by Ekta Bathija | Sep 9, 2026 | Advaita, Body, Direct Path, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Thoughts
From the witnessed objects to the Witness to that where neither Witness nor witnessed remain Question: Didi, please, would you help clarify the two statements: 1] That which I know I cannot be. I am the knower of the body; therefore, I am not the known.2]...
by Ekta Bathija | Sep 6, 2026 | Advaita, Body, Buddha, Direct Path, Ego, I, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self
The Ego, the root of Ego and prior to the Ego! Question: Are the sense of existing, the sense of I am, and witness consciousness all the same? Answer: Let’s clarify Pure Consciousness, Witness Consciousness, and the Ego to understand this better. Pure...
by Ekta Bathija | Sep 2, 2026 | Advaita, Awareness, Bhagwad Gita, Birth, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Duality, Form, History, I, Impressions, Krishna, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Projection, Rama Geeta, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self- Realization, Spontaneous, Truth
‘I-the-Consciousness project numerous forms’ can be corrected to ‘Manifestation appears spontaneously within Me-the-Consciousness’ Question: Ektaji, some sages have said after self-realization that, ‘I took so many births, in different...
by Ekta Bathija | Aug 24, 2026 | Advaita, Brahman, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, God, I, Life, Maaya, Maya, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Projection, Rama Geeta, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Who desires to exist and experience? Question: Ektaji, since Paramatma desires to experience (Jijivisha), can one say that Paramatma is desireless? Answer: Brahman is called desireless, not Paramatma, because Brahman is not an entity that desires. Desire can...
by Ekta Bathija | Jul 23, 2026 | Advaita, Awareness, Birth, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Death, Direct Path, God, Guru, Intellect, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Projection, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
No beginning of the World. No End. No God. No Creator. Question: Ektaji, please can you help clarify about Kalpa or Yuga or the end of time? Also, did God create the world? Answer: ‘You-the-Witness-Consciousness,’ dream of a sleeping-dream-world...
by Ekta Bathija | Jun 7, 2026 | Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Direct Path, I, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Thoughts
Mind is a dead thought. It is the object of Memory. It is not the subject. Question: If the waker collapses and the stand of the witness is taken, then who is recalling the memory of the dream, whose memory is it? Isn’t memory recalling a function of the mind?...
by Ekta Bathija | Mar 15, 2026 | Advaita, Body, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, Dispassion, Doership, Fear, Liberation, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Projection, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Vairagya, Viveka
Correcting at the source with the master key of dispassion Question: Ekta Didi, Nisargadatta Maharaj advises on correcting at the source. How do I make corrections to the projection? Answer: When Maharaj says that correction is required at the source, he means...
by Ekta Bathija | 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...
by Ekta Bathija | 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...
by Ekta Bathija | Sep 28, 2025 | Adi Shankaracharya, Advaita, Body, Breath, Chanting, Courage, Death, Direct Path, Ego, Energy, God, Guru, Human, Ignorance, Intellect, Ishavasya Upanishad, Kabir, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self, Soul, Upanishad, Worship
What is NOT Sadhana? Question: Dear Ektaji, What is the purpose of Sadhana? Is it to strengthen my witnessing stand? Answer: There is only ONE sadhana dear – The sadhana of NOT betraying one’s own true Self, as discussed in the earlier verses of...
by Ekta Bathija | Jun 25, 2025 | General Spiritual, I AM THAT, Life, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Paths, Seeking, Serious, Truth
How to know if I really SEE the Truth? Dear Ektaji, How do I know that I SEE? Doubts arise if I am manufacturing things, as you mentioned in your ‘mind-manufactured images’ blog post. I have been looking for shortcuts in life, even on the spiritual path,...
by Ekta Bathija | Jun 8, 2025 | Advaita, Brahman, Consciousness, Direct Path, Duality, I AM THAT, Knowledge, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Projection, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Senses, Wisdom
The Ultimate Knower knows yet it does not know! Question: Namaste Ektaji,What is the correct understanding of these different statements? In I AM THAT Session 54 – Chapter 19: https://www.gnyanasangha.com/s/courses/677e29b443ab4728b806b958/takeThe primordial...
by Ekta Bathija | May 7, 2025 | Advaita, Aversion, Courage, Craving, Direct Path, Existence, Happiness, I, Illusion, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Thoughts, Truth
Quit the idea of ‘personhood’ Question: How does trying to please the mind strengthen the belief in ‘the person’? Answer: The mind is nothing but the ‘I-thought’ pretending to be ‘this’ or ‘that’. Its existence as...
