1638: Time, Death & Krishna: Why Even Fear Can Free You
When the Grim Reaper shows up wearing a peacock feather and playing a flute, you know it’s time to rethink your priorities. This episode of Wisdom of the Sages dives into the 10th Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, where Time itself — in the form of Krishna — comes calling, leaving tyrants like Kamsa in panic. Live from Italy, Raghunath explores how fear, loss, and even death can awaken us to life’s deeper purpose, with a mix of timeless wisdom, vivid storytelling, and plenty of laughs. 🎙️ Highlights include: * Kamsa: the world’s most obsessed (and doomed) Krishna fanboy * How to survive stabbing, hailstorms, and heartbreak with grace * Mother Nature’s trident and what it’s really teaching you * Why nobody needs you — and that’s good news * Why vacations don’t fulfill you — but mantra does * How Krishna “calls off the falcon” of karma when you surrender Tune in and discover how even fear can become a doorway to freedom when you see through the illusion. ********************************************************************* 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://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108
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1635: Krishna’s First Words Reveal the Missing Ingredient in Spiritual Practice
In one of the most powerful moments of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, Krishna speaks for the first time—and what He says sheds light on the real aim of yoga, austerity, and spiritual discipline. Raghunath and Kaustubha, joined by Radhanath Swami in the studio, unpack this pivotal teaching: that it’s not the practice alone that transforms us, but the devotion that infuses it. Without bhakti, even the most intense austerity leaves us spiritually unfulfilled. With it, every action becomes divine. Tune in for deep insights into Krishna’s words, reflections on a moving initiation ceremony, and an honest look at what makes spiritual life real, sweet, and powerful. BhaktiYoga #SrimadBhagavatam #KrishnaConsciousness #SpiritualPractice #WisdomOfTheSages SB 10.3.36-49 ********************************************************************* 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://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108
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1634: Austerity + Purpose = Growth: A Yogi’s Formula for Rebooting the Mind
Could the computer of your mind be full of corrupted files? In this fiery and hilarious episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how ancient yogic wisdom offers a practical system for mental clarity and inner growth. Drawing from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and everyday insight, they explain how tapasya (austerity), prāṇāyāma (breath control), and the guidance of a guru work like an antivirus program to restore your true nature. You’ll hear about the dangers of comfort addiction, why meaninglessness thrives in a pleasure-soaked culture, and how purpose + austerity = real growth. And check out the Mahavatar Narsimha film at https://youtu.be/wkOYEhjAXyo?si=kvLrIDWoPwHmoZeP Whether you’re training your breath, resisting temptation, or just trying to stay off the mental junk food, this episode offers a clear, empowering path forward. #BhaktiYoga #Tapasya #SpiritualGrowth #MentalClarity #WisdomOfTheSages #SrimadBhagavatam #YogaForTheMind SB 10.3.32-35 ********************************************************************* 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://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108
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1632: Let It Be, It Ain’t Me: Hendrix, Vedanta & The Fog of War
When the world shakes, can you stay anchored? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how deep spiritual clarity allows one to remain peaceful—even when chaos reigns. Inspired by a lyric from Jimi Hendrix, they explore lessons from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam and the film The Fog of War to reveal how fear collapses when we root our peace in truth. It’s not apathy—it’s clarity. It’s not withdrawal—it’s preparation for wise engagement. Tune in for stories, insights, and unexpected humor on the path to unshakable peace. SB 10.3.23-27 ********************************************************************* 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://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108
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1631: Western Souls, Eastern Roads: The Spiritual Migration to India
Westerners are booking flights to India—not for sightseeing, but to chant Sanskrit mantras in rice fields, live in ashrams, and rise before dawn for kirtan. What’s really going on here? In this eye-opening episode, Raghunath speaks with anthropology PhD student Keli Lalita to explore a growing phenomenon: Westerners adopting spiritual practices rooted in ancient India. A yoga class in Brooklyn often leads to a pilgrimage in Vrindavan—and a deeper search for meaning beyond material life. Together, they unpack the global remix of yoga culture, the anthropology of spiritual longing, and why Bhakti Yoga is drawing seekers from all walks of life. Key Topics Include: • Why yoga retreats can feel more authentic than everyday life • How modern yoga became a cross-cultural conversation • The Hare Krishna movement and its Western embrace • Family, food, and spiritual structure through the lens of anthropology • What people are really seeking when they go to India 🎧 Subscribe now and discover why a growing number of Western seekers are trading their passports for prayer beads. #BhaktiYoga #YogaPilgrimage #AnthropologyOfReligion #EastMeetsWest #SpiritualLonging #WisdomOfTheSages #ModernYoga #KirtanRevolution ********************************************************************* 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://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485 CONNECT ON FACEBOOK: https://facebook.com/wisdomofthesages108
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.