Something Bigger Talk Show

What is the difference between God, gods and the Divine? Does God really exist, and can we discover the Divine within ourselves?In this conversation on the Something Bigger Show by Rodrigo Canelas, Swami Brahmdev explores the meaning of God, the purpose of spirituality, the evolution of human consciousness, and how we can build a deeper connection with the Divine.What if the answers we seek outside ourselves are already within us?Swami Brahmdev explains why gods and the Divine are not necessarily the same, why spiritual traditions evolve, and why we may need to move beyond religious beliefs to discover a deeper truth. He also explores how faith, selflessness, aspiration and surrender can transform our spiritual journey.In this episode, we explore:- Does God exist? How can we understand the Divine?- God vs. the Divine: What is the difference?- Why do gods come and go?- Why we must go beyond gods- How Ram, Krishna, Buddha and Christ helped humanity evolve- Is the Divine already within us?- What is the true self?- Sri Aurobindo, the Mother and the evolution of spirituality- Why the purpose of life is to learn, grow and progress- How selfish desires shape our relationship with God- Can we connect directly with the Divine?- How faith and love lead to surrender- Practical ways to connect with the Divine through aspiration, selflessness and constant remembranceTimestamps00:00 Why Do We Need God?01:01 How Do I Know That God Exists?02:16 Why Do Gods Come and Go?04:08 God vs. the Divine: What Is the Difference?05:20 Rama, Krishna, Buddha and Christ: Why They Came06:37 How Does the Divine Live Within Us?08:23 The Divine Within Us: The Seed of Our Potential11:29 Life: A Journey from Ignorance to Knowledge12:00 Why Life Exists Only in the Present13:24 Is Your True Self the Divine?14:41 Why We Must Go Beyond Gods15:34 Is It Time to Go Beyond Gods?16:53 How to Awaken the Divinity Within18:18 Can We Connect with the Divine Beyond Belief?19:42 Sri Aurobindo and the Revolution in Spirituality21:14 The Supermental: A New Possibility for Human Evolution23:22 The Purpose of Life: Learn, Grow and Progress25:00 Can Selflessness Transform the World?26:13 What Is the Purpose of Your Life?26:50 Can Belief in God Help Us Connect with the Divine?28:54 What Is the Role of Religion in Our Lives?31:55 Why Swami Brahmdev Says It Is Time for Spirituality33:35 What You Seek Outside Is Already Within You34:08 Are Love, Peace and Bliss Already Within Us?35:26 Why We Lack True Knowledge of Life37:10 Why We Keep Searching for Happiness Outside37:49 Do We Pray to God to Fulfil Our Selfish Desires?40:00 Can Gods Help Us Connect with the Divine?41:21 Have We Forgotten Our Connection with the Divine?42:25 The Love, Peace and Harmony Already Within You43:11 Swami Brahmdev's Journey Towards the Divine46:09 Is Surrender Something We Can Force?46:41 How Faith and Love Lead to Surrender47:48 Expressing Your Feelings and Prayers to the DivineAbout our Guest:Swami Brahmdev is a spiritual teacher and the founder of Aurovalley Ashram, dedicated to the teachings of Sri Aurobindo and the Mother. After studying law and economics, he travelled across India and the Himalayas in search of deeper truths about life. Today, he shares his insights on spirituality, the Divine, human consciousness and the purpose of life. He also supports local communities through initiatives focused on education, health and well-being.#Spirituality #God #Divine #SwamiBrahmdevFollow Rodrigo:✅ Subscribe To Our Other YouTube Channels:Something Bigger Show Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJTXqkdrvYel4doPKcv7uAgFollow Rodrigo on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigocanelas?igsh=MTluMXdiMmt3eTIxaA==https://www.instagram.com/somethingbiggershowTwitter/X: @rodrigocanelas / https://x.com/rodrigo_canelas?s=11Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigocanelas/Let's keep evolving together.

