Vedic Worldview

Delayed gratification is often touted as one of the secrets to a fulfilling life. 

The famous marshmallow experiment concluded that children who were able to delay the reward of a marshmallow for a larger reward of more marshmallows had better outcomes later in life.

But is this really the case? Are we actually better off favoring long-term good over short-term pleasure?

In this episode, Thom explains that this is more than just a philosophical question, it’s actually a question that has implications for evolution of the species.
And the answer might surprise you…

Episode Highlights
00:45 It's All About Knowledge
03:26 Evolution is Not a Straight Line
07:41 We Have to Have a Blend
12:07 There's No Such Thing as Perfection in the Relative World
14:19 Disruption Causes Adaptation to Occur
17:46 Q: What can you tell us about freeze reactivity?
17:58 A: Catatonia is the Extreme
20:38 Practice Vedic Meditation to Remove Irrelevant Neurochemistry
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/B3a7BvY50Tw
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Consciousness is spoken of in many different ways and contexts. Usually when we speak of consciousness, we know the meaning that’s being conveyed. But what exactly is consciousness?

It’s both a philosophical and scientific question at the same time. 

In this episode, Thom cuts through the philosophy to give us a pragmatic answer to the question. It’s an answer that lets us get on with the business of being conscious with ever-increasing capacity. 

Episode Highlights
00:45 Consciousness is That Which Makes Existence Relevant 
04:15 Is-ness, Am-ness, I-ness, My-ness 
07:38 Repertoires of Consciousness 
11:24 Everything is a Response to Observation 
14:57 Maximizing Capability 
19:49 Q: Where was the one thing before it became many? 
20:04 A: Everywhereness Inside of It 
23:36 Once Upon a Time 
26:26 The Variety that Creates Storyline 
29:17 Lesha Avidya: The Faint Remains of Ignorance 
32:09 A Blend of Ignorance and Consciousness 
34:42 Q - Is more consciousness better? 
35:13 A: The Animal Kingdom is More Violent Than the Human Kingdom 
37:32 Content vs Context 
42:15 The Ability of Enlightenment
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Hj3SxekBMOM

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How do children really experience their parents’ separation? In this episode, Thom explores why children are often far more adaptive to a family separation than adults assume, and how they unconsciously mirror the emotional state of their parents. 
Drawing on the Vedic worldview, Thom explains why change is evolutionary, why staying together “for the children” can be harmful, and how honoring the other parent protects a child’s sense of self. A compassionate and clarifying perspective for any parent navigating relationship change.
You can also watch this episode on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/YRsKT1togKw
Episode Highlights
[00:45] Children Tend to be Peacekeepers
[03:28] Involve a Third Party for the Child to Speak With
[07:01] Protecting Children's Emotions
[09:26] Don't Stay Together “For the Children”
[12:57] Change is Evolutionary
[15:18] Avoid Speaking Ill of Each Other
[18:00] Honor the Other Parent

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Are events in life symbolic, or are they simply expressive moments within a vast, intelligent universe? 

We humans love to make meaning of things, especially unusual events or mysterious dreams. Are we justified in doing so, or are we possibly distracting ourselves from what’s really going on around us?

Once again, Thom offers a profound reframing of symbolism, dreaming, and the role of unbounded awareness in everyday life.

You can also watch this episode in two parts on YouTube, here https://youtu.be/ExUj9fmAeVU and here https://youtu.be/gkEwft6ST-0. 

Episode Highlights
[00:45] Q - To what extent is everything symbolic?
[01:18] A - Coincidences Are a Continuum of Reality
[06:24] What You See Is What You Get
[08:29] Assembly Theory and Abiogenesis
[12:08] Leftover Star Stuff Arguing About the Dishes
[15:32] Q - What Is the Vedic Perspective on Dreams and Dreaming?
[15:46] A - Dreams Aren't Dreams
[18:44] A Disjointed Story
[22:17] Nighttime Cognitions
[25:39] Remembering Is Overrated
[29:14] Crossing Thresholds of Unboundedness
[32:11] Vedic Meditators Lose the Need to Dream

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One of the biggest causes of suffering in our lives is the fact that nothing lasts forever. It’s not only true that all good things must come to an end, but all things must come to an end. 

In this episode, Thom reminds us that Nature has the final say on what is, and what no longer is relevant in the natural process of evolution. Rather than resisting Nature’s timing, our suffering is reduced or eliminated if we embrace Nature’s timing.

Once again, Vedic meditators have a natural edge in putting this into practice. 

Listen to the full episode to explore the complete teaching, or watch it on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/99fcBENajAs

Episode Highlights
00:45 Evolve
03:58 You Are a Production
06:03 A Universe That Wants a Story
07:48 Constant Atomic Exchange
11:26 Identifying Irrelevancy Through Vedic Meditation
14:14 Constant Relevance Refreshment
17:15 The Dangers of the Ever-Repeating Known
20:19 Disruption and Relevance
23:13 Letting Go of Rigid Attachment
25:45 Contextualizing Pain
30:34 Welcome to the Solution to All Problems

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