Wisdom of the Sages

Latest Episodes:

1621: Before Religion, Beyond Boundaries: Interview with Author Nitesh Gor Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

Can ancient Indian wisdom heal the rifts of modern religion? In this mind-expanding and often hilarious episode, Raghunath sits down with author and educator Nitesh Gor (a.k.a. Navin Krishna) to explore his new book Before Religion: Ancient India's Reconciling Vision for Universal Spirituality. From philosophical elephants and Ratha-yatras down Fifth Avenue to quantum physics and peacock-feather cosmology, they unpack what makes the Bhāgavatam a master key for global spiritual unity.

Can you be loyal to one tradition without becoming intolerant of others? Does God really care which team you're on? And what if the wildest creation myth is actually… "everything came from nothing"?

Key Talking Points: •⁠ ⁠"Why doesn't anyone invite Hare Krishnas to the Christmas party?" •⁠ ⁠Science, philosophy, and spirituality walk into a temple… and agree •⁠ ⁠Vedic culture's soft power: winning hearts with pakoras and Sanskrit •⁠ ⁠Consciousness, the elephant, and the Bhāgavatam—yes, they're connected •⁠ ⁠From Jesus to the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam: building a house the whole world can live in

Tune in to Episode 1621 of Wisdom of the Sages for a fresh take on religion, unity, and ancient India's spiritual legacy.

Find his book Before Religion: Ancient India's Reconciling Vision for Universal Spirituality at https://a.co/d/26XLez1

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1620: The Sex Episode: Yoga Wisdom Meets Real-Life Hormones | Q & A Vol. 281 Jun 07, 2025

Show notes

In this hilarious and revealing Q & A, Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle one of life's most powerful forces—sexual desire—with honesty, insight, and bhakti-based wisdom. It's a down-to-earth exploration of how the yogic tradition views it, and lays out a yogic framework for navigating desire without losing your mind (or your integrity).

Highlights include: •⁠ ⁠4 responses to desire: indulge, repress, ignore, or resolve •⁠ ⁠The monk's 8-fold path of NOT having sex •⁠ ⁠How rāsa-līlā becomes a tool for inner purification •⁠ ⁠Why spiritual life doesn't mean becoming rigid or resentful •⁠ ⁠What it takes to truly redirect the energy of desire

This one goes deep—and keeps it real.

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1619: Devotion Follows Destruction-- Evolution and the Death of Our Lower Nature Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

With their signature blend of humor and clarity, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a timeless spiritual principle: real transformation always involves a kind of death—of ego, comfort, or illusion. Drawing from the allegory of Krishna's birth following the death of His six brothers, they explore how the destruction of our lower nature clears the way for divine consciousness to take birth in a purified mind and heart.

Key themes include: •⁠ ⁠The cosmic law that death precedes rebirth •⁠ ⁠The symbolism of Devakī's six sons •⁠ ⁠How ego resists—but ultimately must yield to—divine consciousness •⁠ ⁠Self-surrender as the doorway to true spiritual life •⁠ ⁠Preparing the heart as a sacred space for Krishna

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1618: Identity Politics, Self-Esteem Battles & the Spiritual Solution Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

Modern society is in the midst of an identity crisis. From gender and race to body image and social status, we're defining, defending, and dividing ourselves by external labels. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how ancient yogic wisdom provides a powerful alternative: knowledge of the self.

Through discussion, humor, and insights from the bhakti-yoga tration, they unpack how we can stop tiptoeing around fragile identities and live from the truth of who we really are.

Key Themes: •⁠ ⁠Carl Jung's insight on identity and self-definition •⁠ ⁠How real kindness comes from seeing through labels, not tiptoeing around them •⁠ ⁠Identity politics = bubble-wrapping the world / Knowledge of the self = putting on shoes

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1617: Your Thoughts Are Drafting the Blueprints for Your Next Body Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

What if your thoughts today are already shaping your next body?

In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the deep yogic teaching that the subtle precedes the gross—your desires, thoughts, and habits now are laying the foundation for your future form.

Drawing from ancient texts, dream metaphors, and even a few punk-rock detours through Texas, this episode sheds light on how our inner life drives our destiny—and why Krishna is the ultimate object of meditation.

New episodes daily. Subscribe and join the global Bhakti journey

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1616: You're Not That Voice in Your Head: Ancient Yogic Wisdom for Self-Realization Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

At any moment, we can initiate a higher level of consciousness—simply by observing the mind instead of identifying with it. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the Bhagavatam's opening to the Tenth Canto, where Vasudeva speaks timeless yogic truth: you are not the body, not the mind—you are something divine.

A modern spiritual insight meets ancient Vedic wisdom—and yes, there's even a Raghunath senior discount incident that makes the point unforgettable.

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1615: Full-Hearted Bhakti: Vivid, Personal Krishna Devotion | Q & A Vol. 280 Jun 01, 2025

Show notes

From epic failures and ego clashes to tender moments of empowerment and encouragement, Raghunath and Kaustubha open up about what they love most about Krishna Bhakti—and how it transforms even the most ordinary day into an offering of beauty, meaning, and joy. In this candid Q & A episode, you'll hear stories of spiritual growth, forgiveness, and the joy that comes from living with a fully invested heart. Highlights include: • Black-and-white Vedanta vs. full-color Bhakti • One humbling breakfast invitation, one roasted ego, and a lot of growth • Gossip vs. grace: a Bhakti PSA on spiritual etiquette • Parking lot kirtans and singing past your comfort zone • Rūpa Gosvāmī's poetry, Draupadī's forgiveness, and the art of full-hearted living A rich, funny, and inspiring conversation rooted in the lived experience of Krishna devotion. Check out Supersoul Farm's first annual kirtan fest at

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/supersoul-farm-kirtan-fest-tickets-1376536139649?aff=oddtdtcreator

Check out Radhanath Swami's class on how to treat people at https://youtu.be/ed0Effi7Kfo?si=b97G8C-cUaBtVWf6

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1614: Is Yoga All About the Journey—or About Hitting the Target? | Q & A Vol. 279 May 31, 2025

Show notes

Modern spirituality often says yoga is all about the journey. But is that what the ancient teachings really meant?

In this focused and eye-opening Q & A episode, Kaustubha explores samādhi and the true aim of yoga. Drawing from the Upanishads and Bhakti tradition, he reveals how yoga isn't aimless—it's intentional, transformational, and love-driven.

You'll also hear how Krishna's call for surrender in the Bhagavad-gītā—often misunderstood as bossy—is actually rooted in compassion and transcendental clarity.

What You'll Learn: •⁠ ⁠The real goal of samādhi and how yoga stays focused •⁠ ⁠Why Krishna asks for everything—and how it's not about ego •⁠ ⁠How even negative emotions can purify when directed toward God •⁠ ⁠Shishupala's surprising liberation through hatred •⁠ ⁠Why Krishna's confidence isn't arrogance—and what it means for us

This isn't vague spiritualism—it's grounded wisdom for the seeker who wants clarity, depth, and a target worth aiming for.

Listen now and rediscover why love—with direction—is the heart of yoga.

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1613: Myth or Reality: The Misunderstood Tech of the Yogis May 30, 2025

Show notes

Could ancient yogis have tapped into a science we still don't understand? Mystical experiences—like hearing divine messages within the heart—may sound like fantasy today, but 300 years ago a FaceTime call would've seemed like wizardry.

Arthur C. Clarke famously said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how imagination and humility may be the keys to rediscovering spiritual truths often mistaken for myth.

Highlights include: •⁠ ⁠Why Einstein called imagination more important than knowledge •⁠ ⁠Yoga maya vs. Maha maya: illusion that either binds or liberates •⁠ ⁠Why Krishna never incarnates alone—and who He brings with Him •⁠ ⁠Debunking the debunkers: why unseen doesn't mean unreal •⁠ ⁠Raghunath's mantra for spiritual openness: "Could be."

Tune in as ancient stories, modern minds, and timeless truths come together in the pages of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam.

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1612: Cosmic Vision, Parental Panic & the Purusha Sukta Mantras May 29, 2025

Show notes

Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the need to shift perspective shared in Srimad Bhagavatam. Seeking to relieve the suffering of Mother Earth, the gods and goddesses gather for an epic moment of clarity—chanting the Purusha Sukta hymn of the Vedas. What follows is a brilliant meditation on zooming out of our small dramas and plugging into the greater cosmic intelligence behind it all. Raghunath shares a story of fatherly panic as his daughter falls ill across the ocean, while Kaustubha unpacks the deeper meaning of the universe as a unified being—rooted in the divine Purusha. Carl Sagan makes a guest appearance, reminding us from 4 billion miles away that Earth is but a speck in the void—and our self-importance might need a little deflation. Key Highlights: • "Our imagined self-importance is challenged by this point of pale light." – Carl Sagan • How chanting Purusha Sukta re-centers the mind and soul • A fine line between spiritual detachment and showing up for those we love • Learning to see God's hands when His face is hidden • Why the Bhagavatam is the "superfood" of spiritual literature 👉 Tap into the universal vision. 🎧 Listen now. #BhagavatamWisdom #PurushaSukta #ZoomOut #CarlSagan #KrishnaConsciousness #VedicCosmology #WisdomOfTheSages #BhaktiYoga

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