Why do so many Indians seek validation from the West, even when they come from one of the world's oldest civilizations?In this episode of Something Bigger Show by Rodrigo Canelas, we sit down with Pawan Gupta, co-founder of the Society for the Integrated Development of the Himalayas (SIDH), to question how India's history, education system, and cultural influences have shaped the way Indians see themselves.An IIT Delhi graduate from 1976, Pawan Gupta chose to work closely with Himalayan communities, focusing on rural education, traditional knowledge, and cultural preservation. Through SIDH, he has helped develop village schools and alternative approaches to learning that bring indigenous wisdom and holistic education into focus. He has also written books and articles exploring education, culture, and society.Drawing on decades of experience, Gupta challenges the idea that Western models of education and progress are the only measures of success. His work raises an important question: Have we become so focused on looking outward that we've lost touch with our own roots?From the Indian inferiority complex and the education system to the meaning of Dharma and the Bhagavad Gita's teaching on being the doer, this conversation challenges us to question what we believe about India, its traditions and ourselves.In this episode, we explore:- Why Indians feel inferior to the West- How British colonialism shaped Indian identity- Why English is associated with status, success and intelligence in India- How education can encourage imitation instead of independent thinking- Why Pawan Gupta calls India a “fake society”- What Dharma means in Indian philosophy- How Western influence is changing Indian culture and family values- Why Indian traditions and knowledge deserve a closer look- What the Bhagavad Gita teaches about being the doer- The difference between information, knowledge, opinion and truth- How to build confidence without seeking Western validation- Why questioning our assumptions matters for India's futureTime Stamp:00:00 – Why India Is a Wounded Civilization01:30 – How Education Shapes the Indian Mindset04:27 – Why English Means Status and Power in India06:44 – Are Educated Indians Imitating the West?08:34 – Have Indians Lost Touch With Their Roots?10:49 – Why Pawan Gupta Calls India a “Fake Society”13:21 – Dharma vs Religion: Understanding Indian Culture15:50 – What Shapes Children's Values and Behaviour?18:36 – What 18 School Dropouts Revealed24:14 – Joint Families vs Nuclear Families25:17 – What India Gets Wrong About Traditional Food27:00 – Development vs Environmental Destruction28:32 – The Bhagavad Gita: Are We Really the Doers?32:34 – Why We Struggle to Let Go of Control37:35 – The Problem With Borrowed Confidence38:40 – Can We Recognise Truth for Ourselves?40:49 – Are We Living in a Culture of Victimhood?46:12 – Truth vs Opinion, Information and Knowledge48:07 – Pawan Gupta's Vision for India's Future54:01 – Stop Believing Everything. Start Thinking.Pawan Gupta shares his perspective on Indian civilization, cultural identity, education and spirituality, asking us to look beyond borrowed beliefs and think for ourselves.Are we seeing India as it really is, or through the lens of what the West taught us to believe?#PawanGupta #IndianCulture #bhagavadgita Subscribe for more conversations on spirituality, consciousness, Indian philosophy and the questions that challenge how we see the world.✅ Subscribe To Our Other YouTube Channels:Something Bigger Show Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJTXqkdrvYel4doPKcv7uAgFollow Rodrigo on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigocanelas?igsh=MTluMXdiMmt3eTIxaA==https://www.instagram.com/somethingbiggershowTwitter/X: @rodrigocanelas / https://x.com/rodrigo_canelas?s=11Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigocanelas/Let's keep evolving together.

What happens when corporations start controlling the seeds farmers grow?In this episode of Something Bigger Show by Rodrigo Canelas, Dr. Vandana Shiva, Indian environmental activist and founder of Navdanya, talks about her 40-year fight to protect Indian farmers, native seeds, and our food system.With a PhD in quantum theory, she chose a path beyond science and entered the fight to protect nature. Her work took her from studying the impact of the Green Revolution to challenging corporate control over agriculture.She explains why Indian farmers are trapped in debt, how chemical-intensive farming affects agriculture, and why she challenged Monsanto over seed patents and corporate ownership of seeds.Dr. Shiva also shares how she founded Navdanya to conserve native seeds and promote biodiversity, why seeds should remain part of our shared heritage, and what the food on our plates tells us about the people who grow it.But this conversation is about more than farming. It explores greed, courage, nature, and the choice to live for something bigger than money and power.In this conversation, we discuss:- Dr. Vandana Shiva’s journey from quantum physics to environmental activism- The Green Revolution and its impact on Indian agriculture- Why Indian farmers are trapped in debt- Monsanto, seed patents, and the fight over seed ownership- Navdanya and the movement to save India's native seeds- How corporate agriculture affects farmers and the food system- Why seeds are our shared heritage, not just a business asset- What farmers deserve for the food they grow- How to stand up for what you believe in without fear- Why protecting nature is essential to our futureTimestamps00:00 – How Dr. Vandana Shiva Changed Rodrigo’s Life01:09 – What 40 Years of Activism Can Teach Us01:50 – Why a Quantum Physicist Started Saving Seeds04:19 – The Green Revolution and the Roots of Violence06:30 – What the Chipko Movement Taught Her About Nature09:19 – Why She Chose Service Over Money and Power13:31 – How Greed Changed Our Relationship With Nature17:05 – How Agriculture Became a Money-Making Machine18:01 – Why Indian Farmers Are Trapped in Debt19:38 – The Real Cost of the Food on Our Plates20:06 – Why She Started Navdanya20:26 – The Woman Who Bargained Over One Rupee22:00 – What Seeds Represent: Past, Present and Future23:20 – Why She Named Her Movement Navdanya26:02 – The Fight Against Monsanto and Seed Patents29:29 – Where Her Courage and Determination Come From30:47 – The Woman Who Taught Her to Bounce Back34:13 – Her Advice to Anyone Afraid to Make a Difference36:45 – No Greed and No Fear in My Life38:06 – What Nature Can Teach Us39:45 – Dr. Vandana Shiva’s Final MessageIf you want to understand the challenges facing Indian farmers, the debate around Monsanto and seed patents, and who controls the seeds behind our food, watch the full conversation.Subscribe to Something Bigger Show by Rodrigo Canelas for meaningful conversations on India, spirituality, purpose, and the questions that shape how we live.#VandanaShiva #IndianFarmers #Monsanto #Navdanya #IndianAgriculture #SeedSovereignty #FoodSecurity #SomethingBiggerShow✅ Subscribe To Our Other YouTube Channels:Something Bigger Show Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJTXqkdrvYel4doPKcv7uAgFollow Rodrigo on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigocanelas?igsh=MTluMXdiMmt3eTIxaA==https://www.instagram.com/somethingbiggershowTwitter/X: @rodrigocanelas / https://x.com/rodrigo_canelas?s=11Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigocanelas/Let's keep evolving together.

What happens when a woman spends years building her own identity, only to suddenly be known as someone’s wife, someone’s mother, or the person who is expected to adjust?In this episode of Something Bigger, Rodrigo Canelas sits with Capt. (Dr.) Sunaina Singh, a former Indian Army officer, psychologist, professor, sports psychologist and mother, for a deeply personal conversation about identity, motherhood, career, responsibility, ego and what it really means to choose your own life.Sunaina was the first woman from her village in Belarkha, Haryana to join the Indian Army. She served for 10 years, played handball at the national level, earned a PhD in Psychology and an MBA in HR, and later returned to teaching at Delhi University.But her most difficult battles were not necessarily on the field or in uniform.She opens up about the identity crisis she experienced after leaving the Army, becoming a wife and later becoming a mother. At one point, she says, “Captain Sunaina was someone’s wife.” After growing up with an identity built around her own achievements, that transition forced her to ask a difficult question: Who am I when my old identity is gone?The conversation also challenges the way we think about women and the word “compromise.” Sunaina believes that constantly thinking about what we have compromised can drain our energy, while taking responsibility can give us energy and meaning.From the Indian Army, she learned another powerful lesson: there is no “I”, only “we.” The Army taught her to put ego aside, adapt to difficult situations, accept responsibility and understand that both victories and failures belong to the team.This conversation is especially for women who have ever felt caught between career and family, ambition and motherhood, independence and responsibility. But it also goes beyond women. It is ultimately about how we make decisions, deal with our ego, adapt to life and take responsibility for the choices we make.In this episode:00:00 – When being a woman becomes about adjusting03:35 – Why gender should never decide your competence03:46 – Why Sunaina joined the Indian Army09:08 – Courage, moral responsibility and the lessons of the Army09:31 – How the Army works on your ego10:01 – Why the Army replaces “I” with “We”12:01 – Entering the Army with confidence and a big ego25:35 – Making difficult life decisions26:03 – The identity crisis after leaving the Army26:10 – “Captain Sunaina was someone’s wife”26:17 – What happens when you lose the identity you built31:24 – Finding her identity again42:47 – The unseen life of Army wives and mothers43:15 – Adaptability, motherhood and life as an Army wife47:09 – Why motherhood was not a compromise for her47:44 – What the Armed Forces taught her about responsibility48:54 – Why everything we do should come from responsibility49:14 – Stop calling every difficult choice a compromise51:34 – Responsibility, family, country and starting with the basics52:22 – How your daily choices shape your life54:46 – Why human connection and emotions matter55:41 – “How do you stay happy?”01:00:45 – Why human feelings matter in education01:05:38 – Why today’s generation is overwhelmed with information01:05:47 – The generation that is losing emotional connection01:08:15 – Growing up without letting gender define you#IndianArmy #IndianWomen #WomenEmpowerment #Motherhood #WomenInArmy #WomenAndCareer✅ Subscribe To Our Other YouTube Channels:Something Bigger Show Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJTXqkdrvYel4doPKcv7uAgFollow Rodrigo on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigocanelas?igsh=MTluMXdiMmt3eTIxaA==https://www.instagram.com/somethingbiggershowTwitter/X: @rodrigocanelas / https://x.com/rodrigo_canelas?s=11Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigocanelas/Let's keep evolving together.

