12) Direct Path & Self-Inquiry
The name "Direct Path" for the approach of self-inquiry as a route to nondual awakening comes from Ramana Maharshi: "When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature, it transpires that there is no such thing as mind. This is the direct path for all".
We live our lives in our thoughts about the past and future, almost never in what is unfolding, NOW. When eating, you think about work. When working, you think about going to a party. At the party, you think about talking to someone (anyone) else, what to say next, what you said that was stupid or brilliant, or being at a better party. This is a second-hand life. Your thoughts rob you of your life, your happiness and presence. Don’t let your life be like the John Lennon quote, “what happens to you while you’re making other plans.”
An important approach to awakening by using "self-inquiry" into the nature of the “I” as the most direct way to be free from the tyranny of narrative thoughts. We can either focus on the myriad objects, an endless process, or we can simply deconstruct the subject. This is the often overlooked key.
There are other useful, powerful exercises: a) Where do your thoughts come from and where do they go to? b) Can you predict your thoughts for the next two minutes? and c) Is there only one "I"?
A typical passage, which is a good summary of self-inquiry: “When other thoughts arise, one should not pursue them, but should inquire: ‘To whom do they arise?’ It does not matter how many thoughts arise. As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence, ‘To whom has this thought arisen?’ The answer that would emerge would be ‘to me’. Thereupon if one inquires ‘Who am I?’ the mind will go back to its source and the thought that arose will become quiescent. With repeated practice in this manner, the mind will develop the skill to stay in its source.”
Sources:
The name "Direct Path" for the approach of self-inquiry as a route to nondual awakening comes from Ramana Maharshi: "When the mind unceasingly investigates its own nature, it transpires that there is no such thing as mind. This is the direct path for all".
We live our lives in our thoughts about the past and future, almost never in what is unfolding, NOW. When eating, you think about work. When working, you think about going to a party. At the party, you think about talking to someone (anyone) else, what to say next, what you said that was stupid or brilliant, or being at a better party. This is a second-hand life. Your thoughts rob you of your life, your happiness and presence. Don’t let your life be like the John Lennon quote, “what happens to you while you’re making other plans.”
An important approach to awakening by using "self-inquiry" into the nature of the “I” as the most direct way to be free from the tyranny of narrative thoughts. We can either focus on the myriad objects, an endless process, or we can simply deconstruct the subject. This is the often overlooked key.
There are other useful, powerful exercises: a) Where do your thoughts come from and where do they go to? b) Can you predict your thoughts for the next two minutes? and c) Is there only one "I"?
A typical passage, which is a good summary of self-inquiry: “When other thoughts arise, one should not pursue them, but should inquire: ‘To whom do they arise?’ It does not matter how many thoughts arise. As each thought arises, one should inquire with diligence, ‘To whom has this thought arisen?’ The answer that would emerge would be ‘to me’. Thereupon if one inquires ‘Who am I?’ the mind will go back to its source and the thought that arose will become quiescent. With repeated practice in this manner, the mind will develop the skill to stay in its source.”
Sources: