Self-inquiry: WHO AM I?

ESSENCE OF SELF-INQUIRY

Swami often likes to talk about Advaita in very simple terms using the anolgue of the handkerchief to the mind which is nothing but the thread of habits and thoughts but whose nature is the cotton. He impels us to make the enquiry into the source of who we really are. He says we are three people; the one other think we are (the mind - the thoughts), the one we think we are (the body) and the one we really are (the atma or "I"ness). Anyway, thought I would like to share a post on Ramana Maharishi's teachings into this technique of self-inquiry he advocated as the highest and most direct path to Self-realisation.

"The pure Self is not realised unless the mind subsides. The mind is nothing but a bundle of thoughts, and the first and foremost of all thoughts is the primal "I" thought. Therefore, only through heh enquiry "Who am I?" does the mind subside. To keep the mind constantly turned within and to abide thus in the Self is alone Self-inquiry.

By steady and continuous investigation into the nature of the mind, the mind is transformed into THAT to which the "I" refers, and that is verily the SELF.

That which arises in the physical body as "I", is the mind. If one enquires whence this I-ness first arises, it will be found that it is the Heart or Hridayam.

Restraint of the out-going mind and its absorption in the Heart is known as Antarmukhadrishti or introversion. When the mind becomes absorbed in the Heart, the "I" or ego vanishes, and pure Consciousness or Self, which subsists during all the states of the mind, alone remains resplendent. This state, where there is not the slightest trace of the "I" - thought, is one's true Swarupa. And that is called Quiescence or Mouna, that is also true Wisdom.

The Self alone exists, and the Self alone is real. Verily the Self alone is the world, the "I" and God. All that exists is but the manifestation of the Supreme Being.

Firm and disciplined inherence in the Self does verily constitute self-surrender to the Supreme Lord. Let any amount of burden be laid on Him, He doth bear it all.

That which is Bliss is verily the Self. Bliss and the Self are one and identical. And THAT alone is real. Not even in one of the countless objects in the world is there anything that can be called happiness. This phenomenal world is nothing but thought. When the mind is free from thought it enjoys the Bliss of the Self. The mind of the Enlightened One never exists apart from the Self Absolute or Brahman.

Likes and dislikes, love and hatred, are equally to be eschewed. It is not proper to let the mind rest often on the objects or affairs of mundane life. If the ego subsides all else will also subside. The deeper the humility with which we conduct ourselves, the better it is for us. Everything that is offered to others is really an offering to oneself. Not to desire anything extraneous to oneself is Vairagya or Dispassion. Not to give up one's hold on the Self is Jnana or Enlightenment. Thus Vairagya and Jnana are really one and the same. Pledged to Vairagya, every aspirant must dive deep into himself and realise the precious Atman, the Self Absolute.

God and Guru are one. He that has earned the Grace of Guru shall undoubtedly be saved adn never forsaken. Bu the disciple, for his part, should follow the path shown by the Master.

SOME LINKS: www.sriramanamaharishi.org , www.arunachala.ramana.org , www.ramana-maharishi.org , http://bhagavan-ramana.org

Ramana said something to this effect ...... there is no birth and no death, there is no creation and no destruction .. this is the highest Truth (theory of "ajata" or non-causality)