Rooting Out the Ego and Persevering on the Path
December 13, 2024
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Root out ego directly, persevere endlessly despite obstacles, and realise you never left the summit of pure Being.
Inner Work
Self Enquiry by Ramana Maharshi
Who am I?
Is the Fundamental question on the Spiritual Journey
"Self Enquiry means effort to trace thought back to its source.
If you incessantly hold on to the source of thought, there will come a time when emergence from such source becomes altogether impossible.
If Self Enquiry has resulted in a state of mind wherein it abides as identical with pure Subjective Consciousness, then you have done it correctly. Self Enquiry has been done correctly when doing it has resulted in the Self-realisation flashing forth. "
Self Enquiry explained
When a thought rises up “lunch time” – “When is lunch?” As soon as this thought arises rather than taking the thought, you ask yourself “To whom has this thought arisen?”
This thought about lunch. “To whom did it arise?” You immediately get the answer “to me”. Because you’re completely identified with me. This thought arose to “me”. And then you ask a second question “Who is this me?”
You think you know, but you don’t. The second question doesn’t have a verbal answer. You can say “I’m consciousness”. Well, that doesn’t really answer that question.
So you come to Silence, you fall into Silence. You fall into the Emptiness. This is actually Self Enquiry, its that simple. This question is a fundamental part of the spiritual investigation.
Self Enquiry Workshop with John David
In a Self Inquiry workshop we sit together, lovingly asking each other “Who are you?”
Through this exercise over some hours we notice deeply that all answers that we give to that question are not who we really are and after some time we fall deeper inside, looking for what the question can reveal inside of ourself.
This Exercise rather quickly, in a few hours, can bring people to have a taste of their True Nature, their being. Its a bit like going down into the clear water and suddenly wow, its so beautiful.
The Self Enquiry Workshop is part of each of John David’s Retreats
Photo Gallery from the Workshop
There is a state when
words cease and silence prevails.
Silence is the ocean
into which all the rivers
of all religions discharge themselves.
It is the speech of the Self.
That which Is, is Silence.
More from Ramana Maharshi
Quotations by Ramana Maharshi about Self Enquiry, Surrender and the Role of the Guru
Play Video
Danger of Emptiness [shunyastithi]
December 13, 2024
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Bhagavan warns that mistaking emptiness for Jnana is a deadly trap, delaying true realization and making recovery a challenging path.
BE As You Are
December 13, 2024
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Realization is simply BEing as you ARE. Through persistent vichara, Grace shines forth until seeker and seeking both dissolve.
Ripe Souls Attain Jnana
December 12, 2024
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The Jnani’s silent presence works like a magnetic force, effortlessly turning ripe minds inward, leading to natural, thought-free peace.
How we Sabotage Vichara
December 12, 2024
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Sabotage ends when we discard the ‘I’ that strives for Realisation, resting in pure Subjective Consciousness, free from identification.
Am I doing Vichara Correctly?
December 12, 2024
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Correct vichara is confirmed when Aham Sphurana shines forth spontaneously, unmistakably felt as direct experience of the Self.
Sex and the Self
December 11, 2024
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Sex offers a taste of no-mind bliss, creating addiction as the ego craves this momentary experience of pure Being.
Complete Cessation of Mental Activity
December 11, 2024
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Only the complete, motiveless cessation of mental activity reveals the Self, showing the personal ‘I’ never truly existed.
The Secret of Jnana is Bhakti
December 11, 2024
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Jnana is Bhakti: Pure, uncaused Love. Not practised, but revealed when thoughts dissolve, merging seeker and Love as One.
How shall we kill the mind?
December 10, 2021
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The mind cannot kill itself. Seeking its source and ignoring objects dissolve it, revealing the Heart as stillness.
Vichara, Self Enquiry
October 26, 2021
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Ramana Maharshi guides Chadwick and seekers to practice vichara, deep self-enquiry, until ego dissolves and the Self shines forth.
Meditation
June 3, 2021
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Practiced diligently, meditation techniques purify the mind because they bring awareness to unholy patterns of thought and feeling. Unhealthy thoughts cannot survive the penetrating light of awareness. Nothing purifies like experience of the Self, which releases a flood of healing, cleansing, spiritual energy into the conscious and unconscious minds.
