“Millions are like me when it comes to religion: well-educated and successful people for whom religion has been irrelevant. We grew up in secular households or drifted away from the faiths in which we were raised and never looked back. For them, I think I have a story worth telling.”

The search for deeper meaning isn’t just for those who are struggling—it’s a powerful drive for the most successful among us. Drawing from the story of social scientist Charles Murray, we unpack why curiosity, purpose, and spiritual questioning are essential, even when life seems secure.

We discuss everything from near-death experiences to a purpose-driven living and show how true growth starts when you seek beyond what’s comfortable.

Stay curious, keep seeking, and let that drive lead you to real fulfillment.

Highlights:

• (03:58) Is religion only for the weak, the poor and the dumb?
• (08:13) Why something rather than nothing?
• (10:49) Compare the downsides of being wrong about religion to the upsides of being right about it
• (14:57) Near-death experiences: consciousness beyond the body
• (18:34) So what is consciousness?
• (27:03) Atheism is a societal experiment
• (30:37) Generation Z now seeks spiritual purpose
• (33:43) Be a true seeker, not a groupie who just goes along
• (36:22) Gold diggers in California
• (40:36) The journey is an eternal journey, and it will only make your life happier

Recorded on November 11, 2025.

https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail

In today’s world, so many things pass as ‘spiritual’. But what does real spirituality actually mean, and what is the result of engaging in psychedelics, kundalini yoga, or thinking ‘I am everything’? In today’s talk we start off by discussing something Balakhilya’s dad told him in regards to intoxication, namely ‘If you don’t start anything you don’t have to quit’. Actually, all bona-fide spiritual processes teach refraining from intoxication as a prerequisite for spiritual development.

We speak about what can be the result of using psychedelics, how kundalini yoga can help us experience our true spiritual nature, and how we inherently and eternally need a loving relationship. From there Balakhilya explains the 2 ways to acquire knowledge, how self-satisfaction is the solution to the environmental crisis, and the path to get the ultimate, natural ‘high’. You’ll also hear Balakhilya explain the meaning of the mantras we are using and why we use those.

Highlights:

• (3:10) If you don’t start something, you never have to quit
• (8:27) Taking drugs doesn’t open spiritual doors
• (14:47) The difference between physical, mental and spiritual
• (35:50) Descending process and Bhakti yoga, approaching big nature - respect the mountain and the mountain may allow you to summit
• (44:00) Drugs to escape unhappiness: negation of the negative. Problem is a lack of real love.
• (55:00) Start by learning from our faults and bad habits, can't start perfect.
• (1:12:00) 'We worry about how we should leave a better planet for our kids, but we don't worry about leaving better kids for the planet'
• (1:21:51) About the famous surfer who had a massive wipeout, ending up with 11 hours a day rehab just to surf again

Recorded on March 8, 2021. Read episode transcript on https://breakingtrail.life/podcast/7 Watch video version, contribute to podcast, join Facebook group, etc: https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail

In his younger years he was known as Firebird, a well-known personality in the nightclub hosting community in Toronto, Canada. At the time his life was seeking pleasure through late nights, intoxication and partying but when his health started to decline he figured that something had to change. He wasn’t happy and realized that the lifestyle he was leading wasn’t the answer.

In this episode we sit down for a chat with Jonathan who is currently a highly successful real estate sales person in Toronto, an outstanding long-distance mountain biker, a father - but first and foremost, someone who is leading and promoting a lifestyle of yoga meditation. We discuss the importance of having determination for achieving anything in life, how Jonathan and Balakhilya were and are still pleasure-seekers (the method to achieve it has changed though), and how to balance meditation practice with a busy career. Jonathan reveals his intriguing secret to a healthy back and shares the story of a six day and 500km fatbike ride through the snowy trails of the Durham forest last winter.

Highlights:

• (18:44) Seeking the topmost pleasure
• (31:53) Changing one’s life and desires through discipline and commitment
• (42:43) Fun story about vegetarian diet and sports performance
• (51:40) Stimulants, caffeine and mountain biking
• (58:36) Chant no matter what and leave nobody behind; short story about real life changing values

Recorded on September 20, 2021. Read episode transcript on https://breakingtrail.life/podcast/15

Watch video version, contribute to podcast, join Facebook group, etc: https://linktr.ee/breakingtrail