by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 20, 2020 | Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Duality, Enlightenment, Independent Spirituality, Paths, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Self- Realization
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 17, 2020 | Attachment, Bondage, Commitment, Consciousness, Courage, Craving, Desire, Doership, Ego, Enlightenment, Feverishness, Freedom, Illusion, Independent Spirituality, Liberation, Life, Maya, Moksha, Non-Doership, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Soul, Tapas, Temporary, Truth, Vedic, Viveka, Wisdom
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 13, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Enlightenment, Knowledge, Knowledge, Let go, Liberation, Life, Maaya, Maya, Meditation, Meditation, Moksha, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Service, Seva, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 11, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, Consciousness, Drama, I, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Meditation, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Silence, Temporary, Thoughts
A thought is just a JOKER! Question:When I am in the silent state during meditation and shift my object of meditation from sensations to the silence/ pure awareness I am experiencing, how to prolong that state? It feels like the mind is waiting behind the bushes like...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 8, 2020 | Awareness, buddha, Buddha, Consciousness, Depression, Emotions, Knowledge, Let go, Mind, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort, Thoughts, Vedic, Viveka
Observing the mind and getting out of problems! Question: I understand that we have to maintain an observer’s attitude towards our mind. But sometimes, trying to observe what is going on in my mind creates more turmoil in my mind since an inner dialogue starts...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 4, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Karma, Meditation, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Truth, Vedic
Intention v/s Effort Question:How to be in Sakshi bhaav and master the mind when I don’t have any means of Sadhana, Seva and Satsang because of a personal situation? I am averse to 2 people in my office, my mind is getting trapped. Knowledge takes a back seat many...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 29, 2020 | Awareness, Body, Breath, buddha, Buddha, Desire, Emotions, Feverishness, Gossip, Meditation, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Satipathana, Sensations, Senses, Silence, Thoughts, Truth, Wisdom
Preparation for a long Buddha retreat Question: Didi, please would you advise on how to prepare for my upcoming 10-day long Buddha retreat? Answer: Irrespective of whether you are enrolled in the Satipatthana retreat or the Jhana retreat or the Metta retreat, everyone...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 24, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, buddha, Freewill, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Karma, Meditation, Mindfulness, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Truth, Vedic
Karma Cornering Questions: Right now my office situation is extremely difficult. I am overloaded, there is a lot of politics. I want to leave the job but I can’t because of my personal situation. The stress is affecting my health and I am taking sleeping pills. I am...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 20, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, Body, buddha, Buddha, Craving, Desire, Dispassion, Doership, Elements, Feverishness, Gunas, Impressions, Karma, Non-Doership, Pleasure/Pain, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Self- Realization, Sensations, Senses, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Truth, Vairagya, Vasana
Dealing with Sexual desires on the spiritual path! Question: What should be the effort from our side to get over sexual desire on the spiritual path, if we should not suppress it? If we express it aren’t we making those impressions stronger? What should be our...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 17, 2020 | Causation, Doership, Emptiness, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Guru, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Personality, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 13, 2020 | buddha, Buddha, Enlightenment, Faith, Meditation, Mind, Samadhi, Scriptures, Truth, Vedic
Buddha became globally popular because… Question: Why is Buddha globally popular even though he was criticized by Vedic sages? Answer: Buddha, born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama had everything – money, name, fame, position, power, wife, everything one could wish for....
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 30, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Dhyana, Enlightenment, Gnyana, Gnyani, Guru, Guru, Guru, Knowledge, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, No-Mind, Present Moment, Purushartha, Purushartha, Samadhi, Scriptures, Seeking, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Silence, Thoughts
How to experience the spiritual knowledge? Question:I am starting to get to a point of reading/listening/understanding this spiritual knowledge where I am “making it a concept” as Guruji puts it. How do I “experience” the knowledge rather than “learn” it? Just wait...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 29, 2020 | Advaita, Concepts, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Food, General Spiritual, Mind, Paths
Is vegetarianism preferable for spiritual growth? Question: Thank you for the article on vegetarianism and non-vegetarianism – https://ektabathija.com/are-there-karmic-consequences-to-eating-meat/. My question is not about the Karmic consequences of eating meat...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 16, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Ego, Enlightenment, Flow with Life, God, Paths, Rituals, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort, Symbolism, Truth
Happy Paryushana! Approaching rites and rituals the Advaitic way! Question: Di, I finally had the experience and recognition, that everything is awareness, everything is Brahman! I am Brahman and everything is Brahman. Only Brahman is. And there is no karma....
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 2, 2020 | buddha, Buddha, Compassion, Gossip, Jealousy, Kabir, Love/Hate, Mind, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Samadhi, Truth
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 1, 2020 | Advaita, Awareness, Chanting, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Kabir, Paths, Pranayama, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 31, 2020 | Awareness, Consciousness, Enlightenment, God, Guru, Kabir, Paths, Religion, Self-Effort, Suffering
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 30, 2020 | Body, Consciousness, Duality, Existence, I, Kabir, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Universe, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 30, 2020 | Attachment, Awareness, Consciousness, General Spiritual, Independent Spirituality, Love, Mind, Paths, Self- Realization, Seva, Silence
Graduate from seeking to giving! Question: Why is a ‘donation’ option not available on the website www.ektabathija.com? Answer: Ekta’s main teaching is to attain the inner silence of consciousness so that one awakens to his own inner truth. What is the main...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 28, 2020 | buddha, Buddha, God
Can a liar meditate? Can a liar meditate?Answer:Buddha said that morality [Sheel] is more important than anything else.If your morals are loose, you will not be able to meditate.If you cannot meditate, inner wisdom will not arise.If inner wisdom does not arise, you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 27, 2020 | buddha, Buddha, Commitment, Meditation, Purushartha, Samadhi, Self- Realization, Truth
Why some people cannot meditate? Question: Why some people cannot meditate?Answer: Many people asked the Buddha why they couldn’t meditate? Here’s what Buddha said…Many spiritual practitioners during Buddha’s time were following the Vedic techniques of meditation and...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 24, 2020 | Buddha, Causation, Consciousness, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Personality, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
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,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 16, 2020 | Awareness, buddha, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Just Be, Meditation, Purushartha, Satipathana, Scriptures, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Soul, Soul, Sukkha, Truth, Uncategorized
Buddha taught that there is NO SOUL! Question:Buddha taught that there is NO SOUL! Please, can you enlighten us on this?Answer:To understand Buddha first, we have to understand his basic teachings.Buddha was a prince, who saw riches/name/fame/relationships but did not...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 13, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Consciousness, Dreams, Mind, No-Mind, Paths, Types of Mind
Why are they called the 3 states of the Mind in Advaita? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, Why are they called the 3 states of the Mind in Advaita & not 3 states of consciousness?...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 10, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Ego, I, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Is the body-mind inside the field of knowingness/awareness? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, ‘Is the body-mind inside the field of knowingness awareness?’ Transcript: The...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 8, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Just Be, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence, Thoughts
What is the silence in between two thoughts? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, ‘What is the silence in between two thoughts?’ Transcript: If you are not sleeping, if you...
![What is the real meaning of Jagat Mithya [The world is an illusion]](https://ektabathija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/inception-1080x675.jpg)
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 7, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Illusion, Maya, Paths
What is the real meaning of Jagat Mithya [The world is an illusion] Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, What is the real meaning of Jagat Mithya [The world is an illusion]? Transcript: I am not...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 3, 2020 | Awareness, Body, Enlightenment, Gnyani, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Masters, Matter, Mind, Physical, Pleasure/Pain, Prakriti, Ramana Maharshi, Suffering
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 2, 2020 | Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Gossip, Illusion, Maaya, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Awareness does not seem to be natural to me. How do I make it my nature? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, Awareness does not seem to be natural to me. How do I make it my nature? ...
![Dealing with Blame [per Ramana Maharshi’s direct path]](https://ektabathija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/criticism-quarrel-1-1080x675.jpg)
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 30, 2020 | Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Drama, Ego, Independent Spirituality, Mind, Paths, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara
Dealing with Blame [per Ramana Maharshi’s direct path] Question: I can not take insults and blame and criticism, I wilt away like a dying flower. Please help me deal with this, a family member does not speak respectfully and this kills me. Please help! ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 28, 2020 | Awareness, Consciousness, I, Independent Spirituality, Mind, Paths, Ramana Maharshi, Silence, Thoughts
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 25, 2020 | Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Enlightenment, God, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Love, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self- Realization, Silence
God lives in my pocket… a poem by Ekta Bathija He said, “keep searching”,She said, “don’t stop the search”.I searched, I searched, I searched,And I couldn’t find anything. Then one fine day, sitting on the green couch,by the window, watching the sun’s golden...
![Is Sakshi bhava [awareness], just a thought produced by the mind?](https://ektabathija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/awareness-minds-1080x675.jpg)
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 23, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Awareness, Consciousness, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Thoughts
Is Sakshi bhava [awareness], just a thought produced by the mind? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, ‘Is Sakshi bhava [awareness], just a thought produced by the mind?’ ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 18, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Breath, Buddha, Chanting, Consciousness, Doership, Ego, Meditation, Paths, Pranayama, Samadhi, Satipathana, Silence
Buddhadvaita could be your way! Question: Ektaji, in Anapana meditation, when I observe my breath after few minutes of unknown thoughts appear then I am gone (unaware about anything) then again I realize I have to be aware of the breath then again the same thing...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 16, 2020 | Chanting, Consciousness, Dukkha, God, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Paths, Pranayama, Self, Self- Realization, Sukkha, Truth, Viveka
Can an atheist attain the highest Truth? Question: I don’t follow any Guru nor any spiritual path nor do I have any faith in any religion or God. I heard about your Kabir session from a friend where you have taught that the highest Truth is to find out Who am...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 11, 2020 | Ambition/Career, Animal, Birth, Body, Concepts, Consciousness, Death, Ego, Flow with Life, I, Ignorance, Illusion, Impulsive, Life, Maaya, Maya, Mind, Present Moment, Purusha, Samsara, Self, Soul, Spontaneous, Temporary, Vedic, You
What is the purpose of life? Question:I keep wondering why we first broke away from our nature of infinite consciousness? Why did that subtle vibration even occur that led to the “I”/ ego and then to the projected consciousness that leads us to this cycle of samsara...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 9, 2020 | Brahman, Consciousness, Energy, Form, Prakriti, Purusha, Vedic
You are not the body! Question:Are Purusha and Brahman the same? Since both are energy, does it mean they are the same?Answer:Brahman is that supreme energy out of which everything is born. It is also called the supreme consciousness. This everything that was born of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 7, 2020 | Consciousness, Dispassion, Flow with Life, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Knowledge, Samsara, Silence, Temporary, Vairagya
How to be motivated when you know everything is incapable of satisfying? Question:At first I had found satisfaction in this idea of “aniccha – everything is incapable of satisfying”. It was kind of relieving that I didn’t have to wait to actually do something or...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 31, 2020 | Aagami, Animal, Ashtavakra Gita, Brahman, Consciousness, Ego, Fear, I, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Mind, Prakriti, Vedic
Consciousness in animals and immaterial objects Question:Since immaterial objects and animals have no mind, are they pure consciousness? (I feel like I’ve asked this before and you gave a simple answer, but not simple enough for me to remember!)Answer:The mind...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 29, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Mind, Paths, Self, Self-Effort
The personal Journey within the Witness/Awareness/Consciousness! Question: Didi, please, please share with me your own experience of the Journey within Awareness/Witness. I might be there but I am not confident if it is my ‘ego’ thinking I am there. Your...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 28, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Emotions, Guru, Liberation, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Vedic
Identifying yourself with your thoughts and emotions, thinking that you created them, is utter ignorance ! Question:Guruji dropped this tweet a few weeks ago (which I’ve since added to my “Daily Reminders”): “Identifying yourself with your...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 24, 2020 | Buddha, Mind, No-Mind, Purusha, Self, Senses
Mind v/s Self ! Question: Sometimes these guided meditations (including today’s) talk about how our mind is bigger than our body and our body is surrounded by our mind, and says it like this is a good thing. But if that’s the case, it’s really...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 19, 2020 | General Spiritual, Just Be, Meditation, Mind, Present Moment, Samadhi, Self, Silence, Space-Time, Time-past/present/Future, Truth
Mind creates the illusion of Time! Time does not really exist! Question:Time in addition to raaga/ dvesha or thoughts creates a barrier in meditation. Mind and Time seem undetachable unless consciousness goes in the silent core. Do you have tips to get over this...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 7, 2020 | Body, buddha, Consciousness, Emptiness, Enlightenment, Festivals, Gunas, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Maaya, Masters, Raaga/Dvesha, Self, Senses, Truth
HAPPY BUDDHA POORNIMA! Transcript:Jai Guru Dev!Happy Vesak. What is Vesak? It is a Pali word for Vesākha or Buddha Poornima.Buddha was born, he got enlightened and he died, all on the same day. It is called Vesak in Pali. That was the language of those times. Buddha...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 3, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, Consciousness, Death, General Spiritual, Karma, Mindfulness, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
