Self Inquiry techniques
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There are here a few extremely valuable posts of tips & tricks for doing Ramana Maharshi's self enquiry.
I would specially recommend two:
A new one I have just seen half an hour ago: http://www.gurusfeet.com/blog/who-it-powerful-exercise
Another one with good guidlines to fine tune the practice of the method. Personally, helped me a lot: http://www.gurusfeet.com/blog/self-inquiry-tips
Anybody with additional resources, please post.
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David Godman's book
Great posts indeed!
I would recommend also David Godman's excellent book "The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi". That's where I learnt how to do the technique correctly avoiding all the pitfalls.
The book is cataloged under Ramana Maharshi as the author and not David Godman (as most of it is dialogs conducted by the Maharshi) but Godman did the wondeful selection and arrangement of the material and added the valuable introductions to each chapter that clarify the teachings.
There is a link to the book at amazon from the profile of Ramana Maharshi at http://www.gurusfeet.com/guru/ramana-maharshi#tabset-6 (it is the first book on the list)
Who Am I? Not a mental question?
Maybe this is already common knowledge, but is it possible then when Maharshi told usk to ask ourselves "Who Am I?" he didn't mean mentally/verbally, but instead focusing on the I awareness? For me, just asking myself the question (or repeating "I am" "I", or "I am That") usually doesn't do much (though one time I did expereince Samadhi by asking it), because it is the mind asking and the mind answering. My mind tries to come up with the perfect answer, or tries to bring me back to the state I was in before I reached Samadhi the other times, which is futile.
Yesterday I was practicing this method and was not finding any success, not even a quieting of the mind, and I remembered a technique I read about called the "Awareness watching Awareness method", which always seemed too abstract to me before. But I gave it a try, mainly just focusing on the 'I', but not in words, more just the presence that was looking from behind my eyes or maybe in my heart, and this seemed much more powerful than asking myself a question. I didn't do this for very long, so I'm not sure yet what the extended results will be. Has anyone else practiced this awareness watching awareness method? And if so, am I doing it correctly? Thanks.
Patience and persistence
Dear,
Do the self enquiry (or any other meditation or technique) without expecting any results, especially not immediate results, do it continuously and persistently for one year, two years, three years and then see what happens. You either have a trust that this is a good path or else do not do it. Your mind cannot anticipate or understand the results beforehand and so expectations are futile.
Are you serious expecting in one short session to reverse the mental habits you have nourished for 20-30-40 years?
The "Who Am I" question is only meant to create a mental pointer, not any verbal answer because the true ultimate subject, the tru "I", the true center is invisible, it cannot be grasped as an object (otherwise, it is not the subject but rather that which is grasping this object is etc.). You need a far greater patience, you do not get it pointed just like that but one day it will come if you persist with patience.
Anyway, self enquiry is not meant to pacify the mind whatsoever. It may temporarily cause the opposite.
Beware of "Awareness watching Awareness"
I would advise you strongly to beware of the "Awareness watching Awareness" method and stick to the simple and pure self enquiry.
The "Awareness watching Awareness" is a unfortunate ignorant distorted interpretation of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj in general and of the Self Inquiry in particular.
It mixes between all sorts of different things and worse of all, it assumes that the self or as it termed there "awareness" can be watched as an object while it is basic that anything that can be watched as an object is not the ultimate subject, is not the self but just another face of the "I" thought. Regarding the self, you can only abide in it, not watch it, i.e. peel off the onion to remain naked as the self.
Being in the Heart
I doubt that there is a "right way" but more what works for you. For me, it is not a mental question and words are not going to explain it either. But, words are what we have. For me it is a shift from mind to the heart. I get caught in some thought process and as soon as I shift into awareness, there is not so much thought as a physical sensation in my chest. That shift happens automatically when I bring my attention to my heart. I call it being but there seems to be other words that are used. I feel joy and such awe and gratitude for what we all are.
No, this is a very specific meditation
Do you have the same doubt about a procedure to defuse a bomb? or about setting your television? or the way the doctor operates you?
Of course not.
In the same way, certain meditation techniques, especially the powerful ones, like the Vipassana or Self Inquiry should be followed specifically and meticulously according to the instructions otherwise the technique can easily become ineffective. The mind will do whatever possible to deviate from the right course once it feels existential danger.
Self enquiry
In days of great peace by Mouni Sadhu is an excellent book in this context. He discussed in detail what changes and challanges he went through while practising Bhagavan's self enquiry technique. It also helps to study the lives of Annamalai Swamy, Seshadri Swamy, Nayana among others who were his contemporaries.
When I first heard about the process I was not very open to it. As I read more and more it started to make sense to me.
Arthur Osborne's Ramana Mahrshi and the path of self knowledge, A search in secret India by Paul Brunton, Ramana Leela by Krishna Bikshu ( edited by Bhagavan himself),
Five hymns to Arunachala, Self Enquiry and Spiritual instructions, Who am I -- by Bhagavan
Kanakamma's cherished memories, My life at the ashram by Suri Nagamma, Living with the master by Kunjuswami will bring back the days of that time in front of us.
Bhagavan is the greatest being in human form ever. His life is the example of how best life can be lived. I think studying his life and teachings inspires anyone to do his best to follow the path he taught all the people who were fortunate to be near him.