Vedic Worldview

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...

Who do you think you are? What do you think you are? We can all find myriad ways to describe ourselves and we often rely on these descriptors to give us our ‘sense of identity.’ “I’m a mother of three, a nuclear physicist, a passionate tango dancer and an advocate for animal rights…” The problem with this approach is that our descriptors are always subject to change, and even subject to debate in...

It’s Q&A time again and this one has something for everyone. The first question for Thom is about the relationship between Catholicism and the Vedic Worldview. Whether you are Catholic or not, Thom’s answer will be of interest as he affirms the compatibility of the Vedic worldview, not just with Christianity, but with religion in general. And if you have trouble distinguishing between negative...

Does “opening the mind” through Vedic Meditation create a portal or opportunity for evil or satanic influences to enter the mind? This question is relatively easy to answer. In fact, in this episode Thom doesn’t even get to the second part of the question and spends a short time addressing the first part, the notion of Vedic Meditation opening the mind. While it’s certainly true that Vedic meditat...

Few would argue that we often lack reverence in modern day-to-day living.  Toasts are given and glasses are raised, often at the drop of a hat. Families might go for years without even sitting at the same table for a meal, let alone saying grace or giving thanks for a shared meal and loving company. One notable exception to this trend is the use of Puja when a student of Vedic Meditation receives...

Few situations make us second guess ourselves more than those that we come across as parents or guardians of children. In this episode, Thom provides some guidance for parents who face some fairly typical situations, balancing the needs of their children with their own self care, as well as one parent facing a parent’s worst-case scenario, a child at risk of taking their own life. Rather than bein...

What is consciousness? Well, the ultimate answer to this question is, ‘everything,’ but, ironically, our ability to understand this depends on our own level of consciousness. In other words, our ability to truly understand what consciousness is, relies on consciousness itself and our experience of it. And by the time we get to the point where we actually understand the answer to the question, the...

None of us can imagine a world without love, but how many of us actually know what love truly is?  Is it the romantic, idealized love that we see in story and song all around us, or is there something deeper, something ‘richer’ than what we’ve been ‘sold’ over the centuries. As you would expect, the Vedic worldview holds that there is something deeper and richer to love than that which the vast ma...

Thom’s master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, is responsible for millions of people around the world taking up the meditation technique we now refer to as Vedic Meditation, but which Maharishi originally referred to as ‘The Grace of Guru Deva.’ What few people realise though, is that Maharishi never set out with a specific intention to share the technique with anyone, let alone share it with millions arou...

The spotlight in this Ask Me Anything episode is on spiritual life… Is spiritual life compatible with earning money? (Spoiler alert: the answer is a resounding yes). Is the tradition of Vedic Meditation truly ancient? (Also yes). And what’s the relationship between Dharma and self expression? (No spoiler alert for this one). The underlying message in all of Thom’s answers in this episode, is the i...

Humans have a natural tendency to try to explain phenomena outside of our experience from within a limited understanding of the ways in which the world works. We’ll theorize about an event or situation to reassure ourselves that we know what’s going on, when in fact we may not. Vedic meditators sometimes find themselves on the receiving end of such behavior. Through regular practice of meditation,...

You’ll need a pen and paper, and zero distractions, for this episode, which is nothing less than a masterclass in evolution.  Delivered in front of a live audience, at the Pace Gallery in New York City in 2021, Thom explains what an ‘agent of progressive change’ is, and why it’s incumbent on us to step up to the plate and take on that role for ourselves. More than just a call to arms, it’s a pract...

With alcohol being so prevalent in society, it takes more than one episode of the podcast to cover questions on the subject adequately.  In this episode, Thom explores the question of being able to replicate the effects of alcohol ‘naturally,’ and explains the difference between alcohol and drugs or spirit medicine in this regard. He discusses references in Vedic texts to alcohol, and how to disti...

Death and dying is the common thread of this, another Ask Me Anything episode. Having already embraced the Vedic worldview as it relates to death, two of our listeners pose questions about relating with loved ones who are no longer in the body they knew them to have.  Thom’s replies provide reassurance to all of us, and remind us that we already have the skills necessary to maintain relationships...

The messaging around relationships can be somewhat strained when Valentine’s Day rolls around each year.  Today’s episode is a breath of fresh air though, as Thom shares with us some of the wisdom about relationships that he picked up from his 25+ years with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. This wisdom can be applied to all relationships, romantic or otherwise, and begins with the importance of understandin...

Mark Twain once famously said, “I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” Guru Dev, Swami Brahmananda Saraswati, the master of Thom’s master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, had no such problem, and was known for being economical with his words. He was able to condense his wisdom into a one-word call to action that people would travel hundreds of miles to hear. It’s a call...

Parents know what’s best for their children. Or do they? Parents and other primary caregivers often have trouble distinguishing the difference between who we want our children to be, and who they came here to be. Often that difference is vast, and difficult to know, especially when the path of the child has so many unknowns to it. And let’s face it, most parents or guardians have trouble understan...

It’s the ultimate bout, Destiny vs Free Will, the subject that’s had philosophers debating for centuries.  Despite the centuries of debate, the subject still remains unresolved. Or does it? The Vedic perspective is quite simple. In fact, there isn’t even a contest because Free Will and Destiny are actually both on the same team.  Will you exercise Free Will to listen to this podcast, or is it part...

Our listeners are setting the agenda again in this episode, another of our regular “Ask Me Anything” series. Thom starts with what you might find to be a surprising twist on gratitude. While gratitude is, of course, a good thing, sometimes our perspective can distort our level of gratitude, or even what we might be grateful for. Thom refers to one of our favorite teachings from Guru Dev, who told...

What is the Vedic worldview on alcohol and alcohol consumption? In some ways, the ‘goal’ of consuming alcohol and the goal of Vedic Meditation are contradictory. While Vedic Meditation increases our sense of Self, drinking alcohol does the opposite. However, a Vedic Meditation teacher will never tell a student they should stop drinking. In fact, the only thing a Vedic Meditation teacher advise is...

Have you ever wondered about the song that Thom sings at the beginning of each episode of The Vedic Worldview? More than just a song, Shanti Patha is a ‘sloka’, or Sanskrit verse or chant,that you’ll often hear throughout India, and with good cause. Shanti Patha is a credo, a manifesto if you like, of how we can conduct ourselves, so we can enjoy a sense of community together, rather than feeling...