Vedic Worldview
211 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 208 ratingsJoin philosopher, educator and celebrated speaker on the cognitive sciences, Thom Knoles for inspiring insights and wisdom to support your personal evolution. Thom is an renowned expert on the relationship between quantum physics and human consciousness, and on the 5,000 year-old body of wisdom known as The Veda. For over 50 years, he has personally taught Vedic Meditation to tens of thousands of students and consulted to governments and private corporations throughout the world.
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Episodes
The Symbology of the Shiva Lingam
March 31, 2024 23:00 - 30 minutes - 28.4 MBOne of the mistakes often made by those outside of India is to look at Vedic symbology in superficial terms. The Shiva Lingam is one such symbol. Frequently viewed as a representation of male and female genitalia, it actually has a much deeper and richer significance than this. Thom gives us an entry-level look at the subject in this episode, correcting the misuse of the term Shiva Lingam, and clarifying its symbolism. Episode Highlights: [00:45] A Sacred Form [02:40] Shakti: ...
Devas 101
March 24, 2024 23:00 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBAll of us are used to perceiving the world around us in terms of varying objective characteristics; hard and soft, hot and cold, solid and fluid, and so on. We might even attribute subjective qualities to the world around us; hostile, inviting, harsh, comfortable… But does it make sense to attribute ‘personality’ to the world around us? In the Vedic worldview, it doesn’t just “make” sense, but it’s actually a natural consequence of the refinement of the senses that we can perceiv...
AI, Sacred Cows, Exceptional Children
March 17, 2024 23:00 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBIt’s another Q&A episode with Thom, answering questions with a common thread of consciousness running through them. He starts off by tackling the question of consciousness and AI, before exploring the consciousness of cows, and bulls for that matter, and what it is about their consciousness that makes them sacred (Hint:evolution is the only thing that’s ever happening). And he also helps a mother navigate the responsibility of supporting a child whose consciousness gives him level...
How Do I Alleviate the Suffering of Others?
March 10, 2024 23:00 - 13 minutes - 12.1 MBThe desire to help others is baked into human DNA, and the sight of someone suffering often triggers a need to take action. This is one of the reasons our species has been able to thrive. Often, however, our attempts to alleviate the suffering of others don’t succeed, not necessarily because of lack of effort or misguided intentions. It’s because there’s another dynamic at play that can thwart our efforts. In this episode, Thom reminds us that the desire to be helped doesn’t come...
The Fruits of Action
March 04, 2024 00:00 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBDesire is one of the most misunderstood facets across all Wisdom traditions. Teachers often teach, and readers often misinterpret, some of the writings of the texts, both from Veda as well as other ancient wisdom cultures, as meaning that desire is bad, or that the key to enlightenment is to eliminate our desires. One such example of this misunderstanding is the Vedic epic Bhagavad Gita, specifically Chapter 2, Verse 47, in which Krishna tells Arjuna, “Live not for the fruits of ac...
Why the Long Hair?
February 26, 2024 00:00 - 27 minutes - 25.5 MBWhile most of us think of hair in terms of current fashion trends and style ourselves accordingly, (or not!), most long-lasting schools of thought still have customs related to hair based on traditions that have lasted millenia. The Vedic worldview is no different, and in fact, many of the traditions related to the hair can be traced back to Vedic origins. In this episode, Thom explains that hair has a very subtle yet specific function, beyond just keeping the head or the body war...
My Maharishi - Humor Incarnate
February 19, 2024 00:00 - 21 minutes - 20.2 MBSpiritual leaders are often perceived as being stern and serious, in some cases even humorless. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, while he could be serious when needed, was famous for his smile, his laugh, and his sense of humor in general. In this episode, Thom shares some anecdotes from his 26-plus years of being with Maharishi, where Maharishi put his sense of humor on display. Some of these were public displays, while others were from behind the scenes; all of the stories reflect Maharish...
