Wisdom of the Sages

What if your thoughts today are already shaping your next body? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the deep yogic teaching that the subtle precedes the gross—your desires, thoughts, and habits now are laying the foundation for your future form. Drawing from ancient texts, dream metaphors, and even a few punk-rock detours through Texas, this episode sheds light on how our inner life d...

At any moment, we can initiate a higher level of consciousness—simply by observing the mind instead of identifying with it. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the Bhagavatam's opening to the Tenth Canto, where Vasudeva speaks timeless yogic truth: you are not the body, not the mind—you are something divine. A modern spiritual insight meets ancient Vedic wisdom—and yes, there's even a...

From epic failures and ego clashes to tender moments of empowerment and encouragement, Raghunath and Kaustubha open up about what they love most about Krishna Bhakti—and how it transforms even the most ordinary day into an offering of beauty, meaning, and joy.   In this candid Q & A episode, you'll hear stories of spiritual growth, forgiveness, and the joy that comes from living with a fully inves...

Modern spirituality often says yoga is all about the journey. But is that what the ancient teachings really meant? In this focused and eye-opening Q & A episode, Kaustubha explores samādhi and the true aim of yoga. Drawing from the Upanishads and Bhakti tradition, he reveals how yoga isn't aimless—it's intentional, transformational, and love-driven. You'll also hear how Krishna's call for surrende...

Could ancient yogis have tapped into a science we still don't understand? Mystical experiences—like hearing divine messages within the heart—may sound like fantasy today, but 300 years ago a FaceTime call would've seemed like wizardry. Arthur C. Clarke famously said, "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how imagina...

Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the need to shift perspective shared in Srimad Bhagavatam.  Seeking to relieve the suffering of Mother Earth, the gods and goddesses gather for an epic moment of clarity—chanting the Purusha Sukta hymn of the Vedas. What follows is a brilliant meditation on zooming out of our small dramas and plugging into the greater cosmic intelligence behind it all.   Raghunath s...

From parenting struggles in spiritual life to the elusive experience of deep japa meditation – Vulnerability meets wisdom in this very real Q & A episode recorded live at the Wisdom of the Sages Retreat. Whether you're trying to inspire your kids, stay inspired yourself, or figure out what absorption in the japa meditation actually feels like, this episode has something for you. 🌀 Key Highlights:...

When your spiritual ideals meet your messy, modern life—what gives? In this live Q & A episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle real-world questions from sincere seekers navigating work, relationships, insecurity, and the struggle for spiritual progress. With wisdom, clarity, and plenty of humor, they explore how Bhakti yoga applies when the employees let you down, the self-doubt runs deep, and the...

Raghunath and Kaustubha tackle powerful questions about surrender, purpose, and love in this live Q&A from Super Soul Farm—offering timeless bhakti wisdom on the struggles modern seekers face. What does surrender really look like in practice? How do you discover your dharma without drowning in options? Can you strive for spontaneous love of God without ruining its spontaneity? This episode brings...

One of the most sacred dynamics in all of yoga culture - the relationship between teacher and student—has become both feared and misunderstood as it's been transferred from India to the West. In this potent episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how spiritual truth flows not from information alone, but from affection, humility, and mutual sincerity. What unfolds is a spirited, honest, and occasi...

There's a big difference between asking, "How can I change this?" and asking, "What am I meant to learn from this?" In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how asking bigger, zoomed-out questions can unlock real transformation—and how Krishna's pastimes, far from being mere spiritual folklore, offer the deepest answers to the soul's most urgent needs. They discuss how these pastimes are m...

Hearing the right kind of content - it doesn't just inform you—it reforms you. It clears the mind, purifies the intelligence and equips you to easily withstand all sorts of changes, difficulties and discrepancies. Drawing from yogic wisdom and Bhaktivedanta Swami's piercing commentary, this episode explores how real transformation begins with sound. Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠Why gossip and news media r...

Before there were influencers, there was the sage Vyāsa—the original content creator.  In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha stand at the threshold of Vyāsa's ultimate contribution: the telling of Krishna's pastimes in the Tenth Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. But before Krishna enters the stage, they explore what makes these narratives far more than mythology. These aren't just quaint stories...

