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You Are That! Satsang With Gangaji, Volume 1

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This is a great book in which the message truly reflects its title. The teacher, Gangaji, relentlessly points to That all pervading consciousness, which we truly are, in every dialogue. There is a great skill in this pointing and reminding, making every piece of conversation very helpful.

This makes a very special reading for all the followers of Advaita Vedanta emphasizing the positive sense of one and only one `I' and leaving aside any false notion, and importance assigned to the restricted view of individual self or me.

The next two quotes show the clarity of description of the problem.

Page 6:

"Who you imagine yourself to be is annihilated by the revelation of freedom. You, as you have known yourself to be, are no more. You, as you have imagined yourself to be, are revealed to be nonexistent. There remains only the unimaginable truth of who you are."

Page 8:

"Die to everything you have ever known about who you are. Die to the habit of following any thought that defines who you are."

The following references present how and where to look for a solution.

Page 27:

"You are the constant. In either limited awareness or unlimited awareness, awareness is always present, and awareness is all you are."

Page 10:

"You are intelligence itself. You are clarity itself. Relax and allow that to reveal itself. Allow clarity to surprisingly reveal itself, with no thought of how it should reveal itself, or what the revelation will be when it does reveal itself."

"If you don't overlook for a moment that which is before, during, and after all mind activity, unnecessary suffering is finished."

Page 36"

" People overlook everlasting beauty because they desire to be somewhere different; somewhere they imagine circumstances to be better. Stop where you are and check."

Page 41:

"To immediately discover the truth, let go of every technique to get to truth. Whether it is peace of mind you want, or full, total realization of truth of your being, let go of every concept that you are not truth. Let go of every concept that you have to do some thing to get to truth, to realize truth. Let go of every concept of who you are, period, and see."

Page 45:
"The habit of seeking yourself in categories and particularizations must be put aside."

"Stop searching in your memory and recognize what has been here all the time."

Page 54:

"Find awareness and you find permanence. How do you find awareness ? By giving up the search for awareness as a thing, an object."

Page 58:

"What a secret! No mind can comprehend this secret."

Page 66:

"Stay here. Let stillness dissolve belief in any substantiality of independent existence."

Page 70:

"The ego is simply a thought based on the assumption that you are a particular body, and this is a lie. All assumptions that follow and follow and support initial, mistaken assumption are therefore also lies.

Let go of the practice of trying to hold the body together, of thinking your reality. This is the beginning. What is then revealed is so secret that it cannot be spoken. If it is spoken, it is already a distortion of truth."

Page 73:

"Is being really a dissolving ?"

"Yes. A dissolving of all thoughts, all concepts. A dissolving of all ideas of who you are, or who you might be someday, or who you should be, or who you hope you can be."

Here are a few tips on stillness:

Page 75:

"Stillness is, and being quiet is recognizing what is always still, regardless of events or commentary on events. Even what appears to be noise appears in silence. Return to that. Be there."

Page 76:

"The challenge is then to recognize that stillness is always present. Simply check by turning your mind inward rather than pursuing its outward flow. Relax, rather than efforting to stop the mind's outward flow. Rest your mind."

Similarly there are powerful words on right orientation to relationships in the chapter titled, `The Heart of Relationships'. The chapter on `Depth of Simplicity', and `Facing the Fear of Death', address our core issues and invite us to see the Truth and accept it and be free.

The chapter titled `True Meaning of Vigilance' is very special.

Finally, the quote on page 172:

"Jesus is reported as having said, "If you know how to suffer, you do not suffer".

How to suffer ? By willingly, completely, and unsentimentally asking, Who is suffering ?"

conveys the core message of the book.

When Gangaji writes, "You are already free," I recognize something deep within me that knows the truth. I take a deep breath and release it. This is the profound experience of these teachings from a remarkable woman whose realization of her true self was confirmed by the master, Poonjaji, a student of Ramana Maharshi. Reading this book is not just an interesting intellectual exercise but a profound experience of insight and realization. Gangaji teaches us how to meet ourselves in each moment and shows us a path to the direct realization of truth. If you want truth, above all else, read this book.

For all, who are ready to truly explore and embrace Self and Truth, I recommend any of Gangaji's books or videos. These are tremendously helpful and insightful tools to cut through the veils of illusion and confusion. Gangaji's guidance is quite straight to the point, yet she exudes compassion and joy. And, to hear it and see exemplified by a Westerner, might be an extra bonus for the ones, who feel intimidated by Eastern teachers. Self-realization and enlightenment in this lifetime is not just for a selected few. Enjoy your journey from Self to Self!

"You Are That Volume 1" is an excellent choice for those who want to become more familiar with what Gangaji speaks about. When I first discovered Gangaji 3 years ago on public access television, my curiosity prompted me to buy this book. At that point, I considered my spiritual search over. Gangaji confirmed what I had already "known" (not in the intellectual sense) about the truth of my existence. Rather than offer more tired spiritual jargon or more concepts that need to be learned, "You Are That" has helped to deepen my discovery of Self. This book is truly a blessing from God!

This book, among other publications of Gangaji, may represent the most important spiritual teachings of our time. Not everyone may be ready to realize the truth that she speaks, but few if any make it as accessable as she. So if you are ready for the leap or the shove, the end of seeking, the beginning of being, read this book, find out about Gangaji...

This is an excellent book for those of you who listen to Gangaji. But I must say that I enjoy her dvds more. When you watch the dvds you get the full impact of what she is saying. You can understand her message in the book, but that understanding is even clearer when you listen to her speak. I have 5 of her dvds and they are sooooo awesome! I recommend the dvds over the books. :)