3 States of Consciousness Question: Ektaji, I have one question. You were saying that if one is established in 100% awareness of the subtle body at death, you become enlightened. Does this happen only at the time of death or can it happen even when you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 26, 2020 | Concepts, Enlightenment, General Spiritual, Guru, Maaya, Mind, No-Mind, Senses, Silence, Viveka
How does the mind of an Enlightened function? Question: As a realized sage reads a newspaper, looks at the words, does the mind faculty in him read the words out loud? Even as I read there is a voice in the head clearly enunciating every word or since they are...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 25, 2020 | Attachment, Dispassion, Dreams, Fear, General Spiritual, Let go, Life, Maaya, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Self- Realization, Truth
The truth is that you really don’t want to wake up! Question:If I have to get enlighten, it seems so difficult. I have to get over my attachment to my spouse, children, parents, friends, job, aspirations, power, position, company, money, house, car, friends, phone,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 23, 2020 | Awareness, Just Be, Karma, Liberation, Mindfulness, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Self, Self, Self- Realization, Vedic
Be a witness to all that is happening Question:Jai guru dev Ektaji – Di, we are not the body. Though this body will finish one day but we are not destroyed as we are the energy which is making this body work. Di, I want to know that whatever karma we do, we do it...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 20, 2020 | Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Mind, Non-Doership, Purusha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Thoughts, Vedic, You
When “I” watch my thoughts, who is doing the watching? Question: When “I” watch my thoughts, is it my consciousness that’s doing the watching? Or another layer of the burrito altogether? Answer: You are watching the thoughts. You are not the mind, you are not...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 19, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Bhakti, Bondage, Devotion, Divine, Duality, Enlightenment, Faith, Form, Formless, Gnyana, Gnyani, God, Guru, Guru, I, Ignorance, Karma, Knowledge, Krishna, Liberation, Love, Meditation, Self, Soul, Truth, Vedic, You
I and You Question: With every episode, this knowledge is going in circles. Everything feeds off of the other. Ego dissolves in Love, now Ashtavakra says move from love to knowledge and then drop knowledge to move to love in which you dissolve. The example, that...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 18, 2020 | Awareness, Consciousness, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Purusha, Scriptures, Self, Yoga Vasistha
Who are you? Question: When we say ‘know yourself’ or ‘realize yourself’ who you or “your true nature” or real self, It looks like we are pointing towards the ONE Self who is SELF of all, our inner self or in other words the ocean...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 17, 2020 | Awareness, Consciousness, Dreams, Duality, General Spiritual, Illusion, Let go, Physical, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Satori, Self, Truth, Videha
Is it possible to drop duality? Questions: In Cosmos, it is said that there is no concept of time. My question though is, can you experience this while you are in a physical form. From Lila’s story(yoga vasishtha), she had to remove the duality completely? Please...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 14, 2020 | Advaita, Consciousness, Duality, Dvaita, Ego, General Spiritual, I, Love, Love/Hate, You
What is EGO ? Question:What is ego?Answer:When one is caught up in the duality of “I” and “You”, it is called Dwaita. This sense of separation between “I” and “You” is the root cause of anger, jealousy, hatred, etc. This sense of separation is Ego. Ego is simply when...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 13, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Gratitude, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Kriya, Meditation, Pranayama, Scriptures, Self, Upanishad, Vedic
Your nature is Gratefulness! Question: Being grateful is your very nature and I totally understand that. What is confusing is, in earlier verses of Ashtavakra, he says if you are grateful to me that means you recognize myself as someone other than yourself (not seeing...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 12, 2020 | Bhakti, Brahman, Buddha, Conscious, Consciousness, Devotion, Emotions, Emptiness, Enlightenment, Fullness, Gnyana, Gnyani, Intellect, Love, No-Mind, Silence, Thoughts
Emptiness IS Fullness! Question:How can emptiness be also called fullness on the spiritual path? Please clarify.Answer:On the spiritual path, many different kinds of people walk. Some people are in the head and some people are completely in the heart. The people...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 11, 2020 | Bhagwad Gita, Feverishness, God, Illusion, Just Be, Life, Present Moment, Vedic, Wonder
God is on a morning walk! Question: You said life has no purpose. Does God also have no purpose? Why did he create us? Why did he make this entire creation? Is it all purposeless? Maybe God has some purpose. Please clarify if I am thinking correctly.Answer:That is...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 10, 2020 | Birth, Brahman, Consciousness, Death, Ego, Enlightenment, Fear, God, Grateful, Gratitude, Guru, Hindu, I, Intellect, Knowledge, Krishna, Liberation, Love, Masters, Maya, Puja, Rituals, Self- Realization, Shiva, Soul, Surrender, Surrender, Vedic, Wisdom, Worship
Spiritual but not Religious Question: Now a days it is becoming fashionable to say ” I am not religious but I am spiritual”. Could you help me understand the difference between the two. Isn’t spirituality a part of our religion? Does religion only mean to worship God...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 9, 2020 | Aagami, Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Bhakti, Brahman, Consciousness, Destiny, Devotion, Divine, Doership, Gnyana, Guru, Knowledge, Love, Maya, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sanchita, Surrender, Surrender, Surrender, Vedic
Bhakti leads to the flowering of Gnyana Question: Hello Ektaji, I read on one of the Facebook post where Guruji says “Devotion destroys all the karma”. Could you please explain this with reference to what we have learnt so far in Ashtavakra Gita? Answer: Ashtavakra...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 8, 2020 | Flow with Life, General Spiritual, God, Happiness, Love, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Vedic, Viveka
God Loves Fun 🙂 Question: If we need to stay away from thoughts and control the mind, why did god give us the mind? Answer: God loves fun! There is no real purpose for this creation. It is all for fun. It is meant for your enjoyment. So just enjoy everything in the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 7, 2020 | Brahman, Buddha, Consciousness, Devotion, God, Just Be, Miscellaneous, Prayer, Religion, Rituals, Sankalpa/Intention, Symbolism, Thoughts, Vedic
Are you going to GOD as a beggar? Question:Are all Puranas mythological stories with an underlying message? What about fasting, holy dips, lighting of lamps prescribed in those Puranas, especially Kartika Purana, that millions of people religiously follow – is there...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 6, 2020 | Awareness, buddha, Buddha, Faith, God, Knowledge, Let go, Mind, Non-Doership, Self, Surrender, Truth, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Is Faith required? Question:Didi, what is the meaning of faith? An experience, made me think about what faith means to me anymore. From my understanding I think there are no Gods up there in the sky, there is nobody to hold onto. I see the flow brings situations into...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 5, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Bhakti Sutra, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Form, Formless, God, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Life, Maaya, Maya, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Scriptures, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Vedic, Wonder, Yoga Vasistha
