Wisdom of the Sages – Details, episodes & analysis

From the sacred city of Jaipur, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore what it means to take the next step in Bhakti—moving from faith to steady practice and learning under a teacher. They discuss how one can deepen Bhakti while still appreciating the devotion and love of Christ, and how to live the principle of yukta-vairāgya—using one's resources and influence in divine service without losing focus on the goal of love for God.

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From the banks of the Ganga in Rishikesh, this pilgrim Q&A with Raghunath and Kaustubha explores how to respond to visible suffering without emotional collapse, how being "more tolerant than a tree" coexists with healthy boundaries, and how to start a simple, welcoming satsang at home. They also respond to questions about balancing the eagerness to advance with patience, perspective, and the value of living and serving in the moment.

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Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages

LISTEN ON ITUNES: https://podcasts/apple.com/us/podcast/wisdom-of-the-sages/id1493055485

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You Can't Hurry Love: How Bhakti Matures
It's easy to look spiritual — chant loud, dress the part, quote Sanskrit — but bhakti gets real when one starts perceiving divinity everywhere, in everyone. In this live Wisdom of the Sages retreat Q&A, Raghunath and Kaustubha explore how beginner bhakti matures into genuine love — the kind that sees God in every heart and responds with compassion.

Episode Highlights:
* "Ego is the glass in the soup of our joy" — why even a small shard ruins the whole pot
* You can't hurry love: why bhakti grows slow, like a vine
* From neophyte to mature devotee — learning to see Krishna in everyone
* Preaching without pretense: why sharing joy beats proving philosophy
* The charity trap — what King Nṛga's story teaches about giving wisely

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Go to https://www.wisdomofthesages.com

WATCH ON YOUTUBE: https://youtube.com/@WisdomoftheSages

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Not all sorrow is a step backwards—sometimes, it's the signal that real growth has begun. In this powerful Q & A episode of Wisdom of the Sages, Raghunath and Kaustubha dive deep into what one listener calls "the sorrow of losing joy in the material world." What unfolds is a raw, insightful conversation on threshold sorrow—the strange pain of shedding old pleasures that no longer satisfy, and crossing into the unknown terrain of spiritual depth.

🎧 All Questions Answered in this Episode:
•⁠  ⁠Is it normal to feel sadness when losing taste for material pleasures?
•⁠  ⁠How to understand sattva guna (the mode of goodness)?
•⁠  ⁠Were Lord Rāma's exiled sons bereft of His loving affection?
•⁠  ⁠How do I know if I'm doing what God intends for me to do in life?

From the bittersweet poetry of spiritual surrender to the mystery of divine separation, Raghunath and Kaustubha unpack what it means when Krishna starts cleaning out the clutter of your heart. Sometimes, enlightenment feels like heartbreak. But there's beauty in the break.

Key Highlights:
•⁠  ⁠Why "threshold sorrow" is a sign of real progress on the bhakti path
•⁠  ⁠What happens when you try to relive your old joys and it just tastes like… Carvel?
•⁠  ⁠Poetry can capture the bittersweet taste of spiritual growth
•⁠  ⁠Why Luv and Kush weren't spiritually shortchanged—even if their dad was Lord Rāma and they were raised by a sage in the woods
•⁠  ⁠The surprising power of sattva (goodness) as more than just "calm energy"
•⁠  ⁠God's will, your purpose, and the secret of finding clarity in a confusing world

🔔 Subscribe for more daily drops of yoga wisdom and truth bombs from the bhakti tradition.
🎙️ Listen now and let the old self die—so something better can be born.

#BhaktiYoga #ThresholdSorrow #SpiritualAwakening #LettingGo #KrishnaConsciousness #WisdomOfTheSages #BhagavadGita #SitaRam #VedicWisdom #ThreeGunas #ModeOfGoodness #BhaktiTransformation #EgoDeath #LoveAndSeparation

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How to make the workspace a sacred space? / How to offer food to Krishna in a restaurant? / Is there room for healthy cynicism in Bhakti? / Which should one prioritize studying - lilas, siddhanta, or sambhandha? / How can one best explain their Bhakti practice in their day-to-day interactions? / What should I consider when it comes to maintaining my business & practicing a spiritual life?

spirituality is about seeing the spirit soul in the body glove / the sword of time cuts away everything material / we are black belts at consumption - big deal! / the material bucket list doesn't fulfill the heart / the fish doesn't want skittles it wants water / don't try and beat the system- Krishna has a plan / a moment's association with a great soul can change the trajectory of your life / add spiritual knowledge to your opulences / free will is the space between stimulus and response / to the degree that we are dominated by rajas and tamas, we don't have much free will / mukti is already within bhakti

SB 4.9.9-24

Live from the Himalayas, Raghunath answers questions from his 'live live' group of trekkers

Why is being born into material wealth considered good karma? /  What advice to you have for someone who loves bhakti but doesn't plan to seek initiation? / How do I keep this connection after I get home when I don't have a community? / How can I bake bhakti into my hatha yoga studio? / How can I stay in the holy Dham? / How do I integrate my experience from here when I arrive home and explain it to my family and friends? / How do you know when the right time to make a big career shift? / Let's talk about sex

Janeshwar's story / gurus have unlocked a treasure trove of spiritual goodies / we have a great toolbox, community and culture / we become empowered by practicing Bhakti / grab on to the feet of teachers and humbly serve to receive the trickle down of wisdom / change your lenses and smear your eyes with the salve of love / we waste our life chasing other skin bags / don't fall in love with a glove / fill up at the transcendental gas station 

4.8.80-4.9.9

Follow Janeshwar at mantra_prema_photography

our sadhana trains us to call for Krishna during the rapids and turbulences of life / we're all in training for the moment of death / you need a regulated committed practice to see results / a little bit of Bhakti is wonderful to add to your life. so is a bathtub. or a swimming pool of bhakti / God is non different from the mantra / invite Krishna in—call him / follow the notes and directions of previous travelers on the path / our whole life is a spiritual experience / get addicted to things that serve us

SB 4.8.57-80

our lives are Buddhist sand mandalas that are about to blow away / the soul is meant to give love / our minds screw us up from our innate desire to serve & love / let the mud of the mind settle so you can see Krishna / cultivate an attitude of being satisfied simply / calling the sacred rivers / doing worship in the mind / grinding sandalwood in Guruvayor / Krishna appears in a dream to Andal's father / Krishna comes in a dream to Madhavendra Puri / Krishna talks a priest in his dream about Madhavendra puri

SB 4.8.55-58