Wisdom of the Sages

Raghunath talks with filmmakers Kip Anderson and Kam Waters about the making of their films - Seaspiracy, What the Health, Cowspiracy and their newest film, Christspiracy. They discuss the Dead Sea scrolls, the 'meatrix', music ministry, and the importance of eating a liberated diet. Learn more at  https://www.christspiracy.com And connect with Kip and Kam at https://www.instagram.com/christspirac...

How to deal with family functions which are centered around alcohol and where all the conversations are gossip and superficial? / Is it possible to be humble, tolerant and still set boundaries? *************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to  https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUT...

"The perception of beauty is a moral test." - Henry David Thoreau / where we find beauty reveals a lot about our character / perceiving beauty from the perspective of selflessness / the immature stage of vedanta denies beauty - the mature stage sees it all in relation to Krishna / kriyādvaita: oneness in actions / dravyādvaita: oneness in objectives / In Narada's previous life he was a Gandharva i...

the satisfaction found in singular focus / seeing oneness in conceptions, actions and objectives lifts one's awareness beyond the material / Krishna is horizontal and vertical cause of the cosmic manifestation / seeing this world as nothing but God's energy / Krishna's message to Arjuna about the highest of all yogis / How to see God everywhere / real liberation is sweet surrender SB 7.15.62-63 **...

Educate through love / we are trying to hold onto something solid, in an ever-shifting world / the solid is the subtle and the subtle is the solid / God is the unchanging thread holding the changing world together / Don't try to redecorate your hotel room- do the inner work and move on / there's a way to carry god consciousness into your changing world / losing faith in the material world SB 7.15....

Chandogya Upanisad tells that what we meditate on we become / Sarva khalvidam brahma - what does it mean, that everything is brahman? / Bhagavad-gita 14.27 - Krishna is the basis of brahman / Bhagavad-gita 10.12 - Krishna is the Supreme Brahman /  all creation is made possible by brahman's potential power / Brahman manifests as Krishna's multifarious energies: parasya saktir vividaiva sruyate (Sve...

"We don't see reality. We see our reality." - Professor Mercer from The Irrational / the Dartmouth Scar Experiment, sports, and the OJ trial all illustrate how mental impressions shape our perception / Vedanta's classic metaphor of the snake and the rope / it is impossible to superimpose one idea unto another, if the former doesn't exist in reality - ergo - the form variety and individual personho...

Kaustubha interviews S.B. Keshava Swami about his training and service as a monk, as well as some insights on America through the eyes of a monk and questions on money and careers. To learn more about HH Keshava Swami Maharaj, go to  https://www.keshavaswami.com *************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE F...

What is the significance of sampradaya?  / Do you see a rise in those choosing to practice Bhakti-yoga or is consumerism too strong? / Why shouldn't one point their feet at the altar? / Why don't we pass the guru (or Krishna) bead when we chant on a mala? / What is the signifigance of the Tulsi beads? *************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE...

"True sanity entails in one way or another the dissolution of the normal ego." -  R. D. Laing / the re-establishment of the true identity as servant of the divine / the purpose of ritual is the impression it leaves in the mind / through knowing (jnana) - one naturally lets go (vairagya) / When the senses are illuminated with knowledge ritualistic sacrifice may dissolve / offer sacrifice into the s...

materialism has no limiting principle in a world of limitations / the yogi places a limiting principle on materialistic drives / E. F. Schumacher as a brahminical voice in a materialistic boom / the flaw of democracy (no one will vote for a limiting principle) / basking in the afterglow of Prabhupada's appearance day festival / a guru wrings out our disqualifications for devotional service / mater...

until we come under the tutelage of one who has mastered their senses, we remain a slave / resuming our spiritual identity / the promise of happiness through material enjoyment never delivers / the material energy is showing us that there is no hope on the path of material enjoyment / the blessing of regret SB 7.15.45-47 Find Bali's novel at  https://a.co/d/5r0MrrY Sign Up for Sage Groups:  https:...

On the anniversary of the day of his birth, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss the life and contribution of Srila Prabhupada, who first brought the teachings of Bhakti to the West. Sign Up for Sage Groups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-49943294-session#/ About Sage Groups: https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/c/sagegroups/ *************************************************************...

On the occasion of Krishna's appearance, Raghunath talks with Krishna Murari Goswami about the traditions, songs and stories of Nandagram and Vrindavan. Sign Up for Sage Groups:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-49943294-session#/ About Sage Groups: https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/c/sagegroups/ **************************************************************************** LOVE THE...

Learn more at http://www.edwinbryant.org Sign Up for Sage Groups: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-49943294-session#/ About Sage Groups: https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/c/sagegroups/ **************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to  https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATC...

What are your thoughts about AI created devotional art? / How are we to look at a relationship between guru and student in a healthy way? / Should we correct other devotees when reading Sanskrit? Sign Up for Sage Groups:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/508054EA4AE22A1FD0-49943294-session#/ About Sage Groups: https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/c/sagegroups/ ******************************************...

it's not so much our bad habits that are the obstacle to our spiritual growth, it's hypocrisy / the renunciants meditate on the future state of our body / bhoga and taiga - shift back and forth between enjoyment and renunciation / bringing back the Upanishadic metaphors / the body is a chariot, the senses are the horses, the mind is the reins, the intelligence is the driver, the self is the passen...

Tom Landry's coaching and the guru principle / guru - the practical and mystical sides / the guru's conviction instills faith in the disciple / all can be accomplished automatically through faith and devotion to a valid guru / like an ambassador, a guru is a representative / getting past the initial threshold in controlling the mind / controlling the mind and senses in connection to the guru SB 7....

Narada's heartfelt instructions on contentment and greed / You won't experience emptiness when you feel God in the heart / Just one wandering sense is enough for mission drift / guru scandals stemming from lack of contentment / anger can be vented, but greed is never satisfied / approach wealth like a sage / by discussing the disadvantages of accumulating wealth one should give up greed / dealing...

"Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontentment makes rich men poor". - Benjamin Franklin / the Gītā informs us that desire is the real enemy of the embodied soul, since it is never satisfied and burns like fire (the more you feed it, the more it grows) / one only has to wear one pair of shoes—one doesn't need to cover the entire earth with leather (in other words - let me adjust myself rather th...

William Shakespeare on the quality of mercy / seasoning justice with mercy / Bhakti is all about the softening of the heart / our fascination with the moment of awakening / for one who is satisfied in the self - there is no duty / "Vaisnava means one who is able to sit down anywhere, under any conditions, and be happy." - Srila Prabhupada / bringing discernment into Eastern traditions SB 7.15.9-14...

Kaustubha interviews author Kripamoya Das about his new book "Sanatana Dharma" and his realizations garnered over 50 years of presenting Bhakti in small groups. Pre-order Kripamoya Das' book at https://a.co/d/j7ez7mA **************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to  https://www.wisdomofth...

How can to root out our own inner hate? / How can we build faith in Krsna and His benevolence if we don't frequently experience it in this life? / How to understand the topic of chanting silently in the mind vs chanting aloud? **************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to  https://www....

once you get it, it makes so much sense / diving and surfacing in a blissful river of kirtan /  unless you have knowledge the whole material world is tortuous / we're in god's house /  George Harrison on the power of spiritual food / life is just better off when we're appreciative / passing out prasadam in Jaipur and Govardhana / sharing love through food / the consciousness is developed through o...

James Baldwin on the self-destructive nature of hate / hatred negatively impacts the nervous system, immune system, and endocrine system / if you sit in (media) mud, you're gonna get dirty / bringing bad habits into sacred circles destroys spiritual life / remedy for hate - see everyone as connected to God and feed them prasadam / replace the wafer with a gulab jamun cooked with love / we can bare...