The technique of Self enquiry

September 12, 2002

Dear Rishi,

> Also Rob , Can you elaborate on this statement :

> think the crucial thing here is the order of the

> events:

Oh, I was only trying to draw attention to the

fact that the passage does not tell people to

focus on the right side of the chest. Rather, it

says to focus on the place where the sphurana

arises. I think those instructions are quite

different, even though the sphurana appears in

the right side of the chest.

> Personally for somebody just starting out the

> talks of Annamalai Swami in his 2 books were

> the best help.

Yup, great stuff, aren't they?

> Also can someone give me the address

> of the publishers of "No mind, I am the Self " .

It's out of print but here's the address:

Bhanumathy Ramanadham

Sri Lakshmana Ashram

Chillakur, Gudur,

Nellore Distr. 524412, A.P.

INDIA

I don't have enough knowledge or experience

to answer your other questions.

Cheers,

Rob

-

"Rishi" <rishikesh_m

Friday, September 13, 2002 12:05 AM

[RamanaMaharshi] The technique of Self enquiry

September 13, 2002

Dear Rob

Thank you very much for the address.

Yes !! Nearly all of those David Godman books are a great help for

newbie's like me. I wish he would write a comprehensive book on Self

enquiry like that "SELF ENQUIRY -PRACTICE" chapter from Be as you

are.

Something like a "Atma vichara for Dummies"

Thanks

Rishikesh

September 13, 2002

Dear Rishikesh,

Perhap to oversimplify -- or to make more complicated than it really

is -- I have come to see that Self-inquiry happens kind of at two

levels.

The seeker to start with uses the mind in inquiry, and turns the mind

on itself discriminating that is real (the Changeless Self) from what

is not real (all the changing world and body/mind/prana/ego). The

mind is also turned on itself by seeking that which is beyond the

mind -- like the source of the mind, or the source of the "I"-

thought, or the source of the sense of Reality).

It is common to many in that 'phase' of inquiry that ego

misidentifications get resolved (either completly, or to some extent)

and the seeker feels a greater sense of inner peace, etc.

In this phase, one can use ANY experience by looking, during the

experience for where the seeker's own sense of identity is (where is

your stand? Do you stand as Rishikesh the body, the father, the son,

the worker, the mind, or such.) Once this is seen, one can pursue the

inquiry by asking something like, "Is this who I am?" No, this is all

somethin know by me, so I much be closer to the knower than the

known. So, Who am I? Where is the source of my sense of "I", of

identity, of reality?

This inquiry works on different "levels." On the level of the

intellect, one starts tosee how true the Truth of Being is. At the

level of deep spiritual Knowledge, the seeker's knowledge of Who They

Are starts moving from away from the tight identity of

ego/body/mind.

During this inquiry the mind and ego start to get "disolved" and the

seeker may start to notice the thought slow down, maybe even stop.

Then it is like the inquiry begins. Now it is much deeper. Who knows

the silence? Who is it for? Who am I? When this inquiry starts from

the silence, the seeker is more able to know that they are not even

the mind or any thought. Now, "Who am I?" if not any of this.

Past this it is not really within the realm of the mind, so is also

not in the realm of words. I cannot even attempt a descdription,

since this is deeper than my experience.

Ramana stands always in this place where there is no mind, no

personal identity, no separate world.

This have I learned from my teacher, Nome, who stands in Self-

realization. This has been confirmed by my practice experiences, and

from what I have seen of others in the sangha at SAT in Santa Cruz.

All of this is subject to my own ignorance and misunderstandings,

since I am but another seeker, and do not write as a sage.

I hope some of this is of benefit in your practice. Keep the practice

going. Keep looking "within" for the source of your happiness, of

your being. This is Who you ARE.

We are Not two,

Richard

RamanaMaharshi, "Rishi" <rishikesh_m@s...> wrote:

> Snip

> My question was , if we focus on the "I" thought in midst of our

day to day activities, and proper progress in meditation is denoted

by "absence of thought" how is one supposed to carry out your worldly

duties ?

> e.g how is a person reading a book , able to focus on the "I".

September 13, 2002

I'm sorry , maybe I shouldn't be on this list , I am not using the language

you are using but stating the same things simpler..

But I see people making complicated something very simple. If I say I watch

the working of my mind and see I am always thinking ..does that mean there

are two I's when the observer and the observed are the same? Of course

not.. but that it is possible to be objective about your mind.. the same

thing about your person.. watch your relationship to others( which is the

only way to watch the ways of the person) when you are selfish, stingy,

mean, etc. it will be painful, objectively watching as the unconcious goes

with the pleasure principle..It will fall away effortlessly because the

unconcious cannot tolerate the pain...and what is left is the self, ..its

like the ego is contained within the self and as the ways of the ego are

observed as well as the ways of the mind , both fall away effortlessly .The

self is real the ego is a convenience an identification with how you see

yourself, how others see yourself and your personal body history. . The

mind is a self-survival tool like claws and antlers when the fear leaves it

ceases to preserve the ego..

Since no one replies to my posts I will gladly leave if you wish me to.. I

have experienced everything I relate here,,I have no motive to be here if I

am not needed.

Barb

Richard Clarke [r_clarke]

Friday, September 13, 2002 8:54 PM

RamanaMaharshi

[RamanaMaharshi] Re: The technique of Self enquiry