

Wisdom of the Sages
Raghunath Cappo & Kaustubha Das
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.
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

May 3, 2022 • 56min
721: Krishna, I am Yours
the material world is pruning everything away - you can get bitter or grow / I had to experience despair in order to experience grace / humility is the conduit for grace / sharing Bhagavatam pleases the great devotees / foreshadowing of Prithu's pastimes / anything started on this day will grow without diminishing / start something auspicious today / Vaishnavas spiritualize everything / the day we say "Krishna, I am Yours!" is the day the magic begins SB 4.23-27

May 2, 2022 • 57min
720: Does Absolute Power Corrupt Absolutely?
allowing one's mind & heart to be shaped by the stories of the Bhakti tradition / a tsunami of Bhakti inundates NY / the beauty of kirtan masters inspiring devotion / government has both liberal & conservatives concerns / does absolute power corrupt absolutely? / when there's no trust, there's a need for transparency / government can't play favorites / the common portrayals of the relationship between rulers and sages / the ruler should be a philosopher / respect for women / the King's duty is to inspire piety for he bears the karma of the people 4.16.9-22

Apr 30, 2022 • 54min
719: Q & A - Volume 105
Raghunath & Kaustubha answer questions about mantra meditation. Is there a way I can clear my mind before chanting? / Is it considered disrespectful to not keep your beads in a bag when you chant? / Is chanting while multi-tasking disrespectful? / Is it OK to silently chant the mantra? / Is it acceptable to chant while practicing yoga asana?

Apr 29, 2022 • 59min
718: Breathing Thoughts of Unity
wisdom is ripened knowledge / you can give knowledge but you can't give wisdom / daily sadhana cuts away ego, fear, anger, arrogance & resentment / seeing value in both liberal & conservative viewpoints / the trainings of sages is the safeguard against tyranny / the greatest burden on Mother Earth is a liar / I'll lose my own happiness if I don't learn tolerance / I'll compromise my own well being if I'm not kind / no one gets a pass on forgiveness / the ornaments of a sadhu / sacred texts are our GPS SB 4.16.6-8

Apr 28, 2022 • 48min
717: Walking Holy Places

Apr 27, 2022 • 51min
716: Cigars, Prostitutes & an Old Lady Climbing on a Sannyasi
wedding excitement! / Kaustubha's apology / my spiritual director said it's ok if I pray while I smoke / spiritual regulations are prescribed differently to different people / renunciation isn't the goal of spirituality - devotion is / arrogance is a greater sin than weakness / humility is fertile ground for spiritual growth / wisdom has to do with understanding how things grow / better to be with a prostitute thinking of God, than in the church thinking about a prostitute / the old lady who climbed on the Sannyasi

Apr 26, 2022 • 56min
715: Echoes of the Upanishads in Modern Science
"we do not belong to the material world that science constructs for us" Schrodinger / quantum physics = science catching up to the past / modern science finds echoes of it's theories in the Upanishads / one can use hallucinogens to expand perspective, or one can read Bhagavatam / what am I not perceiving? / why do I scoff at perception beyond my imagination? / deep down we know we are all tiny specks / the taste for being glorified vs the taste for glorifying others / guru, sadhu & shastra / the yogi controls body, words & mind / what if we filtered out all of speech that had no value? / the Bhagavad-gita's austerity of speech SB 4.16.1-5

Apr 24, 2022 • 58min
714: Q & A - Volume 104
How do you know when to take charge or when to let go? / How can we understand and appreciate Christ's sacrifice on the cross from a Bhakti perspective? / What can we really do to stop the mind from suffering issues of self esteem? / Is it wrong to cut ties with family who were never really there to begin with?

Apr 22, 2022 • 59min
713: Catching Up to the Past
what you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others / the depth of our spirituality is shown through our relationship with others / a sincere broadminded person should be able to suspend their skepticism / science requires objectivity and admitting what you don't know / whatever good qualities we possess have been gifted to us by others / bowing the body to the parents & the mind to the teachers SB 4.15.1-26

Apr 20, 2022 • 58min
712: Our Common Connection to the Root
2 formulas - work for material prosperity vs cultivate spiritual principles / reluctantly, the sages enthrone Vena / arrogant Vena outlaws dharma / it's our common connection to the root that connects us to each other / the sages kill Vena with sound / the sages churn the body of Vena SB 4.14.1-46


