Wisdom of the Sages
1,310 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★★ - 845 ratingsTruths about life from the timeless wisdom of the Bhakti-yoga tradition - fun, relevant, and deep. Learn about dharma, yoga, bhakti, and how it relates to all the basic questions of life. This show is about how to live your best life, let go of the external distractions, and uncover the spiritual happiness that lies within the heart as the true nature of the soul.
Raghunath and Kaustubha's connection goes back to their teens in the New York Hardcore Punk Scene of the early 80s, through serving together as Bhakti-yogi monks in the 90's, to sharing their experiences in the world of yoga in the 21st century.
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Episodes
1144: Seeing Through Eyes Trained in Knowledge
September 14, 2023 12:48 - 55 minutes - 25.3 MB“Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it.” - Don Herold / why am I waiting in line to buy these sneakers? / Is all our pleasure from our ego? / ultimately we are just looking for love / we are unaware of forces that engage us / there’s a firewall preventing our perception of paramatma / every aspect of our experiences is designed for our growth / the dark worldview = this world is unreal, without foundation, without a controller, and risen without cause / most...
1143: Paramatma Writes the Songs
September 13, 2023 13:49 - 58 minutes - 26.9 MBwe can’t pay our spiritual debts back, but we can pay them forward / understanding our place in the levels of awareness / our experiences are being governed by unseen forces / the Supersoul is directing the workings of our senses / we own nothing / Paramatma writes the songs that make the whole world sing / If you were to find out how this entire universe works, would you expect that it all would be ordinary, or would you expect to hear things that would BLOW YOUR MIND! To donate a Bhagava...
1142: Love is the Highest Dharma!
September 12, 2023 14:05 - 58 minutes - 26.8 MBRespect to those practicing Bhakti where it’s illegal and dangerous / imagination is more important than knowledge / Mahabharata Super Squirrel – Abhimanyu’s death, Arjuna’s vow, and Krishna’s cheating out of love / Krishna cheats out of love again when Karma is killed / love is the highest dharma!
1141: The Firewall Between Us & Spiritual Perception
September 11, 2023 15:34 - 57 minutes - 26.1 MBWisdom of the Sages is mother approved (with cautious optimism) / “Realism is not a matter of any fidelity to an empirical reality..” - John Fiske / There’s no empirical evidence that all that exists falls within the realm of empirical evidence. / there’s a firewall between us and spiritual perception / virtue is a key to knowledge / sambhanda jnana (knowledge of the nature of our relationship) / ants have eyes, but they can’t see very well / there could be a blue cowherd boy at the center o...
1140: Q & A Volume 185
September 10, 2023 13:39 - 56 minutes - 25.7 MBIs a broken heart real or just an illusion? / How should a Bhakti-yogi apply Vedic Astrology? / Why is Rathayatra celebrated on so many different days?
1139: Raging in Denial of What Our Inner-Self is Telling Us
September 08, 2023 14:15 - 1 hour - 55.6 MBanger is an acid / anger ends in shame / the 2 things one should never be angry about / anger is a wind that blows out our reasoning / the best speech you will ever regret / raging in denial of what our inner self is telling us / would Plato hang out with Raghu and Kaustubha? / how many times is anger mentioned in Bhagavad-gita / transcending anger through devotion / Pajapati Daksha comes back
1138: What Kindness, Humility & Intelligence
September 07, 2023 13:48 - 57 minutes - 26.3 MBRaghunath and Kaustubha share their appreciation for Srila Prabhupada on the day of the festival celebrating his appearance.
1137: Krishna Poetry
September 06, 2023 14:51 - 56 minutes - 25.6 MBOn the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmastami (the appearance of Krishna) Raghunath & Kaustubha share some of their favorite verses of devotional song and poetry.
1136: Every Body is a Temple
September 05, 2023 12:31 - 59 minutes - 27 MB“The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in.” / Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you? 1 Corinthians 6:19 / carry god awareness with you everywhere / “Please abide in the temple of my heart both day and night, O Krsna Murari” - Bhaktivinode Thakura / the clash between mixed devotion & pure devotion / we all got a little daksha-like resistance to pure devotion / don’t shame people to change- inspire them / a lead...
1135: Q & A Volume 184
September 03, 2023 14:16 - 54 minutes - 24.9 MBWhat does it mean to be self realized or God realized? / How to respond to scandals in Bhakti communities? / How do understand our indebtedness without feelings of lack of self-worth and shame?
1134: Q & A Volume 183
September 02, 2023 14:01 - 54 minutes - 24.8 MBHow does one know when they should be initiated? / How can I best support my friends during times of tragedy?
1133: The World is a Mess - But What Does That Prove?
September 01, 2023 14:24 - 58 minutes - 26.8 MBThe world is a mess - but what does it prove? / universal harmony through placing the Divine source in the center / trying to leave Bhakti is like being a yo-yo / Karma, Janna, and Bhakti are found throughout the world’s spiritual traditions / karmic ritualistic atonement in Buddhism / Bhagavatam is traveling throughout the universe, illustrating through a variety of dialogs, the superiority of Bhakti / you can’t get the goal (Krishna Prema) through Vedic ritualistic atonement / I wonder wha...
1132: Painful Life Experience + Spiritual Knowledge = Spiritual Realization
August 31, 2023 15:16 - 54 minutes - 25 MB“We are good at preparing to live, but not very good at living.” - Thich What Hanh / we’re vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere / we’re can be in eternity Right Now through Bhakti / Lord Brahma installed 5 features of illusion into the material world / painful life + spiritual knowledge = spiritual realization / Like honey, Bhagavatam is derived from a most beautiful source, thick, sweet and nourishing / becoming a Great Goose SB 6.3.28-32
1131: Raghu Takes the "Absurd Trolley Problems" Quiz
August 30, 2023 15:32 - 54 minutes - 24.8 MBNew York becomes Vrindavan when Radha and Krishna are the center / would Raghu pull the lever to kill 1 person in order to save 5? / “To save a family, abandon a man.” - Vidura / it’s not always easy to determine right from wrong / we like to think that we are the one pulling the lever when in fact we are all tied to the tracks / Yuddhisthira on what is the most amazing thing / Ajamila was living like he wasn’t tied to the tracks / with Bhagavat Dharma it’s the intention that counts / even...
1130: The Highest Dharma is Understood by the Pure of Heart
August 29, 2023 14:15 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBHappy 10th birthday Little Karuna! / there’s dharma and then there is dharmaḥ paraḥ, the highest dharma, Bhagavat Dharma, Bhakti / keep the highest dharma as the main thing, and every other dharma is covered / every sage is in debt to Vyasadeva / what is “Cheating Dharma”? / the highest dharma is understood by the pure of heart / After chanting and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form, pastimes and qualities of the Lord SB 6.3.22
1129: Interview with Crispian Mills of the Band Kula Shaker
August 27, 2023 13:54 - 53 minutes - 24.6 MBRaghunath and Kasutubha speak with Crispian Mills about his life of bringing the magic of Bhakti into popular music.
1128: Q & A Volume 182
August 26, 2023 13:33 - 52 minutes - 24.1 MBWhy does my devotional consciousness fluctuate? / How to respond to a mind full of negativity and self-loathing? / How do disciples approach the passing away of their guru?
1127: Happiness Through Flowing Within the Universal Laws
August 25, 2023 14:11 - 55 minutes - 25.2 MBImmanuel Kant’s view of morality / morality is designed to facilitate the realization of happiness / our wellbeing is determined by our willingness to flow within the universal laws / objective moral truths warrant a supernatural explanation / does morality develop out of evolutionary need? / secularists have trouble explaining why human beings have intrinsic value, rights, and moral obligations / Yamaraja explains that dharma is established by Bhagavan / to understand the confidential dha...
1126: Beyond Mindfulness Lies Confidential Knowledge
August 24, 2023 15:12 - 54 minutes - 24.9 MB“When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you” – Thich Nhat Hanh / beyond mindfulness Lies the confidential knowledge of devotion / those free of resentment, envy and hostility can understand the confidential knowledge / your good fortune may trigger someone else’s self-loathing / my issues with others may reflect my own issues with God / the devotees wander with full independence / “My Life…My Rules…..BUT / the ...
