Everyone has experience of the Self in every moment of his life.

It is our most intimate thing, and still people do not seem able to understand.

The Self cannot be investigated. The investigation can only be into the non-self. Elimination of the non-self is alone possible. The mind is only a projection of the Self. appearing in the waking state.

Each one wants to know the Self. What kind of help does one require to know oneself? People want to see the Self as something new. But it is eternal and remains the same all along. They desire to see it as a blazing light, etc. How can it be so? It is not light, not darkness. It is only as it is. It cannot be defined. the best definition is 'I am that I AM'. It is only Being, but different from the real and unreal; it is Knowledge, but different from knowledge and ignorance. How can it be defined at all? It is simply Being.

All thoughts arise after the arising of the 'I'-thought. See to whom the thoughts arise. Then you transcend them and they subside. This is to say, tracing the source of the 'I'-thought, you realize the perfect 'I'-'I'. 'I' is the name of the Self.

The other methods (like repetition of words, etc.) are meant for those who cannot take to the investigation of the Self. In all of them, a doer is necessary. Who is it? It is 'I'. Be that 'I'. It is the direct method. The other methods also will ultimately lead everyone to this method of the investigation of the Self.

Because your outlook has been outward bent, it has lost sight of the Self and your vision is external. The Self is not found in external objects. Turn your look within and plunge down; you will be the Self.

Think 'I' 'I' 'I' and hold to that one thought to the exclusion of all others.

But how can I live this life today and try to bring all this in my life?

No sort of work is a hindrance on the spiritual path. It is the notion 'I am the doer' that is the hindrance. If you get rid of that by enquiring and finding out who is this 'I', then work will be no hindrance since you will be doing it without the ego sense that you are the doer and without any attachment to the fruits of your work. Work will go on even more efficiently than before; but you can always be in your own, natural, permanent state of peace and bliss.

Renunciation is in the mind. It does not depend on external objects or environment. A man may be in his village and family, and attending to his business and yet be detached in mind, whereas another may be in the forest, having left his family and given up his work and property and yet his mind may be attached to all that he has left behind physically. What is the use of going to the forest? You can leave your family and work behind, but your mind will go with you. You will only be exchanging the notion 'I am a householder' with the notion 'I am an ascetic', and in place of the old attachments, new ones will grow. What is needed is to renounce in the mind and retain only the notion 'I am', and not 'I am a householder' or 'I am an ascetic'.

The life of action need not to be renounced. If you will meditate one hour or two every day, you can then carry on your duties. If you meditate in the right manner, than the current of mind induced will continue to flow even in the midst of your work. It is as though there were two ways of expressing the same idea; the same line which you take in meditation will be expressed in your activities.

As you go on you will find that your attitude towards people, events and object will gradually change. Your actions will tend to follow your meditations of their own accord.

A man who is advancing will begin to enjoy the deeper beatitude, whether he is at work of not. While his hands are in society, he keeps his head cool in solitude.

Treat your body well, and it will be a good servant and instrument. But do not be deceived into thinking it is 'I'." Try to see only the Self in everything. Act automatically, so to speak, and let 'It' do the work. And 'It' always will. Do not look for results. Do what is right in the given moment and leave it behind you.

Do you want practical advice?!

These are some practical suggestions from the teachings of Ramana Maharshi:

-- Practice investigation-meditation one hour or two every day (or more if you feel yourself fit to). You can sit down (with eyes closed, or open or half-closed). The mind must be introverted and kept active in its pursuit. When a thought rises in your mind (this will happen VERY often), you should always try to ask to yourself: 'Whose thought?' 'Whose mind?' Then the mind will calm and should remain the feeling 'I'. Do you see a blankness? Do not stop here. See for whom the blankness appears. He who engages in investigation starts holding on to himself, asking 'Who am I?' and the Self become clear to him. IMPORTANT: do everything GENTLY (no strain, no tension!).

NOTE: all kind of thoughts arise during investigation-meditation. It is but right. What lies hidden in you is brought out. Unless they rise up, how can they be destroyed? They therefore rise up in order to be extinguished in due course.

--- Once you are established in this 'I', you should try to hold it, to be aware of it during all your daily activities (even before going to sleep, and also as he first thing in the morning, immediately on getting up from bed: this ensures a serenity of mind and also a feeling of tirelessness throughout the day). This is the most important part of this method. You should never let your mind wander, but always try -gently- to trace back it to its source. Do not waste even a second in inattention, lethargy.

--- Food: Since food affects the mind, it should be kept pure. The best diet prescribed for someone who wants to engage in spiritual practices is pure food, in limited quantities: bread, fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. Animal foods and intoxicant drink (like alcohol) should be discarded. If the mind is not pure, the investigation becomes extremely difficult. One can gradually get accustomed to a pure diet.