Every Thursday in the
Ashram Library Living RoomÂ
(or join us online)
Join Us—No Cost, Just Community!Â
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The Book Club will be on a Spring Semester break throughout April.
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We’re back on May 8 at 9:00 AM EST—just:
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Our New Read: Toxic Parents
Exploring Childhood’s Unfinished Pages — Still Writing Themselves Into Today
Mark Your Calendars!
We begin our journey through Toxic Parents on Thursday, May 8th.
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Vedic Psychologist, Dr. Joshi (Jessica Richmond, PhD), will guide this transformative experience by reading and facilitating a dynamic group discussion on the #1 New York Times bestseller, Toxic Parents, by Dr. Susan Forward.
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Drawing from her clinical expertise and deep Vedic insight, Dr. Joshi will illuminate the patterns within the book’s stories, treating them as powerful case studies. With clarity and compassion, she’ll help reveal how the imprints of toxic parenting echo through adult behaviors and relationships—and how those echoes can be understood, softened, and ultimately healed.
Her presence offers not just analysis, but a rare alchemy: where psychological depth meets spiritual wisdom, creating a space for profound realization and renewal.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Toxic Parents, by Dr. Susan Forward is a groundbreaking and compassionate guide for anyone ready to break free from the lingering grip of a painful childhood. With deep insight and practical tools, Forward exposes the hidden patterns of manipulation, guilt, and emotional wounding that many adult children carry — often without realizing. She gently invites readers to confront the silent legacies left by critical, controlling, alcoholic, or neglectful parents, and offers a clear path toward reclaiming one’s voice, boundaries, and inner worth. This book is not just about the past — it’s about healing in the present, and finally living the life you were meant to lead.
The Sacred Conch of Clarity
Awaken InsightÂ
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In Hindu tradition, the conch is a sacred symbol that signifies purity, clarity, and the cosmic sound of Om—calling us toward higher truths and divine wisdom. Lord Vishnu holds a conch in one of His hands, signifying His blessing in the form of knowledge.Â
Like the conch, the Vedic Psychology Book Club inspires mental clarity and deeper reflection. Through applying ancient Vedic teachings to the modern day mind, thoughtful dialogue ensues, and doubts get removed.Â
HOW IT WORKS
 Read. Reflect. Transform.
Books transform when their wisdom is lived. Â
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Each week, Dr. Joshi (Jessica Richmond) reads aloud from the book, Toxic Parents, sharing insights from her work as a psychologist. Through real-world stories, humor, and discussion, these teachings come alive—helping participants to understand themself, their parents and how their childhood might be affecting them still today.Â
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Gather with Dr. Joshi and a community of like-minded seekers for a live reading experience that brings Vedic Psychology to life. Join us in-person at the ashram or online. Each session is more than just a book discussion—it's a journey into self-awareness, healing, and deep wisdom.
Live Readings & Heartfelt Discussions
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Join Dr. Joshi every Wednesday as she brings the pages from the Toxic Parents book to life. Through warm, engaging readings, she weaves profound Vedic wisdom into real-life lessons—sometimes humorous, sometimes humbling, but always eye-opening. Expect insights that touch the parts of yourself you’d rather ignore (but secretly need to hear). Come listen, reflect, ask questions, and connect with a community of kindred spirits on this path of growth.
Slow, Deep Learning
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Here, wisdom isn’t rushed—it’s absorbed, reflected upon, and truly lived. We move through each chapter with care, allowing space for doubts, insights, and deep personal integration.
Discussions help you connect these teachings to your own life, making the wisdom real and tangible. And the learning doesn’t stop when the reading ends—continue the conversation on our online discussion board, where there is an open invitation for all Book Club community members to share reflections, questions, and support.
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Beyond the Page
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These readings aren’t just words—they’re lived experiences of people who were raised by toxic parents, so they really pack a punch, delivering real-world insights. Dr. Joshi brings ancient wisdom to life, by applying it to these modern-day toxic parents—exploring how they affect our adult relationships, emotions, and personal growth. Through the stories in this book, you may see yourself reflected, gaining inspiration to transform not just your understanding, but your daily life—from the way you relate to others to the hidden patterns within your own mind.Â
Next Session Details
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Thursday, May 8
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WHO: Dr. Joshi and community
WHAT: Book Club meeting
WHERE: Ashram Library Living Room (or online)
WHEN: Thursdays, 9:00 - 10:00 AM EST | 6:30 - 7:30 PM IST
COST: Free
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RegisterWhy do we meet on Thursdays?
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In Vedic tradition, Jupiter is the planet most deeply associated with education, wisdom, and the role of the guru (teacher or spiritual guide). Its Sanskrit name, Guru, means "the one who dispels darkness" (gu = darkness, ru = remover), symbolizing the illumination of truth and knowledge. Jupiter represents mentors, teachers, and guides who offer life-shaping wisdom. Jupiter supports learning that leads to self-realization, not just accumulation of facts.Â
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We meet on Thursdays—Jupiter’s day—to align with this energy of insight and transformation. As we read the book, Toxic Parents, we’re not just gathering information—we’re engaging in a deeper inquiry that supports healing, self-understanding, and liberation from unconscious patterns. In the spirit of Jupiter, our book club becomes a sacred space for uncovering truth and reclaiming the wisdom within.
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Join The Book Club
Start Your Journey Today
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Every chapter is a new door. Open it with us.
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Vedic Psychology wisdom is meant to be experienced, not just studied. Join us for deep, meaningful discussions that will shift how you see yourself, your relationships, and the world.
A Heartfelt Invitation—No Fee, its a Freebie!
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From the Archives: Past Reads
Listen back to the recordings of our first completed book.
Lessons Learned From My Guru The Hard Way.Â
Vedic Psychologist, Dr. Joshi (Jessica Richmond, PhD), shares her personal stories from life on the road traveling and teaching with her guru, a man of Vedic wisdom, Sri Satyanarayana Dasa Babaji. Her stories are riddled with humor as she navigates the mysterious ways in which Babaji teaches her these lessons. The topics of Jessica’s stories have a way of relating to everyone, such as how to navigate a jealous boss, her own jealousy, caffeine addiction, death and loss, love, phobias, the silent treatment.
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Missed the live readings? Â
We’ve completed this book, with the final live session on Wed, March 26 — but you can still listen anytime. Register to become a Book Club member and enjoy free access to all ad-free recordings.
Want to have your copy to read along with as you are listening to the Book Club recordings?
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Get your copy here:
Reader Reflections
Book: Lessons Learned From My Guru The Hard Way
"This is a gem of a book. Extremely well-written, beautifully presented, engrossing testimony of one person's spiritual journey from ignorance to enlightenment, from confusion to self-awareness, from self-loathing to love. And a real account of taking shelter of a genuine spiritual teacher, a rare fortune in a world infested with bogus gurus. It is quite an achievement to write a book which combines a light-hearted biographical storyline with such deep insights into the ancient wisdom tradition of Vedic spiritual knowledge and psychology. Warmly recommended for spiritual seekers and love seekers alike."
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- Dauji Dayal Das, author, editor and publisher of Bhakti Books
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The Vedic Psychology Learning Hub
ENGAGE. LEARN. CONNECT.
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Join the Vedic Psychology Book Club for thought-provoking discussions and deeper engagement with Vedic wisdom. You might also enjoy our self-paced e-courses on the mysteries of the mind, or join us live in the Vedic Psychology Study Group.