Who is God? Question: What’s the easy way to be connected to divine. I was good at that but I got lost & cannot concentrate to get there again. Answer: How to be connected to the divine? Who is God? Most do not even know who is God. How can you be...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 4, 2020 | Advaita, Birth, Brahman, Consciousness, Death, Doership, Ego, God, I, Karma, Liberation, Maaya, Maya, Moksha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Self, Soul, Soul, Vedic
You are GOD! Only GOD is! You do not exist! Question:Hi Ekta ji, Loved your analogy of white and green dress with body and soul. However, continuing with this analogy if the dress is the body and the body in white or green dress who did the action is the soul, then...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 3, 2020 | buddha, Buddha, Consciousness, Dispassion, General Spiritual, God, Krishna, Maaya, Shiva
Krishna, Shiva, Buddha – They are all just ONE! Question:I am not able to understand the line – “The bestower of dispassion is Shiva, that Consciousness that is bliss, innocence, and omnipresence. Krishna is the outer manifestation of Shiva. And the inner...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 2, 2020 | Faith, God, God, Guru, Guru, Guru, Love, Vedic
Faith is like falling in love! Question: Didi, What is faith ?Answer: You don’t know me, you have never met nor have you ever seen me, still you have a firm connection with me and know that I will give you true answers for your questions. This is called...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 31, 2020 | Aagami, Attachment, Aversion, Body, Causation, Consciousness, Destiny, Doership, Dukkha, Ego, Freewill, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Life, Maaya, Mind, Niyati, Pleasure/Pain, Prarabdha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Sanchita, Sankalpa/Intention, Scriptures, Self, Soul, Sukkha, Temporary, Thoughts, Types of Karma, Vedic
A few questions on KARMA Question:Is karma about keeping your intentions positive or is it about keeping your intention and thoughts neutral?Answer:There are two steps:Moving from negativity to positivityDropping the attachment to positivity = attaining...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 25, 2020 | Aagami, Ashtavakra Gita, God, Guru, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Mind, Prarabdha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sanchita, Surrender, Thoughts, Vedic
Is it Karma or me? Question: Guruji said that we are living our thoughts and that we are responsible for our thoughts. During the last few months thoughts came to me of what we would do if we were in a difficult situation & now that has happened. So now I am here...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 19, 2020 | Birth, Bondage, Commitment, Death, Dhyana, Dispassion, General Spiritual, Gnyani, Guru, Life, Maaya, Meditation, Purushartha, Self-Effort, Truth
Mourn Birth & Celebrate Death! Question: Didi, we usually cry when a close one dies. There is a high possibility that he/she has finished his/her karma bag and will not take birth again. Instead of crying we should be happy for them. We cry for our own selfish...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 18, 2020 | Awareness, Bondage, Boss/Colleague, Death, Emotions, Existence, Fear, Fear, Form, Illusion, Maaya, Physical, Prakriti, Relationship, Samsara, Self, Self- Realization, Soul, Temporary, Vedic, Viveka, Wisdom
Death Question: Dearest Ektaji, My first boss and mentor who became a very good friend just died this morning. I have known him since 1985. Part of me feels ignorant/lost and part of me feels thirsty. I feel Lost because I do not have good knowledge about death and...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 17, 2020 | Awareness, Body, Doership, Energy, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Gratitude, Mind, Misery, Pleasure/Pain, Prana, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Suffering, Truth, Wisdom
In sickness and in health! Question:Ekta ji, during Vyadhi, even as small as a headache, the Prana takes a hit and is focused only on the body. Should one wait for the phase to finish, and take it as tapas to come back and settle in the Self, what do you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 11, 2020 | Advaita, Awareness, Company/Association/Sangha, Consciousness, Duality, Enlightenment, General Spiritual, Guru, I, Knowledge, Masters, Paths, Ramana Maharshi, Religion, Scriptures, You
Many Masters One Path ‘Question: Why do you teach so many scriptures from different paths and not restrict to one particular religion/sect/organization only? Answer: Since 1998, I have propagated scriptures by several spiritual masters. I know for sure from my...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 13, 2020 | Company/Association/Sangha, Compassion, Ego, Guru, Guru, Guru, I, Independent Spirituality, Karma, Knowledge, Life, Maya, Meditation, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Scriptures, Self, Senses, Truth, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 21, 2020 | Ego, Enlightenment, God, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Mind, Purushartha, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Vedic
The door that leads you ‘IN’ also leads you ‘OUT’! Question: I am a very competitive and jealous person in the office, at home, with family & friends and especially in my volunteer activities. Now this competition is coming into my...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 2, 2020 | Awareness, General Spiritual, God, Guru, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Scriptures, Self, Self- Realization, Silence, Thoughts, Wisdom
How to do a Spiritual Sabbatical? 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 14, 2019 | Bondage, Dispassion, Freedom, General Spiritual, Guru, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, No-Mind, Samadhi, Samsara, Scriptures, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Silence, Truth, Vairagya, Wisdom
Longer retreats for advanced meditators! Question: Please would you provide some insight into the need for longer retreats and how they help a spiritual seeker? Answer: In the longer retreats, a sincere spiritual seeker receives individual meditation instructions....
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 2, 2019 | Awareness, Causation, Consciousness, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 10, 2019 | Compassion, Destiny, Dispassion, Freewill, Karma, Knowledge, Maaya, Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Purushartha, Self-Effort, Silence, Truth, Vedic
The higher Truth! Question-Today I was thinking that this body, this human life and the tools like Viveka that I currently have are only to understand, learn and reach the highest truth. But I’m just happily using it for all this worldly Maaya stuff. For a person to...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 10, 2019 | Ashtavakra Gita, Commitment, Dreams, Food, Freewill, Guru, Knowledge, Life, Love/Hate, Meditation, Mind, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Truth, Vedic
How to come out of the dream? Question:When I don’t know/realize that I’m living in a dream then how do I come out of the dream? – is it right to even think that I should come out (is there something outside of this ) OR think that it’s a dream n nothing matters &...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 10, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Desire, General Spiritual, Illusion, Maaya, Samsara, Self
Sab Moha Maaya hai! Question:JGD 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 10, 2019 | Death, Divine, Formless, Guru, Guru Poornima, Independent Spirituality, Masters, Mind, No-Mind, Rumi, Truth
A Master is death as well as Resurrection! Question:JGD Didi, Krishnamurty says you do NOT need a Guru or a Master to walk the spiritual path, you can get there on your own. Why is a Master required on the Spiritual path?Answer:There is a Rumi poem:I died as a mineral...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 9, 2019 | General Spiritual, Guru
Results for "so many" Question:Before coming on to the spiritual path, life was simple. You study, you pass the exam. You don’t study, you fail. Now with the half-baked Knowledge, for anything you worry a thousand things:Whether I am witness consciousness or...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 9, 2019 | Dispassion, Ego, Flow with Life, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Maaya, Time-past/present/Future, Truth
