In today’s world, so many things pass as ‘spiritual’. But what does real spirituality actually mean, and what is the result of engaging in psychedelics, kundalini yoga, or thinking ‘I am everything’? In today’s talk we start off by discussing something Balakhilya’s dad told him in regards to intoxication, namely ‘If you don’t start anything you don’t have to quit’. Actually, all bona-fide spiritual processes teach refraining from intoxication as a prerequisite for spiritual development.

We speak about what can be the result of using psychedelics, how kundalini yoga can help us experience our true spiritual nature, and how we inherently and eternally need a loving relationship. From there Balakhilya explains the 2 ways to acquire knowledge, how self-satisfaction is the solution to the environmental crisis, and the path to get the ultimate, natural ‘high’. You’ll also hear Balakhilya explain the meaning of the mantras we are using and why we use those.

Highlights:

• (3:10) If you don’t start something, you never have to quit
• (8:27) Taking drugs doesn’t open spiritual doors
• (14:47) The difference between physical, mental and spiritual
• (35:50) Descending process and Bhakti yoga, approaching big nature - respect the mountain and the mountain may allow you to summit
• (44:00) Drugs to escape unhappiness: negation of the negative. Problem is a lack of real love.
• (55:00) Start by learning from our faults and bad habits, can't start perfect.
• (1:12:00) 'We worry about how we should leave a better planet for our kids, but we don't worry about leaving better kids for the planet'
• (1:21:51) About the famous surfer who had a massive wipeout, ending up with 11 hours a day rehab just to surf again

Recorded on March 8, 2021. Read episode transcript on https://breakingtrail.life/podcast/7 Watch video version, contribute to podcast, join Facebook group, etc: https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail

In his younger years he was known as Firebird, a well-known personality in the nightclub hosting community in Toronto, Canada. At the time his life was seeking pleasure through late nights, intoxication and partying but when his health started to decline he figured that something had to change. He wasn’t happy and realized that the lifestyle he was leading wasn’t the answer.

In this episode we sit down for a chat with Jonathan who is currently a highly successful real estate sales person in Toronto, an outstanding long-distance mountain biker, a father - but first and foremost, someone who is leading and promoting a lifestyle of yoga meditation. We discuss the importance of having determination for achieving anything in life, how Jonathan and Balakhilya were and are still pleasure-seekers (the method to achieve it has changed though), and how to balance meditation practice with a busy career. Jonathan reveals his intriguing secret to a healthy back and shares the story of a six day and 500km fatbike ride through the snowy trails of the Durham forest last winter.

Highlights:

• (18:44) Seeking the topmost pleasure
• (31:53) Changing one’s life and desires through discipline and commitment
• (42:43) Fun story about vegetarian diet and sports performance
• (51:40) Stimulants, caffeine and mountain biking
• (58:36) Chant no matter what and leave nobody behind; short story about real life changing values

Recorded on September 20, 2021. Read episode transcript on https://breakingtrail.life/podcast/15

Watch video version, contribute to podcast, join Facebook group, etc: https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail

“For one who is born, death is certain” - Bhagavad-gita 2.27

A few months ago, a friend of ours started having a minor headache. The day afterwards, it got a lot worse with vomiting and extreme pain. She went into a coma. The doctors diagnosed her with brain cancer. The day after, they operated and found out that the brain was already dead. From perfectly healthy to leaving her body - it was all over in 4 days.

Death is probably one of the most painful and scary experiences in life. We are usually trying to run away from this uncomfortable subject, so much so that we don’t want to talk or even think about it. We are not only afraid of our own death, but more so - we do not want to lose the ones we love. We know that this will break our heart and bring painful separation. But the truth is; we all have a terminal illness, and every second brings us closer to death. And death is the final exam of our life.

In this episode we share the story of our friend, and how she passed this exam through daily activities and decisions that promoted spiritual growth. You’ll hear how the foundation is understanding that we and our loved ones are all spirit souls - part and parcel of the Supreme Soul - and our nature is eternal, wise, and blissful. And we need knowledge and guidance coming from a living spiritual teacher, someone who is above illusions. We speak about how the karmic reactions actually decide how much time we have in this lifetime, and how we can choose to come to terms with death and learn how to prepare for it.

We also look at the importance of a daily mantra meditation practice, something that helps us to transcend this material world even before we actually leave our body. We describe how the whole Vedic system aims at directing people to knowing their constitutional position. It provides a step by step process for gradual purification and different practices according to each person's consciousness.

Highlights:

• (2:47) Coming to understand the truth of your identity is the foundation of knowledge that will cover all aspects of life, including how to leave this world
• (7:53) People that do extreme things in the outdoors often say they do it to “learn about themselves” - but really, they learn only about the limits of the body & mind. The danger is a sense of false self-reliance.
• (10:30) A real life story of our friend that left this world successfully after being diagnosed with brain cancer
• (31:17) We find bliss in spirituality - the real fruit is in knowledge. No need to speculate, you can have real experiences.
• (35:18) Your consciousness determines your future, and what actions you take in this life determines your consciousness.
• (46:12) The gradual advancement of spiritual consciousness is centred around accepting a higher authority
• (59:51) Developing our relationship to the Supreme Soul will transfer us smoothly and safely away from this body and back home to the spiritual world.

Recorded on June 7, 2021. Read episode transcript on https://breakingtrail.life/podcast/21

Watch video version (with subtitles), contribute to podcast, join Facebook group, etc: https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail