Self-Enquiry (Vichara Sangraham) of Bhagavan Sri Ramana Maharshi

by Ramana Maharshi

The Vichara Sangraham is the earliest recording of Maharshi's teachings. It has its origins in slips of paper upon which the Maharshi wrote answers to questions put to Him by Gambhiram Seshayya (Gambhiram Seshiar) during 1900 to 1902, when Sri Ramana was dwelling in Virupaksha Cave on holy Arunachala. The present work in prose consists of forty questions and answers covering the entire range of spiritual disciplines required for the gaining of release (moksha).

Genres: Spirituality

33 pages, Paperback

First published August 25, 2013

About the author

Bhagavan 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.

Reviews

[Emil]

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?

[Sundarraj Kaushik]

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.

[D V]

The Beginning

It was way above my understanding but a beautiful start to my journey. I thank Ramana Maharshi for the knowledge.

[Preethi]

Not easily understood at first but the teachings in this book have profound effect on one’s self realisation. A must read for sure.

[Swami Arunachalananda Puri]

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.

[Phil Calandra]

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.

[KK]

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