Gangaji is a spiritual teacher and author of self improvement
books on the subject of self realization.
She teaches a technique called self inquiry to get people to
turn inwards to silence and discover the true nature of
themselves and reality.
The Life of Gangaji
Gangaji was born on June 11, 1942 in Texas. She was given the
name Merle Antoinette Roberson and was called Toni. She grew up
in Mississippi and moved to San Francisco in 1972 after getting
married and having a child. Shortly thereafter, she became
divorced and began her spiritual search.
She practiced Vipassana and Zen meditation, and took Bodhisattva
vows. She became an acupuncturist and helped at a Tibetan
Buddhist meditation center in San Francisco.
In 1989, her spiritual pursuits took her to Hawaii when she
studied with Andrew Cohen for two months. After that she
traveled to India to meet Papaji and counts that as one of the
most extraordinary events in her life. Papaji bestowed her with
the name Gangaji and asked her to teach others about her
spiritual realizations.
The Teachings of Gangaji
Gangaji teaches others through her self improvement books and
workshops.
She explains the truth of who we are can be realized once we
stop searching for it. She teaches we already have everything we
need and are already at peace, and the way to realize that is to
be still and practice self inquiry.
Self inquiry is a practice taught to her by Papaji who learned
it from the great spiritual teacher, Ramana Marharshi. It is the
practice of turning the mind inward for answers rather than
seeking answers outwardly.
The teachings of Gangaji are said to be consistent with the
Hindu philosophy of Advanta Vedanta but they are not specific to
any religion and freely offered to all spiritual seekers.
Self Improvement Books by Gangaji
• "You are That" was published
in 1995 and is available today as a book and Kindle ebook (from
Amazon.com). In this work, Gangaji encourages readers to examine
themselves and question their stories to get the truth of
reality and bypass the dramas that rob them of serenity and
spiritual growth. This is an excellent book for those who find
it difficult to process the teachings of Papaji or Ramana
Marharshi.
• "Freedom & Resolve: The Living Edge of
Surrender" was published in 1999. This is a small
book packed with wisdom that speaks to the hearts of westerners
in a way that makes it easier for them to understand eastern
teachings. In this book, she encourages readers to awaken from
the trances they believe is their lives and become free through
the practice of self inquiry.
• "Just Like You, An Autobiography"
was published in 2003. In this book, Gangaji tells the story of
her life and how she overcame adversity to achieve peace and
freedom. The book includes an autobiography, Q & A, and copies
of correspondence from her spiritual teachers. Gangaji explains
the purpose of the book is to teach readers she is just like
them and they can be just like her once they stop their stories
of suffering and embrace truth.
• "The Diamond in Your Pocket: Discovering
Your True Radiance" is one of the more popular
self improvement books by the author. It was published in 2007
and is also available as an audio book. In this book, Gangaji
teaches readers how to quiet the mind. She explains it is
impossible to find happiness by chasing it. We must become still
and discover it has existed in us all along.
• "Hidden Treasure: Uncovering the Truth in
Your Life Story" was published in 2011 and can
also be read as a Kindle ebook. In this book, Gangaji teaches
that we believe life stories that are false dramas, and once we
uncover the truth about ourselves, then we can finally reach a
state of deep peace and experience simple 'being' rather than
constantly chasing and doing.
The Work of Gangaji Today
Gangaji runs the Gangaji Foundation which was founded in 1993
and supports her work. The foundation is in Ashland, Oregon
where Gangaji lives with her husband, Eli Jaxon-Bear, also a
spiritual teacher.
Her mission is to spread the teachings of self realization as
taught by Ramana Marharshi and Papaji.
To that end, she holds workshops all around the world, produces
videos, publishes self improvement books and audio programs,
hosts a website, and operates outreach programs including one
for prison inmates.
Her videos can be seen on many public access television stations
around the country thanks to her followers who submit them to
local stations.
In addition to writing books, Gangaji has had several articles
published, and has been interviewed in several magazines.
In 2012 she was named to the Watkins' Mind Body and Spirit
magazine's list of the 100 Most Spiritually Influential Living
People.
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