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Self-enquiry
Gambhiram Seshaier was a Municipal Overseer at Tiruvannamalai about 1900. He became a devotee of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi who was then living at the Virupaksha cave on the Arunachala Hill.
A student of yoga, he was especially interested in Swami Vivekananda’s lectures on Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, etc. Finding some difficulty in understanding these and similar books, he brought them to the Maharshi for elucidation. Sri Bhagavan then went through each of them and wrote out in easy Tamil prose the gist of these works on bits of paper and answered supplementary questions put by Seshaier. Thus Seshaier had quite a sheaf of these papers written by the Maharshi in 1900, 1901 and 1902; and he copied them into a small notebook.
After Seshaier passed away his notebook and some of the papers were obtained from his elder brother, G. Krishna Iyer and the contents were published with the title Vichara Sangraham.
This may therefore be regarded as the gist of the Maharshi’s earliest teachings. The Vichara Sangraham has unique value in that it constitutes the first set of instructions given by Sri Bhagavan in his own handwriting.
A student of yoga, he was especially interested in Swami Vivekananda’s lectures on Raja Yoga, Jnana Yoga, etc. Finding some difficulty in understanding these and similar books, he brought them to the Maharshi for elucidation. Sri Bhagavan then went through each of them and wrote out in easy Tamil prose the gist of these works on bits of paper and answered supplementary questions put by Seshaier. Thus Seshaier had quite a sheaf of these papers written by the Maharshi in 1900, 1901 and 1902; and he copied them into a small notebook.
After Seshaier passed away his notebook and some of the papers were obtained from his elder brother, G. Krishna Iyer and the contents were published with the title Vichara Sangraham.
This may therefore be regarded as the gist of the Maharshi’s earliest teachings. The Vichara Sangraham has unique value in that it constitutes the first set of instructions given by Sri Bhagavan in his own handwriting.
- GenresSpiritualityHinduism
39 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2013
27 people are currently reading
204 people want to read
About the author
Ramana Maharshi
255 books606 followersBhagavan Sri Ramaṇa Mahārṣi (Tamil: ரமண மஹரிஷி) born Venkataraman Iyer, was probably the most famous Indian sage of the twentieth century, he was born on December 30, 1879 in a village called Tirucculi about 30 miles south of Madurai in southern India. His middle-class parents named him Venkataraman. His father died when he was twelve, and he went to live with his uncle in Madurai, where he attended American Mission High School.
At age 16, he became spontaneously self-realized. Six weeks later he ran away to the holy hill of Arunachala where he would remain for the rest of his life. For several years he stopped talking and spent many hours each day in samadhi. When he began speaking again, people came to ask him questions, and he soon acquired a reputation as a sage. In 1907, when he was 28, one of his early devotees named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Divine Eminent Ramana the Great Seer, and the name stuck. Eventually he became world-famous and an ashram was built around him. He died of cancer in 1950 at the age of 70.
Ramana Maharshi was born 30 kilometers south of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India.
His Self-Realization
At age 16, he heard somebody mention "Arunachala." Although he didn't know what the word meant (it's the name of a holy hill associated with the god Shiva) he became greatly excited. At about the same time he came across a copy of Sekkilar's Periyapuranam, a book that describes the lives of Shaivite saints, and became fascinated by it. In the middle of 1896, at age 16, he was suddenly overcome by the feeling that he was about to die. He lay down on the floor, made his body stiff, and held his breath. "My body is dead now," he said to himself, "but I am still alive." In a flood of spiritual awareness he realized he was spirit, not his body.
His Guru
Ramana Maharshi didn't have a human guru (other than himself). He often said that his guru was Arunachala, a holy mountain in South India.
His Teachings
Ramana Maharshi taught a method called self-inquiry in which the seeker focuses continuous attention on the I-thought in order to find its source. In the beginning this requires effort, but eventually something deeper than the ego takes over and the mind dissolves in the heart center.