Misunderstood warriors, falsely accused maidens, hardhearted mystic yogis, remorseful sages, sex-addicted kings— The stories of the Ninth Canto of the Bhāgavatam reflect not just historical characters, but the shadows we all carry within. At the cusp of entering the climactic Tenth Canto, Raghunath and Kaustubha review the string of stories leading up to it. With a little help from Carl Jung, they...

What is Evil? Different tradition have different ideas. In this compelling Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how the Bhakti tradition understands darkness, Satan, and the concept of evil. Is it a cosmic force? A personal being? Or simply the absence of divine light? Other questions include how to navigate workplace obligations at bars while maintaining spiritual...

Indian hospitality, the soft heart of a mother, and the Dog-Man of Tompkins Square Park all intersect in this powerful exploration of yoga. Drawing from the Maha Upanishad and the insight of Albert Schweitzer, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a central bhakti truth: that genuine love of God expresses itself as compassion for all living beings—not just the ones who vote like you, think like you, or s...

Your mind is like an algorithm. Click on lust, fear, or resentment—and guess what shows up on your mental feed? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Yoga is a way to reset the algorithm, and explore the mind as both a garden and a walled city with guarded gates. Drawing from James Allen's classic As a Man Thinketh and the final verses of King Yayāti's transformation in the Śrīmad Bhāga...

From Vedic kings to aging rock stars, this episode maps the journey from pleasure to emptiness to liberation. Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack why letting go of material desire—before the body gives out—is the key to spiritual freedom. Featuring: •⁠  ⁠King Yayāti, Lord Brahmā, Stephen Hawking, Billy Idol & David Lee Roth •  Addiction psychology meets Vedic wisdom •⁠  ⁠Why renunciation is the real gl...

Ancient yoga texts call it sama-darshana—equal vision. It's the ability to see the soul in every being, regardless of their body, background, or even behavior. And according to the sages, it's not just a lofty idea—it's the very foundation of a life well-lived. Here's the twist: it's not just the moral thing to do—it's the key to happiness, peace of mind, and, ultimately, a graceful exit from this...

Politics shift, bodies age, relationships break—we see the surface, the temporary illusion. Yogis look deeper to see the eternal reality behind it all. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how sacred texts—the Bhagavad Gītā, Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the Rig Veda, and the New Testament—urge us to fix our vision on the eternal. From pearls resting on a hidden thread to the saints' constant gaz...

With humor, vulnerability, and sharp philosophical insight, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack the gritty reality of spiritual growth: that it sometimes begins with a period of loss, confusion, or even melancholy—but on the other side is joy, clarity, and freedom. This Q & A episode tackles big, relatable questions from listeners on the spiritual path:  •⁠  ⁠How do I live a life of dharma—seeing the g...

Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into the comical yet piercingly honest downfall of King Yayāti and explore how the ancient Vedic culture didn't just shame desire—it organized it, regulated it, and ultimately helped one transcended it. Drawing from the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, we uncover how real evolution begins not by denying our lower nature, but by accepting the guidance of wisdom tradition that helps u...

Gatorade-stained beard? Check. All-night emergency room visit? Check. Spiritual wake-up call in aisle 12? Double check. But behind Raghunath's dizzy spell and collapse on the floor of Home Depot lies a far more universal theme: our desperate urge to avoid silence, stillness, and the terrifying weight of our own inner emptiness. Drawing from Blaise Pascal's haunting insight—that "all of humanity's...

When something looks so promising—so beautiful, so exciting—you think, this has to be it… but in the end, it leaves you empty. That's what it means to live in the shadows - the imitations we chase: reflections that mimic the real thing, but have no substance.  In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha  conclude the wild and painfully relatable story of King Purūravā and Urvaśī from the Śrīmad Bhāga...

When the object of our desire becomes the center of our universe, and our dignity becomes the cost of the chase. In this brutally honest and strangely hilarious episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha dissect the story of King Pururava and Urvashi—a psychological case study from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam that shows what happens when infatuation clouds the intelligence and the fantasy of love eclipses reality...