by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 22, 2023 | Advaita, Advaita, Awareness, Duality, Ego, Emotions, I, Mind, Paths, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Satipathana, Self-Effort, Sensations
Advaitic way of dealing with uncontrollable emotions Question: Ekta didi, I am going through a strong emotion because of an event in my life this last week. I am quite aware of it and this time I want to use it to go deep into the emotion. What is the Advaitic way of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 15, 2023 | Awareness, Body, Buddha, Buddha, Courage, Ego, Mind, Present Moment, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort, Senses
Can I be in Sakshi Bhava all the time? Question: Being lost in the object and withdrawing from the object and becoming a “sakshi”. I am able to do it for a split second especially when I am typing on a keyboard I can see my fingers moving and witness it without being...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 22, 2023 | Awareness, Breath, Buddha, Buddha, Ego, Meditation, Meditation, Mindfulness, Sensations, Silence
Are you tensing up in meditation instead of relaxing? Question: A teacher said that “If you practice mindfulness too much, you cannot relax and experience the unknown.” I had been pondering on this a lot, I find it true and untrue at the same time. During...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 19, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Consciousness, Ego, Illusion, Ramana Maharshi, Seeking, Silence
Go beyond the understanding that ‘The world is an illusion’! Question: Ektaji, at Ajata Vaada level, why is it incorrect to just say, “The world is an illusion”. Doesn’t the world exist only when I perceive it? Answer: It’s not wrong dear....
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 12, 2023 | Advaita, Awareness, Bhakti Sutra, Equanimous, Independent Spirituality, Meditation, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort
No ‘I’ No ‘You’! Question: Sutras from the higher chapters of Ashtavakra Gita and Narada Bhaktisutras clearly mention that you are already enlightened and that there is no need to meditate, then why are meditations encouraged by so many? How do...
by Gnyana Sangha | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 5, 2023 | Advaita, Atmananda, Body, Breath, Consciousness, Direct Path, Dvaita, Ego, Ignorance, Knowledge, Mind, Non-Doership, Pranayama, Surrender
Were my Dvaitam practices a waste? Question: After coming onto the Advaitam path, the thought arises whether all the Dvaitam practices done for the past decades were a waste? Answer: No dear, that is just the Ego throwing tantrums. Ignore the tantrums and...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 31, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Body, Concepts, Direct Path, Energy, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Senses, Silence
When you drop labels, you find Awareness! Question: I feel the energy as well, as soon as I sink into silence. I find the energy is intense and overpowering. I am not sure If it is the witness that is witnessing this energy or is it the mind that is feeling this...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 26, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Body, Buddha, Direct Path, Ego, Flow with Life, I, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence
Nobody is in control! Question: Didi, I realize that all the vows from Buddha’s path are basically a reminder that I am taking a stand as the mind or body. The moment the recognition happens I get thrown into awareness! I experienced this at work today – it...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 15, 2023 | Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Atmananda, Brahman, Direct Path, Drama, Duality, Illusion, Mind, Ramana Maharshi, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Silence
Drishti Srishti Vaada and Ajaata Vaad Namaste Ektaji: Is it possible that I am shuttling between the two viewpoints? When I am the Witness/Void, I am in Ajaata-vada viewpoint? When I get pulled out by the mind and get involved in the drama, then I am in...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 12, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Consciousness, Direct Path, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Senses, Silence, Thoughts
Is it okay to stop actions and thoughts to be the Witness? Question: Ektaji, When I am in confusion I try to stop my action & thoughts to look into the constant companionship of the Witness. Can you guide me on whether my path is right? Answer: At the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 8, 2023 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Awareness, Consciousness, Direct Path, Illusion, Meditation, Memory, Mind, Sensations, Silence, Thoughts
Is there a conscious link between thoughts? Question: Thoughts being dead information are simply a result of the memory of people, situations, things, ideas picked up from conditioning. Is there a conscious link between thoughts? Answer: If you are looking for...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 5, 2023 | Compassion, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Impulsive, Karma, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Silence, Spontaneous
How does one distinguish between spontaneous and impulsive actions? Question: Act spontaneously…that is my nature I have always been spontaneous…but all spontaneous acts are not always wise decisions! I have experienced in my life whenever I have been spontaneous I...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 25, 2022 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 29, 2022 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Body, Buddha, Direct Path, I, Mind, No-Mind, Sensations, Silence
Silence is your new friend! Question: Dear Ektaji, After struggling for many days/attempts I could settle down my mind today taking my attention away from whatever my mind was creating. After a while, a sense of silence overtook me. My being had this kind of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 27, 2022 | Attachment, Awareness, Breath, Dreams, Kriya, Meditation, Mindfulness, Pranayama, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Scriptures, Service, Seva, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
You are in a dream! Wake up! Question: Didi, today in my meditation, all of a sudden, I felt that the dimensions (square, rectangle) the room is not real.. I felt it turning to circle and disappearing.. As though this dimension is not real. Yesterday I was doing some...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 22, 2022 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 20, 2022 | 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 | Nov 6, 2022 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Oct 20, 2022 | Advaita, Ashtavakra Gita, Direct Path, Doership, I, Illusion, Intellect, Memory, Mind, Samadhi, Sensations, Temporary, Thoughts
The doer and experiencer are not the same illusion, even if they seem so! Question: Dear Ektaji,Is my understanding correct? Situation:6pm – I keep my car keys somewhere in my house.8pm – I want to go out. I am searching for the car keys but can’t find...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 16, 2022 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Aversion, Craving, Direct Path, Doubts, Ego, Impressions, Knowledge, Meditation, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Self-Effort
Do impressions get released during contemplation meditation as well? Question: While doing the Nisargadatta Contemplations [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwOB9CZXOf9TFFu5ayJGJHYpb6SW0xj5G], I noticed a release. Do impressions get released during contemplation...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 2, 2022 | Awareness, Buddha, Flow with Life, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Let go, Meditation, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Prarabdha, Present Moment, Purushartha, Samadhi, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Viveka
Be like a crystal! Question: In Patanjali Yogasutras, a reference is made to ‘being a crystal’. Is ‘being a crystal’ different from Sampragnyata samadhi? Answer: ‘Being a crystal’ means living as if you don’t exist....
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 18, 2022 | Buddha, Energy, Form, Formless, Mind, No-Mind, Samadhi, Vedic
Thought waves are recorded in Space! Question: Are thoughts recorded in Space? They say that whatever the Rishis and Yogis have said is recorded in Space and the most aware mind can download this in the deepest of the meditation. Please explain how this works? ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 31, 2022 | Aagami, Awareness, Bhakti, Craving, Divine, Emotions, Enlightenment, General Spiritual, Gnyana, Impressions, Intellect, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Meditation, Mind, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Prarabdha, Reaction, Sanchita, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Tapas, Types of Karma, Vedic, Wisdom
Dealing with Anxiety Question: Dear Ektaji, How should one deal with anxiety through Karma Yoga? I understand the role of gyana and bhakti/surrender when we are anxious about something in future but it is still prabhava gyana. Therefore I end up reasoning with my...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 31, 2022 | Awareness, Buddha, Doership, Kriya, Meditation, Mind
Resistance to meditation Question: Dear Ekta, I have a question. You told us to give the divine the highest priority. For a few years I have been doing do my practice every day. Every day I spend time on studying the knowledge. Also trying to implement this. I never...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 5, 2022 | 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 | Jul 3, 2022 | 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 a spiritual organizaion 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 23, 2022 | 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 | Jun 16, 2022 | Bhakti, Bondage, Commitment, Courage, Devotion, Dispassion, Doership, Ego, Faith, Freedom, Guru/Disciple, I, Independent Spirituality, Liberation, Mind, Moksha, Non-Doership, Prayer, Raaga/Dvesha, Samadhi, Self- Realization, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Surrender, Surrender, Vairagya, Wisdom
Mind retaliates to your answer on craving for Guru! Question: Ektaji, My bhakti kicked in and did a little revolt against the answer – https://ektabathija.com/craving-for-guru/ Divine craving (for the physical guru or the tattva) is in my faith a blessing..does Mukti...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 14, 2022 | Attachment, Awareness, Craving, Desire, Dispassion, Ego, Feverishness, General Spiritual, Guru/Disciple, Liberation, Masters, Moksha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Tapas, Thoughts
Craving for Guru! Question: Is love for my Guru a Raaga? Will it bring us back in next lifetime with him? what if one does not seek Mukti but only want to be with their Guru in every life? Answer: Then one has not progressed spiritually at all. One has just...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 2, 2022 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 5, 2022 | 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 | May 3, 2022 | Commitment, Destiny, Guru, Impressions, Karma, Knowledge, Meditation, Niyati, Prarabdha, Purushartha, Sanchita, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Vashistha talks about Fate and Self-effort Question: I am reading the Yoga Vasistha these days, could you please explain to me pages 22-24 of the Supreme Yoga – by Swami Venkatesananda, where he talks about Fate and self effort? Answer: Vasistha says that ‘Self...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 28, 2022 | Attachment, Aversion, Choice, Craving, Emotions, General Spiritual, Kriya, Love/Hate, Preference, Raaga/Dvesha, Seeking, Suffering
The vicious cycle of Likes & Dislikes! Question: Dear Ekta Di, if getting rid of karma is the sole purpose and to then to get enlightened is what we want, then how should we deal with this present life? I mean what should we do with this life ? If I should not...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 26, 2022 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Brahman, Breath, Company/Association/Sangha, Consciousness, Direct Path, Drama, Gnyana, Home, I, Illusion, Knowledge, Life, Meditation, Mind, OM, Silence, Space-Time, Suffering, Temporary, Truth, Upanishad, Vibration
The soundless sound… Anhad Naad! Question: Thank you so much for the Brahman contemplation on Mandukya Upanishad, it has opened up an amazing open-eyed meditation for me – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scKepUN7nlM The 2nd Mandukya self-inquiry Aum...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 10, 2022 | Fear, Guru, Just Be, Knowledge, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Surrender, Thoughts, Vedic, Wisdom
How do you tell the difference between fear and intuition ? Question: I’ve been feeling extremely anxious (more than normal). I try to resist negative thoughts, but they keep coming up. How do I handle this? Somehow, I can’t shake off this anxious feeling...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 24, 2022 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 20, 2022 | Anxiety, Company/Association/Sangha, Emotions, Fear, General Spiritual, Gnyana, Ignorance, Let go, Mind, Purushartha, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Stress, Thoughts
What will people say? Questions: Hello Ekta didi, small negative events make me sad. It’s like the earth element is constantly dominating me. I worry and fear about things in my life. I don’t know how to rise above it. My problem is I think a lot what other...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 13, 2022 | Aagami, Anger, Buddha, Commitment, Ego, Impressions, Jealousy, Karma, Mind, Vedic
Mahati Vinashayati – The greatest disaster! Question : When I am upset with someone or angry I tell myself to be calm and not to throw any agami seeds. My mind comes back saying I am ready to take rebirth. How do I get out of this cycle? Answer: You must...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 8, 2022 | Buddha, Meditation, Mind, No-Mind, Silence
Meditation is not for me! Question: While meditating, not even once have I listened to the whole meditation, there are variety of things happening every single time: 1. As soon as I close my eyes, even when I am paying attention to the voice, my mind starts...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2022 | Advaita, Bhakti, Body, Brahman, Consciousness, Direct Path, Ego, God, Guru, Illusion, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Self- Realization, Upanishad
Guru Ashtakam helps one look inwards toward the Inner Guru! Question: Ektaji, sometimes, I listen to Guru Astakam as it helps my mind/EGO to dissolve into Turiya or Amness. On further self-inquiry, Turiya merges back to void or Brahman. Am I going in the right...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 13, 2022 | Aagami, Guru, Karma, Karmaphalam, Kriya, Meditation, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Scriptures, Vedic
Can meditation erase my past bad karma? Question: Are we stuck with bad karma if we have made mistakes in the past such as hurting people verbally or in thoughts due to ignorance? Do we have to undergo those consequences or can I erase that bad karma that I have...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 6, 2022 | Aagami, Attachment, Conscious, Impressions, Karma, Life, Niyati, Purushartha, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Vedic
Daivam, Niyati & Purushartha Question: What is Daivam, Niyati & Purushartha? The further we go into Yoga Vashishtha the more confused I get… specially with this “Now it depends on the intensity of your commitment whether your Purushartha wins over your Daivam...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 1, 2022 | 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 | Jan 30, 2022 | Courage, Ego, Fear, I, Liberation, Meditation, Vedic
The greatest fear! Question: Dear didi, your recent post made me realize that the ego is the cause of my beginning. Now that I have taken a step towards liberation there is a strange fear of becoming no one again, the mind says- what will happen to’me’ after...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 27, 2022 | Chanting, Elements, Karma, Karmaphalam, Meditation, Mind, Physical, Prakriti, Vedic
Karma and Mercury Retrograde! Question: Please explain what happens during Mercury Retrograde from the spiritual aspect. Answer: All cosmic bodies whether planets, stars, comets, etc affect us. E.g. The moon affects the water element on our Planet. It is a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 23, 2022 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Intellect, Let go, Purushartha, Sankalpa/Intention, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Self-Effort, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Make Sankalpas then drop them! Question: In Ashtavakra Gita, you say “Make a Sankalpa”. In Yogavashishta, you say drop Sankalpas and be committed to zabardast Purushartha. I am confused. Please help. Answer: This is not the first time for you on the Spiritual...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 18, 2022 | Anxiety, Aversion, Craving, Emotions, Fear, General Spiritual, Independent Spirituality, Intuition, Meditation, Mind, Present Moment, Thoughts
Does planning happen in present or future? Question: Some more explanation on ‘planning happens in the present moment’ will be helpful to me. Often, when I am walking [morning walk] or meditating, a thought or an idea arises on what needs to be done to resolve a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 6, 2022 | Ashtavakra Gita, Birth, Body, Death, Karma, No-Mind, Samadhi, Self, Vedic
Drop the body before the body drops you! Question : In Asthavakra 8, you said, 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 clarify. ...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 2, 2022 | Buddha, Buddha, Commitment, Gossip, Karma, Meditation, Mind, New year, Samadhi, Sankalpa/Intention, Silence
New Years vows for the sake of spiritual progress! Happy New Year Angels! In the new year, let’s take Buddha’s vows to make it the year where your spiritual wisdom grows at rocket speed. Remember, your own experience is your teacher. If in your own experience, you...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 1, 2022 | 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 | Dec 23, 2021 | Emotions, Flow with Life, Independent Spirituality, Karma, Karmaphalam, Mind, Pleasure/Pain, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Relationship, Silence, Stress, Suffering, Temporary, Vedic
Storm of Emotions in Relationships Question: I am going through a lot of stress in relationships, too much storm of emotions in relationship with one particular individual. Please help! Answer: There are definite steps to always follow irrespective of who/what...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 19, 2021 | 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 | Dec 9, 2021 | 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,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 3, 2021 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Breath, Consciousness, Direct Path, Dreams, Ego, I, Illusion, Independent Spirituality, Intellect, Memory, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Senses, Thoughts, Upanishad
The waking dream is like the sky! Question: Is my understanding correct? Mahadaakasha = body-mind complex/intellect/memory/ego – the dream character Chidaakasha: the witness consciousness. Paramaakasha: Pure consciousness/dreamer There is identification as the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 30, 2021 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Direct Path, Expectations, I, Independent Spirituality, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Silence, Stress, Thoughts, Upanishad, Wisdom
You are ‘Niranjan’! Question: When thoughts would be all over and I start stressing and getting exhausted, I remember to shift my stand from body-mind to the witness. It just calms me down, seems a ocean of peace and calm is within me (I just have to...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 28, 2021 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Nov 9, 2021 | Awareness, Awareness, Bondage, Food, Freedom, Games/Play/Fun, General Spiritual, Knowledge, Love/Hate, Maya, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Senses, Sex/Passion/Celibacy
From scenery to seer! Question: Ektaji, what is the scenery and what does it mean ‘not to get lost’ in the scenery? Who is the seer? Answer: Scenery: Everything around you is the scenery. The people, situations and things around you are all scenery Seer: You...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 26, 2021 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 12, 2021 | Aagami, Desire, Destiny, Dharma, Doership, Education, Ego, Flow with Life, Freewill, Guru, Karma, Karmaphalam, Marriage, Mind, Prarabdha, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sanchita, Self-Effort, Service, Seva, Spouse, Tapas, Vedic, Wisdom
Karma affects both Material life and spiritual goals? Question: We do not choose where we are born or what profession we choose, but we choose whom we get married to or have kids. Also, the kind of people who come into our life is a result of our past karmas – good or...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 10, 2021 | Ashtavakra Gita, Commitment, Depression, Karma, Knowledge, Let go, Marriage, Mind, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Purushartha, Relationship, Scriptures, Spouse, Vedic
How to overcome loneliness and depression? Question: My husband is an alcoholic all he does is work and sleep alone, there is practically no interaction or no marriage between us. So I don’t have any company. In spite of understanding all the spiritual knowledge it is...
by Gnyana Sangha | Oct 3, 2021 | 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 | Sep 28, 2021 | 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 is said in it still repeats in my ears. It is mentioned “you don’t know who you are”. I started thinking how...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 23, 2021 | 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 | Sep 14, 2021 | Causation, Destiny, Doership, Flow with Life, Guru, Intellect, Karma, Knowledge, Niyati, Self-Effort, Vedic
You are not the doer! Question: We strongly believe – Everything is happening. We are not doing anything. It is foolishness to think, I worked hard to achieve my current state…On the other hand – we also say, we should do our duties. We have to make sure, we do our...
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 | Aug 31, 2021 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 17, 2021 | Gossip, Mind, Silence, Vedic
Speaking is a skill for the wise! Question: You said it is best to keep quiet unless you have something positive or helpful to say. I used to do this, but people used to say that I am unfriendly, uninterested or arrogant. Should I speak up more to create a better...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 12, 2021 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Aug 10, 2021 | Ego, Emptiness, I, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Meditation, No-Mind, Self
Ego got you in! Ego gets you out! Question: JGD Didi, my whole life is a cycle of I’s (Egos).. it is a sine curve of I’s and the people, situations and things are only a tool to help me recognize the ‘I’ fluctuation. If it’s been all about the ‘I’, how can one be...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 5, 2021 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 3, 2021 | Aagami, Attraction, Aversion, Awareness, Awareness, Body, Causation, Commitment, Compassion, Craving, Destiny, Elements, Equanimous, Freedom, General Spiritual, Happiness, I, Impressions, Jealousy, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Life, Love/Hate, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Pleasure/Pain, Prarabdha, Purushartha, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Sanchita, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Tapas
Dealing with Possessiveness Question: What if it is not me who is possessive, but someone else is possessive of me , rather obsessive almost to the sick levels of possessing me, what is that I should or should not do. Answer: Recognize that it is just a play of the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 29, 2021 | Commitment, Courage, General Spiritual, Let go, Mind, Self-Effort, Thoughts
Consistent effort is the only way out! Question: JGD Ektaji, I have seen many of your videos. Needless to say I loved them all . Sometimes I feel that I should first be very regular with my sadhana/practice. Because the knowledge that you explain is so very good that...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 22, 2021 | Aversion, Awareness, Courage, Craving, Independent Spirituality, Maya, Mind, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha
Kapti Mann Question: If my entire life, I keep on thinking about my raagas and dveshas and try to remove all the karma that I have created in the past, it will take billions of lifetimes and I will never be able to empty my karma bag. Is that the purpose of the raaga...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 20, 2021 | Animal, Buddha, Courage, Intellect, Karma, Karmaphalam, Liberation, Moksha, Rituals, Vedic
Animal Sacrifice for Peace & Goodluck! Question: Dear Ekta Ji, I am constructing a new house and it has reached the end stage. I have heard that we need to do animal sacrifice at home and put its blood on the walls of the new house to do peace for the new house....
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 15, 2021 | Body, Mind, Space-Time, Tapas, Vedic
What is Tapas? Question: What exactly is tapas? Does it refer to a dissolved state? I understand that the words: burn, cook are used here as metaphor but what do they actually refer to? Answer: Tapas means endurance. Tapas is how strong are you mentally to be...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 13, 2021 | 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 sentences Excerpt 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?...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 11, 2021 | Compassion, Courage, Dispassion, Ego, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Present Moment, Relationship
Dispassion or Ego? Question: Is it important for the outside world to accept my change in personality/ my growing dispassion? I don’t care about or see the outside world and when an ego of an external person/world comes up, I concentrate to focus on myself and the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 8, 2021 | Awareness, Company/Association/Sangha, Elements, Food, General Spiritual, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Prakriti, Present Moment, Purushartha, Satvik/Rajasic/Tamasic, Self-Effort, Sub-conscious, Thoughts
How do thoughts generate in the mind? Questions: How does the thought generate in our mind? Answer: From a Dvaitam perspective: Thoughts generate out of the subconscious. Now what is the quality of your subconscious? It depends on the conditioning of your mind from:...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 6, 2021 | Courage, Ego, Fear, Opinion/Behavior/Judgement, Service, Vedic
Are you a Lion or a fox? Question: JGD! Can you please explain today’s Guru Punch- Invoke the lion within you and have an attitude of sacrifice to rescue yourself from anxiety. I don’t understand the ‘attitude of sacrifice’ piece. Answer: People live in a lot...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 5, 2021 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Jul 4, 2021 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Jul 1, 2021 | Awareness, Awareness, Dhyana, Emptiness, I, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Non-Doership, Purushartha, Purushartha, Seeking, Seeking, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Silence, Thoughts
How do I experience Silence during meditation ? Question: “Drop the small mind”. I understand one way is to keep saying I am not the body, I am not the mind, I am not the ego etc. I do this during meditation, yet I am unable to TRULY drop the mind just does not go...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 29, 2021 | Aagami, Company/Association/Sangha, Emotions, Equanimous, General Spiritual, Karma, Kriya, Let go, Life, Physical, Prakriti, Pranayama, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Raaga/Dvesha, Types of Karma
Dealing with difficult people & situations Question: Dear Ekta, I really don’t trust my business partner as he cheats on tax and my share of profits. I also realize that it must be karma, so I have to deal with this. At this moment I don’t have an alternative,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 27, 2021 | 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 | Jun 20, 2021 | 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 | Jun 17, 2021 | 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 13, 2021 | 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 Gnyana Sangha | Jun 8, 2021 | Ashtavakra Gita, Aversion, Craving, Equanimous, Facebook, General Spiritual, Knowledge, Meditation, Mind, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Self-Effort
To Facebook or not? Question: With the advent of social media and uncontrolled use of it, we have added immensely to the list of Raagas and Dveshas especially on viewing people’s profiles, photos or posting messages. In a very subtle way, it impacts the mind and...
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 | May 27, 2021 | Advaita, Atmananda, Body, Consciousness, Direct Path, Maaya, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Silence, Thoughts, Truth
The personal world creation and its reflection! Question: Didi, I have a question regarding personal world creation. I see it having 2 aspects as below- Creating a story in your own mind and projecting it, thus creating your personal world. For eg. Husband came late...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 25, 2021 | Advaita, Awareness, Body, Buddha, Consciousness, Knowledge, Meditation, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samadhi, Suffering, Surrender
Will my medical condition disappear during meditation? Question: I have a common chronic medical condition. Like my awareness, it is always there. But, when my mind is full of activity I do not notice it. I meditate for an hour a day and have moments of complete peace...
by Gnyana Sangha | May 20, 2021 | 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 | Apr 22, 2021 | Aagami, Death, Ego, Emotions, Fear, General Spiritual, Karma, Knowledge, Maaya, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Wealth
Are you spiritually wealthy? Question:Jgd Didi,I am working on not creating any more Agami Karma through my thoughts, speech, and action by meditating regularly and being in knowledge. But what if I die and in the next birth because of being lost in MAAYA, I again get...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 18, 2021 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Body, Choice, Consciousness, Direct Path, Intuition, Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sensations, Thoughts
Intuition and Inner Voice Question:Dear Ektaji, Is intuition a form of mind phenomenon (feeling), or is it an inner ‘voice of consciousness’? Answer:The witness/infinite void never speaks. So there is no question of a voice to arise from it....
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 11, 2021 | Advaita, Atma Nirvriti, Atmananda, Craving, Direct Path, Ego, Illusion, Mind, Senses, Silence, Thoughts
Thought is the father of the World! Question:Why does the mind make me feel that this illusory world is real? Answer:That’s because Perception is inside out, not outside in. The senses do not gather information correctly because reality is colorless,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 1, 2021 | Aagami, Bondage, Karma, Maya, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Vedic
Be a Lotus! Question: “The soul sticks on to the body until the karma is exhausted.” This means that you will keep getting a body by the laws of Niyati as long as you have karma. What happens to the soul after it is exhausted with all the Karmas–no more Karmas left,...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 30, 2021 | Anger, Attachment, Aversion, Craving, Death, Fear, Guilt, Impressions, Jealousy, Kabir, Knowledge, Love/Hate, Maya, Meditation, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Scriptures, Seeking, Self-Effort, Seva, Silence, Thoughts, Vedic
Fear of the ‘last thoughts at death’ Question: Ektaji – Is it fair to have Dvesha to control the last impression (not to think certain thing)? If it is something out of control why not make it like “come as it comes” like spontaneously? Can we train our subconscious...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 14, 2021 | Awareness, Concepts, Dhyana, Energy, Guru, Knowledge, Kriya, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Pranayama, Purushartha, Scriptures, Silence, Thoughts, Upanishad, Vedic
Thoughts during meditation and sadness after! Question: Dear Ekta didi, I have been doing my meditation but I just can’t get my mind to shut up! It constantly brings thoughts. I don’t resist them. But I am slightly concerned. I am in no way impatient, I will continue...
