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 servi ...
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1591: What's Good? What's Bad? (And How Our Minds are Lying to Us)
55:27
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55:27Prince Hamlet collides with Śrīmad Bhāgavatam in this mind-bending episode on the illusion of “good and bad.” Raghunath and Kaustubha explore Bhakti Yoga, mental programming, and the transformative power of staying steady amid life’s chaos. They unpack a verse that flips the spiritual script: liberation doesn’t require a cave—it requires clarity. W…
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1590: Dark Corners of Our Cities, Dark Corners of Our Minds
53:50
53:50
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53:50This episode blends sacred aesthetics, urban design, dharmic leadership, and bhakti wisdom into one compelling conversation. A perfect listen for seekers, city dwellers, and anyone wondering why the world feels off—and how to realign it. Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a luminous vision of divine-centered living from the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam—where ele…
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1589: No Hostility in the Heart of a Yogi: It’s a Deal Breaker
57:22
57:22
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57:22Resentment isn’t just a feeling—it’s a spiritual disease? In this power-packed episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha discuss one of Bhakti-yoga’s most liberating teachings: the more we hear about the life and character of Lord Rāma, the more the disease of envy is cleansed from our hearts. This is a real look at the subtle ways hostility creeps into eve…
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1588: Divine Play: The Cosmic Purpose We’re Meant to Remember
59:51
59:51
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59:51In our existence in this world, we carry the burdens of duty, judgment, and anger—and then we project them onto God. But reality? He’s just playing His flute, dancing, and inviting us back into a life of divine play (lila). In today’s Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha reveal a revolutionary truth rooted in the Upanishads, the Vedānta Sūt…
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1587: You Don’t Complete Me: Bhakti Insight on Love & Break-up
52:29
52:29
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52:29It’s said that in the absolute reality, there are varieties of feeling—but all of them are of the same quality of transcendental bliss. How can what looks like heartbreak actually be an entry to the deepest spiritual joy? In today’s episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha examine the profound teachings behind Lord Ram’s separation from Sita, explore why m…
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1586: Finding God in the Morning and Getting Schooled by Your Kids: Interview with Julie Piatt
55:56
55:56
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55:56Why do some of life’s deepest lessons come at 4 a.m.—and others from your own children? Dive into a rich, soulful conversation where Raghunath sits down with Julie Piatt: entrepreneur, artist, and yes, a self-declared “unparentable” rebel yogi. From raising kids as gurus instead of projects, to healing herself with what can only be described as mag…
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1585: Spiritual Insight vs Political Bias | Q&A Volume 272
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55:00Are we interpreting politics through the lens of spiritual teachings - or are we interpreting spiritual teachings through the lens of our politics? How to respond when personal political opinions get imposed upon the spiritual discussions the we go to for enlightenment? In this dynamic Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha res…
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1584: Does the Hunger for Power Disqualify One From Holding It?
55:53
55:53
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55:53What does it means to lead without ego, serve without exploitation, and rule with spiritual detachment? In this episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive into the extraordinary standard set by Lord Ramachandra, whose rule began not with conquest but with renunciation. The conversation also takes a deeper look at the controversial…
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1583: Can You Really Clean a River with a Polluted Mind?
49:57
49:57
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49:57Think a better system will fix everything? In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha encourage us to think again by exploring the idea that until we transform the mind and purify the heart, no political structure will truly work. We chase reforms, write new laws, and elect new leaders, but if we’re not addressing the root within, the same problems r…
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1582: Terminal Diagnosis, Timeless Devotion: A Yogi’s Final Chapter
57:38
57:38
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57:38How do decades of spiritual practice shape your heart when death comes knocking? In this powerful episode, we hear from our longtime friend Yasso who, after forty years of devotion, is now facing terminal illness with stunning clarity and peace. What makes this conversation especially moving is how Yasso’s fearless, attitude of gratitude so closely…
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1581: Rethinking Empowerment: Yoga Wisdom on Commitment vs. Independence
53:54
53:54
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53:54Have you ever wondered whether the modern narrative of empowerment is missing something essential? We live in a world where empowerment is often defined as the independent freedom to do as we please. But in this thought-provoking episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore a radically different idea—drawn from the bhakti-yoga tradition—that deep commi…
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1580: Ravana vs. Hanuman: How to Approach the Divine Feminine & Not Get Smoked
54:01
54:01
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54:01The Ramayana doesn’t just tell an ancient story—it reveals eternal truths. In this episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore one of the most profound contrasts in the epic: how Ravana and Hanuman each approach Sita. What unfolds is not just mythological drama—it’s a powerful spiritual teaching. Sita is the personification of good fortune herself. In…
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1579: Is Spiritual Truth Beyond Words? | Q&A Volume 271
57:52
57:52
