How to Practice Self-Inquiry Correctly

Self-inquiry (also written self-enquiry) has been developed and promoted by Indian sage Ramana Maharshi as the most direct method to self-realization (also referred to as truth-realization, abiding non-dual awareness, and enlightenment).

The technique can be summed up as follows:

You ask “Who am I?” until you know.

Why is it considered the direct method, you wonder?

Well, “Who am I?” is the last question everyone has to answer, so why not immediately go to the final question?

The method is so simple it’s almost deceptive.

In fact, it’s so simple that the rational mind is overburdened by its simplicity, and rightfully so. We are so used to prescriptive methods of how-to’s and step-by-steps that a spiritual teaching that can fit on a matchbox is not really a crowd pleaser.

Over the years, this has led to a lot of add-ons to this one-sentence technique, which just resulted in more confusion and misinterpretation.

But when you ask “Who am I?” with a fervent desire to know, the question turns into an ego-eating virus that slowly but surely eats away at all the delusion and attachment.

So before we explore how to practice self-inquiry, let’s determine what self-inquiry not is.

What Self-Inquiry Not is

Because spiritual seekers are used to all kinds of theories and complex techniques, a simple method can seem too good to be true.

And because most of us come to self-inquiry with preconceived notions and a full spiritual cup so to speak we try to fit it into our established views about what a spiritual practice has to look like.

Don’t get me wrong, there is some theory behind self-inquiry, but – and this is a big but – the theory won’t help you with self-realization. If anything, it will be standing in your way.

The only reason Ramana Maharshi expounded on any theory on this subject is that he lowered his teaching to the level of the seekers. Otherwise, he would’ve probably not spoken a word. His silent teaching was considered his highest form of teaching.

Words can never express that which is beyond words. At their best, words guide you in the right direction. At their worst, words lead you as far astray as anyone can ever go astray.

Words are like dirt in crystal clear water, they’ll be the reason for diarrhea. (I don’t really know what I want to say with this analogy. Perhaps that words lead to a whole lot of bullshit? Sounds about right.)

Anyway, here are common misconceptions of self-inquiry.

Using Self-Inquiry as a Mantra

Mantra meditation is a common practice in many spiritual traditions. So, unsurprisingly, many seekers assume that you should use “Who am I?” as a mantra.

But what you really do is ask the question and then follow your sense of ‘I Am’-ness.

You don’t ask the question repeatedly. You ask it when any mental content arises, which is not you (more on the practice part later).

Using “Who am I?” as a mantra creates a subject/object split, a separation between perceiver and perceived.

This differentiates meditation from self-inquiry.

Most meditation is directed at an object (e.g., breath, mantra, sensations, etc.), while self-inquiry is an investigation into who you are.

So the former is objective, whereas the latter is subjective.

Turning it Into an Intellectual Exercise

There is another self-inquiry technique in the Hindu tradition in which you determine what you are not, but this is different from the self-inquiry we’re speaking about here.

In the self-inquiry we’re speaking about you’re not exactly discarding the non-Self but finding the real Self.

Sure, the mind is involved and to that degree, it may be considered an intellectual exercise but your task is not to think of an answer.

Why not?

Because any answer the mind offers will be inside your awareness. It cannot be who you are because you are not that of which you are aware.

The goal is not to stay at the level of the mind but to discover the source of the mind.

So the answer to the question “Who am I?” cannot be expressed in thoughts or other mental content.

You cannot make sense of the question by thinking about it. If anything, self-inquiry is more of a felt-sense kind of thing.

Self-Inquiry Leads to an Experience

This is perhaps the most common misconception about self-inquiry and true reality in general.

The problem is that we cannot think outside of experience. Everything that is part of our perception is an experience, so naturally, we assume that true reality must be experienced.

And as far as human language goes, this is the most accurate way to express it. But the fact is that your true Self cannot be experienced.

Why?

This equation explains it:

True Self = no self = infinity

When you realize the Self, you’ll drop the illusion of a separate ego-self. Hence, there will be no one left to have an experience.

Another way to look at it is by being clear on what infinity means.

You cannot experience infinity because experiences are limited. Infinity, on the other hand, is limitless.

But even that would be inaccurate because it implies that infinity is limitless in contrast to the limited stuff over there. Infinity is beyond the idea of limited, unlimited, and even infinity.

So self-inquiry won’t lead to a new experience because there is nothing new. It has been here all the time.

How to Practice Self-Inquiry

“Let what comes come.
Let what goes go.
Find out what remains.”
– Ramana Maharshi

Ok now let’s get to the actual technique.

Be aware, it’s easy to overthink this.

You sit down (or don’t, sitting is not a prerequisite) and ask yourself “Who am I?” Then you follow your sense of Beingness or ‘I AM’-ness. Now, whenever a thought arises (and thoughts will arise), you ask “To whom is this?” The answer will be “To me.” So you ask again “Well, who am I?” and you’re back on track seeking the Self.

Note: Instead of “Who am I?” you can also ask “What am I?” because who implies that you’re a person, which you are not.

Basically, you turn awareness onto itself.

When you say ‘I’, this is the ego. So the question really means, what is the source of this ego?

Hint: You won’t find the source at any specific place inside your body or anywhere else for that matter.

You must understand how uncomplicated this is.

If you, for instance, are doubting whether you’re doing it right or not, simply ask yourself “Who is experiencing the doubt?”

Do this with everything. All you have to do is ask yourself who is having the experience.

Do you have a problem?

Ask, who is having the problem? When you figure that out, you’ll no longer have any problems anymore.

In the beginning, it’s useful to do this as your meditation practice but eventually, it should become the constant background question no matter what you do or don’t do.

But keep in mind that self-inquiry is not a meditation practice in the traditional sense. Rather it’s an investigation into reality.

So you ask yourself the question and follow the root of your ‘I’ until you’re unmistakenly established in the pure ‘I’ or pure awareness.

Don’t expect angel choirs and bright light from the sky though. There is nothing new here, you’ve always been this pure awareness.

What you’ll discover is not something that was gone or lost, it’s here all the time, closer than your own skin.

Look inside your coffee cup, it’s in there. It was always there. A million years ago it was in your coffee cup. One year from now on a Thursday it will be in your coffee cup.

Why People Fail

“Do not meditate – be!
Do not think that you are – be!
Don’t think about being – you are!” – Ramana Maharshi

My guess is that the number one reason we fail at this is that we’re not doing it.

We dabble a little bit in it, try it for a few months, and then move on to the next shiny object. This is not meant in a degrading way, it’s natural.

Your desire for the truth needs to be so strong that you’ll stop at nothing. When it is, you won’t stop until you have finished the job.

Until the desire is stronger than anything else, you’ll get interested in other things and that’s ok.

Another reason why someone might be unsuccessful is that they have fallen prey to one of the misconceptions mentioned earlier.

Because there are words included, it’s easy to assume this is an intellectual exercise. Well, granted, you are using the mind. But you’re not solving the question, you’re destroying it.

Further, you’re not “killing” the mind using the mind. You use the mind to turn it to its source and when you have found it, you’ll discover that the mind has never existed.

Many of us assume that self-inquiry will lead to some kind of experience, but expecting something to happen is another thing standing in the way.

It’s not about achieving or experiencing, it’s about being.

Practicing self-inquiry is hurling at breakneck speed towards the infinite and along the way, you have to discard everything.

Nothing can stay. Literally.

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“Your own Self-Realization is the greatest service you can render the world.” – Ramana Maharshi

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Luka

Hello friend! My name is Luka and I am the creator of mindfulled. Here you'll find illustrated essays and stories about spiritual awakening and the art of living.

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