The spiritual teacher, Gangaji, will be visiting Asheville in September. Sat with this lady a couple of times out west. Very sweet and inspirational. See comments made by one of our locals by a man who claims to have had an awakening in her presence.
Gangaji – and a little about Isaac Shapiro
Sarlo: may I give you my personal experiences with some of the PapaJi Advaita teachers? By virtue of living in Northern California, I am able to see just able everyone who comes through the Bay Area. I have spent a lot of time with Arjuna Nick Ardagh as he lives close by in Nevada City. I have also sat with Mira, PapaJi’s long time devotee and romantic interest; Hanuman; Vartman; Neelam; GangaJi; and Isaac Shapiro.
Although I benefitted from interacting with them all, it is the later two that I champion the most. GangaJi is the sweetest, most powerful teacher. I consider her my main teacher. I have spent a lot of time with her in public satsangs, semi-private meetings, and week long silent retreats. She is of the highest integrity. Virtually every word I have heard her utter in satsang has the special, deep meaning of an Awakened Master, one who is a direct mouthpiece for the Beloved Friend. The Presence at her gatherings, and surrounding her mortal body, is Silent Peace itself.
I had an extraordinary ‘experience’ of Open Awareness the first time I met her. It was Dec 1997. I had seen one of her videos and was immediately attracted. I had lost some heart in the TM Siddhi program I had been doing for 23 years (why wasn’t I enlightened yet, why is Maharishi always needing money for a new project?). My brother had died of cancer at an early age and I had even started drinking over it. I was in a real life crisis.
The morning of satsang day I awoke in an irritable mood with lots of physical discomforts. It was such a bad day I almost didn’t go. When I arrived at the satsang venue I was beset with self-criticism and a bad case of ‘cranking mind’. I entered the hall, sat quietly will 250 others and awaited her entry.
She came and we all meditated. At first my mind raced even more than earlier. Then it happened...so unexpectedly. Everything STOPPED. No mind, no ego, no body, only I AM. Time and space disappeared. ‘I’ was so FREE, I never wanted to open the eyes again. Nothing was desired, nothing was needed. At some point she began to speak, with a rare, soft, sweet power to her voice. I opened my eyes and sat mezmerized by her every syllable for the next hour. I had had ‘experiences’ of Self in TM, but nothing as dramatic and unmistakeable as this.
The Bliss Kiss ended in a few days and ‘crap’ appeared in experience again, and still does. But my association with her the last 4 years has been so special to me. She has guided me Spiritually deeper and deeper into the True Nature. Now when unpleasantness is happening in the present moment, I am more successful at not resisting, and keyed to sink deeper into Self. I am eternally grateful to her. If you get a chance to see her sometime, it is well worth your time. Even if she isn’t your True Teacher, the interaction with the One Heart of the entire room is so wonderful.
I have really rattled on here, but I must mention Isaac very briefly. I just finished seeing him in Berkeley. My 3rd set of satsangs with him. His essence is so sweet...Kapha Enneagram 9...unflappably loving and Present. He is so surrendered to, and dedicated to What Is. He is so inspiring.
It’s good that you have GangaJi at 3 units, at least. She is definitely a cut above. But I really would like to see her at 4 units or higher. She is the real thing, the whole thing. And she has a delivery that is very appealing to a wide audience. She is at the vanguard of what I think is a new wave of Awakening. Plus, Isaac deserves at least 3 units.
Well Sarlo, I just wanted to give you a personal report of my experiences. Keep up the good work with your site. I read you and Nonduality Salon very often. Thank you for the website.
Namaste, Cullen Anderson
Taoist Internal Cultivation focuses on the accumulation of a connection with Tao. People think of this as accumulating some type of energy, qi or power but the closest description is to cultivate openness and emptiness.
The more empty the mind and body become the more ‘room’ there is for a connection to Tao to be accumulated.
Great Taoist masters are able to achieve such a high degree of emptiness in both body and mind that they are able to accomplish anything they wish if they choose to ‘switch Tao on’. This is because the level of emptiness achieved is directly related to the power of Tao that can be used.
