Podcasts about ganges river

Major river in southern Asia

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Best podcasts about ganges river

Latest podcast episodes about ganges river

Selah - A Podcast by Koinonia Fellowship
Rivers of Living Water

Selah - A Podcast by Koinonia Fellowship

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2026 51:42


Every river has its headwaters. The Ganges River has the Gangotri Glacier, the Amazon River has the melting snow of the Andes mountains, and the Mississippi River has Lake Itasca. These great rivers need their source. Without it, there is no river. It is Lake Victoria and the Ethiopian highlands that eventually converge to form the world's largest river - the Nile. Take away the headwaters, and you take away the river. Take away the Nile, and you have a barren, uninhabitable wasteland. We are that wasteland. As mere men, we are uninhabitable to any spiritual life because no living water is naturally found in our land. If there is to be any life in us, we must find headwaters - living head waters. There, at the source, it is remarkable how only a single small trickle can quickly accumulate into a raging river. Christ is that singular source. And he bids all the spiritually barren men and women to come to him and drink. One sip of Christ is more than enough to put the Nile to shame. Not only will it nourish the land of our souls entirely, but it will flow out from our souls to others.Koinonia FellowshipSundays at 8:30a and 10:30a500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445koinoniafellowship.com

Best Of Neurosummit
Best of The Aware Show with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati: Come Home to Yourself Part 2

Best Of Neurosummit

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 33:24


How do we break out of self-sabotage? Would you like to be happier? The mind is biologically programmed to be negative. Lisa continues the conversation today with renunciate monk and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. Sadhvi has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, for the past 30 years. Originally from Los Angeles, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Sadhvi explains how we are the offspring of people who know they need to survive. Our ancestors needed to assume the worst, in order to survive. We have evolved this way. And, we know that we can now change. We can reprogram our minds. Sadhvi suggests using a mantra. It doesn't have to be in Sanskrit. It's anything that can bring you into the present moment and out of negativity. We can reason with our minds, and sometimes we need to face the negativity, but more often we can delete and end the cycle of negativity. "OM" is a very common mantra. It's very powerful. Chanting also helps. This stops the mind. She gives examples of many different mantras and prayers. The sounds help the brain go into a state of coherence. She also talks about attending the Maha Kumbh Mela where more than 670 million people came to the Ganges river recently to attend at the largest gathering in the history of the world. The Maha Kumbh Mela means the great festival of the nectar of immortality. It took place on the confluence of the banks of 3 great rivers in India.  There was no conflict, no violence; it was just people coming together in love and peace. She further discusses the astrology of the moment, especially the full moons. Vedic astrology predicts that this particular planetary alignment happens only once every 144 years. With hundreds of millions of people attending the gathering, this shows that people are suffering and looking for answers. People are angry. People are frustrated. People are searching for answers. This was a way to break out of constraints and experience freedom. When asked about anger, she expressed that there are some reasons to be angry including poverty, hunger, loss of human rights, and so much more. Yet, when we are angry, we are called to be agents of change, but first we must find peace within ourselves so we can then help others. She offers breathing exercises with specific energy centers and anchoring. Whether it's other people's action, or even the weather, we shouldn't have expectations that things will be different. We cannot control others. We must bring light to the darkness, but not from a place of anger. She notes Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Gandhi and how they were angry but came from a place of peace to make change.   Sadhvi is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service, and she serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion. She talks further about her new book "Come Home to Yourself" and discusses how forgiveness is the key to help us reach deeper spiritual truths. It's an invitation to come home to freedom. Info: www.sadhviji.org

Best Of Neurosummit
Best of The Aware Show with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati: Come Home to Yourself Part 1

Best Of Neurosummit

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2026 31:37


Do you live in anger and fear? Would you like to be more relaxed and peaceful? Today Lisa talks with renunciate monk and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati and her story of healing. Sadhvi has lived on the banks sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, for the past 30 years. Originally from Los Angeles, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Seemingly having it all, she realized at the young age of 25, that she was not happy. Although she excelled academically, she felt restless and was always wanting more. She had overcome childhood traumas, abuse, a severe eating disorder, and depression. She knew there must be another way. Upon arriving in India, she had an unexpected and profound spiritual experience. She only went to India because her husband wanted to go. She left with only a backpack, thinking this would be a semester break. Suddenly, while standing on the banks of the Ganges River, she was overwhelmed with ecstasy. Several days later she randomly walked past a beautiful, clean ashram. It felt like an oasis to her. She was walking through it and heard a voice say, "You must stay here." She didn't see anyone, and she was a scientist, so of course she ignored it. One minute later, she heard the voice again, and still didn't see anyone. She was just about to ignore it again, when she remembered she made a promise to herself while on the flight to India. She asked herself to "keep her heart open." The fact she was in India made no sense to her. She was not religious, and she was not spiritual, yet she always believed there would be a plan. This felt perfect and she knew this must somehow be aligned. Sadvhi further shares her story about realizing that things were planned. Being a scientist, she does not believe in random events. Although she still believes in science, she was open to possibilities. She knew that if she didn't want to stay in India, it would be very easy for her to return to the US. She ended up staying at the ashram and working with the spiritual teacher there. The ashram is dedicated to self-realization and awakening for all. The devotees there believe in the betterment of all and help to provide food for the hungry, empower women, and offer free medical care, as well as a spiritual path for anyone who is interested. They have yoga programs, philosophy programs, sacred ceremonies, all taught by example from the guru there. They focus on love and compassion for all. Sadhvi is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service, and she serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion. Sadhvi's latest book is "Come Home to Yourself." This book is the edited version of the Q&A sessions that she teaches each night in the ashram. She is a vessel for wisdom to pour through her. She feels that the gift she was given was to come home to the truth. She wants to offer these powerful teachings as a way for each person to find the truth within themselves. We all have the answers within. We may just need to be reminded that we can end our suffering by coming home to ourselves. We don't need to constantly be taught; we just need to be guided back into ourselves to find the truth.  Info: www.sadhviji.org

The Generative AI Meetup Podcast
Local AI Models Are Here, Mythos Rumors, and Building an AI Agent Company

The Generative AI Meetup Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 69:29 Transcription Available


In this episode, recorded across two continents with   Mark in Fukuoka, Japan and Shashank by the Ganges River in   Rishikesh, India, the hosts dive into the rapidly evolving AI   landscape. They explore how ChatGPT has reached mass adoption even   among yoga practitioners and Ayurvedic doctors in India, discuss   the newly released Gemma 4 and its surprising quality as a local   model, debate the rumors around Anthropic's powerful Mythos model,   and examine the recent Axios npm supply chain attack. Most notably,    Mark shares his experience building a largely autonomous software   development workflow using AI coding agents and Playwright MCP —   burning through $350/month in AI subscriptions but achieving the   output of a 50-person engineering team. They discuss the future of   AI agent-driven companies and why human taste still matters in   product design.

Highest Self Podcast®
647: She Left Everything And Became A Monk In India- Here's What She Has To Share With Us with Sadhvi Saraswati

Highest Self Podcast®

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2026 79:37


I met Sadhvi Saraswati at Mindvalley in Amsterdam this summer and I knew I had to bring her on the podcast. She grew up in Hollywood, went to Stanford, was in the middle of a PhD program and then one moment on the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh changed everything. She never went back.   Now she is the co-founder of the Ganga Aarti, the largest daily spiritual ritual on the sacred Ganges River, she speaks at the UN about women's rights and spirituality, and she is one of the most grounded and luminous teachers I have ever sat with.   This conversation went everywhere. From what Sanatana Dharma actually is and why it is for all of us, to cultural appropriation, to the very real and very personal question of how do we keep our hearts open to sacred love in a world that feels so hard to love in right now.   In this episode we explore:

John Edmonds Kozma's Unimpressed Podcast
She Was Baptized by Her Dead Guru in the Ganges River | Vonetta Rain

John Edmonds Kozma's Unimpressed Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2026 57:49


Vonetta Rain is a mystic, healer, mother, and cultural visionary who connects ancient wisdom with modern leadership. A graduate of Cornell University in Cultural Anthropology, her spiritual awakening started at sixteen with a prophetic dream that sparked a lifelong dedication to truth and transformation.From fieldwork in Kenya to initiations in Kriya Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism, Amazonian Shamanism, and Tantric Feminine Leadership, Vonetta has walked a path rooted in deep spiritual exploration. She founded a Mystery School in 2015, providing soul-centered mentorship and initiatory trainings for seekers of divine embodiment and sacred leadership.Before she answered her calling to healing, Vonetta rose to prominence in the design world as a self-taught artist, earning an Emmy and multiple industry awards for her creative work on campaigns for the Super Bowl, Olympics, and Fortune 500 brands. Yet, her soul yearned for more.Since 2012, she has led over 800 retreats worldwide, helping thousands—including CEOs, doctors, therapists, and creatives—transform trauma into joy and purpose. Her teachings blend stillness, plant medicine, energy mastery, and sacred ritual to awaken inner wisdom.She is the co-founder of The New Dawn Institute for Peace and Harmony and author of The Shaman's Apprentice: A Memoir, a luminous testament to healing, freedom, and planetary unity.Unlocking Humanity with Ancient Knowledge Hosted by John Edmonds Kozma Unimpressed Podcast offers a groundbreaking look into consciousness, ancient wisdom, and the nonconscious aspects of humanity via the Quantum Field. Hosted by John Edmonds Kozma, CEO of Bang Productions and a seasoned entertainment industry veteran with extensive experience, each episode delves deeper than typical discussions to reveal profound insights about reality, spirituality, and human potential. He has been likened to Albert Einstein for his innovative reasoning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Recovery Vow
My Addiction Was "Doing": Escaping Burnout & Finding Stillness | Recovery Vow Podcast

Recovery Vow

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 50:44


In this thought-provoking episode of The Recovery Vow Podcast, Eric sits down with Jeff Burningham, an entrepreneur who built billion-dollar companies and ran for Governor of Utah, only to realize his greatest struggle wasn't failure—it was an addiction to "doing." Jeff opens up about climbing the mountain of success only to find a "cold, howling wind" at the top. He shares the profound realization he had on the banks of the Ganges River regarding life and death, and how that led him to write his national bestselling book, The Last Book Written by a Human. Together, they discuss the rise of AI as a "cosmic mirror" for humanity, why we numb ourselves with achievement and technology, and why the simple act of sitting in stillness is the most radical tool for healing we have. This conversation is a wake-up call to stop "human doing" and start "human being." On This Episode: • The "addiction to doing" and the emptiness of outer achievement • The Ganges River moment: Seeing life, death, and rebirth simultaneously • Why AI is a "cosmic mirror" that forces us to look at ourselves • Meditation: Why sitting still is terrifying but necessary • How to find "flow states" in nature to heal the brain • Why "Heaven is Now" and the importance of the present moment Connect with Jeff Burningham:  Book: The Last Book Written by a Human  Website: jeffburningham.com Connect with us:  Socials: @RecoveryVow  Website: recoveryvow.com  Email: recoveryvow@gmail.com New episodes each Monday! Top ways to support this podcast: 

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn

The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 94:08


What if the most transformative thing you can do for your writing craft and author business is to face what you fear? How can you can find gold in your Shadow in the year ahead? In this episode, I share chapters from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words. In the intro, curated book boxes from Bridgerton's Julia Quinn; Google's agentic shopping, and powering Apple's Siri; ChatGPT Ads; and Claude CoWork. Balancing Certainty and Uncertainty [MoonShots with Tony Robbins]; and three trends for authors with me and Orna Ross [Self-Publishing with ALLi Podcast]; plus, Bones of the Deep, Business for Authors, and Indie Author Lab. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn writes non-fiction for authors and is an award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, and memoir as J.F. Penn. She's also an award-winning podcaster, creative entrepreneur, and international professional speaker. What is the Shadow? The ‘creative wound' and the Shadow in writing The Shadow in traditional publishing The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author The Shadow in work The Shadow in money You can find Writing the Shadow in all formats on all stores, as well as special edition, workbook and bundles at www.TheCreativePenn.com/shadowbook Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words The following chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn. Introduction. What is the Shadow? “How can I be substantial if I do not cast a shadow? I must have a dark side also if I am to be whole.” —C.G. Jung, Modern Man in Search of a Soul We all have a Shadow side and it is the work of a lifetime to recognise what lies within and spin that base material into gold. Think of it as a seedling in a little pot that you're given when you're young. It's a bit misshapen and weird, not something you would display in your living room, so you place it in a dark corner of the basement. You don't look at it for years. You almost forget about it. Then one day you notice tendrils of something wild poking up through the floorboards. They're ugly and don't fit with your Scandi-minimalist interior design. You chop the tendrils away and pour weedkiller on what's left, trying to hide the fact that they were ever there. But the creeping stems keep coming. At some point, you know you have to go down there and face the wild thing your seedling has become. When you eventually pluck up enough courage to go down into the basement, you discover that the plant has wound its roots deep into the foundations of your home. Its vines weave in and out of the cracks in the walls, and it has beautiful flowers and strange fruit. It holds your world together. Perhaps you don't need to destroy the wild tendrils. Perhaps you can let them wind up into the light and allow their rich beauty to weave through your home. It will change the look you have so carefully cultivated, but maybe that's just what the place needs. The Shadow in psychology Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychologist and the founder of analytical psychology. He described the Shadow as an unconscious aspect of the human personality, those parts of us that don't match up to what is expected of us by family and society, or to our own ideals. The Shadow is not necessarily evil or illegal or immoral, although of course it can be. It's also not necessarily caused by trauma, abuse, or any other severely damaging event, although again, it can be. It depends on the individual. What is in your Shadow is based on your life and your experiences, as well as your culture and society, so it will be different for everyone. Psychologist Connie Zweig, in The Inner Work of Age, explains, “The Shadow is that part of us that lies beneath or behind the light of awareness. It contains our rejected, unacceptable traits and feelings. It contains our hidden gifts and talents that have remained unexpressed or unlived. As Jung put it, the essence of the Shadow is pure gold.” To further illustrate the concept, Robert Bly, in A Little Book on the Human Shadow,uses the following metaphor: “When we are young, we carry behind us an invisible bag, into which we stuff any feelings, thoughts, or behaviours that bring disapproval or loss of love—anger, tears, neediness, laziness. By the time we go to school, our bags are already a mile long. In high school, our peer groups pressure us to stuff the bags with even more—individuality, sexuality, spontaneity, different opinions. We spend our life until we're twenty deciding which parts of ourselves to put into the bag and we spend the rest of our lives trying to get them out again.” As authors, we can use what's in the ‘bag' to enrich our writing — but only if we can access it. My intention with this book is to help you venture into your Shadow and bring some of what's hidden into the light and into your words. I'll reveal aspects of my Shadow in these pages but ultimately, this book is about you. Your Shadow is unique. There may be elements we share, but much will be different. Each chapter has questions for you to consider that may help you explore at least the edges of your Shadow, but it's not easy. As Jung said, “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” But take heart, Creative. You don't need courage when things are easy. You need it when you know what you face will be difficult, but you do it anyway. We are authors. We know how to do hard things. We turn ideas into books. We manifest thoughts into ink on paper. We change lives with our writing. First, our own, then other people's. It's worth the effort to delve into Shadow, so I hope you will join me on the journey. The creative wound and the Shadow in writing “Whatever pain you can't get rid of, make it your creative offering.” —Susan Cain, Bittersweet  The more we long for something, the more extreme our desire, the more likely it is to have a Shadow side. For those of us who love books, the author life may well be a long-held dream and thus, it is filled with Shadow. Books have long been objects of desire, power, and authority. They hold a mythic status in our lives. We escaped into stories as children; we studied books at school and college; we read them now for escape and entertainment, education and inspiration. We collect beautiful books to put on our shelves. We go to them for solace and answers to the deepest questions of life. Writers are similarly held in high esteem. They shape culture, win literary prizes, give important speeches, and are quoted in the mainstream media. Their books are on the shelves in libraries and bookstores. Writers are revered, held up as rare, talented creatures made separate from us by their brilliance and insight. For bibliophile children, books were everything and to write one was a cherished dream. To become an author? Well, that would mean we might be someone special, someone worthy. Perhaps when you were young, you thought the dream of being a writer was possible — then you told someone about it. That's probably when you heard the first criticism of such a ridiculous idea, the first laughter, the first dismissal. So you abandoned the dream, pushed the idea of being a writer into the Shadow, and got on with your life. Or if it wasn't then, it came later, when you actually put pen to paper and someone — a parent, teacher, partner, or friend, perhaps even a literary agent or publisher, someone whose opinion you valued — told you it was worthless. Here are some things you might have heard: Writing is a hobby. Get a real job. You're not good enough. You don't have any writing talent. You don't have enough education. You don't know what you're doing. Your writing is derivative / unoriginal / boring / useless / doesn't make sense. The genre you write in is dead / worthless / unacceptable / morally wrong / frivolous / useless.  Who do you think you are? No one would want to read what you write. You can't even use proper grammar, so how could you write a whole book? You're wasting your time. You'll never make it as a writer. You shouldn't write those things (or even think about those things). Why don't you write something nice? Insert other derogatory comment here! Mark Pierce describes the effect of this experience in his book The Creative Wound, which “occurs when an event, or someone's actions or words, pierce you, causing a kind of rift in your soul. A comment—even offhand and unintentional—is enough to cause one.” He goes on to say that such words can inflict “damage to the core of who we are as creators. It is an attack on our artistic identity, resulting in us believing that whatever we make is somehow tainted or invalid, because shame has convinced us there is something intrinsically tainted or invalid about ourselves.” As adults, we might brush off such wounds, belittling them as unimportant in the grand scheme of things. We might even find ourselves saying the same words to other people. After all, it's easier to criticise than to create. But if you picture your younger self, bright eyed as you lose yourself in your favourite book, perhaps you might catch a glimpse of what you longed for before your dreams were dashed on the rocks of other people's reality. As Mark Pierce goes on to say, “A Creative Wound has the power to delay our pursuits—sometimes for years—and it can even derail our lives completely… Anything that makes us feel ashamed of ourselves or our work can render us incapable of the self-expression we yearn for.” This is certainly what happened to me, and it took decades to unwind. Your creative wounds will differ to mine but perhaps my experience will help you explore your own. To be clear, your Shadow may not reside in elements of horror as mine do, but hopefully you can use my example to consider where your creative wounds might lie. “You shouldn't write things like that.” It happened at secondary school around 1986 or 1987, so I would have been around eleven or twelve years old. English was one of my favourite subjects and the room we had our lessons in looked out onto a vibrant garden. I loved going to that class because it was all about books, and they were always my favourite things. One day, we were asked to write a story. I can't remember the specifics of what the teacher asked us to write, but I fictionalised a recurring nightmare. I stood in a dark room. On one side, my mum and my brother, Rod, were tied up next to a cauldron of boiling oil, ready to be thrown in. On the other side, my dad and my little sister, Lucy, were threatened with decapitation by men with machetes. I had to choose who would die. I always woke up, my heart pounding, before I had to choose. Looking back now, it clearly represented an internal conflict about having to pick sides between the two halves of my family. Not an unexpected issue from a child of divorce. Perhaps these days, I might have been sent to the school counsellor, but it was the eighties and I don't think we even had such a thing. Even so, the meaning of the story isn't the point. It was the reaction to it that left scars. “You shouldn't write things like that,” my teacher said, and I still remember her look of disappointment, even disgust. Certainly judgment. She said my writing was too dark. It wasn't a proper story. It wasn't appropriate for the class. As if horrible things never happened in stories — or in life. As if literature could not include dark tales. As if the only acceptable writing was the kind she approved of. We were taught The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie that year, which says a lot about the type of writing considered appropriate. Or perhaps the issue stemmed from the school motto, “So hateth she derknesse,” from Chaucer's The Legend of Good Women: “For fear of night, so she hates the darkness.” I had won a scholarship to a private girls' school, and their mission was to turn us all into proper young ladies. Horror was never on the curriculum. Perhaps if my teacher had encouraged me to write my darkness back then, my nightmares would have dissolved on the page. Perhaps if we had studied Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or H.P. Lovecraft stories, or Bram Stoker's Dracula, I could have embraced the darker side of literature earlier in my life. My need to push darker thoughts into my Shadow was compounded by my (wonderful) mum's best intentions. We were brought up on the principles of The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale and she tried to shield me and my brother from anything harmful or horrible. We weren't allowed to watch TV much, and even the British school drama Grange Hill was deemed inappropriate. So much of what I've achieved is because my mum instilled in me a “can do” attitude that anything is possible. I'm so grateful to her for that. (I love you, Mum!) But all that happy positivity, my desire to please her, to be a good girl, to make my teachers proud, and to be acceptable to society, meant that I pushed my darker thoughts into Shadow. They were inappropriate. They were taboo. They must be repressed, kept secret, and I must be outwardly happy and positive at all times. You cannot hold back the darkness “The night is dark and full of terrors.” —George R.R. Martin, A Storm of Swords It turned out that horror was on the curriculum, much of it in the form of educational films we watched during lessons. In English Literature, we watched Romeo drink poison and Juliet stab herself in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet. In Religious Studies, we watched Jesus beaten, tortured, and crucified in The Greatest Story Ever Told, and learned of the variety of gruesome ways that Christian saints were martyred. In Classical Civilisation, we watched gladiators slaughter each other in Spartacus. In Sex Education at the peak of the AIDS crisis in the mid-'80s, we were told of the many ways we could get infected and die. In History, we studied the Holocaust with images of skeletal bodies thrown into mass graves, medical experiments on humans, and grainy videos of marching soldiers giving the Nazi salute. One of my first overseas school field trips was to the World War I battlegrounds of Flanders Fields in Belgium, where we studied the inhuman conditions of the trenches, walked through mass graves, and read war poetry by candlelight. As John McCrae wrote: We are the Dead. Short days agoWe lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders fields. Did the teachers not realise how deeply a sensitive teenager might feel the darkness of that place? Or have I always been unusual in that places of blood echo deep inside me? And the horrors kept coming. We lived in Bristol, England back then and I learned at school how the city had been part of the slave trade, its wealth built on the backs of people stolen from their homes, sold, and worked to death in the colonies. I had been at school for a year in Malawi, Africa and imagined the Black people I knew drowning, being beaten, and dying on those ships. In my teenage years, the news was filled with ethnic cleansing, mass rape, and massacres during the Balkan wars, and images of bodies hacked apart during the Rwandan genocide. Evil committed by humans against other humans was not a historical aberration. I'm lucky and I certainly acknowledge my privilege. Nothing terrible or horrifying has happened to me — but bad things certainly happen to others. I wasn't bullied or abused. I wasn't raped or beaten or tortured. But you don't have to go through things to be afraid of them, and for your imagination to conjure the possibility of them. My mum doesn't read my fiction now as it gives her nightmares (Sorry, Mum!). I know she worries that somehow she's responsible for my darkness, but I've had a safe and (mostly) happy life, for which I'm truly grateful. But the world is not an entirely safe and happy place, and for a sensitive child with a vivid imagination, the world is dark and scary. It can be brutal and violent, and bad things happen, even to good people. No parent can shield their child from the reality of the world. They can only help them do their best to live in it, develop resilience, and find ways to deal with whatever comes. Story has always been a way that humans have used to learn how to live and deal with difficult times. The best authors, the ones that readers adore and can't get enough of, write their darkness into story to channel their experience, and help others who fear the same. In an interview on writing the Shadow on The Creative Penn Podcast, Michaelbrent Collings shared how he incorporated a personally devastating experience into his writing:  “My wife and I lost a child years back, and that became the root of one of my most terrifying books, Apparition. It's not terrifying because it's the greatest book of all time, but just the concept that there's this thing out there… like a demon, and it consumes the blood and fear of the children, and then it withdraws and consumes the madness of the parents… I wrote that in large measure as a way of working through what I was experiencing.” I've learned much from Michaelbrent. I've read many of his (excellent) books and he's been on my podcast multiple times talking about his depression and mental health issues, as well as difficulties in his author career. Writing darkness is not in Michaelbrent's Shadow and only he can say what lies there for him. But from his example, and from that of other authors, I too learned how to write my Shadow into my books. Twenty-three years after that English lesson, in November 2009, I did NaNoWriMo, National Novel Writing Month, and wrote five thousand words of what eventually became Stone of Fire, my first novel. In the initial chapter, I burned a nun alive on the ghats of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River. I had watched the bodies burn by night on pyres from a boat bobbing in the current a few years before, and the image was still crystal clear in my mind. The only way to deal with how it made me feel about death was to write about it — and since then, I've never stopped writing. Returning to the nightmare from my school days, I've never had to choose between the two halves of my family, but the threat of losing them remains a theme in my fiction. In my ARKANE thriller series, Morgan Sierra will do anything to save her sister and her niece. Their safety drives her to continue to fight against evil. Our deepest fears emerge in our writing, and that's the safest place for them. I wish I'd been taught how to turn my nightmares into words back at school, but at least now I've learned to write my Shadow onto the page. I wish the same for you. The Shadow in traditional publishing If becoming an author is your dream, then publishing a book is deeply entwined with that. But as Mark Pierce says in The Creative Wound, “We feel pain the most where it matters the most… Desire highlights whatever we consider to be truly significant.” There is a lot of desire around publishing for those of us who love books! It can give you: Validation that your writing is good enough Status and credibility Acceptance by an industry held in esteem  The potential of financial reward and critical acclaim Support from a team of professionals who know how to make fantastic books A sense of belonging to an elite community Pride in achieving a long-held goal, resulting in a confidence boost and self-esteem Although not guaranteed, traditional publishing can give you all these things and more, but as with everything, there is a potential Shadow side. Denying it risks the potential of being disillusioned, disappointed, and even damaged. But remember, forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes. Preparation can help you avoid potential issues and help you feel less alone if you encounter them. The myth of success… and the reality of experience There is a pervasive myth of success in the traditional publishing industry, perpetuated by media reporting on brand name and breakout authors, those few outliers whose experience is almost impossible to replicate. Because of such examples, many new traditionally published authors think that their first book will hit the top of the bestseller charts or win an award, as well as make them a million dollars — or at least a big chunk of cash. They will be able to leave their job, write in a beautiful house overlooking the ocean, and swan around the world attending conferences, while writing more bestselling books. It will be a charmed life. But that is not the reality. Perhaps it never was. Even so, the life of a traditionally published author represents a mythic career with the truth hidden behind a veil of obscurity. In April 2023, The Bookseller in the UK reported that “more than half of authors (54%) responding to a survey on their experiences of publishing their debut book have said the process negatively affected their mental health. Though views were mixed, just 22%… described a positive experience overall… Among the majority who said they had a negative experience of debut publication, anxiety, stress, depression and ‘lowered' self-esteem were cited, with lack of support, guidance or clear and professional communication from their publisher among the factors that contributed.” Many authors who have negative experiences around publishing will push them into the Shadow with denial or self-blame, preferring to keep the dream alive. They won't talk about things in public as this may negatively affect their careers, but private discussions are often held in the corners of writing conferences or social media groups online. Some of the issues are as follows: Repeated rejection by agents and publishers may lead to the author thinking they are not good enough as a writer, which can lead to feeling unworthy as a person. If an author gets a deal, the amount of advance and the name and status of the publisher compared to others create a hierarchy that impacts self-esteem. A deal for a book may be much lower than an author might have been expecting, with low or no advance, and the resulting experience with the publisher beneath expectations. The launch process may be disappointing, and the book may appear without fanfare, with few sales and no bestseller chart position. In The Bookseller report, one author described her launch day as “a total wasteland… You have expectations about what publication day will be like, but in reality, nothing really happens.” The book may receive negative reviews by critics or readers or more publicly on social media, which can make an author feel attacked. The book might not sell as well as expected, and the author may feel like it's their fault. Commercial success can sometimes feel tied to self-worth and an author can't help but compare their sales to others, with resulting embarrassment or shame. The communication from the publisher may be less than expected. One author in The Bookseller report said, “I was shocked by the lack of clarity and shared information and the cynicism that underlies the superficial charm of this industry.” There is often more of a focus on debut authors in publishing houses, so those who have been writing and publishing in the midlist for years can feel ignored and undervalued. In The Bookseller report, 48 percent of authors reported “their publisher supported them for less than a year,” with one saying, “I got no support and felt like a commodity, like the team had moved on completely to the next book.” If an author is not successful enough, the next deal may be lower than the last, less effort is made with marketing, and they may be let go. In The Bookseller report, “six authors—debut and otherwise—cited being dropped by their publisher, some with no explanation.” Even if everything goes well and an author is considered successful by others, they may experience imposter syndrome, feeling like a fraud when speaking at conferences or doing book signings. And the list goes on … All these things can lead to feelings of shame, inadequacy, and embarrassment; loss of status in the eyes of peers; and a sense of failure if a publishing career is not successful enough. The author feels like it's their fault, like they weren't good enough — although, of course, the reality is that the conditions were not right at the time. A failure of a book is not a failure of the person, but it can certainly feel like it! When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Despite all the potential negatives of traditional publishing, if you know what could happen, you can mitigate them. You can prepare yourself for various scenarios and protect yourself from potential fall-out. It's clear from The Bookseller report that too many authors have unrealistic expectations of the industry. But publishers are businesses, not charities. It's not their job to make you feel good as an author. It's their job to sell books and pay you. The best thing they can do is to continue to be a viable business so they can keep putting books on the shelves and keep paying authors, staff, and company shareholders. When you license your creative work to a publisher, you're giving up control of your intellectual property in exchange for money and status. Bring your fears and issues out of the Shadow, acknowledge them, and deal with them early, so they do not get pushed down and re-emerge later in blame and bitterness. Educate yourself on the business of publishing. Be clear on what you want to achieve with any deal. Empower yourself as an author, take responsibility for your career, and you will have a much better experience. The Shadow in self-publishing or being an indie author Self-publishing, or being an independent (indie) author, can be a fantastic, pro-active choice for getting your book into the world. Holding your first book in your hand and saying “I made this” is pretty exciting, and even after more than forty books, I still get excited about seeing ideas in my head turn into a physical product in the world. Self-publishing can give an author: Creative control over what to write, editorial and cover design choices, when and how often to publish, and how to market Empowerment over your author career and the ability to make choices that impact success without asking for permission Ownership and control of intellectual property assets, resulting in increased opportunity around licensing and new markets Independence and the potential for recurring income for the long term Autonomy and flexibility around timelines, publishing options, and the ability to easily pivot into new genres and business models Validation based on positive reader reviews and money earned Personal growth and learning through the acquisition of new skills, resulting in a boost in confidence and self-esteem A sense of belonging to an active and vibrant community of indie authors around the world Being an indie author can give you all this and more, but once again, there is a Shadow side and preparation can help you navigate potential issues. The myth of success… and the reality of experience As with traditional publishing, the indie author world has perpetuated a myth of success in the example of the breakout indie author like E.L. James with Fifty Shades of Grey, Hugh Howey with Wool, or Andy Weir with The Martian. The emphasis on financial success is also fuelled online by authors who share screenshots showing six-figure months or seven-figure years, without sharing marketing costs and other outgoings, or the amount of time spent on the business. Yes, these can inspire some, but it can also make others feel inadequate and potentially lead to bad choices about how to publish and market based on comparison. The indie author world is full of just as much ego and a desire for status and money as traditional publishing. This is not a surprise! Most authors, regardless of publishing choices, are a mix of massive ego and chronic self-doubt. We are human, so the same issues will re-occur. A different publishing method doesn't cure all ills. Some of the issues are as follows: You learn everything you need to know about writing and editing, only to find that you need to learn a whole new set of skills in order to self-publish and market your book. This can take a lot of time and effort you did not expect, and things change all the time so you have to keep learning. Being in control of every aspect of the publishing process, from writing to cover design to marketing, can be overwhelming, leading to indecision, perfectionism, stress, and even burnout as you try to do all the things. You try to find people to help, but building your team is a challenge, and working with others has its own difficulties. People say negative things about self-publishing that may arouse feelings of embarrassment or shame. These might be little niggles, but they needle you, nonetheless. You wonder whether you made the right choice. You struggle with self-doubt and if you go to an event with traditional published authors, you compare yourself to them and feel like an imposter. Are you good enough to be an author if a traditional publisher hasn't chosen you? Is it just vanity to self-publish? Are your books unworthy? Even though you worked with a professional editor, you still get one-star reviews and you hate criticism from readers. You wonder whether you're wasting your time. You might be ripped off by an author services company who promise the world, only to leave you with a pile of printed books in your garage and no way to sell them. When you finally publish your book, it languishes at the bottom of the charts while other authors hit the top of the list over and over, raking in the cash while you are left out of pocket. You don't admit to over-spending on marketing as it makes you ashamed. You resist book marketing and make critical comments about writers who embrace it. You believe that quality rises to the top and if a book is good enough, people will buy it anyway. This can lead to disappointment and disillusionment when you launch your book and it doesn't sell many copies because nobody knows about it. You try to do what everyone advises, but you still can't make decent money as an author. You're jealous of other authors' success and put it down to them ‘selling out' or writing things you can't or ‘using AI' or ‘using a ghostwriter' or having a specific business model you consider impossible to replicate. And the list goes on… When you acknowledge the Shadow, it loses its power Being in control of your books and your author career is a double-edged sword. Traditionally published authors can criticise their publishers or agents or the marketing team or the bookstores or the media, but indie authors have to take responsibility for it all. Sure, we can blame ‘the algorithms' or social media platforms, or criticise other authors for having more experience or more money to invest in marketing, or attribute their success to writing in a more popular genre — but we also know there are always people who do well regardless of the challenges. Once more, we're back to acknowledging and integrating the Shadow side of our choices. We are flawed humans. There will always be good times and bad, and difficulties to offset the high points. This too shall pass, as the old saying goes. I know that being an indie author has plenty of Shadow. I've been doing this since 2008 and despite the hard times, I'm still here. I'm still writing. I'm still publishing. This life is not for everyone, but it's my choice. You must make yours. The Shadow in work You work hard. You make a living. Nothing wrong with that attitude, right? It's what we're taught from an early age and, like so much of life, it's not a problem until it goes to extremes. Not achieving what you want to? Work harder. Can't get ahead? Work harder. Not making a good enough living? Work harder. People who don't work hard are lazy. They don't deserve handouts or benefits. People who don't work hard aren't useful, so they are not valued members of our culture and community. But what about the old or the sick, the mentally ill, or those with disabilities? What about children? What about the unemployed? The under-employed? What about those who are — or will be — displaced by technology, those called “the useless class” by historian Yuval Noah Harari in his book Homo Deus? What if we become one of these in the future? Who am I if I cannot work? The Shadow side of my attitude to work became clear when I caught COVID in the summer of 2021. I was the sickest I'd ever been. I spent two weeks in bed unable to even think properly, and six weeks after that, I was barely able to work more than an hour a day before lying in the dark and waiting for my energy to return. I was limited in what I could do for another six months after that. At times, I wondered if I would ever get better. Jonathan kept urging me to be patient and rest. But I don't know how to rest. I know how to work and how to sleep. I can do ‘active rest,' which usually involves walking a long way or traveling somewhere interesting, but those require a stronger mind and body than I had during those months. It struck me that even if I recovered from the virus, I had glimpsed my future self. One day, I will be weak in body and mind. If I'm lucky, that will be many years away and hopefully for a short time before I die — but it will happen. I am an animal. I will die. My body and mind will pass on and I will be no more. Before then I will be weak. Before then, I will be useless. Before then, I will be a burden. I will not be able to work… But who am I if I cannot work? What is the point of me? I can't answer these questions right now, because although I recognise them as part of my Shadow, I've not progressed far enough to have dealt with them entirely. My months of COVID gave me some much-needed empathy for those who cannot work, even if they want to. We need to reframe what work is as a society, and value humans for different things, especially as technology changes what work even means. That starts with each of us. “Illness, affliction of body and soul, can be life-altering. It has the potential to reveal the most fundamental conflict of the human condition: the tension between our infinite, glorious dreams and desires and our limited, vulnerable, decaying physicality.” —Connie Zweig, The Inner Work of Age: Shifting from Role to Soul The Shadow in money In the Greek myth, King Midas was a wealthy ruler who loved gold above all else. His palace was adorned with golden sculptures and furniture, and he took immense pleasure in his riches. Yet, despite his vast wealth, he yearned for more. After doing a favour for Dionysus, the god of wine and revelry, Midas was granted a single wish. Intoxicated by greed, he wished that everything he touched would turn to gold — and it was so. At first, it was a lot of fun. Midas turned everything else in his palace to gold, even the trees and stones of his estate. After a morning of turning things to gold, he fancied a spot of lunch. But when he tried to eat, the food and drink turned to gold in his mouth. He became thirsty and hungry — and increasingly desperate. As he sat in despair on his golden throne, his beloved young daughter ran to comfort him. For a moment, he forgot his wish — and as she wrapped her arms around him and kissed his cheek, she turned into a golden statue, frozen in precious metal. King Midas cried out to the gods to forgive him, to reverse the wish. He renounced his greed and gave away all his wealth, and his daughter was returned to life. The moral of the story: Wealth and greed are bad. In Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol, Ebenezer Scrooge is described as a “squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous, old sinner.” He's wealthy but does not share, considering Christmas spending to be frivolous and giving to charity to be worthless. He's saved by a confrontation with his lonely future and becomes a generous man and benefactor of the poor. Wealth is good if you share it with others. The gospel of Matthew, chapter 25: 14-30, tells the parable of the bags of gold, in which a rich man goes on a journey and entrusts his servants with varying amounts of gold. On his return, the servants who multiplied the gold through their efforts and investments are rewarded, while the one who merely returned the gold with no interest is punished: “For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.” Making money is good, making more money is even better. If you can't make any money, you don't deserve to have any. Within the same gospel, in Matthew 19:24, Jesus encounters a wealthy man and tells him to sell all his possessions and give the money to the poor, which the man is unable to do. Jesus says, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Wealth is bad. Give it all away and you'll go to heaven. With all these contradictory messages, no wonder we're so conflicted about money! How do you think and feel about money? While money is mostly tied to our work, it's far more than just a transactional object for most people. It's loaded with complex symbolism and judgment handed down by family, religion, and culture. You are likely to find elements of Shadow by examining your attitudes around money. Consider which of the following statements resonate with you or write your own. Money stresses me out. I don't want to talk about it or think about it. Some people hoard money, so there is inequality. Rich people are bad and we should take away their wealth and give it to the poor.  I can never make enough money to pay the bills, or to give my family what I want to provide. Money doesn't grow on trees.  It's wasteful to spend money as you might need it later, so I'm frugal and don't spend money unless absolutely necessary. It is better and more ethical to be poor than to be rich. I want more money. I read books and watch TV shows about rich people because I want to live like that. Sometimes I spend too much on things for a glimpse of what that might be like.  I buy lottery tickets and dream of winning all that money.  I'm jealous of people who have money. I want more of it and I resent those who have it. I'm no good with money. I don't like to look at my bank statement or credit card statement. I live off my overdraft and I'm in debt. I will never earn enough to get out of debt and start saving, so I don't think too much about it. I don't know enough about money. Talking about it makes me feel stupid, so I just ignore it. People like me aren't educated about money.  I need to make more money. If I can make lots of money, then people will look up to me. If I make lots of money, I will be secure, nothing can touch me, I will be safe.  I never want to be poor. I would be ashamed to be poor. I will never go on benefits. My net worth is my self worth. Money is good. We have the best standard of living in history because of the increase in wealth over time. Even the richest kings of the past didn't have what many middle-class people have today in terms of access to food, water, technology, healthcare, education, and more. The richest people give the most money to the poor through taxation and charity, as well as through building companies that employ people and invent new things. The very richest give away much of their fortunes. They provide far more benefit to the world than the poor.  I love money. Money loves me. Money comes easily and quickly to me. I attract money in multiple streams of income. It flows to me in so many ways. I spend money. I invest money. I give money. I'm happy and grateful for all that I receive. The Shadow around money for authors in particular Many writers and other creatives have issues around money and wealth. How often have you heard the following, and which do you agree with? You can't make money with your writing. You'll be a poor author in a garret, a starving artist.  You can't write ‘good quality' books and make money. If you make money writing, you're a hack, you're selling out. You are less worthy than someone who writes only for the Muse. Your books are commercial, not artistic. If you spend money on marketing, then your books are clearly not good enough to sell on their own. My agent / publisher / accountant / partner deals with the money side. I like to focus on the creative side of things. My money story Note: This is not financial or investment advice. Please talk to a professional about your situation. I've had money issues over the years — haven't we all! But I have been through a (long) process to bring money out of my Shadow and into the light. There will always be more to discover, but hopefully my money story will help you, or at least give you an opportunity to reflect. Like most people, I didn't grow up with a lot of money. My parents started out as teachers, but later my mum — who I lived with, along with my brother — became a change management consultant, moving to the USA and earning a lot more. I'm grateful that she moved into business because her example changed the way I saw money and provided some valuable lessons. (1) You can change your circumstances by learning more and then applying that to leverage opportunity into a new job or career Mum taught English at a school in Bristol when we moved back from Malawi, Africa, in the mid '80s but I remember how stressful it was for her, and how little money she made. She wanted a better future for us all, so she took a year out to do a master's degree in management. In the same way, when I wanted to change careers and leave consulting to become an author, I spent time and money learning about the writing craft and the business of publishing. I still invest a considerable chunk on continuous learning, as this industry changes all the time. (2) You might have to downsize in order to leap forward The year my mum did her degree, we lived in the attic of another family's house; we ate a lot of one-pot casserole and our treat was having a Yorkie bar on the walk back from the museum. We wore hand-me-down clothes, and I remember one day at school when another girl said I was wearing her dress. I denied it, of course, but there in back of the dress was her name tag. I still remember her name and I can still feel that flush of shame and embarrassment. I was determined to never feel like that again. But what I didn't realize at the time was that I was also learning the power of downsizing. Mum got her degree and then a new job in management in Bristol. She bought a house, and we settled for a few years. I had lots of different jobs as a teenager. My favourite was working in the delicatessen because we got a free lunch made from delicious produce. After I finished A-levels, I went to the University of Oxford, and my mum and brother moved to the USA for further opportunities. I've downsized multiple times over the years, taking a step back in order to take a step forward. The biggest was in 2010 when I decided to leave consulting. Jonathan and I sold our three-bedroom house and investments in Brisbane, Australia, and rented a one-bedroom flat in London, so we could be debt-free and live on less while I built up a new career. It was a decade before we bought another house. (3) Comparison can be deadly: there will always be people with more money than you Oxford was an education in many ways and relevant to this chapter is how much I didn't know about things people with money took for granted. I learned about formal hall and wine pairings, and how to make a perfect gin and tonic. I ate smoked salmon for the first time. I learned how to fit in with people who had a lot more money than I did, and I definitely wanted to have money of my own to play with. (4) Income is not wealth You can earn lots but have nothing to show for it after years of working. I learned this in my first few years of IT consulting after university. I earned a great salary and then went contracting, earning even more money at a daily rate. I had a wonderful time. I traveled, ate and drank and generally made merry, but I always had to go back to the day job when the money ran out. I couldn't work out how I could ever stop this cycle. Then I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, a book I still recommend, especially if you're from a family that values academic over financial education. I learned how to escape the rat race by building and/or accumulating assets that pay even when you're not working. It was a revelation! The ‘poor dad' in the book is a university professor. He knows so much about so many things, but he ends up poor as he did not educate himself about money. The ‘rich dad' has little formal education, but he knows about money and wealth because he learned about it, as we can do at any stage in our lives. (5) Not all investments suit every person, so find the right one for you Once I discovered the world of investing, I read all the books and did courses and in-person events. I joined communities and I up-skilled big time. Of course, I made mistakes and learned lots along the way. I tried property investing and renovated a couple of houses for rental (with more practical partners and skilled contractors). But while I could see that property investing might work for some people, I did not care enough about the details to make it work for me, and it was certainly not passive income. I tried other things. My first husband was a boat skipper and scuba diving instructor, so we started a charter. With the variable costs of fuel, the vagaries of New Zealand weather — and our divorce — it didn't last long! From all these experiments, I learned I wanted to run a business, but it needed to be online and not based on a physical location, physical premises, or other people. That was 2006, around the time that blogging started taking off and it became possible to make a living online. I could see the potential and a year later, the iPhone and the Amazon Kindle launched, which became the basis of my business as an author. (6) Boring, automatic saving and investing works best Between 2007 and 2011, I contracted in Australia, where they have compulsory superannuation contributions, meaning you have to save and invest a percentage of your salary or self-employed income. I'd never done that before, because I didn't understand it. I'd ploughed all my excess income into property or the business instead. But in Australia I didn't notice the money going out because it was automatic. I chose a particular fund and it auto-invested every month. The pot grew pretty fast since I didn't touch it, and years later, it's still growing. I discovered the power of compound interest and time in the market, both of which are super boring. This type of investing is not a get rich quick scheme. It's a slow process of automatically putting money into boring investments and doing that month in, month out, year in, year out, automatically for decades while you get on with your life. I still do this. I earn money as an author entrepreneur and I put a percentage of that into boring investments automatically every month. I also have a small amount which is for fun and higher risk investments, but mostly I'm a conservative, risk-averse investor planning ahead for the future. This is not financial advice, so I'm not giving any specifics. I have a list of recommended money books at www.TheCreativePenn.com/moneybooks if you want to learn more. Learning from the Shadow When I look back, my Shadow side around money eventually drove me to learn more and resulted in a better outcome (so far!). I was ashamed of being poor when I had to wear hand-me-down clothes at school. That drove a fear of not having any money, which partially explains my workaholism. I was embarrassed at Oxford because I didn't know how to behave in certain settings, and I wanted to be like the rich people I saw there. I spent too much money in my early years as a consultant because I wanted to experience a “rich” life and didn't understand saving and investing would lead to better things in the future. I invested too much in the wrong things because I didn't know myself well enough and I was trying to get rich quick so I could leave my job and ‘be happy.' But eventually, I discovered that I could grow my net worth with boring, long-term investments while doing a job I loved as an author entrepreneur. My only regret is that I didn't discover this earlier and put a percentage of my income into investments as soon as I started work. It took several decades to get started, but at least I did (eventually) start. My money story isn't over yet, and I keep learning new things, but hopefully my experience will help you reflect on your own and avoid the issue if it's still in Shadow. These chapters are excerpted from Writing the Shadow: Turn Your Inner Darkness Into Words by Joanna Penn  The post Writing The Shadow: The Creative Wound, Publishing, And Money, With Joanna Penn first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Living 4D with Paul Chek
370 — How to Stay Human When Machines Get Smarter With Jeff Burningham