Dark Room Retreats
February 12, 2024 00:00 - 29 minutes - 27 MBSilent retreats and cave retreats are nothing new and have been around for millenia, giving seekers an escape from the demands of daily life and a chance to simply let the mind be with itself. A modern twist on this is the use of Dark Room Retreats, a growing business model where the cave might be swapped for a cabin, and food and other needs are provided for you, leaving you alone to experience the potential bliss of sensory deprivation. In this episode, Thom shares his own exper...
Ayurveda - A Definition and a Display
February 05, 2024 00:00 - 24 minutes - 22.7 MBAyurveda is often defined as “the science of life, but this definition is somewhat simplistic, and doesn’t fully describe the origin and intent of the word. In this episode, in answer to a listener’s question, Thom gives a deeper explanation of the subject, including its origins and a fuller description of its meaning. This question and answer sets the stage nicely for the follow up contribution from a listener, which is effectively a display of both Ayurveda and self-referral in ...
How to Move Forward from a Divorce or Separation
January 29, 2024 00:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBA quick scan of the internet tells us that divorce and separation rank highly for most people as far as stressful events go, often coming second only after the death of a loved one. This is not surprising, given how much weight is put into the idea of committed relationships being permanent in most cultures around the world. Thom reminds us in this episode that, given that change is always occurring, perhaps our expectations of permanence in relationships are unrealistic in the f...
Can Art Be Separated from the Artist?
January 22, 2024 00:00 - 17 minutes - 16.4 MBDiscussions about the separation of artists and their art are not new. The subject has been discussed for centuries, usually in the context of legacy, but in recent times, and especially with the rise of cancel culture, the question more often comes up in relation to the behavior of an artist. Does the conduct of an artist negate the appreciability of their art? In this episode, Thom invites us to consider artworks from the perspective of Cosmic influence, and offers a simple meas...
The Light Inside: Empowering Incarcerated People Through Meditation
January 15, 2024 00:00 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBIn October 2023, Thom Knoles participated in a panel discussion at a fundraiser event for The Light Inside, an organization providing Vedic Meditation courses for inmates in prisons in the United States, with plans to operate internationally. Other panelists included: Joh Jarvis, a Vedic Meditation Initiator and the founder of The Light Inside; Rev. Dr. Michelle Anne Simmons, founder of Why Not Prosper, an organization that provides support for women after they exit the prison syst...
Exploring the Veda
January 08, 2024 00:00 - 20 minutes - 19 MB“Knowledge is structured in consciousness.” This is one of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s most famous quotes. Five simple words that don’t just convey a meaning, they also embody that meaning. You might hear this quote and think you “get it,” but when you revisit it later on, when your consciousness has broadened even further, then you realize that there’s actually an even deeper level of meaning to it, and now you “really get it.” And when you revisit it later on, you realize there’...
How to Prepare for the Year Ahead
December 31, 2023 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBThe holiday season can be an emotional roller coaster for many. December celebrations can bring highs and lows, even for those who aren’t part of the Judeo-Christian community, but then New Year comes around, marking a line in the sand where we can start afresh. At least in theory, anyway. The reality is that most folks set themselves heightened expectations for the year, inevitably leading to frustration and disappointment within a pretty short time. Thom invites us in this ...
Time, Dark Matter, Surrendering vs Passive
December 25, 2023 00:00 - 21 minutes - 19.7 MBIt’s another Q&A episode, this time with a common thread of perception running through each of the questions and answers. Thom tackles the question of time; specifically, how we can control our perception of time and how we can slow it down like it used to feel as children. He explores the mystery of dark matter from the Vedic perspective, and how it relates to how we live our daily lives. He also provides clarity on the distinction between surrender and passivity and why we need...
The Relationship Between Manifestation and Charm
December 18, 2023 00:00 - 22 minutes - 20.8 MBManifestation has become somewhat of a buzzword in the past 20 years or so. The promise of having your desires met easily and effortlessly is a compelling proposition. So much so that often a disproportionate effort is put into a supposed “process” of manifestation, affirmations, visualizations, and so on, than is put into doing the thing that might be required for the manifestation to occur. Thom sets the record straight in this episode, looking at manifestation through the lens...
