Shadow to Self with Acharya Shunya

In this episode of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya shares the Gayatri Mantra not as theory, but as living memory. From early dawn walks along the Sarayu River in Ayodhya to the disciplined transmission of her grandfather, she reveals how Gayatri became the inner architecture of her life. You will learn: • Why Gayatri is called the mother of the Vedas • The meaning of its three lines and three vyahritis • The significance of its nine words and twenty-four sounds • How sound shapes consciousness • Why this mantra is an invocation of clarity, not superstition • How Gayatri moves us from shadow to Self More than a chant, Gayatri is structured illumination. It refines the mind, strengthens discernment, and anchors us in inner radiance. Whether you are new to mantra or returning to it with deeper intent, this episode invites you to rediscover the inner sun that never sets.

In this episode, Vedic wisdom meets the depths of Jewish mysticism as host Acharya Shunya sit sin dialogue with Rabbi Matthew Ponak. Together, they explore how the shadow is not something to be conquered but met with divine intelligence, how ancient traditions guide us when the self feels fragmented, and how grace arrives when effort alone falls short. Drawing from Advaita and embodied Kabbalah, this conversation moves beyond theory into lived experience, revealing how sacred lineages across cultures point toward the same inner rescue: remembrance, humility, and the quiet help that comes when we stop pretending we can do it alone. Rabbi Matthew Ponak is a teacher of Jewish mysticism and spiritual counselor, ordained with honors from Hebrew College's neo-Hasidic rabbinical school and author of Embodied Kabbalah.

Sita, the heroine of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a divine feminine avatar of Lakshmi, is often misunderstood. She is praised for her patience, remembered for her suffering, but rarely honored for her sovereign choices, her hidden fire, her radical return to Self. In this extraordinary episode, Acharya Shunya brings together the creators of Sitayana—a groundbreaking audio retelling of the Ramayana through Sita's eyes. Together with producer Michael Sternfeld, devotional artist Nina Rao, mystic Mirabai Starr, and author Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, she explores exile, dharma, silence, devotion, and the moment when Sita says no… and returns to the Earth. Includes a stirring passage from "Sita Returns to Mother Earth" and a devotional song offered by Nina Rao to invoke her presence through sacred sound.

Acharya Shunya is joined by Dr. Shamini Jain—clinical psychologist, award-winning researcher, founder of the Consciousness and Healing Initiative, and author of Healing Ourselves. Drawing from her Jain upbringing, her work in biofield science, and her love for the goddess, music and mantra, Dr. Jain speaks with Acharya Shunya about the healing source field, the four paths of yoga, and how embracing every part of ourselves—shadow and light—frees both our creativity and our spirit.

Beneath your spiritual practices may live five ancient forces freezing your truth: the kleshas. In this poetic and piercing episode, Acharya Shunya reveals how real Yoga doesn't just soothe you—it thaws the false self. Journey through the inner glaciers of ignorance, ego, attachment, aversion, and fear—and rediscover the Self that's always been there. This is not lifestyle yoga. This is serious awakening.

In this episode of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya flips the script: Real yogis don't chase life—they serve it. And that's when life starts giving back. Drawing from the fire of Karma Yoga, she reveals the true turning point: when your life becomes an offering, not a performance. The Yogi's Way to Win in Life Yoga isn't a chase. It's a fire. Listen now—and stop waiting. Start burning.

What if your stuckness, your suffering, even your failure to "get it right" on the spiritual path… is not a detour, but the path itself? In this compelling conversation, Vedic teacher Acharya Shunya meets with Phil Goldberg, bestselling author of American Veda and the forthcoming Karmic Relief: Harnessing the Laws of Cause and Effect for a Joyful, Meaningful Life (releasing October 2025). Together, they explore the deeper teachings of karma, yoga, imperfection, and inner transformation beyond spiritual clichés. Topics include: What karma really means (it's not a punishment system!) How modern yoga lost its roots—and what we can reclaim Why the Bhagavad Gita, not the Yoga Sutras, is the yogi's true guide The danger of performative sadhana vs. sincere practice How pain can teach what pleasure cannot This conversation will land for seekers who've outgrown "quick-fix" spirituality—and want the real thing: a path that's raw, honest, wise, and human.  Phil Goldberg is a respected voice in global yoga circles and the host of Spirit Matters Podcast. He's been immersed in Vedic teachings for over 50 years.  Season 2 of Shadow to Self is themed "Yoga Burns Again"—a call to rekindle the true fire of inner awakening.  Learn more at: PhilipGoldberg.com | AcharyaShunya.com  Karmic Relief releases October 2025

A true Guru doesn't comfort the ego—they burn it. In this episode, Acharya Shunya contrasts the rise of yoga instructors with the sacred fire of the Guru tradition. Through lineage stories, sacred verses, and fierce love for truth, she invites us to let yoga burn again.

In this moving episode, Acharya Shunya speaks with Sadhvi Bhagawati Saraswati about her new book Come Home to Yourself — a heartfelt guide for anyone seeking inner peace and spiritual clarity. Sadhviji was a Stanford grad living a typical American life in California — until a trip to India and a dip in the Ganges changed everything. For the past 35+ years, she's lived as a renunciate by the Ganga, immersed in yoga, service, and awakening. This conversation is an invitation to question what we're chasing — and come home to who we really are.  Listen now on Apple Podcasts. #ShadowToSelf #ApplePodcasts #ComeHomeToYourself #SadhviBhagawati #HollywoodToHimalayas #ReturnToSelf #sadhvibhagawati

Yoga was never meant to soothe you. It was meant to burn—to pierce illusion, dissolve ego, and awaken the Self. In this Season 2 premiere of Shadow to Self, Acharya Shunya—a Vedic scholar and fierce voice of lineage—returns to restore Yoga to its sacred fire. Not a trend. Not a performance. A path.  New episodes drop on the 2nd & 4th Wednesdays.  Learn more: AcharyaShunya.com   Google Podcasts  Yoga Was Never Meant to Soothe You Season 2 begins with fire. Acharya Shunya returns to Yoga's essence—not to calm illusion, but to burn through it.  AcharyaShunya.com

Learn how to free yourself from your own negative, self-doubting and betraying mind. This timely episode is a soothing balm for our times. Discover how to embrace authenticity, self-love and rewrtie a life script of peace, clarity and purpose. This episode highlights Acharya Shunya's journey to freedom. Tune in, to transform your life and the world we live in. Be inspired and invest in yourself. Give yourself the gift of freedom today!

Chris' spiritual journey and initiation to yoga, began in adolescence. His deep commitment to his Guru, his Yogic studies and practises, supported his transformation. His presence and contributions to society, are a direct result of his sincerity and inner work. This episode is filled with insights - on the benefits of consistency and opening up to your inner world, having faith in the Divine and cultivating compassion. Chris' teachings and works can be found at bellarmine.lmu.edu and yogaglo.com

In this delightful and engaging episode, Acharya Shunya introduces us to Philip Goldberg, bestselling author of American Veda & Spiritual Practice for Crazy Times. In this interview, we get an intimate glimpse into Phil's life, and his shadow integration work. The central message of his new book is "equanimity" - how to maintain and cultivate it. For more information, visit PhilipGoldberg.com.

In this powerful and potent episode, Acharya Shunya touches on key terms - Atma, Jiva, Moksha, and Samsara. Shunya's unpacking of these terms serves as a reinforcement that we are indeed not the Shadow, but like the Sun - we are absolute divine light! A wonderful episode for new and experienced audiences in Non-Duality.

In this rich 2-part podcast Acharya Shunya interviews iRest founder, Richard Miller. The focus of this interview is on Richard's personal journey as a seeker, as a professional and as a soul on a journey to awakening. Richard is a world-renowned spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar and clinical psychologist. Richard's journey is mystical and communal. His insights and gifts are innumerable. To learn more about Richard and benefit from his teachings, visit iRest.org.

In this rich 2-part interview,  Acharya Shunya interviews iRest founder, Richard Miller. The focus of this interview is on Richard's personal journey as a seeker, as a professional and as soul on a journey to awakening. Richard is a world-renowned spiritual teacher, author, yogic scholar and clinical psychologist. Richard's journey is mystical and communal. His insights and gifts are innumerable. To learn more about Richard and benefit from his teachings, visit iRest.org.

Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, who gave the concept of Satyagraha (truth in action) to the world, MLK and John Lewis who brought Satyagraha to the American civil disobedience movement, Acharya Shunya takes Satyagraha to a new level. She shows us how Satyagraha can be applied to daily life, particularly in relationships and communication, and how Satyagraha is connected to the non-dual vision of oneness and non-violence. She states, "When we see another as an equal, we allow for enlightenment to support our actions." Read transcript.

In this episode, Acharya Shunya introduces Yogacharya Ellen Grace O'Brian and they continue to discuss the 4 Universal Goals, as well as her latest book, The Jewel of Abundance. Listeners will takeaway how to bring in higher consciousness into their everyday lives - especially towards wealth creation - and live in peace and harmony, supporting their journey from Shadow to Self.

In this episode, Acharya Shunya walks us through 4 universal goals that are worth pursuing. These are known as Purusharthas. With this strategic roadmap, Acharya Shunya provides the listener, on how to live a balanced and wiser life, in the realm of truth and reality. The first goal that she highlights is Dharma (the cultivation of a higher consciousness), and valuing your "true" self, which benefits yourself and the community. By valuing Dharma, you commit to truth thoughts and see through delusion. She then talks about Artha (prosperity), Kama (pleasure, love) and Moksha (liberation). Read transcript.

In this episode, Acharya Shunya builds upon "truth thoughts." She advises on not labeling a situation as good or bad. She expounds upon a teaching by Sage Patanjali, from his text Yoga Sutras - "if the mind is harassed by thoughts - terribly negative or overtly positive, then one should cultivate the opposite thought, to bring the situation into balance," thereby creating an opening of acceptance, hope and a "truer" life story. She provides examples on how to apply this to your everyday. Read transcript.

In this episode, Shunya reminds us of who we are. She debunks the myth that positive thinking fixes all problems. She provides us with an alternative - Truth thoughts. She guides us towards relaxing into the "isness" of what is. In this acceptance lies reality. She spotlights the inner workings of the shadow, and how it focuses upon negative thoughts and magnification. On the other extreme, the shadow can justify and be okay with abuse, if one is showered with positive gifts. She invites us to see things as they are, as that leads us to the truth. She advises us to meditate and investigate the nature of our thoughts to go beyond the shadow and bring forth the self. Read transcript.

A special tribute to George Floyd. In this episode, Acharya Shunya discusses the emotion of anger and sheds light on how we as a species have failed in seeing beyond the color of our skins. She further elaborates on how far we've come in terms of science, but how limited we've been in terms of making life safe for all humans. She guides us through healthy and unhealthy anger – and provides us with a pathway on how we can constructively use our anger towards inclusivity. Read transcript.

Acharya Shunya talks about being whole and coming into a relationship with the Shadow and the Self. Being human means accepting the co-existence of the appearance and the truth – this phenomenon she calls "Enlightened Vulnerability." She instructs us not to blame our Shadow, and that the Shadow tends to perpetuate itself – till we infuse it with the Truth. She re-stresses the importance of discernment and detachment – and provides us with a core teaching, by which we can access Absolute Truth. Read transcript.

Acharya Shunya sets the stage by defining the state of our current experience – lost and caught in narratives of victimhood. The shadow, which exists in the mind, gets conditioned over time. Slowly, the mind loses connection with the true self – soul. She shares her own experience with this podcast, and how her shadow tried to take over. However, with some reflection, and utilization of her non-dual practices, she was able to clearly see through this and come back to reality. Read transcript.

Acharya Shunya begins the episode in a human manner - she's caught up in the night, in the courtroom of her mind. Sound familiar? Yes, this is because we tend to fall into the experience of the Ahamkara (Sanskrit for Ego) - the storymaker. With Vedic wisdom embedded in her being, Shunya takes an observer stance and recognizes exactly what is going on. She is able to put an end to the posturing and return to a place of peace. Through this episode, Shunya beautifully weaves in the metaphoric reference to the River Sarayu in Northern India. She invites you to swim into your "Bigness," your authenticity, and from that vantage point, recognize the vulnerability of the ego and embrace the journey of life from a "conscious" lens. Steeped in non-dual Vedic wisdom, this episode offers you an invaluable inquiry into the survival-rooted nature of the shadow—always jockeying for position—and provides a point of view on how to recognize when you are caught up. Read transcript.

Join master spiritual teacher and best-selling author, Acharya Shunya on her new show, Shadow to Self. She'll help you understand the universal coexistence of light and darkness within each and every one of us, share real-life stories, and explore concepts surrounding non-dual spirituality, relationships, existential question marks, consciousness, karma, dharma, moksha and more. She will also have guests on occasion, where she'll have deep conversations that will open your heart to a higher dimension of consciousness and instill empowerment and freedom. Read transcript.