What is the Self

23. Other Systems and Alternate Approaches
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I have just recently gone through Ramana Maharishi’s 40 verses on self-realisation, basically the English translation of the Ulladu Narpadu, which was written in Tamil language. Then I stumbled upon the YouTube videos on this topic, elaborated by Swami Ramanacharna Tirtha. I would heartily recommend the book reading supplemented by the 37 discourses, to all those who feel so drawn.

The Upanishads have also obviously dived deep into the enigmatic subject of Self, our true being, as have texts like the Ashtavakra Gita. I am sure most here would be familiar with these ancient teachings of the sages. Then of course we have this forum itself, videos of Mooji, Rupert Spira, Swami Sarvapriyananda and many others.

The knowing that is academic however, being conceptual, does not offer us the taste of what is. So we must see directly with our inner eye. Perhaps there is no infallible direct method available for this, other than slowing down thoughts which feed the ego, our false self, so that as silence deepens, in timeless time we see the light … literally.

I look forward to your inputs on what your non-dual recognition is, what the Self actually is, which Ramana equates with God or universal consciousness.

Let us say it like it is for us.

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The Katha Upanishad verse 2.1.12 describes the Self, as embodied in our form, as follows:

“The Puruṣa (Self), of the size of a thumb, resides in the middle of the body as the lord of the past and the future, (he who knows Him) fears no more. This verily is That.”

Lahiri Mahasaya, the revered Kriya Yoga master also said likewise.

The heart is said to be the centre, the abode of Self, which of course we may say has no size and no location actually but to begin with, this is how the Self has been presented for academic understanding.

Ramana Maharishi, Robert Adam’s and Santosh Sachdeva among others speak of Self as synonymous with our spiritual heart, located on the right of the physical heart, which is slightly left from our central axis. So theoreticians debate whether right means the geometric centre or actually on the right flank.

Then there is the higher heart just below the jugular notch …

Other schools of spirituality, particularly the Sant Mat tradition, Radhaswamy Satsang Beas and more or less all energy practitioners talk more about the third eye, crown, pineal gland etc. If we hear out Swami Harihirananda for example, we may be convinced that the crown chakra is literally God’s abode.

This said, respecting all traditions, even accepting them as a plausible hypothesis, what matters is our own direct realisation.

Holy Spirit consciousness hones

So what is the truth our heart owns

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Hi UnseekingSeeker,

The idea that the Self is located in the body, to the right of the physical heart, being about the size of a man’s thumb is an appearance only. This is the perception as seen from within, when descending down from the crown chakra, through the amrita nadi, into the Sacred Heart. But actaully the Self is not located anywhere in the body. Rather, it is the other way around. The body is located in the Self. The Self is actually vast, bigger then the whole universe.

This can be known through repeadedly bringing the mind to silence in meditation. It can also be known through engaging in self-inquiry practices. These practices gradually dissolve the illusion of separation, leading to liberation.

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Very true, Tristan.

That is the reason I had said we must realise directly rather than taking scripture as valid in as adopting the literal meaning.

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