Who am I? is the title given to a set of questions and answers bearing on Self-enquiry. The questions were put to Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi by Sri M. Sivaprakasam Pillai, about the year 1902. Sri Pillai, a graduate in philosophy, was at the time employed in the Revenue Department of the South Arcot Collectorate. During his visit to Tiruvannamalai in 1902 on official work, he went to Virupaksha Cave on Arunachala Hill and met the Maharshi there. He sought from him spiritual guidance and solicited answers to questions relating to Self-enquiry. As Bhagavan was not talking then, not because of any vow he had taken but because he did not have the inclination to talk, he answered questions put to him by writing. As recollected and recorded by Sri Sivaprakasam Pillai, there were thirteen questions and answers to them given by Bhagavan. This record was first published by Sri Pillai in 1923 (in the original Tamil), along with a couple of poems composed by himself relating how Bhagavan’s grace operated in his case by dispelling his doubts and by saving him from a crisis in life.

Who Am I?

Religion & Spirituality

Maharshi, Sri Ramana

Hinduism

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

EVERY living being longs always to be happy, untainted by sorrow; and everyone has the greatest love for himself, which is solely due to the fact that happiness is his real nature. Hence, in order to realise that inherent and untainted happiness, which indeed he daily experiences when the mind is subdued in deep sleep, it is essential that he should know himself. For obtaining such knowledge the enquiry, ‘Who am I?’ in quest of the Self is the best means. ‘WHO AM I?’ I am not this physical body, nor am I the five organs1 of sense perception; I am not the five organs of external activity2, nor am I the five vital forces,3 nor am I even the thinking mind. Neither am I that unconscious state of nescience which retains merely the subtle vasanas (latencies of the mind), while being free from the functional activity of the sense-organs and the mind, and being unaware of the existence of the objects of sense-perception. Therefore, summarily rejecting all the above-mentioned physical adjuncts and their functions, saying ‘I am not this: no, nor am I this, nor this’ — that which then remains separate and alone by itself, that pure Awareness is whatI am. This Awareness self is by its very nature Sat-Chit-Ananda, (Being- Consciousness- Bliss). If the mind, which is the instrument of knowledge and is the basis of all activity, subsides, the perception of the world as an objective reality ceases. Unless the illusory perception of the serpent in the rope ceases, the rope on which the illusion is formed is not perceived as such.4 Similarly, unless the illusory nature of the perception of the world as an objective reality ceases, the vision of the true nature of the Self, on which the illusion is formed, is not obtained. The mind is a unique power (sakti) in the Atman whereby thoughts occur to one. On scrutiny as to what remains after eliminating all thoughts, it will be found that there is no such thing as mind apart from thought. So then, thoughts themselves constitute the mind.

Words of Grace

"Essence of Inquiry" contains Sri Ramana Maharshi's earliest recorded teaching, Self-Inquiry, and a commentary on this scared scripture for the spiritual benefit of the seekers. The text, Self-Inquiry, chronicles the profound dialogues from 1900 to 1902 between Sri Ramana Maharshi and an ardent seeker of truth, Gambhiram Seshiar. This text is a sacred scripture, for a scripture represents a direct revelation of the Truth free of mental conceptions. Bhagavan's teaching, when placed in printed words, is certainly scripture, for its significance is Truth transcending the words or thoughts utilized for its expression. The commentary helps in understanding the true import of Sri Ramana's words and is singularly focused on Self-Knowledge and Self-Inquiry. From the Introduction: "One who approaches this sacred scripture with deep devotion and a sincere desire to realize the Self, and who, blessed by His Grace, practices in accordance with the wisdom herein elucidated, will doubtlessly realize the sole-existent Self, the nondual Brahman, and abide as That, of the nature of undifferentiated Being-Consciousness-Bliss." From the foreword by late Sri A.R. Natarajan, President of Ramana Maharshi Center for Learning: "To write a commentary on the sacred words of Ramana, one has to be constantly perceptive of this ever-flowing grace. It is evident that Master Nome has this perception. The humility with which he has approached this holy work is found in his beginning each commentary with the all powerful twelve word mantra on Ramana "Om Namo Bhagavate Sri Ramanaya." He closes each commentary with "Ramanarpanamastu - may this be an offering to Ramana." And what worthy offering it is. With his own experience of the natural state, Nome is able to explain the true import of Ramana's word with utmost clarity and depth... Nome writes not from book knowledge but from experience. This is so from question one to question forty. There is no false note, no wavering of understanding."

Essence of Inquiry: Vicharasangraham, A Commentary by Nome

Nome

Seshayya, Gambhiram

Five Flowers of Self-Knowledge: Atma-Vidya

Society of Abidance in Truth

A commentary on selected verses from Sri Ramana Maharshi's Supplement of the Forty Verses on Reality and Five Verses on the One Self (Ekatma Panchakam) by Nome The English verses are as they appear in the 1974 fourth edition of The Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi published by Sri Ramanasramam. The verses and the commentary dispel the illusion of being a bodily form, reveal the unreality of the ego, and help find peace that is changeless, happiness that is perfectly full, and freedom without the least trace of bondage or limitation. Earlier, SAT published an English translation with commentary of the Sanskrit version of the Forty Verses on Reality called Saddarsanam, and An Inquiry Into the Revelation of Truth and Oneself. The commentary was derived from transcripts of spiritual instruction imparted at the SAT Temple. This present book is also derived from transcripts of the spiritual instruction expounded at the SAT Temple during retreats in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017. Of the verses selected, some were composed by Sri Ramana, and some were composed by other sages, such as Adi Sankaracarya and Vasishtha. Reading and meditating with this text will dispel the darkness and gloom of delusion and reveal the egoless real state.

The Light of Wisdom

Society of Abidance in Truth (SAT Temple)

Text in Russian. Book & DVD. Nan Yar is a classic spiritual text from one of the greatest Indian teachers, Sri Ramana Maharshi, and one of the most important books of the 20th Century. Containing the essence of his teachings, it lights the way for a clear, practical understanding and realization of spiritual awakening. A beautifully designed edition, the original text has been set to touching quotes and wonderful digital remastered photographs of Sri Ramana Maharshi. Trailer DVD included in the back for the films of Open Sky Press.

Nan Yar - Who Am I? (Russian Edition)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Alternative Medicine

GARDNERS VI BOOKS AMS006

Verses on what is, originally written in Tamil as Ulladu Narpadu, meaning "Forty on What Is." Sanskrit rendering by Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni. English translation and commentary by A. R. Natarajan. Includes both English and Sanskrit verses.

Sat - Darshanam Forty verses on reality

Ramana Maharshi Centre for Learning

Five Hymns to Sri Arunachala

(Translated by Prof. K. Swaminathan)

V. S. Ramanan

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