by Ekta Bathija | Apr 13, 2025 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Existence, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
The higher and lower witnesses are like the Ocean and the Wave Question: Is Primordial Awareness the same as the Witness Consciousness NOT identified with the body-mind-person? Is the identified Witness Consciousness the ultimate experiencer or the Primordial...
by Ekta Bathija | Mar 23, 2025 | Advaita, Dispassion, Ego, Enlightenment, General Spiritual, Gnyana, God, Happiness, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Knowledge, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Paths, Samsara, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Surrender, Worship
Do you test the participants before admitting them to Gurukul? Question: Dear Didi, I want to join your Gurukul system, but I know that I am far from being eligible right now. I am too attached to this Samsara and my yearning is not strong enough for the highest...
by Ekta Bathija | Feb 23, 2025 | Consciousness, Form, Formless, General Spiritual, God, I, I AM THAT, Illusion, Maya, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Scriptures, Shiva, Truth
Shiva is a symbol! Avoid seeking a real Shiva! Question: Ekta Ji, I have listened to your podcast on “I am That.” I recently came across this. Please help explain what this means – ‘I AM’ is the greatest Lingam. That which covers it from all around...
by Ekta Bathija | Jan 29, 2025 | Advaita, Body, Company/Association/Sangha, Desire, Expectations, General Spiritual, Gnyana, Happiness, I, Life, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self, Suffering, Truth
It is my Dharma to let you know that Spiritual mentorship sessions are not psychotherapy Question: I have lots of suffering. Is there any possibility for me to have a private mentorship session for some guidance on this? Answer: If you go to a heart surgeon and...
by Ekta Bathija | 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...
by Ekta Bathija | Nov 13, 2024 | Advaita, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, Gnyana, I, Ignorance, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Parents, Seeking, Self, Senses, Soul, Truth
The Witness is the Assumed Self Question: Hello Didi, In I AM THAT Ch 20 there is a journal point ‘All desires, holy and unholy, come from the self; they all hang on the sense ‘I am’. Again Ch 21 says ‘All desire has its source in the self.’. Whereas...
by Ekta Bathija | Sep 8, 2024 | Advaita, Atmananda, Awareness, Dreams, Flow with Life, I, Just Be, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Non-Doership
Seeing life as a dream! Question: Didi for some time now while in dream state there is that ‘I-amness’ and a knowingness of the dreams. Whatever the story is, it runs like a movie with a knowing that it is a dream. Is that how it’ll be? Answer: Yes dear....
by Ekta Bathija | Mar 10, 2024 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Direct Path, Dreams, Existence, Gnyana, I, Impressions, Knowledge, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Senses, Thoughts, Upanishad
You project your own world! Question: Didi, is my understanding correct?Pratyaksha Gnyana: I see/meet a new person in the neighborhood.Paroksha Gnyana: Prejudices/assumptions about him/her based on the looks/conversation.Aparoksha Gnyana: In awareness, I don’t exist....
by Ekta Bathija | Mar 3, 2024 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Craving, Desire, Direct Path, Enlightenment, Feverishness, Just Be, Knowledge, Memory, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Scriptures, Senses, Silence, Surrender, Thoughts, Upanishad, Wisdom
Agamya – Inaccessible through words! Question: I wanted to also share that I really found the question and answers helpful after the explorations yesterday where Ektaji was speaking with Shailaja. That mind is only limited to the perception of five senses and...
by Ekta Bathija | Feb 25, 2024 | Advaita, Awareness, Birth, Body, Choice, Death, Direct Path, Doership, Fear, Freewill, I, Life, Maaya, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Thoughts, Upanishad, Wisdom
The sky is not blue! Question: Dear Ektaben, Following the self explorations, one question has arisen: I have seen 2 thoughts arise in this being at different stages in life: One thought said – I have a choice over my decisions and interactions with people,...
by Ekta Bathija | Feb 11, 2024 | Advaita, Atmananda, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, I, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Surrender, Thoughts, Upanishad
What is the locus of the ‘longing to understand the highest’? Question: Dear Ektaben, One paradoxical observation of the screen of ‘knowingness’ is that it knows(!) that the mystery of the whole screen of ‘knowingness’ is simply...
by Ekta Bathija | 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:...
by Ekta Bathija | Dec 24, 2023 | Advaita, Body, Direct Path, Drama, Dreams, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Don’t seek acknowledgment for your own personal unshareable insight! Question: Last night, as I was falling asleep, I had this strange experience. At the level of the mind I became aware of some hazy images and a pretty strong humming sound flashing close to my...
