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Who Are You?: The Path of Self-Inquiry
Investigate the Infinite beyond DeathIn the search for truth, there is only one question that needs to be answered: Who am I? This inquiry into the self is the core of advaita vedanta (radical nondualism) a timeless teaching for breaking free of mental bonds and reclaiming your true identity: the Infinite that is beyond death. On Who Are You? American-born spiritual teacher Gangaji spells out the bedrock principles of self-inquiry a cluster of no-nonsense concepts that reveal how to effortlessly step outside limited psychological conditioning and mental constructs into the freedom, expansiveness, and peace of your own true nature.
Runtime: 2 hours and 21 minutes
Runtime: 2 hours and 21 minutes
- GenresSpirituality
3 pages, Audio CD
First published November 1, 1996
4 people are currently reading
39 people want to read
About the author
Gangaji
60 books94 followersGangaji is an American born spiritual teacher and author. She lives in Ashland, Oregon, with her husband, fellow spiritual teacher Eli Jaxon-Bear.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 24, 2018
This audio is in the form of a satsang, or one-on-one type lecture by Gangaji. There doesn't seem to be any structure or form to the talk, and topics range all over the shop from impermanence to spiritual practice to psychology. Her voice is calming and very smooth. The narration is great. The content is very similar to Eckhart Tolle type talks. It would suit the masses and those new to the path. On the other hand, there's a danger that newbies will pick up on ideas such as "Stop all techniques" and stop seeking etc., and thus give up the search or spiritual path altogether, claiming their new 'enlightenment' and then sharing it with others. There's very little here on the topic of self-inquiry proper. In fact, any spiritual aspirant could have given a lecture on a massive host of topics and them entitled it 'self-inquiry' in the same spirit. However, the particular meaning of 'self-inquiry' within Advaita (which Gangaji professes to teach) is vastly more complex than the generalities given here, which really just service to whet the intellect's appetite, and possibly offer some comforting words and feelings giving a temporary lift. There's no real inquiry into the self, "I", or any other pressing investigation undertaken here.
This will suit some seekers who may need some respite at their current pit-stop. It likely won't satisfy more ardent seekers in search for the 'real deal' in ending the dream of the false self.
This will suit some seekers who may need some respite at their current pit-stop. It likely won't satisfy more ardent seekers in search for the 'real deal' in ending the dream of the false self.
November 18, 2023
We are by nature Seekers, but what are we seeking? According to Gangaji in her audiobook debut of “Who are you? The Path of Self-Inquiry” we are seeking truth, and I feel that she is on to something. The big question is: "Who are you?" This philosophical belief in her own inquiry has led her on a spiritual journey. She takes us through her own inner workings to discover what she would define as truth based on stepping away from what we think we want and what is the truth within ourselves, encouraging us to take a grand pause, become aware of our internal process and look within, asking again, "Who am I?"
[Note: This is a very quick audio book of about 2 hours in total.]
We all have wants and needs, and the concept is that what we really want and what it will give us may not be the truth or heart of the matter. I agree that we tend to place a lot of our happiness outside of ourselves. When we are unhappy, many of us will spend time distracting ourselves from what we should be placing that focus on, that is asking to be addressed and seeking ways to fill ourselves up with superficial joy. Are we chasing happiness or are we denying the truth of our nature? Although, there are times, especially when experiencing deep levels of trauma, where distraction is going to help us move into a more calming space, and take us out of the stress, but that is not a long-term solution.
Does that then mean that we must always seek the greater meaning that exists underneath what we want or feel that we need outside of the basic requirements for survival? (Reference: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) Sometimes a carrot is simply a carrot, but I agree that there is a deeper context to what she is proposing here. Like in a recent discussion with HeatherAsh Amara in her Seasons of Self teachings, a cookie isn’t just a cookie.
When Gangaji's spiritual teacher tells her to "do nothing", I feel that this can be confusing for those of us that are working through trauma or exploring our own spirituality and/or belief systems that are meant to help us work through those experiences. For many of us facing trauma or deep depression, stillness can do more harm than good, therefore, it is advisable to do what is right for you in the moment, and not to mimic another's teachings unless they resonate with you and your own process in healing. If you are curious about exploring “do nothing”, perhaps instead begin with becoming comfortable with what it means to explore stillness from a container of mindfulness. This must begin slowly, and as an act of nourishment.
I really enjoyed Shinzen Young’s teachings on maneuvering “do nothing” as instead, choiceless awareness. [Google his YouTube video where he explains this concept.] I am unable to add it to the content here due to restricted settings on his video.] This explains the concept in an approachable and less intimidating way. He teaches some of the simplest techniques of creating a gentle foundation of moving into that awareness based on where you are. He is proposing a way of helping us navigate and walk with trauma on our own level, and this is a beautiful teaching. I have a great respect for the point that Gangaji is trying to convey in a short amount of time in her audio lecture, but again, for those of us facing overwhelm, high-impact stress, trauma, PTSD, et cetera, we must acknowledge that she was ready to explore that stillness from what I like to refer to as an uncompromised mental state. What does that mean?
Gangaji felt comfortable enough to go deep into the quieting of her own mind, to explore and challenge her level of stillness, and placing a greater awareness of faith and trust that she is safe. For those facing trauma, it can be difficult to feel safe in our own skin to trust our surroundings. Trauma brain is perhaps one of the most difficult terrains to navigate. Gangaji was ready to fully release old stories and/or belief systems, to shed the lining of her old life and the structured internal foundation that she had lived by for most of her life, and she entered a rebirthing process unattached to old stories. This is very similar to what I have been taught in the Toltec teachings. There is a lot to be said for the stage of preparedness, to be "ready" to witness our old stories before we can begin the process of releasing them to enter the next cycle, what she refers to as freedom arrives from releasing those old attachments.
She explores and talks about Satsang and acknowledges that is not psychotherapy in a video on her YouTube channel, but I felt that the audio book should have began with a disclaimer on what it is and what it is not for that follow her teachings. While there is encouragement to seek out help for those deep woundings and she personally recommends utilizing psychotherapy to help assist in healing and recovery (in the video listed below), she states that “…Satsang is not a conversation about your problem,” but here is the thing, when we relate to something, we begin the conversation internally about our problem or about whatever it is that we are experiencing in life and how we relate to those teachings based on our own human experience. She understands this aspect of it as well, and even admits to it in her video, but what she is saying is that her teachings are meant to guide, and not to be seen or used as therapy to cure those deep inner woundings that we carry. Any spiritual guide or teacher will tell you the same thing, and this is something they are faced with every single day. A lot of people will seek them out for support and expect them to heal or cure their problem. It is just not what is done.
I have a great deal of respect for her for bringing this discussion to the table, but I do disagree with her on one point. When she says that “…you are looking for support in your problem and there is no support there and that is ruthless”, what is exactly is the truth here? I know for a fact that the power of self-inquiry is powerful form self-therapy that taps into not only self-actualization but self-realization. We cannot enter a conversation, period, without some form of bias. It just doesn’t happen that way. When we choose to sit in circle, salon or Satsang with another, we practice the art of empathic listening, but it also means that we must learn the art of stalking yourself, which you learn about in the Toltec teachings. You become aware of your story and learn how to navigate and look at what is true in that moment. When we are shut down, we don’t have the capacity to see that we are stuck (chasing happiness) and we are unable to hear the teachings and create change in our own lives by applying them in our own life, until we are ready. When we are ready, we have the capacity to unfurl our petals, to be open and explore another’s point of view. We can do something amazing. We can move forward with empathic understanding and compassion that can embrace more than one point of view. We learn how to become flexible.
Satsang, like other belief systems, can bring a great deal of support to the table. It depends on the willingness and patience of the teacher (which she agrees that she does not have much patience) and to the degree of where the individual resides within their own personal process. If an individual is stuck within trauma cycles, then of course, the overwhelm of integrating anything else can be overbearing and cause more challenges than when we are open and reflective. I know from experience it is all too easy to get triggered and caught in a trauma loop, but I also know from experience, it is even harder to get out of it.
The consideration is that an individual experiencing trauma, severe depression, and/or anxiety or related conditions must regain the balance between their sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system before they will be able to navigate healing and recognize the level of internal supports that are available by utilizing the power of inquiry. The other issue that exists on this level is to the degree of what they have been taught in terms of utilizing tools for coping, and their childhood experiences that may or may not link one trauma event to another. Like I said before, a cookie isn’t just a cookie. While I do not personally follow her teachings, I do, however, respect her views, and understand what she is trying to say in small bite size pockets of time, but perhaps it should be acknowledged with a disclaimer for those experiencing trauma, PTSD, severe depression and/or related issues that this method or philosophy is not an anchor.
What I took away from this, is that we are asked to tune in and explore who we are outside of expectations, bias, and the stories/voices we carry. This is an invitation to begin our own internal process to learn to release and let go of our own perception to expand into awareness. When we grow our awareness in all aspects of life, expansive or growth mindset, outside of our internal bias, we can see new perspectives and expand into the state of flow. In this deepening, we can work through that process of releasing what no longer serves us and move into the process of shedding those layers. There is no clear direction on how a student should proceed, and I believe this is where many people will become lost in the dynamics of working with philosophical settings that are meant to engage but not cure, but that is what Satsang is. It begins the inquiry and it’s up to you on where to take it next.
I love the concept that everything is inquiry and a revealing of self. This includes our pain, our joy, and everything in-between. I like to think of it beyond the simple aspect of inquiry. With inquiry comes the expansive opportunity to expand. I would like to believe that this is what Gangaji is implying in the philosophy that she is teaching, that we explore the power of self-inquiry, and that by studying her own journey, we may begin to explore our inner process, and become a seeker of the teacher that exists within.
Inquiry: What does self-actualization mean to you? Are you moving towards distraction or your fullest potential? How does this apply to your own process of Self-Realization?
YouTube References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xcL4...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqo5...
[Note: This is a very quick audio book of about 2 hours in total.]
We all have wants and needs, and the concept is that what we really want and what it will give us may not be the truth or heart of the matter. I agree that we tend to place a lot of our happiness outside of ourselves. When we are unhappy, many of us will spend time distracting ourselves from what we should be placing that focus on, that is asking to be addressed and seeking ways to fill ourselves up with superficial joy. Are we chasing happiness or are we denying the truth of our nature? Although, there are times, especially when experiencing deep levels of trauma, where distraction is going to help us move into a more calming space, and take us out of the stress, but that is not a long-term solution.
Does that then mean that we must always seek the greater meaning that exists underneath what we want or feel that we need outside of the basic requirements for survival? (Reference: Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs) Sometimes a carrot is simply a carrot, but I agree that there is a deeper context to what she is proposing here. Like in a recent discussion with HeatherAsh Amara in her Seasons of Self teachings, a cookie isn’t just a cookie.
When Gangaji's spiritual teacher tells her to "do nothing", I feel that this can be confusing for those of us that are working through trauma or exploring our own spirituality and/or belief systems that are meant to help us work through those experiences. For many of us facing trauma or deep depression, stillness can do more harm than good, therefore, it is advisable to do what is right for you in the moment, and not to mimic another's teachings unless they resonate with you and your own process in healing. If you are curious about exploring “do nothing”, perhaps instead begin with becoming comfortable with what it means to explore stillness from a container of mindfulness. This must begin slowly, and as an act of nourishment.
I really enjoyed Shinzen Young’s teachings on maneuvering “do nothing” as instead, choiceless awareness. [Google his YouTube video where he explains this concept.] I am unable to add it to the content here due to restricted settings on his video.] This explains the concept in an approachable and less intimidating way. He teaches some of the simplest techniques of creating a gentle foundation of moving into that awareness based on where you are. He is proposing a way of helping us navigate and walk with trauma on our own level, and this is a beautiful teaching. I have a great respect for the point that Gangaji is trying to convey in a short amount of time in her audio lecture, but again, for those of us facing overwhelm, high-impact stress, trauma, PTSD, et cetera, we must acknowledge that she was ready to explore that stillness from what I like to refer to as an uncompromised mental state. What does that mean?
Gangaji felt comfortable enough to go deep into the quieting of her own mind, to explore and challenge her level of stillness, and placing a greater awareness of faith and trust that she is safe. For those facing trauma, it can be difficult to feel safe in our own skin to trust our surroundings. Trauma brain is perhaps one of the most difficult terrains to navigate. Gangaji was ready to fully release old stories and/or belief systems, to shed the lining of her old life and the structured internal foundation that she had lived by for most of her life, and she entered a rebirthing process unattached to old stories. This is very similar to what I have been taught in the Toltec teachings. There is a lot to be said for the stage of preparedness, to be "ready" to witness our old stories before we can begin the process of releasing them to enter the next cycle, what she refers to as freedom arrives from releasing those old attachments.
She explores and talks about Satsang and acknowledges that is not psychotherapy in a video on her YouTube channel, but I felt that the audio book should have began with a disclaimer on what it is and what it is not for that follow her teachings. While there is encouragement to seek out help for those deep woundings and she personally recommends utilizing psychotherapy to help assist in healing and recovery (in the video listed below), she states that “…Satsang is not a conversation about your problem,” but here is the thing, when we relate to something, we begin the conversation internally about our problem or about whatever it is that we are experiencing in life and how we relate to those teachings based on our own human experience. She understands this aspect of it as well, and even admits to it in her video, but what she is saying is that her teachings are meant to guide, and not to be seen or used as therapy to cure those deep inner woundings that we carry. Any spiritual guide or teacher will tell you the same thing, and this is something they are faced with every single day. A lot of people will seek them out for support and expect them to heal or cure their problem. It is just not what is done.
I have a great deal of respect for her for bringing this discussion to the table, but I do disagree with her on one point. When she says that “…you are looking for support in your problem and there is no support there and that is ruthless”, what is exactly is the truth here? I know for a fact that the power of self-inquiry is powerful form self-therapy that taps into not only self-actualization but self-realization. We cannot enter a conversation, period, without some form of bias. It just doesn’t happen that way. When we choose to sit in circle, salon or Satsang with another, we practice the art of empathic listening, but it also means that we must learn the art of stalking yourself, which you learn about in the Toltec teachings. You become aware of your story and learn how to navigate and look at what is true in that moment. When we are shut down, we don’t have the capacity to see that we are stuck (chasing happiness) and we are unable to hear the teachings and create change in our own lives by applying them in our own life, until we are ready. When we are ready, we have the capacity to unfurl our petals, to be open and explore another’s point of view. We can do something amazing. We can move forward with empathic understanding and compassion that can embrace more than one point of view. We learn how to become flexible.
Satsang, like other belief systems, can bring a great deal of support to the table. It depends on the willingness and patience of the teacher (which she agrees that she does not have much patience) and to the degree of where the individual resides within their own personal process. If an individual is stuck within trauma cycles, then of course, the overwhelm of integrating anything else can be overbearing and cause more challenges than when we are open and reflective. I know from experience it is all too easy to get triggered and caught in a trauma loop, but I also know from experience, it is even harder to get out of it.
The consideration is that an individual experiencing trauma, severe depression, and/or anxiety or related conditions must regain the balance between their sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system before they will be able to navigate healing and recognize the level of internal supports that are available by utilizing the power of inquiry. The other issue that exists on this level is to the degree of what they have been taught in terms of utilizing tools for coping, and their childhood experiences that may or may not link one trauma event to another. Like I said before, a cookie isn’t just a cookie. While I do not personally follow her teachings, I do, however, respect her views, and understand what she is trying to say in small bite size pockets of time, but perhaps it should be acknowledged with a disclaimer for those experiencing trauma, PTSD, severe depression and/or related issues that this method or philosophy is not an anchor.
What I took away from this, is that we are asked to tune in and explore who we are outside of expectations, bias, and the stories/voices we carry. This is an invitation to begin our own internal process to learn to release and let go of our own perception to expand into awareness. When we grow our awareness in all aspects of life, expansive or growth mindset, outside of our internal bias, we can see new perspectives and expand into the state of flow. In this deepening, we can work through that process of releasing what no longer serves us and move into the process of shedding those layers. There is no clear direction on how a student should proceed, and I believe this is where many people will become lost in the dynamics of working with philosophical settings that are meant to engage but not cure, but that is what Satsang is. It begins the inquiry and it’s up to you on where to take it next.
I love the concept that everything is inquiry and a revealing of self. This includes our pain, our joy, and everything in-between. I like to think of it beyond the simple aspect of inquiry. With inquiry comes the expansive opportunity to expand. I would like to believe that this is what Gangaji is implying in the philosophy that she is teaching, that we explore the power of self-inquiry, and that by studying her own journey, we may begin to explore our inner process, and become a seeker of the teacher that exists within.
Inquiry: What does self-actualization mean to you? Are you moving towards distraction or your fullest potential? How does this apply to your own process of Self-Realization?
YouTube References:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xcL4...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSqo5...
February 16, 2021
Wow. Just what I needed. This audiobook is for the spiritual seeker who is ready to stop spinning their wheels and surrender.
August 21, 2017
I listened to the audio CD and I was deeply moved by Gangaji's voice and inspired by the contemplations.
In this teaching, Self-Inquiry is presented as the path towards Self-Realization. Gangaji invites you to think about what you really want deep at your core and go for that directly.
I found that the audio was mostly aimed at inspiration and contemplation, not so much for an in-depth understanding of Self-Inquiry.
In this teaching, Self-Inquiry is presented as the path towards Self-Realization. Gangaji invites you to think about what you really want deep at your core and go for that directly.
I found that the audio was mostly aimed at inspiration and contemplation, not so much for an in-depth understanding of Self-Inquiry.
Currently reading
January 13, 2009truth to my ears
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July 27, 2011An interesting little audiobook. Gangaji speaks about understanding love and finding inner peace in terms of her own personal journey. Her voice is extremely calming.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews