The Vedic World View

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 to meditate twice a day. This alone will put us in a position to make better choices for ourselves.In some cases, that may be the choice to reduce drinking alcohol, or even to stop drinking altogether. In other cases, the desire to drink might simply just go away so there isn’t even a choice required. And in other cases still, there might be a desire to reduce alcohol and a recognition that some extra help is needed with that.In this episode, Thom takes a broad look at alcohol from the physiological and scientific perspective and also from a spiritual perspective. Whether you are a drinker or not, it’s a discussion tha

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 separate from, and fearful of, each other.Even if we just follow the ‘teaching’ of the song at the literal level of the English translation, we would get enormous benefit from it. But if we dive deeper into the true meaning of the words, which Thom does in this episode, we reveal a richer understanding that can guide us in our day-to-day lives.Episode Highlights: [00:48] The Manifesto of the Process of the Vedic Worldview[03:26] Saha Nav Avatu—Let Us Be Together[04:47] Be Conscious Without Thoughts[06:13] Bliss: The Supreme Inner Contentedness[07:58] Saha Nau Bhunaktu—Let Us Eat Together[09:35] Saha Viryam Karavavahai

For a large part of the population, the first week of January is a period of regret. Regret about some of the food and drink choices made over the festive season, and perhaps regret from some of the New Years’ Resolutions that are turning out to be not so resolute as they might have wished.This, of course, was never a problem for Thom’s Master, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. Being in such a highly-evolved state, he was simply beyond the stage where he could make choices that he would regret.Maharishi’s routine for the New Year was almost the exact opposite to pretty much the entire population that lives by the Gregorian calendar. In this episode Thom shares the details of this routine, which revolved around an annual seven-day period of solitude, silence and fasting.  Episode Highlights: [00:46] Seven Days of Silence[02:21] Leftover Tasks[03:50] No Interruptions[04:59] Who's There in the Waiting Room?[06:33] Where Shall We Spend Christmas?[07:44] Music for the Cows[08:46] Rich People Problems[09:52] Emerging from the

It’s time for another Q&A episode with Thom, this time covering a range of questions with a similar theme, acquiescing our power to others.In answer to a question about the harm of colonization, he reminds us that it’s not such a recent phenomenon, that humans have had an inclination to dominate groups from other regions for millenia, and will likely continue to do so. Thom explains that the societies that endure are those that remain invincible and who give back more than they take from their invaders.He discusses jealousy and gossip, and how we can liberate ourselves from the effects of the thoughts or words of others. It all boils down to a single false idea that can quite easily be dispelled.And in a slightly different vein, Thom explains the role of envy, as opposed to jealousy, and how we can use it to assert more power rather than to relinquish it, and how we can help others do the same.Episode Highlights: [00:45] Q - How Did Europe Get Away With Colonizing the World?[02:11] The Mechanics Behind Co

It’s that time of the year where families come together to experience the joys of the family bond. Greetings are given, embraces exchanged, laughter is shared, tears of joy are shed, and the love is felt. And then it starts…The euphoria wears off and the tension kicks in.It might just be some low level tension that doesn’t really amount to much. Or it could be a full-on dispute that escalates to a large-scale crisis. Or it might be something in between.Not in every home of course but, for many families, this is the standard operating procedure.For Vedic meditators this is perfect. It gives us the opportunity to test how ‘colorfast’ our practice has made us. We get to test which of our buttons can no longer be pushed. We get to exercise the cosmic responsibilities that come with being a Vedic meditator.Sit back, listen in, and let Thom help you prepare for what could be one of your most peaceful festive seasons yet. Episode Highlights: [00:45] The Greatest Test[02:12] A Successful Interaction[03:41] Becoming C

Reparenting is an often-used psychological technique where one is given, or gives oneself, opportunities to learn the lessons of character or personality development that one might have missed out on through ‘insufficient’ parenting or care during childhood.It’s a technique that has met with some success, yet, as Thom explains in this episode, there is a missing element that might make this approach incomplete.The Vedic perspective is that we, including our parents and caregivers, can only act based on the level of our consciousness. This being the case, rather than focusing on repairing the ‘mistakes’ of our parents and caregivers, a more complete approach would be to focus on elevating our own consciousness.In fact Vedic traditions embody this approach, and teach us to access our own inner guru or teacher, and to bring out the best of our own feminine and masculine qualities, while honoring our parents and caregivers for doing and being the best that they knew to be.Episode Highlights: [00:45] Reparenting P

