Gangaji
Beloved Gangaji. Gangaji is the best of teachers and the worst of teachers—the worst because she can be the best and in some moments disappoints. :) Sometimes I give her an A+, sometimes an A-.
At times, Gangaji speaks truth in such simple words that there is no confusion possible. At other times, she couches truth in language that screams for misinterpretation: "divine", "radiance", "bliss of beingness", "like a thunderbolt".
The poetry of these words may bring thrill and fire to the quest. But this same poetry can also keep people forever looking for "radiance" and "divine"—for experiences. And that is the opposite of Gangaji's true message.
On the path I didn't "get" Gangaji. After Dolano, I hear Gangaji differently. I hear truth. And Gangaji presents new "investigations" which are important to complete the liberation of the mind after one has come to know "who am I" without doubt.
I am now listening to Gangaji tapes with immense gratitude. Someone gave me a large collection of tapes. I am going through them "scientifically", pausing the tape often and asking "Is it true? Is it true?"
Thank you Gangaji. You are doing an incredible job: to wake people up. Who would want that job? What a difficult job that must be! And you are doing it with such a delicate touch, speaking to each according to their needs.
Why I could not hear Gangaji
On the path, I didn't pay much attention to Gangaji. After watching three videos of her satsangs, I decided to give her the miss. I just wasn't attracted. "Not my cup of tea," I may have said.In the interest of "connecting" with seekers who do not now feel attracted to Gangaji, I share why Gangaji didn't "talk to me" on the path. There's nothing wrong with that. In retrospect, it is rather funny.
On the path we have ideas of what an enlightened person should look like. For me, Gangaji wasn't it. Coming from Osho's colorfulness and intellectual brilliance, I was bound to find Gangaji relatively grey and dull. And from what I could tell on the videos, the vibe at Gangaji's satsangs just wasn't my vibe. Seeing all these grinning people, I remembered how, in a Brandon Bays book, someone had described the Gangaji crowd: "bliss ninnies"! :)
Gangaji Before or After Dolano?
Both.Gangaji is great before Dolano if you're lucky to click with her satsangs (which wasn't my case). Gangaji is great preparation for intensive satsang. In some ways, Dolano is like a laser-focused, super-structured, no-bullshit Gangaji for people who are ready. Then there is more.
And as I have explained above, Gangaji is wonderful after Dolano. Not immediately after—for me, some months needed to pass.
Comments
In this section, I plan to write a few comments about certain phrases in the tapes I listen to."Simply see the radiant bounty of your true nature." (The Diamond in Your Pocket, "The last place you thought to look" @ 02:30). Poetic. If you take this statement seriously, now you may start looking for a "radiant bounty"! And during a meditation or in a "special moment", you may very well have an experience of a radiant bounty. But this won't help, because the experience will go as soon as it came. And if no such experience comes, you may start to worry that you can find neither radiation nor bounty! And this could keep you on the path another 20 years. :)
November 2009. Going on the road, no time to continue now, but plan do so in the future.
Smiles,
Andy
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