SELF-INQUIRY
. . .
It is for Anyone, Anytime,
Anywhere
Self-Inquiry will have a
special attraction and appeal to you if you have a busy lifestyle. It
is simple to practice either as an “eyes closed or eyes open” method of meditation.
It can be practiced anywhere, at any time, or under any circumstances.
When your method of meditation is
an objective practice requiring focused attention, such as breath control, repeating a mantra, or envisioning a light, scene, flame, or person, etc.,
to quiet the mind or turn it inward, this is not easy if you have only limited time available due to an active lifestyle. Such methods usually
require a special time or place in which to practice, and often a special posture or procedure. But for Self-Inquiry, the
single, simple focus is only on one’s own being, or one's own sense
of “I,” which is always with you – wherever you are, or whatever you do. Just remember: Self exists – as pure awareness or pure being – even prior to the body-mind, or the “I” thought. Thought depends on the Self, “you” as Self do not depend on thought.
“On reaching the
Heart by Self-Inquiry, the one continuous Self-Awareness of I AM reveals
itself as the perfect Being, where the ‘I’ subsides and
is lost. For one who has realized that State of perfect Being, which
is verily the inherent Bliss indescribable of the Self absolute, nothing
else remains to be accomplished.”
- Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi
Once you have received proper
training in the correct use of this consciousness transforming process,
there comes with it the presence of ease and spontaneity in all life
situations, an inner and outer feeling of being OK with whatever arises
in your life. What’s most important is the solid connection with
the true Self that you establish, and the experience of living here
and now in the present moment – free of the past and future –
fully alive, alert, awake, joyous and free.
“Self-Inquiry
is for stopping all thoughts as they arise, or even before. The mind
actually rises out of the Self, like a wave rises out of a calm sea,
and takes one’s attention away from the Self, causing you to identify
with subjective ideas or outer objects, and thoughts pertaining to the
past and future. All this, when identified with, gives rise to the false
belief that you are the body-mind, living in time-space, and not the
Self. This is the erroneous or false notion you are always trying to
transcend in order to abide in the Self, which you are. Since this is
the sole end to be attained, why not achieve this one end Now, from
the very beginning? Self-Inquiry achieves this, for it takes you immediately
or directly to the Source, or truth of your Being.”
– A. Ramana
See the Self-Inquiry
Experience Guided Meditation