Spiritual Inquiry

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Definitions:
Spiritual: of or pertaining to the spirit or soul, as distinguished from the physical nature
Inquiry: a seeking or request for truth, information, or knowledge

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“Forget not the goal of life amidst selfish activities. The goal of life is self-realisation. Are you attempting to reach the end and aim in life? Are you doing japa (repetition of a name of God)? Are you doing pranayama (yoga breathing)? Are you doing meditation? Have you kept the ideal before your mind's eye? That day in which you do not do any spiritual sadhana (practice) is wasted. Give the mind to God and the hands to work.”

 Swami Sivananda

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

“In the kaliyuga, man, being totally dependent on food for life, cannot altogether shake off the idea that he is the body. In this state of mind it is not proper for him to say: 'I am He'. When a man does all sorts of worldly things, he should not say, 'I am Brahman'.
Those who cannot give up attachment to worldly things, and who find no means to shake off the feeling of 'I', should rather cherish the idea, 'I am God's servant; I am His devotee.' One can also realize God by following the path of devotion.”  - Ramakrishna Paramhansa

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

“No matter what be anyone's line of approach, at first there is torment and perplexity; one is unable to find. After that comes a state of suspense - emptiness as it were; one can not penetrate within, neither does one derive satisfaction from worldly enjoyment.”  - Anandamayee Ma

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

“Take care not to be contented at any stage. Some aspirants have visions, others realizations. Or someone even experiences bliss, great happiness and thinks he has himself become God. On the path to Self-awareness, before true Realization supervenes, one may get caught up in supernormal powers (vibhutis). To become entangled in this kind of thing constitutes a grave obstacle.”  - Anandamayee Ma

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

“There are three kinds of devotees: superior, mediocre, and inferior. The inferior devotee says, ‘God is out there.’ According to him God is different from His creation. The mediocre devotee says: ‘God is the Antaryami, the Inner Guide. God dwells in everyone’s heart.’ The mediocre devotee sees God in the heart. But the superior devotee sees that God alone has become everything; He alone has become the twenty-four cosmic principles. He finds that everything, above and below, is filled with God” - Ramakrishna Paramhansa

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

Disciple: Why should Self-enquiry alone be considered the direct means to jnana?

Master: Because every kind of sadhana except that of atma vichara (self introspection) presupposes the retention of the mind as the instrument for carrying on the sadhana, and without the mind it cannot be practised. The ego may take
different and subtler forms at the different stages of one’s practice, but is itself never destroyed.
Sri Raman Maharshi

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

“One cannot be spiritual as long as one has shame, hatred, or fear.”
Ramakrishna Paramhansa

Re: Spiritual Inquiry

As long as there are impressions of objects in the mind, so long the inquiry “Who am I?” is required. As thoughts arise they should be destroyed then and there in the very place of their origin, through inquiry. If one resorts to contemplation of the Self unintermittently, until the Self is gained, that alone would do. As long as there are enemies within the fortress, they will continue to sally forth; if they are destroyed as they emerge, the fortress will fall into our hands.

Sri Raman Mharshi

From the book:
Who Am I? (Nan Yar?)
Published by
V. S. RAMANAN
PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SRI RAMANASRAMAM
TIRUVANNAMALAI, S. INDIA