Episodes
Welcome to another Q&A episode, with Thom fielding a range of questions from listeners with a common thread of social discomfort. Thom holds forth on the subjects of social division, embarrassment, how to accept compliments gracefully, how to strengthen relationships in tough times, and anger, specifically whether or not enlightened masters can be angry. As always, it’s an episode with universal appeal that could potentially tick off a few boxes in your own evolutionary journey. Episode...
Published 11/25/24
Being an empath might seem like a gift—experiencing what someone else is going through must surely deepen our understanding of one another. But in this podcast, Thom brings a surprising twist to the concept. He explains that not all empathy is created equal; different levels of empathy can lead to very different outcomes. While some forms can unintentionally add to our suffering, "high-grade empathy" is what actually alleviates it. Thom leaves us with a clear sense of how to cultivate this...
Published 11/18/24
Published 11/18/24
In a world where education is available to nearly everyone, one might expect that the major challenges facing humanity would have been solved by now, leading to a more prosperous and harmonious existence.  But, as we can clearly see, that’s far from the reality. In this episode, Thom explores the underlying cause: education today is focused on the wrong outcomes. Thom offers a profound solution—an approach that cultivates students who are able to tap into infinite creative intelligence,...
Published 11/11/24
One could easily spend a lifetime exploring Vedic literature and still barely scratch the surface in terms of the wisdom that’s available to us. Between the four Vedas, Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda and Yajur Veda, the Upanishads, the Brahma Sutras, the six schools of Vedic philosophy, and countless other written and oral texts or translations, there’s no shortage of avenues to explore. And even if you could absorb them all in a lifetime, you’d probably need to reread them to understand...
Published 11/06/24
We often hear cries for justice when what’s being called for is actually revenge. So, what exactly is justice? And how do we distinguish the difference between the two?  In this episode Thom lays out the Vedic perspective on revenge and justice, giving us clear guidelines to follow, and indicators on when we might have favored revenge over justice.  Fortunately the distinction between the two is unambiguous and will leave us in no doubt moving forward as to whether we are leaning towards...
Published 10/27/24
One thing that sets the Vedic worldview apart from other schools of thought is the notion that everything that we get to witness, every form, every phenomena, is the unfolding of an epic story. Thom explains the mechanism of evolution in this episode, including the infinite organizing power that it takes for stories to play out, with play being the operative word. Seeing our lives unfold in this way offers us an opportunity to reconsider our own stories from a vast, more Universal...
Published 10/20/24
Listeners are steering the ship once again, in our latest Q&A episode. Thom answers a question about karma and how it fits into the dynamics of our relationships. It turns out that it’s our relationship with our Self that matters most. Thom also tackles a question about charm, in particular, how we can adapt when charm doesn’t seem to be as supported by Nature as we would expect. Finally, Thom gives a definitive answer to the age-old question, can there be art without suffering? It’s a...
Published 10/13/24
If you've ever wondered where one of the world's most astonishing gatherings takes place, look no further than the Kumbha Mela. This grand festival of spiritual significance draws tens of millions of devotees from around the globe in a display of harmony, wisdom and tolerance like no other. Having been to several Kumbha Melas over the past 50 years, and currently preparing to attend the next Kumbha Mela in January 2025, Thom is well equipped to give us a small but enticing glimpse into the...
Published 10/06/24
Followers of Vedic wisdom often refer to the four goals, Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha, as something we should aspire to in our lives. While these are, indeed, qualities that mark our level of consciousness, in this episode, Thom clarifies the status of these four qualities. In doing so, he also clarifies the meanings of each of the four qualities, which are often referred to in overly simplistic, and slightly misleading terms. As always, Thom will put the horse back in front of the cart,...
Published 09/29/24
Most of us think of laws of Nature as being those laws that determine how the environment behaves on a physical level. The Vedic worldview expands the scope of these laws to include consciousness itself, and its constantly-evolving intentions.  This effectively makes Nature a conscious entity, hence why you’ll often find us spelling it with a capital N. In this episode Thom gives us a masterclass on how to live in alignment with the laws of Nature, taking into consideration not just the...
Published 09/22/24
Many people go to great lengths to view eclipses, sometimes traveling thousands of miles to witness the shadow of the Moon passing across the Sun or the shadow of the Earth crossing the Moon. In Jyotish, or Vedic Astrology, however, such events can be seen as inauspicious, and the recommendation might be that we take shelter from them rather than expose ourselves to them. But such things are not so cut and dry. In this episode, Thom proposes that the impact of an eclipse depends, as does...
Published 09/15/24
When we think of quantum mechanics, most of us conjure up images of nutty professors and blackboards filled with incomprehensible equations. Though quantum mechanics does indeed have a lot to do with seemingly incomprehensible math, the fundamental principles of quantum mechanics are well worth understanding as they give us a fresh perspective on which to view the Universe we live in. In this episode, Thom gives us a lay-person overview of the essentials of quantum mechanics. Importantly, he...
