Begin by finding a quiet and serene place where you can settle in comfortably.
Close your eyes gently and take a deep breath in through your nose,
Exhaling slowly through your mouth.
Allow the worries of the outside world to fade away as you focus on your breath.
Feel your body relaxing with each exhalation,
Releasing any tension you might be holding on to.
As you continue to breathe deeply,
Let your awareness turn inward.
Feel the gentle rise and fall of your chest or abdomen with each breath.
Let your breath become an anchor grounding you firmly in the present moment.
Now,
Let's begin our journey of self-inquiry,
Inspired by the teacher Ramana Maharshi.
Shift your focus to the sense of I,
The feeling of being you.
Reflect on what it truly means to be I.
What lies at the heart of this sense of self?
As you contemplate,
Allow any thoughts,
Emotions,
Or sensations that arise to be observed without judgment.
Imagine yourself as a curious explorer,
Embarking on an inward adventure.
Picture yourself standing at the threshold of self-discovery,
Ready to dive deep into the ocean of your consciousness.
With each breath,
You move further into the landscape of your inner world.
Now,
Let's ask ourselves the question,
Who am I?
Feel the weight of these words as they reverberate within you.
Let go of any desire for intellectual answers.
Instead,
Open yourself to the direct experience of your being.
Allow your awareness to merge with the question itself,
Like a river flowing with the current of inquiry.
As you hold this question,
Who am I,
In your consciousness,
Begin to notice the layers of identity that contribute to your sense of self.
Reflect on the roles you play,
The titles you hold,
And the thoughts that shape your perception of who you are.
Observe these aspects of identity as they pass through your awareness,
Like fleeting clouds in the vast sky of your mind.
Now,
Shift your attention to the source of this feeling of I.
Does it seem to emanate from a specific point within your body?
Is it tied to the thoughts that arise in your mind,
Or the emotions that flow through your heart?
Observe this source without seeking to analyze it,
Or judge it.
Should distractions arise,
Gently guide your focus back to the question,
Who am I?
Let the question be your anchor,
Inviting you to delve deeper into the layers of your being.
Allow the question to create a space for introspection,
An opportunity to explore the mysteries that lie within.
Continuing this contemplation,
You might begin to sense a subtle expansion.
It's as if the boundaries of your usual self-identity are stretching,
Revealing a more expansive space of interconnectedness.
Embrace this feeling of spaciousness and connection,
Recognizing that your individual self is but a thread woven into the grand tapestry of existence.
Now release the question and any expectations,
And simply be.
Sit in the presence of pure awareness,
Free from the constructs of thought and definition.
Let go of the need to grasp on to any answers.
Allow yourself to bask in the serenity of your own being.
As we come to the conclusion of this meditation,
Take a few more deep breaths,
Gradually bringing your awareness back to the external world.
Gently wiggle your fingers and toes,
Allowing your body to reawaken.
And when you're ready,
Open your eyes.
Take a moment to reflect on your experience.
Understand that the journey of self-inquiry is a transformative one,
A journey of peeling back the layers to reveal the essence of your true self.
Feel free to return to this meditation whenever you wish to continue exploring the nature of your being.
Remember,
The path of self-inquiry is a journey of direct experience and inner exploration.
Approach the process with patience,
Curiosity,
And an open heart,
Allowing yourself to be receptive to whatever insights and revelations arise along the way.
Good work,
And Namaste.
