Vedic Worldview

What if everything you see, touch, and experience is actually made of the same thing? In this episode, Thom explores the startling relationship between matter and consciousness, challenging our most fundamental assumptions about reality and about who and what we are. Prepare to view the world and yourself in an entirely new light.Episode Highlights[00:45] We Seem to Live in a Material Universe[02:55] Good Vibrations[05:01] A Responsive Universe[07:31] The Hard Question of Consciousness[10:29] The State of Unity Consciousness[13:15] Sharpening Our Sensory Acuity with Vedic Meditation[16:37] The Ultimate in Sensory Perception, Seeing Yourself in EverythingUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Can we consciously design our next incarnation, or are we already doing it unwittingly?In this episode, Thom explores the Vedic and Buddhist perspectives on rebirth, fulfillment, and the trap of unfulfilled desire. Along the way, Thom shares a remarkable story of enlightenment and a cautionary tale from the Mahabharata that reveals how easily we can mistake desire for destiny.Listen as Thom explains how meditation allows us to live in “total and unambiguous relevance,” free from the need to chase fulfillment through endless cycles of becoming.You can also watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y-nkLcRFwVQEpisode Highlights[00:45] Q - Can we engineer our incarnations in advance?[00:51] A - Jataka: The Retrospective Approach[03:35] Experience and Intellectual Understanding Go Together[06:35] Fulfillment in Search of a Gelato[10:19] Everythingness Cannot Reincarnate[12:44] Living Life in Total and Unambiguous Relevance[14:56] Q - Which path is better, revenge or enlightenment?[15:44] A - It’s a Cautionary Tale[18:37] Vedic Meditation: An End to Desperate Unhappiness[20:47] Enlightenment: Fulfillment Seeking NeedUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Is sexuality a path to higher consciousness or a distraction dressed up as spirituality? In this episode, Thom explores the Vedic view on sexual energy, why so-called “harnessing” may be the opposite of what you think, and the hidden cost of “chasing the active ingredient.“Thom also flips manifestation on its head, revealing why desire follows what is already unfolding and how transcendence twice daily changes the game.Episode Highlights[00:45] Harnessing[05:47] Active-Ingredient Mentality[10:04] A Lack of Fundamental Fulfillment[12:45] A Very Clever Marketing Idea[15:05] Perpetually Orgasmic[17:58] Transcendence is Everything[19:32] The Universe is Your Sugar Daddy[21:24] Desire is Secondary to Manifestation[26:03] Q - What’s the relationship between creation energy and sexuality?[26:09] A - Enhanced Repertoire[30:21] What Does Sexuality Mean?Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Work-life balance has become a buzz phrase in recent years, especially since the intrusion of smartphones began edging their way into so-called “free time.” In this episode, Thom explains why free time and work aren’t necessarily exclusive of each other, potentially making work-life balance unnecessary.Episode Highlights[00:45] Routine Work has Been Around Forever[03:18] What Do I Do?[05:28] Vedic Meditation - A Major Dose of Unboundedness[08:26] A Neuroplastic Brain[12:26] Work Becomes an Expression of Happiness[14:58] A New Style of Functioning[19:14] Q - How Do You Work Surrounded by Stressed People?[19:42] A - Find Somewhere ElseUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

"Never a dull moment," could easily be a tagline for the tourism industry in India. It’s a land of contrast, color, and constant surprises. But if you want to experience the real flavor of India, you’d be hard pressed to find a better travelling companion than Thom Knoles. With more than 50 years of travelling to India, building deep and lasting relationships, not to mention his status as a Mahamandaleshwar, Thom has a vast collection of stories to tell. In this episode, Thom shares a tiny sample from this vast collection, featuring swamis, snakes, Diet Coke, and more.There are even more stories to come. If you’d like to be there and be a part of future adventures, Thom invites you to join him on his upcoming annual India retreat. You can find out more at https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/.Episode Highlights[00:45] A Visit from Swami Premananda[05:40] Passing the Lunch Exam with the Shankaracharya and Some Swamis[08:40] Eructations and Diet Coke[10:27] The Shankaracharya’s Birthday Party[12:37] Of Course He Has a Snake in His Hair![15:11] A Full Spectrum of Experiences Await in RishikeshUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

