756: A Little of the Esoteric Side of Bhakti

Much of modern science, as well as impersonalist Vedānta, drains the universe of relationship—one by reducing consciousness to brain chemistry, the other by dissolving all individuality into a single awareness that fears "the Other." In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.54 to reveal a living, personal cosmos where consciousness, choice, and grace are real. Along the way they tackle the "no free will" debate, revisit C. S. Lewis's vision of a haunted but living world, and show how seeing personhood behind everything restores meaning, ethics, and wonder to our lives. ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join the Gita Collective Whatsapp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAxNYgJuyAJR8SHhy2j

When cramming facts hits a ceiling, yogic practice opens the window. In this conversation, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how Einstein's relativity and Vedic ideas of time echo a truth from the Bhagavad Gītā—that spiritual realization isn't conquered by intellect but received through receptivity. Drawing on the Gītā, the Yoga Sutras, and insights from Terryl Givens, they unpack the yogic disciplines that transform perception: humility, sattva, service, and devotion. The episode bridges science and spirituality to show how the mind studies, but the heart sees. ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************  

Diwali is the perfect moment to upgrade your relationship with desire. In this episode, we contrast the material formula—"if the world gives me what I want, I'll be happy"—with the yogic move to become the observer of desire, calm it with clear knowledge, and outgrow it through devotion. As love deepens, the craving mind quiets and new, service-shaped desires appear. Expect festival-of-lights reflections, Bhakti insights on detachment and fulfillment, a Bob-Dylan-approved reminder that we all serve something, and a few laughs about Raghu's gym heroics and MRI adventures—because even on the path of devotion, humor helps the medicine go down. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.50-51 ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************  

When devotion turns into performance, honesty becomes the new yoga. In this powerful conversation with Jiva G, Raghunath explores how 12-Step recovery principles blend seamlessly with bhakti yoga to heal the heart. Together they unpack spiritual bypassing, codependency, trauma, and the courage to drop the mask. It's raw, funny, and deeply transformative—showing that real bhakti isn't about perfection, it's about honesty, humility, and doing the inner work that makes love real. ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************

Do I Have Glowworms Living in My Heart? / Idols Stop Dazzling as Devotion Dawns When the real sun of devotion rises, all the little stars we once worshiped start to look dim. Drawing from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how Brahmā's cosmic humbling reveals a truth we all face: the glowworms of worldly admiration can't compete with divine light. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.45-50 ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************

When we try to "fix" life, sometimes it only breaks further. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha examine how our material solutions—cars, technology, medicine—can backfire when they stem from the impulse to control, not harmonize. Through the lens of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.13.44, Tagore's warning, and a margarine ad that tried to fool Mother Nature, this discussion reveals how true wisdom isn't about domination—it's about surrender, humility, and learning to live in harmony. What you'll take away: * Why control breeds chaos and how we get stuck in whack-a-mole fixes * The folly of "doing better than nature" — margarine vs. butter * Newton's insight: explanation is not origin * The meaning of sattva (contentment) vs. rajas (complication) * How Viṣṇu's all-pervading nature humbles our intellect * Observing the small (even just chickens) to glimpse the cosmos * Practical suggestions for aligning with nature instead of conquering it 🔔 Subscribe now for daily spiritual insights and stay tuned for more explorations on Bhakti, wisdom, and the art of living. Srimad Bhagavatam 10.13.44 ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************

The Answer Is Always Love: Understanding Krishna's Ways / Q&A Vol. 286 Bhakti doesn't grow on demand—it unfolds like nature itself: slowly, wisely, beautifully. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the sacred rhythm of spiritual growth through enthusiasm, determination, and patience—the gardener's trinity of devotion. Along the way, they share how wisdom means learning how things grow, and how every confusing or paradoxical Krishna pastime ultimately resolves with one universal key: love. Key Highlights * The bhakti formula: enthusiasm, determination, and patience—the secret to spiritual maturity * Wisdom in waiting: why growth takes time and why rushing ruins devotion * When Krishna's actions confuse you—remember, the answer is always love * Change hearts through joy, not judgment—why inner happiness preaches louder than words And yes—this one ends with a blind maple syrup taste test. Sweet lessons in every sense. ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************  

You Can't Hurry Love: How Bhakti Matures It's easy to look spiritual — chant loud, dress the part, quote Sanskrit — but bhakti gets real when one starts perceiving divinity everywhere, in everyone. In this live Wisdom of the Sages retreat Q&A, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how beginner bhakti matures into genuine love — the kind that sees God in every heart and responds with compassion. Episode Highlights: * "Ego is the glass in the soup of our joy" — why even a small shard ruins the whole pot * You can't hurry love: why bhakti grows slow, like a vine * From neophyte to mature devotee — learning to see Krishna in everyone * Preaching without pretense: why sharing joy beats proving philosophy * The charity trap — what King Nṛga's story teaches about giving wisely ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************

Ever wonder if that "inner voice" you hear during prayer is God in your heart—or just your mind doing impressions again? In this live Q&A from Super Soul Farm, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into two powerful questions: 1️⃣ How to discern whether inspiration comes from the Supersoul (Paramātmā) or from the restless mind and ego. 2️⃣ What truly distinguishes Patañjali's Yoga Sūtras from Bhakti Yoga—the difference between liberation (kaivalya) and divine love (prema). Through stories, laughter, and verses from the Bhagavad-gītā and Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, they map out how to pray for clear guidance, wait with faith, and let Krishna recalibrate your inner GPS. ********************************************************************* 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 *********************************************************************

She boarded a flight to India to learn how to die—and found the wisdom to live. Laurel's journey—from childhood loss and addiction to a stage-4 cancer diagnosis—collides with Bhakti-yoga, kīrtan, and the Bhagavad-gītā at the Govardhan Ecovillage, reframing suffering through devotion and community. With Raghunath and Kaustubha, this episode traces the shift from victimhood to spiritual agency: simple practices, steady philosophy, and a flower-festival moment that changes everything. Key Highlights * "I came to die, but I learned to live." * Raghu bans pity (but allows chapati—not Chowpatty). * Dog therapy for the soul: Who rescued who? * The sliding-tables cruise ship: how to find steadiness when life tilts. * Kīrtan at 5 a.m., a highway near-miss, and the taste of grace. * From validation-seeking to service and sādhana. * "Maintenance meds" vs. maintenance of the heart. * How the Bhāgavatam reframes impermanence and the "why me?" loop. Bhakti Yoga, Kirtan, Bhagavad Gita, Srimad Bhagavatam, Govardhan Ecovillage, Radhanath Swami, Spiritual Transformation, Addiction Recovery, Cancer Journey, Yoga Philosophy, Wisdom of the Sages Subscribe for daily wisdom and join thousands on the transformative path of Bhakti. ********************************************************************* 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 ********************************************************************* Join 2025 Kartik Algorithm here: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOUR66ik34T49YWn4y9QsU