Living 4D with Paul Chek

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2025 148:26


Several weeks ago, Paul dissected the good and the bad of Artificial Intelligence (AI) from the tech side on Spirit Gym with tech consultant/UX researcher Rachel Miles.A huge question remained unanswered after that conversation: How do we retain our humanity amid the avalanche of AI tech?Venture capitalist, entrepreneur and first-time author Jeff Burninhgam embraces the answer to that very question in his book, The Last Book Written by a Human: Becoming Wise in the Age of AI.Jeff explains why the presence of AI is an important reminder to embrace our humanity and how the beauty in life is not trying to achieve perfection but to relish in its messiness and imperfection this week on Spirit Gym.Read the first chapter of Jeff's book on his website. Learn more about Jeff on social media via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter/X, TikTok and Substack.Timestamps8:01 From traveling the Ganges River to running for governor in Utah.19:07 One blessing in disguise with AI: Reminding us of our humanity.23:04 Disruption, reflection, transformation and evolution.29:46 AI as a human crucible.36:12 “No amount of education saves anyone from the Hero's Journey.”45:00 In the presence of AI, we will need to learn how to fight to stay in human relationships.51:51 “As our machines become more intelligent, our work as humans is to become wiser.”1:04:52 The beauty of life is in the mess, the work and the process.1:12:45 “We are human beings, not human doings.”1:27:15 The origin of most existential pain in our lives.1:35:48 Emptiness.1:43:39 Social media: The baby AI.ResourcesThe Silicon SlopesPaul's Living 4D podcast on Lucifer-Christ-AhrimanFind more resources for this episode on our website.Music Credit: Meet Your Heroes (444Hz), Composed, mixed, mastered and produced by Michael RB Schwartz of Brave Bear MusicThanks to our awesome sponsors:PaleovalleyBIOptimizers US and BIOptimizers UK PAUL15Organifi CHEK20Wild PasturesKorrect SPIRITGYMPique LifeCHEK InstituteCHEK Academy We may earn commissions from qualifying purchases using affiliate links.

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame
Mike Yardley: Might and magic of Jaipur with Wendy Wu Tours

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2025 9:59 Transcription Available


When it comes to grand gestures, painting your entire city in the one colour is quite something. So much for painting the town red. How about pink? Jaipur beckons as one of India's most enchanting destinations, where the Old City is harmoniously bathed in the same pink hue. The elegant capital of Rajasthan was painted in pink stucco in 1876 to welcome Albert Edward, the Prince of Wales, who was the son of Queen Victoria and later became King Edward VII. Jaipur's Maharaja chose the colour because pink symbolises hospitality in Rajput culture, and the gesture impressed the Prince so much that he nicknamed the city the "Pink City." The name – and the stucco - has stuck ever since. A year later, a law mandated that all future buildings in the Old City must be painted pink. As I swept into Jaipur on a private holiday Wendy Wu Tours, there's no denying how that welcoming palette sweetly seduces even the most jaded of travellers. Jaipur effortlessly casts you under its spell, as you delve into its rich history and treasury of enticements. There is an unmistakeable magic about the place. Nearly 300 years ago, an enlightened maharajah with a penchant for jewels and a keen eye for architecture built this planned city, wedged between the arid hills of northwest India. Built in the form of a rectangle, Jaipur was divided into nine blocks, seven for public use and two reserved for the state's most prestigious palaces and buildings. The entire city was girdled by a formidable protective wall. Called Jaipur after the city's founder, Jai Singh II, the planned city soon gave rise to astonishing royal palaces and vast workshops of artisans recruited to establish a new commercial hub. These days, gem cutters, jewellery designers and garment-makers are still doing a flourishing trade in Jaipur. And the royals still occupy a wing of the majestic City Palace, while gleaming mid-rise towers and a new subway system anchor Jaipur's forward march. But for all the contemporary progress, it's the architectural grandeur, proud sense of place and thriving craftwork traditions that make this destination so infectious. Street markets are splashed in colour and handicrafts, and Hindu temples can be found nearly every 100 metres. Though the streets heave with beeping and belching traffic, aimless tourists and dung-dropping cows, there is a charm and charisma to the carnival of commotion. Close to City Palace, my wonderful Wendy Wu Tours guide Vipin treated us to some sizzling old-school retail therapy. We walked under the peeling pink porticos of the roadside bazaars which were emblazoned with everything from puppets to pyjama pants; passing by carts of fried chickpea cakes, and marble-lined shrines with statues of Hindu gods. Garment-hunting was high on the agenda, for gifts to take home. Vipin led us to his favourite shop, where an explosion of colourful fabrics heaped in piles and stacked to the ceiling soon greeted us, as attentive staff served us Masala chai. Whether you're after local, authentic t-shirts, shirts, trousers, scarfs, saris, rugs, cushion covers, towels or table-cloths…this is textile and garment-shopping heaven. As my sister snapped up some sensational saris, I haggled down the price on a sublime tablecloth with block-printed red elephants. The other boom retail business is jewellery, because Jaipur is a global centre for cutting and polishing precious and semiprecious gems. Head to Jewels Emporium's stately white building and take a tour of the workshops, where cutters shape facets, and men at workbenches adorn gold settings with jewels, and rinse the gold dust from their hands in wash basins. That water is later sold to extraction companies. The quality of the workmanship is second to none, true Rajasthan's abiding legacy. Jaipur's Pink City bragging rights is best epitomised by the Hawa Mahal, or Palace of Winds. We stopped by to pose in front of this five-story palace façade, constructed from pink sandstone. Built in 1799, its iconic facade features 953 small windows which allowed royal women of the court to observe street processions without being seen while also creating a natural cooling effect. The palace's architecture is a blend of Rajput and Mughal styles, ornately designed with protruding bays of lattice stonework and cupolas mimicking Krishna's crown. Could there be a more glorious façade in the world? City Palace is a stirring complex to leisurely explore, peppered with mouth-watering architecture, tranquil courtyards and lush gardens. The prize draw is the Palace of the Breeze, a triumph in building design, whereby the air circulates so efficiently that it keeps the occupants cool even in the extreme summer months, when the mercury can nudge 50 degrees. The on-site museum is studded with royal treasures, costumes and curiosities. Out in the courtyard, I admired some massive silver vessels that carried the Maharaja's drinking water from the Ganges River to London in 1902 for Edward VII's coronation. You can see the royal reception rooms that are still in use, where Jaipur's royal family entertain guests in an ornate dining room and parlour, where chairs have silver lions for armrests. The walls are painted with gold dust and extracts of rubies and emeralds. Yipin pointed out where the royal family reside. There's a lot of tabloid tattle about Jaipur's current Maharaja, Pacho Singh. He's only 27, quite the polo-playing playboy and is currently living in the palace with his French girlfriend. But it's fully expected he cannot marry her, in deference to royal tradition and Rajasthan's adherence to arranged marriages and astrological alignment. Beyond the Old City, no visit to Jaipur is complete without savouring the sky-piercing magnificence of the four-hundred-year-old Amber Fort. (Pronounced Ah-meer.) Sprawling across the upper reaches of a hillside like a scene out Return of the Jedi, this fortress was previously the seat of power for the Rajput kings from 1599, before relocating to Jaipur's Old City just over a century later. En-route to the fort, Vipin led us to the most dreamy viewpoint, on the shores of Lake Maotha, where we gazed up in awe at this hilltop colossus. Brightly dressed elephants lumbered by, readying to carry visitors up the slope to the fortress. I had previously taken an elephant ride up to Amber Fort, but I've put weight on since then and am more mindful of animal welfare. We opted for a jeep ride through the skinny lanes snaking their way up to Sun Gate. From here, we marvelled over the China Wall-esque fortifications, the Amber Wall, riding across the ridgelines as far as the eye can see. ( It's 12km in length.) But this Rajput stronghold hooks in the tourist hordes principally for its gobsmacking array of palatial buildings and extravagant ornamental gardens. In shades of honey and rose stone, white marble and gilt decor, it's a frothy fusion of ornate Hindu and Islamic design. Amber Fort's exquisite craftsmanship is best exemplified by the Mirror Palace, or Sheesh Mahal. Candlelight dinners would have been next-level. A single lit candle spangles the beautifully cut Belgian glass panels and mirror mosaics that festoon the walls of the banquet room, transforming the space into a night-sky kaleidoscope across the walls and ceiling. Apparently, this room was made by the Maharaja so that the Maharani (queen) could see the stars at night, as she was not allowed to sleep in the open. Other highlights include the many-pillared Diwan-i-Am, the Hall of Public Audience; the Jal Mandir, or Hall of Victory, which features carved marble panels, a mirrored ceiling, and expansive views over the ramparts of the fort. The Sukh Niwas, the Hall of Pleasure, is another drop-dead-gorgeous marble room that was cleverly cooled with water. Here, the Maharaja reportedly relaxed with his ladies. Amber Fort is a resplendent blockbuster, reverberating with the glory days of Rajput rule in Rajasthan. Jaipur residents are rightly proud of their architectural showstoppers. One of the signature attributes to the city is the fact that some historic palaces, no longer required for the affairs of state, have been reimagined as beacons of hospitality. But I stayed at a brand-new luxury build that is a grand triumph of contemporary construction, fully inspired by Jaipur's landmarks and Rajasthani finesse. Introducing Anantara Jewel Bagh Jaipur. Whether it's for a big bling-bling Bollywood wedding or for immersive luxury experiences away from the heaving throng of Jaipur's tourist spots, this hotel delivers a tour de force in lavish Rajasthani living, with a contemporary take. It is splendour defined. As our Wendy Wu Tours driver pulled into the entrance, a troupe of Rajasthani dancers and costumed drummers serenaded our arrival in spectacular, effervescent style. Unfurling over 5.5 lush acres, the grand hotel's money shot is its sensational main façade, drawing rich inspiration from Amber Fort and Rajasthan's royal palaces. Features include majestic arches, intricately designed jharokhas (bay windows), and graceful chhajjas (overhanging eaves) and detailed carvings. It was thoughtfully painted in the same colours as Amber Fort's walls during golden hour. Rajputana history and heritage permeates the hotel. You'll notice it in the materials—yellowstone from Jaisalmer, marble from Banswara and Makrana, and locally sourced timbered. There's the treasury of sublime artworks, notably including portraits of Rajput warriors and royalty. Peek inside the Rang Mahal ballroom, where the walls are completely covered with celebratory nods to the state's heritage. It was handpainted over two-and-a-half years by third-generation artists. Delicate thikri glasswork, hand-carved wood accents, and intricate gold leaf detailing abound across the hotel. Amer Bagh garden venue unfurls like a verdant blanket at the base of the hotel – and is a stirring outdoor venue. Jai Bagh (victory garden is the main outdoor space for guest and I was absolutely enthralled delving into the daily bazaar that is staged here in the afternoon, complete with puppeteers, block printers, bangle makers and astrologers. Anantara's core DNA is to create hotels steeped in local elements and the Jaipur addition excels at delivering exactly that. You can even go chowk-hopping, vegetable shopping and cooking with local women. The hotel boasts 150 rooms and suites, layered across five categories, with most overlooking the inner courtyard or Jai Bagh. We stayed in the Anantara One-Bedroom Terrace Suite, which is kitted out with its own outdoor Jacuzzi and expansive terrace. I was transfixed here watching muscular monsoon thunderstorms tear up the sky and soak the land! Guestrooms do not skimp on celebrating the sense of place, with sumptuous comforts and artful design elements, from the zardozi on the pillows, thikri work on the headboards, wooden jharokas by the window nooks, and Mughal miniature art on the walls. If that's not enough to tempt you, Anantara's first outpost in India will enchant you with its gastronomic verve. Led by Executive Chef Sunil Jajoria, Sheesh Mahal is a pinch-yourself jewel box of a venue, to experience the true essence of Rajasthan with exquisitely fitted out with glittering mirror mosaics, dressed in 350,000 pieces of glass, inspired by the legendary Mirror Palace. Coud there be a more wondrous place to savour the true essence of Rajasthan's culinary brilliance? The menu marries traditional Rajasthani delicacies with global influences, paired with signature cocktails like the Jewel of Jaipur. Jajoria, a Rajasthan native, has been researching local cuisine for the last seven years. Perfected over 20 trials, his menu dives deep into how maharajas entertained. His tasting menu kicks off with hummus that tastes like Bikaneri bhujia, moving on to ker sangri kebabs, besan kebabs mimicking paneer (as there was no paneer in the history of Rajasthan, says the chef), and Shekhawati maas tacos. The menu is handwritten by the chef himself, on vintage paper he has been collecting since his he was a boy. Pair this menu with the ‘Echoes of Distillation' spirit tasting of heritage liquor from the royal family of Mahansar. It's mixology at its finest, with no shortage of artful theatre thrown in. Another cracking experience is Amrit Mahal, the vibrant all-day dining venue, which presents a diverse array of international and Indian specialties. There were too many highlights to recount, but the lamb baos, edamame truffle dimsums, lotus root on fire, Cantonese buttermilk prawns, soba noodles, and Japanese caramel cheesecake were all pleasurably devoured. The buffet breakfast here is like a royal banquet! The spa experience is a signature feature pillar of any Anantara property, and resident experts were brought in from Thailand to train the Jaipur team. The treatment repertoire remains consistent with their global spa menus—a mix of Ayurveda, Thai massages, and western therapies. I deployed my sister to the spa for some personal panel-beating and she is still buzzing about the deep tissue massage she savoured. She rates it as the best massage of her life, “life-affirming, age-reducing and liberating.” Another starring attribute of the hotel is its genuine sense of connection with the community. As a part of their grassroots outreach, the hotel works with local women to make the rotis on their menu on a chulha or traditional clay stove. You can take an early morning trip to the flower market or a guided farming experience. Even better, take a private visit to Hathi Gaon, which is a community of rescue elephants residing in their natural habitat. Or partake in a local culinary class. I was particularly impressed that the hotel takes care of their staff's accommodation needs, building nearby apartments to ensure they are well-housed. Hospitality is as sparkling as the palace-like hotel itself - faultless, ultra-attentive, charismatic and truly unforgettable. Treat yourself to a remarkable Jaipur escape at Anantara Jewel Bagh. You'll be royally treated from the moment you arrive. You will not want to leave. www.anantara.com Delve into India and the Golden Triangle with the award-winning tour specialists across Asia and beyond. I chose a tailor-made Classic India private holiday, that enables you optimise your itinerary and accommodation preferences, as much as you wish. The itinerary can be as active or as laid back as you are, with full flexibility over included meals and excursions. You'll be in the best of hands with Wendy Wu Tours. www.wendywutours.co.nz/india From New Zealand, it's just a one-stop connection to a multitude of destinations in India, including New Delhi, with Singapore Airlines, on their various daily services from Auckland and Christchurch to Singapore. Enjoy well-timed connections for an easy transit in Singapore. Across all classes of travel, the award-winning carrier has not only fostered a world-beating reputation for its exceptional customer service and in-flight product, but also its innovation. Become a KrisFlyer member and enjoy complimentary in-flight WiFi. For best fares and seats to suit head to https://www.singaporeair.com Mike Yardley is our resident traveller on Jack Tame Saturday Mornings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sound Bhakti
#55.2 | Lord Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu's Visit to Sri Vrindavan-1 | Govardhana Readings | 11 Oct 2025

Sound Bhakti

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2025 34:42


Cc Madhya 18.1-66 https://vedabase.io/en/library/cc/madhya/18/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura gives the following information about Govinda-kuṇḍa. There is a village named Āniyora on Govardhana Hill, a little distance from the village of Paiṭha. Govinda-kuṇḍa is situated near here, and there are two temples to Govinda and Baladeva there. According to some, Queen Padmāvatī excavated this lake. In the Bhakti-ratnākara (Fifth Wave), the following statement is found: ei śrī-govinda-kuṇḍa-mahimā aneka ethā indra kaila govindera abhiṣeka “Govinda-kuṇḍa is exalted for its many spiritual activities. It was here that Indra, defeated by Lord Govinda, offered prayers to Him and bathed Him.” In the book Stavāvalī (Vraja-vilāsa-stava 74) the following verse is found: nīcaiḥ prauḍha-bhayāt svayaṁ sura-patiḥ pādau vidhṛtyeha yaiḥ  svar-gaṅgā-salilaiś cakāra surabhi-dvārābhiṣekotsavam govindasya navaṁ gavām adhipatā rājye sphuṭaṁ kautukāt  tair yat prādurabhūt sadā sphuratu tad govinda-kuṇḍaṁ dṛśoḥ “With humility caused by great fear, Indra took hold of the lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa and, in the company of a surabhi cow, performed His coronation festival by bathing Him with the waters of the heavenly Ganges River. Thus Lord Kṛṣṇa's kingship over the cows became splendidly manifest. I pray that Govinda-kuṇḍa, the lake created by that ceremonial bath, may eternally appear before my eyes.” Also, in the Mathurā-khaṇḍa it is stated: yatrābhiṣikto bhagavān maghonā yadu-vairiṇā govinda-kuṇḍaṁ taj-jātaṁ snāna-mātreṇa mokṣa-dam “Simply by bathing in Govinda-kuṇḍa, one is awarded liberation. This lake was produced when Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa was bathed by Lord Indra.” (Cc Madhya 18.37, purport) To connect with His Grace Vaiśeṣika Dāsa, please visit https://www.fanthespark.com/next-steps/ask-vaisesika-dasa/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Add to your wisdom literature collection: https://iskconsv.com/book-store/ https://www.bbtacademic.com/books/ https://thefourquestionsbook.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------ Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FanTheSpark/ Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sound-bhakti/id1132423868 For the latest videos, subscribe https://www.youtube.com/@FanTheSpark For the latest in SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/fan-the-spark ------------------------------------------------------------ #spiritualawakening #soul #spiritualexperience #spiritualpurposeoflife #spiritualgrowthlessons #secretsofspirituality #vaisesikaprabhu #vaisesikadasa #vaisesikaprabhulectures #spirituality #bhaktiyoga #krishna #spiritualpurposeoflife #krishnaspirituality #spiritualusachannel #whybhaktiisimportant #whyspiritualityisimportant #vaisesika #spiritualconnection #thepowerofspiritualstudy #selfrealization #spirituallectures #spiritualstudy #spiritualquestions #spiritualquestionsanswered #trendingspiritualtopics #fanthespark #spiritualpowerofmeditation #spiritualteachersonyoutube #spiritualhabits #spiritualclarity #bhagavadgita #srimadbhagavatam #spiritualbeings #kttvg #keepthetranscendentalvibrationgoing #spiritualpurpose

Pulse of the Planet Podcast with Jim Metzner | Science | Nature | Environment | Technology

India's revered Ganges River has become increasingly polluted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

radinho de pilha
quando perdemos a curiosidade? aranhas que voam! o risco de brincarmos de Deus

radinho de pilha

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 29, 2025 24:14


We are playing God | Slavoj Žižek and Yuval Noah Harari on CRISPR, AI, and the future of humanity https://youtu.be/V66hlLruZTU?si=MdlJRiceXyWigZ0R have you ever seen a parasailing spider?  https://youtube.com/shorts/qjUAhaRdVb4?si=YMC2EVKTw2jP3CHU How India's unplanned hydropower dams and tunnels are disrupting Himalayan landscapes https://theconversation.com/how-indias-unplanned-hydropower-dams-and-tunnels-are-disrupting-himalayan-landscapes-261956 The Ganges River is drying faster than ever – here's what it means for the ... Read more The post quando perdemos a curiosidade? aranhas que voam! o risco de brincarmos de Deus appeared first on radinho de pilha.

The Doi Boys
EP.133 - THE TINKLER

The Doi Boys

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2025 112:33


The Boys sit down with special guests Adeley and Justin. The group discuss the fact that Schmitt became a father, the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk along with some fun facts the Ganges River in India.

Practice You with Elena Brower
Episode 222: Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

Practice You with Elena Brower

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2025 51:39


On befriending the mind; when negative emotions have positive outcomes, and the practice of coming home to yourself.   (0:00) — Introduction  (1:34) — Discussion on Sadhvi's Book "Come Home to Yourself"  (3:05) — The Importance of Spirituality  (10:58) — Bringing the Mind to Your Side  (24:45) — Using Anger Constructively  (41:07) — Daily Practice and Service  (47:41) — Evening Routine and Community Involvement  (49:57) — Closing Remarks and Future Plans Bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, serving on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion, Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati is a renunciate monk, living in an ashram on the banks of the Ganges River in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has dedicated her life to sharing the profound wisdom from the ancient Vedic tradition of India, as well as serving local communities. Her new book, Come Home To Yourself, is a journey through the heart of householder practices, befriending the mind, mastering the emotions and living a life of exemplary presence. RESOURCES https://comehometoyourself.org/

Next Level Soul with Alex Ferrari: A Spirituality & Personal Growth Podcast
NLS 601: Humanity's Spiritual EVOLUTION! A Mass Awakening of LOVE & LIGHT! with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

Next Level Soul with Alex Ferrari: A Spirituality & Personal Growth Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2025 113:05


Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati discusses her journey from a privileged upbringing in Hollywood to her spiritual awakening in India. She recounts her profound experience at the Ganges River, which led her to abandon her PhD and marry Swami Dayanand Saraswati. Despite initial family resistance, she embraced her new path, focusing on humanitarian and spiritual work. Sadhvi emphasizes the importance of anger as a catalyst for change and the need to let go of past traumas to achieve true freedom. She also highlights the disconnection many feel despite technological advancements and the necessity of spiritual practices to reconnect with oneself and the universe. The conversation between Alex Ferrari and Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati explores the concept of humanity's awakening and the importance of conscious living to preserve the planet. Sadhvi emphasizes the need for a balance of masculine and feminine energies, highlighting the shift towards feminine principles since the 1960s. She defines a fulfilled life as one free from internal blockages, allowing the divine flow to express through us. Sadhvi advises embracing play and self-acceptance. She defines God as the divine energy that connects all things, and love as the expression of this energy. Her ultimate purpose is to help individuals realize their inherent divinity and use it to bring peace to the world.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/next-level-soul-podcast-with-alex-ferrari--4858435/support.

Take Back Your Mind
Coming Home to Yourself: The Real Path to Lasting Joy with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati

Take Back Your Mind

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 73:07


On today's episode, Michael sits with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. Sadhviji is a renunciate monk, or sanyasi, living in an ashram on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India. Originally from Los Angeles and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has dedicated her life to sharing the profound wisdom from the ancient Vedic tradition of India. Sadhviji is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service, and she serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion. Her latest book, “Come Home to Yourself: Simple Answers to Life's Essential Questions,” is out now.  Highlights from their conversation include: -How Sadhviji's book, “Come Home to Yourself,” was birthed through satsangs—spiritual Q&A sessions where divine wisdom flows through her to meet people's deepest concerns -The lack of inner joy Sadhviji felt, despite having all the “ingredients” for happiness—education, success, privilege, which led her to reluctantly travel to India -The profound realization that our inner narratives of not being good enough, lovable, or pure are illusions, and that true healing begins when we question those narratives -Thoughts to vehicles—buses that we can choose to ride or not–which allows us to take back control and intentionally choose thoughts that align with peace and love -Sadhviji's childhood trauma and how true forgiveness set her free -Reframing surrender as not giving up, but aligning with the deeper flow of divine wisdom and intelligence, opening to the way to spiritual power -Reflections on the spiritual elegance of simplicity—Truth doesn't need to be complicated to be transformative -Sadhvij's call to action, reminding us that spirituality must lead to service and action, and how, in a chaotic world, our inner practice empowers us to stand up, speak up, and show up for good Next, Michael leads a centering meditation to pause, return to inner stillness, and become a vessel of love for others. Get Sadhviji's book, “Come Home to Yourself: Simple Answers to Life's Essential Questions,” here https://comehometoyourself.org/.  Visit her website, https://sadhviji.org/, follow her on FB, IG, and see her videos at her YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/c/Sadhviji.  Listen to her new podcast, Ask Sadhviji, wherever you enjoy your podcasts.   Remember to Subscribe or Follow and set an alert to receive notifications each Wednesday when new episodes are available! Connect with Michael at his website – https://michaelbeckwith.com/ – and receive his guided meditation, “Raise Your Vibration and Be Untouchable” when you sign up to receive occasional updates from Michael!  You can also connect with him at https://agapelive.com/. Facebook: @Michael.B.Beckwith https://www.facebook.com/Michael.B.Beckwith  IG: @michaelbbeckwith https://www.instagram.com/michaelbbeckwith/  TikTok: @officialmichaelbeckwith   https://www.tiktok.com/@officialmichaelbeckwith  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqMWuqEKXLY4m60gNDsw61w  And as always, deep gratitude to the sponsors of the Take Back Your Mind with Michael B. Beckwith podcast: -Agape International Spiritual Center: https://agapelive.com/ and -NutriRise, the makers of Michael's AdaptoZen product line, a few of which include: -Superfood Greens: https://nutririse.com/products/greens-superfood  -Superfood Reds: https://nutririse.com/products/adaptozen-superfood-reds    -ELEVATE+: Organic Fermented Mushrooms: https://nutririse.com/products/elevate-fermented-mushrooms-powder  

OBITCHUARY
203: OBITCH down by the river!

OBITCHUARY

Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2025 80:12


This week Spencer is bringing us another round of TIFU! Next, Madison tells us about the wildly macabre Ganges River. We've got an obituary that is absolutely diabolical, one with some contradictions and so much more!!! INCLUDING some dumb.ass.criminallllllllls! Let's go! Watch us on YouTube: Youtube.com/@obitchuarypodcast Buy our book: prh.com/obitchuaryGet your Merch: wonderyshop.com/obitchuaryCome see us live on tour: obitchuarypodcast.comJoin our Patreon: Patreon.com/cultliterNew episodes come out every Thursday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.Follow along online: @obitchuarypod on Twitter & Instagram @obitchuarypodcast on TikTokCheck out Spencer's other podcast Cult Liter wherever you're listening!Write to us: obitpod@gmail.comSpencer Henry & Madison ReyesPO Box 18149 Long Beach, CA 90807Sources:https://www.newspapers.com/image/1103028703/?article=db2a31e6-e78f-46aa-b4df-35f64e13107a&terms=beauty%20queenhttps://www.seasmartschool.com/blog/2022/2/17/12-most-polluted-rivers-in-the-worldhttps://www.wilton-photography.com/news-stories/life-and-death-along-the-ghats-of-varanasi#:~:text=When%20only%20ashes%20remain%20these,cannot%20be%20cremated%20in%20Varanasi.https://dornsife.usc.edu/news/stories/death-on-the-ganges/https://www.passporthealthusa.com/2023/12/bathing-in-the-ganges-river/https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-28112403https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gangeshttps://www.hinduamerican.org/blog/ganga-river-goddesshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghats_in_Varanasihttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollution_of_the_Gangeshttps://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/what-became-of-india-s-corpse-eating-turtleshttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/article/the-pyres-of-varanasi-breaking-the-cycle-of-death-and-rebirthhttps://english.kyodonews.net/news/2024/02/0e7f9656dc55-feature-indias-cremation-king-helps-to-bring-salvation-in-modern-times.htmlhttps://www.wired.com/story/india-ganges-river-clean-project/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/indias-government-once-released-25000-flesh-eating-turtles-ganges-river-180953384/https://www.wect.com/2022/05/12/woman-exits-vehicle-drive-thru-car-crashes-over-chick-fil-a-retaining-wall/https://www.newspapers.com/image/828291399/?article=9dd4051c-67a1-41f2-a7e1-320e6cc1286f&terms=monster%20https://people.com/onlyfans-model-allegedly-poops-car-road-rage-incident-11728123See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Blue Suit
Coming Soon: Season 4 of Ten Thousand Things

The Blue Suit

Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2025 2:03


Ten Thousand Things is back for another season, now with Wonder Media Network. This season is about the objects that help us move forward — like a traditional Vietnamese dress, a jar of water from the Ganges River, and a gold trophy. New episodes start May 20th. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best Of Neurosummit
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati: Come Home to Yourself Part 2

Best Of Neurosummit

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2025 33:28


 How do we break out of self-sabotage? The mind is biologically programmed to be negative. Lisa continues the conversation today with renunciate monk and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. Sadhvi has lived on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, for the past 30 years. Originally from Los Angeles, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Sadhvi explains how we are the offspring of people who know they need to survive. Our ancestors needed to assume the worst, in order to survive. We have evolved this way. And, we know that we can now change. We can reprogram our minds. Sadhvi suggests using a mantra. It doesn't have to be in Sanskrit. It's anything that can bring you into the present moment and out of negativity. We can reason with our minds, and sometimes we need to face the negativity, but more often we can delete and end the cycle of negativity. “OM” is a very common mantra. It's very powerful. Chanting also helps. This stops the mind. She gives examples of many different mantras and prayers. The sounds help the brain go into a state of coherence. She also talks about attending the Maha Kumbh Mela where more than 670 million people came to the Ganges river recently to attend the largest gathering in the history of the world. The Maha Kumbh Mela means the great festival of the nectar of immortality. It took place on the confluence of the banks of 3 great rivers in India.  There was no conflict, no violence; it was just people coming together in love and peace. She further discusses the astrology of the moment, especially the full moons. Vedic astrology predicts that this particular planetary alignment happens only once every 144 years. With hundreds of millions of people attending the gathering, this shows that people are suffering and looking for answers. People are angry. People are frustrated. People are searching for answers. This was a way to break out of constraints and experience freedom. When asked about anger, she expressed that there are some reasons to be angry including poverty, hunger, loss of human rights, and so much more. Yet, when we are angry, we are called to be agents of change, but first we must find peace within ourselves so we can then help others. She offers breathing exercises with specific energy centers and anchoring. Whether it's other people's actions, or even the weather, we shouldn't have expectations that things will be different. We cannot control others. We must bring light to the darkness, but not from a place of anger. She notes Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, Jr, and Gandhi and how they were angry but came from a place of peace to make change.   Sadhvi is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service, and she serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion. She talks further about her new book “Come Home to Yourself” and discusses how forgiveness is the key to help us reach deeper spiritual truths. It's an invitation to come home to freedom. This is Part 2 of the interview. Info: www.sadhviji.org  

Soundside
New Wing Luke exhibit explores the power of objects with Ten Thousand Things

Soundside

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 21, 2025 11:00


An old faded rice cooker. A blue two piece suit. A vial of water from the Ganges River. For the past four years, Poet Shin Yu Pai’s podcast, Ten Thousand Things, has explored how objects – from the extraordinary to the mundane, the literal to the figurative – communicate stories of Asian American meaning, identity, and culture. As of last month, the stories in the series have broken out of podcast players and become a new exhibit in Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum. The exhibit includes objects that will be familiar to listeners of the series – as well as some new items that will be featured in upcoming episodes. Soundside’s Alec Cowan joined Shin Yu Pai at the Wing Luke Museum to talk about the exhibit. Guests: Shin Yu Pai, writer, curator, and host of Ten Thousand Things. Related Links: EXHIBIT: Ten Thousand Things — Wing Luke Museum KUOW - Ten Thousand Things with Shin Yu Pai Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

seattle explore asian americans wing objects exhibit kuow ganges river ten thousand things wing luke museum shin yu pai npr network
Best Of Neurosummit
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati: Come Home to Yourself Part 1

Best Of Neurosummit

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 31:46


Do you live in anger and fear? Would you like to hear a story of healing? Today Lisa talks with renunciate monk and author Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati. Sadhvi has lived on the banks sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, for the past 30 years. Originally from Los Angeles, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology. Seemingly having it all, she realized at the young age of 25, that she was not happy. Although she was married and excelled academically, she felt restless and was always wanting more. She had overcome childhood traumas, abuse, a severe eating disorder, and depression. She knew there must be another way. Upon arriving in India, she had an unexpected and profound spiritual experience. She only went to India because her husband wanted to go. She left with only a backpack, thinking this would be a semester break. Suddenly, while standing on the banks of the Ganges River, she was overwhelmed with ecstasy. Several days later she randomly walked past a beautiful, clean ashram. It felt like an oasis to her. She was walking through it and heard a voice say, “You must stay here.” She didn't see anyone, and she was a scientist, so of course she ignored it. One minute later, she heard the voice again, and still didn't see anyone. She was just about to ignore it again, when she remembered she made a promise to herself while on the flight to India. She asked herself to “keep her heart open.” The fact she was in India made no sense to her. She was not religious, and she was not spiritual, yet she always believed there would be a plan. This felt perfect and she knew this must somehow be aligned. Sadvhi further shares her story about realizing that things were planned. Being a scientist, she does not believe in random events. Although she still believes in science, she was open to possibilities. She knew that if she didn't want to stay in India, it would be very easy for her to return to the US. She ended up staying at the ashram and working with the spiritual teacher there. The ashram is dedicated to self-realization and awakening for all. The devotees there believe in the betterment of all and help to provide food for the hungry, empower women, and offer free medical care, as well as a spiritual path for anyone who is interested. They have yoga programs, philosophy programs, sacred ceremonies, all taught by example from the guru there. They focus on love and compassion for all. Sadhvi is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service, and she serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on religion. Sadhvi's latest book is “Come Home to Yourself.” This book is the edited version of the Q&A sessions that she teaches each night in the ashram. She is a vessel for wisdom to pour through her. She feels that the gift she was given was to come home to the truth. She wants to offer these powerful teachings as a way for each person to find the truth within themselves. We all have the answers within. We may just need to be reminded that we can end our suffering by coming home to ourselves. We don't need to constantly be taught; we just need to be guided back into ourselves to find the truth.  Info: www.sadhviji.org

Wisdom of the Sages
1571: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 2

Wisdom of the Sages

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 59:28


More 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 His devotees. What makes a river more than water? How does mercy override karma? And how can we become a river of grace ourselves? Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠The Ganges as a portal of divine compassion—from Vaikuntha to Earth. •⁠  ⁠How saintly souls become walking places of pilgrimage. •⁠  ⁠Grace vs. karma: why fairness isn't the highest principle in the universe. •⁠  ⁠The mystical relationship between Krishna's feet, the holy river, and the pure-hearted. •⁠  ⁠Why Bhagiratha's mission wasn't just personal—it was a multi-generational act of love. Whether you've dipped in her waters or just dreamed of the Himalayas, this episode will change the way you see rivers, saints, and the subtle forces that shape our destiny.

Wisdom of the Sages
1571: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 2

Wisdom of the Sages

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2025 59:28


More 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 His devotees. What makes a river more than water? How does mercy override karma? And how can we become a river of grace ourselves? Key Highlights: •⁠  ⁠The Ganges as a portal of divine compassion—from Vaikuntha to Earth. •⁠  ⁠How saintly souls become walking places of pilgrimage. •⁠  ⁠Grace vs. karma: why fairness isn't the highest principle in the universe. •⁠  ⁠The mystical relationship between Krishna's feet, the holy river, and the pure-hearted. •⁠  ⁠Why Bhagiratha's mission wasn't just personal—it was a multi-generational act of love. Whether you've dipped in her waters or just dreamed of the Himalayas, this episode will change the way you see rivers, saints, and the subtle forces that shape our destiny.

Wisdom of the Sages
1570: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 1

Wisdom of the Sages

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 53:59


Can 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 and Kaustubha explore the profound story of King Bhagirath and the descent of the Ganga, as told in the pages of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Together, they unpack ancient insights into how grace flows through sacred elements, and how divine consciousness transforms even the physical elements of this world. Key Highlights: • Why Bhagirath's mission to bring down the Ganges spanned generations • The deep Vedic symbolism of “lotus feet” and approaching the divine from the ground up • Ganga's own doubts—can she handle the sins of the world? • What makes something sacred in bhakti: form, faith, or transcendental connection? Get ready to rethink what it means to be purified, and how spiritual energy can travel through water, sound, and intention to change the destiny of a soul.

Wisdom of the Sages
1570: Why Is Ganges River Considered Purifying? Part 1

Wisdom of the Sages

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 53:59


Can 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 and Kaustubha explore the profound story of King Bhagirath and the descent of the Ganga, as told in the pages of the Śrīmad Bhāgavatam. Together, they unpack ancient insights into how grace flows through sacred elements, and how divine consciousness transforms even the physical elements of this world. Key Highlights: • Why Bhagirath's mission to bring down the Ganges spanned generations • The deep Vedic symbolism of “lotus feet” and approaching the divine from the ground up • Ganga's own doubts—can she handle the sins of the world? • What makes something sacred in bhakti: form, faith, or transcendental connection? Get ready to rethink what it means to be purified, and how spiritual energy can travel through water, sound, and intention to change the destiny of a soul.

Makers on a Mission
#59 The Trouble With Wilderness and Modern Environmentalism

Makers on a Mission

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2025 74:50


This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit akiyaproject.substack.comIf you believe that America's national park system is one of the greatest achievements in the country‘s history — and is for the betterment of mankind — you'd find yourself in the company of the majority, including me. However, Cronon articulates a fascinating history of post-Civil War America and the winding down of the Indian wars. At this time, many native Indians were forced off their land to establish the national parks across the country in the name of keeping the land “pristine” and “sublime”. Naturally, we think of this as an absurd tragedy. We often think of the native people as having a deep connection with the land and a deep connection to their human nature. Why, then, would we divorce them from their natural place and way of life in order to respect an arbitrary line on the map? In his essay, Cronon argues that we all possess the same human nature, whether we are native Indian, American settlers moving out West, Swiss mountaineers, or Japanese farmers. However, in our modern world, we Americans seem to have forgotten that truth that we are embued with human nature. Modernity and industrialization have done a good job of detaching us from the land, the fruits of our labor, and the wrath of natural disaster. Cronon says that we have fetishized the wilderness out there and have failed to recognize the wilderness in here. From a practical matter of public policy, it makes no sense to dismantle the national parks nor would I ever advocate for such action. However, my experiences in Japan, in Switzerland, and the reflections I've gained from reading this essay have taught me that it does little good to treat far-flung places as separate from civilization. If we do so, it becomes easy to slip into the mindset that we humans are devoid of nature, or worse, are contaminants to it. Instead, Cronon argues that we should tend to our gardens, care for the trees along our sidewalks, and clean the streams in our neighborhoods just as if they are Yosemite Valley, the Amazon Rainforest, or the Ganges River. There is a beautiful Buddhist belief that says that as you walk along the street and look upon the faces of the strangers going past you, you may just be looking at the face of the Buddha. In the same way, the nature in your backyard exemplifies the sublime if you only look close enough.Local Japan Podcast is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Books Mentioned In This Episode:When you purchase a book (or anything on Amazon) with the links below, you support me and the podcast at no extra cost to you:* Uncommon Ground: Toward Reinventing Nature by William Cronon* The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan* Walking by Henry David Thoreau* My First Summer in the Sierra by John Muir* Ranch Life and the Hunting Trail by Theodore Roosevelt* The End of Nature by Bill McKibben* This Is Dinosaur: Echo Park Country and Its Magic River by Wallace Stegner* Home Economics by Wendell BerryLinks to More Resources:* Profesor William Cronon* President Theodore Roosevelt* John Muir* William Woodsworth* Hayao Miyazaki* Princess Mononoke* Wendell Berry* Learn Ikebana in Kobe (with me and a local expert!) on TripAdvisor* The Akiya Project on YouTubeProducts Used For the Build* Rockwool Insulation* Wood PuttyIf you'd like to see the visual media and photos behind this paywall, please subscribe for $5 a month or just $40 a year!

Pariyatti
Ch. 4 - Noble Silence from Journey of Insight Meditation

Pariyatti

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025


Ch. 4 - Noble Silence from Journey of Insight Meditation by Eric Lerner BENARES, THE SPIRITUAL CAPITAL of Hinduism, and the site of our next retreat, had been one of the most exciting places I'd visited in India or anywhere else in my travels around the world four years earlier. It's a city of death and rebirth. Pilgrims gather there to bathe away their sins in the holy Ganges River waters and then patiently await the end of this life in order to be cremated beside the Mother of Waters. Saddhus and holy men mingle freely with the poor and the well-to-do. Everyone is a beggar at the end. The fires of cremation along the river banks produce eerie, smoky sunsets while the holy chanting of “Hare Krishna,” “Hare Krishna” goes on night and day. by Eric Lerner 2025 30 minutes 25 seconds Listen to Streaming Audio Your browser does not support the audio element. Download Audio (14MB) Audio copyright, 2025 Pariyatti View the book, eBook and free PDF download. You can also find it at Amazon worldwide using this link: http://a-fwd.com/com=pariyatti-20&asin=B0CJL9SG5D. About Eric Lerner. View more books and audio resources available in the Pariyatti bookstore.

Happy Jack Yoga Podcast
Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati, Ph.D. | Harvard Bhakti Yoga Conference | Episode 83

Happy Jack Yoga Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2025 62:28


Sadhviji Bhagawati Saraswati is a renunciate nun, or sanyasi, living in an ashram on the banks of the sacred Ganges River in Rishikesh, India, nestled amidst the majestic Himalayan Mountains. Originally from Los Angeles, California, and a graduate of Stanford University, she holds a Ph.D. in psychology and has devoted her life to sharing the profound wisdom of the ancient Vedic tradition from India. Sadhviji is a bestselling author, a world-renowned speaker, and a recipient of President Biden's Award for a Lifetime of Service. She also serves on the United Nations Advisory Council on Religion. Connect with Sadhviji: WEBSITE: www.sadhviji.org INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/sadhviji YOUTUBE: www.youtube.com/@Sadhviji This event is hosted by ✨ Happy Jack Yoga University ✨ www.happyjackyoga.com ➡️ Facebook: /happyjackyoga ➡️ Instagram: @happyjackyoga Bhakti Yoga Conference at Harvard Divinity School Experience a one-of-a-kind online opportunity with 40+ renowned scholars, monks, yogis, and thought leaders! REGISTER FOR FREE: www.happyjackyoga.com/bhakti-... This conference is your opportunity to immerse yourself in the wisdom of sincere practitioners as they address the questions and challenges faced by us all. Expect thought-provoking discussions, actionable insights, and a deeper understanding of cultivating Grace in an Age of Distraction and incorporating Bhakti Yoga into your daily life.

Portals of Perception
086 - Journeying to Source

Portals of Perception

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 70:26


It remains one of the most powerful and personal callings for someone on a quest for transformation and inspiration: the pilgrimage — a journey to what are believed to be sources of connection to the sacred or divine, the holy places.Many of the best-known religious pilgrimages involve a million or more believers or devotees, such as the Hajj, or sacred Hindu celebrations in India. A pilgrimage can be required by religious law, or begin with a singular calling, an inner urge, felt by the pilgrim for closer communion with the divine, however the spiritual or universal source is named or described.Why do people all over the planet from nearly every tradition take up these sometimes arduous adventures of spiritual devotion? What do they hope for?In this conversation we hear from two longtime Portals friends who recently completed what some people might call the pilgrimage of a lifetime, to the source high in the Himalayas of the sacred Ganges River, in Hindu belief the home of the Goddess Ganga. Jeff Vander Clute, consultant and author, and Grace Boda, teacher, consultant and executive coach, share with Aviv Shahar the feelings and power of their pilgrimage to this divine source.Among their insights:Pilgrimage is an opportunity to be individually transformed, and to plug into a universal power and give back into the collective — a seemingly nonlinear impact on the field, this planet and the people who inhabit her.It was a total life reboot; a reorientation from rigorously mining truth in every circumstance, to expressing love grounded in truth.It's reaching an edge physically, out of one's comfort zone, and needing to access other energy, other capacity, with the mental experience of dropping the structures and formations that block higher communion.When we Source, we open to the inspiration, and it brings a kind of knowing of right action — what the moment calls for. We can respond accordingly, and roles emerge; if a Sherpa is needed, we're suddenly a Sherpa.If there is shadow anywhere, there is shadow in me; if there is woundedness, there's woundedness in me. We co-participate in the field of healing. None of us is above the work required.If there is a Second Coming, it is all of us. This time, the upwelling impulse of enlightenment is collective — a collective presence and awakeness — which fills us from a source beyond any personal identity.This conversation is part of the continuing Portals discovery into what is emerging on the frontiers of human experience in this time of profound change. Information about upcoming special events can be found on the Events page. Also visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel. TWEETABLE QUOTES “And I realized that I was having a total life reboot. And, with the benefit of a little bit of hindsight, I can say that the nature of the reboot was a reorientation from mining truth, like rigorously mining truth, in every circumstance: what is true, what is true, what is true, what is true? What is real, and what is not? That had been my inquiry for many years. Subsequent to going all the way to the source, and having this embodied experience, the inquiry changed to expressing love.” (Jeff) “Perhaps because this group was ultra coherent, we were somehow able to become a conscious microcosm of the whole, of let's say the species, and even the whole Gaian system, and offer ourselves in service to the transformation of the entirety and the healing of the human family. So we're going to the source, and we're going to the roots, and we're able to be correspondingly empowered in our service and devotion to the transformation of humanity at this time.” (Jeff) RESOURCES MENTIONED Portals of Perception WebsiteAviv's LinkedIn Aviv's TwitterAviv's WebsiteJourneying to Source

Asia Rising
#229: Citizen Science on the Ganges

Asia Rising

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 21, 2024 28:59


The Ganges River, a lifeline for millions and one of the most significant and sacred rivers in the world, faces a multitude of seemingly intractable environmental challenges. One of the most innovative ways of both researching and shifting attitudes on the Ganges is through Citizen Science, bringing scientists and communities together to learn more about the world around them. Guests: Dr Prem Kurup (Science Education, La Trobe University) Anjali Yadav (PhD Candidate, La Trobe University and IIT Kanpur) Host: Assoc. Professor Ruth Gamble (Deputy Director, La Trobe Asia) Recorded on 17th October, 2024.

Unknown Nations Podcast
How a Ganges River Rescue Sparked a Gospel Movement in India

Unknown Nations Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2024 15:15


In this episode of Unknown Nations Podcast, Greg Kelley shares the remarkable story of Maya, whose encounter along the Ganges River ignited a gospel movement among the world's largest population of unreached people. Learn how her faith is now transforming lives and discover how you can join the mission and bring hope to the nations where Jesus is unknown.

 Learn more about Unknown Nations by visiting www.UnknownNations.com.

Fluent Fiction - Hindi
Tea, Travel & New Beginnings: A Love Story at Rishikesh

Fluent Fiction - Hindi

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2024 14:54


Fluent Fiction - Hindi: Tea, Travel & New Beginnings: A Love Story at Rishikesh Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:fluentfiction.org/tea-travel-new-beginnings-a-love-story-at-rishikesh Story Transcript:Hi: गंगा नदी के किनारे, ऋषिकेश के हरे-भरे वातावरण में एक चाय की दुकान थी।En: On the banks of the Ganges River, nestled in the lush environment of Rishikesh, there was a tea shop.Hi: हवा में शरद ऋतु की ठंडक थी, और दुकान पर लोग गणेश चतुर्थी की रंगीन तैयारियों में व्यस्त दिखाई दे रहे थे।En: The chill of autumn was in the air, and people at the shop appeared to be engrossed in the colorful preparations for Ganesh Chaturthi.Hi: चाय की भाप आस-पास फैल रही थी और लोग चाय के साथ अपनी यात्रा की कहानियाँ साझा कर रहे थे।En: The steam from the tea wafted around, and people were sharing stories of their journeys over cups of tea.Hi: रोहन चुपचाप एक नुक्कड़ पर बैठा चाय की चुस्की ले रहा था।En: Rohan sat quietly in a corner, sipping his tea.Hi: वह खुश दिखने की कोशिश कर रहा था, लेकिन उसका दिल अभी भी पिछली प्रेम कहानी के घाव को सहला रहा था।En: He tried to appear happy, but his heart was still nursing the wounds of a past love story.Hi: तभी, उसके बगल की कुर्सी पर एक युवती आकर बैठ गई।En: Just then, a young woman sat down on the chair next to him.Hi: यह आयशा थी, उसकी आँखों में साहसिकता की चमक थी, लेकिन भीतर गहरे वह जीवन के अगले कदम के बारे में उलझन में थी।En: It was Ayesha, whose eyes sparkled with a sense of adventure, yet deep inside she was tangled with uncertainties about her next steps in life.Hi: दोनों ने एक-दूसरे की ओर देखा और मुस्कुरा दिए।En: They looked at each other and smiled.Hi: रोहन ने आयशा से हल्की बातचीत शुरू की।En: Rohan initiated a light conversation with Ayesha.Hi: "क्या तुम भी यहाँ घूमने आई हो?En: "Are you here on a trip too?"Hi: " उसने पूछा।En: he asked.Hi: आयशा ने उत्तर दिया, "हाँ, और खुद को खोजने के लिए।En: Ayesha replied, "Yes, and to find myself."Hi: " उनकी बातें धीरे-धीरे यात्रा और आध्यात्मिकता की ओर मुड़ गईं।En: Their conversation gradually turned towards travel and spirituality.Hi: दोनों को लगा जैसे वे अपनी परेशानियों को एक-दूसरे के साथ साझा कर सकते हैं।En: Both felt as though they could share their troubles with one another.Hi: गणेश चतुर्थी के उत्सव के दौरान, गंगा के किनारे आवाज़ें और रंग बिखरे हुए थे।En: During the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, the sounds and colors scattered along the banks of the Ganges.Hi: रोहन ने अपनी यात्रा योजनाओं के बारे में आयशा को बताया और कहा, "क्या हमें और समय साथ बिताना चाहिए?En: Rohan shared his travel plans with Ayesha and said, "Should we spend more time together?"Hi: " आयशा ने सहमति में सिर हिला दिया।En: Ayesha nodded in agreement.Hi: मेला और त्योहार उनके भीतर एक विशेष संबंध जगा रहे थे, और उन्हें महसूस हुआ उन्होंने एक-दूसरे में कुछ अनमोल पाया है।En: The fair and festival sparked a special bond between them, and they realized they had found something precious in each other.Hi: जैसे ही वह दिन समाप्त हुआ, उन्होंने एक निर्णय लिया।En: As the day came to an end, they made a decision.Hi: वे ऋषिकेश में घूमने और एक साथ नई यात्रा शुरू करने का फैसला किया।En: They decided to explore Rishikesh together and embark on a new journey.Hi: रोहन ने धीरे-धीरे दिल खोलना शुरू किया और पाया कि वह फिर से प्यार और खुशी के प्रति आशावान हो सकता था।En: Rohan slowly began to open his heart and found that he could be hopeful about love and happiness once again.Hi: आशी ने महसूस किया कि वह नई चीज़ों को गले लगाने और संबंध बनाने में सक्षम है।En: Ayesha realized that she was capable of embracing new things and forming connections.Hi: इस तरह, गंगा के किनारे बैठकर, गणेश चतुर्थी की रोशनी में, दो यात्रियों ने एक नई यात्रा की शुरुआत की, जिसमें अनिश्चितता थी लेकिन साथीपन और रोमांच भी था।En: Thus, sitting on the banks of the Ganges, under the lights of Ganesh Chaturthi, the two travelers began a new journey, one filled with uncertainty but also companionship and adventure. Vocabulary Words:banks: किनारेnestled: स्थितlush: हरे-भरेengrossed: व्यस्तpreparations: तैयारियोंwafted: फैल रही थीnursing: सहलानाwounds: घावsparkled: चमकtangled: उलझनinitiated: शुरू कियाspirituality: आध्यात्मिकताscattered: बिखरे हुएbond: संबंधprecious: अनमोलcompanionship: साथीपनadventure: रोमांचenvironment: वातावरणchill: ठंडकautumn: शरद ऋतुsharing: साझा करनाsipping: चुस्की लेनाuncertainties: अनिश्चितताconversation: बातचीतgradually: धीरे-धीरेtogether: साथ-साथembracing: गले लगानाexplore: घूमनाhopeful: आशावानconnections: संबंध

SDI Encounters
Journey to India, January 2025 - Companionship and Transformation - Amrutham Babu

SDI Encounters

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2024 22:17


In this episode, recorded Thursday August 1st 2024, I spoke with Amrutham Babu, where we discussed the "Journey to India" from SDI, a 14-day and 15-night experience taking place from January 10 to 24, 2025. This trip is specifically designed for spiritual directors and companions, offering an in-depth look at India's spiritual heritage. The journey includes: - **Internal Airfare:** Travel between locations within India. - **Airport Shuttle:** Pick-up and drop-off from the airport. - **Accommodation:** Single and twin/double rooms available. - **Meals:** Daily breakfast at the hotel. - **Arrival/Departure Assistance:** Transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle. - **Sightseeing Transportation:** Private, air-conditioned coach. - **Guides:** A local English-speaking guide, an experienced spiritual companion, and an SDI staff member. - **Entrance Fees:** Access to all monuments. - **Toll Taxes and 5% GST.** - **Activities:** Rickshaw ride in Delhi, village tour in Amritsar, battery van ride in Agra, daily yoga sessions in Rishikesh, and a boat ride on the Ganges River in Varanasi. This journey is an opportunity for spiritual growth and connection through experiencing India's spiritual heritage. Amrutham and I explore the details of this transformative trip and how you can be part of it. Come join us. Learn more and register here: https://www.sdicompanions.org/product/india-journey-january-2025/

The fairly lame. Podcast
Saving The Ganges River, Floating Solar Farms, & More! Ep. 95

The fairly lame. Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2024 6:47


All my links: https://linktr.ee/fairlylame This Week's Stories! (0:00) Cleaning Up The Ganges River! (0:56) Floating Solar Farms! (2:14) Using Tyres To Re-Surface Roads! (3:41) Saving Hawai'i's Birds From Malaria! (4:58) Sources: Cleaning Up The Ganges River! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0BKaVbcC8I Floating Solar Farms! https://grist.org/energy/climate-lake-floating-solar-panels-floatovoltaics/ Using Tyres To Re-Surface Roads! https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/all-news/2020/jul/sustainable-roads  Saving Hawai'i's Birds From Malaria! https://www.npr.org/2024/06/12/nx-s1-4906582/mosquito-hawaii-birds-endangered-species-extinct

Culture Cult Travel Show
Travel Story: Falling Into The Ganges River with Christa Romano

Culture Cult Travel Show

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2024 54:32


Today we have on my business coach and digital nomad coach, Christa Romano from the Digital Nomad Life Academy and The Digital Nomad Life Podcast. She is here to tell us how she landed on Buzzfeed's Top Most Embarrassing Moments list and went viral. We also talk about what it means to become a digital nomad and how Christa and her program have truly changed my life. I am now able to work anywhere, travel the world and have ultimate freedom because of today's guest. I am so glad she is here on the show for y'all!  How to Become a Digital Nomad:FREE Masterclass from My CoachConnect with Christa:Digital Nomad Life Podcast@christabellatravels Support the Show.Want your episodes early? Sign up HERE to the newsletter. You will get episodes a week early!Connect:Instagram: @culturecultshowEmail: culturecultshow@gmail.comSend in your best travel story to share on the podcast via voice message or email:culturecultshow@gmail.com

The Devil Doc Talk Show
Episode 2: Exile & Ecstasy with Madison Margolin

The Devil Doc Talk Show

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 37:27


Madison Margolin is a journalist covering psychedelics and spirituality. She is the author of Exile & Ecstasy: Growing Up with Ram Dass & Coming of Age in the Jewish Psychedelic Underground. Also the host of the Be Here Now Network's Set & Setting Podcast, as well as the co-founder of both DoubleBlind Magazine and the Jewish Psychedelic Summit, she has written for publications like Rolling Stone, Playboy, VICE, High Times, Lucid News, and Jewish publishing house and production studio Ayin Press, where she works as an editor curating psychedelic stories and interviews. With a master's from Columbia Journalism School and a bachelor's in rhetoric and linguistics from UC Berkeley, Madison has traveled everywhere from pot farms in the Emerald Triangle to the shores of the Ganges River and all over Israel|Palestine exploring the role of entheogens in religion, health, and conflict resolution. With a decade's worth of experience covering psychedelics, cannabis, and religion/spirituality, Madison's work has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, KCRW, and other outlets. She offers classes, workshops, and consulting on the topic(s) of Judaism and psychedelics, and has presented at conferences like SXSW, Horizons: Perspectives in Psychedelics, the Association of Alternative News Media, and more. Check out her website or follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn.https://www.madisonmargolin.com 

Journey Now
God (And Sod) With Us

Journey Now

Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 42:48


As we continue our advent series on the past, present and future coming of Jesus, the NOW team of Suzie Lind, Kevin Dixon, Mike Erre and Tim Timmons reflect on God with us in the middle of our current darkness. Plus: Kevin goes Gran Torino and yells at the railroad workers to get off his lawn. Producer Edwin Rivera III gives the whole team a mommy boost, but it just tastes like grass clippings to Mike. Suzie shares an unfortunate side effect of the boost beets that has Tim seeing red.  Also: Stay tuned after the credits to learn all the tributaries of the Ganges River. 0:00 Introduction and assorted inanities  15:27 Actual content begins 38:15 Postcredit banter --- Got a question or a comment for the JourneyNOW team? Join the conversation by texting us at (615) 861-9503. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/journeychurch/support

Armchair Explorer
The Way of St James to the Burning Ghats of Varanasi: Walking on Sacred Ground with Travel Writer Rosemary Mahoney

Armchair Explorer

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 45:23


“When I first decided to do these pilgrimages, I told myself I'm doing this as an investigative reporter. I'm doing it as an observer, and as an outsider … and in the end, that isn't what happened.”Rosemary Mahoney, author The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground When Rosemary Mahoney got off the ferry at the tiny island of Tinos, in Greece, she witnessed something extraordinary. Pilgrims dressed in black exited the boat and immediately flung themselves to the ground, crawling on hands and knees to worship at a shrine at the top of a nearby hill. Watching these men and women rolling in the dirt, sweating beneath a scorching sun, she asked herself a simple question. Every human culture that has ever existed has had some concept of the divine, however you define that. She wanted to understand why.Her search for an answer began a remarkable journey to undertake six of the world's most prominent religious pilgrimages. Her journey would take her from the Way of St James, trekking hundreds of miles across the Pyrenees of southern France and Spain, to the burning ghats of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River, in India, and beyond.This isn't a story about religion, or faith. It is an investigation into one of the most fundamental, but little understood, aspects of humanity. It is a quest to discover the roots of belief itself. And to find it, she will have to travel to six countries, walk hundreds of miles, and stare death in the face. Insightful, evocative, and inspiring. Rosemary's story is an adventure into the heart of what it means to be human.FIND ROSEMARYGet a copy of Rosemary's book The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground, online or from your local bookstore. Find out more about her work at rosemarymahoney.net. Facebook: @RosemaryMahoneyWriterSOCIALShare the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about APT Podcast Studios on their website.CREDITSThis episode was produced by Armchair Productions. Find our other shows at armchair-productions.com. Jenny Allison wrote and produced this episode, along with host and producer Aaron Millar. Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music written by the artist Sweet Chap.

Armchair Explorer
The Way of St James to the Burning Ghats of Varanasi: Walking on Sacred Ground with Travel Writer Rosemary Mahoney

Armchair Explorer

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2023 48:52


“When I first decided to do these pilgrimages, I told myself I'm doing this as an investigative reporter. I'm doing it as an observer, and as an outsider … and in the end, that isn't what happened.” Rosemary Mahoney, author The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground When Rosemary Mahoney got off the ferry at the tiny island of Tinos, in Greece, she witnessed something extraordinary. Pilgrims dressed in black exited the boat and immediately flung themselves to the ground, crawling on hands and knees to worship at a shrine at the top of a nearby hill.  Watching these men and women rolling in the dirt, sweating beneath a scorching sun, she asked herself a simple question. Every human culture that has ever existed has had some concept of the divine, however you define that. She wanted to understand why. Her search for an answer began a remarkable journey to undertake six of the world's most prominent religious pilgrimages. Her journey would take her from the Way of St James, trekking hundreds of miles across the Pyrenees of southern France and Spain, to the burning ghats of Varanasi, on the banks of the Ganges River, in India, and beyond. This isn't a story about religion, or faith. It is an investigation into one of the most fundamental, but little understood, aspects of humanity. It is a quest to discover the roots of belief itself. And to find it, she will have to travel to six countries, walk hundreds of miles, and stare death in the face.  Insightful, evocative, and inspiring. Rosemary's story is an adventure into the heart of what it means to be human. FIND ROSEMARY Get a copy of Rosemary's book The Singular Pilgrim: Travels on Sacred Ground, online or from your local bookstore. Find out more about her work at rosemarymahoney.net. Facebook: @RosemaryMahoneyWriter SOCIAL Share the show with your friends! Subscribe to the podcast wherever you're listening, follow @armchairexplorerpodcast on Instagram and Facebook, check out Armchair Explorer's website, and learn more about APT Podcast Studios on their website. This show was produced by Armchair Productions. Jenny Allison and Aaron Millar wrote and produced it; Charles Tyrie did the audio editing and sound design. Theme music by the artist Sweet Chap. Find our other shows: armchair-productions.com  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Theatre of Others Podcast
TOO Episode 190: The Book Club 07 | You Are That by Gangaji

The Theatre of Others Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2023 70:37


In this episode, Adam and Budi discuss their seventh choice for the Theatre of Others Book Club, You Are That by GangajiGangaji, born Toni Roberson, grew up in Mississippi. Like many of her contemporaries, she searched for fulfillment through relationships, careers, motherhood, subculture experiences, political activism, and spiritual practice. While she had never planned to go to India, it was on the banks of the Ganges River that her search ended. In 1990, Gangaji met her teacher, Sri H.W.L. Poonja, known as Papaji. Papaji gave Toni the name Gangaji and asked that she bring his teaching to the West. He said, “The Ganga now will flow in the West.”Today, as a teacher and author, Gangaji speaks to people from all walks of life inviting them to fully recognize the absolute freedom and unchanging peace that is the truth of one's being.She is the author of The Diamond in Your Pocket: Discovering Your True Radiance, Freedom and Resolve: The Living Edge of Surrender, Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in Your Life Story, and You are THAT. She and her husband Eli Jaxon-Bear live in Ashland, OR.Support the showIf you enjoyed this week´s podcast, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts. To submit a question: Voice- http://www.speakpipe.com/theatreofothers Email- podcast@theatreofothers.com Support the Theatre of Others - Check out our Merch!Show Credits Co-Hosts: Adam Marple & Budi MillerProducer: Jack BurmeisterMusic: https://www.purple-planet.comAdditional compositions by @jack_burmeister

