Truths about life from the timeless wisdom of the Bhakti-yoga tradition - fun, relevant, and deep. Learn about dharma, yoga, bhakti, and how it relates to all the basic questions of life. This show is about how to live your best life, let go of the external distractions, and uncover the spiritual happiness that lies within the heart as the true nature of the soul. Raghunath and Kaustubha's connection goes back to their teens in the New York Hardcore Punk Scene of the early 80s, through servi ...
…
continue reading
1
1378: The Nightmare of Materialism & the Awakening of the Soul
55:18
55:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:18
Wassily Kandinsky’s thoughts on materialism / materialism as a value and materialism as an ideology / prosperity gospel as the hucksters materialism in the guise of spirituality / prosperity gospel in the realm of Bhakti / Jesus, Krishna, Buddha and the saints are on the side of self control - on the other side are the hucksters / forgetfulness (of…
…
continue reading
When practicing Bhakti-yoga, is it normal to become increasingly disengaged in idle talk and uninterested or disturbed by gossip? And how can I control my thoughts and emotions when spending time with the people I love and care about, but who engage that way? / Does at least part of the subtle body travel with the soul to the next body? ***********…
…
continue reading
the story of Shanti Devi, one of the most thoroughly documented and authenticated cases of reincarnation / a little girl in Delhi remembers her previous life in Mathura / Shanti meets her husband and son from the past life / Shanti returns to Mathura / Gandhi appoints a committee of 15 prominent parliamentarians, national leaders, and members from …
…
continue reading
1
1375: Observe & Withdraw - A Sage's Response to Materialism
56:19
56:19
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:19
Observe the nature of material enjoyment to see its false promise / Expectations cause stress / attachments lead to anger / seeing the power of male/female connection beyond material enjoyment / happiness of the self is natural / the happiness born of the contact of the senses with objects is a mental concoction / Is there any happiness in a cigare…
…
continue reading
1
1374: Desires are the Cause of Transmigration
58:09
58:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:09
Lao Tzu - “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you” / sattva guna conditions one with a sense of happiness and knowledge - raja guna is born of unlimited desires and longings / we can’t snuff out our desires, we need to refine them / “When speaking in spiritual circles, one's statements must be upheld by the script…
…
continue reading
1
1373: It's All One Path with Different Degrees of Success
1:00:56
1:00:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:56
Thoreau experiences the unearthly nature of the Vedas / Thoreau’s balance of contemplation and activism / The Vedas feel nonsectarian, because Vyasadeva isn’t trying to wrestle you into immediate submission to the highest truth - he nudges you to take the next step in your evolution / Prahlad was able to recognize the Python man as special, because…
…
continue reading
Raghunath interviews the award winning (and his personal favorite) musical group Madhava’s Rock Band! Find out more about Madhavas Rock Band at https://www.youtube.com/madhavasrockband and support their girls' education initiative in Nandagao at https://www.projectkrish.com ***************************************************************************…
…
continue reading
How can I transition from a spiritual seeker into a deeper Bhakti practitioner, and quell my doubts when reading sacred texts? / How to stay even minded and not lose relationships during a divisive election season? / How to know where to put your spiritual focus / Why do bad things happen to good people? ********************************************…
…
continue reading
1
1370: Layers of the Mind & Layers of the Cosmos
59:21
59:21
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:21
becoming aware of yourself as the witness of the mind / pause and ask yourself, “where is my mind right now?” / change your thoughts, change your life / when Narayana predominates one’s heart, then their transcendental eyes are revealed / make some room for Krishna in the heart / Krishna is simultaneously eager for us to turn to him, and accommodat…
…
continue reading
"There are the saints of every day, the 'hidden' saints, to which we can all belong" - Pope Francis / Tolstoy's hidden saint Pashenka / our sincerity is soiled by desire for human praise / Pralahd goes in search of the hidden saints / we shouldn't attempt to understand the pas of a Vaisnava / a saintly person may not expose himself to the vision of…
…
continue reading
1
1368: How Not to Drain the Battery of Spiritual Focus
58:40
58:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:40
6 things a sannyasi should avoid / even non-sannyasis can take some essential teachings from the sannyasi regulations / we need some people, with both feet in the spiritual realm, wandering around the material realm / avoid literature without spiritual benefit / avoid making a living by making a living / avoid indulging in arguments and counterargu…
…
continue reading
1
1367: The Power of Our Words, Thoughts & Presence
53:06
53:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:06
a vow of silence can mean simply refraining from mundane talk / The power of our words, thoughts and presence / a little self-disgust can be a big breakthrough / our thoughts can move us through the universe and beyond / Raghu and Kaustubha communicate nonviolently / wherever you are, you can be in a holy place / Pilgrimage shows a world revolving …
…
continue reading
1
1366: We Can't Let Politics Normalize Hatred Within
54:49
54:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:49
dealing with the assassination attempt - wishing well for both the shooter and the shot / appreciating the compassion of care-givers / the power of the Bhagavad-gita’s vibration / the regulations are designed to facilitate essential realizations / be like the dried coconut – embodied but detached from the body / the magic happens when we stretch ou…
…
continue reading
1
1365: Self Discipline in Music & Bhakti - Interview with Classical Violinist Alexandra Tirsu
1:04:38
1:04:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:38
Alexandra Tirsu is recognized as one of the leading violinists of her generation and a devoted Bhakti-yogini. Here, Kaustubha interviews her about the intersection of her two worlds, that of Bhakti-yoga and the high pressure world as a solo violinist in classical music. Topics include…. • Feeling spirituality in music • Self discipline in music…
…
continue reading
Is Good Karma Bad & Bad Karma Good? / What if I’m not attracted to Krsna for some of His qualities like wealth and fame? Check out Bhaktivedanta Institute's inaugural summer school at https://www.youtube.com/@bihstudies/streams **************************************************** ▶ LOVE THE PODCAST? -- BECOME A SUPPORTER: https://www.wisdomofthesag…
…
continue reading
1
1363: Dissolving the Body & Mind By Meditation
58:04
58:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:04
the Universal plot - consciousness trapped in ego-based self interest gradually becoming free / a better way to frame out the world / “why me?” and “it’s not fair!” are mantras of maya / these social codes and austerities prepare one to see God everywhere / codes for retirement to the forest / dissolving the body & mind by meditation / standing alo…
…
continue reading
1
1362: Oneness and Difference Beyond Duality
53:23
53:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:23
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts." - Marcus Aurelius / So why do we always try to find happiness by adjusting the externals? / what if everyone was thinking higher thoughts? / the yoga mat is just the doormat / all the regulations of the yoga culture are designed for improving the quality of our thoughts - if we…
…
continue reading
Raghunath's early enthusiasm self-discipline / Kaustubha leaves NY behind / mind over matter and spirit over mind / understanding the high guardrails of Vedic culture / everyone loves a doting mother / Prabhupada's cultural flexibility SB: 7.12.8-9 ***************************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE AR…
…
continue reading
1
1360: Reflecting on Our Training as Young Monks
1:00:55
1:00:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:55
there is the pain of discipline or the pain of regret / reflecting with appreciation at our training as young monks / the power of the discipline of rising early / phone discipline / the connection between rising late and depression / the tradition of begging on behalf of the guru / the thoughtfulness of the approaching sexuality in yoga culture / …
…
continue reading
1
1359: Living Receptors of Eternal Vibrating Knowledge
54:26
54:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:26
the social codes found in the yoga tradition are designed to facilitate ease in self-discipline and higher thoughts / the only requirement to be in this club is an affection for Krishna / followers of the Veda claim that it is apaurusheya, "not created by any person" / in meditative trance, sages became living receptors of the vibrating knowledge o…
…
continue reading
Acyuta Gopi is a legendary kirtan singer, writer, award winning poet, storyteller and mother. In this interview she and Kaustubha discuss her feelings of isolation as a young devotee in New York City's public schools, her growing faith in Bhakti in her teens, the profound experience of childbirth, developing inner dialogues with God, and how spirit…
…
continue reading
How to get through heartbreak? / Is the "Ritvik" idea of disciple succession legitimate? ************************************************************** LOVE THE PODCAST? WE ARE COMMUNITY SUPPORTED AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN! Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@wisdomofthesages LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://…
…
continue reading
1
1356: God May Tag a Person, a Podcast, or a Pakora
56:53
56:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:53
"Earn your success based on service to others, not at the expense of others" - Horace Jackson Brown Jr. / antah sukha (inner happiness) - when you understand that your happiness is not dependent on anything external you'll no longer feel that you have to impose your needs on others, or change others / sometimes God tags a person, a podcast, or a pa…
…
continue reading
SB: 7.11.18-27 'I believe in Christianity as I believe that the sun has risen: not only because I see it, but because by it I see everythign else' / the faulty logic that demands empiric evidence / "Mother is all around us" / the symptoms of a brahmana / the sympoms of a warrior / the symptoms of the business leader / the symptoms of the employee /…
…
continue reading
1
1354: Shedding Uncomfortable Layers of Well-Starched Religiosity
58:29
58:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:29
pure, naked spiritual encounter vs designer label spiritual fads / the real stumbling block to Bhakti is hypocrisy / dealing with the Western triggers to Eastern thought / understanding Vedic hierarchies / respect is both functional and fundamental / why is it better to do your own duty imperfectly, than another's perfectly? / the world is in a sta…
…
continue reading