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 | Feb 28, 2021 | 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 | Feb 25, 2021 | Aagami, Awareness, Buddha, Buddha, Drama, Emotions, Mind, Reaction, Satipathana, Thoughts
The secret of the ‘first thought’! Question: What to do if negative thoughts keep coming against a person. I know it is not right and I am creating agami karma for myself but I am still unable to avoid it. Answer: This is a common mistake made by many spiritual...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 19, 2021 | 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 | Jan 10, 2021 | Body, Emptiness, General Spiritual, Karma, Mind, Niyati, Paths, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Silence, Spontaneous
How would I know I am not seeking anymore? Question: Can you please explain how would we know whether we have united or reached our self and are Pure witness right now. How do we know we are doing it right? How would I know I am not seeking anymore? Answer: Being a...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 27, 2020 | Aagami, Ambition/Career, Commitment, Desire, Doership, Ego, Feverishness, Karma, Mind, Purushartha, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sanchita, Seeking, Seeking, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
Is Ambition also a seeking? Question:One of yesterday’s Yoga Vasishtha knowledge points and homework, that you gave was ‘not to seek and just be and live effortlessly through whatever transpires because of Sanchita karma.’ How do we differentiate seeking from...
by Gnyana Sangha | Dec 22, 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 | Dec 15, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Concepts, Ego, Enlightenment, Intellect, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Liberation, Meditation, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Samsara, Self- Realization, Vairagya, Wisdom
Intellectualization of Spiritual Knowledge is a MAJOR obstacle! Question: Ekta ji, can you point to any references in scriptures or your own experience on how to identify the symptoms of being half baked in Vedanta knowledge or being caught up just in the theory of...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 10, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, General Spiritual, Impressions, Maaya, Meditation, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Samadhi, Silence, Thoughts
YogaMaaya can be a hurdle on the spiritual path Question:I have a strange experience to share. Today in my meditation I felt like I was distanced from myself when I got carried away in my thoughts and the moment I came back to the breath I felt like that distance was...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 8, 2020 | Ambition/Career, Competition, Education, Home, Life, Maaya, Maya, Name/Roles, Samsara, Self-Effort, Vedic, Wealth
The trap of Maaya Question:Dear Ektaji, why do we respect only greatness? Why do we set goals by comparing with bigger and better only? However our benchmarks of Greatness keep changing as we ourselves evolve, and we keep chasing one or other desires. What is a right...
by Gnyana Sangha | Nov 3, 2020 | Awareness, Guru, Independent Spirituality, Knowledge, Maaya, Maya, Meditation, Meditation, Mind, Paths, Present Moment, Purushartha, Purushartha, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Vedic
Guilt of spiritual insincerity Question: JGD Didi, I have started listening to knowledge recently and I, suddenly, realized that I have been tremendously insincere in the past.This is bothering me too much. I want to progress on the path, please guide me on how to...
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 15, 2020 | Body, Buddha, Energy, Enlightenment, Meditation, Paths, Samadhi, Samsara, Satipathana, Self- Realization, Senses, Wisdom
Meditating during periods! Question: Is it ok to do meditation during periods? My doubt arose because I can feel the energy flow upwards in meditation, while the energy is said to flow downwards during periods. This is a huge topic of controversy in Kerala, India....
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 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 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 | Sep 10, 2020 | Awareness, Buddha, Buddha, Enlightenment, Karma, Karmaphalam, Masters, Present Moment, Satipathana, Self-Effort, Sensations
Buddha’s Legendary Enlightenment Question: Why is Buddha’s enlightenment considered legendary. Are there categories in enlightenment? Answer: Transcription: JGD. The question is: Why is Buddha’s enlightenment considered legendary. Are there categories in...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 3, 2020 | 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 = [Internal...
by Gnyana Sangha | Sep 1, 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
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 | 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 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 20, 2020 | Awareness, Body, Bondage, Causation, Craving, Death, Fear, Fear, Freedom, General Spiritual, I, Maya, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Relationship, Samsara, Seeking, Seeking, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Senses, Vedic
Birthday Message! Question: JGD didi, many happy returns of the day. Please could you give us a message on your birthday about how to celebrate a birthday. Answer: Life is a school. We all are here to learn some lessons. There are several classrooms:...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 9, 2020 | Buddha, Courage, Desire, Maaya, Misery, Temporary
Desires put you in a catch 22 situation! Question: How does one deal with desires? Whereas some desires may be frivolous like clothes, jewelry, material things and others seem to be existential like taking an extra leadership role at work or leading a volunteering...
by Gnyana Sangha | Aug 6, 2020 | Attachment, Flow with Life, Happiness, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, No-Mind, Senses, Silence, Temporary
Real Joy V/s Fake Joy Question: How do you differentiate real joy and fake joy? How can we find the enjoyment is real and not fake one? Answer: Hello dear, that’s a real deep question. The joy that comes from the objects of senses is temporary. Hence it is not real...
