Wisdom of the Sages - podcast cover

Wisdom of the Sages

Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Daswisdomofthesages.libsyn.com
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 serving together as Bhakti-yogi monks in the 90's, to sharing their experiences in the world of yoga in the 21st century.
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Episodes

1144: Seeing Through Eyes Trained in Knowledge

"Unhappiness is not knowing what we want and killing ourselves to get it." - Don Herold / why am I waiting in line to buy these sneakers? / Is all our pleasure from our ego? / ultimately we are just looking for love / we are unaware of forces that engage us / there's a firewall preventing our perception of paramatma / every aspect of our experiences is designed for our growth / the dark worldview = this world is unreal, without foundation, without a controller, and risen without cause / most liv...

Sep 14, 202355 minEp. 1144

1143: Paramatma Writes the Songs

we can't pay our spiritual debts back, but we can pay them forward / understanding our place in the levels of awareness / our experiences are being governed by unseen forces / the Supersoul is directing the workings of our senses / we own nothing / Paramatma writes the songs that make the whole world sing / If you were to find out how this entire universe works, would you expect that it all would be ordinary, or would you expect to hear things that would BLOW YOUR MIND! To donate a Bhagavatam se...

Sep 13, 202359 minEp. 1143

1142: Love is the Highest Dharma!

Respect to those practicing Bhakti where it's illegal and dangerous / imagination is more important than knowledge / Mahabharata Super Squirrel – Abhimanyu's death, Arjuna's vow, and Krishna's cheating out of love / Krishna cheats out of love again when Karma is killed / love is the highest dharma!

Sep 12, 202359 minEp. 1142

1141: The Firewall Between Us & Spiritual Perception

Wisdom of the Sages is mother approved (with cautious optimism) / "Realism is not a matter of any fidelity to an empirical reality.." - John Fiske / There's no empirical evidence that all that exists falls within the realm of empirical evidence. / there's a firewall between us and spiritual perception / virtue is a key to knowledge / sambhanda jnana (knowledge of the nature of our relationship) / ants have eyes, but they can't see very well / there could be a blue cowherd boy at the center of Sw...

Sep 11, 202357 minEp. 1141

1140: Q & A Volume 185

Is a broken heart real or just an illusion? / How should a Bhakti-yogi apply Vedic Astrology? / Why is Rathayatra celebrated on so many different days?

Sep 10, 202356 minEp. 1140

1139: Raging in Denial of What Our Inner-Self is Telling Us

anger is an acid / anger ends in shame / the 2 things one should never be angry about / anger is a wind that blows out our reasoning / the best speech you will ever regret / raging in denial of what our inner self is telling us / would Plato hang out with Raghu and Kaustubha? / how many times is anger mentioned in Bhagavad-gita / transcending anger through devotion / Pajapati Daksha comes back

Sep 08, 20231 hr 1 minEp. 1139

1137: Krishna Poetry

On the occasion of Sri Krishna Janmastami (the appearance of Krishna) Raghunath & Kaustubha share some of their favorite verses of devotional song and poetry.

Sep 06, 202356 minEp. 1137

1136: Every Body is a Temple

"The body is your temple. Keep it pure and clean for the soul to reside in." / Don't you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives within you? 1 Corinthians 6:19 / carry god awareness with you everywhere / "Please abide in the temple of my heart both day and night, O Krsna Murari" - Bhaktivinode Thakura / the clash between mixed devotion & pure devotion / we all got a little daksha-like resistance to pure devotion / don't shame people to change- inspire them / a lead...

Sep 05, 202359 minEp. 1136

1135: Q & A Volume 184

What does it mean to be self realized or God realized? / How to respond to scandals in Bhakti communities? / How do understand our indebtedness without feelings of lack of self-worth and shame?

Sep 03, 202354 minEp. 1135

1134: Q & A Volume 183

How does one know when they should be initiated? / How can I best support my friends during times of tragedy?

Sep 02, 202354 minEp. 1134

1133: The World is a Mess - But What Does That Prove?