Self-Referral Happiness vs Object-Referral Happiness
December 11, 2023 00:00 - 39 minutes - 36 MBWhat makes you happy? Most people could come up with a long list of answers to this question. Ironically, it’s all the things that make us happy that make us unhappy as well; either because we have them but the happiness wears off, or we find out there’s something/someone else that we might like better, or we have them but lose them, or we find that they don’t make us as happy as we thought they would… It’s a never-ending cycle of whack-a-mole that leaves most people with short p...
Mindset Minus Mind Games
December 04, 2023 00:00 - 16 minutes - 15.3 MBThere’s no end of affirmations, guided meditations, and other positive thinking tools that we can use to master our mindset. But are these necessary? And do they even work? As is often the case, Thom bucks the trend in this episode, giving us cause to think twice about using mind games to keep us on the path to success. He proposes a more elegant approach, one that’s aligned with the Vedic worldview and one with a higher likelihood of success. Episode Highlights: [00:45] "All...
Soma - The Fluid Dynamics of Consciousness
November 27, 2023 00:00 - 19 minutes - 18.3 MBThere’s no shortage of options for people “researching” chemical shortcuts to spiritual experiences. While psychedelic drugs such as LSD, or hallucinogens such as ayahuasca, frequently have enough of an impact to arouse curiosity and experimentation, they don’t offer reliable, repeatable experiences, let alone still allow one to function reliably in day-to-day life. This is because they are mistaking biochemistry as being a cause of spiritual experiences rather than an effect of ...
How to Have Thanksgiving Every Day
November 20, 2023 00:00 - 15 minutes - 14 MBOne of the traps for the human intellect is to take much of life for granted. Though we have special occasions peppered throughout the year, the days, weeks and months in between often don’t have the same shine as the special occasions. Given that ‘normal’ days are greater in number, it makes sense for us to consider ways in which we can make gratitude an everyday occurrence. In this episode, as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday in the USA, Thom invites us to cultivate a ...
Progressive Change, Perspective, and the Past
November 13, 2023 00:00 - 28 minutes - 26.5 MBOne of the biggest struggles people have is in coming to terms with apparent problems, whether they be current problems, or problems from the past. While we might be able to grasp the concept of evolution or progressive change intellectually, when the experience becomes uncomfortable it becomes more difficult to rationalize. In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners seeking resolution to problems that seem too big to be solved, or that have gone beyond the time when s...
Sankalpa - A Fresh Perspective on Bucket Lists
November 06, 2023 00:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBDesire is one of the most demonized characteristics of human behavior. Some schools of thought argue that desire is the cause of all our suffering, and that the path to enlightenment is to become detached from them. Thom sets the record straight in this episode, using the concept of Sankalpa to clarify both the function and importance of desire, and giving us a primer on how to ensure our desires remain relevant to our evolution and aligned with Nature’s intention. And if you wan...
The Simple Science of Happiness: Be Here Nowra Public Talk
October 29, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 80.7 MBIn June 2023, Thom was the guest of honor at a talk in Nowra, South of Sydney in Australia, on the subject, The Simple Science of Happiness. The host of the talk was Barron Hanson, a Nowra local and a Vedic Meditation Initiator (teacher) who has created Be Here Nowra, a community happiness project committed to increasing the number of meditators in the town and researching the benefits arising. This episode is a recording from that event, including a discussion between Thom and Ba...
Awakening Abundance - Preview Episode
October 26, 2023 16:00 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBThis special episode of The Vedic Worldview is a preview episode of Thom’s newly released course, Awakening Abundance. Though the wisdom has been around for millenia, the Vedic perspective on abundance will be fresh to most listeners. It bucks the trendy solutions of “wealth mindset,” “law of attraction,” “accumulation” and “leverage” and offers up a simpler, more fundamental approach to the subject. It’s an approach that’s within reach for all listeners. Thom’s course includes ...
