Matt: Dear Ramji, I am moved and full of gratitude to have finally found you and Vedanta and am totally absorbed in your teaching since around one year now. I am a seeker since my childhood and it took me to many places, to many masters in China for martial arts and qigong, and to a Sufi lineage and many more. It’s a long story.
In 2011 I had a deep experience of “no self” and was blown away in a kind of absorption for around four months. Then it faded away and I was the same person again. Painful. After that I found Papaji on YouTube and this brought me to his wife Ganga Mira. Last year I gave up my life and went to Portugal to her place.
I was so shocked about the people who had been with Papaji and Ganga for 30 years, and deep doubt arose in me. There was no warm heart and compassion like in the Tibetan tradition, which I know very well. I found myself in a community with cold and crazy people. I was totally confused and done with satsang teachers. I went home with nothing: no money, no place to stay, no life. Despairing, I had given up all for the truth and I was totally destroyed. How to be in life without using your mind? It was the biggest bullshit ever! Then I started listening to you on YouTube and discovered the beauty and logic of Vedanta, and I understood where the Papaji people make the mistake. Vedanta is absolutely amazing! Nothing is missing, it is really complete!
So here I am, and I still have a hard time with money, but since I try to do karma yoga and listen to you every day, things began to change in a positive way: my body gets healthier, my food habits changing, my smoking habit loosens up. I feel some power coming inside me and joy and happiness again after a long time! I am so touched and I thank you from deep in my heart; Vedanta saved my life. I really become a fanatic now, even if I don’t understand much. But I stick to it. It is the real thing! I will see you soon, as you are coming here.
~ With love and deep respect
Ramji: Thanks so much for the lovely testimonial to the power of Vedanta! It is really inspiring. Sundari and I enjoyed reading it. We are happy for you. Yes, Vedanta is a complete teaching. It will take you all the way to non-dual love and freedom. May you prosper in every way.
Matt: Thank you very much for the reply! Things cooled down a bit. I am looking forward to your October seminar. I am very busy making the changes that are necessary to qualify myself for Vedanta.
Somehow it was good that you said I should forget about Ganga Mira, and that she is only famous for having a child by Papaji. I found it hard and radical first, but now I can clearly see that there is no teaching and that you are right. She often replies, “Dont try to understand,” but how can the intellect be happy if there is no satisfying explanation for life? I am happy to finally quit with satsang and Papaji, people always running behind the idea that something will happen when they just keep quiet and don’t listen to the mind. This will never ever work, and that’s why people still there after 30 years. Thanks for taking the time to reply, and I will be happy to see you in October!
~ All the best, Matt
PS: I am finished with the name Ganga gave me, putting fire into the romantic spiritual story and leading me astray.
Ramji: Good for you! It takes courage to let go of romantic notions. The Papaji crowd are not bad people. One can understand that a person will try to ignore the mind if the thoughts in it are bad thoughts. But the mind needs positive, uplifting thoughts if you are going to grow towards the light. People need ways to discipline it and give it hope. Denial never works. So that kind of Papaji satsang is more or less just a social club. It is kind of like a religion for hippies and enjoyers who need an easy lifestyle. Vedanta encourages a seeker to use his or her free will to investigate the rules of life – God’s laws – and get one’s life in line with it, to convert one’s negative emotions into a positive devotional force that moves one forward on the path. It will take you all the way to freedom and non-dual love. Lazy people prefer to deny their problems and pretend that they are into something cool.
~ Much love, Ramji
