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 Good

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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 Memorizers

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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 Teaching

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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 Continuum

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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 Done

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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 Wrong

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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 Generosity

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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 Rigueur

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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