Meditation

[01:58] Going Beyond Thought

[03:05] A Doing That You’re Doing

[03:58] A Charming Mantra

[05:10] Comfort is Key

What Are the Vedas? Aug 01, 2021

Show notes

What are the Vedas? Or should that be what is the Veda?

Because you can’t put a finder on it, the Veda is hard to define as such, except to say it is the totality of the laws of Nature.

So rather than trying to define what the Veda is, perhaps a more pertinent question might be, “How do I access the Veda and make use of it?”

For that Thom has a solution. Listen in or read the transcript below to find out how you can tap into the limitless knowledge that is the Veda.

Episode Highlights:

[00:40] The Knowledge Available to Everyone

[02:04] What Should I Do Now?

[03:22] The Mechanism of Desire

[04:46] Dharma

[06:16] Self-Referral Knowledge

[07:17] A Unique Approach to Morality

[08:09] Overloads of Experience

[09:31] Unbinding You From the Past

[10:55] Universal Human Knowledge

Relaxation vs Vedic Meditation, The Dark Night of the Soul, Death and Dying, Spiritual Diets Jul 25, 2021

Show notes

In this episode, another in our ongoing series of Ask Thom Anything, Thom explains the distinction between wellness and relaxation activities and why they don’t deliver the same impacts as Vedic Meditation.

He also explores “The dark night of the soul” and describes how contrasting experiences of the mind and body lead to an unstabilized vision.

He gives us some insights into how we can respond when someone is in the dying stage of their life and the advantages we have as Vedic meditators during this stage.

And finally, Thom explains a practical approach to diet when we’re on a spiritual path.

If you’d like to have Thom answer a question on the podcast, you can submit your questions here.

Episode Highlights:

[00:57] Q - Can ‘Wellness Activities’ Be as Effective as Vedic Meditation for Releasing Stress?

[01:47] It Depends on Consciousness

[03:09] They Might Be Relaxing But...

[04:27] An Opportunistic Brain

[05:55] Absolute Unboundedness of Being

[06:51] A Consciousness-Led Approach

[08:00] No Special Environment Required

[08:42] Q - What’s the Vedic Worldview on the Dark Night of the Soul?

[09:07] An Unstabilized Vision