Ancient Wisdom Pearls
…enter the cave to discover wisdom from ancient Sages relevant in modern times!
Advaita Vedantic Path
How to handle joy?
Question: Ektaji, at present, I am on the verge of going through a big change in life. Whatever I have known till now is suddenly being metamorphosed into something larger. All three aspects of people, situation and things are in transition. From a materialistic and...
See Guru as an Energy, not a Personality!
Question:Yesterday Guru Dev tweeted that see Guru as beyond a personality see the being, see the hollow and empty, ever full presence. From past few weeks, I was actually wanting to feel Guru Dev beyond the body. And you are the best person, as the way you explain...
Fools blame others! Wise look inwards!
Question: After doing so many knowledge sessions with you, I have realized that I have a tendency to think that I am perfect and others are wrong. My ways are correct and theirs are wrong. I understand this is the cycle of Sanchita, Prarbdha and Agami Karma. But...
Why this? Why that? Why? Why?…. It’s all Maaya!
Question:JGD Didi, I had a nasty marriage and even nastier divorce in past. I have two adorable children though. I have promised them they will never have any stepfather in their life, that is the reason why I have turned down many instances. I have found myself...
Ego is a major pitfall on the Spiritual path!
Question : Dear Didi, I tend to be influenced by those who are having too much fun and less awareness and don’t take the spiritual path seriously. I feel that we are not even eligible to learn this beautiful knowledge from Gurudev. He is so compassionate towards us in...
Sit on the fence!
Question:Dear Ektaji, What to do when you have conflict in picking among two different things(raagas) in life ? It seems like dropping one and picking another is like choosing one of your Raagaa & creating dvesha for another.What is the flow of life at that point...
Happy NEW perspective!
Seeker: Can you help me make a firm new years resolution and stick to it?Answer: At this junction in life [new years], most people run after resolutions or they sit and sulk about the past years resolutions that they did not keep up to. Haven’t you learnt a lesson...
Is Ambition also a seeking?
Question:One of yesterday’s Yoga Vasishtha knowledge points and homework, that you gave was ‘not to seek and just be and live effortlessly through whatever transpires because of Sanchita karma.’ How do we differentiate seeking from ambition? Or are they the same?...
Dusangha sarvathaiva tyajaha – Shun bad company at all costs!
Question: Di, there is tremendous change in the society in India…everyone is so much into alcohol and stuff. There are special afternoon get together of females where all of them go to pubs…I am always the odd one out not going or not drinking…as a result I feel cut...
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Buddha’s Path
The secret of the ‘first thought’!
Question: What to do if negative thoughts keep coming against a person. I know it is not right and I am creating agami karma for myself but I am still unable to avoid it. Answer: This is a common mistake made by many spiritual seekers. People think that every...
Sit on the fence!
Question:Dear Ektaji, What to do when you have conflict in picking among two different things(raagas) in life ? It seems like dropping one and picking another is like choosing one of your Raagaa & creating dvesha for another.What is the flow of life at that point...
Happy NEW perspective!
Seeker: Can you help me make a firm new years resolution and stick to it?Answer: At this junction in life [new years], most people run after resolutions or they sit and sulk about the past years resolutions that they did not keep up to. Haven’t you learnt a lesson...
New Years vows for the sake of spiritual progress!
Question: How to do a few days of Spiritual sabbatical? Answer: Spirituality is about looking within and finding that peace within. For beginners, who have not yet learnt to be with their own selves, every Teacher/Guru/Master gives processes/techniques so one finally...
Intellectualization of Spiritual Knowledge is a MAJOR obstacle!
Question: Ekta ji, can you point to any references in scriptures or your own experience on how to identify the symptoms of being half baked in Vedanta knowledge or being caught up just in the theory of Advaita? Answer: It is a big danger if you are caught up in the...
Silence is your new friend!
Question: Dear Ektaji, After struggling for many days/attempts I could settle down my mind today taking my attention away from whatever my mind was creating. After a while, a sense of silence overtook me. My being had this kind of overtaking before but I was so happy...
Am I cheating my Guru if I follow somebody else?
Question: Dearest Ekta Didi, I have been with a spiritual foundation for the past 22 years and have done several courses there. Ever since I stumbled upon Ramana’s sessions with you, there has been a huge change that I can not describe. I completed the Advaitha, and...
Your well is full of negativity, it’s not the bucket’s fault!
Question:I never look at other person as he/she is. I am always looking for negativity in others. Is it my mental conditioning that is causing me to be judgmental of others? How do I come out of this? I have this problem I have recognized it but when it grips me it is...
YogaMaaya can be a hurdle on the spiritual path
Question:I have a strange experience to share. Today in my meditation I felt like I was distanced from myself when I got carried away in my thoughts and the moment I came back to the breath I felt like that distance was gone. It is a strange kind of knowingness. Or am...
Meditating during periods!
Question: Is it ok to do meditation during periods? My doubt arose because I can feel the energy flow upwards in meditation, while the energy is said to flow downwards during periods. This is a huge topic of controversy in Kerala, India. Annamalai Swami said...
Why do I feel stagnant in my spiritual growth?
Question:JGD Ektaji – As you are aware, I have been in knowledge for about 3 years now. I have also been involved with some seva and regular sadhana but I feel like I am not growing. I watch my self all the time (sakshi Bhaav) and as an outsider I see that I am still...
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Individual Spirituality
The source of the I-thought is Silence!
Question: Concentration on 'I' thought seems to be an on and off process. I get a glimpse that concentration on 'I-thought' will remove the identification with the body but the more I concentrate on the 'I' the more I feel the presence of my body. Am I doing something...
Dispassion is not Suppressing Desires
Question: Is dispassion accepting what has come our way and not longing for a certain outcome? Answer: Dispassion is a natural maturity of the intellect that comes after dissolving yourself in self-introspection or spiritual knowledge and meditation. It is just like...
Crossing through the dark clouds of Maaya!
Question:I am practicing being more and more aware. In spite of being aware that my particular Karma or action will create a future karma, my mind gets stuck suddenly and I land up creating an aagami karma seed. How is it that some events create deep Impressions and...
Ego is a major pitfall on the Spiritual path!
Question : Dear Didi, I tend to be influenced by those who are having too much fun and less awareness and don’t take the spiritual path seriously. I feel that we are not even eligible to learn this beautiful knowledge from Gurudev. He is so compassionate towards us in...
Maaya makes you believe that dreams are real!
Question:We keep hearing how this awareness is like knowing your dreaming. But the best (and most entertaining) dreams are when you think it’s real! I know thinking like this is primitive-talk compared to what we’ve learnt, but I still can’t help but agree with this...
Does a Guru or the Enlightened one feel sadness? Do they actually fall sick?
Question:I have a question, although it may sound silly. I was wondering, do enlightened beings feel sadness? Do they actually feel sick? As I look at Guruji, I see consciousness and whatever is emanating from him is just natural. Since he’s in a human form, he’s not...
Am I cheating my Guru if I follow somebody else?
Question: Dearest Ekta Didi, I have been with a spiritual foundation for the past 22 years and have done several courses there. Ever since I stumbled upon Ramana’s sessions with you, there has been a huge change that I can not describe. I completed the Advaitha, and...
Dispassion or Disinterest?
Question: Jgd Ekta di, Are dispassion and disinterest one and the same. I have lost ambition in Career. I do whatever job is given to me. But my Boss has started noticing it that I don’t go beyond what was asked of me and don’t bring new ideas to the table. A similar...
Guilt of spiritual insincerity
Question: JGD Didi, I have started listening to knowledge recently and I, suddenly, realized that I have been tremendously insincere in the past.This is bothering me too much. I want to progress on the path, please guide me on how to overcome this feeling. ...
Belief v/s Experience
Question: Ektaji, how can witnessing become my experience when I don't know the very first step itself? I know the Upanishads are Rishi's meditated and this knowledge came. So I believe in that and studied but if I don't believe and doubt that how can I experience the...
The life of ‘maximum relief’
Question: My friend somewhere read that the life before liberation is the toughest, is there any truth to this? Answer: I don’t think that the last life before liberation is the toughest. It is just that in that life, you will actually make efforts to understand your...
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General Spirituality
Fools blame others! Wise look inwards!
Question: After doing so many knowledge sessions with you, I have realized that I have a tendency to think that I am perfect and others are wrong. My ways are correct and theirs are wrong. I understand this is the cycle of Sanchita, Prarbdha and Agami Karma. But...
If I am not the doer then how do I accrue Karma?
Question:If I am not the doer then how do I accrue Karma? If I am not the doer then how is there a karma bag? If I didn't do anything then whose Karma bag am I carrying? Answer:When you were a baby, there was no sense of 'I'. There was no sense of 'my body'....
Leave the mind alone!
Question: Dear Didi, in your signature and on your web site, there is a beautiful quote. “Leave the mind alone, it will quieten itself! Meditate!”I meditate, but it is more of a struggle and I always come out feeling not so good about my inability to become...
How would I know I am not seeking anymore?
Question: Can you please explain how would we know whether we have united or reached our self and are Pure witness right now. How do we know we are doing it right? How would I know I am not seeking anymore? Answer: Being a witness is as simple as looking at your mind...
What has to happen has already happened!
Question: There is only one possibility in the way things happen, right? To be specific - at this point I am going through an emotional turmoil. I could choose to wait for my girlfriend and see where it takes me OR I could choose to forget her and move on OR I could...
Enlightenment is the sole purpose!
Question: Dearest Ekta, Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I recently read your answer in the "Many masters One path" post and it resonated with me. https://ektabathija.com/many-masters-one-path/ Towards the end, you describe the following: "I am interested in...
YogaMaaya can be a hurdle on the spiritual path
Question:I have a strange experience to share. Today in my meditation I felt like I was distanced from myself when I got carried away in my thoughts and the moment I came back to the breath I felt like that distance was gone. It is a strange kind of knowingness. Or am...
When in anger, not being a winner is actually winning!
Question:I have been working on my spiritual knowledge yet could not deal with a big fight with my spouse. How to deal with anger? After that fight, I realized that I valued winning more than my relationship.Answer:That’s the quality of the Ego. It only wants to...
Dwindling of desires!
Question:There is an expectation to take up additional tasks (at work) as the role requires it.As a spiritual practitioner, I have noticed desires reducing in me automatically and now I have no desire to do extra/more tasks aiming at promotion or to please the...
Stand up for what is right even if you have to stand alone!
Question: Didi, I see that people around me do all kinds of corrupt and unwholesome things – lie, steal, twist facts, play games with me, do politics in office as well as at home. These people are very successful and rich. They seem to have a powerful position among...
How to give it back to the evil people in life?
Question:I’m following the Buddha’s path of compassion but I need advice on how to treat people who treat you unfairly, cold-heartedly or are just evil people? I have been running into a lot of problems with it. I’ve been ignoring people. But I’m starting to feel...
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Kabir’s Path
Kabir says that ‘you are that’ already… recognize it before its too late!
Question: I found this Kabir poem recitation by Shabnam Virmani. She learned this poem from Bhairavidevi who sings songs about Kabir. Please can you help translate it into English? Swansa Swansa mein naam le aur biratha swansa mat khoyNa jane is swansa ka awan hoye na...
Kabir’s Inner Mirror
Question: What mirror is Kabir talking about in the following Doha? Hirday ma hi aarsi, mukh dekha nahi jaaye Mukh to tabhi dekhiye, jab dil ki duvidha jaaye There is a mirror inside, but the reflection is not clear. One can clearly see his face only when the clouds...
Kabir says drop all conditioning!
Question: In one of your answers, you mentioned that Kabir asks us to burn down our house of material and spiritual conditioning if we want to attain the Witness/Consciousness/Sakshi. Has Kabir explained what is spiritual conditioning? Answer: Yes, dear, we covered...
Kabir says burn down the house!
Question: Why does Kabir talk about burning down the house in this Doha? Main mera ghar jaadiya, liyo paleeta haath, koi agar jaado ghar aapro, chale hamaare saath I burnt down my house with a flaming torch If you can scorch your own house, come join me! Answer: Kabir...
Gossipmongers on the spiritual path are wrong numbers!
Question: I just figured that one of my spiritual world colleagues is jealous because I am meditating longer hours and have become quieter than her. She herself acknowledges that she is a loose cannon. She gossips a lot even about her own family life. She tried to...
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Ramana Maharshi’s Path
The source of the I-thought is Silence!
Question: Concentration on 'I' thought seems to be an on and off process. I get a glimpse that concentration on 'I-thought' will remove the identification with the body but the more I concentrate on the 'I' the more I feel the presence of my body. Am I doing something...
Drishti Srishti Vaada and Ajaata Vaad
Namaste Ektaji:Is it possible that I am shuttling between the two viewpoints? When I am the Witness/Void, I am in Ajaata-vada viewpoint? When I get pulled out by the mind and get involved in the drama, then I am in Drishti-Srishti-vada? Thanks! Answer: Drishti...
Why is the no-mind state not permanent in this human body?
Question: Dear Ektaji, With reference to the 'no mind' state, why is it that no mind state is not permanent in this human body? Answer: This answer will make sense only if you have started the self-exploration to find who you are, otherwise, these will be merely...
Does a Guru or the Enlightened one feel sadness? Do they actually fall sick?
