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CHITHEADS with Jacob Kyle (Embodied Philosophy)

CHITHEADS with Jacob Kyle (Embodied Philosophy)

Auteur(s): Jacob Kyle
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 Chitheads is a smorgasbord of contemplative education. Each episode is like a mini masterclass, exploring the diverse landscapes of spiritual practice, philosophy, and the transformative power of embodied knowledge. Each episode is crafted with the curious and open heart in mind, aiming to illuminate the path of self-inquiry and empowerment for yoga teachers, scholar-practitioners, meditators and other spiritual seekers and contemplative folks from around the world. From the profound teachings of Yoga and Buddhism to the sometimes complex theories of contemplative psychology and the vibrant tapestry of indigenous wisdom, our guests share insights that awaken, challenge, and inspire. With every episode, we dive into discussions that matter, exploring questions that guide us closer to our true selves and to a deeper understanding of the world around us. Our mission is to create a space where wisdom (and not fame, power, or money) is the center of gravity and what we are most concerned about cultivating in this lifetime. Join us on Chitheads as we explore the liminal spaces of consciousness, embrace the complexities of the human experience without dogma or self-righteousness, and discover the beauty again and again of the interconnectedness of all things. Subscribe to Chitheads on YouTube and your favorite podcast platform, and please consider leaving us a positive review on one iTunes, or your favorite podcast player. Come dive into these in-depth conversations that illuminate our path of contemplative discovery. If you’ve felt like you’re the only one full of chit – full of consciousness or awareness ˀ– welcome home. This community of listeners, seekers, and scholar-practitioners is for you.Copyright Embodied Philosophy Hindouisme Philosophie Sciences sociales Spiritualité
Épisodes
  • Everything is the Goddess with Nataraj Chaitanya

    Everything is the Goddess with Nataraj Chaitanya
    Oct 8 2025
    In this episode, Jacob Kyle sits down with his longtime friend and collaborator Nataraj Chaitanya, whose early creative influence helped shape the founding vision of Embodied Philosophy and even inspired the name CHITHEADS.

    Ten years after those first late-night conversations about yoga, consciousness, and modern spirituality, Jacob and Nataraj reunite to explore what it means to live a tantric life—one that embraces devotion, awareness, creativity, and radical honesty as integral parts of the spiritual path.

    From the story of Nataraj’s early encounter with mantra practice as a young gay teenager in Virginia to his life as a teacher, devotee, and lineage-holder in the meditation tradition of Bhagavan Nityananda, this conversation moves through the full terrain of sādhana as both an art and a science of awakening.

    Together they discuss:
    • The origins of Embodied Philosophy and the early spirit of CHITHEADS
    • Sādhana as alchemy: how awareness and aliveness generate bliss (ānanda)
    • Aesthetics and yoga: why āsana is more like theatre than therapy
    • Lineage and transmission: the living power of a genuine spiritual tradition
    • Devotion and nonduality: giving reality a personality and meeting the divine in all forms
    • Queerness as contemplative opportunity: living between identities as a form of freedom
    • Pilgrimage as a way of life: learning to meet every moment as the Goddess herself

    Throughout the conversation, the two reflect on their parallel journeys—academic, creative, and spiritual—and on the importance of rebuilding Embodied Philosophy around its original vision: to make philosophy and practice inseparable, and to honor both the scholar and the practitioner within each of us.

    The episode also marks a new chapter for Embodied Philosophy: Nataraj will be joining the faculty of Wisdom School and Sādhana School, contributing his decades of experience in yoga, mantra, and contemplative education to a new generation of seeker-teachers.This is a conversation about devotion, transformation, and friendship—about what it means to practice in a world that needs both scholarship and surrender, intellect and love.

    Guest Bio: Nataraj Chaitanya

    Nataraj Chaitanya has led retreats, workshops, kīrtans, and teacher training programs around the world for more than twenty years.

    After beginning a daily meditation and yoga practice at the age of thirteen, Nataraj immersed himself in the teachings of yoga and tantra and, by sixteen, began sharing these nectarean teachings with others. Over two decades, he has inspired countless seekers to take up a committed spiritual practice and has dedicated his life to bringing the wisdom of yoga into everyday life.

    His love of teaching is evident in the devotional and enthusiastic spirit with which he leads his sessions, creating environments where people from all walks of life can directly contact the fullness of their own Being.

    In January 2019, Nataraj became a formal initiate and custodian of the meditation tradition of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri, under Mahamandaleshwar Swami Shankarananda, one of Swami Muktananda’s senior disciples.

    He currently lives and teaches in Melbourne, Australia.

    Episode Links

    Follow Nataraj Chaitanya:

    Website →

    Instagram →

    Explore Embodied Philosophy:

    Wisdom School →

    Sādhana School →

    Watch CHITHEADS on YouTube →
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    1 h et 7 min
  • Spiritual Bypassing, Non-Dualism Explained, and the 4th State of Consciousness with Jacob Kyle

    Spiritual Bypassing, Non-Dualism Explained, and the 4th State of Consciousness with Jacob Kyle
    Jun 16 2025
    In this episode, Jacob Kyle offers a curated selection of teachings from Sādhana School, Embodied Philosophy’s year-long curriculum of contemplative study and practice. The episode weaves together reflections on states of consciousness, metaphysics, emotional transformation, and the pitfalls of spiritual bypassing, drawing deeply from Indian philosophical and Tantric traditions.

    Jacob begins by exploring the concept of Turiya, the “fourth state” of consciousness beyond waking, dreaming, and deep sleep, and its Tantric extension in Turiyatita—a state where meditative awareness permeates ordinary perception. He connects these insights to śānta-rasa, the rasa of peace or equanimity, positioning it as the rasa that can suffuse all other experiences when integrated through practice.

    The episode offers a critique of materialist metaphysics, highlighting how modern scientism struggles to account for consciousness. Jacob contrasts this with Indian philosophical frameworks—including dualism, monism, and non-dualism—that offer richer ontologies for understanding consciousness and its relation to the world.

    Finally, the episode delves into spiritual bypassing: the tendency to use spiritual ideals to avoid emotional challenges. Jacob presents rasa theory as an antidote, showing how emotions—whether grief, fear, anger, or joy—are not obstacles but sacred expressions of consciousness. Through aesthetic contemplation (bhāvanā), these emotions can be transmuted into rasa, universalized flavors of awareness that guide the practitioner toward deeper Self-realization and the peace of śānta-rasa.

    To learn about the comprehensive contemplative curriculum in next year's Sādhana School (2025-2026), and to use coupon code CHITHEADS250, go here:
    https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/ss-2025-2026-early-enrollment

    Or to learn more and enroll in the Kuṇḍalinī & Radical Embodiment Summer Retreat, go here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/kundalini-summer-retreat

    To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/yp-list

    30-DAY SĀDHANA:     30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.

    MANTRA Sādhana:     https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/30-day-sadhana CHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/chakra-sadhana

    WISDOM SCHOOL:     Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers, body workers, healers, and therapists.
    Features: → A new course every month on a variety of topics → Learning pathways that help you digest the content → Wisdom study emails → Interactive member space

    Start your 7-Day Free Trial:     https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school
    Voir plus Voir moins
    42 min
  • The Power of Poetry in Medieval Kashmir with James D. Reich

    The Power of Poetry in Medieval Kashmir with James D. Reich
    Apr 10 2025
    In this conversation, Jacob Kyle and James D. Reich discuss the concept of Rasa in Indian aesthetics and literary theory. They explore the idea that poetry and art can evoke a specific emotional experience in the audience, known as Rasa. They delve into the theories of Anandavardhana and Abhinavagupta, who developed the concept of Rasa and its associated elements, such as Dhvani. They also discuss the relationship between aesthetics and theology in Abhinavagupta's work, highlighting how his understanding of Rasa is deeply rooted in his non-dualistic and monistic philosophy. The conversation touches on the ethical implications of Rasa and its potential to enhance our understanding of emotions and our connection to the divine.

    James D. Reich is the author of Save to Savor the Meaning: The Theology of Literary Emotions in Medieval Kashmir, a compelling exploration of the intellectual history of the region, focusing on the intersection of aesthetics and the philosophical theology of Kashmir Shaivism. His work engages deeply with religion in South Asia, including Hinduism and Buddhism, as well as Sanskrit literature, the theory of religious studies, and the interplay between literature and religion.

    -----

    To learn about the comprehensive contemplative curriculum in Sādhana School, and to use coupon code CHITHEADS250 go here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/sadhana-school-list or learn more and enroll in the "Rasa Theory: Emotions and Imagination for Meditation & Self-Realization" Spring Sādhana only - https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/spring-2025-sadhana-school.

    Interested in the greater 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training? Learn more here: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/ytt-2025.

    To deepen your knowledge of yoga philosophy, grab our Yoga Philosophy Reading List, a curated PDF of all the books that will give you a comprehensive overview of the yoga philosophical traditions. GET YOUR LIST HERE: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/yp-list

    30-DAY SĀDHANA: 30 Days of Practices to help refine the nervous system, alleviate negative patterns, and foster a contemplative and spiritually-informed life.

    MANTRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/30-day-sadhana

    CHAKRA Sādhana: https://enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/chakra-sadhana

    WISDOM SCHOOL: Over 100 courses (1000+ hours) in yoga, meditation, somatics, and dharma studies for spiritual seekers, yoga teachers and, body workers, healers and therapists.

    Features:
    → A new course every month on a variety of topics
    → Learning pathways that help you digest the content
    → Wisdom study emails
    → Interactive member space

    Start your 7-Day Free Trial: enroll.embodiedphilosophy.com/wisdom-school
    Voir plus Voir moins
    1 h et 24 min
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