Vedic Worldview

Few things stir up fear quite like the economy does. Though few of us could even accurately define what “the economy” actually is, talk of a tough economy is enough to cause most people worry. Whether it be mortgage increases, rising inflation, falling stock prices, or looming recessions, as soon as the financial experts start talking down the economy, large parts of the population start seeing pr...

If we look at the origin of the word habit, it comes from Latin, meaning have , or consist of . Hence the once common saying, Habits maketh man . So if our habits essentially define, in a sense, who we are, then it makes sense for us to adopt habits that are more evolutionary in nature than others. This episode is a sneak preview of what to expect from Thom’s new course, Evolutionary Habits.  It g...

One of the most commonly misunderstood Sanskrit terms is the word Maya. It’s frequently referred to as “illusion” and is sometimes used to describe “reality” as being unimportant or insignificant.  Often when it’s used in spiritual circles, it’s an attempt to imply that one has a sense of detachment, “It’s just Maya, an illusion. Nothing to take too seriously…” But like many Sanskrit words, its me...

Thom gave us plenty of reading in his recent episode covering his favorite Vedic literature . In this episode, he closes the loop and shares some of his favorite non-Vedic literature.  Not surprisingly, most of it is non-fiction and explores the ways in which the Universe, and we humans work.  Thom also includes a fictional piece which is very much aligned with the Vedic worldview of consciousness...

The notion of karma raises a lot of questions, often because the concept is totally misunderstood. It’s most commonly seen as a cosmic form of reward and punishment, but nothing could be further from the truth. It is certainly a tool for course correction, but it doesn’t come with any of the judgment that is attributed to it.  In this episode, Thom addresses listener questions, tackling issues suc...

Anxiety is a downward spiral that many struggle to control. It’s the price many are paying for living in an overstimulated world.  We’re bombarded with messaging from countless sources hundreds of times a day, and these are competing with our own restless minds, churning away with the same repeated thoughts, day after day after day. In this episode, Thom explains the dangers of living in a state o...

This bonus episode is an invitation from Thom for Vedic meditators to join his new Satsang online community. Satsang is more than just an online community. It's your 24/7 home where you can transform Vedic knowledge into personal wisdom that you can use in your day-to-day life. For more details about Satsang, please visit https://thomknoles.com/community . And if you aren't a Vedic meditator yet,...

Read any good books lately? Vedic literature is rich in timeless content, and few epics have lasted the thousands of years that some of the Vedic epics have survived. Vedic epics combine the best of drama and unforgettable storytelling while still being steeped in deep wisdom at every turn. It is this powerful combination that continues to make them as relevant today as 5,000 years ago. Thom share...

Get ready for a fresh perspective on suicide and suicidal thoughts.  In response to a question from a listener, Thom gives us a lot to contemplate in this episode, including redefining how we think about suicide, introducing the concept of “long suicide,” and reminding us that body death doesn’t mean consciousness death or bring an end to suffering. He talks about the role Vedic Meditation can hav...

Vedic Meditators frequently report heightened perception of the sense organs.  Colors may become crisper, shades of light and dark may become more ‘interesting,’ subtler tastes may be detected in food, and smells may be detected, even in the most minute concentrations. One of the most curious sensations happens at the level of hearing. In the same way that the mind is able to experience the subtle...

Most groups or communities have a few pretentious players within them; people who wear a mask or ‘put on a show’ to attract attention to themselves and to elevate their status. While one might think that the “spiritual” arena might be beyond such behavior, regrettably that’s not the case. In some circles they might be called “wannabees,” but Maharishi Mahesh Yogi had a special name for such people...

The Oxford Dictionary defines luck as: success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one's own actions, or, chance considered as a force that causes good or bad things to happen . Long-term listeners will straight away see that chance is incompatible with the Vedic worldview, hence luck isn’t likely to pass scrutiny either.  So how then do we account for the fact that sometim...

While many of us think of language as something that evolved from the grunts and noises made by our prehistoric ancestors, Sanskrit, the ancient language of the Veda, has a very unique distinction; it’s an ‘inspired’ or cognized language, reflecting the intention of Nature through sound. Having obtained a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, majoring in Sanskrit, Thom is well placed to gi...

Mention tantra and most people think of sexual practices designed to prolong the sexual experience or to add a ‘spiritual’ element to it. While the principle of tantra can certainly be applied to sex, it’s actually a concept that has much broader and more interesting applications.   Strictly speaking, when properly applied, even the art of procrastination, as distinct from the habit of avoidance,...

There’s no shortage of questions from our podcast audience, which is perfect because Thom is never short of an answer… The common thread throughout this Q&A episode is that we’re all much more empowered than we might think. Thom reminds us that Nature loves it when we commit, and that rather than preparing ourselves for worst-case scenarios, we must assume that we’re acting on Nature’s behalf...

Vedic wisdom is full of contrasting ideas. We’re told that evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, yet we’re also told that the intellect is ‘mistaken’ and that it holds us back from experiencing enlightened forms of Consciousness.  Can both be true? Can we be both mistaken and be playing a role in evolution at the same time? Here’s your chance to find out. This is another masterclass o...

Most people are surprised to hear that Thom Knoles has spent time in prison. And not just one prison. Several in fact. And not just in one country. He’s spent time in multiple prisons in Australia and the United States of America. Listen in as Thom shares the tale of how he took control of his own destiny, and changed the destiny of hundreds of others in the process.   NB - See here for The Light...

Happy New Year! Or is it?  While large parts of the world celebrate the start of a new calendar year on January 1st, much of the world celebrates the New Year at other times. Many cultures base their New Year on events in Nature, astronomical events, or a combination of both. In this episode, Thom explains the basis for the Vedic New Year and the rationale behind it.  While it isn’t celebrated as...

This Ask Thom Anything episode explores ancient cultures, the process of evolution and the possibility of devolution. Thom shares an anecdote about a journey to outback Australia as an envoy for Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to seek the blessing of Aboriginal Elders, where he discovered an unexpected, though not surprising, connection between the ancient people of Australia and those of India. And in answ...

How much trust did you have that the sun would rise this morning? And even if it was hidden by clouds, did you still trust that it was there? Unless you live near one of the polar caps, where you can go for months without seeing the sun, no doubt you had enough certainty that you didn’t need to apply any trust at all. You were certain it was going to rise and can be certain it will rise again tomo...

Evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening, but what’s the mechanism behind evolution?  The Vedic perspective tells us that everything that happens in ‘the relative’ is governed by the three ‘gunas.’ In this episode Thom describes the three gunas as balancing agents, engaged in a constant interplay of intention, action and inaction, ensuring that everything is created in perfect harmony, an...

We could be forgiven for thinking that Mata, Pita and Guru, Mother, Father, and ‘Teacher,’ refer to specific people in our life. But as we’ve come to expect from Vedic wisdom, there is much more to these words than meets the eye. In this episode Thom explains the connotative meaning of this triumvirate and the role that they play, moment to moment, in our lives.  While most of us see life as a ser...

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one in three seniors in the USA dies with some form of dementia*. And with the rapidly-aging population, numbers are expected to double within the next thirty years. These are sobering statistics but in this episode, Thom puts forward the Vedic perspective on the subject and a simple solution, which, ironically, lies in reviving our lost ability to forget....

With a father as a high-ranking officer in the US Air Force, Thom Knoles has been traveling internationally from a very young age. Under the wing of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Thom traveled even more, visiting countries with him on almost every continent. But the country Thom has spent the most time in, outside of the USA, is his home away from home, Australia.  As a fresh-faced teenager, his keen int...

We’re turning over the content of the podcast to our listeners once again, with another Ask Thom Anything episode, this time with a recurring theme of ‘effectiveness.’ Protest has become fashionable in recent years but Mary from Australia wonders how effective it is, especially in the absence of ‘worthy inquiry.’ Saskia, also from Australia, asks about the effectiveness of Nadi Shodana and the cor...