There’s no end to the number of ways we can have awakening experiences. It can come as an epiphany, a realization, a side-effect of taking a hallucinogen, a near-death experience, or even just a spontaneous event while sipping a cup of tea.

While reports on such experiences vary dramatically, they consistently feature a high level of contrast between these normal and our regular day-to-day experiences, and a longing to have more of the same.

Thom explains the mechanics of such events in this episode, and how we can cultivate awakening experiences on a more consistent basis. Importantly, he describes awakenings as the enlivening of something that is dormant within us, making such experiences more accessible than most might think.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Realizations

[02:35] Bija Mantra: Gateway to Transcendence

[04:25] Awakening the Unified Field

[06:39] Breaking Free from the Web of Constant Thought

[08:23] Bliss is the Product of Supreme Inner Contentedness

[10:19] Stabilizing the Inner Awakening

[12:06] Transient Transcendence: Near-Death Experience

[13:58] Varieties of Awakening

[15:40] Transcendence in the Junction Points

[17:29] Transcendence in Consciousness States

[19:15] Irregular Transcendent Experiences

[21:31] The Role of Vedic Meditation in Systematic Awakening

[23:18] The Truth Behind Meditation and Transcendence

[26:11] From Awakening to Enlightenment: Vedic Meditation's Promise

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Ahiṃsa is a term made famous outside India, in large part, as a result of Mahatma Gandhi's ‘non-violent’ approach to securing independence for India.

It’s often thought of as pacifism, rejecting violence altogether. For some, that means non-violence towards fellow humans, and for others, it means non-violence towards all living beings.

As is often the case, this common understanding of Ahiṃsa is incomplete. Thom explains the meaning of Ahiṃsa in this episode and clarifies the role of Ahiṃsa in our personal evolutionary process.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Yoga – A Place Inside of Us

[02:48] Ashtanga, Samadhi, and Ahiṃsa

[05:16] Misinterpretation of Ahiṃsa

[06:54] Story of Meditation and Ahiṃsa

[08:37] Ahiṃsa in Practice

[10:26] The Reality of Ahiṃsa

[12:06] Inevitability of Hiṃsa in Life

[13:56] Pure Ahiṃsa Can Never Be Achieved by Human

[16:01] Yoga and Ahiṃsa

[17:57] Vedic Worldview on Veganism

[19:28] Gandhi's Non-Violent Approach to Indian Independence

[21:17] Influence of Vedic Philosophy on Gandhi

[24:04] Ahiṃsa in Warfare

[25:43] Ahiṃsa Unfolds Naturally through Meditation Practice

[27:32] Nishkama Karma Yoga

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Wisdom is of little use unless it’s shared, however it can go to waste if it’s shared where it isn’t wanted. It can even have a damaging effect if it’s shared where it’s unwelcome.

So when you have wisdom that you know would be valuable, knowledge about Vedic Meditation for example, how can you inspire others to receive that wisdom willingly?

Thom frequently talks about “worthy enquiry” on the podcast, and in this episode he dives more deeply into the subject. He explains the concept of worthy enquiry and it’s origin, which is deeply embedded in Vedic history. 

He also explains how we can inspire worthy enquiry, and provides reassurance that even if we don’t, we’re in good company… 

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Wise Do Not Bewilder the Ignorant

[02:27] Loving Controllers

[04:32] Wise and Trusted Counselor

[06:15] Maharishi Mahesh Yogi - The Ultimate Inspirer

[08:06] Subtle Ridicule

[10:13] Not an Absolute Sure Shot

[11:31] An Incident on an International Border

[13:17] Mangoes Don't Come from Walnut Trees

[14:55] Knowers of Reality

[16:16] Radiate Life for All to Enjoy

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One 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: The Fabric of Creation

[04:31] Yoni

[06:44] Parashakti and Parashiva

[08:57] Union of Yoni and Lingam

[11:01] Masculine and Feminine in Vedic Perspective

[12:34] Ardhanarishvara: Fusion of Masculine and Feminine

[15:12] Interplay of Masculine and Feminine Energies

[16:59] Omnisexuality

[18:59] Shiva and God Consciousness

[20:42] Consciousness Through Different States

[22:22] From Transcendental to Cosmic Consciousness

[24:11] Five Facets of Supreme Being

[26:20] Shiva - The Supreme Being

[27:52] Every Being is a Manifestation of Mother Divine

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All 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 perceive personality in everything around us. 

In this episode, Thom gives us an entry-level look into the worlds of Devas. He shares a tempting glimpse into the delights that await us, especially those who maintain their regular twice-daily practice of Vedic Meditation. 

