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Are there different books for different levels of Seekers in Gnyana Sangha?

Are there different books for different levels of Seekers in Gnyana Sangha?

by | Feb 25, 2026 | Adhyasa Drishti, Advaita, Body, Buddha, Consciousness, Direct Path, Dispassion, Gnyana, Guru, I AM THAT, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Liberation, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Paths, Rama Geeta, Ramana Maharshi, Samadhi, Scriptures, Vairagya, Viveka

Are there different books for different levels of Seekers in Gnyana Sangha? Question: Hello Didi, I understand better when I read rather than when I listen. Are there different books for different levels of Seekers in Gnyana Sangha? If you could tell me which books a...
Don’t just forgive but be grateful for all worldly sorrows

Don’t just forgive but be grateful for all worldly sorrows

by | Dec 8, 2025 | Advaita, Buddha, Buddha, Consciousness, Dukkha, Knowledge, Love, Meditation, Memory, Mind, Misery, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Suffering, Thanksgiving, Thoughts

Don’t just forgive but be grateful for all worldly sorrows Question: Dear Ekta, Thanksgiving is difficult for people like me. I am unable to give thanks to my family. I want to follow the Buddhadvaita path and forgive, but bitter memories haunt me. Can you help...
If you can see, I can too!

If you can see, I can too!

by | Nov 12, 2025 | Adi Shankaracharya, Advaita, Atma Darshan, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Buddha, Chanting, Death, Direct Path, General Spiritual, Guru, Ishavasya Upanishad, Love, Meditation, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Paths, Rama Geeta, Ramana Maharshi, Religion, Rituals, Scriptures, Self, Truth, Upanishad, Wisdom, Worship

If you can see, I can too! Question: I’ve been searching for the truth for a long time. I’ve explored a lot of paths — from “human-worship” and “guru-as-celebrity” types to “academic monk” approaches, “ritual-heavy” traditions, and even hopping from one...
Self-Realization occurs spontaneously and instantaneously not in hindsight

Self-Realization occurs spontaneously and instantaneously not in hindsight

by | Sep 7, 2025 | Advaita, Brahman, Buddha, Consciousness, Direct Path, I, Ignorance, Ishavasya Upanishad, Maaya, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self- Realization, Spontaneous, Suffering, Time-past/present/Future, Wisdom

Self-Realization occurs spontaneously and instantaneously not in hindsight Question: Dear Ektaji,  Is my direct seeing correct? This I-Sense is there like a pair of eyes that witnesses all that the waker does. It is the Fourth in which all three states come and go. It...
Become Debt-free by changing the pattern of the Waker!

Become Debt-free by changing the pattern of the Waker!

by | Jun 5, 2025 | Attachment, Aversion, Buddha, Consciousness, Craving, Doership, Flow with Life, Form, General Spiritual, I, Pleasure/Pain, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Sensations, Thoughts, Wisdom

Become Debt-free by changing the pattern of the Waker! Question: Dear Didi,  You said that every arising is indebted to Zeroness. So is it that habitual tendencies, stories, and concepts of waking and dreaming are in debt to Zeroness? And being entangled in any...
There is nobody to be reincarnated

There is nobody to be reincarnated

by | Dec 18, 2024 | Advaita, Atma Darshan, Aversion, Birth, Buddha, Concepts, Consciousness, Craving, Death, Direct Path, Existence, Form, General Spiritual, I, Ignorance, Illusion, Life, Name/Roles, Religion, Self, Suffering, Truth

There is nobody to be reincarnated Question: What is the meaning of Annata or Non-self as taught by the Buddha? Why are there contradictory teachings of rebirth in Buddhism if Annata is the truth?   Answer: Annata means Anatman or Non-self, where there is no...
How is Self-Inquiry done? What is Self-Exploration? 

