THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ENQUIRY-PART III

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THE PRACTICE OF SELF-ENQUIRY-THE RAMANA WAY

PART III

 

When one is probing into oneself, enquiring into the "I", through

persistent questioning "Who am I?", one gets in direct touch with

the inner Reality, the Eternal "I". The measure of seriousness and

one-pointedness with which one delves within to be "I AM", is also

the measure of how rewarding it will be. To oneself is not only the

straight path but also the easiest since you do not at all need any

outer aid. As enjoined by Sri Bhagavan, we can, therefore, conclude

that any act that directs or drives the outgoing mind inward to its

source, the Eternal "I", is spiritual and that anything that drags

the mind outwards, doping it in any activity, is unspiritual.

 

Bhagavan Ramana has opened a path to wake us all up to this Truth of

inner felicity, which is going to reverberate the entire world. This

path will stand the test of time, logical analysis and clinical-type

practical application. Seekers after Truth will hold on to it and

thus keep the torch of the Truth silently but solidly burning for

centuries to come. Any one who can follow this silent, inward path

of Ramana wherever they may be and in whatever walk of life they may

be placed, not dependent upon nor affected by the challenges of

perplexed environments. Thus, this path of introspective Self-

Enquiry is an ever open path and hence anyone can tread it. It is

simple, direct and rationally supported by intuition and utterly

free from any outward influence, be it a religion or a dogma. This

path, therefore, is meant for practical business, office and factory

workers, or professional men, no less than for those monastic –

minded ones who are ready to renounce the world.

 

What makes Bhagavan's method unique is that it is based on

intuition checked by reason; also, this pure reasoning is employed

in the enquiry into the Self only by illuminated intuition. So, to

summarize, we shall quote Bhagavan's own words: " The state of non-

emergence of "I" is the state of Pure Being, Pure Awareness.

("Heart" is the word used by Bhagavan for this Pure reality within

us). This could be achieved only through enquiring "Who am I?" Just

as a man would dive in order to get something that had fallen in

water, so one would dive into oneself with a keen one – pointedness

and find the place whence the "I" originates. The only enquiry

leading to Self-knowledge is seeking the source of the feeling "I".

If one enquires "Who am I?" within, the individual "I", the

limited "I", falls down abashed as soon as one reaches the Heart.

Immediately the Reality manifests itself spontaneously as "I", "I".

Although it reveals itself as "I", it is not the limited "I" known

to us, but the Perfect Being, the Eternal "I", the Divine Essence in

us. The Self, the Truth that you seek to know is thus verily

yourself". Also, when once Sri Muruganar put a question to Sri

Bhagavan as to what he should do to attain the ultimate Truth, Sri

Bhagavan answered: "Be as you ARE!"

 

NOTE: TAKEN FROM: "BE THE SELF", BY V. GANESAN", PAGES 5 TO 17.