Who am I?
Understanding and Practicing Self-Inquiry: The Ultimate Teaching of Ramana Maharshi
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Ever since my spiritual awakening in 2008, I have developed a deep appreciation for the works of Eckhart Tolle, Adyashanti, Michael Singer, and various other spiritual teachers. I have been reading “The Power of Now” continuously for nearly seventeen years.
But after discovering Ramana Maharshi's teaching, Self-Inquiry: Who Am I?, I realized that the most significant spiritual practice is to turn your mind inward to your inner Being while being active in the world. Once understood, no other practice, scripture, book, or Guru is needed. In resting in Being, you are One with God.
🧘 Understanding and Practicing Self-Inquiry: Who Am I?
🔹 Step 1: Observe a Thought as It Arises and Take Your Attention to Its Source
No thought, whether positive or negative, represents absolute truth. The purpose is to transcend these thoughts and allow divine intuition to guide your life. Once the intuition from your Being begins to operate within you, it will direct your mind and body toward your spiritual evolution.
Then, you will discover that the mind and thoughts are unnecessary for functioning in the world. You will begin to experience life as it is—free from the distortions of past conditioning and the limitations of conceptual thinking.
Throughout the day, different thoughts will pop up in your mind:
“I need to finish this..”
“Why did he say that to me?”
“I’m tired…”
“I need to fix this..”
“I need to be a millionaire..”
Instead of identifying with thoughts, pause and ask:
🔍 “To whom has this thought come?”
You’ll naturally answer:
“To me.”
Now ask:
🧭 “Who am I?”
The mind poses this question: Who am I? (And not the Being)
Close your eyes. Take your attention in your Inner Being and become one with it, dissolving the questioner — your mind.
When no one remains to ask the question “Who am I?”, then you have succeeded in Self-Inquiry.
Sometimes, realizing that you are eternal awareness, not the mind and body, can be immensely helpful. At other times, focus inward, say “I am,” and experience the sense of spaciousness.
It is the “I am” before it becomes “I am this” or “I am that.”
Stay with that sense of “I am” — the feeling of Beingness that Ramana Maharshi called Self.
People usually get confused and ask, “Where is the source of thought in our body?” The source is the Spiritual Heart, which refers to the Inner Being or Self.
The Spiritual Heart – Inner Being
According to Ramana Maharshi, our spiritual heart is positioned slightly to the right side of the chest. Unlike the physical heart, it serves as the center of spiritual experience.
The spiritual heart is the source of life itself, and one can only be aware of its real nature by being it. It’s the essence of the whole universe.
Avoid trying to find the spiritual heart by focusing on the right side of your chest. Anatomically, it is not physically located in your body. The spiritual heart embodies Beingness and awareness, existing everywhere. If you wish to connect with the spiritual heart—inner Being—keep eighty percent of your attention inward in your inner chest while doing your daily tasks.
🕊️ Step 2: Merge With the Source of the Thought and Stay There Permanently
The origin of thought is not in the brain. As we understand now, the source of your thoughts is your inner Being, your Self.
The illusory mind comes into existence with the light of the Inner Being, just as the moon appears with the sun's light.
It is the mind that distorts the light of Being. When the mind turns outward from Being, it transforms the light of Being into the Ego and the world. The mind accomplishes this by thinking and identifying with things and people.
Therefore, when the world appears real, the Being does not appear. When the mind turns inward, it transforms into Being again. Then, Being only shines, and the world does not appear.
When the mind appears, reality disappears. When the mind disappears, reality appears (- Bodhidharma)
Reality = Inner Being = Truth = God = Atman = Self = Spiritual Heart
Why must we merge with our inner Being and remain there permanently?
Is this practical while living in this world?
The Greatest Secret of Spirituality
Maharshi answers the above questions. According to him, the greatest secret of spirituality is True Desirelessness and True Wisdom.
True Desirelessness does not involve seeking anything beyond your Inner Being.
True Wisdom is directing your mind inward, merging with the Being, and always resting in the Being.
This secret of spirituality is so simple that your mind will reject it immediately. But be aware. Let your mind surrender inward.
The only way to realize God is to “Keep your mind inward and free yourself from thinking.”
Thoughts may arise again. That’s okay. Do the Self-Inquiry, trace it to the thought’s source, and stay there.
Incredible! Simple and so profound. Thank you. 🙏
Aby, this was like getting hit in the forehead with a velvet sledgehammer of truth. Soft, but spiritually concussive.
Self-Inquiry isn’t some elite-level Jedi trick—it’s the ultimate un-trick. It's not about becoming a better you, it's about realizing there never was a “you” to polish in the first place. Just a parade of anxious thoughts wearing a name tag and hoping someone notices.
The question “Who am I?” isn’t meant to be answered. It’s meant to embarrass the ego into silence.
And when it finally shuts up—ah, there it is… the quiet hum of the Real. No incense needed. Just brutal honesty, holy boredom, and the courage to stop performing.
Ramana wasn’t handing out mantras like mints at a yoga retreat. He gave us a cosmic loophole:
Trace every thought to its source, and poof—the whole circus vanishes.
No more monkey mind juggling bananas of trauma and to-do lists.
As for the spiritual heart on the right side of the chest—don’t overthink it. Just sit your divine butt down, breathe into the mystery, and shut up long enough to remember you were never separate.
So yes, merge with your Being. But maybe don’t expect it to pay your taxes.
We’re eternal awareness… but also late on our electric bill.
Beautiful work, Aby. You made the unknowable feel oddly cozy.