Vedic Worldview

It’s common to label someone as a narcissist, but while we often think of narcissism as excessive self-regard, the ultimate cause might be quite different. In fact, narcissism may stem from an underlying insecurity rather than an inflated sense of self-worth. In this episode, Thom explains the root causes of narcissism and shares key indicators of narcissistic behavior. Importantly, he encourages...

The pursuit of altered states of consciousness through substances like drugs and alcohol is an age-old practice. Despite their potential risks and negative consequences, these substances continue to be widely used with an increasing variety of options available. In recent decades, a new challenge has emerged: the conscious or unconscious manipulation of our body's feel-good chemistry. Activities l...

In this episode, Thom explores the corners of the mind, in response to listener questions about various aspects of the mind: how we think, what we think, why we do things, and so on. Thom answers the perpetual question about controlling the subconscious mind and sets the record straight on using affirmations. Thom also gives us a shortcut to overcoming motivational blocks and provides a sustainabl...

There are more humans on the planet today than ever before, and we have more ways of connecting with each other than ever before, yet loneliness has reached epidemic proportions. The World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international commission on the problem last year, reporting that the health risks from loneliness are as bad as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and are even greater than...

Hard work is often worn as a badge of honor. If someone works hard, then they “deserve” their successes. We might even say they have a “good” work ethic. But if someone appears to attain a particular outcome without working hard, we might say they’ve got it too easy . Too easy compared to what? Thom gives us some very clear guidelines in this episode on how to let Nature guide us on just how much...

If you’ve noticed an increase in the use of the word “toxic” in relation to human behavior in recent years, you’d be right. Its use has become so prevalent, that Oxford Dictionaries named "toxic" as their Word of the Year in 2018.  Oxford noted a 45% increase in lookups for the word on their website and observed its expanded usage beyond its literal meaning to describe various social and political...

Most listeners of The Vedic Worldview live in democracies and are all too familiar with the fact that irrespective of who is elected, there will always be a faction of the population who is disappointed and another who is pleased with the outcome. For those on the side of disappointment, many times the next thought that occurs is despondency or powerlessness. “What was my vote all for?” they might...

Welcome to another Q&A episode, with Thom fielding a range of questions from listeners with a common thread of social discomfort. Thom holds forth on the subjects of social division, embarrassment, how to accept compliments gracefully, how to strengthen relationships in tough times, and anger, specifically whether or not enlightened masters can be angry. As always, it’s an episode with univers...

Being an empath might seem like a gift—experiencing what someone else is going through must surely deepen our understanding of one another. But in this podcast, Thom brings a surprising twist to the concept. He explains that not all empathy is created equal; different levels of empathy can lead to very different outcomes. While some forms can unintentionally add to our suffering, "high-grade empat...

In a world where education is available to nearly everyone, one might expect that the major challenges facing humanity would have been solved by now, leading to a more prosperous and harmonious existence.  But, as we can clearly see, that’s far from the reality. In this episode, Thom explores the underlying cause: education today is focused on the wrong outcomes. Thom offers a profound solution—an...

One could easily spend a lifetime exploring Vedic literature and still barely scratch the surface in terms of the wisdom that’s available to us. Between the four Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda, the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, the six schools of Vedic philosophy, and countless other written and oral texts or translations, there’s no shortage of avenues to explore. And ev...

We often hear cries for justice when what’s being called for is actually revenge. So, what exactly is justice? And how do we distinguish the difference between the two?  In this episode Thom lays out the Vedic perspective on revenge and justice, giving us clear guidelines to follow, and indicators on when we might have favored revenge over justice.  Fortunately the distinction between the two is u...

One thing that sets the Vedic worldview apart from other schools of thought is the notion that everything that we get to witness, every form, every phenomena, is the unfolding of an epic story. Thom explains the mechanism of evolution in this episode, including the infinite organizing power that it takes for stories to play out, with play being the operative word. Seeing our lives unfold in this w...

Listeners are steering the ship once again, in our latest Q&A episode. Thom answers a question about karma and how it fits into the dynamics of our relationships. It turns out that it’s our relationship with our Self that matters most. Thom also tackles a question about charm, in particular, how we can adapt when charm doesn’t seem to be as supported by Nature as we would expect. Finally, Thom...

If you've ever wondered where one of the world's most astonishing gatherings takes place, look no further than the Kumbha Mela. This grand festival of spiritual significance draws tens of millions of devotees from around the globe in a display of harmony, wisdom and tolerance like no other. Having been to several Kumbha Melas over the past 50 years, and currently preparing to attend the next Kumbh...

Followers of Vedic wisdom often refer to the four goals, Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, as something we should aspire to in our lives. While these are, indeed, qualities that mark our level of consciousness, in this episode, Thom clarifies the status of these four qualities. In doing so, he also clarifies the meanings of each of the four qualities, which are often referred to in overly simplisti...

Most of us think of laws of Nature as being those laws that determine how the environment behaves on a physical level. The Vedic worldview expands the scope of these laws to include consciousness itself, and its constantly-evolving intentions.  This effectively makes Nature a conscious entity, hence why you’ll often find us spelling it with a capital N. In this episode Thom gives us a masterclass...

Many people go to great lengths to view eclipses, sometimes traveling thousands of miles to witness the shadow of the Moon passing across the Sun or the shadow of the Earth crossing the Moon. In Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, however, such events can be seen as inauspicious, and the recommendation might be that we take shelter from them rather than expose ourselves to them. But such things are not s...

When we think of quantum mechanics, most of us conjure up images of nutty professors and blackboards filled with incomprehensible equations. Though quantum mechanics does indeed have a lot to do with seemingly incomprehensible math, the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are well worth understanding as they give us a fresh perspective on which to view the Universe we live in. In this epis...

Listeners are running the show again today, with another of our popular Q&A sessions. This time around, Thom tackles a question on spiritual mediums, and whether we can trust what they say. His answer may surprise you. He also answers a question about right and wrong, using the Bhagavad Gita to set the context for spontaneous right action. And he also puts a listener’s mind at rest, in answer...

Ceremonial fires have been used in most cultures for millenia. Often these fires just have a symbolic purpose, but the Vedic worldview has a particular use of fire, in combination with sounds and offerings, which has a specific impact on consciousness itself. In this episode, Thom gives an entry-level view of yagyas, a fascinating and specialized process that can be used to awaken impulses of crea...

Sanskrit terminology has been slowly creeping into common usage outside of India, quite often incorrectly. Yoga, for example, has a widely understood meaning outside of India, which doesn’t reflect the actual meaning of the word.  In this episode, Thom explains the meaning behind many of the titles applied to or bestowed upon various positions within the Vedic realm. You’ll learn the definitions f...

The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most pivotal spiritual texts of all time. Its teachings have been taught for millenia throughout India, and outside of India for the past 100 years or so, inspiring billions with insights into how we can reduce suffering in our own lives. In this episode, Thom gives us a brief introduction to the Bhagavad Gita as a primer for his upcoming three-day course in which h...

What does it mean to be masculine in the modern age?  In this episode, Thom strips the discussion back, questioning not just the premise of masculinity, but also the premise of modernity.  Thom invites us to reset our expectations of ourselves and others, and to reevaluate our apparent need to compartmentalize behaviors. Episode Highlights: [00:45] Terribly Modern [03:16] What Does It Means to Be...

In the modern world, mantras come in all shapes and sizes. Though they originate from the Vedic tradition, it’s becoming more and more common to see/hear mantras used in a more modern context, as political slogans or even as a rallying cry to get people behind a common cause. Modern and ancient mantras all have a similar purpose, to alter the thinking of the listener and/or the speaker of the mant...