The Great Reality Podcast

I build on last week’s discussion of the first three chapters of the Bhagavad Gita by sitting down with Deepak Parashar, author of Life—The Spiritual Essence. We discuss his theory of The Six Trigger Points, highlighting the importance of cultivating inner strength while traversing the hero’s journey. We explore the deeper dimensions of life by understanding the center of consciousness, the nature of reality, and nonattachment. By the end of the conversation with Deepak, you’ll appreciate that transforming the self transforms humanity.

Here is an image of the Six Trigger Points to guide you through the discussion. Purchase Deepak’s book, Life—A Spiritual Essence, here.

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Last week, I introduced Joseph Campbell’s concept of the hero’s journey, a popular framework for compelling storytelling and the narrative blueprint for our unconscious. We are innately drawn to this story form because it satisfies our deep desire for purpose and meaning—we yearn for a life of heroic triumph.

I also narrated the quintessential hero’s journey, the epic Hindu tale of the Mahabharata, which allegorizes the triumph of good over evil and chronicles humanity's fall and rebirth through a fight for control of a massive kingdom.

In today’s episode, I’ll discuss the first three chapters of the seminal Hindu religious text, the Bhagavad Gita, which is actually the conversation between the Mahabharat’s main protagonist, Arjun, and Lord Krishna. Afterward, I’ll expound on Krishna’s teachings by discussing the interplay between Ego, Soul, and Mind.

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According to legendary mythologist Joseph Campbell, the most powerful narrative arch is the Hero’s Journey.

Campbell believes we are innately drawn to this story form because it satisfies our deep desire for purpose and meaning — We yearn for a life of heroic triumph.

The hero’s journey is used by many artists as the architecture for compelling storytelling. In fact, George Lucas openly ascribes Luke’s story in Star Wars as a hero’s journey.

In the West, a lesser-known hero’s journey is the Mahabharat. The Mahabharat is the longest epic poem every written. It’s an ancient Hindu myth that allegorizes the triumph of good over evil.

While the tale centers around the conflict between the two dynasties, the story is really about our lifelong struggle with the egoic self.  

The conversation between Arjun and Krishna is the scripture the Bhagavad Gita, the foundational Hindu religious text.

Essentially, Arjun is the Everyman, a spiritual being having a human experience.

In each chapter of the Gita, Krishna addresses how to unleash the spiritual being within by describing the principles of reality and how we can embody our heroic purpose.  

In the coming weeks, I’ll dive into these topics from a spiritual viewpoint that embraces all belief systems. This is not a religious podcast. It’s merely a discussion of self-empowerment and spiritual enlightenment.

Check out The Great Reality newsletter on Substack.

Hello, spiritual warriors! My name is Chandni Challa and welcome to the inaugural episode of The Great Reality podcast, an audio version of The Great Reality newsletter on Substack. Here, you’ll get insights from my newsletter articles and guest interviews discussing spirituality, self-improvement, mental health, addiction, and sobriety.

Each episode demonstrates that by harnessing our conscious awareness we can reclaim our divine birthright as the highest version of ourselves.

Make no mistake, this is no easy task. Life is hard and while it doesn’t get easier, we can certainly become stronger.

My message is simple: circumstances don’t dictate life’s trajectory. We are not our addictions. We are not our mental illnesses. We are not our external environment.

We are the great creator — the operant power of our reality.

So join me as I explore these topics. Together, we’ll navigate through reality and discover our highest personal expressions.