1125: We Don't Die
August 23, 2023 13:56 - 58 minutes - 26.9 MBwe don’t die / grounded in the reality of the timeless soul / there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge – the mature fruit of all mysticism / there’s hope in a decaying material world / all this life is about is learning what to let go of and what to hold onto / saying goodbye to everything SB 6.3.13-16
1124: As Pearls Are Strung On a Thread
August 22, 2023 15:45 - 58 minutes - 26.6 MBslow down and go deep in the mantra / sadhana helps us cope with life’s curveballs / keep steady and don’t be discouraged / don’t dilly dally in the unimportant / nowhere in the weave of the universe is Krishna not present / there is the material energy, and the spiritual energy, and it all rests on Krishna, like pearls strung on a thread Pre order Raghu's book at https://a.co/d/4VEIEeq SB 6.3.1-12
1123: How Yogis Set Their Intentions
August 21, 2023 13:55 - 56 minutes - 25.7 MB“The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind.” - Napoleon Bonaparte / austerity can strengthen the mind and bring peace / engaging the intellect as a rational filter / freeing up the mind to hear the direction of the Supersoul / Ajamila’s regret / Ajamila’s yogic knowledge / Ajamila sets his intention / Ajamila’s return to Vaikuntha SB 6.2.26-49
1122: Q & A Volume 181
August 19, 2023 14:24 - 54 minutes - 25 MBIs God an energy, a person, or both? / Once you reach the spiritual realm… what happens? / How do the physical instructions of yoga asana lead to a quiet mind? Preorder Raghu’s book now - https://a.co/d/4VEIEeq
1121: Let It Come & Let Me Grow Through It
August 18, 2023 13:06 - 55 minutes - 25.6 MB“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” ― Proverbs 4:23 / spirituality can be understood as a practice of purifying our desires from the level of exploitation, to renunciation, to devotion / don’t be so harsh on people, they’re mostly good hearted / chasing our desires will take us all over the universe / Bhakti-yogis aren’t so interested in counteracting their karma - the say “let it come and let me grow through it” / there can be purification in regret SB...
1120: 10 Important Considerations for Meditation
August 17, 2023 11:37 - 56 minutes - 26.1 MB“Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo / the resolution to die can add beauty and grace to life / practice saddhana like you will die tomorrow - study like you will live forever / "The mantra that is not received in a genuine lineage does not produce results.” / one must receive the instructions for how to access the power of the mantra from a qualified instructor / our conceptions, sentiments and lifestyles are important for meditation SB 6.2.11
1119: All the Noise Distracts Us from Life's Essence
August 16, 2023 11:32 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBthe relentless noise we’ve created is distracting us from the essence of life – contemplation and meditation / the Vishnudutas make their case / calling out the name Narayana, in a helpless condition, wiped out lifetimes of bad karma for Ajamila / in Kali-yuga we are all sudras / there are so many books of dharma - but Vyasadeva, the author of them, points out that in this age we shall get light from Srimad-bhagavatam / Bhagavatam promotes the chanting of Krishna’s names from the beginning t...
1118: Invest Love in All You Do
August 15, 2023 12:03 - 54 minutes - 25.1 MBwhatever you do, do it as an offering, and as beautifully as possible / work done as an offering is karma free / fixed in this principle of renunciation, one receives Krishna / home life can purge one of ego / Ajamila’s downfall / letting go of the concept of friends and enemies / don’t let porn into your life, even a little / the Yamadutas rest their case
1117: We're Trapped in a Cocoon of Our Own Karma
August 14, 2023 11:52 - 1 hour - 29.3 MB"Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside wakes.” – Carl Jung / What am I, beyond the external ego presentation? / we’ve got layers to shed before we get to our authentic self / our relationship with our body is dream-like / our choices determine our next body / this is not religious dogma – it’s an invitation to think about life in a different way / the proposition that maybe “there really is no such thing as Consciousness” is completely absurd (because consciousness is required even to a...
1116: Q & A Volume 180
August 12, 2023 13:44 - 53 minutes - 24.3 MBHow can I reconcile my non-binary gender identity with Bhakti? / What can I do to help the soul of my aging dog on his spiritual journey? / Does it makes senses to pray for world peace in the Kali Yuga?
1115: People Don't Want That Real
August 11, 2023 11:50 - 56 minutes - 26.1 MBBe careful what you get involved with, 'Cause you can't support a cause but then hate the effects that it causes. - DEE 1 / go all the way with Bhakti, don’t just dabble, because this life is slipping away / getting to bed early and waking early gets you flowing with the favorable currents / make your daily japa meditation a power hour / we’re bugged- paramatma and yamaraj know everything SB 6.1.37-49
1114: Karma? Warm, Jnana? Warmer, Bhakti? Red Hot!
August 10, 2023 11:33 - 51 minutes - 23.8 MB“Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge.” - William Shakespeare / “Earthly power doth then show likest God's when mercy seasons justice.”- William Shakespeare / Sage Vyasadeva sets out to crack our faith in ritualistic religious atonement / Karma? Warm, Jnana? Warmer, Bhakti? Red Hot! / turning to God once with sincere surrender trumps everything / just one of the wandering senses can drag you down a slippery slope / It’s not so much the prostitute that brought his bad karma, it’s what he did...