Episodes of psychosis and experiences of ‘spiritual awakening’ have one key characteristic in common, they are both experiences that are ‘out of the ordinary.’This can be problematic, especially if the person making a diagnosis has not had an experience of spiritual awakening themselves.One key distinction between the two states though, is that a spiritual awakening is accompanied by a stable sense of Self (with a capital S), whereas a psychotic episode is the opposite, and is usually accompanied by an erratic sense of self (with a small s).A spiritual awakening is desirable, whereas a psychotic state is not. Listen to Thom explain the states in more detail, and how you can deliberately set yourself on a path that makes a spiritual awakening the more likely option for you.Episode Highlights: [00:45] The State of Psychosis[02:19] A Genuine Spiritual Awakening[03:47] What Are You Minus All the Thoughts?[05:33] Experiencing What is Beyond Thought[07:01] Describing Your Experience in Language[09:01] Dr. Ronald D

Frequently on the podcast you’ll hear Thom mention ‘charm.’ While we all have a good understanding of the word charm, in Vedic Meditation circles, charm has a special, more nuanced meaning.For a Vedic Meditator, charm is like an inner-guidance mechanism, a gentle tug that steers you in the direction of that which is most evolutionary, not just for yourself, but for all of Nature. It’s a subtle form of intuition that feels charming to experience and charming to follow, hence the name we give to it.In this bonus ‘charm-inducing’ episode, Thom gives us a wee taste test of his soon-to-be-released course, The Art of Following Charm, in which he explores the nature of charm, how to recognize and cultivate it, and how every decision can become a matter of effortless attraction.Enjoy the episode and, if you feel charmed to do so, we hope you put the art of following charm into practice and join us on the course.The Art of Following Charm Course - https://thomknoles.com/charm-course/Episode Highlights:[00:46] The Dire

Hypnosis is often seen as having therapeutic value, a way of overcoming problems caused by an ‘incorrect psyche.’ Because of the layer of silence achieved inside a Vedic Meditation sitting, Vedic Meditation, we’re frequently asked if it is actually a form of hypnosis.The short answer is no. Vedic Meditation is not hypnosis, but to understand the answer fully requires a closer look at what hypnosis is. Though hypnosis may be done with good intent, and may apparently have some ‘good’ effects, and may appear to be beneficial, essentially it’s a form of manipulation. So in that sense, hypnosis is in fact the opposite of Vedic Meditation. Vedic Meditation provides an opportunity to transcend the mind, to go beyond the small s self, the field where hypnosis has an impact, to the big “S” Self, where hypnosis has no impact whatsoever, and where the psyche can obtain benefits far beyond anything that hypnosis can deliver, and in perfect alignment with Nature.Listen to Thom explain this more fully, looking at the subje

Travelling with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi meant there was never a time for a dull moment.In this episode, Thom shares some adventures of a particular trip to Brazil, with an unexpected detour to Germany. With Maharishi, Thom soon learned that the unexpected was always to be expected. Maharishi wasn’t just a passionate teacher of following ‘charm,’ but he was also a 24/7 exponent of it, even at 3 am...Episode Highlights: [00:05] An Invitation From Rio for Maharishi[02:03] Drawing Restfulness Into the Working State[03:31] His Asana[04:16] Maharishi's Visit to the Roman Catholic Cathedral[06:10] "I'm Always Enjoying Myself"[07:42] "We're Going to Germany"[09:29] Neem Stick: Maharishi's Toothbrush[10:53] A Financier of Maharishi's Needs[12:11] "She Will Run All of That"[14:07] His Magnetic Charisma[15:30] Maharishi's Unplanned Lecture At The Airport[17:02] One of the Best-Documented Lives Imaginable[19:39] Maharishi Isn't a Person, He's a Phenomenon[21:35] Maharishi's Great Skill Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https

Can Vedic Meditation heal post-concussive symptoms? How is the experience of misfortune framed within the Vedic worldview?Can Vedic Meditation help lower the risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia?In this, another Ask Thom Anything episode, Thom answers all of the above, including details of the broader healing effects of meditation in general. He reminds us that stress is the greatest cause of disease and that Vedic Meditation is the most powerful means of removing psychological and/or physiological stress, helping us to heal current health difficulties, and to prevent or reduce the effects of future health difficulties.He also shares a perspective on misfortune and difficulty that we can all make use of, even if we haven’t attained the highest consciousness states yet.No matter what your perspectives on health or misfortune are, you’ll find great value in hearing Thom speak on the subjects.Episode Highlights: [00:48] Q- Can Meditation Heal Post-Concussive Symptoms?[01:05] If They Can Think a Thought…[02:02] Medita

All of us think but how often do we contemplate where our thoughts come from? And when we do, how accurate is our answer?Many of us think thoughts are the work of the brain, stimulated either by the environment or circumstances around us, or by memories of the past or fears of the future.For most of us, there is also a sense of identity associated with the thoughts we’re having. We define ourselves based on our thoughts, especially those that we repeat on a regular basis.Given that we have 60,000 plus ‘cognitive processes’ per day, that makes a perfect set up for a never-ending ‘identity crisis.’It’s only when we give ourselves a chance to bypass the thinking process, to reach a state of pure Being, awareness minus thought, that we get a chance to experience our true identity, the state from which thoughts originate. The more time we spend in this state, the more accurate our thinking becomes, the more aligned we become with Nature.We invite you to listen to Thom’s explanation then do your own research to ver

A very frequent question Thom receives is "What is the difference between Vedic knowledge, learned through Vedic Meditation, and Hinduism?"Hinduism, as a religion, is supposed to honor thousands, if not millions, of Gods. This religion offers many offerings to people from all over the world and is practiced by around a billion people in India. It surprised many to learn that Hinduism does not originate in the Vedic or Sanskrit languages, which makes it quite an intriguing conundrum.Hinduism in reality is a linguistic construction that came about as a result of British rule in India. Hinduism is a combination of religious beliefs, some of which are based on Vedic understandings, while others may derive from the practices they adopted to show dignity and self-respect while they were dominated by the British.In this fascinating episode, Thom shares the history of Hinduism and what sets the Vedic worldview apart from Hinduism.Episode Highlights: [00:52] - What Distinguishes the Vedic Worldview From Hinduism?[01:4

Ayurveda, the ‘science of life’ has become very popular in developed nations in recent decades, thanks to the work of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in reviving this ancient body of wisdom.Dating back several thousand years, the practice of Ayurvedic techniques was forced ‘underground’ when the British colonized India and imposed their own ‘modern’ approaches to health.Fortunately, some families passed the wisdom down through the generations, allowing Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to bring three of the greatest minds on the subject together for a long-overdue revival of this timeless body of knowledge.In this episode, Thom explains some of the details of that revival, and explores some of the key differences between the Ayurvedic and ‘allopathic’ approaches to health. Importantly, he explains how the two approaches are complementary rather than ‘alternative’ to each other.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - The Meaning of Ayurveda[01:41] - The history and extinction of Ayurveda[02:59] - Ayurveda was made illegal in India[04:01] - Th

We are always striving to attain more and more in our lives. But, every now and again, we get the impression that we haven't done enough with our time. No amount of accomplishment is capable of bringing us fulfilment. And, it's also not a bad thing to have a lot of achievements on your scoreboard.But, more importantly, are we truly enjoying the process or simply trying to finish the race? Unfortunately, even after winning, we often postpone our celebrations until we reach the pinnacle of achievement.In this Ask Me Anything session, Thom Knoles explains why it is critical to enjoy the process of achieving something and how we cannot fail when we are enjoying the process. Thom also tells how we can experience the natural expression of our emotions.Episode Highlights:[00:00] - Q - What is the Vedic Worldview of Emotional Healing?[01:12] - De-Exciting the Consciousness[01:54] - Making the Healing Process Rapid[03:08] - Vedic Meditation is Good for Emotional Healing[04:19] - Vedic Meditation Awakens Your Brain's P

When we think of feminine and masculine, typically we tend to think in terms of gender, i.e. female and male but the Vedic worldview has a much broader approach than the arrangement or expression of chromosomes. In Vedic circles the feminine and masculine are seen as aspects of creation, present everywhere and in everything. Wherever there is masculine there is always feminine, and vice versa, with the feminine often referred to as Mother Divine and celebrated through a vast range of personifications* and a range of festivals or holy days. One of those festivals is Navratri Sharad, a celebration of triumph over ignorance, held over nine nights and 10 days in the fall of each year (Northern Hemisphere fall, Southern Hemisphere spring).Though each night of Navratri Sharad honors specific representations of Mother Divine, Thom invites us in this episode to use the festival as a springboard to making the celebration of the feminine an everyday occurrence and an opportunity to continuously explore just what the fe

Over the period of 25 years, Thom Knoles got to spend many extended periods of time with Maharishi Mahesh Yogi as a student and a ‘replicant,’ one of many charged with the task of sharing Vedic wisdom with the world.In this episode, another instalment of the My Maharishi series, Thom recounts some of the aspects of daily life and travels with Maharishi, including Maharishi’s tireless round-the-clock efforts to fit as much teaching into his lifetime as he possibly could.Warning - This episode may require you to reassess your current standard for ‘busy’ :-). Episode Highlights: [00:40] An Unusual Man in Every Respect [02:00] The Light of the World [03:35] Ask, Ask [04:59] Who’s Awake? [06:11] Conscious Rest [07:40] My Waking is More Restful than Your Sleep [08:38] I’m in a Hurry [09:25] More Multiplication[07:40] My Waking is More Restful than Your Sleep [08:38] I’m in a Hurry [09:25] More Multiplication Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.f

Humans have been using substances to have ‘extraordinary experiences’ for millenia. Sometimes this is motivated by a simple sense of curiosity, and at other times it might be to ‘fill a void,’ while in other cases it might be motivated by a promise of an elusive ‘spiritual experience.’ In some cases it leads to addiction and dependence, while in others it might just be a bucket-list experience that someone moves on from.In this episode, Thom takes a non-judgemental look at the motivation and impact of such experiences, and outlines an alternative approach, one that’s more sustainable and that leads to a ‘permanent high’ that most people couldn’t even conceive of.Episode Highlights: [00:40] The Desire to Belong[02:29] Tribal Life [04:27] A Sense of Identity [06:00] Join the Club [07:14] Human Beings Crave Variety [08:33] The Nature of the Knower [09:51] Badge of Rank [11:29] The Difference Between a Cult and a Religion [12:39] Shibboleth [13:25] Drugs [14:35] Why Drugs Work[15:59] Endogenous Chemicals [18:03]

Mantras are central to the practice of Vedic Meditation, but different understandings about what the word mantra means sometimes lead people to misunderstand how the mantra is used.For some, the word mantra means ‘a slogan’ or a tagline of sorts, used as a way of encapsulating a group point of view. For others, a mantra is a tool to aid concentration or to use as an affirmation.In Vedic Meditation the use of the mantra is very different. To understand this difference, you need to understand the distinction between ‘charm’ and suggestibility, which Thom explains simply and beautifully in this podcast episodeEpisode Highlights: [00:40] Mantra - A Mind Vehicle [01:47] Bija Mantra[03:26] Attraction and Distraction[04:52] Beyond Meaning[05:47] Hypnosis and Suggestibility[07:05] Suggestibility is a Social Problem[07:59] Becoming Less Suggestible[08:42] Using the Intellect in the Proper WayUseful Links: info@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thetho

After 50 plus years of instructing Vedic Meditation, and 50,000 plus students, Thom Knoles has accumulated thousands of shared memories with these students.In this episode Thom shares a delightful anecdote about Sophie, who learned Vedic Meditation with Thom when she was only eight years old, and how Sophie’s wisdom helped Thom teach the concept of Cosmic Consciousness to a roomful of adults.Episode Highlights: [00:40] Sophie from New York[02:09] What will come into your consciousness state?[03:25] Cosmic Consciousness[04:58] Deep Diving[06:19] A Simple ExplanationUseful Links: info@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/