What if you saw Neem Karoli Baba in the middle of a desperate journey to save your daughter?Dr. Nirmal Chandra Mungali shares the Neem Karoli Baba experience he has never been able to fully explain.In this episode of Something Bigger With Rodrigo Canelas, Dr. Mungali, a physician from Haldwani and lifelong devotee of Neem Karoli Baba, shares the experiences that shaped his understanding of devotion, love, presence and spirituality.In 1985, his six-year-old daughter suddenly began losing consciousness. While rushing to the hospital, Dr. Mungali stopped at a gas station. It was there, he says, that he saw Neem Karoli Baba’s half-bust in the air and spoke to him.What happened next at the hospital was only the beginning.A week later, Dr. Mungali took his daughter to Kainchi. When she saw Neem Karoli Baba’s photograph, she said something that left him stunned.But this was not his first unforgettable experience with Baba.Dr. Mungali takes us back to when he was just 13 years old, when a birthday visit to Neem Karoli Baba turned into an experience he could not understand at the time. He recalls being publicly scolded, refusing to return, feeling an unbearable weight on his shoulder and eventually throwing his coins into the valley in anger.Twenty years later, a story about love suddenly gave him a way to understand what had happened.The conversation goes beyond stories of Neem Karoli Baba into questions that are much harder to explain:What is the difference between love and devotion?Can an experience give you an answer without words?Why do some moments only make sense years later?What does it mean to feel someone's presence after they have left the physical body?And what happens when something cannot be understood intellectually, but can only be experienced?Dr. Mungali also shares his thoughts on Ram Dass, Krishna Das, mysticism, serendipity, transformation and what it means to tap into “Something Bigger.”Chapters00:00 – Introduction01:01 – Why a date from 41 years ago still matters01:35 – The hailstorm that changed everything04:26 – His daughter suddenly loses consciousness08:08 – “I saw Neem Karoli Baba in the air”09:04 – “I will not let you sit on the takat in peace”10:55 – Finding his daughter cold and unconscious12:19 – The desperate attempt to save her18:44 – “Baba, does he live here?”20:00 – The moment everything connected24:00 – “How could I do that to him?”24:56 – Love vs devotion26:22 – Ram Dass, Krishna Das and being “called”35:56 – Can an answer exist without words?41:16 – When he first understood “something else”44:22 – Age 13: walking to the temple in a thunderstorm51:16 – Being publicly scolded by Neem Karoli Baba56:07 – Refusing to return58:52 – The unbearable weight on his shoulder01:00:56 – Throwing his coins into the valley01:04:00 – The box of sweets that appeared01:08:33 – Suddenly, there was no weight01:13:55 – Twenty years later, everything made sense01:19:16 – “He is not weight. He is my love.”01:20:08 – Love and devotion01:26:32 – Why transformation happens beyond words01:45:47 – Is Neem Karoli Baba still here?01:52:32 – A closing blessing on Krishna’s birthdayWatch the full conversation with Dr. Nirmal Chandra Mungali to explore his experiences with Neem Karoli Baba, Kainchi Dham, Krishna Das, Ram Dass, devotion, mysticism, love, presence and serendipity.#NeemKaroliBaba #DrNirmalMungali #KainchiDham #KrishnaDas #RamDass #Spirituality #Mysticism #Devotion #SomethingBigger✅ Subscribe To Our Other YouTube Channels:Something Bigger Show Clips: https://www.youtube.com/@UCJTXqkdrvYel4doPKcv7uAgFollow Rodrigo on Social Media:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rodrigocanelas?igsh=MTluMXdiMmt3eTIxaA==https://www.instagram.com/somethingbiggershowTwitter/X: @rodrigocanelas / https://x.com/rodrigo_canelas?s=11Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodrigocanelas/Let's keep evolving together.