logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
1h 51m

On the Role of the Guru with Hari-kirtan...

Jacob Kyle
About this episode
About the Guests

Hari-kirtana das is a yoga teacher, spiritual mentor, and author. He's been practicing devotional yoga and various other yogic disciplines for the better part of the last 50 years, has lived in yoga ashrams and intentional spiritual communities, and has a talent for making complex ideas about spiritual philosophy easy to understand.  Kenneth Rose, Ph.D., is an author, speaker, and professor of philosophy and religion. As a scholar-practitioner, he specializes in comparative religion, comparative mysticism, and spirituality. Trish Tillman is a history professor and yoga teacher in the Washington, DC area. She holds a Ph.D. in History from the Catholic University of America and teaches at the University of Maryland - Global Campus. Trish has been steadily involved in the study and practice of Bhakti yoga, via her teacher, Hari-kirtana das.  Stephanie Corigliano is the editor for Tarka at Embodied Philosophy. She works as a lecturer in the Religious Studies department at Cal Poly, Humboldt. Stephanie holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Theology from Boston College University and an MA in Theology from Loyola Marymount University.   In this episode, we discuss:
  1. The concept and role of the guru in present-day spheres of yoga and academia.
  2. The overlaps and differences between guru and teacher.
  3. What the yogic tradition has to say about the qualifications of a guru and misconceptions about the role.
  4. The emergence of scholar-practitioners in academic religious studies and its impact.
  5. Why the guru role is still relevant. 
  6. The debate over female gurus within the Hare Krishnas in the West as a microcosm of the larger debate over female gurus and spiritual authorities.
  7. How the guru role may evolve in our unbounded, modern time.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Up next
Oct 8
Everything is the Goddess with Nataraj Chaitanya
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 abou ... Show More
1h 6m
Jun 2025
Spiritual Bypassing, Non-Dualism Explained, and the 4th State of Consciousness with Jacob Kyle
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 ... Show More
42m 22s
Apr 2025
The Power of Poetry in Medieval Kashmir with James D. Reich
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 Anandavard ... Show More
1h 24m
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
Episode 557: Judy Weaver. Trauma Consciousness
Judy Weaver is a yoga therapist and a yoga teacher-of-teachers with over 30 years of experience and is the founder of Connected Warriors and Bodymind Recalibration. Judy is known for her expertise in the world of trauma and developed evidence based Trauma-Conscious Yoga protocol ... Show More
32m 47s
May 2024
Transformative Power of Yoga: From Ashtanga to Anusara and Beyond
Join Harmony Slater and Russell Case as they welcome Cindy Lusk, PhD, an experienced yoga teacher and meditation expert, to delve into the profound journey of yoga and meditation. This episode offers deep insights into the interplay of yoga disciplines, meditation practices, and ... Show More
54 m
Aug 2024
Dr. Lisa Miller: Will Gen Z Spark a Spiritual Revolution?
Dr. Lisa Miller joins Rainn Wilson to explore the intersection of spirituality and science, delving into the hardwired nature of human spirituality. They discuss the unique spiritual journey of Gen Z, the role of suffering in personal growth, and the profound ways in which consci ... Show More
1h 6m
Sep 2024
Bobbi Misiti - "Before Yoga Became a Thing"
Bobbi Misiti, founder of BeFit Body & Mind, talks with J about the course that yoga profession and industry has taken over the years. They discuss committing to ashtanga vinyasa practice with Beryl Bender Birch, 600 person classes, seeing the good and bad of the yoga scene, Nancy ... Show More
1h 30m
Jan 2025
#175 - Jillian Turecki: Relationship Coach EXPOSES The Most Harmful MISTAKES People Make in Love
💬 If you're ready to go deeper with us, text AWAKEN to +1 (512) 768-4352! Today, I’m sitting down with Jillian Turecki, a certified relationship coach, teacher, and speaker with over 20 years of experience. Jillian’s journey began with yoga and evolved into a deep exploration of ... Show More
48m 43s
Jul 2024
25 years of teaching yoga: The evolution of a profession
Join Harmony Slater as she sits down with Stephen Thomas to discuss the profound changes in the yoga world over the past 25 years. From the early days of in-person classes to the rise of online platforms, discover how the practice and teaching of yoga have evolved. (Note: This th ... Show More
55m 54s
Jul 2024
TKYP211 | Pancha Karma Ayurveda
Pancha Karma is a powerful Ayurvedic practice for self-healing and longevity. In order to succeed on our spiritual path, it is good if we can be as healthy as possible and live as long as we can. Enlightenment takes time, and the longer our life, the more time we have to work out ... Show More
42m 25s
Oct 2020
Holistic YOGA with Travis Eliot
Super special yoga filled episode with one of my long time mentors and yoga teachers, Travis Eliot.Travis is a world-renowned yoga and meditation teacher and author. He teaches his signature Holistic Yoga Flow classes in Los Angeles and in workshops, festivals and retreats around ... Show More
1h 17m
Jul 13
Emergent Phenomena with Daniel M. Ingram
Today, host Prof. Pierce Salguero sits down with Dr. Daniel M. Ingram, a retired ER physician, co-founder of the Emergent Phenomena Research Consortium, CEO of Emergence Benefactors, and a noted adept in Buddhist meditation. Together we explore “emergent phenomena,” or the spirit ... Show More
1h 11m
Nov 2020
Ep. 140 – Real Change Series: Mallika Dutt
For episode 140 of the Metta Hour, Sharon speaks with friend and colleague Mallika Dutt.Mallika is a leading innovator in storytelling and culture change, bringing together the power of ancient wisdom and spiritual practices with contemporary technologies and tools for creative c ... Show More
1h 6m