1113: If Your Heart Hasn't Softened, You Haven't Understood
August 09, 2023 14:41 - 55 minutes - 25.5 MBausterity, celibacy, even-mindedness, charity, renunciation, truthfulness, cleanliness, and regulative principles - all don’t quite get to the root of material desire / Bhakti uproots the weeds of karma / the desire to enjoy this world (karma) and even the desire to become free of the sufferings of this world (jnana) are both “all about me” / Vyasa recommends Bhakti as a path free from fear - even while running with eyes closed / if your heart hasn’t softened, you haven’t understood what lif...
1112: The Periodic Shaving of Karmic Stubble
August 08, 2023 12:19 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MBwe all need stability, guidance, and a contribution for growth in our spiritual life / the periodic shaving of karmic stubble / atonement vs. at-one-ment / Bhagavatam highlights the conflict between mixed devotional service and pure devotional service / religion is interested in salvation, spirituality is interested in transformation / Bhakti can burn the seeds of bad karma / “Belief in a cruel God makes a cruel man.” - Thomas Paine / the disciple passes the first test SB 6.1.1-12
1111: 28 Reasons to Go to Hell
August 07, 2023 12:03 - 1 hour - 28.6 MBour habits are like seeds - they grow / Bhagavatam’s 16,000 verses has 28 about hell (and they are shared in order to frame a message of spiritual optimism) / the bad karma that results in seeing hell mostly has to do with acts of cruelty / hell is reasonable / if you are in a position of power….don’t misuse it / what if we treated sex as if it were truly sacred? SB 5.26.1-40
1110: Q & A Volume 179
August 05, 2023 14:04 - 56 minutes - 25.9 MBMy wife and I spend our free time getting high and watching TV. I want to spend time with her but also want to break these habits. What to do? / Why is the Bhagavad-gita, in particular, studied on its own, among some many sections of Mahabharata? / Krishna and Arjuna grew up together so why would Krishna’s cosmic form startle Arjuna? If you have questions, e-mail them to us at [email protected]
1109: To See a World in a Grain of Sand
August 04, 2023 11:51 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MBthrough even insignificant observable objects - we get truths about what lies beyond the observable / contemplating what’s beyond is purifying and nourishing / external virtue extends from internal life / spirituality is the key to overcoming injustice / seeing others as their fullest potential / our bodies were designed to enjoy and suffer - but there’s a silken twine of spiritual joy that runs through them / to conquer our minds and give pleasure to our hearts, Krishna appears in different...
1108: Materialists Chase Desires - Yogis Modify Desires
August 03, 2023 11:49 - 59 minutes - 27 MBthe universe (Paramatma) is eavesdropping on your every desire / materialists chase desires – yogis modify desires / popular model of success = the ability to satisfy desires – yogic model of success = the ability to modify desires / a twofold strategy for dealing with desire 1. Jnanic - Reflection on the illusory nature of matter 2. Bhakti - hearing and remembering the descriptions Krishna / For those who hear about and meditate upon Krishna, He… enters the cores of their hearts, vanquishes...
1107: All Sensations Originally Exist in the Spiritual Body
August 02, 2023 11:53 - 56 minutes - 25.8 MBwe’ve been traveling the universe, from the top of the bubble to the bottom / devotees meditate upon on the presiding deity of false ego to / be purified of the false conception of I and mine / this universe is like a tiny mustard seed / all sensations originally exist in the spiritual body / how to approach sacred topics with the right attitude SB 5.25.1-5 https://www.bhaktirecoverygroup.com/recovery-retreats https://www.wisdomofthesages.com/events
1106: Is it Bad Karma, or is It a Blessing?
