Karma, Charm, Art, and Suffering

Listeners are steering the ship once again, in our latest Q&A episode.Thom answers a question about karma and how it fits into the dynamics of our relationships. It turns out that it’s our relationship with our Self that matters most.Thom also tackles a question about charm, in particular, how we can adapt when charm doesn’t seem to be as supported by Nature as we would expect.Finally, Thom gives a definitive answer to the age-old question, can there be art without suffering? It’s a question that could easily be answered with one word, but Thom provides a rationale that leaves us in no doubt about the role of suffering in art.Episode Highlights[00:45] Q - How do karmic relationships with others work?[01:20] A - Karma: Action That Binds You[03:24] The Knot of Karma[05:22] Kṛiya - Spontaneous Right Action[07:29] Untying the Knots of Karma[09:25] Moving in the Direction of Kṛiya[12:15] Vedic Meditation - Losing the Tendency to Create Problems[14:12] Q - How can I understand the nuances of charm?[14:52] A - A Big Bundle of Capability[16:55] Charm and Aversion[18:52] Thinning Out of Charm[20:02] Moving from Capability to the Field of Need[22:27] Witnessing vs. Engaging[23:53] Witnessing the Self in Action Through Others[26:03] Engage or Witness: Do What You Can[27:45] Q - Can There Be Art Without Suffering?[27:47] A - The Most Artistically Productive Era?[29:25] What Creates Great Art?[30:33] Artistic Talents Despite Suffering[32:17] The Artistic GiftUseful [email protected] https://thomknoles.com/https://www.instagram.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.facebook.com/thethomknoleshttps://www.youtube.com/c/thomknoleshttps://thomknoles.com/ask-thom-anything/