What is Self-Inquiry?
The practice of dismantling the self-illusion. 🔗All Articles on Self-Inquiry
Dismantling the Illusion of ‘Me’…
What is Self-Inquiry?
Self-Inquiry, in the context of radical non-duality, is the direct, experiential investigation into the nature and reality of the perceived self. It is the core practice of dismantling the ingrained belief in, and identification with, a separate, enduring personal “I” or “me”. It is not about self-improvement but about seeing through the self-construct altogether by rigorously examining the thoughts, feelings, sensations, memories, and beliefs that create this convincing, yet ultimately empty, sense of personal identity.
This inquiry isn’t merely intellectual; it’s a direct, often unsettling, look into the actual components of moment-to-moment experience. It challenges the root assumption of a central controller, thinker, or experiencer. Instead, it reveals experience as an impersonal flow of phenomena arising and passing within awareness, without a fixed entity orchestrating or undergoing them. The aim is to expose the unreality of the conceptual self – the imposter claiming ownership of life.
This section focuses specifically on the practice of looking, questioning, and investigating the self-construct.
Key Practices in Self-Inquiry
- Investigating the “I” Thought: Directly looking for the referent of the thought “I”. When “I am thinking” or “I feel sad” arises, where is the “I”? Is it found anywhere other than as another thought?
- Observing Lack of Central Control: Noticing how thoughts, feelings, and actions often arise spontaneously, without a conscious decision from a central “me”. This undermines the belief in a controlling agent.
- Unpacking Body Identification: Questioning the assumption “I am the body.” Are you the whole body? Parts? If parts change, does “I” diminish? Is the sense of “I” in the body, or is the body appearing in awareness?
- Seeing Through Memory and Narrative: Recognizing the sense of a continuous self is largely constructed from memory and stories. These are seen as mental constructs, not reflections of an enduring entity.
- Noticing Impersonality: Observing how experiences (sensations, sounds, emotions) simply happen – arise, are known, pass away. The labeling as “my” experience is seen as a secondary overlay.
Deeper Dive into Self-Inquiry
This investigation goes to the heart of perceived existence. Explore these related articles for further deconstruction:
Pointers for Self-Inquiry
Engage with these inquiries directly, without seeking intellectual answers:
- When you feel anxious, is there an “anxious self,” or just the arising energy of anxiety?
- Look for the thinker of your thoughts. Can you find it? Or are there just thoughts happening?
- Where does the sense of “me” feel located right now? Investigate that location. What is actually there?
- Are you the same “self” you were 10 years ago? What has remained constant besides a concept and memories?
- Try to hold onto the sense of “I” for 60 seconds without any other thought or sensation. Can it be done?
- What is aware of the sense of self? Is that awareness itself personal?
Recommended Reading (Self-Inquiry)
The practice of investigating the self-illusion (e.g., ‘Who Am I?’, observing thoughts). These resources offer potent tools and perspectives for self-inquiry:
