Definition: Self-Inquiry

Self-Inquiry, as presented by Ramana Maharshi, is nothing more than looking directly at the answer to the question, "Who am I?"  That is the beginning, middle and end of this practice.  Ramana says that the disease we face is thinking that we are our lives, which is the source of all suffering.   Ramana also states that the only cure is the truth of what we actually are.  That truth is revealed through our own direct self-inquiry.

The lives we believe ourselves to be, mistakenly, are all the stories we tell about who we are.  Self-inquiry shows us that, at the root of us is an unchanging, never moving, never affected truth.  That truth cannot be expressed directly since any attempt to do so generates a new story.  So, each of us can only ever know this for ourselves, as ourselves.  Anything less is more story.  And, will only continue the cycle of suffering.

The practice of self-inquiry is painfully simple.  As John Sherman states it is simply to, "Whenever it occurs to you to do so, as often as possible, feel what it is to be you."

Teachers

Ramana Maharshi

Papaji

Gangaji

John Sherman

Adyashanti

Richard Rose

Resources

External Links

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