What does it mean to choose wisely? Which kinds of values support this? To what extent are they related to ethics? How similar are Indian traditions to modern ideas about what to prioritise? Might teachings need reframing to speak to us clearly?

Simon Haas presents ancient wisdom for everyday life. He is the author of The Book of Dharma – subtitled “Making Enlightened Choices” – and Yoga and the Dark Night of the Soul, which draws on ideas from the Bhagavad Gītā. He’s also spoken on these topics at the United Nations, and offers a wide range of workshops and seminars.

Together, we discuss what he calls the Dharma Code, a framework of principles informing wise conduct. These overlap with ethical precepts, and help people fulfil their potential. We nonetheless reflect on drawbacks to expecting any system to have all the answers, since it's helpful to find one’s own way.

Although Simon is adept at making subjects accessible, he is also a scholar with an Oxford PhD – you can find out more about his research here.

🔎 For yogic perspectives on wisdom, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com

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What exactly is Kuṇḍalinī? It depends... What began as an energetic metaphor has morphed into a framework for transcending trauma, and much else besides. Does a snake-like entity really ascend? What sparks the experience? If it happens by chance, how should someone respond? There are few simple answers.

Sravana Borkataky-Varma and Anya Foxen are co-authors of The Serpent’s Tale, subtitled “Kuṇḍalinī, Yoga and the History of an Experience.” Both are scholars as well as practitioners – of Tantra (Sravana) and yoga (Anya) – and their research combines historical analysis with people’s experiences.

Together, we explore why it can be hard to differentiate the physical from the psychological and the spiritual. We also ask if there are limits to what Kuṇḍalinī stands for and reflect on the challenges involved in defining them. In the process, we consider why reports of Kuṇḍalinī awakenings are increasingly common.

Although The Serpent’s Tale is an academic book, it’s an engaging guide to some fascinating characters – along with cultural overlaps between East and West that explain the evolution of Kuṇḍalinī narratives over the centuries. As we discuss, the most famous of these is the story of Gopi Krishna.

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What if change had more to do with relationships than miracle solutions? Which priorities help them work better? How does one take meaningful action without having the power to determine its outcomes? Who ought to act if not us?

In this podcast, I talk about these questions – along with many others – with Jessica Böhme, PhD. Jes is the founder and director of the Institute for Practical ekoPhilosophy, “a post-disciplinary research and education institute dedicated to cultivating wisdom as a way of life for personal and planetary transformation.”

She also writes wild:philosophy, a weekly Substack newsletter that offers “no easy answers, only better questions”, and runs a monthly PhilosophyGym, where people can “stretch their thinking” and “stay supple with uncertainty”. We consider how these qualities cultivate agency, and how that translates to effective activism.

Jes describes her priorities as “personal development in service of the whole”, and encourages people to think about life as a laboratory. Some of her experiments are listed here, including wearing one outfit for over a year. The point is not to find a magic answer, she says, but to be open to exploration.

🔎 For yogic perspectives on wisdom, join me for a course at truthofyoga.com

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