What if the thing holding back our evolution wasn’t the Unviverse, but our alignment with it?In this Q&A episode, Thom explores the subtle early signal of misalignment, why formulaic living dulls creativity, and how the unknown became the forge of the human brain. Thom also challenges us to make our behaviors more evolutionary, offers a cautionary message about our modern archives, and shares a bold, simple law you won’t forget.Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - How do we make evolution exponential as opposed to gradual?[00:55] A - The Sweet Spot Is…[05:03] Looking for Frictionless Flow[07:18] The Dangers of Formulaic Thinking[10:40] An Allergy to Embracing the Unknown[12:33] The Unknown is the Frontier that Built the Human Brain[15:30] An Invitation to Do Something Different[17:54] Q - What exactly are we to harvest? Knowledge or resources?[19:11] A - Breaking the Shackles of Our Brain[21:35] The Greatest Wasted Resource on Earth[24:01] Use It Or Lose It[26:43] Brain-Power Problems[30:39] The Great Good Fortune of Being a Vedic Meditator[32:31] An Outlet for Social Relevance[36:14] Q - Are our current evolutionary theories still relevant?[36:54] A - Big Crunch is Making a Comeback[39:34] Individuality is Cosmic[42:12] Thank Goodness for the Asteroid Strike[46:03] Unreliable Archives of the Human Experience[52:14] Q - Should we harvest more interactions with each other?[52:35] A - Meditators Have the Capacity to be Interactors[56:06] The Joy of Person-to-Person Human Connectivity[58:28] Commonality is a Great Uniting Force[01:00:41] Q - Does the Veda state that evolution is Cosmic Law?[01:00:59] Evolve. Full Stop.Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

One of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi’s most well-known insights was, “Problems are a state of consciousness.”In this episode, Thom shares a vivid example of how Maharishi embodied this truth, using a single, signature word to transform everyday challenges into masterclasses in perception, presence, and trust.Episode Highlights[00:45] Beautiful[03:04] An Excursion in Switzerland[05:50] Lost in Basel[07:53] Found in Basel[10:13] Waiting Consciousness State is GoodUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

This episode is a Questions Arising episode, where Thom answers questions from the previous episode on the relationship between Buddhism and the Vedic Worldview. Thom explores how Buddhism and Vedanta view the Self, compassion, desire, and evolution differently, and why direct experience of transcendence changes everything.You can view Part One of this episode here. Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - How Does the Worldview of a Buddhist Affect How They Engage in the World vs a Vedantist?[01:44] A - Proximity Effects Quieting the Ocean of Consciousness[03:58] Compassion Viewed Differently[06:30] A Desire to Be Free of Desires[08:12] An Almost Impossible Brief[10:01] Trustworthy Desires and Spontaneous Right Action[12:07] Q - Is There a Worldview of Evolution Within Buddhism?[12:46] A - Everything’s in Decline[16:16] Q - Would an Experience of Transcendence Change the Worldview of a Buddhist?[16:46] A - Experience Makes the Difference[20:03] Direct Evidence of the Unified Field[24:19] Q - Why Was the Technique of Transcendence Lost in Buddhism?[24:35] A - Luck of the Draw[27:58] Expert MemorizersUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Though Buddhism has spread far and wide and has taken on many different ‘flavors,’ its origins are from the heartland of the North Indian subcontinent, ensuring an inescapable link to the Vedic worldview.In this episode, Thom explores the birth story of Buddhism, and the similarities and differences between the Buddhist and Vedic worldviews. It’s a fascinating insight, including an explanation of how the two worldviews have diverged, with the interpretation of a single sentence from Buddha’s teachings having a profound impact on Buddhist philosophy today. Episode Highlights[00:45] An Umbrella Body of Knowledge[05:00] Spending Time With the Dalai Lama[07:27] Buddha - The Shakya Muni[10:07] Searching for the Truth[12:43] The Middle Way[14:26] Searching for a Guru[18:01] Buddhism is Not One Thing[20:50] The No-thingness[23:29] Sap in Expressed Form[25:15] The Unmanifest Field of Pure Potentiality[27:02] The Origin of Tibetan Buddhism[29:10] The Many Faces of Buddhism[30:31] Buddha Didn’t Teach That[32:36] The Source of All Suffering[35:03] Everything is One[37:12] What Buddha Was Actually TeachingUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Do pillows have feelings? And how do we know when we’re helping versus interfering in the evolution of another?This Questions Arising episode follows on from the most recent episode on Refreshing One’s Dharma, in which Thom explored how we can position ourselves to be performing spontaneous right action in any given moment. As always, Thom’s answers give clarity and the opportunity to understand the answers experientially for ourselves.Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - How do I find the balance between judgement and "helping" and unconditional love and acceptance of others?[02:37] The Actions Arising from Unconditional Love[04:56] Moving Towards Unity Consciousness[07:32] Spontaneous Action vs Well-Thought-Out Action[10:21] Trial and Error[12:58] Awakening the Being Inside of Us[15:24] Q - Can we have Unity with Inanimate Objects?[16:14] A - Hello Lamppost[17:59] Waves of an Underlying ContinuumUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Is your purpose something fixed, or does it evolve with every passing moment? In this episode, Part One of a two-part series, Thom explores the Vedic understanding of dharma, not as a grand life mission, but as spontaneous right action in real time. Discover how our deepest sense of purpose emerges not through planning, but through presence, as well as the tool we can use to ensure we’re responsive to the changing need of the time.The distinction may change the way you think about your entire path forward.Episode Highlights[00:45] Spontaneous Right Action[03:19] It’s Very Simple[06:14] There’s Only One Thing[09:02] What is All of This?[12:03] What is the Relevance of Consciousness?[13:25] The Agenda of the Universe[15:56] Vedic Meditation – Awakening the Relationship Between Individuality and Universality[17:50] Neuroplasticity[20:46] A Cocktail of Bliss Chemicals[23:42] Established in Being, Perform Action[26:44] Complete Freedom[29:20] Nishkam Kaṛma Yoga – Activity Hardly DoneUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Vedic texts, apart from being full of wise insights and deep learning, are also highly entertaining tales. One of the most famous stories is that of The Ramayana, an epic that’s been told and retold for thousands of years.In this episode, Thom recounts his favorite scene from The Ramayana, sharing both the grand scale of the scene, and the significance to the storyline of the devotion and integrity on display.Timestamps:[00:45] The Abdication of Rama[04:40] A Mass Exodus[09:20] City People are Better Off in the City[11:23] The Magnanimous Consciousness of Rama[14:03] An Epic Tale Was About to Begin[16:10] The Origin of Mythos, Matrix and Motherhood[19:15] Relatability with Villains and Heroes[22:23] The Enduring Art of Storytelling[25:26] A Worthy Read

