Our beliefs play a fundamental role in how we engage in life. What we learn in our early years becomes our guide as to the actions that we choose to take or not take in our lives. 
 For the most part these beliefs serve us well. They help us to live in harmony with our surroundings and our community, but are there points where we must set aside our beliefs for the higher good? 
 Most of us find ourselves from time to time, much like Arjuna on the battlefield with Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita, in situations where our “duty” is at odds with our beliefs. 
 In this episode, Thom lays out a plan of action not too dissimilar from Krishna’s response to Arjuna, a plan that we can all put into practice easily on the battlefield of life. 
 Episode Highlights: [00:45] Virtuous Behavior [03:30] Dynamic Nature of Ethical Principles [04:49] Awakening Consciousness Through Meditation [07:01] Living Dharma: Aligning with Intentionality [09:31] Reinterpreting Dharma: Beyond Roles and Professions [11:14] Journey of Self-Discovery: From Virtues to Dharma 
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The Role of Beliefs in Dharma

Join philosopher, educator and celebrated speaker on the cognitive sciences, Thom Knoles for inspiring insights and wisdom to support your personal evolution.  Thom is an renowned expert on the relationship between quantum physics and human consciousness, and on the 5,000 year-old body of wisdom known as The Veda.  For over 50 years, he has personally taught Vedic Meditation to tens of thousands of students and consulted to governments and private corporations throughout the world.

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As humans, we often draw conclusions based on observations. However, these observations can frequently lead us down the wrong path.  
 Take, for instance, the assumption that wisdom or enlightenment demands an austere or stoic life. This belief stems from centuries of observing monastics and ascetics, who have traditionally been custodians of wisdom. 
 This can lead people to think either, a) that they must lead an austere life to become enlightened, or b) that enlightenment is out of reach for them because they can’t imagine themselves leading an austere life.  
 Thom sets the record straight in this episode, exploring the history of the custodians of Vedic wisdom, and the origin story that led to this misunderstanding, at least with respect to Vedic knowledge. 
 It will come as a relief to many and put enlightenment back within reach of those who might think it’s beyond their scope in this lifetime.  
 Thom also shares the technique that we can all use to accelerate the process. 
 Episode Highlights: [00:45] False Assumptions about Enlightenment and Monastic Living [02:46] Living a Tasteful Life in Enlightenment [04:51] Origin of the Misconception [06:36] Shukadeva's Vision [08:45] Geography's Role in India's Civilization [10:40] Shukadeva's Foresight [12:41] Emergence of Monastic Orders [14:50] Colonization and the Monastic Tradition [16:38] Buddha's Pursuit of Enlightenment [18:29] Transitioning from Monastic to Householder Enlightenment [20:32] Maharishi's 200 Percent Joys of Life [21:58] We Cannot Gain Enlightenment by Suffering More 
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Austerity and Enlightenment

Sacrificing the comforts of life is often seen as part of the “spiritual path,” so it might seem unusual to hear from a Vedic master that, “You deserve the best.” 
 Yet this is one of the key teachings of Swami Bramhananda Saraswati, Thom’s master’s master, also referred to as Guru Deva. 
 In this episode, Thom clarifies the meaning and intent of Guru Deva’s quote, reconciling the notion of deserving the best with the “pervasive guilt” that often holds us back from claiming or accepting the best. It’s an episode you deserve to listen to… 
 Episode Highlights:
[00:45] Your Birthright [02:38] In the Best Interests of All [04:12] Pervasive Guilt Consciousness [05:37] Living Your Best - Tat Wale Baba [07:46] A Dark Cave in the Jungle [09:19] As You Sow, So Shall You Reap [11:08] Lean Into the Best 
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You Deserve the Best

“The truth hurts!”... or so we’re often told. Many of us have no problem being truthful, even if the recipient gets hurt in the process.  
 After all, isn’t honesty the best policy? 
 On the other end of the spectrum, for those who have difficulty telling the harsh truth, a “white lie” can often be a compelling and justifiable alternative. 
 In this episode, Thom argues the case for something in between—the sweet truth—not only because it has a more unifying effect, but because the “truth” itself, isn’t as black and white as we like to think it to be. 
 Episode Highlights: [00:59] The Idea of Sweet Truth [02:55] Dressing Up Truth [04:35] The Absolute Truth [06:57] The Only Truth: Unified Field of Consciousness [08:44] Trotaka's Story [11:10] Temporal Nature of Truth [13:15] Absolute Truth Without Cruel Truth [15:41] Embrace Sweet Truth With Meditation 
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Embracing the Sweet Truth

What’s the distinction between mind, intellect and ego? And what are their functions? Unlike many modern psychological approaches, the Vedic worldview honors and celebrates the role of all three.  
 While they may not always function perfectly – like the 'mistaken intellect' often discussed by Thom – each of these elements plays a specific and essential role in our evolution. 
 Thom explains in this episode, that rather than putting our efforts into “getting rid of the ego,” we’re best served by enlisting our ego as a cooperative component in our quest for enlightenment. Ironically, it’s allowing the ego to transcend itself, that gives it the ability to truly know its ultimate, unchanging essence. 
 Episode Highlights: [00:45] Vedic Psychology on Mind, Intellect, and Ego [02:32] Manas [03:53] What Remains Unchanged Within Us? [05:21] Mind Stays the Same [06:39] Two Elements of Manas [07:49] Buddhi [08:54] Ego in Western Psychology [11:47] Vedic Ego (Ahaṃkar) [13:32] Intellect's Role in Ego Formation [14:41] The Ego Structure [16:22] Ahaṃkar in Vedic Meditation [18:03] You Minus All the Thoughts [19:24] True Nature of the Self [20:48] When Mantra Surpasses Ego [22:31] Ego's Experience of The Unbounded Field [24:03] Ego + Cosmic Consciousness [25:57] No Ego, No Enlightenment 
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Mind, Intellect, Ego

When most people think of abundance or self-sufficiency, they think of cash and assets, having the wealth to do what they want when they want it. In fact, for many people, it’s a driving goal to become “financially independent” so as to have more choices in their lives. 
 Maharishi Mahesh Yogi took an alternative approach, demonstrating that true freedom and true abundance actually require us to surrender our sense of choice and to simply follow the call of Nature. 
 Through this approach, he was able to accomplish more in half a lifetime, than most of us would accomplish many lifetimes over, all while remaining ”penniless” himself.  
 Thom shares some real-life examples from his experiences with Maharishi in this episode, giving us a taste of the true meaning of wealth. 
 Episode Highlights: [00:45] Five Blind Men and an Elephant [03:11] Different Perceptions of Maharishi [04:31] Maharishi's Simple Possessions [08:34] Wooden Sandals and Shahtoosh [10:19] Traveling the World Without a Penny [12:08] Maharishi's Persuasive Consciousness State  [13:55] Why Maharishi Didn't Have to Think Before Acting [15:54] Follow Charm and See What Happens [16:53] Helicopter Came [17:46] Simple, Natural and Innocent [19:12] Charm, Action, and Results [20:17] The Inexorable Forces of Nature [22:01] Be a Maharishi Yourself 
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The Role of Beliefs in Dharma

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