Avoiding the Unwanted Effects of Om Through Pranava
October 23, 2023 01:33 - 20 minutes - 18.7 MBAnyone who has attended hatha yoga classes outside of India at some time has probably been invited by the teacher to begin or end the class with a group chant of the sound of Om. Or maybe they’ve experimented with the use of Om in a meditation practice. It can sound and feel beautiful, and when we hear it chanted by a group of monks it can have a deeply resonant effect on the body and the mind. But what most people don’t realize is that the sound of Om has a very specific intentio...
The Third Eye - What it is and What You Need to Know About it.
October 15, 2023 23:00 - 22 minutes - 20.9 MBSpiritual seekers can often be found experimenting with different techniques to “open their third eye” in the hope that it will give them insights they might not otherwise have, or at least to tick a box on their evolutionary progress score sheet. In fact the reference to it as a third eye can often lead people down the path of mood making, where they think they are literally seeing things with their third eye rather than imagining them. In this episode, Thom clarifies just what t...
The Solution to All Problems
October 08, 2023 23:00 - 32 minutes - 29.7 MBIf we look at the origin of the word “problem,” we see that it originally meant to “throw forward” for discussion. In mathematics, problem is still used in the same context, in that we find a solution to an equation, with the equation being the problem. In day-to-day life, though, problems are more than just propositions; they are actual issues that need to be solved rather than just propositions to ponder. Or are they? In this episode, Thom “throws forward” a new proposition ...
Are Body-Based Goals Evolutionary?
October 01, 2023 23:00 - 19 minutes - 18.1 MBOne of the features of modern life that sets us apart from our ancestors is our focus on the shape, form and function of our bodies, or “looking good,” so to speak. Though many of us give little thought to the subject, some are obsessed with how we present ourselves physically, and most of us are somewhere in between. It would be fair to say, though, that we’re probably much more “body-centric” than our grandparents or earlier generations were. So is such behavior evolutionary...
A Vedic Perspective on Postpartum Depression
September 24, 2023 23:00 - 16 minutes - 15.2 MBCarrying a child, giving birth and raising a baby places a huge burden on mothers, physically and emotionally. Each mother’s experience is unique and there is no reliable user guide showing how to navigate this transformational stage of life. And while everyone concerned hopes for the mother to have a joyful experience, for many that’s not the case. Though it’s only received medical recognition in recent decades, postpartum depression, (aka postnatal depression) has been a part of ...
The Mechanics of Stress and Stress Release
September 17, 2023 23:00 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBAll of us are familiar with the feeling of being stressed, or the results of accumulating stress in the body, but, how many of us actually know the mechanics of this process? We know we can feel frustrated, annoyed, angry, fearful, sad, anxious, and so on, but where do these feelings come from, and why do we all react differently to them? Thom takes a deep dive into the subject today, looking at the mechanics of stress, how we feel it, where it goes, what happens when we have too ...
Inspiration, Apathy vs Non-Attachment, An End to Humanity?
September 10, 2023 23:00 - 29 minutes - 26.8 MBIt’s Q&A time once again. In this episode Thom helps out a listener who doesn’t know why it might be important for her spouse to learn Vedic Meditation. Thom includes the possibility that it might in fact not be important for him to learn He discusses the distinction between apathy and non-attachment, and the very simple yet distinct indicator that tells us which we might be experiencing. And he considers a hypothetical scenario where all of humanity becomes enlightened. More s...
The Role of Beliefs in Dharma
September 03, 2023 23:00 - 14 minutes - 13.6 MBOur beliefs play a fundamental role in how we engage in life. What we learn in our early years becomes our guide as to the actions that we choose to take or not take in our lives. For the most part these beliefs serve us well. They help us to live in harmony with our surroundings and our community, but are there points where we must set aside our beliefs for the higher good? Most of us find ourselves from time to time, much like Arjuna on the battlefield with Krishna in the Bhagav...
Does Charm Always Feel Easy?
August 27, 2023 23:00 - 15 minutes - 14.2 MBSynchronicity has become a buzzword in the past 20 years. The notion that things can go your way and everything becomes seemingly effortless is considered a sign of evolutionary progress. Some might even say it’s a form of spiritual favoritism. But is evolution necessarily easy? In particular, does charm always lead us down an easy path? Thom gives us a short discourse on the matter, inviting us to enjoy the ride that we sometimes find ourselves on when Vedic Meditators follow c...
