Episode Details

The Masters of the Shankaracharya Tradition Part 2

Episode 316 Published 7 hours ago

Description

Why would a naked yogi be received as a blessing, and why would a great master decline a title others might revere?

In this second part of the two-part Masters of the Tradition series (watch or listen to Part 1 here), Thom answers questions about Shukadeva, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, the place of women in the tradition, and the meaning behind Guru Deva's throne and parasol.

Along the way, he opens a wider view of the Shankaracharya tradition, its stages of life, its hidden maternal lineage, and the cultural world from which these symbols emerge.

Listen to or watch this episode to explore the stories, symbolism, and living context behind the tradition.

Episode Highlights

[00:45] Q - Who is the blue-skinned master with no robes?

[00:56] A - Shukadeva and the Demigods

[05:00] Unity Consciousness and Fearlessness

[09:19] A Naked Yogi as Blessing

[11:52] Q - Why did Maharishi Mahesh Yogi not become a Mahamandaleshwar?

[11:56] A - The Four Stages of Life

[16:07] Maharishi as a Forest Dweller

[18:47] Accepting the Mahamandaleshwar Title

[19:53] Q - What role do women hold here?

[20:03] A - Paralakshmi's Injunction