Dear Ones,
Self-inquiry - this is a term many of us hear frequently, and I have seen it come more and more into the common spiritual and “self-help” conversation. But what does it mean?
Ramana Maharshi spoke of self-inquiry in this way:
When other thoughts arise, one should not pursue them but should enquire, ‘To whom do they arise?’ It does not matter how many thoughts arise. As each thought arises one should enquire with diligence, ‘To whom has this thought arisen?’ The answer that would emerge would be ‘To me’. Thereupon if one enquires, ‘Who am I?’ the mind will go back to its source and the thought that arose will become quiescent. With repeated practice in this manner the mind will develop the skill to stay in its source. From ‘Who Am I?’ Sri Ramana Maharshi’s teachings on how to realise the Self - David Godman
“The mind will go back to its source” - this is the invitation - for the mind to become quiescent, for it to rest in the center of its generation - silence.
And yet, somehow this process of self-inquiry can become a trap. It can lead to the opposite of rest, the opposite of silence, it can lead further away from Source. How? In my experience this can arise when there is an agenda driving the inquiry, a desire to get something, somewhere, to be someone different than what I am now. I am curious, can you feel this? I can as I type these words - contraction, tension, heat, agitation.
This can all be a signal to pause and open to these sensations. Somehow in that pause and opening, everything softens, the mind relaxes. Whatever is asking the questions slows down, sinks into the sensations themselves and deeper into the source of all sensation. Ah….rest, silence.
I am curious, what do the words “self-inquiry” mean to you? In the process of inquiry, what are you looking for? Where are you looking for it? If you get what you are looking for what will that give you?
You are all welcome to join my co-host Joey Bloom and me as we explore the potential trap of self-inquiry, and what happens when we turn inside to discover that what we are looking for is what we already are.
We plan to meet by zoom on Friday July 25th at 5pm Pacific time.
Tokyo - Saturday July 26th 9am
Sydney - Saturday July 26th 10am
Auckland - Saturday July 26th 12 noon
If you would like to join us, please contact me here: embodied meditation sign up
The gathering is free and donations are accepted here: