self enquiry in action

[Guest guest]

Dear Sai, dear All,

It is not at all a silly question how people practice self-enquiry. The idea is

in my mind if we could not share something about our actual spiritual practices

here also. There may be different ways of practice and we could learn from each

other. I think on simply sharing - not discussing the matter and no one should

feel to be forced to join in.

 

The one who have the suggestion also have to start. Ok. I will try to share

something about my actual spiritual practice.

Being a devotee of Sri Ramana I practice self-enquiry and bhakti. This is mostly

normal for Ramana devotees as far as I can see. Both aspects merge together as

one. I try to be in contact with Ramana and self-enquiry as much as possible

during all the waking hours. It should be of course constantly. It is not yet.

Distractions are manyfold and so I try to remember HIM as the beloved Guru and

the true Self as soon as I become aware of the distraction. (I try and often I

fail!) Distractions are not the work nor even the many thoughts but to lose the

awareness of the "watcher" and being identified with the watched (thoughts,

objects etc.) When practicing self-enquiry I try to be concentrated on the

I-thought and go back from there to the source where it arises. The breath

becomes very slow, also the beating of the heart. Sometimes there is a bodily

feeling of the spiritual heart on the right side of the chest and the awareness

of a deep silence - which is not merely lack of words and thoughts but real

fullness and as Ramana says, the most eloquent speech in which everything is

said. (Sorry, I can't describe it better and this are only some glimpses,

nothing more.)

 

Very often distractions and thoughts are too strong to practice pure

self-enquiry. Then I try everything that may help to quieten the mind. This can

be watching the breath as it is teached in Zen or chanting mentally the name of

Ramana "Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya". A strong power is simply looking at a

picture of Bhagavan and reading something of his teaching or a Ramana-story. A

strong power is also the praying to Him.

I try to have fixed times for meditation also. Morning and evening are good

times. But I feel I am only at the very beginning of that path called

"Self-enquiry".

 

I would like to hear about the spiritual practice of other devotees and also of

those who are here and are no Ramana devotees.

 

In HIM

Gabriele

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message: 4

Wed, 23 Jan 2002 00:55:25 -0000

"prashanti" <prashanti

self enquiry in action?

 

Hi all,

 

I've been reading the list for a short while, first time i've posted

 

I'm not a Ramana devotee as such, i do have much respect for him though, and

acknowledge him as one of the divines greatest teachers/incarnations

 

I hope this isn't seen as a silly question...i'm interested in how people

actually practice self-enquiry; i mean how often is it put in to practice?

is it a relentless, constant activity? I've heard it said that's how it's

supposed to be...is it possible? is that a correct statement even?

 

Any insights appreciated

Blessings

Sai

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Dear Gabriele:

Since you asked, here is what I do.

I used to do the repetition of "I Am" for years and when I was into the out of

the body stuff, occasionally I would go up. When I asked the question, "Who Am

I" I went higher and got a rush. I got tired of that process as it never seemed

to quiet my mind for long and I could not do it without words as Nisargadatta

recommends in his later dialogues.That is for the very advanced seeker IMO.

These OOB trips seem to have left for some unknown reason. It may be what

Nisargadatta has said in "I Am That" . "You will loose you visions".

 

At this time these are the techniques that work, but I have to keep switching as

they become habituated and I loose the present time to thoughts.

 

I use the words "To I" which seems to work well for a while. When I find that I

am getting identified with the thoughts I change to 'What is being witnessed".

Then at other times I just hold a constant "I" and look into the darkness or

light if any appears, bringing my mind back to the present time when it

wonders..

During the day I use the same techniques. I have tried " to whom does that

thought occur? etc, but "To I" seems to work better.

 

Anyone else have some techniques to share. Thanks in advance.

Aloha,

Alton

 

 

-

Gabriele Ebert

RamanaMaharshi

Wednesday, January 23, 2002 8:00 AM

[RamanaMaharshi] Re: self enquiry in action

 

 

Dear Sai, dear All,

It is not at all a silly question how people practice self-enquiry. The idea

is in my mind if we could not share something about our actual spiritual

practices here also. There may be different ways of practice and we could learn

from each other. I think on simply sharing - not discussing the matter and no

one should feel to be forced to join in.

 

The one who have the suggestion also have to start. Ok. I will try to share

something about my actual spiritual practice.

Being a devotee of Sri Ramana I practice self-enquiry and bhakti. This is

mostly normal for Ramana devotees as far as I can see. Both aspects merge

together as one. I try to be in contact with Ramana and self-enquiry as much as

possible during all the waking hours. It should be of course constantly. It is

not yet. Distractions are manyfold and so I try to remember HIM as the beloved

Guru and the true Self as soon as I become aware of the distraction. (I try and

often I fail!) Distractions are not the work nor even the many thoughts but to

lose the awareness of the "watcher" and being identified with the watched

(thoughts, objects etc.) When practicing self-enquiry I try to be concentrated

on the I-thought and go back from there to the source where it arises. The

breath becomes very slow, also the beating of the heart. Sometimes there is a

bodily feeling of the spiritual heart on the right side of the chest and the

awareness of a deep silence - which is not merely l! ack of words and thoughts

but real fullness and as Ramana says, the most eloquent speech in which

everything is said. (Sorry, I can't describe it better and this are only some

glimpses, nothing more.)

 

Very often distractions and thoughts are too strong to practice pure

self-enquiry. Then I try everything that may help to quieten the mind. This can

be watching the breath as it is teached in Zen or chanting mentally the name of

Ramana "Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya". A strong power is simply looking at a

picture of Bhagavan and reading something of his teaching or a Ramana-story. A

strong power is also the praying to Him.

I try to have fixed times for meditation also. Morning and evening are good

times. But I feel I am only at the very beginning of that path called

"Self-enquiry".

 

I would like to hear about the spiritual practice of other devotees and also

of those who are here and are no Ramana devotees.

 

In HIM

Gabriele

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message: 4

Wed, 23 Jan 2002 00:55:25 -0000

"prashanti" <prashanti

self enquiry in action?

 

Hi all,

 

I've been reading the list for a short while, first time i've posted

 

I'm not a Ramana devotee as such, i do have much respect for him though, and

acknowledge him as one of the divines greatest teachers/incarnations

 

I hope this isn't seen as a silly question...i'm interested in how people

actually practice self-enquiry; i mean how often is it put in to practice?

is it a relentless, constant activity? I've heard it said that's how it's

supposed to be...is it possible? is that a correct statement even?

 

Any insights appreciated

Blessings

Sai

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sponsor

 

 

 

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[Guest guest]

Dear Gabriel,

Thank you very much for your response; forgive my lateness in replying - my

time is usually very limited (plus i'm a slow typer)

I appreciate your personal sharing, and i relate to much of it also.

 

Can i take it then, that Ramana was agreeable with this double approach -

pure advaita and bhakti towards the embodied guru? Saguna and Naguna - one

foot walking with the form and one with the formless. This seems to me to be

necessary untill a certain stage of devepment is reached.? Though often i

find myself unsure as to how i should proceed with my sadhana.

For want of a better word, being a 'devotee' of an other being; i do feel so

much peace and connectedness when i dwell on his form, but then i get

thoughts that maybe i shouldn't be doing this, that i should focus solely on

the Self instead. Problem is, that confusion usually results in a lack of

intensity in my sadhana

 

I feel like a bit of a dim wit here - i just can't seem to grasp this

"holding/tracing the I thought" The I thought seems to be sub-conscious in

nature, i can't find/trace the source of it! I feel that i must be missing

something? I ask myself who am i...and nothing. I don't know how to trace

this i - how do you do it?

 

Yes Gabriel. Being the watcher... how difficult it is! My aim is also to be

that - to constantly be in 'the prescence' This is my main reason for

seeking to get to grips with self-enquiry...when the mind is still, the Self

is - everything flows from there

 

Blessings

Sai

 

 

> Dear Sai, dear All,

> It is not at all a silly question how people practice self-enquiry. The

idea is in my mind if we could not share something about our actual

spiritual practices here also. There may be different ways of practice and

we could learn from each other. I think on simply sharing - not discussing

the matter and no one should feel to be forced to join in.

>

> The one who have the suggestion also have to start. Ok. I will try to

share something about my actual spiritual practice.

> Being a devotee of Sri Ramana I practice self-enquiry and bhakti. This is

mostly normal for Ramana devotees as far as I can see. Both aspects merge

together as one. I try to be in contact with Ramana and self-enquiry as much

as possible during all the waking hours. It should be of course constantly.

It is not yet. Distractions are manyfold and so I try to remember HIM as the

beloved Guru and the true Self as soon as I become aware of the distraction.

(I try and often I fail!) Distractions are not the work nor even the many

thoughts but to lose the awareness of the "watcher" and being identified

with the watched (thoughts, objects etc.) When practicing self-enquiry I try

to be concentrated on the I-thought and go back from there to the source

where it arises. The breath becomes very slow, also the beating of the

heart. Sometimes there is a bodily feeling of the spiritual heart on the

right side of the chest and the awareness of a deep silence - which is not

merely lack of words and thoughts but real fullness and as Ramana says, the

most eloquent speech in which everything is said. (Sorry, I can't describe

it better and this are only some glimpses, nothing more.)

>

> Very often distractions and thoughts are too strong to practice pure

self-enquiry. Then I try everything that may help to quieten the mind. This

can be watching the breath as it is teached in Zen or chanting mentally the

name of Ramana "Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya". A strong power is simply

looking at a picture of Bhagavan and reading something of his teaching or a

Ramana-story. A strong power is also the praying to Him.

> I try to have fixed times for meditation also. Morning and evening are

good times. But I feel I am only at the very beginning of that path called

"Self-enquiry".

>

> I would like to hear about the spiritual practice of other devotees and

also of those who are here and are no Ramana devotees.

>

> In HIM

> Gabriele

Message: 4

> Wed, 23 Jan 2002 00:55:25 -0000

> "prashanti" <prashanti

> self enquiry in action?

>

> Hi all,

>

> I've been reading the list for a short while, first time i've posted

>

> I'm not a Ramana devotee as such, i do have much respect for him though,

and

> acknowledge him as one of the divines greatest teachers/incarnations

>

> I hope this isn't seen as a silly question...i'm interested in how people

> actually practice self-enquiry; i mean how often is it put in to practice?

> is it a relentless, constant activity? I've heard it said that's how it's

> supposed to be...is it possible? is that a correct statement even?

>

> Any insights appreciated

> Blessings

> Sai

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> Post message: RamanaMaharshi

> Subscribe: RamanaMaharshi-

> Un: RamanaMaharshi-

> List owner: RamanaMaharshi-owner

>

> Shortcut URL to this page:

> /community/RamanaMaharshi

>

> Your use of is subject to

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

RamanaMaharshi, "prashanti" <prashanti@n...> wrote:

> Dear Gabriel,

Snip

> I feel like a bit of a dim wit here - i just can't seem to grasp

this

> "holding/tracing the I thought" The I thought seems to be sub-

conscious in

> nature, i can't find/trace the source of it! I feel that i must be

missing

> something? I ask myself who am i...and nothing. I don't know how to

trace

> this i - how do you do it?

snip

 

Dear Sai,

 

If I may offer come comments. I have been practicing Self-inquiry

for a number of years with Nome in Santa Cruz, CA, USA, a Self-

realized sage (who came to Self-realization through Ramana's grace

and Self-inquiry teaching).

 

One of the things that I have learned is to start each mediation with

simply noticing that I exist. From this knowledge, I start the

inquiry. I may start the inquiry by asking (just one time. This is

not a mantra.) "Who am I?" or "Where does this feeling of existence

come from?" From this point there are many ways that the inquiry

might precede. Nome teaches (as did Ramana, and others) that one way

to approach the meditation is through discrimination of who you are

(and who you are not).

 

In classical Advaita Vedanta, Sankara taught to go from gross to

subtle. Presently I am working my way through this with a

thoroughness greater than in earlier days. Am I this body? Am I the

senses? Am I the prajna? Am I the mind? Am I the ego?

 

Also Ramana taught that our Being was beyond the "three states" of

waking, dreaming and deep sleep. I use this to assist in the

discrimination. "Am I this body in a dream?" "What about when in

deep sleep?"

 

The inquiry may start as a mental activity. As you progress you will

see that it becomes something that is much deeper than any mental

activity. Take your own knowledge of your existence. Is this

knowledge merely mental? Look for yourself? Do you know of your

existence when your mind is not full of ideas? Do you know this when

yours senses are quiet? Is this Knowledge constant even when senses

or mind are active and going up and down and to and fro?

 

In this inquiry one can see that body, world, mind and ego come and

go, and that they are "objective." Who is the one that knows them?

 

Perhaps this will assist you as you persist in your inquiry. Keep

posting your questions. If you can find a living master, then these

questions can be given to and answered by the master. This is best.

Finally, what you look for, you will find within. It is Who You

Are.

 

Not two.

Richard