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Deva: More Than Just Shining One

[04:17] Vedic Literature and the Devas

[06:35] Power of Mantras

[08:55] Letting Go of External Distractions

[10:38] Fascination of Subtle Mind States

[12:15] Enchantment in the Super-Subtle Mind

[13:57] Ritam: Transition to Pure Transcendence

[16:27] The Laws of Nature

[18:57] From Snow to Flow: Nature's Transformations

[20:55] The Source of All Laws: Consciousness

[23:02] Sharpening Your Senses Through Meditation

[25:24] The Shining Ones

[28:24] Development of God Consciousness

[31:02] Benefits of Experiencing the Devic World

[33:14] The Wise Seers

[35:38] Progression to Cosmic and Deva Consciousness

[37:37] Consciousness Is Everything

[39:58] Your Inner Observer

[42:17] Deva Quality in Meditation

[44:16] Let Deva Consciousness Come to You Naturally

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It’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 levels of perception beyond the ordinary.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Q - Does AI Have the Potential to Experience Consciousness?

[00:54] Consciousness Is the Foundation of Everything

[02:38] AI Is Already Conscious

[05:47] The Repertoire of AI

[07:05] Q - Why is the cow sacred in the Vedic Worldview?

[07:11] A - Cows Everywhere in India

[09:06] The Legal Sacredness of Cows

[10:28] A Very Simple Thing

[12:24] Fond of Dairy

[13:27] Q - How to Support a Sensitive Toddler?

[14:16] A - Wise Do Not Bewilder Ignorant

[16:11] Honor and Validate Your Child's Perceptual Abilities

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The 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 as naturally as the desire to offer help, and that the greatest help we can sometimes give, is to not give help at all.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] The Natural Desire to Alleviate the Suffering of Others

[02:23] Harmonizing Inner Alignment with External Responses to Change

[04:03] Unsought Advice

[05:43] How to Help Someone Who Is Suffering

[07:27] Perceiving Cues

[09:02] The Role of Humility in Seeking Help

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Desire 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 action.”

The misinterpretation of this text leads many to think that desire itself is the cause of suffering, and thus attempt to suppress or ignore desires in the hope of avoiding suffering.

Thom sets the record straight in this episode, clarifying the purpose of desire, and giving us a technique whereby we can ensure that our desires are not just aligned with Nature, but serve to meet the need of the time.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] What’s the Point of Taking Action?

[00:55] Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata

[03:12] Arjuna and Krishna: The Central Characters of Mahabharata

[05:07] Krishna's Guidance

[06:38] The Song of God

[08:16] Krishna's Message on the Fruits of Action

[10:27] What is the Need of the Time?

[12:07] What is Cosmic Desire?

[14:03] Beyond the Scope of the Intellect

[15:59] Let Charm be the Driver of Action

[17:32] Surrender to Nature's Intelligence

[19:36] Cosmic Intelligence in Action

[20:44] We Don't Want Options

[22:47] Move Beyond Fruits

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While 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 warm, that dictates a style of relating to the world, or even retreating from the world.

While it may not affect how you manage your own hair, it will give insights into the ways in which many masters, monks, sadhus and other teachers manage theirs.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Hair as a Conduit

[02:06] One Set of Tubes After Another

[04:12] A Larger Information Base

[06:11] Signaling the Phase of Life

[08:15] Hair that Grows Unfettered

[10:21] Three Kinds of Characters

[11:58] What's Cooking in the Outside World?

[13:36] Please Tell Me All About Everything

[14:51] Shakya Muni

[16:14] Demonstrating Self Sufficiency

[17:58] Stop Cutting Your Hair

[20:30] The Best Time to Get a Haircut

[22:00] Don't Let Your Life Go in Orbit Around Here

[23:51] Don't Make a Big Issue of It

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Spiritual 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 Maharishi’s famous quote, “We have an infinite number of reasons to be happy, and a serious responsibility not be serious.”

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Maharishi's Humor

[02:36] Maharishi's Way of Answering Serious Questions

[04:59] The Million-Pound Reply

[06:09] A Lover of Analogies

[07:29] The Complaint About Meditation

[09:12] Fifty Dollar Bet on Effortless Mantra

[11:17] Think Mantra Without Effort

[11:59] "I Am an Imposter."

[13:35] Journalist Wanted to Expose Maharishi

[15:15] "I'm Here to Find and Report Facts."

[16:39] Laughter-Filled Meeting With Maharishi

[18:03] Surprising Turns: Maharishi's Impact on the Journalist

[18:56] A Force Five Hurricane of Happiness

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Silent 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 experience with cave retreats, along with his perspective on dark room retreats. 

He also shares an alternative method for sensory deprivation. One that doesn’t require dark rooms or even silence but which still yields the bliss we might be looking for if we were to consider a dark retreat.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Awakening the Mind's Innermost Potential

[02:41] Techniques of Sensory Deprivation

[04:33] How do I Experience Pure Consciousness?

[06:32] Deep Rest in Vedic Meditation

[08:35] The Charm of Silence

[12:02] The Reason the Mind Falls Mute

[13:39] Modern Technology's Impact on the Search for Bliss

[14:52] Limits of Sensory Deprivation in Achieving Bliss

[16:52] Reduced Oxygen Consumption - The Measure of Deep Rest

[18:20] Testing Bliss Levels

[20:03] Extended Meditation in Solitude

[21:37] Sensory Deprivation as a Test, Not a Shortcut to Bliss

[23:42] Left With Your Own Joy

[25:27] Passing the Bliss Exam

[26:45] The Bliss of Being Beyond Relativity

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