The power of self inquiry

 Self-inquiry—the practice of getting to the root to who we truly are—is hard to perform in all circumstances. Yet, there are those particular times when this question shakes the illusionary ego entity like an earthquake. I remember reading the story of one of Ramana Maharshi’s closest Western followers, Alan Chadwick, when he complained to Bhagavan that everyone in the ashram was looking up to him, but he felt like a failure instead. Ramana looked at him compassionately and then said, “Chadwick, who says all this?”

 

I could literally feel the energy jolt Major Chadwick received at that moment. Sometimes the negative programs that are running us become so obvious when we only shine only a little light on them. As it turned out, Alan Chadwick had a big breakthrough only a week later, likely set into motion by this simple self inquiry when his energy was low and the self-doubts haunted him. So please keep your eyes, ears and mind open every day for that one question that shakes the illusionary self entity to the core.