The Essence of Looking Within
What is self inquiry? Self-inquiry represents one of the most direct and profound spiritual practices available to us. Unlike many approaches that add information or techniques to your mental toolkit, self-inquiry works through subtraction—removing layers of misidentification to reveal what has been present all along. At its core, self-inquiry is the practice of turning attention inward to discover your true nature.
This approach differs fundamentally from psychological self-analysis or therapeutic reflection employed by many. It’s not about analyzing thoughts or feelings, exploring past experiences, as a spirtually motivated psychic its about or understanding personality patterns—though these can be valuable in their own right. Rather, self-inquiry questions who, or better yet, what is experiencing these phenomena in the first place.
The distinction is crucial. Most contemplative practices involve focusing on an object of awareness, whether that’s the breath, a mantra, or bodily sensations. Self-inquiry, by contrast, turns awareness back upon itself, investigating the very nature of the one who is aware. This recursive movement creates the possibility for a direct recognition of consciousness itself, unconditioned by the content it typically fixates upon.
Throughout history, variations of self-inquiry have appeared in wisdom traditions worldwide, from the Advaita Vedanta teachings captured in texts like the Upanishads to aspects of Zen Buddhism, Sufism, and certain esoteric Christian practices. As explored in my article on contemplative traditions, these approaches share a common insight: our fundamental nature cannot be found through conceptual understanding but only through direct investigation.
The Observer Effect: Beyond Scientific Parallels
Interestingly, the process of self-inquiry parallels one of the most perplexing phenomena in quantum physics: the observer effect. Quantum physicists have discovered that the very act of observation fundamentally changes what’s being observed. Particles behave differently when being measured than when left unobserved, suggesting a mysterious relationship between consciousness and physical reality.
In self-inquiry, we encounter a similar dynamic. As we turn attention back on itself, the questioner becomes inseparable from what’s being questioned. The traditional subject-object relationship collapses. This presents a fascinating paradox: how can the “I” investigate itself when the very act of investigation presupposes separation between investigator and investigated?
This paradox serves as a doorway. By persistently inquiring into the nature of awareness, we begin to recognize that consciousness itself cannot be objectified or grasped as a thing. Rather, it’s the ever-present context in which all experience unfolds. This recognition can trigger a profound shift in how we experience ourselves and reality.
The quantum parallel extends further. Just as quantum objects exist in superposition—potentially inhabiting multiple states simultaneously until observed—our identity remains fluid and unbounded until the mind artificially fixes it through conceptual thinking. Self-inquiry disrupts this fixation, allowing our natural state to reveal itself beyond conceptual boundaries.
The Practice: Discovering What You Already Are
How does one engage in self-inquiry? The approach is deceptively simple, yet profoundly challenging to our habitual ways of knowing. Begin by asking “Who am I?” then watching your mind’s answers. With persistent inquiry, you’ll notice that all the roles, qualities, and identities your mind indicates as “you” are actually not you—they’re objects appearing in awareness.
Many psychics try to impress you with what they see. But they do not understand their clairvoyance may ultimately not serve you spiritually at all. This is because you are not your name, your history, your profession, your body, or even your personality. These are all phenomena that come and go, while you—as awareness—remain constant. You are the silent witness observing what your mind describes as you. With regular practice, this awareness is revealed as your fundamental being.
A few practical guidelines can help deepen the inquiry:
- Begin in a quiet space where you won’t be disturbed, sitting in a comfortable position that allows alert attention.
- Pose the question “Who am I?” or “What am I?” silently to yourself. Don’t try to answer intellectually—simply let the question reverberate in your awareness.
- When thoughts, feelings, or sensations arise claiming to be you, gently ask “Who/what is aware of this?” or “To whom does this appear?”
- Notice that whatever you can observe cannot be you, the observer. Continue tracing awareness back to its source.
- Rest in the recognition that arises when conceptual answers fall away.
This practice, when engaged with sincerity and persistence, gradually dissolves the identification with limited self-concepts, revealing the spacious awareness that is your true nature. As the great sage Ramana Maharshi often pointed out, self-inquiry isn’t about achieving anything new but recognizing what has always been the case.
Self-inquiry can lead to momentary glimpses or sustained recognition of your fundamental nature beyond name and form. These recognitions often bring profound peace, as the anxieties and insecurities that plague the conceptual self are seen to be based on misidentification. Such insights, when fully integrated, can fundamentally reshape one’s relationship to life, suffering, and purpose.
Remember that self-inquiry is not about achieving an altered state but recognizing your natural state. It’s not an escape from reality but a direct encounter with what is most real. By practicing regularly, even for brief periods, you gradually undermine the mind’s habitual tendency to mistake itself for who you truly are, allowing the light of awareness to shine forth as your essential being. ♦
𝐓𝐨 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐉𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭: 𝐰𝐰𝐰.𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐤𝐞.𝐧𝐞𝐭