Digital Nomad Life Podcast
Bleep Pray Love: My Three Craziest Travel Stories

Digital Nomad Life Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 12, 2023 54:19


So how did I end up on viral Buzzfeed article of The 23 Most Awkwardly Painful Things That Happened In 2015?  Well on this episode I am covering that, along with my best three travel stories as I have been traveling as a digital nomad.  We are covering how I hit a bucket list experience in Cappadocia Turkey, how I became a viral sensation during my trip to India, and how I dealt with heartbreak in Guatemala. Travel isn't always perfect, but it is always a good story and one I would love to share with you today! If you want to hear more of my travel stories, let me know! Message me @christabellatravels on Instagram and let me know which of these stories were your favorite. FREE Digital Nomad Masterclasshttps://www.digitalnomadlifeacademy.com/masterclassJoin me for a monthly live event: https://www.digitalnomadlifeacademy.com/nomadpotentialEnroll in the Digital Nomad Life Academy:https://www.digitalnomadlifeacademy.com/dnlaApply  for my VIP coaching program:(5-month intensive):https://www.digitalnomadlifeacademy.com/coachingFollow me on Tiktok:https://www.tiktok.com/@christabellatravelsMessage me Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/digitalnomadlifeacademyhttps://www.instagram.com/christabellatravels/

Yogananda Monastics SRF YSS Convocation
Living in the Sacred Presence of the Divine Mother | Swami Chidananda Giri

Yogananda Monastics SRF YSS Convocation

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 29, 2023 53:03


May 7, 2021 #Yogananda #YogodaSatsangaSociety #SRF Swami Chidananda Giri, president and spiritual head of Yogoda Satsanga Society of India/Self-Realization Fellowship, delivers an uplifting talk on the Divine Mother aspect of God while visiting India for the centenary celebrations for YSS in 2017. This was Swami Chidanandaji's first visit to Paramahansa Yogananda's beloved motherland after becoming president of YSS/SRF. In this inspired talk, filmed at the YSS Math in Dakshineswar (Kolkata) along the banks of the sacred Ganges River, Swami Chidanandaji illuminates the concept of the Divine Mother as taught by Paramahansa Yogananda. Presenting stories from Yoganandaji's “Autobiography of a Yogi,” sharing his own experiences and impressions, and using guided meditation and visualization to help the audience make these truths real for themselves, Swami Chidanandaji illustrates how every devotee can create a personal and profound relationship with the Divine Mother. To learn more about the YSS Lessons, the home-study course created by Yogananda presenting his personal instruction in the science of meditation and the art of balance spiritual living: https://yssofindia.org/yss-lessons To participate in special online Healing Prayer Sessions conducted by YSS sannyasis: https://yssofindia.org/event/special-... To participate in an online group meditation through the YSS Online Dhyana Kendra: https://yssofindia.org/online-meditation To read “Autobiography of a Yogi,” now celebrating its 75th year in print: https://bookstore.yssofindia.org/prod... To view more talks from this series:    • Inspirational Services With Meditation   If you would like to support the spiritual and humanitarian work of YSS, please click on this link: http://www.donateyss.org ***  For the latest content from SRF: https://yogananda.org/   / yoganandasrf  https://www.facebook.com/selfrealizat...https://twitter.com/srfyoganandahttps://www.instagram.com/selfrealiza...https://bookstore.yogananda-srf.org/ ***  About Subtitles/closed captions:  We are happy to provide quality subtitles in several languages. If no captioning is yet available in your language, please check back in a few days. Subtitulado común o para personas con discapacidad auditiva: Nos complace ofrecer subtítulos en español. Si aún no los encuentra disponibles en su idioma, por favor vuelva a verificar en unos días.  Untertitel: Wir freuen uns sehr, Ihnen auch passende deutsche Untertitel bieten zu können. Sollten die Untertitel gerade noch nicht zur Verfügung stehen, bitten wir Sie, einige Tage später nochmals nachzusehen. Sottotitoli: siamo felici di mettere a vostra disposizione sottotitoli in italiano. Nel caso i sottotitoli non risultino ancora disponibili nella vostra lingua, vi invitiamo a ricontrollare tra qualche giorno. Legendas e legendas ocultas: Temos a satisfação de disponibilizar legendas fidedignas em português. Caso as legendas na sua língua não estejam disponíveis, por favor, verifique novamente dentro de alguns dias. #Yogananda#SwamiChidananda#DivineMother#HowToLive#YSS#SRF#YogodaSatsangaSociety#KriyaYoga#BrotherChidananda#Chidananda#DivineMother

Reuters World News
Chile arms up and India's holy city of death

Reuters World News

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2023 12:03


In today's episode, why Chileans are stocking up on armored vehicles and guns. The latest on the cat-and-mouse game between Disney and Florida's Governor DeSantis. And journey to the banks of India's Ganges River, where the elderly are choosing to break the cycle of death and rebirth rather than head into a nursing home. Visit the Thomson Reuters Privacy Statement for information on our privacy and data protection practices. You may also visit megaphone.fm/adchoices to opt-out of targeted advertising

The Skeptic Zone
The Skeptic Zone #736 - 13.November.2022

The Skeptic Zone

Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2022 59:15


0:00:00 Introduction Richard Saunders 0:06:42 A Strongly Worded Letter Skeptics receive all sorts of interesting letters from the public, some complimentary, some not. It seems that many people also believe that skeptical organisations wield much more power or influence than we really do. On today's show, Richard Saunders reads one of the more noteworthy examples of frustration from a corespondent. 0:18:16 You Can Count on Adrienne. With Adrienne Hill The Story of 'Lady Ganga', Michele Frazier Baldwin, daughter of Kendrick and Ruth Frazier. When Michele, a 45 year old Mother of three was diagnosed with late-stage cervical cancer, she took this as a call-to-action. She decided that she would travel to India to paddle board over 700 miles down the Ganges River, spreading awareness about this disease that was going to kill her and breaking a World Record in the process. https://www.ladyganga.world LADY GANGA: NILZA'S STORY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5yMCzx0ctU 0:23:34 Rob Palmer at CSICon 2022 Guest reporter Rob roves around the halls at CSICon 2022 in Las Vagas and bumps into Kyle Polich from the Data Skeptic Podcast, Karl Withakay and JD Sword. 0:38:12 A Dive into a Trove A wander through the decades of digitised newspapers on a search for references to Kendrick Frazier. 1989, Nov 25 - Kenosha News 1976, July 26 - Benton Courier 1995, Aug 28 - Clovis News Also Sydney Skeptics in the Pub Special Guests, 24th Nov. https://www.meetup.com/austskeptics/events/287036082 Australian Skeptics National Convention 2022 Science & Skepticism in a changed world 3 - 4 December, National Library of Australia, Canberra https://skepticon.org.au

australia mother dive world records canberra national library ganges river you can count rob palmer richard saunders las vagas csicon skeptic zone kyle polich australian skeptics national convention
Sovereign Man
Why we had another baby in Mexico

Sovereign Man

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 29:28


First, I am really grateful for all the well-wishes and congratulations we received on the birth of my son. He's doing great, and I'm over the moon. I decided to record a podcast about the experience-- why my wife and I decided to have our first child here last year, as well as our second child this year, and tell you how great the experience was. Naturally, though, we start with a historical perspective. Today's episode begins in ancient India with one of the most famous figures in human history. It turns out that, in addition to being a spiritual icon, he was also an extreme biohacker. We talk about the evolution of medicine, and how healthcare used to be a ‘patient-first', science-driven field. Individual healthcare practitioners today are still that way. Doctors, nurses, and medical researchers have answered a noble calling to help the sick. But the healthcare industry itself is now ruled by insurance companies and political hacks who have managed to increase the cost of care, make it much more bureaucratic, and severely dilute the doctor-patient relationship. I share a story of my step father, who died several weeks ago after being chewed up by a healthcare system that did not seem designed to help him. This is one of the big reasons why we had our children in Mexico; it's a much more liberated healthcare system. In Mexico, we have a very close relationship with the physician, who is unconstrained by bureaucratic policies and idiotic regulations. And if some stupid rule ever does come up? It's Mexico. We ignore it. The births of my children were both fantastic experiences. The hospital was great. The physicians and nurses were great. And the cost? Imagine Nany Pelosi closing her thumb and index finger into a small circle saying, “It costs nothing.” Frankly it's almost embarrassing that the all-in cost of my child's birth was about $1,750, including the ‘Presidential Suite' at one of the best private hospitals in the country. My children are both Mexican citizens (in addition to the four others that they receive from mom and dad). Plus parents AND grandparents are both entitled to permanent residency in Mexico. This proved especially useful for my in-laws; my wife is from Ukraine, so we were able to get the family out of Kiev and relocate them here to Cancun-- because they now have permanent residency. I tell you the whole story in today's episode, which you can listen to here. Open Podcast Transcription [00:00:01.140] Today we're going to go back in time more than 2500 years ago to the mid 500 BC. To the Kingdom of Kashi on the Ganges River in northern India. Now you might not have heard of the Kingdom of Kashi, a lot of people haven't, but it's actually quite historically significant for a couple of reasons that we're going to get into. At the time, in the mid 500s, there was a guy in his mid thirty s, a guy that some of you might know. This name Siddharta Gotama.   [00:00:27.520] And if you don't know his name, you will in a moment. But this is a person who was born into wealth and power and money and status and he renounced it all. As a young man he said, I'm not interested in the money. What I am interested in is spiritual enlightenment. And that might sound a little bit hokey today, but back then that was actually quite a popular social value.   [00:00:49.210] A lot of people said, you know, I want to seek spiritual enlightenment and their culture and their civilization. That was a prized value. And he walked away from all of his worldly possessions and decided that the way he wanted to do that, he was going to hit the road. And he became essentially a wandering beggar. And during that time he experimented with some really extreme conditions.   [00:01:07.920] At the time, in fact, there was a commonly held belief that if you starved yourself that eventually you would achieve spiritual enlightenment. And this seems crazy to us,

Sovereign Man
Why we had another baby in Mexico

Sovereign Man

Play Episode Listen Later Oct 28, 2022 29:28


First, I am really grateful for all the well-wishes and congratulations we received on the birth of my son. He's doing great, and I'm over the moon. I decided to record a podcast about the experience-- why my wife and I decided to have our first child here last year, as well as our second child this year, and tell you how great the experience was. Naturally, though, we start with a historical perspective. Today's episode begins in ancient India with one of the most famous figures in human history. It turns out that, in addition to being a spiritual icon, he was also an extreme biohacker. We talk about the evolution of medicine, and how healthcare used to be a ‘patient-first', science-driven field. Individual healthcare practitioners today are still that way. Doctors, nurses, and medical researchers have answered a noble calling to help the sick. But the healthcare industry itself is now ruled by insurance companies and political hacks who have managed to increase the cost of care, make it much more bureaucratic, and severely dilute the doctor-patient relationship. I share a story of my step father, who died several weeks ago after being chewed up by a healthcare system that did not seem designed to help him. This is one of the big reasons why we had our children in Mexico; it's a much more liberated healthcare system. In Mexico, we have a very close relationship with the physician, who is unconstrained by bureaucratic policies and idiotic regulations. And if some stupid rule ever does come up? It's Mexico. We ignore it. The births of my children were both fantastic experiences. The hospital was great. The physicians and nurses were great. And the cost? Imagine Nany Pelosi closing her thumb and index finger into a small circle saying, “It costs nothing.” Frankly it's almost embarrassing that the all-in cost of my child's birth was about $1,750, including the ‘Presidential Suite' at one of the best private hospitals in the country. My children are both Mexican citizens (in addition to the four others that they receive from mom and dad). Plus parents AND grandparents are both entitled to permanent residency in Mexico. This proved especially useful for my in-laws; my wife is from Ukraine, so we were able to get the family out of Kiev and relocate them here to Cancun-- because they now have permanent residency. I tell you the whole story in today's episode, which you can listen to here. Open Podcast Transcription [00:00:01.140] Today we're going to go back in time more than 2500 years ago to the mid 500 BC. To the Kingdom of Kashi on the Ganges River in northern India. Now you might not have heard of the Kingdom of Kashi, a lot of people haven't, but it's actually quite historically significant for a couple of reasons that we're going to get into. At the time, in the mid 500s, there was a guy in his mid thirty s, a guy that some of you might know. This name Siddharta Gotama.   [00:00:27.520] And if you don't know his name, you will in a moment. But this is a person who was born into wealth and power and money and status and he renounced it all. As a young man he said, I'm not interested in the money. What I am interested in is spiritual enlightenment. And that might sound a little bit hokey today, but back then that was actually quite a popular social value.   [00:00:49.210] A lot of people said, you know, I want to seek spiritual enlightenment and their culture and their civilization. That was a prized value. And he walked away from all of his worldly possessions and decided that the way he wanted to do that, he was going to hit the road. And he became essentially a wandering beggar. And during that time he experimented with some really extreme conditions.   [00:01:07.920] At the time, in fact, there was a commonly held belief that if you starved yourself that eventually you would achieve spiritual enlightenment. And this seems crazy to us,

Vedic Worldview
The Ganges - More Than Just a River

Vedic Worldview

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 12:23


Few rivers have a name as iconic as the Ganges River in India. At over 1550 miles (2,500 kms) long, it winds its way from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal, passing a population of over 650 million along the way, making it the most populated river basin in the world.But there is more to the Ganges than just a body of water meandering through the landscape.In this episode, Thom brings his beloved Ganges to life. He explains why she plays such a significant role in the spiritual life of Indian citizens and visitors who come from around the world just to bathe in her icy waters. Thom leaves us in no doubt that the Ganges will justifiably play a pivotal role in our upcoming 2023 retreat in Rishikesh.If you'd like to attend the retreat with Thom in Rishikesh India from January 8th to 18th, 2023, please visit Thom's website for more details, https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ or follow the link in the show notes.[00:00:45] Mother Ganga[00:03:17] The Goddess Whom Everyone Can See[00:05:25] Taking a Dip in Ganga[00:07:19] An Invitation from Swami Kailashanand Giri[00:09:06] Removing Karma from the Physiology Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/

Vedic Worldview
Come Sit with Me in Rishikesh - An Invitation to My 2023 India Retreat

Vedic Worldview

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2022 14:29


If the idea of a Vedic Meditation retreat in the foothills of the Himalayas with Thom Knoles sounds appealing, then this episode is for you.After a two-year hiatus, Thom is returning to Rishikesh and is extending a warm welcome to Vedic Meditators, and aspiring meditators alike, for a 10-day experience like no other.Thom explains why Rishikesh is the first and perfect choice for such a retreat, making it a pilgrimage to the acknowledged home of meditation and yoga. He outlines the daily routine and some of the highlights to look forward to, such as visits to the Ganges River and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's former ashram, and time spent as guests of His Holiness Swami Kailashanand Giri, the Shankaracharya-elect and the Master of our tradition.With luxury accommodations and gourmet food at the famous Divine Hotel, , your stay will be truly memorable.Let Thom whet your appetite with this special bonus episode, then make your way to https://thomknoles.com/india-retreat/ to register.Jai Guru Deva.[00:01:19] Upanishad - Sitting at the Feet[00:02:38] Rishikesh - A Holy Name for a Holy Place[00:04:53] Bringing an End to Ignorance[00:06:25] Ending the Day With Sama Veda[00:07:43] Honored Guests[00:09:05] A Divine Place to Learn Vedic Meditation[00:10:52] You Were in Rishikesh? Useful Linksinfo@thomknoles.com https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoles/https://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoles https://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/