Unlike rules-based teachings prevalent in both modern and ancient texts, Vedic teachings are renowned for not prescribing commandments or rigid “rules.” Instead, Veda offer timeless wisdom through lessons that we can interpret and apply according to our level of consciousness.

One of the core Vedic teachings, The Mahabharata, contains a specific set of chapters known as the Bhagavad Gita — the Song of God. Within these chapters lies a profound teaching distilled into just five words that, if fully understood and implemented, have the power to end our suffering.

In English, these words are: “Established in Being, perform action.”

In this episode, Thom unpacks the meaning and transformative impact of this teaching. He also shares the technique that enables all of us to integrate this wisdom into our daily lives.

If you’d like to dive deeper into the Bhagavad Gita, we invite you to take a look at Thom’s Exploring the Bhagavad Gita series of courses. 

These engaging and lively courses examine how the ancient and profound lessons of the Bhagavad Gita can be applied to modern life. 

You can find out more at https://thomknoles.com/bhagavad-gita/,

Episode Highlights

[00:45] The God Song

[03:34] Mahabharata

[05:29] Pandavas and Kauravas

[08:12] Krishna’s Choice: Army or Advisor/Charioteer?

[09:47] Arjuna’s Dilemma

[13:09] Go Beyond All Relativity, Perform Action

[16:29] How to Solve All Problems

[19:11] Brahman Saṃsparsash: The Kiss of Totality

[22:12] The Universe Having a Human Experience

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Vedic Meditation is rooted in an ancient Indian tradition that has preserved Vedic wisdom for millennia. The Shankaracharya Tradition, like many others, has senior custodians who ensure this wisdom remains both pure and relevant.

In January 2025, Thom was honored with a role as one of these custodians, a distinction never before granted to a non-Indian. In this episode, Thom shares the story of his appointment and the ceremony where he received his new title, Shri 1008 Mahamandaleshwar Maharishi Vyasanand Giri Maharaj.

It’s a fascinating and colorful journey that will leave you in awe at the scale and significance of it.

This excerpt is from a recent session of Thom’s online Satsang community. To listen to the full session, which includes nearly 30 minutes of additional Q&A and 200 hours of Thom's content from recent years, visit https://thomknoles.com/community.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Akharas - Maintaining Ancient Traditions

[04:09] An Invitation to Join Niranjani Akhara Council

[06:37] Maha Kumbha Mela - A Fitting Occasion

[09:41] The Largest Gathering of Humans in History

[12:44] Pattibhishek - Celebrating a New Mahamandaleshwar

[14:56] A Blessing

[17:19] Saffron Robes and a Saffron Scarf

[19:19] A New Name for a New Role

[22:35] Q - What does this mean for the community?

[22:46] A - No Question of Cultural Appropriation

[24:42] No Hocus Pocus

[26:45] How to Stay Evolutionary

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We often find ourselves unsettled by the words of others—criticism, manipulation, and verbal abuse are just a few examples of communication that can feel hurtful. But does it have to be this way?

In this Q&A episode, Thom explains with clarity who truly holds responsibility for the hurt caused by critical or unkind words. The best part? By following his recommendations, you can free yourself from ever being at the mercy of someone else’s words again.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - How do we positively handle criticism?

[00:50] A - Your Critics Are Your Best Friends

[02:54] Thank You

[05:50] Q - How should we respond to criticism when it’s harsh?

[05:56] A - With Compassion and Gratitude

[09:13] We Want to Find the Gold

[10:39] Q - What’s the best way to handle manipulation or manipulative behaviors?

[10:45] A - Manipulative Behavior Requires a Reward

[13:44] A Suffering Competition

[16:32] The Greatest Crime Against Nature

[17:59] Q - Can you share any strategies for responding to verbal abuse?

[18:03] A - Just a Noise

[20:02] A - They Must Be Suffering

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Sanskrit is a beautiful language that captures subtle distinctions that English and other modern languages often cannot.

Take the word “love,” for example. In English, this word spans a wide net of emotions and feelings. For example, love can describe feelings a parent has for their child, as well as the fondness someone might feel for a football team or a favorite brand of chocolate.

In this week’s podcast episode, Thom explores the distinction between two Sanskrit words often translated as "love"—kama and prema—and reveals their unique and separate meanings.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Puruṣārtha

[03:59] Kama

[04:35] Pleasure Experienced Through the Senses

[07:19] Prema

[09:58] Love is So Ill-Defined

[12:35] Vedanta

[15:02] Prema and Kama: A Dynamite Package

[18:05] The Crest Jewel of Discrimination

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It’s common to label someone as a narcissist, but while we often think of narcissism as excessive self-regard, the ultimate cause might be quite different. In fact, narcissism may stem from an underlying insecurity rather than an inflated sense of self-worth.

In this episode, Thom explains the root causes of narcissism and shares key indicators of narcissistic behavior. Importantly, he encourages us to approach narcissists with compassion and offers a potential solution for those who recognize narcissistic tendencies in themselves.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Narcissus

[04:48] Somebody Has Done This to Me

[06:49] The Narcissist’s Caveat

[08:42] One-Upmanship

[11:30] An Impostor Syndrome

[14:50] An Underlying Feeling of Desperation

[17:40] Reconstructed Life Stories

[19:48] Calming Narcissism Through Vedic Meditation

[23:21] The Effects of Vedic Meditation on Narcissism

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The pursuit of altered states of consciousness through substances like drugs and alcohol is an age-old practice. Despite their potential risks and negative consequences, these substances continue to be widely used with an increasing variety of options available.

