“The truth hurts!”... or so we’re often told. Many of us have no problem being truthful, even if the recipient gets hurt in the process.

After all, isn’t honesty the best policy?

On the other end of the spectrum, for those who have difficulty telling the harsh truth, a “white lie” can often be a compelling and justifiable alternative.

In this episode, Thom argues the case for something in between—the sweet truth—not only because it has a more unifying effect, but because the “truth” itself, isn’t as black and white as we like to think it to be.

Episode Highlights:

[00:59] The Idea of Sweet Truth

[02:55] Dressing Up Truth

[04:35] The Absolute Truth

[06:57] The Only Truth: Unified Field of Consciousness

[08:44] Trotaka's Story

[11:10] Temporal Nature of Truth

[13:15] Absolute Truth Without Cruel Truth

[15:41] Embrace Sweet Truth With Meditation

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What’s the distinction between mind, intellect and ego? And what are their functions? Unlike many modern psychological approaches, the Vedic worldview honors and celebrates the role of all three.

While they may not always function perfectly – like the 'mistaken intellect' often discussed by Thom – each of these elements plays a specific and essential role in our evolution.

Thom explains in this episode, that rather than putting our efforts into “getting rid of the ego,” we’re best served by enlisting our ego as a cooperative component in our quest for enlightenment. Ironically, it’s allowing the ego to transcend itself, that gives it the ability to truly know its ultimate, unchanging essence.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Vedic Psychology on Mind, Intellect, and Ego

[02:32] Manas

[03:53] What Remains Unchanged Within Us?

[05:21] Mind Stays the Same

[06:39] Two Elements of Manas

[07:49] Buddhi

[08:54] Ego in Western Psychology

[11:47] Vedic Ego (Ahaṃkar)

[13:32] Intellect's Role in Ego Formation

[14:41] The Ego Structure

[16:22] Ahaṃkar in Vedic Meditation

[18:03] You Minus All the Thoughts

[19:24] True Nature of the Self

[20:48] When Mantra Surpasses Ego

[22:31] Ego's Experience of The Unbounded Field

[24:03] Ego + Cosmic Consciousness

[25:57] No Ego, No Enlightenment

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When most people think of abundance or self-sufficiency, they think of cash and assets, having the wealth to do what they want when they want it. In fact, for many people, it’s a driving goal to become “financially independent” so as to have more choices in their lives.

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi took an alternative approach, demonstrating that true freedom and true abundance actually require us to surrender our sense of choice and to simply follow the call of Nature.

Through this approach, he was able to accomplish more in half a lifetime, than most of us would accomplish many lifetimes over, all while remaining ”penniless” himself.

Thom shares some real-life examples from his experiences with Maharishi in this episode, giving us a taste of the true meaning of wealth.

Episode Highlights:

[00:45] Five Blind Men and an Elephant

[03:11] Different Perceptions of Maharishi

[04:31] Maharishi's Simple Possessions

[08:34] Wooden Sandals and Shahtoosh

[10:19] Traveling the World Without a Penny

[12:08] Maharishi's Persuasive Consciousness State

[13:55] Why Maharishi Didn't Have to Think Before Acting

[15:54] Follow Charm and See What Happens

[16:53] Helicopter Came

[17:46] Simple, Natural and Innocent

[19:12] Charm, Action, and Results

[20:17] The Inexorable Forces of Nature

[22:01] Be a Maharishi Yourself

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