A master may live as a recluse in a hut yet have the potential to control a whole nation if he chooses to ‘flick the switch’ and access the powerful connection with Tao that he has created throughout years of dedicated practice.
Taoist Internal Cultivation focuses on the accumulation of a connection with Tao. People think of this as accumulating some type of energy, qi or power but the closest description is to cultivate openness and emptiness.
The more empty the mind and body become the more ‘room’ there is for a connection to Tao to be accumulated.
Great Taoist masters are able to achieve such a high degree of emptiness in both body and mind that they are able to accomplish anything they wish if they choose to ‘switch Tao on’. This is because the level of emptiness achieved is directly related to the power of Tao that can be used.
A master may live as a recluse in a hut yet have the potential to control a whole nation if he chooses to ‘flick the switch’ and access the powerful connection with Tao that he has created throughout years of dedicated practice.
Taoist Internal Cultivation focuses on the accumulation of a connection with Tao. People think of this as accumulating some type of energy, qi or power but the closest description is to cultivate openness and emptiness.
The more empty the mind and body become the more ‘room’ there is for a connection to Tao to be accumulated.
Great Taoist masters are able to achieve such a high degree of emptiness in both body and mind that they are able to accomplish anything they wish if they choose to ‘switch Tao on’. This is because the level of emptiness achieved is directly related to the power of Tao that can be used.
A master may live as a recluse in a hut yet have the potential to control a whole nation if he chooses to ‘flick the switch’ and access the powerful connection with Tao that he has created throughout years of dedicated practice.
I’ve seen this used by people to get women to sleep with them. (not me) It’s funny how well they can quote it:)
Consciousness tends to eliminate the sex drive. while enlightened ones do not lose the capacity, they live in a state of bliss that is only hinted at in the orgasm. In a word, they are perpetually orgasmic. Brrrrrr! can’t wait.
I’ve seen this used by people to get women to sleep with them. (not me) It’s funny how well they can quote it:)
You saw the movie The Tao of Steve. Good flick. However, I’m not in it for sex. I’m in it for the spiritual aspects. Like TomH says when you detach from the ego sex is not even close to the primary motivator.
‘emptiness’ of mind is a state many folk in these parts have already achieved.
this is not necessarily nirvana.
Ralph true, but are you confusing void with emptiness.
This is an error frequently made by the many who are not familiar with the eastern concept of enlightenment. The term No Mind is often applied. It means, in essence, that there are no thoughts clouding the consciousness. I’ve only rarely achieved this state and mostly during and after doing “breath work”. It is quite amazing to simply be a aware of all things seen and heard without comment from the mind. Too bad the method doesn’t make it permanent but none do, I have heard.
… not familiar with the eastern concept of enlightenment…
I’m familiar with it, just disagree.
I continue the process filling my mind rather than emptying it. I could write several books using the benefits of this philosophy and make a goodly sum of money thereby.
… not familiar with the eastern concept of enlightenment…
I’m familiar with it, just disagree.
I continue the process filling my mind rather than emptying it. I could write several books using the benefits of this philosophy and make a goodly sum of money thereby.
Oh, wait, I already have! ;-)
You misunderstand, emptying the mind does not signify erasing all knowledge. You’ve certainly noted that your mind is a none stop chatter box. Meditation only quiets the din. Ever been tearing down the pike at 70 and suddenly realize you’ve been elsewhere but behind the wheel? Scary, but it illustrates that the average man, may without being aware, stop thinking. This is what attracts men to risky activities. In a NASCAR at 190mph you have no time to think at all. You are in a state of perfect awareness or you could be dead soon.
In word, a totally aware (enlightened) individual will be better at everything including DRIVING and using the mind for creative purposes. He is, in essence, in control of the mind whereas most of us most of the time, are controlled by it.
ummm… well, here at the publishing company, we certainly have plenty of writers submitting works in which their brain was not used.
Not applicable. One who has transcended mind has only escaped from it’s grasp in is far more in command of his thinking and connected to the creative process than normal men will be. I have heard that no less an intellect than Socrates and Pythagoras were both enlightened.
