{"id":161088,"date":"2022-01-10T09:51:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-10T04:21:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2026-07-29T13:53:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-29T08:23:40","slug":"da-the-life-and-teaching-of-sri-ramana-maharshi-pt-3-his-method","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypalmleaf.com\/da\/da-the-life-and-teaching-of-sri-ramana-maharshi-pt-3-his-method\/","title":{"rendered":"Sri Ramana Maharshis liv og l\u00e6re del 3: Hans metode"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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The life of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi is a stunning example of a life lived in service to truth. More than this, there is the self inquiry method of Sri Ramana Maharshi. A teaching that has profoundly impacted this world. So much so that we have not yet seen the crest of the wave. The introduction of this teaching to the wider world has created a kind of spiritual shock wave. A wave that will continue into the future. Similar to the teaching of the Buddha.<\/p>\n

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What is the Self Inquiry Method of Sri Ramana?The primary teaching offered constantly by Sri Ramana is commonly known as the self inquiry method of Sri Ramana Maharshi.<\/p>\n

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This is essentially a method of inquiring directly into the actual (as opposed to assumed) nature of the sense of self. Direct perception, or experiential knowledge, of the essential nature of the Self, is known as Moksha, liberation.<\/p>\n

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This simple method is not unique to Sri Ramana. Indeed there are texts that are at least 3500 years old that speak of self inquiry. Yet, what is remarkable is that Bhagavan Ramana revealed this method purely from his own experience. Without any knowledge of the texts that speak of this practice.<\/p>\n

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Also remarkable is the degree of directness and simplicity with which Sri Ramana presented this method. He effortlessly integrated and adapted this teaching to fit the lives, current spiritual practices, and interests of anyone who came to him.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor all thoughts the source is the \u2018I\u2019 thought. The mind will merge only by Self-enquiry \u2018Who am I?\u2019 The thought \u2018Who am l?\u2019 will destroy all other thoughts and finally kill itself also. If other thoughts arise, without trying to complete them, one must enquire to whom did this thought arise. What does it matter how many thoughts arise? As each thought arises one must be watchful and ask to whom is this thought occurring. The answer will be \u2018to me\u2019. If you enquire \u2018Who am I?\u2019 the mind will return to its source (or where it issued from). The thought which arose will also submerge. As you practice like this more and more, the power of the mind to remain as its source is increased.\u201d<\/h2>\n

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– Sri Ramana Maharshi<\/p>\n

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Self Inquiry<\/strong>The self inquiry method of Sri Ramana Maharshi Is quite straight forward. Firstly, becoming curious about the nature of that which is aware of your thoughts, perceptions etc. Whatever it is that is aware of the content of your experience, is what you refer to as \u2018I\u2019.<\/p>\n

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Then notice the quality of your attention. Notice when your attention becomes wrapped up in a mental image. You imagine yourself washing dishes, maybe feeling resentful of doing so. Or, you imagine yourself walking in a park feeling free while sitting at your desk, bored at work. You are mentally repeating an argument you had with your spouse 2 weeks ago.<\/p>\n

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In any of these scenarios, the sense of yourself (that which is aware of the images, feelings, perceptions) is identified with the images that appear and disappear. Thus, we can say we are \u2018lost\u2019 in \u2018projections\u2019 of ourselves, in our minds.<\/p>\n

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Thus, noticing this, we are instructed to \u2018surrender\u2019, or let go of the limited story of ourselves. Finally, in doing so, we may experientially come to rest in awareness of our true Self.<\/p>\n

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Believing that the images and the accompanying feelings define \u2018us\u2019 we are limited. Essentially unaware of the essence of our being. Of who we \u2018truly\u2019 are when divested of the belief in the limited, mental version of ourselves.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThere are two ways of achieving surrender. One is looking into the source of the \u2018I\u2019 and merging into that source. The other is feeling \u2018I am helpless myself, God alone is all powerful and except throwing myself completely on Him, there is no other means of safety for me\u2019, and thus gradually developing the conviction that God alone exists and the ego does not count. Both methods lead to the same goal. Complete surrender is another name for jnana or liberation.\u201d<\/h2>\n

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– Sri Ramana Maharshi<\/p>\n

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The basic teaching of Bhagavan Ramana is to acknowledge the essential, not the imagined nature of your own Self. The self inquiry method of Ramana Maharshi, described above, is the primary method he offered to facilitate this.<\/p>\n

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However, to more mature seekers another, even simpler method exists. The method of \u2018surrender\u2019. Mature spiritual seekers are those who have practised. And as a result have tasted, at least for some moments, the nature of the Self.<\/p>\n

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Once this pointer becomes experiential, a certain trust begins to blossom. Experience becomes unshakeable faith. This faith can be named love. Love of the essence of being.<\/p>\n

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When this love is born in the heart of the meditator it becomes (relatively) easier to let go. It can even become a spontaneous response to the tendency to fall into thoughts and identification. In this sense, whenever the practitioner notices the distraction, there is also an intense longing to return to the peace and stillness of self awareness. This outweighs any interest in following a nonsensical thought. Then emotional interest in keeping the thought alive is spontaneously let go of.<\/p>\n

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