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57:52Is trying to understand spiritual truth a futile task? Is it all beyond words and beyond the logical understanding of the human mind? In this Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustubha Das, with guest host Kishori Gopi, takes on one of the deepest questions of spiritual life—whether the ultimate reality can be known, described, or even spoken of…
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1578: Fear of Loss is a Path to the Dark Side
54:31
54:31
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54:31Loss comes for everyone—but the Bhakti yogi faces it not with fear, but with training, trust, and transcendence. In this powerful episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack how the wisdom of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam prepares us for the moments that shake our identity, strip our attachments, and invite us into deeper surrender. From philosophical insight …
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1577: What is My Dharma? / Q&A Volume 270
59:39
59:39
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59:39In this deep-dive Q&A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Kaustuba Das and guest co-host Kishori Gopi explore one of life’s most profound questions: What is my purpose? Drawing from the teachings of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam, the writings of Bhaktivinoda Ṭhākura, and the ancient tradition of Vedānta, they unpack the layered meaning of dharma—from temporary…
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1576: You Can Have a Profound Spiritual Experience, Right Now / Q&A Volume 269
54:42
54:42
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54:42This Q&A episode offers a bold reminder: a deep and transformational spiritual experience isn’t reserved for mystics in the mountains—it’s available to you right now, anywhere. Kaustubha and guest Co-host Kishori Gopi unpack the Bhagavad-gītā’s ancient key to overcoming seasonal depression, emotional heaviness, and the constant ups and downs of mod…
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1575: Please Don’t Feed the Demons: Ramayana & Our Own Hero’s Journey
50:57
50:57
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50:57Every life holds a hidden epic. In this stirring episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha unlock the timeless teachings of the Ramayana and the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam to reveal how Lord Ram’s divine story is far more than mythology—it’s a living guide for our own transformation. Alongside the insights of Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey, the sages explore what …
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1574: How Yogis Train the Mind for the Ultimate Test
57:23
57:23
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57:23“You Won’t Rise to the Occasion—You’ll Default to Your Training”. In this episode we explore how ancient yogic wisdom aligns with the discipline of elite athletes, soldiers, and spiritual seekers. Learn how the mind, when trained in remembrance and devotion, naturally turns toward the Divine—even at the moment of death. This episode is a clarion ca…
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1573: Seeing the Sacred Woven Through Everything
1:00:23
1:00:23
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1:00:23The sacred isn’t far away, or locked away in a temple, a ritual, or some otherworldly realm. The sacred is the invisible thread running through the entire tapestry of life—right here, right now. In this deeply reflective episode, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore the Vedic concept of otam-protam—the warp and weft of reality—revealing how divinity is …
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1572: Should I Stay or Should I Go, Does Bhakti Require Renunciation? / Q & A Volume 268
1:00:07
1:00:07
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1:00:07Can you practice deep spiritual life without walking away from your worldly responsibilities? Or is renunciation—of family, career, and social ties—a necessary cost of devotion? In this essential Q&A edition of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha address one of the most pressing questions for modern spiritual seekers: can the path of bhakt…
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1571: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 2
59:28
59:28
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59:28More than sacred—this is about cosmic justice, karmic cleansing, and the mysterious flow of divine grace. In this provocative conclusion to our two-part deep dive, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack why the Ganges is revered as the purifier of sins and how its sanctity is upheld—not just by myth or ritual, but through the living presence of Krishna and…
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1570: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 1
53:59
53:59
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53:59Can water actually wash away your karma? For thousands of years, pilgrims have journeyed to the Ganges River with unwavering faith that her sacred waters can liberate the soul. But where does that power come from? And why is it believed that even the most sinful acts can be purified through a simple bath in her current? In this episode, Raghunath a…
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1569: Are We Seeking Truth or Emotional Comfort?
54:27
54:27
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54:27Discover how modern psychology’s insights into motivated reasoning and confirmation bias align with ancient yogic teachings on how desire and attachment distort our perception of truth. In this eye-opening episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how both science and the Bhakti tradition describe the mind’s tendency to protec…
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1568: Reality Distorted Through the Lens of Attachment & Aversion
59:09
59:09
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59:09Our perception of truth is rarely objective—it’s colored by what we crave and what we fear. In this eye-opening episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack a powerful quote from Carl Jung: “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.” Paired with deep wisdom from the Śrīmad Bhāgav…
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1567: Growing Through the Dark Night of the Soul / An Interview with Author Simon Haas
1:01:52
1:01:52
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1:01:52Life’s most painful moments often carry the seeds of our deepest transformation. In this powerful episode, author and scholar Simon Haas joins Wisdom of the Sages to illuminate how the Bhagavad Gita frames personal crisis—not as a detour from the spiritual path, but as an integral part of it. Known as Vishad Yoga, the yoga of crisis, this ancient w…
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