In Conversation with Bhavesh Yuj | The Sid Warrier Podcast

Introduction to the Podcast and Guest

[00:00] Welcome to the Sid Warrior Podcast. We have had many interesting guests on this podcast, comedians, startup founders, and finance experts. Our today's guest is spiritual thought leader Bhavish Bhimanathani. On Instagram, his handle is Bhavesh yuj and his videos on Indian mythology and scriptures are extremely popular. I spoke to him about Advaita philosophy

[00:20] Bhagavad Gita, Vedic traditions and what we can learn from Indian spirituality. I tried to find out if there is overlap between what neuroscience teaches us today and what our ancient scriptures knew back then. Listen to the podcast, tell me what you think in the comments below and I will see you on the other side.

Journey from Bombay to Rishikesh

[00:40] So that was very exciting for me because we had no idea how to talk about it. I have been waiting to talk to you for a long time. I have been waiting for you for a long time.

[01:00] podcast and then I saw a series of reels that you know you've put out content and every single one had something new that I didn't know and I am somebody who thought he knew a little bit about Indian tradition religion. So that was very exciting for me.

[01:20] So I thought, what if we learn something new? Not just to learn something new, but also to see if we can connect our two fields together. So that is what I want to do. I'm so glad that you are here. So, let's start with that.

[01:40] What happened? So what made you end up in Rishikesh because I know that you are originally a Bombay boy? Was a so-called Bombay boy. Now I'm from UK. What's the matter? So tell me a little bit about your journey. What is Bombay's Rishikesh journey?

Spiritual Calling and Connection to Places

[02:00] When you are in Bombay, you know there are circumstances created in your life. You are just pushed into things where you have to walk and it happens. So, calling Aya and life happens. So, if you don't mind me asking, how did you get into age?

[02:20] I am 34 a.m. Okay. And this journey to Rishikesh happened when? Happened for many lifetimes, to be honest, at the age of 34 because where Siddhika in this body, 34, is nothing, no experience. But of course, your past and scars that you're carrying out.

[02:40] pushing you forward. So, education is not like you hop, skip, jump because it is something only when the city calls you can go there. So that has happened. So recently, I have always thought that I am a city person and I am an ocean person. But when you say ocean connection,

[03:00] Since the last one month, I have visited the mountains thrice and something is calling me back again and again. I went to Almora, I went to Binsar and recently I saw the Nanda Devi Hills from Satal.

[03:20] And it was amazing. I feel like the Himalayas are so majestic and there's something about it that calls you. So when you said calling Ata or Jana Partha, that's what I'm thinking. Yeah, it is very true because you know, there are many karmas in Sanokayi, but the fact is that you have karma even with the place.

[03:40] Situations are created and at times you go to a place and realize that I am going there for the first time but when you touch down you get that feeling that I have been here for a while. So there is karma with everything especially with places that at times we get indications that you know

[04:00] Things are opening up, which plan and all of a sudden you are there. On the other hand, there are places where you don't feel like going. That is also there. So the calling is there and if you realize that few callings you can't run away from. You will be pushed and later you realize that okay this happened for a reason. So the calling is always there.

Power of Words and Rishis' Influence

[04:20] Half of the people that have realised are scared of the calling because unknown territory again. I don't think I have a choice now because I find myself making plans that lead me there. Last time we met, you put that idea of Kailash that you can

[04:40] go to the base of the Kailas and since then it's just been circling and you won't believe it. So for example, we have met three people have mentioned it. So I feel like again and again that word is coming in my you know

[05:00] surroundings, it is pushing you in certain direction and you know slowly one day, care loss will happen and who knows we'll go together. I feel so. I think there is some power in words. I feel that we are putting out that kind of thought. That is the reason these create

[05:20] enlightened beings, they were quiet because they had that luck and their sadhana was so intense that whatever came out from that state of consciousness would happen and we have a very misconception about Rishi's cursing and doing this but every curse was a blessing so we are intentionally

[05:40] that you are talking and that every curse is a short term curse for us but is always for the upliftment of the society or mother nature. You know I'm going to play a bit of devil's advocate. So I as a hobby and later on just as a way of

[06:00] for my own entertainment would always try to find scientific explanations of things that are described in mythology. So, mythology is not just about biology, but also scientific explanations are about science. So, what is science?

[06:20] I thought that was hypnosis. So, Agar supposed mere samne grishi aya and he's somebody I respect a lot and I believe that he has power and he tells me that you can no longer speak.

[06:40] I don't think I can speak because I believe it and there is no way for me to know whether I can actually speak or not because for me my reality then becomes I think hypnosis for babies here

[07:00] When you are talking about Rishis, it is another dimension altogether. Whenever we talk about Rishis, whatever we talk about, Sanatana Dharma, whatever we are sharing now, they were living Gods, walking Gods or not. If there are great Rishis, even now we are operating. But our problem is we need logic. Like in your case, hypnosis of

Vedanta, Consciousness, and Maya

[07:20] But what is hypnosis, if I may ask you? And you're saying that the word hypnosis itself will not apply here? It doesn't apply because according to the Rishis, anything that has taken name and form is maya. So again, hypnosis is maya.

[07:40] But they are operating from a stage beyond where everything came into existence. And even I think if you know about hypnosis, it is temporary. Yes. But the Rishis have cursed, not even cursed, every curse is a blessing. And it is said in one of the texts that even if you encounter a Rishi, your seventh

[08:00] generations are taken care even without talking. So how will you justify that from a very logical point of view? Interesting. And I don't know if you have encountered any great Rishis, but when you come in the presence of an actual Rishi, you will go quiet. You will just go quiet. But there are no words then what is happening? Right. It's

[08:20] Because of what is the explanation? It's because of the power that they have accumulated over your centuries. One of the reasons is they are Sadhna, but secondly, they have understood what creation is, and they have tapped into that frequency which is operating in everything at the same time everywhere. So once you know the unknown area,

[08:40] everything is known. This reminds me of this line in Srimad Bhagavata. I read the English translation and I think this was in the second or third paragraph. There was this line that said that you have time, you have space and you have energy.

[09:00] Endless time is eternity, endless space is infinity, and endless energy is maya. I don't know if you are reading this form, but I think the first two chapters of Bhagavad Gita

[09:20] talks about Vedanta. So is this correct? Is this my interpretation correct? Okay, I'll just give you a very practical example. Now just take this. Give it back to me. No, but this is less quantity. How do you know the quantity? So whenever you are talking in space,

[09:40] time and causation, you are giving everything name and form. But whenever you are talking from a Vedantic point of view, there is no space and time. There is pure consciousness. And even consciousness, what we use in English is wrong because the Rishis call it Brahman. And when you read the Brahma Sutras or you come into some very beautiful Vedantic text, they

[10:00] also say that we need something to communicate that is the reason we are calling it Brahman. Otherwise there is no communication required. But we cannot comprehend so that is the reason they called it Brahman. And Brahman means that which is full of everything. And in literally translation we call it Sat Chit Anand. Sat is

[10:20] existence. Chit is consciousness. So existence which is full of consciousness and always in bliss. Sat chit anan. Consciousness and always in bliss. Even that I'm translating wrong because because we are limited by words. Yes, we are

Limitations of Words in Explaining Experience

[10:40] limited by word. So I am an optimist. So I will always see the positives in everything because I fundamentally believe that human beings are trying. They are trying. They are trying their best. So while words are

[11:00] limitation, words are all we have for most of us. And this sounds like a very famous pop song that words are all we have. But it's true. Without words, how can most people have any kind of knowledge? No, I

[11:20] I think words is something which you want to articulate, but experience is beyond words. Experiences are beyond words. Like coffee is, for example, a word. But that experience of how you drink the coffee and how I drink the coffee is very different. And that is what making that is

[11:40] what is making everything beautiful I think. So here's the thing. You have never had coffee in your life. Now I have a cup of coffee with me. Okay, so I'm going to drink it. Now there are no words to explain this experience. But

[12:00] You ask me. Now suppose if I'm out of coffee, I have to share that information in some way. Now if I don't have words, then I can't share that knowledge. It is your experience that is giving words, no?

[12:20] So how do I tell you that this is what I had? No, that is the problem. If I am talking about pure consciousness or pure consciousness like this, like this, like that, but you do not even know what consciousness is. That is the reason the more you evolve on the path, the more quiet you will go because there are no words to talk about.

[12:40] Only presence. There are no words. And even I think the most unaware person in the room will realize what presence is. What does that mean? That means if you are very very aggressive and all and all, I do need to talk to you. Just by looking at you at your movement, I will realize that presence will talk. So I think

[13:00] Everyone is aware, but we wanted to experience awareness only through our point of view. And any point of view is again a judgment. So we are again going down, but Rishi is like open. Everything is equal. So they're going beyond subject object. You're going beyond subject object. No, they.

[13:20] They are going. They are limited. Yes. There is a, this is very similar to some verse in Bhagavad Gita, I don't remember in which chapter, which says that we only think of right and wrong when we think in terms of identity. Right and wrong is a perspective.

[13:40] identity is not there, so what is right and wrong? See, right and wrong is space, time and causation. Everything is right and wrong between certain space, time and causation. Correct. But there is a space beyond space, time and causation and that is where we are trying to reach. No, actually in fact you are that

Expectations, Frustration, and the Cycle of Desire

[14:00] that admire your coming in space-time and causation. You know that is such an optimistic view. Of course you already that no? That is what the main teachings of Upanishad are. I am that. I am already that. In fact I am is a complete statement. I am happy. Subject of it.

[14:20] I am blissful subject object. I am. I had a very interesting conversation with a friend recently where and she was also of a very spiritual mind and I said something like it is what it is and I thought I was being philosophical and she said no that's not true it just is.

[14:40] It's not even what it is because when you say what it is, you are assuming characteristics. It is. Now the problem is, where do we go from there? And this was one of the biggest problems of philosophy or spiritual thought that I ran into at a very early age.

[15:00] that if you reach there, then what? What do you do the next day? If you reach there, you don't exist. Because if I reach there, then I am there, still subject to object. Like I am reaching there, that means I am different from the destination.

[15:20] Have you seen Salt Dolls? There's a beautiful story. There's this raw salt doll trying to realize what the ocean is and decides, I'm going to walk in the ocean and I'll come out one day and I'll tell everyone what the ocean is. Starts walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, walking, finish. She becomes the ocean.

[15:40] But our problem is, I don't want to become the ocean. I am different and ocean is different. And between that is where we are struggling. You know, this reminds me of the idea of reaching heaven. That people believe that you will reach heaven

[16:00] But somehow they still think that they will reach Heaven. Like they will carry their identity. Like so I will, if I think of going to Heaven, me, Siddharth warrior, who is so and so son and so and so husband and having so and so likes and dislikes, I will reach Heaven.

[16:20] But that is not possible, is it? As long as I have my identity, as long as I'm linked to my identity, it's not possible to leave that. Practically speaking, to keep very logical for our generation. If you are very happy and you're very satisfied, you won't have it. Finish. If you're self-caught,

[16:40] crying, blaming, you are making your own. That is 0% of the audience. Yeah. Everybody who is listening is frustrated about something. Yeah, but you know the problem is frustration is not the problem. The problem is that you are not getting what you want and that is causing frustration. So if you realize that okay if I'm not getting it and you're okay you're free. You're in hell

[17:00] our heaven in that very moment. For example, I'm meeting you and we are not clicking and I accept it, I'm free. But no, I want it to talk that way, I want full control, then you have created your own hell in heaven. You know what's really interesting is that these lessons apply in so many different

[17:20] For example, what you just said is expectation. And every single relationship magazine in the world talks about how you should adjust your expectation in order to be happy with your partner. So at the highest level of spiritual thought and at the commonest problems that everybody faces, some truths are carried.

[17:40] through. Yeah it's a fact because the highest expectation that we have is family, wife or children and money especially people like our generation. But the problem is that keeps on changing. Today I want it, tomorrow I want a Bentley, after that I want a car.

[18:00] And then the object is not the problem, the subject is the problem. And I think a highly evolved person realizes that every expectation has an expiry date. Correct. And you just go through it. The whole realization of Gautam Buddha that we are stuck in the eternal cycle of desire and suffering.

Introduction to Advaita Vedanta and Its Origins

[18:20] That is the teaching of every school. So speaking of schools, I am personally very fascinated by the Advaita school of philosophy. So I would like to learn a little bit about what it is.

[18:40] When somebody says, Adweta, what does that mean? Adweta, this is very very interesting. In fact, even we as Indians, we run away from the school. We talk about gods, we talk about pranam, we talk about asan, but we are lacking knowledge. So if you talk about Bhagavad Gita, Bhagawan in the first two chapters

[19:00] are clearly given Advaita Vedanta or when you talk about Shakti meeting Shiva, Shiva is Advaita Vedanta or when you do any spiritual practice, the termination will be Advaita Vedanta. In fact, the end of Vedas, the Upanishads, is nothing the teaching of Advaita Vedanta. If you pick up Patanjali Yoksoothe

[19:20] though the teachings are different, Purusha and Pratrati, but Purusha is again in other words given as a dvitant. So my point here is, a dvitvitvitvit, actually a dvit means no to, there is only one non-singularity. And the problem is, on the other side, everything is positive and negative as you mentioned earlier. Positive is that there is no to. But

[19:40] We also have something called the Vedantic Shafel. The Vedantic Shafel? Yeah, there's something very interesting. Okay. People read books, people read about Vedanta. I know everything is maya, everything is maya. But they don't realize that you are intellectually talking and you have no experience what Advaita Vedanta is.

[20:00] When you get entangled in your own words, but if things are not going your way, again you trip down into the valley. So Advaita Vedanta is very very dangerous, but you need that knowledge to operate. So tell me a little bit about Advaita Vedanta's origins. Was it from the Vedas? It is from the Vedas.

[20:20] It comes at the end of the Vedas. It was brought out to normal people like us to Adi Shankaracharya. People also claim that the great Adi Shankaracharya only was talking about Vedanta, but it is not to also worship different gods. He gave the Sundaralari, he gave us the Pojan mantras, he gave everything.

[20:40] He made us realise that even in nothing there is everything and even in everything there is nothing. That means the same energy is operating everywhere. So when you give my body, my family, my wife, my job, that my has to dissolve.

[21:00] Like I'm trying to put in simple words, Vedanta is something very beautiful. So what I love about Shankaracharya is that there are many states in the country who look at Shankaracharya as if he belongs to them. So correct me if I'm wrong.

[21:20] Shankaracharya was originally from where? He was originally from Tushur. From Tushur. Yeah, yeah, his childhood, the lingam is still there. Yes. And the story is that Guru Vayur was, so he was carrying the essence of Lord Vishnu and he took a rest there.

[21:40] and that is the spot where Gurdwaiya temple was established. You know, he was born enlightened and very amazing background he has at the age of 32. He went into Samadhi, he has travelled the world 4-5 times and he had aukles, he had everything.

[22:00] He was also tested, there are two stories where he was tested. I can go on and on about it. But something very fascinating that there's a point where he wants to let go and in the river he creates a scenario with his mother and age doesn't

[22:20] matter, his does not matter and we cannot comprehend how these teachings are still, people are foreign and even in future they will follow it because they have decoded Vedanta. So again to understand Advaita philosophy or Advaita Vedanta was Adi Shankaracharya's interpretation

Temporary Nature of Existence and Karma

[22:40] There are many Upanishads but 108 are important out of which 10 Upanishads have been brought together and that talk about Vedanta and Vedanta is so practical I think it is required for everyone because at the end of the day it will make you realize

[23:00] Why is that nothing is permanent? That constant awareness that even Dr. Siddha is temporary, so whatever time I have to give my best, even the so-called show is temporary, but I will give my best. And even I am temporary, my body is temporary. But there's only one constant that is that atman. So I'm trying to also

[23:20] tap into different topics of Vedanta. But the problem is nowadays I'm encountering that people read books, they read 20 books on another thing, they think they're great Vedantis and I will not do anything. This is my interest is not, but it doesn't work because we are still entangled in that karma. Okay, since you spoke about karma, tell me about

[23:40] action and inaction because many times when we go into philosophy and we go into the nothingness of things, we might be tempted to believe that action is meaningless.

[24:00] which is very close to the nihilistic school of philosophy. But when you are talking about Shunya, nothingness from Buddhism is very different from what Bhagavad Gita is talking about. What is the difference? When I talk about Shunya and Buddhism, it is actual nothingness. Nothing. When you get enlightened and even after getting

[24:20] enlightened Buddhism there are different kinds of enlightenment. This will be another. Yeah. But when you talk from the point of your Bhagavad Gita, nothingness is full of everything. So when I say shunya, that shunya is full of conscious and full of awareness. It is not nothingness. So when you become an enlightened being, you will be aware

[24:40] about everything, every minute because you have tapped into that everything. So that is where the school is. But the goal is the same and the process is different but understanding is that yes, there is some other. So when it comes to action and inaction, how do you deal with that conflict? Are you referring action and action

Action vs. Inaction and Karma in Bhagavad Gita

[25:00] from Bhagavad Gita, from Vedanta, from Patanjali Yogshutra, from Upanishad. Pinpoint, we'll come to that. I'm going to pick one. I'm going to pick a chit. So Bhagavad Gita. Bhagavad Gita, we are touching into some beautiful topics and I don't think I can do justice while talking about it because we are addressing different

[25:20] audience but when Bhagavad Gita talks about karma, any school because you know all you know the different schools, Jainism, Buddhism, Charvak, the Nyaya Vashashika, the entire Sanatana Dharma is held together by karma. We believe in karma and now modern science is talking about karma, how karma works in one place.

[25:40] So that was a part of my conversation with Bhavish, Bhima Natani. There was a lot more that we spoke about that I will be sharing with you on a later date. But for now, tell me what topics do you think a neuroscientist and a spiritual thought leader should talk about? Let me know in the comments and I will see you all in the next video. Bye everyone, take care.