How is Self-Inquiry done? What is Self-Exploration? 

by | Dec 15, 2024 | Advaita, Atma Darshan, Awareness, Body, Buddha, Desire, Direct Path, Guru, I, Ignorance, Illusion, Life, Memory, Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Seeking, Sensations, Spontaneous, Suffering, Thoughts, Truth

How is Self-Inquiry done? What is Self-Exploration?  Question: How is Self-Inquiry done? What is Self-Exploration?   Answer: Dear Spiritual Seeker,  On the self-effacing authentic path to one’s true nature, resorting to Self-Inquiry and Self-Exploration is...
There is No BODY!

There is No BODY!

by | Dec 11, 2024 | Advaita, Body, Buddha, Buddha, Direct Path, Duality, Dvaita, Enlightenment, Faith, God, Human, I, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Religion, Sensations, Truth, Upanishad

There is No BODY! Question: Dear Ektaji, why do we hear that a human body is essential to attain enlightenment? How much attention do we need to pay to keep ourselves healthy?   Answer: Dear One, This is a Dvaitam concept that a human body is essential to attain...
Can one use restraint to be celibate?

Can one use restraint to be celibate?

by | Jun 26, 2024 | Anger, Aversion, Awareness, Awareness, Buddha, Craving, Desire, Emotions, Fear, Guilt, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Love/Hate, Memory, Mind, Mindfulness, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sankalpa/Intention, Sensations, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Thoughts, Vasana, Wisdom

Can one use restraint to be celibate? Question: For Brahmacharya to happen, a maturity is required, before this maturity can one use restraint to be celibate?   Answer: The act of “restraining the senses” belongs to the circle of sleep. What is the...
Dealing with people of a different type than you

Dealing with people of a different type than you

by | Apr 17, 2024 | Aagami, Buddha, Company/Association/Sangha, Compassion, Emotions, Ignorance, Independent Spirituality, Let go, Life, Opinion/Behavior/Judgement, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Scriptures, Viveka

Dealing with people of a different type than you Question: Hello Ektaji, how do we deal, on a day to day basis, with people who are relatively unconscious or ignorant?  For e.g. at work, my colleagues are ignorant about proper diet and healthy lifestyles, such as...
Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha?

Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha?

by | Jan 3, 2024 | Atmananda, Buddha, Consciousness, Dispassion, God, Guru, Kabir, Knowledge, Meditation, Moksha, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Self, Self-Effort, Silence, Wisdom

Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha? Question: Ekta didi, If we are doing our sadhana and meditation which then what is the need for knowledge? Is sadhana alone not sufficient for attaining moksha? Please guide me, I am stuck in this.   Answer:...
The script of life is always perfect!

The script of life is always perfect!

by | Dec 6, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Bondage, Buddha, Consciousness, Direct Path, Doership, Drama, Ego, Enlightenment, Flow with Life, Human, I, Knowledge, Life, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Suffering, Thoughts, Universe, Upanishad, Wisdom

The script of life is always perfect! Question: Didi,What did/do you do when you witness that everybody is living in their own heads with their own stories and are suffering unnecessarily because of not being able to see the drama?   Answer: Every single human on...
Marriage or Seva?

Marriage or Seva?

by | Oct 4, 2023 | Attachment, Buddha, Buddha, Choice, Commitment, Courage, Dispassion, Enlightenment, Equanimous, Guru, Marriage, Present Moment, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Self-Effort, Seva, Surrender, Vedic

Marriage or Seva? Question: I want to do seva to progress spiritually. I feel I will progress much more if I were at my master’s feet than being at home. I also do not want to get married, but my mother wants me to get married.  I am in a quandary. Should I focus on...
Dealing with Sexual desires on the spiritual path!

Dealing with Sexual desires on the spiritual path!

by | Aug 9, 2023 | 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...
Why shouldn’t one simply follow a Guru blindly?