August 01, 2023 13:04 - 57 minutes - 26.1 MBdon’t take the fun out of Bhakti / You don’t own your kids. Or anything else. / God shifts our life’s circumstances to make these truths come to life / In the minds of those who are too attached to sense enjoyment and material opulence, and who are bewildered by such things,- there is no samadhi / is it bad karma, or is it a blessing? / Bali zooms out / there is nothing of this material world that will satisfy me deeply SB 5.24.22-25
1105: Bhagavad-gita Special / Ch. 15 Purushottama Yoga / Part 2
July 31, 2023 13:09 - 53 minutes - 24.7 MBRaghunath and Kaustubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / Krishna’s guided meditation – how to contemplate his sustaining presence in everything / Krishna pervades the heart of everyone / even to forget Him, we need Krishna’s help / beyond the condiitioned and liberated souls there is the Supreme Soul who enters the world and maintains it / knowing Krishna as the ultimate person, and engaging in His loving service is the most confidential secret of the Vedic literature
1104: Bhagavad-gita Special / Ch. 15 Purushottama Yoga / Part 1
July 30, 2023 15:33 - 57 minutes - 26.2 MBRaghunath and Kautstubha discuss Bhagavad-gita Ch.15 / this world is a reflection of a tree that we get entangled in / one must cut down the tree with the weapon of detachment - and then surrender to the original person - the source / the keys to transcendence / a summary of existence in illusion / those with the eye of knowledge can see what’s happening / contemplations for seeing Krishna’s presence in everything
1103: Q & A Volume 178
July 30, 2023 14:35 - 57 minutes - 26.4 MBDoes the soul really have feelings or are feelings the product of the mind-ego? / What's a good morning ritual for starting a Bhakti-yoga practice? / Do the thoughts at the the moment of death really determine the next birth, and if so, isn’t that kind of Random
1102: Thank You for Your Sincerity Sinéad O'Connor
July 28, 2023 14:28 - 48 minutes - 22.2 MB“At some point the entire population of the earth is gonna have to look back at the essence of spirituality.” — Sinead O'Connor / Krishna and His name are non different / spiritual practice begins with refining perspective and culminates in refined perception / the vast, timeless Vedic texts have earned my faith / kindness and simplicity are the basic yogic principles / negative sound in the head can arrest our evolution / see your experiences as tailored for your evolution / happiness doesn...
1101: Living the Truth, Moment to Moment
July 27, 2023 12:20 - 59 minutes - 27 MBlife as an exploration of living the truth / have I become comfortable projecting a lie? / living the truth, moment to moment / discarding our temporary identities / our default identity is pure spirit / 3 levels of purity in mantra meditation / the spread of Bhakti beyond the Sanskrit language into the local vernaculars / the rise of the “lowborn” Bhakti exemplars / the power of even a glimpse of the pure mantra SB 5.24.20
1100: You Can’t Satisfy One Who’s Senses are Uncontrolled
July 26, 2023 11:54 - 59 minutes - 27 MB“All that there is within the universe to satisfy the senses, cannot satisfy one whose senses are uncontrolled.” - Sri Vamanadeva / always look for the deeper essence / the Bhagavatam shows us dharmic reversals again and again, even the demons can be glorified more than the devas - if they have devotion Follow Shyamesvari on Instagram @mridangawallii SB 5.24.1-20
1099: Disintegrating the Bad Karma Programming
July 25, 2023 14:22 - 55 minutes - 25.5 MB“Our life always expresses the result of our dominant thoughts.” - Soren Kierkegaard / freedom requires a concerted, disciplined effort to direct our thoughts / the thoughts of a pure Bhakti-yogi radiate into the minds of those around them / meditate on Vishnu 3x a day / bathe to refresh your mind 3x a day / don’t meditate on murder before bed / Vishnu meditation 3 times a day disintegrates the bad karma programing in the mind SB 5.23.8-9
1098: Your Body is a Universe
July 24, 2023 11:57 - 55 minutes - 25.3 MB“This house, this car, this plane, this furniture, this bank account, so much reputation and fame, none of them are of any use to me.” - Kyrzayda Rodriguez / we’re not here to just enjoy ourselves / death as the final exam and we’ve gotta prepare for it / Bhagavatam is Vyasa's way of clarifying everything / the devas are like tax collectors / your body is a universe SB 5.20.5-33
1097: Q & A Volume 177
July 23, 2023 13:53 - 1 hour - 30 MBWho is supreme - Vishnu, Rama, or Krishna? / Can conditioned people have unconditional love? / How can care-givers grow through their challenges? / How to find and recognize good guidance when you come to the forks in the road?
1096: Q & A Volume 176
July 22, 2023 13:51 - 1 hour - 29.5 MBIf we can’t remember our past life, how does it help us grow? / Is the instruction to give up bad association a bit harsh? / What is OM all about?
1095: Hear, Practice & Experience Spiritual Truth
July 21, 2023 11:25 - 56 minutes - 25.6 MB“Gravity explains the motions of the planets, but it cannot explain who sets the planets in motion.” ― Isaac Newton / sense perception and inference are valid ways of knowledge, but that can’t answer the big questions / science isn’t determined by consensus - politics is / life is not meant for sense gratification / the desire to hear grows in the heart of one who serves / Krishna purifies the mind & heart of the hearer / the result of Bhakti is happiness - and then positive scientific knowl...