Published 09/08/24
Listeners are running the show again today, with another of our popular Q&A sessions. This time around, Thom tackles a question on spiritual mediums, and whether we can trust what they say. His answer may surprise you. He also answers a question about right and wrong, using the Bhagavad Gita to set the context for spontaneous right action. And he also puts a listener’s mind at rest, in answer to a question about whether a Vedic meditator can successfully be in a relationship with a non...
Published 09/01/24
Ceremonial fires have been used in most cultures for millenia. Often these fires just have a symbolic purpose, but the Vedic worldview has a particular use of fire, in combination with sounds and offerings, which has a specific impact on consciousness itself. In this episode, Thom gives an entry-level view of yagyas, a fascinating and specialized process that can be used to awaken impulses of creative intelligence and allow us to reveal more of what Nature intends for us. A yagya is a bridge...
Published 08/25/24
Sanskrit terminology has been slowly creeping into common usage outside of India, quite often incorrectly. Yoga, for example, has a widely understood meaning outside of India, which doesn’t reflect the actual meaning of the word.  In this episode, Thom explains the meaning behind many of the titles applied to or bestowed upon various positions within the Vedic realm. You’ll learn the definitions for titles such as swami, yogi, yogini, and guru and understand the true meaning of these...
Published 08/18/24
The Bhagavad Gita is one of the most pivotal spiritual texts of all time. Its teachings have been taught for millenia throughout India, and outside of India for the past 100 years or so, inspiring billions with insights into how we can reduce suffering in our own lives. In this episode, Thom gives us a brief introduction to the Bhagavad Gita as a primer for his upcoming three-day course in which he’ll take a deep dive into the subject, alongside fellow Vedic Meditation Initiator and Vedic...
Published 08/12/24
What does it mean to be masculine in the modern age?  In this episode, Thom strips the discussion back, questioning not just the premise of masculinity, but also the premise of modernity.  Thom invites us to reset our expectations of ourselves and others, and to reevaluate our apparent need to compartmentalize behaviors. Episode Highlights: [00:45] Terribly Modern [03:16] What Does It Means to Be a Human? [05:31] Journey from Zygote to Human [07:27] Omnisexuality: Our True Nature [11:22]...
Published 08/11/24
In the modern world, mantras come in all shapes and sizes. Though they originate from the Vedic tradition, it’s becoming more and more common to see/hear mantras used in a more modern context, as political slogans or even as a rallying cry to get people behind a common cause. Modern and ancient mantras all have a similar purpose, to alter the thinking of the listener and/or the speaker of the mantra. In this episode, Thom Knoles delves into the origins and concept of mantras, and explores...
Published 08/04/24
Most of us attempt to control other people or situations more often than we like to admit it. Much of the time we’re not even conscious of it, but control shows up in our lives in so many ways. In this episode, Thom addresses the fallacy of control. This is a series of curated questions and answers from Thom’s online Satsang community, a resource for receiving lectures, sharing group meditations, and submitting questions for Thom to answer in real time. If you’d like to know more about...
Published 07/28/24
The pinnacle of the journey for any meditator is to become an Initiator of Vedic Meditation.  Not only does it give you the tools and opportunity to teach the technique to others, but it also gives a quantum boost to your own evolution.  The opportunity to spend 12 weeks in the birthplace of our technique, absorbing Vedic wisdom from Thom and other course leaders, and the chance to develop lifelong bonds with new friends and colleagues from far and wide is unequaled. In this bonus episode,...
Published 07/20/24
This episode of The Vedic Worldview explains the significance of Guru Purnima, which falls on this weekend, July 20-21. Vedic meditators are invited to join Guru Purnima celebrations with Thom and other Vedic Meditation Initiators around the world over the course of the weekend. If you'd like to join these celebrations, please visit thomknoles.com/guru-purnima for details of events near you. The Vedic calendar is full of days of celebration, but one of the most revered of these celebrations...
Published 07/18/24
In this episode, we're celebrating the student-guru relationship, and the role it has in our evolution. Each year we celebrate this relationship, and the all the teachers and teachings in our life, with Guru Purnima. Vedic meditators are invited to join Guru Purnima celebrations with Thom and other Vedic Meditation Initiators around the world during the weekend of July 20-21, 2024. If you'd like to join these celebrations, please visit thomknoles.com/guru-purnima for details of events near...
Published 07/14/24
The pain a mother experiences when giving birth is an experience that only a mother could know. Though it’s often overplayed in movies and on television, it’s a sacred experience that brings extremes of emotion into play. In this episode, Thom leans heavily on the experience of midwives and mothers, and shares how the Vedic perspective on pain can be applied to the process of labor and childbirth.  He also shares why Vedic Meditation is not recommended during the process of...
Published 07/07/24
Vedic meditators are blessed with a life-changing technique that can make a profound difference in their lives.  Many meditators, though, seek to progress even further, and tap into the vast well of Vedic wisdom that is available to us all.  One avenue for further progress is knowledge of and initiation into practicing the “Siddhis.” These advanced practices allow us to tap into extraordinary human capabilities and realize more of our human potential. In this episode, Thom gives us a brief...
Published 06/30/24