About three decades ago, life presented me with a profound realization: a sudden and altogether spontaneous awakening to the Eternal Oneness of Being. This wasn’t a result of effort or seeking; it was a spontaneous awakening. The catalyst? A chance meeting with a Siddha Master, a revered teacher from the lineage of Bhagavan Nityananda of Ganeshpuri.
Today, I wish to share a simple truth about Self Enquiry. For me, this practice emerged not from effort but from that destined meeting with the Siddha Master.
Yes, I had been a student of Atma Vicharya. I had also been deeply influenced by the teachings of Jiddu Krishnamurti, Nisargadatta Maharaj, Vernon Howard, and Ramana Maharshi. But the depth of self-enquiry I was propelled into after meeting my Guru was unparalleled.
Life had been preparing me, it seems. The intense inclination towards self-enquiry, already present, was amplified manifold after the Guru’s grace touched me. It was as if life had been laying the foundation, creating a pathway for this deeper exploration.
Atma Vicharya is nothing but a sincere quest to understand the root of the “I” thought. It’s about nurturing the sense of “I AM” with genuine interest and love. This practice, I believe, prepares the ground for true awakening. It creates a space, both in the mind and the body, for the divine Shakti to manifest, especially during the sacred process of Shaktipata.
Being wholly committed to Self Enquiry, having an unwavering focus on understanding one’s True Nature, naturally channels a potent energy. This energy has the potential to awaken the dormant Kundalini.
In Siddha Yoga, it’s understood that the play is orchestrated by the Shakti and the Guru. The seeker’s role? Simply to surrender. To allow the Kundalini to work its magic, to unravel the complexities of the mind, and to reveal the true nature of Oneness. And when the illusion of the ego fades away, what remains is pure Self Realisation.
In Atma Vicharya, attention itself mirrors the Kundalini. Why? Because where attention goes, energy flows. And this energy is the very essence of Kundalini.
To engage in Self Enquiry, then, is to immerse oneself fully in the process of awakening.