One of the many signs of self-realization, or spiritual progress, is a natural decline in attachment to having our desires fulfilled. Thom explored this in depth in an earlier episode on vairagya, or non-attachment.Ironically, another hallmark of self-realization is that our desires actually become more likely to be fulfilled. In this episode, Thom explores why that is, through the lens of punya, a concept from the Vedic tradition.As with most Vedic principles, punya isn’t something we need to believe in, it’s something we can verify directly through our own personal experience.Episode Highlights[00:45] Support of Nature for Your Desires[03:14] Degrees of Cosmic Intelligence[07:21] Only Evolution is Happening[09:16] How Big is Your Consciousness?[12:11] Who is the I?[15:26] Something Happened on the Way to Disneyland[18:43] Spoiler Alert[21:05] Leishavidya – The Faint Remains of Ignorance[24:41] Nothing is Going WrongUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi was renowned as a man of small stature who made a big impact. His tireless commitment and the legacy of his work will be felt for millennia, not only for the meditation technique he shared with the world, but also for bringing Vedic wisdom to life for everyone to enjoy.He was also known for holding high expectations of those around him. In this episode, Thom shares an anecdote about Maharishi delivering a practical lesson on what it means to be a responsible citizen.Thom then expands on this theme, responding to audience questions about how each of us can step up and become the change we wish to see in the world.Episode Highlights[00:45] Embracing the Collective[03:19] Exciting Times for Three Travel Advocates[06:04] Hot Potato Politics[08:08] This is the World You Have to Change[10:50] Do That Now[12:07] Ask, Ask, Ask[15:44] Q - Did You Complete the Assignment?[15:59] Leaders Aren't Leading[18:32] Change the World at the Individual Level[20:27] The Bus Conductor Phenomenon[23:31] The Light Inside[25:16] Q - Are My Actions Ineffective?[26:53] A - The Enlightened Grocer in Punjab[29:05] Valuable Contact[33:45] Compromising on Coffee for the Sake of Interactivity[36:41] Meditate, Show Up, Interact[38:06] Q - How Do You Stop Your Energy Being Drained?[38:58] A - Stability and Adaptability Grows[41:40] Not Nothing[43:42] Off You Go[46:27] The Pitfalls of Excess GenerosityUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Vedic Meditation isn’t just about creating a couple of spaces in the day to enjoy some peace and tranquility. In fact, we are less interested in what happens during our meditation than what happens outside of our meditation. In this episode, Thom answers questions from listeners about commandments, charm, and déjà vu, which speak to the change of experience we can expect in day-to-day life.Although the questions vary greatly, the answers share a consistent thread that can be easily supported by personal experience. Episode Highlights:[00:45] Q – Why are there no commandments or a rule book for life within the Veda?[00:53] A – There is One Commandment[05:19] Nivartatvam – Transcend Where You Are[09:30] Q – Is Charm the Same as Intuition?[09:33] A – The Fine Level of Feeling[13:56] A – A Window of Opportunity[17:43] Q – Is there a Vedic explanation for déjà vu?[17:43] A – The Beginning Days of Cosmic Consciousness[20:29] The Future in the Making[22:12] From Deja Vu to De RigueurUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

One of the curious aspects of human nature is how widely our consciences can vary. Some people feel uneasy even after doing something relatively harmless, while others can commit truly terrible acts without their conscience so much as flinching.In this episode, Thom explores how character forms the foundation of our conscience, while personality expresses it.Thankfully, the Vedic worldview doesn’t leave us at the mercy of our flaws. Thom shares a time-tested approach that can transform even deeply flawed character traits and sharpen our ability to discern right from wrong.Timestamps:[00:45] Right vs Wrong[02:28] Selflessness vs Selfishness[04:30] Personality - The Delivery Mechanism for Character[06:56] Changing Character and Conscience Through Vedic Meditation[10:08] Developing Baseline Happiness[13:05] Happiness Through Hedonism[15:18] The Repercussions of an Identity Crisis[17:22] Vedic Meditation as a Solution to an Addict Mentality[18:40] Bliss Plus[21:05] Ayurveda - Relevant Longevity[23:02] A Great Conscience is a Reflection of Great Character

The idea that there can be a soulmate, a single person out there who is destined to bring fulfillment and who can promise a happily-ever-after ending, is a story that’s been told for millennia.While it’s a compelling proposition, it’s actually based on a fundamental misunderstanding. Thom uncovers that misunderstanding in this episode, but he delivers a more compelling proposition in its place. One that guarantees fulfillment, but without having to rely on winning the relationship lottery to make it happen.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Is There Such a Thing as a Soulmate?[03:44] A Desire to Experience Unity With Someone[05:59] Relationship is an Outlet for Fulfillment[08:56] Don’t Wait for a Soulmate[13:26] If You Have Self-realization, You Have a SoulmateUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

In this bonus episode, Thom extends an invitation for Vedic Meditators worldwide to attend Thom’s Initiator Training program in 2026, to become a fully qualified teacher of Vedic Meditation.For a Vedic Meditator, there is no greater level of knowledge, experience, capability, and standing available in our worldwide community than what is conferred by graduation from Thom’s Initiator Training program.You will gain mastery over how to teach Vedic Meditation, strictly following Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's four-day course format and enjoy a lifetime of mentoring and personal support as you grow your teaching practice.Initiator Training is a rare, not-to-be-missed opportunity to join Thom for training and bring the light of Vedic Meditation to the millions who await us.You can find out more about Initiator Training at https://thomknoles.com/initiator-training/. Episode Highlights:[00:45] 12 Weeks of Comprehensive and Evolutionary Training in India[04:18] The Pinnacle ofUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Modern day students have a great debt of gratitude to the Vedic masters who have captured and preserved Vedic wisdom for millennia, making it available for us to apply to our lives today.One of the most prolific of these masters is Veda Vyasa, who is recognized as being responsible for documenting as much as three quarters of the Vedic literature, and organizing, or “sequencing” it, in such as way that we are still able to access and apply the wisdom even today.In this episode, which includes questions from audience members, Thom gives as a brief insight into the life and work of Veda Vyasa, the Cosmic storyteller.Episode Highlights[00:45] Vyasa - A Teller of Sequence[03:59] The Many Names of Vyasa[09:59] Sanskrit - Correlating Name and Form[14:25] Recognizing Patterns in the Veda[19:20] The Upavedas[23:27] Mahabharata - The Epic of Great India[25:54] The Play and Display of Elevational Theater[29:08] Breaking the Fourth Wall[32:00] Fabulous Stories Delivering Lessons to Live By[35:25] A Comprehensive Body of Work[39:43] Vedanta - The Final Conclusion[43:10] An Invitation to Explore Vyasa’s Story with Thom[45:49] The Connotative - The Proper View of Ancient Texts[50:35] Q - Does Vyasa’s Breaking of the Fourth Wall Have Any Implications for Free Will?[51:00] The Free Will to Determine Everything[54:46] Changing the Storyline[57:36] Q - Was Maharishi Mahesh Yogi the Vyasa of this Age?[58:04] Demonstrating Vyasa-like Sequencing of Knowledge[01:00:34] Reality is Different in Different States of Consciousness[01:04:30] Sensory Perception Brings OnenessUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Regular listeners to the podcast are well familiar with the term Jai Guru Deva, which Thom says on most podcasts at least once or twice. But what does this phrase mean?In this podcast, Thom explains the literal translation of the terms and its significance to those who say it. As you will hear, far from being a platitude, it’s an invitation for those who say it and those who hear it, to reflect and show reverence for all the situations that have proved to be learning experiences in our life.Episode Highlights:[00:45] Across the Universe[03:09] Same Same But Different[06:27] A Universal Salutation[09:17] Withstanding the Test of Time[12:29] Respect and Gratitude for Learning Anything From AnythingUseful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/