Ep 14 - Celebrating Birthdays

In Episode 14, Saurin is looking to overcome his birthday blues and rediscover the joy of celebrating his birthday. As he reflects on childhood memories and his evolving perspective, he unearths a surprising connection between birthdays and the Bhagavad Gita, specifically Chapter 2, Verse 28. Join him as he discovers how he plans to celebrate the eternal soul within and infuse his birthdays with profound and personal significance.

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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

Chapters

• 1:14 Main Segment
• 3:08 Shlok- 2:28
• 6:57 End Credit

Transcript

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 Speaker 2
Welcome to Bhagavad Gita for the creative soul.
00:01:03 Speaker 2
This is episode 14 and Saurin is looking to overcome his birthday blues and rediscover the joy of celebrating his birthday.
00:01:19 Speaker 3
I recall my childhood birthday with great fondness. My parents would take pains to ensure the day was special. There would be a present, usually something I required, a special meal, calls from friends and relatives with wishes and blessings. The walls would be festooned in the evening, and my friends and some neighbours would come over with gifts.
00:01:41 Speaker 3
There would be silly hats that we nevertheless loved wearing. There was always a cake to be cut with, we would munch on samosas and potato crisps, sip soft drinks. My friends left with return gifts.
00:01:54 Speaker 3
I'm sharing this to tell you that my disinterest in birthdays did not arise from any negative experience. I just simply outgrew them.
00:02:02 Speaker 3
If you were to ask me for a specific moment, I honestly can't recollect one.
00:02:07 Speaker 3
However, if I were to hazard a guess, it coincided with my growing awareness and increased acceptance of my introverted nature.
00:02:16 Speaker 3
As I entered my early 30s, even receiving birthday wishes began to feel tiring.
00:02:21 Speaker 3
The last straw on my back was when strangers on Facebook who knew nothing about me except my birth date would send their wishes. The absurdity of it all led me to hide my birth date on social media. I made it my mission to keep as few people as possible aware of my birthday and receive even fewer birthday wishes.
00:02:41 Speaker 3
I became creative with my reasons for not sharing my date of birth.
00:02:45 Speaker 3
But my chief excuse has been why celebrate my birthday? How is it an achievement? What have I done on that day apart from being born? Besides, is not even my doing this coming into existence.
00:02:57 Speaker 3
Well, the connection between birthdays and the Bhagavad Gita may not be immediately apparent, but there's something I did find else we would not have had this episode now would we?

00:03:16 Speaker 2
Avyakta Dini bhutani.
00:03:20 Speaker 2
Vyakti madhani Bharat.
00:03:24 Speaker 2
Avyakta nithyananda yev.
00:03:27 Speaker 2
Patrika parida devana.
00:03:30 Speaker 2
Chapter 2, verse 28.
00:03:35 Speaker 2
All beings are unmanifested before birth.
00:03:38 Speaker 2
Manifested in life.
00:03:41 Speaker 2
An O son of Bharata are again unmanifested upon death.
00:03:47 Speaker 2
So why grieve?
00:03:51 Speaker 3
The Shlok has prompted me to reflect upon birthdays beyond my physical body and this lifetime.
00:03:58 Speaker 3
It has gotten me to realise that celebrating a birthday is not about this perishable body being born on Earth, but rather the transition of my eternal soul from the unmanifested to the manifested. It's about honoring the universe that has been flowing through me, creating with ideas and words.
00:04:16 Speaker 3
And so here's the shift I'm working upon.
00:04:19 Speaker 3
From now on, birthdays symbolize the journey of the eternal Soul, not just the birth of the physical body. They are also about celebrating the creative energy of the universe that flows through me. This doesn't mean I have to wear silly hats once again and throw grand parties. The focus will always stay on the internal, not the external.
00:04:40 Speaker 3
What else? I will meditate and reflect upon the year that has been.
00:04:45 Speaker 3
Be in gratitude by acknowledging the people and experiences that have transformed my life. Set intensions for the year ahead in terms of what I want to create in every aspect of my life.
00:04:57 Speaker 3
Indulge in activities that nurture my body and soul, bringing me joy and peace. Consider giving back to the universe, or rather, paying it forward by planting a few trees, volunteering for a cause, or running a free workshop. And will I freely share my date of birth from now on?
00:05:15 Speaker 3
Maybe I will, maybe I won't. The Gita is a series of life lessons, not a collection of magical spells. There are no instant solutions. Transformation takes effort, persistence and patience. Thank you for your time and attention. The greatest gift you can give me. I'm Saurin Desai. And each week I delve into the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita.
00:05:37 Speaker 3
Together, let's create a community of Creative Souls on this journey of self-discovery & growth.
00:05:43 Speaker 3
If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, reach me at Geeta. Creative soul@gmail.com and from this moment onward I'm on a quest to overcome my birthday Blues and rediscover the joy of celebrating my birthday.
00:06:05 Speaker 1
You are listening to Bhagavad Gita for the creative soul.
00:06:08 Speaker 1
Produced by The Voice bank, conceptualized and written by Saurin Desai, voiced by Sheetal Sahani and Saurin Desai. Directed by Sundar Sethuraman. Executive producer Rashmi Sundaram.
00:06:23 Speaker 1
Special adviser Kushagra Singh, music by Sushant Sonawale and Dhirendra.
00:06:29 Speaker 1
Recorded by Tejas Jadhav and Agnel George, Sound designing and mixing by Sushant Sonawale recorded at Crescendo Studios Mumbai.
00:06:39 Speaker 1
Text copyright Saurin Desai.
00:06:42 Speaker 1
Sound recording copyright the voice bank.