Ancient Wisdom Pearls
…enter the cave to discover wisdom from ancient Sages relevant in modern times!
Advaita Vedantic Path
The Mind does not exist!
Question: JGD Ekta Ji, I am of the mindset that there will always be thoughts in the mind but by staying in knowledge and other techniques you can control your mind so that you are not attached to these thoughts. This way you are still performing actions but these...
Your name does not belong to you!
Question: Didi, I am 30 +. My Mom has nothing but to give advice every day and scold me. She always says negative about me and no encouragement. I cannot ignore them and I am getting angry at them and I decided not to call her for months. Even after many years, they...
Love is independent of attachment
Question: If I am going to have a baby soon, am I going to build more karma? Because I know I am going to have an emotional attachment, or how can I deal with this situation, how can I give 100 percent affection without being emotionally attached? Answer: Love...
You are in a dream! Wake up!
Question: Didi, today in my meditation, all of a sudden, I felt that the dimensions (square, rectangle) the room is not real.. I felt it turning to circle and disappearing.. As though this dimension is not real. Yesterday I was doing some work and then all of sudden...
Karma and Karmaphalam
Question: Is karma about keeping your intentions positive or is it about keeping your intention and thoughts neutral? Answer: Karma is not created just by action, it is created by speech, it is created by thoughts too. But not by every thought/action/speech. If there...
Guru chose me or I chose the Guru?
Question:Didi, I have heard that Guru chooses his disciples and we are not choosing our Guru. Can you please explain this.Answer:One aspect to it is that in the ancient times, the Guru would test the disciple to see if he or she was worthy of the knowledge. That’s why...
Is it possible to go into a complete thoughtless state while meditating?
Question: When meditating, I sometime get down to a very relaxed clear state, where I feel only peace (there really isn't any word for it though) but there are usually one or two thoughts that remain there. The thoughts are always knowledge based, and sometimes...
What is ignorance in the present moment ?
Question: I have a question: “Ignorance in the present moment” – Does that mean not everything that happens is karma? Or even that is karma only? Answer: Let’s understand what is ignorance in the present moment. It is being lost in Maaya right now. Let’s say I am a...
Is life all about clearing our karma baggage ?
Question:If life is all about clearing our karma baggage, how we can say that it’s beautiful?Answer:When you keep looking at life like a war, like a struggle against Karma, you will be unhappy. If you keep questioning life, you will be unhappy. Just tilt your eyes a...
Attachment to Karmaphalam (fruit of an action)
Question:Please help me understand this. We have been working really hard for the upcoming course. We are talking about the benefits of meditation and this course to everyone. We have been doing intro talks but we still do not have registrations. A lot of people I...
Everything that comes your way is Karma!
Question: Dear Ektaji, today I listened to AG 2 “The five principles” here it is said that "don’t be wrong against wrong". After 3-4 hours of listening, I was faced with the situation. I was arguing with my Insurance agent on why the premium has gone up in just 2...
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Buddha’s Path
Who is the designer of the Mind?
Question: Didi I was just in wonder why is my mind so cunning / playing games all the time and not letting me be at peace / be a Sakshi? Why is it designed so? Answer: Design of the Mind: Mind is ruled by the inherent power of Nature called Maaya! Mind is born...
Will my medical condition disappear during meditation?
Question: I have a common chronic medical condition. Like my awareness, it is always there. But, when my mind is full of activity I do not notice it. I meditate for an hour a day and have moments of complete peace and calm. The condition, however, is ever-present. If...
Dealing with disrespectful people using Buddha’s principles of observing sensations!
Question:At work, few people are disrespectful in team meetings. I understand emotions arise due to1] my dvesha [I do not have a powerful physical voice or authoritative position, etc].2] my fear of “trump effect” that the authoritative figure is disrespecting,...
Stop saying ‘why is this happening to me?’ Eat fresh!
Question:Hello Ekta didi, sometimes I wonder how come some people don't have to let go of anything in life. They have been blessed with things others aren’t. Why is it so? Is it all karma again? How come some people can let go things easily even though they aren't...
Death of a loved one
Question:Why my daughter died of cancer at a very young age, she was very enthusiastic about life, still unmarried and why I had to go through her cancer battle, to see her pain, agony for 5 years? Nobody knows what it feels like taking your daughter to cremation...
Who is the designer of the Mind?
Question: Didi I was just in wonder why is my mind so cunning / playing games all the time and not letting me be at peace / be a Sakshi? Why is it designed so? Answer: Design of the Mind: Mind is ruled by the inherent power of Nature called Maaya! Mind is born out of...
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...
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Individual Spirituality
Mind retaliates to your answer on craving for Guru!
Question:Ektaji, My bhakti kicked in and did a little revolt against the answer – https://ektabathija.wordpress.com/2016/07/04/craving-for-guru/Divine craving (for the physical guru or the tattva) is in my faith a blessing..does Mukti not happen through Grace? Once we...
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 an enlightened one, I see consciousness and whatever is emanating from him is just natural. Since he’s in a human...
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...
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General Spirituality
Your name does not belong to you!
Question: Didi, I am 30 +. My Mom has nothing but to give advice every day and scold me. She always says negative about me and no encouragement. I cannot ignore them and I am getting angry at them and I decided not to call her for months. Even after many years, they...
To Facebook or not?
Question: With the advent of social media and uncontrolled use of it, we have added immensely to the list of Raagas and Dveshas especially on viewing people’s profiles, photos or posting messages. In a very subtle way, it impacts the mind and adds to my cravings...
Are you spiritually wealthy?
Question:Jgd Didi,I am working on not creating any more Agami Karma through my thoughts, speech, and action by meditating regularly and being in knowledge. But what if I die and in the next birth because of being lost in MAAYA, I again get attached to people,...
Dealing with sadness…
Question:There are instances when someone just blurts out anger for nothing I did (some people have anger management issues and I know that) and my reaction usually tears, going in silence and feeling hurt. Is that my bucket of anger too? If not, how do I stop...
Sab Moha Maaya hai!
Question: Dear didi Your what’sapp dp is “Sab moh maaya hai”. Means except self everything is moh maaya? Like my body, my mind, my ego is MAAYA? People around me, their body, their ego, their mind is also Maaya. And I should let go of it? Answer: Correct! In fact,...
Wanting to look good….. Raaga or not?
Question:I have a desire to have clear pretty skin. I was wondering if it is Raaga or it is part of nature? Is it a bad karma or a bad desire to want to look pretty not with make-up but with normal skin?Answer:You are the best judge, dear! Only you would know whether...
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...
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Kabir’s Path
Fear of the ‘last thoughts at death’
Question: Ektaji – Is it fair to have Dvesha to control the last impression (not to think certain thing)? If it is something out of control why not make it like “come as it comes” like spontaneously? Can we train our subconscious brain to think- not to think (e.g....
Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha?
Question: Ekta didi, If we are doing our sadhana and meditation which then what is the need for knowledge? Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha? Please guide me, I am stuck in this. Answer: Let me explain how a Spiritual teacher teaches and what...
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...
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Ramana Maharshi’s Path
Go beyond the understanding that ‘The world is an illusion’!
Question:Ektaji, at Ajata Vaada level, why is it incorrect to just say, “The world is an illusion”. Doesn't the world exist only when I perceive it? Answer:It’s not wrong dear. It’s the job of the teacher to help a seeker move from Srishti Drishti Vaada to...
Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha?
Question: Ekta didi, If we are doing our sadhana and meditation which then what is the need for knowledge? Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha? Please guide me, I am stuck in this. Answer: Let me explain how a Spiritual teacher teaches and what...
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 an enlightened one, I see consciousness and whatever is emanating from him is just natural. Since he’s in a human...
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...
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Atmananda’s Path
Mind’s attention OR the Witness?
Question: Dear Ekta, How can I clearly distinguish between the mind's attention and the witness? Answer: Let's start with an analogy. When you stand in front of the mirror, you see a reflection of yourself there. Go on and experiment in front of the mirror now!...
The personal world creation and its reflection!
Question: Didi, I have a question regarding personal world creation. I see it having 2 aspects as below- Creating a story in your own mind and projecting it, thus creating your personal world. For eg. Husband came late from the office, I created a story in my head he...
Truth reveals itself slowly…
Question: Dear Ektaji.The power of attention in order to come to the NOW is heavily promoted in many spiritual circles. But in my direct experience, I am either paying full attention to something/someone or not. Either way, it is a happening that presumably is part of...
Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists!
Question:Dear Ekta, I notice on the spiritual path, some people experience fear, some sadness but I guess they don't understand that nothing can be lost. To quote A Course in Miracles: "Nothing real can be threatened. Nothing unreal exists. Therein lies the peace of...
Labeling thoughts is doership
Question:When I watch the arisings with open eyes as I go about my day, I have noticed that sometimes l label arisings like, " I-thought", "trigger for habit pattern thought ", "desire/raga thought", "obsessive thought", etc. I understand that goal is silence and...
The two witnesses!
Question:Ektaji, in deep sleep, Awareness is resting as Pure Consciousness. There is no world. Then how is Awareness aware of being asleep or unconscious? (Ch. 11, I AM THAT) Answer:Nisargadatta Maharaj has explained that there are two stages of Witnessing:...
Witness the transactional reality!
Question: How to interact in the transactional reality mode [Vyavaharik satyam] without offending anyone as I feel distant, quiet, indifferent, and absorbed in the Witness Consciousness [Adhyatmik satyam] around friends and family? Answer: Once you start...
Intuition and Inner Voice
Question:Dear Ektaji, Is intuition a form of mind phenomenon (feeling), or is it an inner 'voice of consciousness'? Answer:The witness/infinite void never speaks. So there is no question of a voice to arise from it. Let's take an example of getting caught up as...
Thought is the father of the World!
Question:Why does the mind make me feel that this illusory world is real? Answer:That's because Perception is inside out, not outside in. The senses do not gather information correctly because reality is colorless, shapeless, odorless, tasteless, touch-less,...
What happens when I recognize that I am NOT the doer?
Question:Ektaji, by recognizing that 'I am not the doer', does the world-projection end? Answer:By you recognizing the truth that you are not the doer, has the projection of your family ended? Has the world disappeared? No! When I recognize that 'I am not the...
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Gnyana Sangha
Spiritual knowledge can be complicated. So here is a chance to learn from someone who has walked the path and is ready to help a sincere seeker.
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Have a Spiritual Question?
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