Question:I have a question, although it may sound silly. I was wondering, do enlightened beings feel sadness? Do they actually feel sick? As I look at Guruji, I see consciousness and whatever is emanating from him is just natural. Since he’s in a human form, he’s not...
Belief v/s Experience
Question: Ektaji, how can witnessing become my experience when I don't know the very first step itself? I know the Upanishads are Rishi's meditated and this knowledge came. So I believe in that and studied but if I don't believe and doubt that how can I experience the...
Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!
Question:Namaste Ektaji,Happy Ganesh Chaturthi! On this occasion, I wanted to share an anecdote of Ramana Maharshi related to this festival. It’s from the book Guru Vachaka Kovai recorded by Muruganar. It’s a pun on the word ‘purnam’, the filling in modak. My...
Fear being used as a weapon on the spiritual path
Question: Fear is being used to keep me bound to my current spiritual teacher. I keep getting emotionally manipulated by others in this community with the fearful stories of losing spiritual grace if I leave. But my intuition keeps warning me against staying here. Is...
Difference between ‘I am THIS’ & ‘I am’ per Buddha’s path
Question: Dear Ekta di: It would be of great benefit if you could please help with the following: Book: Samyutta Nikaya sutta number 22.89 (7) Khemaka- Pg 944 (middle paragraph): "Friends, although [the notion] 'I am' has not vanished in me in relation to these five...
Want to spend an afternoon interacting with a fully enlightened person… How to find one?
Question: I have a very deep thirst for knowing the Truth of ‘Who am I?’ I follow Ramana Maharshi’s teachings but it is so difficult to find a fully enlightened being to spend some time with and learn the Truth. I want to spend an afternoon speaking with a person who...
Can I continue vedic chanting along with Buddha’s & Ramana’s path?
Question: Respected Ekta ji, I just wish to be guided if one can continue with general practices of chanting Hanuman Chalisa, Om Namah Shivaye , Om Namo Baghvate vasudevaye or Durga. Chalisa etc even while following the path of Ramana Maharishi or Path of Budha the...
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Atmananda’s Direct Path
The source of the I-thought is Silence!
Question: Concentration on 'I' thought seems to be an on and off process. I get a glimpse that concentration on 'I-thought' will remove the identification with the body but the more I concentrate on the 'I' the more I feel the presence of my body. Am I doing something...
Thought is not conscious!
Question:Didi,In the example that you gave during the session, the 1st thought arose out of my previous conditioning that on Sundays I have to attend Atma Nirvriti class. The second thought arose out of the habit of being lazy and the last thought arose out of my...
The Sun is always shining!
Question:The response of the mind to ‘Perceptions are not conscious by themselves’ went from fear to denial to acceptance. The mind recognized that it has been thirsting to merge in the Infinite for a while. Then why fear? Answer:This happens in stages as you...
Difference between the witness and pure consciousness!
Question:Didi, could you explain the difference between consciousness and pure consciousness? Answer:Whenever there is an object to witness, then only the witnessing consciousness arises. The witnessing consciousness is called the witness in short. Whenever...
When you drop labels, you find Awareness!
Question:I feel the energy as well, as soon as I sink into silence. I find the energy is intense and overpowering. I am not sure If it is the witness that is witnessing this energy or is it the mind that is feeling this perception. In our last session, we learned that...
Difference between perceptions, sensations, thoughts, and feelings!
Question:Didi, Is there a difference between perceptions, sensations, thoughts, and feelings? Answer:Let's understand them in detail: Perception:Perception is nothing but images in your mental field. Even though one feels that there are physical objects...
Nobody is in control!
Question:Didi, I realize that all the vows from Buddha’s path are basically a reminder that I am taking a stand as the mind or body. The moment the recognition happens I get thrown into awareness! I experienced this at work today - it totally helped me today! The vows...
The master key to Bliss!
Question:The foundation of the mind was already shaken a little, by the close manner in which you are guiding us, from afar. I have not read about such a thing anywhere, and I’ve read many spiritual seekers’ and sages’ autobiographies/ biographies. I find it amazing,...
Awareness knows that the body is shutdown in deep-sleep!
Question: What is the hindrance in being aware of sensations in deep sleep? Currently, In the waking state, Awareness is not aware of itself all the time. If Awareness would be aware of itself during all waking hours, then it would carry over into dreams and deep...
Who knows the absence of objects in deep-sleep?
Question:Ekta Di, If I am holding a baby’s hand, there is touch perceived in awareness. Now, if the body falls asleep holding the baby’s hand the touch is no longer perceived in awareness. Awareness is permanent and is all-pervading so why is no sensation of waking...
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