Self Questioning Who Am I ?

All living beings desire happiness and freedom from suffering. Everyone has immense love for themselves. Love is the root of happiness. To experience the natural happiness that the mind experiences in deep sleep, one must know oneself. Self-inquiry, "Who am I?", is then primary tool for this.

• Who am I?

I am not the physical body made up of seven elements. I am not the five senses (hearing, touch, sight, taste, smell) that perceive the five sense objects (sound, touch, form, taste, and smell) separately. I am not the five motor organs (speech, feet, hands, anus, genitals) that perform five actions (speaking, walking, giving, excreting, and enjoying). I am not the five vital airs (prana, apana, udana, samana, and vyana) along with five functions (respiration, etc.). I am not the mind that thinks. I am not the ignorance (deep sleep, susupti) that is devoid of all objects, all actions, and is attached only to the smell of objects.

•  If I am none of these, then who am I?

          The consciousness that remains after negating all of these is "I".

•  What is the nature of consciousness?

    The nature of consciousness is sat-chit-ananda (existence-consciousness bliss.

•  When does the realization of the nature of consciousness occur?

       When the visible world is not seen, then the vision of that vision, that is, the nature of consciousness, occurs.

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Sit quietly and ask yourself "Who am I?" Don't be afraid of silence. Observe the thoughts and feelings that arise, but don't get caught up in them. Simply observe and let them go.

Ramana Maharshi