In recent decades, a new challenge has emerged: the conscious or unconscious manipulation of our body's feel-good chemistry. Activities like excessive social media use, compulsive shopping, and overindulgence in sugary foods can trigger dopamine releases, creating a short-lived sense of pleasure.

This "more-is-better" mentality often leads to addiction and various chronic health issues.

In this episode, Thom explores the impact of the more-is-better mentality and proposes a more balanced and sustainable approach to well-being. By focusing on natural methods, such as Vedic Meditation, we can harness our body's innate ability to produce feel-good chemicals without relying on external substances or compulsive behaviors.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] An Obsession With Control

[02:53] Dopamine Should be Left Alone

[05:41] Scurvy: The Unintended Consequence of Vitamin C Supplements

[09:05] It's Better for You to De-Excite

[11:34] Active Ingredient Mentality

[14:22] Undesirable Effects

[16:48] Nature Knows Best How to Organize

[18:56] It's What You Do with What You Eat

[21:48] Awaken Perfect Balance in the Human Brain

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In this episode, Thom explores the corners of the mind, in response to listener questions about various aspects of the mind: how we think, what we think, why we do things, and so on.

Thom answers the perpetual question about controlling the subconscious mind and sets the record straight on using affirmations.

Thom also gives us a shortcut to overcoming motivational blocks and provides a sustainable solution for anyone who lacks self-compassion or struggles with feelings of low self-worth.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - What’s the best way to control your subconscious mind?

[00:49] A - Avoid it Like the Plague

[03:01] Become One with the Home of All the Laws of Nature

[06:39] Q - Do Affirmations Make a Difference?

[06:42] A - The Opposite is True and I’m Trying to Make it True

[08:18] Internalized Locus of Control

[10:43] Aham Brahmasmi - I am Totality

[14:23] Go Beyond Thought Entirely

[16:22] Q - How can I overcome motivational blocks?

[16:26] A - Choicelessness is the Hallmark of Cosmic Motivation

[19:26] Tidings of Comfort and Joy

[23:03] Q - How can I overcome a lack of compassion for myself and feelings of low self-worth?

[23:10] A - Think Like a Scientist

[25:32] Support of the Bank of Goodwill

[27:14] “But, but…”

[29:29] You Have Infinite Potential

[32:04] Equip Yourself Properly with Vedic Meditation

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There are more humans on the planet today than ever before, and we have more ways of connecting with each other than ever before, yet loneliness has reached epidemic proportions.

The World Health Organization (WHO) launched an international commission on the problem last year, reporting that the health risks from loneliness are as bad as smoking up to 15 cigarettes a day and are even greater than those associated with obesity and physical inactivity.

The US Surgeon-General released a report on Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation, reporting that even in the years prior to Covid lockdowns, about one-in-two adults in America reported experiencing loneliness. And Japan, one of the most densely populated countries in the world, even has a minister in charge of measures for loneliness and isolation.

Thom outlines some solutions to loneliness in this podcast episode, reminding us that connectivity and connection are very different things, and that, ultimately, it’s our job to make ourselves socially relevant.  

Thom also outlines an advantage that Vedic meditators have, making it possible to be alone while still enjoying rich company. 

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Pheromone Clouds

[02:50] Adaptive Mechanisms

[05:36] Enriching Our Presence Through Vedic Meditation

[07:03] Stepping Out of the Illusion of Loneliness

[08:56] Social Chocolate

[11:36] Sociological Exercise

[13:16] Social Relevance

[14:28] Human Interaction - Surgeon General Recommended

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Hard work is often worn as a badge of honor. If someone works hard, then they “deserve” their successes. We might even say they have a “good” work ethic.

But if someone appears to attain a particular outcome without working hard, we might say they’ve got it too easy. Too easy compared to what?

Thom gives us some very clear guidelines in this episode on how to let Nature guide us on just how much effort is actually required for us to fulfill our dharma and to effectively meet the need of the time. 

Thom also helps us understand the distinction between effort and hard work. As is always the case, it’s merely a matter of perspective.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Reclassifying Success

[03:39] Suffering is a Mistake

[06:24] Kriya - Frictionless Flow of Activity

[08:09] Michelangelo Liberating the Captives

[10:23] Stop Being Merely an Individual

[12:37] Hard Work Insinuates Suffering

[14:52] You Are Nature

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If you’ve noticed an increase in the use of the word “toxic” in relation to human behavior in recent years, you’d be right. Its use has become so prevalent, that Oxford Dictionaries named "toxic" as their Word of the Year in 2018. 

Oxford noted a 45% increase in lookups for the word on their website and observed its expanded usage beyond its literal meaning to describe various social and political issues.

Of course, it’s tempting to look for causes and attempt to fix them at the source. The rise in the use of social media, for example, has undoubtedly contributed to this increase, so we might be tempted to control toxicity there.

Thom proposes a radically different cause in this episode, backing it up with a solution that puts us in control of potentially toxic behavior around us, rather than being at the mercy of it.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Toxophilus - Poisoned Arrows

[02:56] Source of All, Course of All, Goal of All

[05:14] Too Big to Be Made Toxic

[07:58] The Capacity to Be Toxified

[09:21] Robust and Resilient

[12:25] Overloads of Experience

[14:19] Premature Cognitive Commitments

[16:06] Unprecedented Rest Through Vedic Meditation

[18:56] A Net Position of Structural Integrity

[20:10] Attain to Personal Invincibility

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