by Ekta Bathija | Dec 17, 2023 | Advaita, Body, Desire, Direct Path, Doership, Ego, Enlightenment, Feverishness, Flow with Life, Jealousy, Just Be, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self- Realization, Truth
Intense longing for self-realization Question: I have a strong and a very old habit of indulging in story creation and I realized it only after studying Chapter 12. This is the reason why I am not able to move ahead on the path, I am still at the level of doer and...
by Ekta Bathija | Dec 10, 2023 | Advaita, Attachment, Body, Death, Desire, Direct Path, Fear, Food, Fullness, Life, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, No-Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Thoughts, Universe
Does the sage not have a mind? Question: Maharaj says, ‘Pleasure and pain do not sway me. I am free from desire and fear. I am full. I need nothing.” I understand that he is speaking as Pure Consciousness. Is it correct to assume that thoughts/desires like this can...
by Ekta Bathija | Dec 3, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Desire, Direct Path, Doership, I, Illusion, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Universe
Primordial Awareness is Stillness itself! Question: When there is no I, there will be no witnessing, only Primordial Awareness or Universal witness (as Maharaj describes it). Instead of “I am seeing” (witnessing), there will be only, “Seeing is happening” (Primordial...
by Ekta Bathija | Nov 26, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Doership, Dreams, Ego, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Personality, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Thoughts
The journey to Ajaata Vaad! Question:I understand that the dream character = body/mind, I = Witness, and Dreamer= Pure Consciousness. The thoughts, feelings, sensations, and perceptions do not belong to the Witness, they belong to the Dreamer, Pure Consciousness. The...
by Ekta Bathija | Nov 19, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, Ego, Existence, Happiness, Illusion, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Pleasure/Pain, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self
The mind is an old broken mirror! Question: Hello Ekta, I have a question. Nisargadatta was saying that ‘how can restless mind can calm itself’ or something similar…Then you were explaining this point and at some point, you said Mind and body are reflections of the...
by Ekta Bathija | Oct 22, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Body, Death, Direct Path, Dreams, Emptiness, Food, Illusion, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Self- Realization, Sensations, Thoughts
Do thoughts cease at least at Self-realization? Question: Didi, you said in your previous post that “Nothing is going to change by following the spiritual path not even your mind’s noise”. But Ramana Maharshi session you read out the quote where he...
by Ekta Bathija | Oct 8, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Body, Death, Direct Path, Dreams, Knowledge, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Silence, Thoughts
Can thoughts cease? Question: Will the thoughts cease with the Advaita knowledge of being the Witness? Answer: There is Peace when you take the stand as the Witness but the Peace itself is not silent. The thoughts still continue to arise from this Peace, just...
by Ekta Bathija | Oct 1, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Consciousness, Direct Path, I, Just Be, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence, Thoughts
Mind’s attention OR the Witness? Question: Dear Ekta, How can I clearly distinguish between the mind’s attention and the witness? Answer: Let’s start with an analogy. When you stand in front of the mirror, you see a reflection of yourself...
by Ekta Bathija | 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...
by Ekta Bathija | Jul 30, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
The two witnesses! Question: Ektaji, in deep sleep, Awareness is resting as Pure Consciousness. There is no world. Then how is Awareness aware of being asleep or unconscious? (Ch. 11, I AM THAT) Answer: Nisargadatta Maharaj has explained that there are two...
by Ekta Bathija | Jul 19, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Brahman, Consciousness, Desire, Direct Path, Knowledge, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Spontaneous, Suffering, Thoughts, Vasana
Is desire not a thought? Question: Didi, please would you explain if Vichara [thought] and Vasana [desire] are the same or different? Is desire, not a thought? Answer: There is a major difference between Vichara [thought] and Vasana [desire]. Nisargadatta...
by Ekta Bathija | Dec 11, 2022 | Advaita, Atmananda, Aversion, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Craving, Dreams, Ego, I, Karma, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Personality, Raaga/Dvesha, Thoughts
When Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “My world is full of myself”. What does he actually mean? Question: When Nisargadatta Maharaj says, “My world is full of myself”. What does he actually mean by it? Answer: Let me start with what it does...
by Ekta Bathija | Nov 1, 2022 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Ego, Fear, Mind, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Thoughts
The Sun is always shining! Question: The response of the mind to ‘Perceptions are not conscious by themselves’ went from fear to denial to acceptance. The mind recognized that it has been thirsting to merge with the Infinite. Then why fear? Answer: This happens...
by Ekta Bathija | Oct 30, 2022 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Consciousness, Direct Path, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Difference between the witness and pure consciousness! Question: Didi, could you explain the difference between consciousness and pure consciousness? Answer: Whenever there is an object to witness, then only the witnessing consciousness arises. The witnessing...
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