Results for "dispassion" 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 8, 2019 | Consciousness, Mind, Thoughts, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Results for "source of mind" Question:Explain Vasishtha’s answer to Rama’s question – “What is the source of mind and how did it arise?”Answer:If I were answering this after going through our previous knowledge discussions, before even reading a page of Yoga...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 8, 2019 | Desire, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Impressions, Meditation, Mind, No-Mind, Silence, Suffering, Surrender, Thoughts, Truth, Unconscious
Results for "root cause" Question:Desires and tendencies – it’s one thing being aware as they come up, suppress them, reduce them, possibly even eliminate them. But there is always a danger lurking of reviving them. I am going through one right now. It’s a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 7, 2019 | Body, Independent Spirituality, Physical, Prakriti, Purusha, Self, Soul, Universe, Vedic
Difference between the ethereal body and the physical body Question:What is the difference between the ethereal body and the physical body?Answer:Ethereal body is what you are, the Purusha/Soul/Self. This Purusha just forgets its own identity and thinks I am solid, I...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 7, 2019 | Aagami, Consciousness, Ego, Elements, General Spiritual, Impressions, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Karma, Memory, Raaga/Dvesha, Senses, Sub-conscious, Surrender, Thoughts
How does a “thought” become an Agami Karma ? Question:First one of the 5 elements or the senses hits us (it also depends on my doshas), then it goes to the memory bank & opens one file like, dislike with People, Situation & Thing. (Is there any...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 7, 2019 | Consciousness, Independent Spirituality, Purusha, Universe
The God particle! Question:Ektaji, “Wake up and realize that “YOU” are the center of this universe!” How can all of us be the center?Answer:Is the ‘space’ in your house different from the ‘space’ in your neighbors home?...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Aversion, Birth, Karma, Miscellaneous, Self, Soul, Time-past/present/Future, Vedic
It depends on karma when exactly the soul will take a re-birth Question:Ektaji, You said that when we die we are first received by our ancestors but are they not reborn? How would we meet them then?Answer:The concept of time is applicable only to us humans not to the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Consciousness, General Spiritual, Guru
What does Guruji see when he looks around ? Question: Does Guruji still have SOME mind since he has a body? And what does he see when he looks around? Does he see what I see, or does he see 1 giant blob of consciousness floating around / extensions of himself? Answer:...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Dispassion, Just Be, Matter, Mind, Soul, Vairagya, Vedic, Viveka
Married but celibate, is that possible? Question: If I get attracted to someone, I just remind myself that I can be without it and focus on the breath. Can someone be a Brahmachari or celibate throughout his/her life and still have a happy married life? Answer:...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Birth, Consciousness, Death, Doership, Dreams, Fear, Scriptures, Self, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Doership in dreamzzzz…. Question;Please would you explain “paragraph 1, p75 of Yoga Vasishtha – by Swami Venkatesananda”.Answer:Let’s assume, Mohit is dreaming in which there might be flying angels that he likes and demons that he hates. The angels and demons...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Devotion, Enlightenment, Independent Spirituality, Self, Self- Realization
Direct realization or instant enlightenment! Question:JGD Ekta ji, I am trying to understand difference between direct realization and contemplation. I thought contemplation is by doing self inquiry one is trying to abandon ego, and direct realization is experiencing...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Attachment, Birth, Body, Children, Death, Parent/Child, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Relationship, Scriptures, Soul, Vedic
Why do we do Shraadh every year for the departed ones ? Question:JGD!! I have a question pertaining to something we did in Pathanjali Yoga sutras. We discussed about death and how we do the 13 day rituals to let go of the soul. Why do we do Shraadh every year for the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Consciousness, Dhyana, Meditation, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Samadhi, Scriptures, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Animal, Consciousness, Devas, Doership, Energy, Formless, Human, Karma, Karmaphalam, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Vedic
Is karma responsible for significant number of deaths due to natural calamities? Question:So if body is inside prana, when we hear about suppose earthquake or any other natural phenomenon where so many people die, is it because the prana of that area was low or is it...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 1, 2019 | Aagami, Awareness, Buddha, Consciousness, Impressions, Intuition, Mind, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Silence, Spontaneous, Thoughts, Time-past/present/Future, Types of Karma
Thought body and Intuitive body Question:What’s the difference between thought body and intuitive body?Answer:Only awareness is the tool that can help distinguish a thought from an intuition. Here are a few tell-tale signs.Thought – Very clearly, if you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 1, 2019 | Attachment, Attraction, Awareness, Consciousness, Emptiness, Enlightenment, Expectations, Gnyana, Impressions, Knowledge, Mind, Prakriti, Purusha, Scriptures, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Surrender, Vedic, Viveka, Wisdom
Abiding in the Self! Question:There is a sort of ‘bond’ between the awareness and the mind. The awareness goes out every time (away from the self to the world). And this connection or bond must be broken. How can I break this connection? I know that I have to take a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Dispassion, Girlfriend/Boyfriend, Illusion, Independent Spirituality, Life, Maaya, Physical, Pleasure/Pain, Prakriti, Purusha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Relationship, Samsara, Seeking, Self, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Vairagya, Vedic
Does spirituality reduce the desire for sex? Question:Some have very strong desires and need sex anywhere between 2/3 times a week. Some have not had sex in months. Some are frustrated that one of the partner initiates all the time. Some have never had great need for...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Awareness, Buddha, Commitment, Ego, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Life, Purushartha, Seeking, Self-Effort
6 Signs of a sincere seeker Have questions? Reach out to Ekta by clicking on the “Ask a Question” button on the left sidebar. For attending Ekta’s online knowledge sessions, click the “Gnyana Sangha” button on the left sidebar. Have a Spiritual Question? Ask...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Elements, Existence, Form, I, Matter, Physical, Prakriti, Purusha, Scriptures, Self, Soul, Vedic
Pancha Rahasya – The 5 secrets of Creation Have questions? Reach out to Ekta by clicking on the “Ask a Question” button on the left sidebar. For attending Ekta’s online knowledge sessions, click the “Gnyana Sangha” button on the left sidebar. Have a Spiritual...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Dispassion, Guru, Guru, Knowledge, Maaya, Samsara, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Aagami, Animal, Anxiety, Ashtavakra Gita, Attachment, Aversion, Bhagwad Gita, Consciousness, Craving, Desire, Emotions, Enlightenment, Feverishness, Gunas, Guru, I, Karma, Karmaphalam, Maaya, Maya, Niyati, Prarabdha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sanchita, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Scriptures, Self, Soul, Types of Karma, Upanishad, Vedic