Cultural Appropriation and Cultural Integrity
August 20, 2023 23:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBThe ease with which we can travel has blurred many cultural boundaries over the past couple of hundred years, and especially so in the past 50 years. On any given day you could start your day with a Vedic Meditation practice originating in India (of course), followed by Capoeira from Brazil in the park, have a croissant for breakfast, attend Spanish language lessons in the morning, enjoy Yum Cha from Hong Kong for lunch, spend the afternoon at a local indigenous cultural experience...
The Function of Dreaming Consciousness
August 13, 2023 23:00 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBWhy do we have dreams and what do they mean? Some schools of thought attempt to attribute specific meanings and interpretations of dreams, but the Vedic stance is somewhat different. The Vedic worldview recognizes seven different states of consciousness, including dreaming, but as Thom explains in this episode, not all dreams are dreams, and none of them require interpretation… Episode Highlights: [00:45] What Does My Dream Mean? [02:18] One More Possibility Gone [03:57] The ...
The Role of Devotion in Our Evolution
August 06, 2023 23:00 - 29 minutes - 27.3 MBDevotion is often heralded as a path to enlightenment, but what does that mean? To whom or to what should we be devoted to? Thom presents the Vedic position on devotion in this episode, teaching us that devotion is an effect rather than a cause, an outcome rather than an action. It’s a compelling case that gives us full control over our ability to experience devotion and the rich rewards that come with it. Episode Highlights: [00:45] The First Element of Devotion [02:50] The Si...
The Function and Relevance of Kirtan
July 30, 2023 23:00 - 45 minutes - 42.1 MBKirtan has become popular outside of India in recent decades. The heightened feelings that can arise from devotional chanting have made it a compelling activity for many wanting to experience Vedic wisdom at the level of feeling. But there’s a lot more to kirtan than meets the ear. In this fascinating episode, Thom discusses the origins and the function of kirtan, and explains how it can be experienced optimally and with deep reverence. Episode Highlights: [00:00] Bhajan - A De...
India - The Cradle of Civilization
July 23, 2023 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.8 MBFew countries match India for its vast variety of people, cultures, languages, and of course, styles of cuisine. While most of us appreciate different aspects of this vast and colorful nation, few of us have a worthy appreciation of the role India has played in shaping civilizations outside of India. Many languages have an ancestral relationship with Sanskrit, the original spoken language of India. Vedic astrologers were centuries ahead of their European counterparts when it came...
My Maharishi - A Second Father to Me
July 16, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 59.3 MBWhile most of us have mentors or figures that have a significant impact on our lives, few of us have the great good fortune to spend much time with a great leader such as Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. In this episode, Thom reflects on both the origin story of his relationship with Maharishi, and the final chapter of the “in-person” interactions he had with him. It’s a sweet tale that gives us a deeper appreciation of Guru-Student relationships, how the tradition of Masters that have be...
Our Role in Parent-Child Relationships
July 09, 2023 23:00 - 25 minutes - 23.6 MBWhy do we choose our parents and why do our children choose us? Working out the evolutionary function of parent-child relationships is tricky, and quite possibly a waste of time. While it might satisfy the intellect to come up with an answer, the contributing factors are likely to be more complex than the intellect can process. What we can do though, is to become exemplars in the relationship, whether it be with our parents, or with our children. We can bypass the need to know, o...
Why do We Self Sabotage Ourselves?
July 02, 2023 23:00 - 48 minutes - 44.3 MBThere’s no shortage of self judgments we can make that don’t make us feel good, and self sabotage is up there with the best. It provides a talking point for countless therapy sessions, and gives us plenty of ammunition for those moments when we’re trying to rationalize our actions. So what is self sabotage and why do we do it? The good news is that, like all things, it has an evolutionary function. Thom explains in more detail in this episode, releasing us from the need to explai...
