“I really wonder what God feels like?” That’s the question that finally drove Anima Pundeer to awakening. To really wonder, and be open to whatever answer may come, rather than demanding God take a certain form or feeling — that is a startlingly rare place to find oneself.
I hope you find this interview with Anima Pundeer as simple and direct as I did. If you are inspired to reach out to Anima (who lives in Houston, TX), contact her at apundeer at gmail dot com. You can see Anima in the film Meetings With Remarkable Women, as well.
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QUESTION(S) OF THE DAY: What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.
Selected Links and Notes from this Episode
- How the contrast of moving from India to North America was an advantage in Anima’s spiritual search. [01:45]
- Many people in India go through religious rituals, but don’t think about the meaning. [3:55]
- The beginning of Anima’s spiritual search. [4:36]
- Looking for relief from misery. [5:45]
- Committing to try any practice for at least 40 days. [8:25]
- The realization that there would always be problems in life and a problem-free life wasn’t the ultimate goal. [13:00]
- The lowest point in her life. [16:25]
- Walking as a spiritual practice. [17:35]
- Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now and A Course in Miracles. [18:34]
- Meeting Art Ticknor. [20:22]
- “My purpose in life is to find something permanent.” [21:35]
- Noticing the mechanical nature of the body and mind. [24:32]
- What is self-inquiry? [29:29]
- The changing nature of self-inquiry over time. [39:00]
- There is no path. [41:17]
- Anima’s pet peeve: “letting go.” [45:27]
- “I really wonder what God feels like?” The question that opened the door to realization. [48:37]
- The fallacy of trying to recreate the circumstances of other people’s realizations. [51:00]
- The double-edged sword of self-inquiry. [53:43]
- Living in a state of awe. [1:02:22]
- Are there important practices other than self-inquiry? Working with a group. [1:03:25]
- What to do when you don’t know what to do. [1:06:20]
- One book that made a huge difference in taking away the “doer”: Collision with the Infinite. [1:14:36]