The world is a mess - but what does it prove? / universal harmony through placing the Divine source in the center / trying to leave Bhakti is like being a yo-yo / Karma, Janna, and Bhakti are found throughout the world's spiritual traditions / karmic ritualistic atonement in Buddhism / Bhagavatam is traveling throughout the universe, illustrating through a variety of dialogs, the superiority of Bhakti / you can't get the goal (Krishna Prema) through Vedic ritualistic atonement / I wonder what th...

Sep 01, 202358 minEp. 1133

1132: Painful Life Experience + Spiritual Knowledge = Spiritual Realization

"We are good at preparing to live, but not very good at living." - Thich What Hanh / we're vainly seeking happiness in the material atmosphere / we're can be in eternity Right Now through Bhakti / Lord Brahma installed 5 features of illusion into the material world / painful life + spiritual knowledge = spiritual realization / Like honey, Bhagavatam is derived from a most beautiful source, thick, sweet and nourishing / becoming a Great Goose SB 6.3.28-32

Aug 31, 202355 minEp. 1132

1131: Raghu Takes the "Absurd Trolley Problems" Quiz

New York becomes Vrindavan when Radha and Krishna are the center / would Raghu pull the lever to kill 1 person in order to save 5? / "To save a family, abandon a man." - Vidura / it's not always easy to determine right from wrong / we like to think that we are the one pulling the lever when in fact we are all tied to the tracks / Yuddhisthira on what is the most amazing thing / Ajamila was living like he wasn't tied to the tracks / with Bhagavat Dharma it's the intention that counts / even Yājña...

Aug 30, 202354 minEp. 1131

1130: The Highest Dharma is Understood by the Pure of Heart

Happy 10th birthday Little Karuna! / there's dharma and then there is dharmaḥ paraḥ, the highest dharma, Bhagavat Dharma, Bhakti / keep the highest dharma as the main thing, and every other dharma is covered / every sage is in debt to Vyasadeva / what is "Cheating Dharma"? / the highest dharma is understood by the pure of heart / After chanting and dancing in ecstasy, one gradually sees the form, pastimes and qualities of the Lord SB 6.3.22

Aug 29, 202357 minEp. 1130

1128: Q & A Volume 182

Why does my devotional consciousness fluctuate? / How to respond to a mind full of negativity and self-loathing? / How do disciples approach the passing away of their guru?

Aug 26, 202353 minEp. 1128

1127: Happiness Through Flowing Within the Universal Laws

Immanuel Kant's view of morality / morality is designed to facilitate the realization of happiness / our wellbeing is determined by our willingness to flow within the universal laws / objective moral truths warrant a supernatural explanation / does morality develop out of evolutionary need? / secularists have trouble explaining why human beings have intrinsic value, rights, and moral obligations / Yamaraja explains that dharma is established by Bhagavan / to understand the confidential dharma yo...

Aug 25, 202355 minEp. 1127

1126: Beyond Mindfulness Lies Confidential Knowledge

"When you look at the sun during your walking meditation, the mindfulness of the body helps you to see that the sun is in you" – Thich Nhat Hanh / beyond mindfulness Lies the confidential knowledge of devotion / those free of resentment, envy and hostility can understand the confidential knowledge / your good fortune may trigger someone else's self-loathing / my issues with others may reflect my own issues with God / the devotees wander with full independence / "My Life…My Rules…..BUT / the devo...

Aug 24, 202354 minEp. 1126

1125: We Don't Die

we don't die / grounded in the reality of the timeless soul / there is nothing so sublime and pure as transcendental knowledge – the mature fruit of all mysticism / there's hope in a decaying material world / all this life is about is learning what to let go of and what to hold onto / saying goodbye to everything SB 6.3.13-16

Aug 23, 202359 minEp. 1125

1124: As Pearls Are Strung On a Thread

slow down and go deep in the mantra / sadhana helps us cope with life's curveballs / keep steady and don't be discouraged / don't dilly dally in the unimportant / nowhere in the weave of the universe is Krishna not present / there is the material energy, and the spiritual energy, and it all rests on Krishna, like pearls strung on a thread Pre order Raghu's book at https://a.co/d/4VEIEeq SB 6.3.1-12

Aug 22, 202358 minEp. 1124

1123: How Yogis Set Their Intentions

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind." - Napoleon Bonaparte / austerity can strengthen the mind and bring peace / engaging the intellect as a rational filter / freeing up the mind to hear the direction of the Supersoul / Ajamila's regret / Ajamila's yogic knowledge / Ajamila sets his intention / Ajamila's return to Vaikuntha SB 6.2.26-49

Aug 21, 202356 minEp. 1123

1122: Q & A Volume 181

Is God an energy, a person, or both? / Once you reach the spiritual realm… what happens? / How do the physical instructions of yoga asana lead to a quiet mind? Preorder Raghu's book now - https://a.co/d/4VEIEeq

Aug 19, 202355 minEp. 1122

1121: Let It Come & Let Me Grow Through It

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." ― Proverbs 4:23 / spirituality can be understood as a practice of purifying our desires from the level of exploitation, to renunciation, to devotion / don't be so harsh on people, they're mostly good hearted / chasing our desires will take us all over the universe / Bhakti-yogis aren't so interested in counteracting their karma - the say "let it come and let me grow through it" / there can be purification in regret SB 6.2.1...

Aug 18, 202356 minEp. 1121

1120: 10 Important Considerations for Meditation

"Meditation on inevitable death should be performed daily." – Yamamoto Tsunetomo / the resolution to die can add beauty and grace to life / practice saddhana like you will die tomorrow - study like you will live forever / "The mantra that is not received in a genuine lineage does not produce results." / one must receive the instructions for how to access the power of the mantra from a qualified instructor / our conceptions, sentiments and lifestyles are important for meditation SB 6.2.11...

Aug 17, 202357 minEp. 1120

1119: All the Noise Distracts Us from Life's Essence

the relentless noise we've created is distracting us from the essence of life – contemplation and meditation / the Vishnudutas make their case / calling out the name Narayana, in a helpless condition, wiped out lifetimes of bad karma for Ajamila / in Kali-yuga we are all sudras / there are so many books of dharma - but Vyasadeva, the author of them, points out that in this age we shall get light from Srimad-bhagavatam / Bhagavatam promotes the chanting of Krishna's names from the beginning to th...

Aug 16, 202357 minEp. 1119

1118: Invest Love in All You Do

whatever you do, do it as an offering, and as beautifully as possible / work done as an offering is karma free / fixed in this principle of renunciation, one receives Krishna / home life can purge one of ego / Ajamila's downfall / letting go of the concept of friends and enemies / don't let porn into your life, even a little / the Yamadutas rest their case

Aug 15, 202355 minEp. 1118

1117: We're Trapped in a Cocoon of Our Own Karma

"Who looks outside dreams, who looks inside wakes." – Carl Jung / What am I, beyond the external ego presentation? / we've got layers to shed before we get to our authentic self / our relationship with our body is dream-like / our choices determine our next body / this is not religious dogma – it's an invitation to think about life in a different way / the proposition that maybe "there really is no such thing as Consciousness" is completely absurd (because consciousness is required even to ask t...

Aug 14, 20231 hr 4 minEp. 1117

1116: Q & A Volume 180

How can I reconcile my non-binary gender identity with Bhakti? / What can I do to help the soul of my aging dog on his spiritual journey? / Does it makes senses to pray for world peace in the Kali Yuga?

Aug 12, 202353 minEp. 1116

1115: People Don't Want That Real

Be careful what you get involved with, 'Cause you can't support a cause but then hate the effects that it causes. - DEE 1 / go all the way with Bhakti, don't just dabble, because this life is slipping away / getting to bed early and waking early gets you flowing with the favorable currents / make your daily japa meditation a power hour / we're bugged- paramatma and yamaraj know everything SB 6.1.37-49

Aug 11, 202357 minEp. 1115
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