World Peace is an Inside Job
June 25, 2023 23:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBWar is a 24/7 business, and none of us have lived through a time when there isn’t war raging in some part of the world, whether it be a full-blown international conflict, or a localized civil war. So the idea of world peace might seem like a pipe dream, something over which we have no control. In this episode, Thom reminds us of the magnitude of the problem, and educates us on the magnitude of the solution. It turns out that the solution is actually more simple than we might th...
The Akashic Record Explained
June 18, 2023 23:00 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MB“Readings” of the Akashic record have become popular in recent years. In our quest to understand the mysteries behind who we are, how we got here, and why this, that or the other thing happened, the promise of the Akashic record is compelling. But what exactly is the Akashic record? Can you actually access it? And, if so, how? Thom explains the true meaning of the Akashic record in this episode, which reflects the wisdom of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s famous quote, “Knowledge is stru...
The Relationship Between Trust and Charm
June 11, 2023 23:00 - 18 minutes - 17.1 MBA lot of weight is put on the notion of having “trust” in our choices. And while many of us do so, we might find ourselves analyzing the results of our choices and debating whether the trust was warranted or not. The Vedic worldview has a different perspective on this, and finds trust to be an unreliable companion. In fact it’s the need for trust that leads to the need for it to be evaluated. The Vedic position is reminiscent of the lesson delivered from Krishna to Arjuna on the...
The Evolutionary Function of Suicide
June 04, 2023 23:00 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBIn a recent episode, Thom explored the subject of where suicidal thoughts come from. And while this might help us understand the origins of suicidal thoughts, it doesn’t explain the evolutionary role that suicide plays. Thom takes us deeper in this episode and delivers a comforting perspective, which doesn’t condone suicide as such but explains how it is at least evolutionary. Importantly, he explains that while it may be evolutionary, there are even more evolutionary alternative...
Understanding the Caste System of India
May 29, 2023 02:40 - 16 minutes - 15.1 MBWhen we think of India, many people question the fairness of the so-called caste system, which, on the face of it, appears to divide the population into different classes, based on the family one is born into. This perception appears to limit the opportunities people have in their lifetime, and some even think that being born into a “lower” caste can be a result of so-called “bad karma.” In this episode, Thom sets the record straight, describing the actual structure and function ...
Why do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
May 21, 2023 23:00 - 20 minutes - 18.4 MBIn the recent episode about punya and deserving power, Thom clarified that good fortune is a result of expanding our consciousness, rather than a reward for good behavior. This still leaves the question open though, about why “bad things” happen to “good people.” In this episode, Thom closes the loop on the question, and invites us to reconsider our definition of “bad things” and to see the role that they play in our evolution. Episode Highlights: [00:45] Heroes and Villains [0...
Punya - How to Increase Your Deserving Power
May 14, 2023 23:00 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBGood fortune is often seen as some kind of cosmic reward for good behavior. “If I do good things, then good things will happen to me.” This has actually evolved as a misunderstanding of the concept of karma. Rather than being a reward, the Vedic position on good fortune is that it is actually a result. More specifically, it’s a result of enhanced consciousness, brought about by the removal of stresses that prevent us from seeing the most evolutionary opportunities available to us. ...
Yudhishthira and the Most Wondrous Thing
May 07, 2023 23:00 - 35 minutes - 32.3 MBMaharishi Mahesh Yogi said on more than one occasion that free will was God’s greatest gift to mankind. And while that may well be, we have to ask ourselves whether we actually make the most of this gift. In this episode, Thom takes us to a pivotal moment in The Mahabharata, when Yudhishthira, the offspring of Dharma, and Arjuna’s older brother, puts his wisdom to the test to restore the lives of his brothers. Like much of The Mahabharata, and most Vedic literature, it makes a so...
Navigating Family Relationships When Times Are Difficult
April 30, 2023 23:00 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBFamily relationships aren’t usually simple or straight forward. This is a matter of design, because our karmic blueprint brings us into family situations where we can play out the dramas necessary for our evolution. In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners about the dynamics of family relationships during times of difficulty. He discusses how to cope with family relationships that have broken down, and how to show adult children how they can make the most of their ...