Bhagavad Gita for the Creative Soul

Ep 9 - Surrendering to a Mentor

• The Voice Bank • Season 1 • Episode 9

Share episode

Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.

0:00 | 7:49

Join Saurin Desai in this heartfelt exploration of the concept of surrendering to mentors. In Episode 9, he reflects on his own resistance to complete submission to his mentors, considering his experiences as both a student and mentor. Drawing inspiration from Shlok 4.34 of the Bhagavad Gita, and the Bhagavatam, he shares the steps he's taking. Tune in and contemplate with him upon the wisdom of humility, open-mindedness, and the transformative power of mentorship.

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 explores 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 nine, "surrendering to a mentor", and Saurin is figuring out how to overcome his ego and unconditionally submit to his mentors. 

00:01:18 Saurin

There is a saying I’ve heard and repeated many times over the years. “When the student is ready, the master will appear.” The meaning is profound yet simplistic. Let me explain. In the past twenty-five years of my studies and work, I've been fortunate to have met and worked with several amazingly selfless mentors. There are too many to name them all. But there’s Ashok Purang, Krishnan, Kishor Sadhwani, and Sheetal’s mentor, Gavin Hoffman.

It's almost as if I was born to be a student.

00:01:51 Saurin

But here's the catch—I would ask questions, receive answers, take copious notes, and promise to apply the wisdom. Yet, often, I struggled to follow through. I had the intelligence to ask the right questions, but not the humility to completely surrender.

This is ironical considering that I am who I am thanks to these very mentors. A fact I have always known and acknowledged.  

The struggle is doubly ironic since I have taught over a thousand 8- to 80-year-olds as a writing mentor and have experienced first-hand the effort and commitment it takes.

00:02:27 Saurin

Why do I, someone who appreciates mentors and knows the impact of mentoring, still find it challenging to surrender? Why do I believe that I can figure things out on my own? Why do I want to carve my own untrodden path?

That is where the following shlok showed to me beyond a doubt that the Bhagavad Gita is indeed a life manual.

00:02:49 Sheetal

tad viddhi praṇipātena paripraśhnena sevayā
 upadekṣhyanti te jñānaṁ jñāninas tattva-darśhinaḥ

00:03:11 Sheetal

Chapter 4, Verse 34

00:03:16 Sheetal

Know that those who have sought and seen the truth, will impart their wisdom to you; 
 if you submit to them, inquire with humility, and be in service to them.

00:03:34 Saurin

The shlok clearly states that the surrender is not to be blind, unquestioning, and ritualistic. And the inquiry must be honest but humble. 

00:03:43 Saurin

The Bhāgavatam says in Canto 11, Chapter 22, Verse 10, that the individual soul is clouded by ignorance since endless lifetimes, and which cannot be lifted by self-realization. It needs another, a knower of the truth, to impart that wisdom.

00:04:01 Saurin

So, what does it mean to surrender to a mentor?

Here are a few steps I have begun to follow… 

00:04:08 Saurin

Communicating my goals and expectations: One of my challenges has been to clearly state my objectives and the support I require. I keep such conversations vague, causing confusion and frustration for both my mentors and me. Additionally, I tend to neglect the review of established goals.

Being open and humble: In Hermann Hesse’s Siddhartha, the protagonist Siddhartha, reflects, and I paraphrase: “what have I sought to learn from teachings and from teachers, and what is it that they, who have taught me so much, are still unable to teach me?”
 I have experienced a similar feeling. Even though I have always approached my mentors with an open mind and a willingness to learn, I now recognize that I used to be selective in my application, which arose from a false sense of ego that somehow, I would find a better path. However, I have neither the courage nor the awareness that Siddhartha possessed.

Taking feedback constructively: in Episode 5, I mentioned my struggle with accepting feedback from clients. However, this extends beyond client interactions. I tend to become defensive when receiving criticism, even when it is constructive.

Expressing gratitude: While I appreciate receiving appreciation, what truly brightens my day is knowing I have made a tangible difference in someone’s writing life. Likewise, I appreciate my mentors, but should try to share specific instances of how they have positively impacted my life.

Reflecting and implementing: No mentor likes to give satsangs, and that’s what happens when I receive but do not reflect and then apply. No more satsangs.

Paying it forward: This is what got me to begin mentoring in the first place. I could think of no appropriate way to pay them all back, and so started paying it forward. Somewhere along the way, I forgot about the very reason I started teaching.

To anyone who has mentored me, both in the past and present, I offer my sincere apologies and heartfelt gratitude. I hope to become a more improved and dedicated student the next time we interact.

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 onwards, I am on a quest to overcome my ego and unconditionally submit to my mentors.

00:07:00 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.