Introduction

Self-Enquiry Meditation is also called as Jnana vichara in Sanskrit. It is also spelled as Self-Inquiry Meditation. As recommended by Ramana Maharshi, It is a continual observation of the internal consciousness of the “I” or “I am”. This is the most efficient and straightforward way of discovering the phantasm of the “I”-thought.

Ramana taught that the “I”-thought will dissipate and the “I-I” or self-consciousness will stay. This will cultivate an “effortless awareness of the being” By staying with it, this “I-I” gradually eradicate the Vasanas. Finally, the “I-thought” never rises again. This is the stage of self-realization or liberation.

Self-Inquiry meditation means connecting with the heart and putting a question “Who am I?” without expectation. Ramana Maharshi calls self-inquiry as the most sacred thing to do. It is a revolutionary method of spirituality. Ramana Maharshi explains why this practice is unique. “What is essential in any spiritual practice is to try to bring back the running mind and fix it on one thing only.”

Who am I?

Self-Enquiry is the awareness of the Consciousness itself. This leads us beyond duality because the main object of meditation, the “I” is ultimately revealed as the subject itself. However, if we want the question, “Who am I?” to get us near to our Real Nature, a certain understanding and spiritual maturity are compulsory.

However, in Ramana Maharshi’s self enquiry meditation scripts there is no rational answer. Firstly, we must accept that it is impossible to answer such a question through rational or intellectual means. When we say, “I understand, I know who I am”, we are in reality conceptualizing that which is ineffable.

Ask “the question” related to self-inquiry meditation benefits. it is centered in the head stimulating the mind. This makes the procedure of inquiring nothing more than mental imagery. When we abandon any striving for mentality we know the answer to the question. When we simply accept an answer like “I don’t know”, we are in a total open attention state.

This rational knowledge obtained through self-inquiry guided meditation is characterized by duality. It is always sequential and partial. But, when we tend to relate to the spiritual heart, to our true “I”, this knowledge will be of another kind. It will be total and complete. This will only be possible when our ego does not intervene in the process.

Our search for who we actually are gives rise to a sacred wonder or astonishment because it escapes any understanding. Then, because of our attitude, we surrender and start having the feeling that our limits dissolve into the infinite. Our energies are also reorchestrated at this time. All the energies converge towards the ultimate subject.

By going from thinking to pure existence, we give up our usual efforts to gain knowledge. This is because we realize that our minds cannot contain the mystery of the answer. Thus, the emphasis shifts from a preoccupation with finding out that we are, to the pure presence of the spiritual heart.

We can fall in love with this question concerning our existence. Consequently, it will slowly and gradually stop to have a rational, objective, and conscious character. As it is an answer which is difficult to formulate, we will free ourselves from the conceptualization. This grants us access to the totality that the Spiritual Heart Consciousness awakens within us.

The journey inwards ones self can only be attained through spiritual intervention. Are you ready to know your real self through Self Enquiry?