At age 16, he became spontaneously self-realized. Six weeks later he ran away to the holy hill of Arunachala where he would remain for the rest of his life. For several years he stopped talking and spent many hours each day in samadhi. When he began speaking again, people came to ask him questions, and he soon acquired a reputation as a sage. In 1907, when he was 28, one of his early devotees named him Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi, Divine Eminent Ramana the Great Seer, and the name stuck. Eventually he became world-famous and an ashram was built around him. He died of cancer in 1950 at the age of 70.
Ramana Maharshi was born 30 kilometers south of Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India.
His Self-Realization
At age 16, he heard somebody mention "Arunachala." Although he didn't know what the word meant (it's the name of a holy hill associated with the god Shiva) he became greatly excited. At about the same time he came across a copy of Sekkilar's Periyapuranam, a book that describes the lives of Shaivite saints, and became fascinated by it. In the middle of 1896, at age 16, he was suddenly overcome by the feeling that he was about to die. He lay down on the floor, made his body stiff, and held his breath. "My body is dead now," he said to himself, "but I am still alive." In a flood of spiritual awareness he realized he was spirit, not his body.
His Guru
Ramana Maharshi didn't have a human guru (other than himself). He often said that his guru was Arunachala, a holy mountain in South India.
His Teachings
Ramana Maharshi taught a method called self-inquiry in which the seeker focuses continuous attention on the I-thought in order to find its source. In the beginning this requires effort, but eventually something deeper than the ego takes over and the mind dissolves in the heart center.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 28, 2023
It is quite ironic that Ramana Maharshi who has reached liberation without any practices offers so many practices that are discussed in the sacred texts. This is a point that is hard for me to understand yet. The book itself is insightful. As part of the collected works which I am reading, I do hope to get more clarification that may aid me in reaching self-realization.
To add more, I'd say that the questioner could have asked a quantity of more quality questions to divide and atomize every single word to the extent of a whole volume rather than roughly 30 pages. I do appreciate and grateful for his contribution nontheless, yet the identification with the wondering and thinking "I", wonders how many readers have reached self-realization with these answers that could have been expanded and simplified much more?
To add more, I'd say that the questioner could have asked a quantity of more quality questions to divide and atomize every single word to the extent of a whole volume rather than roughly 30 pages. I do appreciate and grateful for his contribution nontheless, yet the identification with the wondering and thinking "I", wonders how many readers have reached self-realization with these answers that could have been expanded and simplified much more?
November 4, 2020
These are a translation of notes written by Ramana Maharishi himself in answer to various questions from the devotees.
It revolves around the "Who am I" which is the question that Maharishi has repeatedly asked the truth seekers to ask themselves again and again.
Not an easy read and not at all easy to practice, but one can feel the tremendous potential and value of the same.
A very good read.
It revolves around the "Who am I" which is the question that Maharishi has repeatedly asked the truth seekers to ask themselves again and again.
Not an easy read and not at all easy to practice, but one can feel the tremendous potential and value of the same.
A very good read.
April 19, 2020
The Beginning
It was way above my understanding but a beautiful start to my journey. I thank Ramana Maharshi for the knowledge.
It was way above my understanding but a beautiful start to my journey. I thank Ramana Maharshi for the knowledge.
February 26, 2023
Not easily understood at first but the teachings in this book have profound effect on one’s self realisation. A must read for sure.
October 7, 2025
One of the early teachings-set of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi. In just a few questions and answers, the whole of Self-knowledge is succinctly explained.
February 22, 2015
Although the reader may garner the central theme of Ramana Maharshi's philosophy and or mysticism, this book is to technical for the average reader. I believe there are other books that give more of an insight into this philosophy. "The Secret Path" written by Paul Brunton, a follower of Ramana Maharshi, explains the theory of "Self Realization" by asking the central question "Who am I" and outlining the method and practice through self analysis, breathing technique and mental quiet. Therefore, although "Self Enquiry is somewhat informative, I would not recommend it.
February 1, 2023
The questions were asked by Gambhiram Sheshayya an early devotee of Bhagavan.
To experience the non-dual self through the enquiry "who am I ?" is the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi
To experience the non-dual self through the enquiry "who am I ?" is the teaching of Sri Ramana Maharshi
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews