Vedic Worldview

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...

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...

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 attachmen...

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...

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 throug...

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 traged...

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 belov...

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 d...

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 u...

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 ex...

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,...

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 V...

Few would doubt that being a parent can be stressful, but being the child of a parent has its own set of demands and challenges.  The common thread through this, another ‘Ask Me Anything’ episode of The Vedic Worldview, is the theme of parental stress, both from the parent’s perspective and also from the child’s. Thom explores the impact the stress of a mother has on a child in the womb, and shows...

Who do you call when you’re the King of Nepal and you want to teach 100,000 subjects how to meditate? Who else but Maharishi Mahesh Yogi? The year was 1974 and Thom Knoles was there. In this episode Thom shares details of the adventure, a demonstration of Maharishi’s can-do attitude to his mission in life, and his matter-of-fact approach to getting the job done. Episode Highlights:  [00:45] What D...

“None taken.” We all know we have an element of choice when it comes to ‘taking offense,’ yet often that's not the choice we make. In this episode, Thom explains why that is, and what it takes to become impossible to offend.   Episode Highlights:  [00:45] Q - How Can We Not Be Easily Offended By Others? [00:52] A - “I’ll be the offended one.” [02:33] Doubts About Our Own True Nature [04:23] Your U...

Is there anybody out there? Humankind has been asking this question for millenia, and with the ability to conceive of space travel only being a recent phenomenon, the likelihood of finding an answer to the question has seemed unlikely up till now. But does space travel actually increase the likelihood of finding an answer even remotely? Between the laws of physics and the vast size of the universe...

It’s Q&A time once again. In answer to a young man questioning the timing of parenthood, Thom explains the role the child has in its own incarnation, and reminds us to be led by charm rather than the intellect in our decisions. He also explains how our intellect interferes with our innate connection with the laws of Nature. And he tackles two questions on Cosmic Consciousness. One from a liste...

We’re all familiar with cravings but why do we have them and why are they so powerful?  What is it about them that makes us go weak at the knees and cave so easily?  While most of us rely on willpower to beat cravings we know that it’s not a power we can rely on. In this episode Thom reminds us that the most powerful method to overcome cravings is to make them unnecessary, to create such a strong...

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was a popular interview subject for media icons throughout the world for many decades, often appearing more than once as a guest on high-profile shows. In this episode, Thom gives a first-hand, behind-the-scenes account of an interview Maharishi did with David Frost on the BBC in the 1970s. He describes the warm relationship Maharishi had with Frost, and his delightful respon...

IYKYK. If you know, you know. Or do you? Is knowledge as reliable as we think it to be? “Knowledge is structured in consciousness,” is one of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's most profound and most frequently shared quotes. Ironically, one’s understanding of the quote is also dependent on one’s consciousness. Thom’s explanation of Maharishi’s quote gives us an opportunity to reflect on that which we ‘know,...

Many of us invoke the common phrase “Is nothing sacred?!” when we feel that something of value to us isn’t experienced the same way by others. What if we told you that everything could be sacred, to the extent that we make it so? All of us hold certain things sacred in our lives, whether it be a memento, an icon, a place, a ritual, maybe some kind of religious artifact or even a cuddly toy from ou...

The terms duality and non-duality are becoming more commonly used and can have different meanings in different contexts. In ‘spiritual circles’ duality is often seen as a cause of suffering, or even the cause of suffering, but, in and of itself, duality is actually benign. In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners about duality and non-duality from different perspectives.  He explains...

We celebrate this, the 100th episode of The Vedic Worldview, by covering one of Thom’s favorite subjects, Vedic Meditation Initiator Training. Building on the last episode, Become a Teacher of Vedic Meditation , Thom explains why his training is the ultimate path for anyone considering becoming a Vedic Meditation Initiator. While there are many more trainings available than there were just a few s...

Imagine meeting someone in the street who fondly remembers you for teaching them Vedic Meditation and sharing the profound impact it’s had on their lives. This is a regular occurrence for Vedic Meditation teachers around the world, and especially so for Thom, who has taught tens of thousands of students over the past 50 plus years. It’s an honor and a privilege to earn the title of a Vedic Meditat...

Despite the myriad advances made by humans over the centuries, depression is a condition that seems to be consistently on the rise. We can all do more, have more and experience more than our ancestors could have possibly dreamed of, yet so many of us struggle to find a sense of peace within ourselves. In this episode, Thom explores the subject of depression and the role that Vedic Meditation can p...