Gangaji (born Merle Antoinette Roberson in Texas, 1942) is an American Neo-Advaita spiritual teacher and writer.

Early life

Gangaji was born Merle Antoinette Roberson in Texas in 1942, and grew up in Mississippi. After graduating from the University of Mississippi, she married her first husband and had a child, then became a teacher in Memphis, Tennessee. The couple moved to California and later divorced. Gangaji became interested in spirituality, then met and married her second husband, Eli Jaxon-Bear. For a time, the two operated a Tibetan Buddhism Dharma center overseen by Kalu Rinpoche. Gangaji and Jaxon-Bear went to India where she met H. W. L. Poonja, better known as Papaji. Afterwards, Gangaji devoted herself to teaching satsangs.

Teachings

Gangaji holds satsangs which are strongly influenced by Ramana Maharshi and Papaji. She started the Gangaji Foundation, which sponsors live events and publishes her books and other media. A video of Gangaji teaching about peace was used in the video game The Witness.

Personal life

In October 2005, Gangaji and husband Eli Jaxon-Bear separated after he admitted to a three-year affair with an adult female student. The two reunited three months later, and also merged their foundations.

Books

Chapters