Turning attention back on itself: who or what is aware?
The practice of turning attention back on itself ('Who is aware?', 'Who am I?') is attributed to Ramana Maharshi and central to many neo-Advaita teachers. Several accounts describe years of philosophical inquiry collapsing into direct recognition.
What distinguishes self-inquiry from ordinary philosophical questioning is the direction of attention: instead of looking outward at objects of experience, attention is turned back on the one who is experiencing. In several accounts, this leads to a moment where the seeker can't be found.
So, let's figure out how to get as many people up and running with this as possible in their own way." There were all kinds of little insights there, like Ramana Maharishi's inquiry "Who am I?" did not work for me.
>>Rick: You know Ramana Maharishi talked about "Atman began," or self-inquiry as being probing or exploration in that area.
"Vichara." So the word "Vichara" means "Who am I?" or "Self-inquiry," is that right?
The inquiry of Ramana didn't work for me right away, the "What am I?" or "Who am I?" was his.