by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 20, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 30, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Ramana Maharshi, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Want to spend an afternoon interacting with a fully enlightened person… How to find one? Question: I have a very deep thirst for knowing the Truth of ‘Who am I?’ I follow Ramana Maharshi’s teachings but it is so difficult to find a fully enlightened being to spend...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 23, 2023 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Stand up for what is right even if you have to stand alone! Question: Didi, I see that people around me do all kinds of corrupt and unwholesome things – lie, steal, twist facts, play games with me, do politics in office as well as at home. These people are very...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 26, 2023 | Bhakti, Buddha, Causation, Devotion, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Intellect, Just Be, Karma, Knowledge, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self-Effort, You
Benefits of Vipassana or Satipatthana Question: I went for the 10 days retreat. The experience was very fulfilling. On day 4 of the Vipassana program during meditation, I was vividly seeing the events from my childhood more than 35 years ago which upset me very much...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 12, 2023 | 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 | Jun 14, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Killing microbes accrues Karma or not? Question: I am a novice Buddhist. I admit that killing any living beings leads to negative karma production. Is there any explanation in karma formation in killing microorganisms? I had this debate with my friend, he claims...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 11, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Interview topic – Enlightened Beings Question: I am deeply interested to understand the meaning of “Enlightenment”. Answer: Interest in knowing something is called curiosity. It is not sufficient to help one attain the highest possible goal for a human called...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 7, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Why is there a pinch experienced in doing right? Question: I have a question regarding the previous knowledge on Apaatra Daanam! We have faced that situation many times with extended family. Using my Viveka, it’s obviously ‘apaatra’! But why I still feel a pinch? Just...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 28, 2023 | Advaita, Doership, Ego, Enlightenment, General Spiritual, I, Karma, Liberation, Non-Doership, Paths, Raaga/Dvesha, Self- Realization, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 21, 2023 | 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 30, 2023 | 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 | Apr 19, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Law of Nature – Kudrat ka kanoon! Question: Is it okay to think negative about someone but not really do any action to hurt them? The negative thought was planted in me by another friend. I keep thinking about the negativity again and again, but I am not doing or...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 5, 2023 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 1, 2023 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Volition is Karma! Question: Didi, silly question, I used to sometimes pluck the flowers from our backyard and put them in an arrangement in water or in a vase, but now when I go to pluck them I feel like I am hurting them and I don’t want to do it, so I haven’t been...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 29, 2022 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Decision-making – Everything is a happening! Question: Should I stay here in the US or go back to India? Should I sell my home or keep it and rent it out and return back to the US in a few years? Is there still some karma to be taken care of in the US…..in this...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 15, 2022 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Direct Path, Dreams, Duality, I, Mind, You
Is the awareness/knowingness limited to special people? Question: Do we all experience the awareness/knowingness or is it limited to special people? Can I ever come to the point of recognizing this awareness/knowingness everywhere in everything and everyone? ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 26, 2022 | Advaita, Attachment, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Dreams, Dvaita, Ego, Form, God, Guru, I, Let go, Love, Mind, Rituals, Scriptures, Seeking, Upanishad, You
Do not get attached to the spiritual mentor! Question: Ektaji is the Consciousness. Sometimes she manifests as the form of a teacher teaching us. At other times, she manifests as any other person in front of us, be it a family member, friend, or stranger. They are all...
![Difference between the Gnyani [self-realized] and the Acharya [learned one]!](https://ektabathija.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/sun-tree-1080x675.jpg)
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 21, 2022 | Advaita, Awareness, Bhagwad Gita, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, Dreams, Ego, Enlightenment, Expectations, Gnyani, Greed, Guru, I, Illusion, Kabir, Knowledge, Masters, Mind, Name/Roles, Personality, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Self- Realization, Service, Truth, Upanishad, Wealth, You
Difference between the Gnyani [self-realized] and the Acharya [learned one]! Question: In chapter 4 verse 34 of the Bhagavad Gita it says:”Learn the Truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him with reverence and render service unto him. Such an...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 12, 2022 | 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 | Jun 9, 2022 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Apaatra Daanam – Charity to the unworthy! Question: Dear Ektaji,When do we call it Apatradanam? My husband and I helped on several occasions, our Indian temple priest by giving guru Dakshina in US dollars. Now there is a request for money for his daughter’s dental...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 7, 2022 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Vedic, You
Srimad Bhagwatam condemns Con-Men! Question: Didi, This verse is from the Srimad Bhagwatam. It criticises the people who earn a livelihood by accepting money on behalf of the Lord. All the new-age spiritual Gurus and Masters are doing the same except for a few....
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 14, 2021 | Advaita, Direct Path, Ego, Maaya, Mind, Personality, Seeking, Stress, Wisdom, You
Are you wearing a mask? That is a beautiful sharing of Jim Carrey’s experiential recognition of the truth in the video – https://youtu.be/TucyzpHDNlE. I would elaborate a little bit on the same. You are all wearing a mask. Do you recognize it? When you were a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 7, 2021 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 16, 2021 | Competition, Ego, General Spiritual, I, Name/Roles, Paths, Relationship, Samsara, Service, Seva, Wealth, You
Seva or Serving the Ego! Question: What is seva really? And from what space should an individual come from when he or she wants to do pure seva? I have noticed that I get into the same power struggle that I would, in a corporate office. I need some clarity there,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 9, 2021 | 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 | Jun 6, 2021 | Attachment, Buddha, Courage, Dhyana, Ego, Gnyani, I, Illusion, Maaya, Maya, Meditation, Mind, No-Mind, Purushartha, Samsara, Self-Effort, Selfishness, Yoga Vasistha, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 27, 2021 | 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 | Apr 15, 2021 | Causation, Doership, Ego, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
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,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 9, 2021 | Attachment, Buddha, Courage, Dhyana, Ego, Gnyana, Gnyani, I, Illusion, Knowledge, Maaya, Maya, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, No-Mind, Paths, Purushartha, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Yoga Vasistha, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 2, 2021 | Aagami, Attraction, Causation, Dukkha, Ego, General Spiritual, I, Karma, Mind, Misery, Pleasure/Pain, Prarabdha, Sanchita, Suffering, Sukkha, Vedic, You
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 14, 2021 | 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 | Oct 29, 2020 | 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 | Oct 1, 2020 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Dwindling of desires! Question:There is an expectation to take up additional tasks (at work) as the role requires it.As a spiritual practitioner, I have noticed desires reducing in me automatically and now I have no desire to do extra/more tasks aiming at promotion or...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 6, 2020 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
How to do the Jhanas optimally? Question:How to do the Jhanas optimally?Answer:One must experiment with his mind while in the Jhanas.Experiment 1 – Make an attempt to maintain it:To maintain it longer requires a stable and non-reactive mind. If you jump at the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 23, 2020 | Buddha, Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Are you ready for Buddha’s teachings on the Art of BEing with REALITY? Question:I am confused whether I should start with the Vedic or Buddha’s knowledge sessions on the website http://www.gnyanasangha.com. How do I know if I am ready for Buddha’s...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 15, 2020 | Bhakti, Buddha, Causation, Devotion, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, Illusion, Intellect, Just Be, Karma, Knowledge, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self-Effort, You
Why are Buddha’s Suttas not easily accepted? Question:Why are Buddha’s Suttas not easily accepted? I notice that NOT ONLY in Hindu monks but also in the Buddhist sects. Why can’t man accept the Truth?Answer:Your question is valuable and will help many others.Buddha’s...
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 | 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 16, 2020 | Advaita, Duality, Dvaita, Ego, I, Independent Spirituality, Misery, Rumi, Samsara, You
A beautiful poem on Advait (non duality) Question: I really liked the Sufi poem about the stranger who knocks on the door, and then last time says “I am you”, etc etc. Can you send a link to this poem? Answer: It is a poem by Rumi, that I heard in Urdu long...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 22, 2020 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Be with reality as it is! But how? Question:Didi, what does it mean to be with reality as it is? It’s difficult to understand. Please, would you explain?Answer:Be with reality as it is!This is a tough one to understand. People feel what’s so difficult in being with...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 16, 2020 | Attachment, Body, Courage, Death, Faith, Fear, Fear, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, I, Paths, Self, Self-Effort, You
All Fears are just the Fear of Death! Question: The Enlightened Ones say that “All fears are actually the Fear of death”. I am confused. Please help. Answer: There is actually only one fear. It is the fear of death. There is no other fear. All the other...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 2, 2019 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Results for "collapse of craving" Question:I have searched with many schools of thoughts and still cannot figure out why I still crave for things. In fact, I understand when you explain about the feverishness that arises because of craving. I totally...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 2, 2019 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Results for "the essence" Question:Dear Ektaji,A very close friend of my brother is expected to die due to cancer. Respected elder family members have said to him that he cannot attend a family wedding in June if he attends his friend’s cremation ceremony....
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 1, 2019 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Anger burns you NOT the other person Question:Didi one silly questionIs doing unwholesome behavior with unwholesome people justified? I got angry with a person at work who was gossiping and was very harmful towards me, so I gave her a taste of her own medicine, but...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 1, 2019 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Spiritual Restlessness Question:Didi, quoting from your message “Constantly remind yourself that ‘this restlessness is a reality’. Let me try NOT to suppress it or cover it up”. Does one have to get past the struggle to just ‘BE’ with the restlessness? I have always...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 1, 2019 | Causation, Doership, Faith, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Maaya, Niyati, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, You
Ekta Question:What is the point of knowing that it is the Mercury retrograde going on right now? I have only been on the watch since yesterday keeping a guard to prevent negativity. It makes me nervous. How is it helpful?Answer:Mercury Retrograde is just an apparent...
