Ankur Ganguli
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Growing up, my mom would often call me “Jhansi Ki Rani”, Queen of Jhansi. I heard that so many times that her voice rings unbidden into my mind whenever I am faced with challenges or riddled with self-doubt. The Queen of Jhansi was a brave queen who fought against the colonial forces and died protecting her people, her country, her lineage. The songs of her courage, her sacrifice are sung and passed down from generation to generation invoking reverence for her strength and reminding us that we all possess this capacity too. These are the songs of my childhood – the fierce feminine, the warrior queen.
My early childhood was spent in the jungle – the mountains, the rivers, the waterfalls, the wild animals and stories of Mowgli, set in that very same landscape, memorialized into lore and legends. I was born in that jungle and my spirit never left. Thousands of miles and decades later, I still reach for it, within me, around me, letting mother nature cradle me, and breathe life into the wilderness that is my roots.
Dadi and Babuji, my grandparents, raised me. They raised me the way they raised their own children in the post-colonial era, lifting the family out of extreme poverty through strict discipline, a sense of personal responsibility and keen focus on securing the best education possible. Hardwork, integrity and education were the non-negotiables. Dadi and Babuji’s picture on my desk reminds me everyday that this is the ground I must walk on.
Lineage, is a line that runs, through us, across the ages and connects us to what came before us, and if we are worthy, passes through us to what comes after us. It is like the string that passes through the pearls, weaving them together into an ornament. A pearl cannot ‘see’ the string, yet senses its mysterious presence in its core, as something that holds it, something that helps it find its place in the order of things; keeping it from getting scattered and lost. That, to me, is Lineage.
Your essay really resonated with me. You perfectly captured the feeling of bouncing from one thing to another desperately wanting to hold on to some belief system that would help us make sense of all that comes our way in life and somehow make it easier to navigate. I am reconciling to the “groundlessness” myself and knowing that this is the truth somehow gives me courage and confidence that i am not “doing life all wrong”. Thank you for putting words to this sentiment.
Our journeys are so similar. And you portrayed it so beautifully. I love your reference to how questioning was viewed as disrespect of ultimate authority in eternalism. For me that is what pushed me away eventually.
I was born into a conservative family in India and eternalism was simply the fabric of our lives. As I grew though, I found the system too rigid and constraining, especially for a girl who wanted to grow up to be a scientist and questioned everything. Even the act of questioning was considered radical and rebellious. So, I drifted away slowly at first and then rapidly fell into the seductive trap of nihilism. I arrived in America!
Despite my religious upbringing and scientific training, I always felt that there had to be “something else” and that is what led me here to Buddhism. The path that is rigorous but not rigid. The path that allows for magic and mystery and something else.
Beautifully said. ‘Humility, being open to surprises, holding the outcomes loosely – these words resonated a lot with me and create an invitation to being comfortable with the unknown. I also noted that you framed humility and curiosity as tools for both the teacher and the student. That is so true and radically simple. Thank you for sharing this reflection.
Hi Anita – i love your reference back to the container and how beautifully you rendered the image of each students’ presence and practice filling the space in their own way. Julia Cameron wrote – “the first rule of magic is containment” and it is so applicable in the practice of meditation and the magic that follows from it. Thank you for the imagery. I will remember this always.
Teaching, just like any other human endeavor, is about connecting through what is universal in us, while making room for what is unique to grow and evolve in its own rhythm.
The inevitability of death, the pursuit of joy, the experience of love, grief, and the need for connection are universal human experiences across cultures, geographies and even time. The Four Noble Truths are grounded in this universality. While these truths are universal, each person experiences them through the lens of their own life. Every student’s story comes from their deeply personal, unrepeatable, yet relatable moments ranging from joy to heartbreak. Our responsibility and commitment as a teacher, then, is to hold space for each student as they pursue their own journey of discovery and growth.
The key tools available to us as teachers are our own steady practice and our ability to be fully present with students. This means listening deeply to understand each student’s perspective, without judgment or any agenda, simply acknowledging their experience. It also means helping them stay grounded in the meditation technique itself. One of the most powerful gifts we can offer is encouraging students to trust the process—returning to the practice again and again, whether during a meditation session or in daily life. Let our own presence and consistency show that it is this ongoing practice that lays the groundwork for deep transformation.
This gentle approach fosters trust and creates a safe space for growth, reminding students that their journey is valued and respected.
Hello All, I am Ankur. My husband and I live in Detroit with our two teenagers, two puppies, two kittens, managing our two jobs and two sets of parents across two countries – all the while keeping our sanity from splitting into two! Meditation has been our refuge on and off over the years and i am seeking to getting more consistency in my practice and gaining deeper understanding of the path through this training. I am looking forward to staying the course with all of you. Cheers.
