Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul

Ep 6 - Overcoming Creative Blocks

• The Voice Bank • Season 1 • Episode 6

Share episode

Caught in a creative void, Saurin often seeks solace in everything but his work. Writer's block becomes a convenient excuse for shopping, browsing, and attending to anything and everything except his creative pursuits. However, deep down, he recognizes the need to address this block directly. Join him in Episode 6 as he seeks insights from the ancient wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, particularly in Chapter 10, Verse 20.

We welcome you to join us in building a community of creative souls on this journey of self-discovery and personal growth. Reach out to us at gitacreativesoul@gmail.com or find us on:

And don't miss an episode - subscribe to the podcast today!

Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul

  • Produced by The Voice Bank
  • Concept & Writing: Saurin Desai
  • Executive Producer: Rashmi Sundaram
  • Director: Sundar Sethuraman
  • Voice Artists: Sheetal Sawhney & Saurin Desai
  • Special Advisor: Kushagra Singh (Writer, Spiritual Speaker & Yoga Teacher)
  • Sound Designer: Sushant Sonawale
  • Music Composition: Sushant Sonawale & Ameen
  • Recordist: Agnel & Sushant Sonawale
  • Recorded at Crescendo Studio, Mumbai

00:00:00 Sundar

The voice bank presents Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul. Conceived and written by Saurin Desai, narrated by Sheetal Sawhney and Saurin Desai. 

This interpretation of the Bhagavad Gita is not scholarly or literal, but personal and creative, with no intent to hurt the sentiments of any individual, community, or religion?

00:00:26 Sheetal

It is said that the Bhagavad Gita has answers for all and all the answers. Join writer and seeker Saurin Desai, as each week he grapples with thoughts and challenges related to life, work, and creativity, then explore the timeless wisdom of the Gita to discover how to harness creativity with grace, understanding, empathy and timelessness.

00:00:59 Sheetal

Welcome to Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul. This is episode 6, ‘overcoming creative blocks’, and Saurin is figuring out how to find inspiration when he feels stuck and is unable to create.

00:01:18 Saurin

Writer’s block is a great reason to catch up on emails, do some online surfing or shopping and get done with household chores. Why write when there are so many more important things that need my time and attention?

00:01:30 Saurin

Not sure who said that, but I completely agree with the sentiment. After all, I've been facing writer's block since the time I realized the only thing I'm good at is writing.

00:01:41 Saurin

It seems creators have been facing the dreaded creators block since the time humans have been creating, expressing, and documenting, and for a long time it was assumed this was because of a power that did not want us to create any more.

00:01:55 Saurin

To borrow the words of the philosopher and poet Percy Shelley, creativity cannot be summoned that well as if it were within our control. Rather, it is the product of some invisible influence, like an inconstant win, which more or less blows the material into the creator.

00:02:11 Saurin

Except when it doesn't.

00:02:14 Saurin

I was not expecting the Bhagavad Gita to give me a direct answer, but one verse called out to me.

00:02:27 Sheetal

अहमात्मा गुडाकेश सर्वभूताशयस्थितः ।
अहमादिश्च मध्यं च भूतानामन्त एव च ॥ १०-२०॥

00:02:45 Sheetal

Chapter 10, Verse 20

00:02:49 Sheetal

I'm the eternal soul, O Guḍākeśa*, existing within all beings.
I am the origin, the middle, and the end of beings.

00:03:05 Sheetal

Guḍākeśa is one of Arjuna’s many names. It’s a compound of ‘gudaka’ i.e. sleep and ‘īśa’ i.e. lord or master. Thus, one who has mastered sleep and is not in the darkness of ignorance.

00:03:23 Saurin

My interpretation, all creative energy comes from the universe. I'm just a channel, a medium. A flute that's being played by a master flautist.

00:03:33 Saurin

My creativity is thus a manifestation of the universe, and I'm deeply connected with this infinitely creative source, which resides in everyone in everything, everywhere, all at once.

00:03:46 Saurin

And as the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini said of Madame Butterfly, “The music of this opera was dictated to me by God. I was merely instrumental in getting it on paper and communicating it to the public.”

00:04:00 Saurin

Creators block is thus not an absence of creativity in the same way as an empty bucket does not mean the lack of water. It just means that I have to find a tap and open it. The interesting thing is that since I've changed my perspective, I'm finding these steps everywhere within and without.

00:04:19 Saurin

Nature is a fount of creativity and just being around it for a few minutes is enough for me to get flowing. 

I've been immersing myself in the sounds of Lofi, instrumental and spiritual.

00:04:31 Saurin

A source of inspiration I've been neglecting lately is diving deep into the world of books. 

Am also trying to meditate, but currently my attempts at meditation are more like skimming the surface 

As Brene Brown would say, "Creativity is the way I share my soul with the world." 

00:04:49 Saurin

Thank you for your time and attention. The greatest gift you can give me. I am Saurin Desai, and each week I delve into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita. Together, let's create a community of creative souls on this journey of self-discovery and growth. If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, reach me at gitacreativesoul@gmail.com.

And from this moment onward, I'm on a quest to stay inspired and not pick up my mobile. Even when I feel damned and cannot create.

00:05:32 Sundar

You were listening to Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul.

Produced by The Voice Bank. Conceptualized & written by Saurin Desai. Voiced by Sheetal Sawhney & Saurin Desai. Directed by Sundar Sethuraman. Executive producer: Rashmi Sundaram. Special advisor: Kushagra Singh. Music by Sushant Sonawale & Dhirendra. Recorded by Tejas Jadhav and Agnel George. Sound Designing & mixing by Sushant Sonawale. Recorded at Crescendo Studios, Mumbai. Text copyright Saurin Desai. Sound recording copyright: The Voice Bank.