Why shouldn’t one simply follow a Guru blindly?

by | Aug 6, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Buddha, Direct Path, Existence, Guru, I, Illusion, Laziness, Masters, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Religion, Scriptures, Seeking, Self- Realization, Senses, Silence, Thoughts, Truth, Worship

Why shouldn’t one simply follow a Guru blindly? Dear Ektaji, I can grasp your teachings very well. I also know that you see the truth. Then why shouldn’t I simply follow you blindly? Why is there insistence on following the inner Guru as opposed to an...
Am I cheating my Guru if I follow somebody else?

Am I cheating my Guru if I follow somebody else?

by | Jul 7, 2023 | Advaita, Ashtavakra Gita, Attachment, Buddha, Company/Association/Sangha, Ego, Enlightenment, Flow with Life, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Krishna, Masters, Mind, Paths, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness

Am I cheating my Guru if I follow somebody else? Question: Dearest Ekta Didi, I have been with a spiritual foundation for the past 22 years and have done several courses there. Ever since I stumbled upon Ramana’s sessions with you, there has been a huge change that I...
Yardstick to measure spiritual progress

Yardstick to measure spiritual progress

by | Jun 21, 2023 | Awareness, Awareness, Body, Buddha, Buddha, Dukkha, Enlightenment, Equanimous, Matter, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Satipathana, Senses, Sukkha, Thoughts

Yardstick to measure spiritual progress Question: What is the yardstick to measure my spiritual progress? How do I know if I am progressing spiritually?   Answer: The yardstick to measure your spiritual progress is: ‘Equanimity + Awareness’. *Equanimity =...
Can a liar meditate?

Can a liar meditate?

by | May 17, 2023 | Buddha, Buddha, God

Can a liar meditate? Question: 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...
Is being a witness and being 100% aware the same?

Is being a witness and being 100% aware the same?

by | Feb 8, 2023 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Awareness, Body, Breath, Buddha, Dhyana, Doership, Equanimous, Flow with Life, I, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Just Be, Krishna, Meditation, Mind, Mindfulness, No-Mind, Non-Doership, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Present Moment, Purushartha, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Senses, Silence, Spontaneous, Thoughts

Is being a witness and being 100% aware the same? Question 1: I was practicing 100% awareness for most of the day. But it seemed to me that as I was 100% aware, I was also totally aware of what I was experiencing through the senses – I was totally aware of what my...
Observing the mind and getting out of problems!

Observing the mind and getting out of problems!

by | 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...
Preparation for a long Buddha retreat

Preparation for a long Buddha retreat

by | 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...
What is taught in a Buddha retreat?

What is taught in a Buddha retreat?

by | Aug 25, 2020 | Attachment, Awareness, Awareness, Bondage, Buddha, Buddha, Concepts, Craving, Desire, Equanimous, Freedom, Ignorance, Just Be, Knowledge, Let go, Meditation, Mind, Misery, No-Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Samsara, Satipathana, Seeking, Sensations, Silence, Suffering, Temporary, Thoughts, Wisdom

What is taught in a Buddha retreat? Question: Please would you explain what is taught in the Buddha retreats? I have statues of Buddha at home but am totally unaware of his teachings. Please enlighten me about what is Vipassana, Samatha, Jhanas, etc. Answer: Here is a...
Buddha taught that there is NO SOUL!

Buddha taught that there is NO SOUL!

by | Jul 16, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Consciousness, Enlightenment, Just Be, Meditation, Purushartha, Satipathana, Scriptures, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Soul, Soul, Sukkha, Truth

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...
Can I continue vedic chanting along with Buddha’s & Ramana’s path?

Can I continue vedic chanting along with Buddha’s & Ramana’s path?

by | Jul 1, 2020 | Advaita, Buddha, Buddha, Chanting, Company/Association/Sangha, Competition, Duality, Flow with Life, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Maaya, Non-Doership, Ramana Maharshi, Self- Realization

Can I continue vedic chanting along with Buddha’s & Ramana’s path? Question: Respected Ekta ji, I just wish to be guided if one can continue with general practices of chanting Hanuman Chalisa, Om Namah Shivaye , Om Namo Baghvate vasudevaye or Durga....