I love Self-inquiry, it's a philosophy that has been round for thousands of years, probably since self-aware humans have existed. It was recently revived by the sage Ramana Maharshi who advocated Self-inquiry as the most direct means for Self-realization/awakening/enlightenment.

I'm wondering if any of you are familiar with this meditation?

Hi,

I consider myself the practitioner of simple yoga too. I'm interested into pure spirituality practice, not a dogmatic religions. Simple meditation practices as often as possible. Teachings of Nisargadatta Maharaj, Ramana Maharshi, Dōgen or Ch'an masters is music to my ears. I'm sure it is only needed practice to liberate oneself. But that's just me, there are probably many paths to walk.

Good luck and Regards.

The non-dualistic paths of Advaita/Zen can certainly take out a lot of possible confusion and years of searching, as they simply bring the focus back to your own existence, what is, over & over, until something clicks and you just get it.

I haven't actually read much Nisargadatta yet although he is widely considered to be one of the greatest contemporary Advaita Sages. I have encountered a living Sage in the lineage of Ramana Maharshi and felt being around them really assisted my own path to realization.

I'll send you a link to some of their Satsangs...

Hi,

Thanks for the link. But...

I gave up on following someone else philosophies or teaching years ago. I self studied religious concepts and philosophies for years realizing that no teacher can bring someone else into liberation, freedom. There is no way he could show others his 'enlightenment', how it feels, what it is etc. All he can do is live as example of freedom. More 'guru' speaks, less he could teach. There was no student who ever reached satori by following a guru's teachings. In other words, there was no guru in history, who's student reached enlightenment. Not Gautama, or any other teacher brought anyone to satori. If some story differ, that's a myth, a fairy tale. No one can get liberated walking someone else path.

But...

I believe that there are/were masters from who one could feel freedom. One could actually got into the 'ego-less' state of quiet mind just sitting by such master. They are like alive DMT. (bad joke )There are many respected testimonies throughout the history about this phenomena. Maharisi was one of those holly masters. That is why he attracted crowds of people. They build ashram around him sitting. Even animals loved to gather around him meditating. I didn't meet such a master yet though.
Last great testimony I read was travelogue book : 'Bones of Master' by George Crane. I could only recommend. There are photos in the book too. I bought it on Amazon secondhand.

Now, all I wanted to say is, that I've done my homework and all I do now is the practice of very simple meditations. There is nothing more for me to explore in religious/philosophical field. But plants can still teach me much, much more
But again, that's me, my way.

Regards.

will not be surprised to learn one day that endogenous, DMT like substances cruise through the cells and vessels of those who have successfully practiced self-inquiry.

Yeah, i do feel that being around an awakened being for a while can really help the strength of your own meditation, then like you say you 'do it' yourself with noone elses help, you walk your own path.

Oh yeah...

Meditation practice is quite psychoactive. It is hard to explain, but when I tried to describe it to people with same practice they always recognized it.

I know I'm heading right direction when I start to feel kind of shift in perception. I feel like turning into the 'stone' or statue and my headspace is getting wider at the same time. Or it's like there is some heavy tumor growing in my chest, soon to become bigger than me. It feels that my limbs are miles away and my mind is turning into infinite space soon. Before I can't feel the body at all, just that wast headspace, it feels like body weight a tone. There is the period of fear and feeling of energy vibrations. There are some thoughts here and there, but at this stage those are very easy to ignore. It's very powerful feeling to be able to ignore the mind thought stream so easily. This all start to happen in about fifteen minutes after starting to ignoring any thoughts in lying possition.(my meditation technique). It is important to reach that statue state feeling. It's a trigger for further shifts to happen. Sometimes I have to do 'imagine you are dead' practice to reach that trigger.

The fear, vibrating period is hardest to overcome, need to be let go, and happen to me rarely that I success that. But when I did I burst to tears after dissolving into timeless white happiness. When that happens I don't want to go out. I spent there hours for few times.

Regards.

Glad to see fellow travelers on the path of self inquery. Especially Nexians.

I am also very cautions of dogma, but find some teachers that simply create the clearing. Admittedly, they have nothing to teach you. It's almost as if the vacuum of ideas in their presence deepens your own vacuum of concepts and ideas. Somehow this is instructive in an experiential manner. Gangaji is also of Sri HWL Poonja (Papaji's) lineage.

Zubidlo, your description is most excellent. 'timeless white happines'

Peace

Hello,

I honestly think that all we do, whole our life is...looking for freedom or god if you like. I realized that a long time ago. Take the money for example. Money work so well, because collecting the money is just disguised pursue of freedom. There is this believe in deep corner of mind that more money we'll have, more free we'll be. One can easily spend lifetime collecting assets as an easier substitution for god search. I honestly think that whenever we know it or not, we spend our life looking for god. Which is an elementary idea behind gnosticism. Gnosticism is pretty cool by the way The first philosophy I've been introduced to through Herman Hesse's 'Demian' in my teens. Book hit me like a sledgehammer

Anyway... what I'saying is that I'm looking...still looking...but somehow my attention had been shifted out of society. Nature seems to be the right guru for me now. River, trees, animals...entheogenic plants...the rain, the Sun...time for practice is NOW,you know

Regards.

Yes. All our substitute adventures. Trying to fill up the void. So many stories and goals oriented around this notion of a self. All the world is a stage.

This is why self inquery seems so appropriate. With the individual self actually experienced to be false, freedom is allowed to arise. Afterall, it's hard to identify with money, possessions or situations without a self to do it.

When I look, it is here, it is now, all things are in flux, but I'm nowhere to be found.

Peace

Hi,

I always admired zazen, cha'n ascetic practitioners. Teachings of the stick
And we are on the same page here...My practice is mostly build on Nisargadatta Maharaj's self inquiry:
wiki quote:
'Sri Nisargadatta, with his direct and minimalistic explanation of non-dualism, is considered the most famous teacher of Advaita since Ramana Maharshi'

plus I do walking meditation based on Ch'an (zen) buddhism.
I choose my path, which was easy...now comes the dedication, which is not.
Can you write about personal experiences, like 'first time' stuff or whatever you came through...
That's interested. But only if you like.

Regards.

sorry for broken English. morning after Halloween, you know

Ahh...what a GREAT Halloween...

When I get the self inquiry together, there is nothing - in the world, in my head, the things I've done or haven't done - that is not part of the Perfection that we are.

My experience is that meditation is promising and feels right so i continue, not as practice, just as a natural act in the moment. Lucid dreaming has been revealing, bringing me to the brink of awe - knowing, or being, that final Truth. Entheogens have brought the awe and taught much but requires the most integration effort.

The funny thing is, I'm having more moments of clarity (or what have you) in everyday situations far more often. Usually, it is spurred by something random and beautiful; a sun rise, my kids at play, the love of a parent and so on. Its like tasting life fully, without any me present. I hope this trend continues Could it be the notion of a me (ego) is obscuring the pure joy of life that is always present? I see that is so ... for me, whoever that is

Peace.