Standing on Shoulders - Where Our Knowledge Came From

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 15:00:59 GMT

Whether we are spiritual or secular, our connection with those who shaped us, is worth exploring intentionally. Drawing from Hindu tradition and contemporary psychology, we explore how gratitude and humility can be practiced in a way that doesn't require surrendering critical thinking, and how such a practice can support our personal development, regardless of belief.

Key Topics:

The meaning of Guru beyond stereotypical Western notions
Honoring our teachers: a practice compatible for atheists
Reverence vs marginalisation - an intersectional lens
Practical applications: cultivating gratitude and connectedness
How the practice supports emotional maturity

Timestamps:

0:30 – The meaning of Guru

1:56 – A practice compatible for atheists

2:11 – Seeing beyond the categories

2:51 – What is Hinduism

4:14 – Cultural and spiritual diversity within Hindu practices

5:51 – Benefits; cultivation of gratitude and emotional maturity

7:14 – Guru worship in temple

8:32 – Role and significance of the guru/gurvi in spiritual traditions and lineages

9:14 – Practice in spiritual lineage

11:56 – Role, attitude and expectations in the guru-disciple relationship

15:32 – Reverence vs marginalisation - an intersectional lens

16:29 – The role of societal hierarchy for personal spiritual practice

17:26 – How an honoring practice cultivates gratitude and emotional maturity

18:24 – Practical applications and methods for integrating remembrance and appreciation into daily practise

20:37 – Recognizing the role of the collective in spiritual and personal life

The talk was recorded on Guru Purnima.

Website

Yoga Properly

Standing on Shoulders - Where Our Knowledge Came From