Overview
In this podcast Swami Ramakrishnananda describes the method of self inquiry, a spiritual process that begins by questioning and investigating into one’s ways of behavior, mental mechanisms and questions such as: who am I? Or what am I? When this search evolves into a deep and intense flow of curiosity and attention towards life and the being, it can lead to the realization of the self, of our true nature.
This Satsang has taken place at the Ramakrishnananda ashram in NY between Swamiji and his disciple Mukunda Das. The topic of Vicharana, or self inquiry was in light of Shankaracharya’s Aparokshanubhuti verse 11.
Excerpt from the podcast…
What are the most important characteristics for being a disciple?
“There is only one characteristic, and it is the most important for everyone in order to advance on their spiritual path. It is what Shankaracharya say’s in the Aparokshanubhuti verse 11, to inquire and explore, question and investigate. That is the most important quality in the attitude of a real seeker. That is the light as Shankara says. When you search for something at night you need a light, and in life, a light In order to search for reality…
How to Inquire
If you want to know what is to inquire? What is to explore? What does it mean to investigate? Then you are in the right direction, because a disciple is someone who is interested in himself…A spiritual person is someone who had awakened within, a real interest in life, for what he is. You become the focus of your own interest; you want to know what and who you are…
Searching for answers
Don’t think too much about the answer, the answer is something which is dead. When you have the answer the quest is finished. The question is alive and the question would lead you, but not to an answer… An answer is only an escape from reality and truth; it’s not the direction to realize something. A spiritual question does not search for an answer but a presence. When you ask the Guru what is life and you don’t search for some words as an answer, but you’re sensitive enough to perceive the presence with your question then that presence is your real answer. The answer is you. Your presence now and here in this moment, the presence of your reality is the real answer…
The process of self inquiry is the process of deep questioning
The spiritual answer should lead you to a state of being and not to sentences. So the important thing in the answer is your questioning. Invest time in thinking about it and really going deep into the investigation. Not only a mental investigation. Can you imagine a question where your entire being is there? Your entire energy, it’s not a childish curiosity, but all your being and presence is there, it is a question of life and death, you have to know it. And then your question is very deep… “
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