Have questions? Reach out to Ekta by clicking on the “Ask a Question” button on the left sidebar. For attending Ekta’s online knowledge sessions, click the “Gnyana Sangha” button on the left sidebar. ← Previous Post Next Post → Have a Spiritual Question? Ask...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Bhakti Sutra, Knowledge, Love, Love, Relationship, Scriptures, Self, Soul, Soul, Truth, Vedic
Three types of Love Question:We say that everything is god/ love. Love is in every cell of the body. We also say that we are all made up of this one consciousness. It exists in all of us. My question is, then why do we love someone more than others. Or, is it a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Awareness, Breath, Commitment, Courage, Faith, Flow with Life, Guru, Guru, Guru, Guru/Disciple, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Knowledge, Let go, Life, Masters, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Pranayama, Rumi, Samsara, Self, Self, Self-Effort, Truth, Wisdom
Journey from external to internal Question: Dear Ektaji, I have been with Guruji for 15 yrs now, have done courses, seva, satsang( less of seva though :-), could be better) … However, one question that has never been understood is going within. Journey from external...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Divine, Shiva, Vedic
Shiva Tandav – Happy Mahashivratri! On the occasion of Mahashivratri, here is a special video explaining Shiva tatva: Here is the link to the quantum mechanics video mentioned in the talk above...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Awareness, Body, Brahman, Concepts, Consciousness, Doership, Ego, Elements, Existence, Fear, Form, Gnyana, Gratitude, Guru, I, Impressions, Life, Matter, Mind, Opinion/Behavior/Judgement, Personality, Physical, Prakriti, Purusha, Self, Soul, Surrender, Truth, Vedic, You
What is Personality? Question:Is personality born from the soul or is it created by the ego? When we see others who are acting very differently than we ever would like ourselves to, even though they are part of our same consciousness, does that mean that they have the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Aagami, Body, Bondage, Destiny, Doership, Enlightenment, Freewill, Guru, I, Karma, Karmaphalam, Maaya, Mind, Niyati, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Sankalpa/Intention, Siddha, Soul, Temporary, Time-past/present/Future, Vedic
If everything is a play of Destiny, then what is Freewill? Question:I am still not clear on how Destiny and Freewill play a part in our lives. When do we have a freewill when it is all our destiny or a result of our past karma. If I am not the Doer, where is free will...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Enlightenment, General Spiritual, Guru, Human, Knowledge, Liberation, Masters, Misery, Moksha, Rishi, Seva, Siddha, Swamy
What is the difference between a Rishi and a Guru? Question:Is there a difference between a Rishi and a Guru?Answer:A Guru is a Siddha, he has been liberated and has returned back to the world to help others attain liberation, to spread peace, to help humanity in...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 28, 2019 | Attachment, Attention-Seeking, Attraction, Brahman, Consciousness, Craving, Desire, Divine, Divine, Enlightenment, Food, Greed, Raaga/Dvesha, Self, Self, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Soul, Soul, Vedic
Is sex divine? Question:I have a very personal question. What is significance of sex in our marriage? If I am not the body, and only the consciousness, then how do I define sex or lovemaking with my spouse? Is sex divine? Or is it more of us not able to control our...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 27, 2019 | Jealousy, Mind, Scriptures, Truth, Vedic
Overcoming Jealousy Question: We are all social beings. We need to socialize once in a while with our friends just to get away from the home environment. All our friends are very mature, happy and well to do. They drive better cars, they have better homes, they have...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 23, 2019 | Consciousness, Divine, Divine, General Spiritual, God
Do I have Brahma, Vishnu, or Shiva Shakti Question:How will I get to know whether I have Brahma shakti , Vishnu shakti or Shiva shakti from my day to day life? Will it have an impact on the profession or job I do?Answer:If you are into creating things then you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 23, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Energy, General Spiritual, Hindu, Life, Maya, Meditation, Miscellaneous, Opinion/Behavior/Judgement, Shiva, Silence
God is a thorough businessman! Question: Jai gurudev! I understand that ‘Hari’ and ‘Hara’ are one and the same. Yet I want to know wearing of what is scientifically more beneficial, the rudraksha that is connected to lord shiva or the tulasi beads that are associated...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 22, 2019 | Brahman, Consciousness, Enlightenment, God, Knowledge, Upanishad, Vedic
Question:If all these “upanishads” have different authors, what is the underlying reason that they’re all classified/grouped together as “upanishads”?Answer:It was a golden age where the rate of enlightenment was very high After the study of the Vedas, many Rishi’s...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 21, 2019 | Awareness, Ego, Festivals, Mind, Mindfulness, Present Moment, Self, Senses, Vedic
Spiritual Significance of Ramayana on the occasion of Dussera! Ramayana is an epic story about King Dasharatha, who had three wives, but no children. Along with his wife Kaushalya, he performed a yagya called Ashwamedha, after which they got four sons....
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 21, 2019 | Awareness, Awareness, Birth, Death, Enlightenment, Impressions, Karma, Liberation, Mind, Miscarriage, No-Mind, OM, Raaga/Dvesha, Soul, Unconscious, Vedic
Baby dying in womb attains liberation or not? The key to liberation is ‘awareness’. Being ‘Aware at the point of death is the secret code!For an ‘unenlightened soul’, birth and death both happen in a ‘deep sleep state devoid of awareness’. Because of this lack of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 21, 2019 | Aagami, Brahman, Consciousness, Energy, Flow with Life, Freewill, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Maaya, Niyati, No-Mind, Prakriti, Prarabdha, Purusha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sanchita, Types of Karma, Vedic, Vibration
Mahaa Maaya, Moha Maaya and Yoga Maaya Question :The ball is rolling and we are not the doer. Whatever will happen will happen. How does free will fit in? You have explained free will earlier, but somehow I am not able to connect it. We have the free will not to...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Brahman, Buddha, Choice, Consciousness, Doubts, Flow with Life, Mind, Non-Doership, Purusha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Spontaneous, Truth
Life is flowing, just flow with a smile! Question:I have to make a decision. How do I let “Life take its course”, how do I flow with it and where does my Purushartha come into play? What do I have to do to stop pretending to be a doer? With all the decision making and...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Brahman, Buddha, Just Be, Knowledge, Meditation, Mindfulness, Prana, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Seva, Vedic
Just DO NOthing! Question:How do you meditate on a specific subject? For example, I think I can utilize deep meditation to get a stronger comprehension of love and how that’s what I’m made of etc etc. But if I’m already in meditation, to try to grab at a specific...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Attachment, Buddha, Commitment, Desire, Emotions, Expectations, Feverishness, Guilt, Just Be, Mind, New year, Present Moment, Suffering, Temporary, Thoughts, Truth, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Children, Death, Emotions, Equanimous, Impressions, Just Be, Karma, Karmaphalam, Mind, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Truth, Vedic
Law of Cause & Effect Question:Ektaji JGD, I have over the years read many stories of children being brutally violated and it sickens me. I cannot believe or wrap my mind around the idea that these children are reaping the fruits of their past karma. Is it not...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Children, Drama, Enlightenment, Games/Play/Fun, Gnyana, Illusion, Karma, Maaya, Marriage, Mind, Purushartha, Relationship, Spouse, Truth, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Bhakti, Brahman, Consciousness, Devotion, Ego, Gnyana, Guru, Intellect, Knowledge, Knowledge, Kriya, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Upanishad, Vedic, Wisdom
Is there something like “too much spiritual knowledge”? Question:All who worship what is not real knowledge, enter into blind darkness: those who delight in real knowledge, enter, as it were, into greater darkness.This is excerpt from Ishavasya Upanishad,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Attraction, Aversion, Birth, Craving, Death, Greed, Impressions, Karma, Parents, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sanchita, Soul, Thoughts, Types of Karma, Vedic
You chose your parents! How? Question:In the karma video you have mentioned that the soul selects his/her parent for a new body and environment. Does the soul make this decision guided by a certain thing (if it is guided by our sanchita ? are we aware of our sanchita...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2019 | Aagami, Attachment, Aversion, Buddha, Conscious, Consciousness, Craving, Desire, Expectations, God, Impressions, Karma, Life, Mind, Niyati, Parent/Child, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Seeking, Vedic
Expectations are Attachments! Question:My 14 year old son is terrible to live with. He is disrespectful, hurtful, vengeful without any provocation… even when I come from a space of love, the reaction from him is horrible. I tell myself that it’s my karma and to go...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2019 | Awareness, Courage, Impressions, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Maaya, Meditation, Truth
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2019 | Aversion, Courage, Dispassion, Divine, Ego, Enlightenment, Equanimous, Greed, Guru, Happiness, Love, Raaga/Dvesha, Vairagya, Vedic
Enlightenment makes me greedy! Question:JGD Ektaji, Thanks for sharing this beautiful thought, but I believe thinking about enlightenment itself is a kind of suffering. You constantly work hard towards it reminding yourself that enlightenment is your end goal. I have...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2019 | Consciousness, Expectations, Feverishness, Flow with Life, God, Karma, Karmaphalam, Land/Bhoomi, Let go, Misery, Parents, Suffering, Universe, Vedic
Parents Karma! Question:My parents are old and they live alone in their country and I live here in the US. I want them to come here but they do not like to live here. They are really suffering as they are old and I cannot leave my family here and go there to take...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2019 | Body, Commitment, Guru, Karma, Knowledge, Laziness, Maaya, Meditation, Mind, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Purushartha, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Vedic
No proxies allowed in Spirituality! Question: My peaceful experiences are not stable, and I am going up and down in my spiritual path, I feel there is no steady growth in my spiritual path. What should I do? Answer: The spiritual path is long, it is unknown, and...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Ashtavakra Gita, Birth, Body, Death, Karma, No-Mind, Samadhi, Self, Vedic
You drop the body before the body drops you! Question :In Asthavakra 8, Guruji says, at death, the body gets tired of you and drops you. Is it not the other way around? When karma is exhausted the Purusha drops the Prakriti. Isn’t it true? Please help to...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Alligator, Consciousness, God, Independent Spirituality, Karma, Niyati, Vedic
Alligator Karma! Question:I read about a crocodile/alligator grabbing a child in a national park and eating it. I felt very sad. I think it is wrong to say that it was that little child’s karma. Is it not allowing the culprit to run free if we keep blaming the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Aagami, Ashtavakra Gita, Consciousness, Expectations, God, Guru, Karma, Karmaphalam, Mind, Sankalpa/Intention, Spontaneous, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Choice, Choicelessness, Consciousness, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Just Be, Raaga/Dvesha, Seeking, Seeking, Viveka
Choicelessness is freedom! Question:Is applying viveka, a kind of seeking? Because choosing/deciding right from wrong is so relative to this mind?Answer:Actually, Viveka is deeper than just plain discrimination between right and wrong. Viveka is the ability to...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Consciousness, Desire, Emotions, General Spiritual, Gnyani, Knowledge, Meditation, Memory, Mind, No-Mind, Paths, Raaga/Dvesha, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Self- Realization, Sensations, Sex/Passion/Celibacy
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 18, 2019 | Company/Association/Sangha, Competition, Ego, General Spiritual, Gossip, Gratitude, Guru, Guru, Guru Poornima, Happiness, Paths, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Vedic, Viveka
Question:What are the important things that a sincere seeker should understand about Guru Poornima? I was wondering how should a sincere seeker and disciple’s acharan [behaviour] be on the spiritual path especially in the presence of a Guru. Please guide.Answer:Guru...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 17, 2019 | Body, Brahman, Commitment, Concepts, Consciousness, General Spiritual, Guru, Guru, Guru Poornima, Intellect, Liberation, Maaya, Maya, Moksha, Paths, Physical, Pleasure/Pain, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Siddha, Wisdom
How to do proper darshan of the Guru during Guru Poornima? Question:Ektaji Jai Guru Dev, Can you please give me tips on how to get a Proper True Darshan of Gurudev during this upcoming Guru Poornima. The mind gets swept away with the much fanfare and misses seeing the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 17, 2019 | Body, Concepts, Doubts, Emptiness, Faith, Fullness, Guru, Intellect, Knowledge, Mind, Opinion/Behavior/Judgement, Personality, Prakriti, Purusha, Vedic
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 16, 2019 | Ambition/Career, Awareness, Consciousness, Craving, Desire, Doership, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Gnyani, Life, Mind, Non-Doership, Purusha, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self, Seva, Truth, Wisdom
How to manage job, family, Seva without getting overwhelmed? Question:Can you please give direction on how do you manage a job, family, personal endeavor, and Seva while not getting overwhelmed? I have a tendency to say yes to many things, but in the end, I’m just...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 16, 2019 | Body, Death, Energy, Fear, Formless, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Masters, Matter, Meditation, Mind, Rishi, Scriptures, Self, Swamy, Truth, You
Fear of Death = Fear of unknown Question:How is fear of unknown different from the fear of death and how to come out of both these fears? Please help.Answer:Fear of the unknown and the fear of death are essentially the same. Understand one thing that, since you have...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 16, 2019 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Death, Enlightenment, History, Maya, Mind, Scriptures, Self, Silence, Truth, Vedic
Scriptures are not history! Question:I am a humble learner with a multi-variate interest in scriptures and vedas since my school days. There was this Shastrarth that took place between sage Astavakra and Acharya Bandi in presence of King Janaka. Can I assume that at...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 15, 2019 | Anger, Aversion, Consciousness, Divine, Ego, Greed, Hurt, Independent Spirituality, Jealousy, Karmaphalam, Let go, Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Suffering, Surrender, Surrender, Surrender, Thoughts
What is the difference between Tolerance and Surrender? Question:What is the difference between tolerance and surrender?Answer:Tolerance is like a potential volcano. There is a dislike hidden within which just churns and burns inside and can erupt at any time....
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 7, 2019 | Courage, Craving, Desire, Dispassion, Doership, Ego, I, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Karma, Knowledge, Life, Non-Doership, Personality, Pleasure/Pain, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Self, Self- Realization, Truth, Vairagya
Who am I? Question:Similar to what’s said in AG 4- I got caught in identifying with a talent and also with not having a talent & was/is suffering. What Guruji said still repeats in my ears. He said “you don’t know who you are”. I started thinking how and when will...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 6, 2019 | Attraction, Courage, Craving, Dukkha, Equanimous, Happiness, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Knowledge, Life, Mind, Misery, Pleasure/Pain, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Seeking, Seeking, Self, Self- Realization, Sukkha, Temporary, Truth
There is no happiness in this world! Question: Why am I not happy with my-self? why am I continuously looking for someone/something/some situation to make me happy or make me feel that I am happy? Answer: There is no Happiness/Sukha in this world, but the mind does...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 17, 2019 | Guru, Guru, Non-Doership, Thoughts, Truth, Vedic
Are you responsible for your own thoughts & feelings or not? Question: I saw this below knowledge, I am kind of confused There is a contradiction between his two statements. 1] Your worries, your feelings, your thoughts arise in your own mind. You are totally...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 17, 2019 | Body, Consciousness, Existence, I, Matter, Science, Vedic, Vibration
Everything is but a vibration. Matter does not exist! Question:JGD Ekthaji, Reference: YG page 25 para 3 – Vasishtha is talking to Rama on the vibrations and their impact. Does the vibration here means the event(s) that are occurring to this body-consciousness in...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 16, 2019 | Aagami, Ambition/Career, Causation, Company/Association/Sangha, Compassion, Competition, Consciousness, Desire, Doership, Drama, Emotions, Games/Play/Fun, God, Karma, Karmaphalam, Life, Maaya, Maya, Name/Roles, Pleasure/Pain, Prarabdha, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Relationship, Samsara, Seeking, Serious, Spontaneous, Vedic, Wealth
To Act, or Not To Act? Question:With today’s knowledge, I know I should take life as a game but I was cheated in business. Should I drop it too, or should I pursue the case I filed with the lawyer?Question:I work for a profit oriented company and there is a lot of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 16, 2019 | Birth, Body, Bridge, Causation, Death, Divine, Divine, Doership, Drama, Dreams, Flow with Life, Human, I, Independent Spirituality, Karma, Karmaphalam, Maaya, Mind, Parent/Child, Parents, Physical, Relationship, Sanchita, Self- Realization, Truth
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 16, 2019 | Aagami, Ashtavakra Gita, Causation, Commitment, Destiny, Drama, Freewill, I, Impressions, Karma, Knowledge, Maaya, Maya, Mind, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Space-Time, Time-past/present/Future, Truth, Vedic, Wisdom, You
Free will is a misnomer! Question:Ekta Ji, Please can you elaborate on this. Is there no free will? I thought only few things like birth, death, longevity of life, source of birth are predetermined. Others, we can change our karmas. The statement below contradicts....
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 16, 2019 | Aagami, Attachment, Boss/Colleague, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Greed, Karma, Love/Hate, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Seeking, Seeking, Spontaneous, Surrender, Surrender, Truth, Vedic
What is seeking? Question:I quit my job and interviewed for another one. They offered me an entry level position with a pay less than half of what I am currently making. I did not accept the offer. My previous boss is working on getting me back at my old job. By me...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 16, 2019 | Awareness, Awareness, Buddha, Causation, Faith, Flow with Life, Intellect, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Life, Love, Memory, Mind, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Truth, Wisdom
What if the Karma theory is wrong? Question:I am getting a feeling of missing out. What if this Karma Theory is wrong and I wake up 40 years from now realizing that I missed out on people, places and things that at least gave me short-term pleasure. Now I have to give...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 13, 2019 | God, Grateful, Gratitude, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Service, Seva, Thanksgiving
How to thank the Infinite? Someone asked me how to thank that infinite power? What could I do for God that would be the closest possible thanks to him? I answered, “God does not need your prayer, rites, rituals. He really does not need your flowers, fruit, coconut,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 13, 2019 | Attention-Seeking, Devotion, Dhyana, Dispassion, General Spiritual, Gnyana, Guru, Guru, Guru, Just Be, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Purushartha, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort
Connect with the Master internally instead of the external physical body! Question: I did feel a strong connection to my Guru when I did the course. But 3 years later now, I don’t feel anything. When I go to Ashram, I see people in crowds getting excited about Guruji,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 14, 2018 | Causation, Commitment, Destiny, Doubts, Gnyana, Guru, Guru, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Karma, Knowledge, Liberation, Scriptures, Self, Self, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Truth, Wisdom
Are you worthy of Spiritual Knowledge? Question :Sometimes I wonder that, am I even worthy of this highest and beautiful knowledge? Even after studying and applying the knowledge we sometimes lose the path and get involved in cravings, desires and get carried away by...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 8, 2018 | Consciousness, Dhyana, Ego, I, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, Self, Self- Realization
Gnyana leads to Dhyana Question: JGD didi, I have been listening to the knowledge and applying the knowledge points in my life and I have started feeling the nothingness/the consciousness. It is strange. It does not happen in meditation but it happens in knowledge. ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 8, 2018 | Compassion, Destiny, God, Karma, Karmaphalam, Misery, Service, Seva, Suffering, Vedic
Don’t help people who are suffering Question:Guruji says that, “Do not help anyone unless he or she asks for help”. My assumption is Guruji is saying this because we will feel hurt when he/she do not appreciate us but I feel like helping others who suffer. Can...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 8, 2018 | Awareness, Guilt, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Maaya, Meditation, Present Moment, Purushartha, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Truth, Vedic
Guilt of spiritual insincerity JGD Dear Let go of the past! Have you heard that saying in Hindi – jab jago tab savera! When you wake up, it’s morning. [Sounds silly in English but hopefully it conveyed the meaning]. The grip of Maaya is so strong that it is extremely...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 25, 2018 | Body, Independent Spirituality, Mind, Present Moment, Self, Self, Silence, Sub-conscious, Tapas, Thoughts
Silence…..Shhhhh! Question: How to keep an optimum silence during the Silence Course?Answer: Silence is not only of the body, it is of the mind. So one must make every attempt to at least taste a minute of complete silence of the mind at a Silence retreat otherwise it...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 24, 2018 | Independent Spirituality, Matter, Maya, OM, Vibration
“OM” is not just a sound, it is a vibration! Question:“Om” is the antidote to both sound AND sight? I didn’t get this, how it could be the antidote to the latter?Answer:Because “OM” is not just a sound, it is a vibration. According to the scientists, the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 10, 2018 | Body, Concepts, Doership, Dreams, Ego, Faith, I, Just Be, Mind, No-Mind, Purushartha, Samsara, Self, Thoughts, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 6, 2018 | Aagami, Brahman, Consciousness, Dukkha, Elements, Gnyani, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Maya, Meditation, Prakriti, Prarabdha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samsara, Sanchita, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Space-Time, Surrender, Upanishad, Vedic
KARMA! Question:Please explain the sentencesExcerpt 1 -The space is not afflicted by any action. Similarly, you are free from karma. Answer:Look around you right now. You are surrounded by space from all angles. Can you touch the space around you? Can you wet the...