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 | 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 26, 2020 | Buddha, Buddha, Courage, Emotions, Mind, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Self- Realization, Sensations, Thoughts
Churning in the fire of insults/criticism? Burn! Question: JGD Ekta Didi,Lately I have been inundated with thoughts of intimidating people in my family. My mind rewinds and plays the incident and cajoles me to react. While I was in this war in my mind, I realized that...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 20, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, Breath, Buddha, Meditation, Prana, Pranayama, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence, Thoughts
Silence the thoughts skillfully Question:Ekta ji, Jai Guru Dev ! What is the power of thought, how much importance should I attach to it, can I dismiss all the thoughts that spring up, life (mundane chores) runs on Thoughts, so called actions spring out of thoughts,...
by Gnyana Sangha | 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...
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 | Jul 14, 2020 | Advaita, Buddha, Emptiness, Equanimous, I, Independent Spirituality, Let go, Meditation, No-Mind, Paths, Ramana Maharshi, Samadhi, Silence
Difference between ‘I am THIS’ & ‘I am’ per Buddha’s path Question: Dear Ekta di: It would be of great benefit if you could please help with the following: Book: Samyutta Nikaya sutta number 22.89 (7) Khemaka- Pg 944 (middle...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jul 12, 2020 | Advaita, Advaita, Ignorance, Life, Mind, Paths, Silence
Why does the waking state seem to be the bigger state when it is actually the reverse? Dear Sincere seeker, Please find the short video clip and its transcript below for the answer to the question, ‘Why does the waking state seem to be the bigger state when it...
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | 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....
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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jun 21, 2020 | Breath, Chanting, Emotions, General Spiritual, Guru, Kriya, Meditation, Mind, Paths, Pranayama, Ramana Maharshi, Silence
Mental Health and Spirituality Question: Dear Ektaji, my sister, suffering from bipolar disorder has done Vipassana, AOL basic, and silence course. She told Guruji that she can’t do the kriya and meditation and he advised her to do ‘Om Nama Shivaya’...
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 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 | Jun 2, 2020 | Aversion, Awareness, Awareness, Birth, Buddha, Craving, Death, Just Be, Mind, Moksha, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samadhi, Self, Space-Time, Time-past/present/Future
Time does not exist! Question: As you said, we will be born again and again until we attain moksha from the cycle of birth and death. How to understand the paradigm of time here i.e. after this life, can I be born back in time? Does time exist really? If no, then...
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 14, 2020 | Commitment, Courage, Emotions, General Spiritual, Life, Maaya, Maya, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
Did you miss the boat? 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 Bhaav) and as an outsider...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 30, 2020 | Aversion, Awareness, Awareness, Independent Spirituality, Meditation, Present Moment, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness
How to apply Sakshi Bhav in everyday life ? Question: I often try (or at least do it when I am aware) to be a sakshi of whatever I am doing. This is easier in meditation but difficult when I not meditating. How do I practice this with my eyes open when I am in vyavhar...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 28, 2020 | Anger, Ashtavakra Gita, Attraction, Awareness, Awareness, Buddha, Commitment, Compassion, Craving, Dhyana, Emotions, Fear, Gnyana, Mind, Mindfulness, Purushartha, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Relationship, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Seeking, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Tapas
Are you a SAKSHI ? Question: When the storm of emotions hit (it did yesterday LOL) I kept reminding myself to “watch for it”. The emotion was anger and disappointment but when it was surging the high wasn’t under control. I was constantly reminding myself that the...
by Gnyana Sangha | Apr 24, 2020 | Awareness, General Spiritual, Intellect, Just Be, Maaya, Mind, No-Mind, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Silence
Being Aware! Question:Dear Ekta Didi, I observe a habit of talking to myself. I try hard not to speak, but I can’t stop it and then I join the conversation again! I have experienced a state of not talking to myself and just being, but I find it a very new thing and...
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 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 5, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Awareness, Bhakti Sutra, Consciousness, Emotions, 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 | Mar 29, 2020 | Aagami, Anger, Aversion, Courage, Emotions, General Spiritual, Jealousy, Karma, Karmaphalam, Love/Hate, Mind, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction
Wrong Karma or Right Karma? Question:Didi – in everyday life situations if I start to ask myself ‘why am I put into this situation?’ and be with awareness and observe without attachments & listen to the inner voice – will I find the answer? ( trying to understand...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 28, 2020 | Ashtavakra Gita, Buddha, I, Karma, Maaya, Maya, Non-Doership, Purushartha, Purushartha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Self-Effort, Service, Seva, Vedic, Yoga Vasistha
The Ball is Rolling ! Question: We have mentioned before that through meditation and seva we are able to get rid of some of the karmas in our bags, however, knowing that I am not the doer and no matter what I do the ball will keep rolling, how do those 2 thoughts work...
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 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 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 | Feb 11, 2020 | Awareness, Conscious, Expectations, Fear, General Spiritual, Impressions, Karma, Karmaphalam, Kriya, Sub-conscious
How to work on erasing past patterns? Question: JGD Ekta di, we acquire certain belief systems and patterns from our past birth as a result of Sanchita karma and these are strong impressions embedded in us that makes us act and react in a certain manner. The objective...
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 13, 2020 | Awareness, Awareness, Body, Breath, Buddha, Fear, Impressions, Just Be, Meditation, Memory, Physical, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Satipathana, Sensations, Senses, Thoughts
Shivering during meditation, is it normal? Question: Yesterday, when I was meditating, I could only do three rounds of body observation but I felt I was aware the whole time and I felt for the first time I am doing it as you had explained, I was feeling all my body...
by Gnyana Sangha | Jan 9, 2020 | Compassion, Courage, Dispassion, Ego, Flow with Life, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Paths, Personality, Present Moment, Relationship, Vairagya
Dispassion or Ego? Question: Is it important for the outside world to accept my change in personality/ my growing dispassion? I don’t care about or see the outside world and when an ego of an external person/world comes up, I concentrate to focus on myself and the...
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 | Mar 11, 2019 | Aversion, Birth, Choicelessness, Death, Desire, Dispassion, Enlightenment, Equanimous, Independent Spirituality, Just Be, Liberation, Meditation, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Samadhi, Self- Realization, Silence
How to make sure not to be born again? Question:How to make sure not to be born again? How to stop the cyclical nonsense of birth and death?Answer:That’s an invaluable question, dear. But, It does not have a straight answer. There is NO way to ensure not to be born...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 10, 2019 | Awareness, Flow with Life, General Spiritual, Knowledge, Meditation, Mind, Silence
This meditation? Or that technique? Question:Sometimes I want to do this type of meditation, sometimes I want to do another type of technique? Is it okay to change or should I do both?Answer:Recognize the flow and move with that. What does the flow mean? Just like...
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 8, 2019 | Breath, General Spiritual, Just Be, Let go, Meditation, Mind, Senses, Silence, Surrender
Unclothe the Emperor! Question: When I close my eyes and sit for meditation then the mind is very chatty and wants to pass judgement but as soon as I open my eyes, the chattering mind stops. In other words, why is the mind more cluttered inside as compared to outside...
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 8, 2019 | Awareness, Commitment, General Spiritual, Just Be, Samsara, Self-Effort
Results for "unhook" Question:I am trying to be in awareness more & more – big problem- if I am silent, awareness is still. The moment I open my mouth, it’s gone along with the awareness. Even if someone else comes, I feel I lose the awareness even when...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 7, 2019 | Awareness, Meditation, Patanjali Yogs Sutra, Present Moment, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Scriptures, Vedic
What is Open Eye Meditation? Question: In the Patanjali Yogasutra Chapter 1 we talked about the 5 different modulations of the mind. And when our mind is not occupied in these 5 modulations it is at that moment we are meditating. Well then aren’t we all...
by Gnyana Sangha | Mar 6, 2019 | Awareness, Chanting, Karma, Kriya, Let go, Meditation, Mind, Pranayama, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sakshi Bhav/Witness, Sanchita, Self- Realization, Thoughts, Types of Karma, Vedic, Wisdom
How do we stop negative thoughts at unpleasant moments? Question:I agree and have experienced that daily regular sadhana, pranayama, meditation, chanting helps to bring awareness and stay focused. However, there are times when we go through unpleasant moments how do...
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 27, 2019 | Abortion, Attachment, Birth, Death, Ego, Emotions, Feverishness, Just Be, Karma, Let go, Pregnancy, Present Moment, Purushartha, Purushartha, Raaga/Dvesha, Reaction
Abortion Karma Question:Dear Ektaji, I just keep wondering about karmas. About 9 years ago we took medicine to end my pregnancy. I was completely against it but my husband said it is his responsibility & his karma. This action never really pinched me as I felt I...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 20, 2019 | Alcohol, Ashtavakra Gita, Commitment, Emotions, Happiness, Hurt, Karma, Karmaphalam, Knowledge, Let go, Life, Love/Hate, Marriage, Meditation, Memory, Mind, Misery, Pleasure/Pain, Present Moment, Problem/Struggle/Calamity, Purushartha, Scriptures, Self-Effort, Self-Effort, Spouse, Suffering, Temporary, Thoughts, Vedic
Karma and its ways Question:My husband is an alcoholic all he does is work and sleep alone. there is practically no interaction or no marriage between us. I feel extremely lonely and very depressed at home.What should I do to come out of this loneliness and depressed...
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
Have a ‘Pure’ Guru Poornima! 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...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 16, 2019 | Courage, General Spiritual, Guilt, Guru, Infidelity, Karma, Marriage, Raaga/Dvesha, Raaga/Dvesha, Sankalpa/Intention, Self-Effort, Sex/Passion/Celibacy, Surrender, Surrender
How to get over the guilt of Infidelity? Question:How to work on maintaining internal purity when I know that I have become impure by stepping out of my marriage? How to get over the guilt of Infidelity?Answer:Everything that happens to us is because of our own Karma...
by Gnyana Sangha | Feb 15, 2019 | Ego, Emptiness, Gossip, Impressions, Karma, Mind, Sankalpa/Intention, Silence, Vedic
Hollow and Empty! Question:Dear Ektaji, referring to “I am hollow and empty” – does this mean if I remind myself that I am nothing, I will automatically modify my speech and eventually it will become pure?Answer:“I am hollow and empty” is a meditation that we do in...
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 | Jun 10, 2018 | Children, Destiny, Equanimous, Flow with Life, Illusion, Just Be, Karma, Karmaphalam, Marriage, Samsara, Self-Effort, Spouse, Tapas, Temporary, Vedic
Destiny Question:My spouse left home 10 years ago saying will be back in 15 minutes but even today I have no clue if alive or not. Only the vehicle was found but not the body. We have one son. After that incident, I was totally devastated. Why did this happen to me?...
