Self Inquiry

This is an enlightening meditation technique of self-realization. By realizing the truth, or true nature, the bonds of suffering are broken. Besides realization, self-inquiry delivers many of the same benefits as other meditation techniques, such as relaxation, natural enhancement of experiencing life, greater openness to change, greater creativity, and a sense of joy and fulfillment.

Focus on the feeling of being "me," to the exclusion of all arising thoughts. 

1. Sit in any comfortable meditation posture. 
2. Allow the mind (the activity of thought) and body to settle (relax). 
3. Let go of any thinking whatsoever. 
4. Place your attention on the inner feeling of being "me."
5. If a thought does arise, ask yourself to whom this thought is occurring, as this returns your attention to the feeling of being "me."
Continue this for as long as you like. 

This technique can also be done when going about any other activity. 

The self-inquiry technique is often misunderstood to mean that one should sit and repropose the question, "Who am I?" over and over. This is an incorrect understanding of the technique. The questions "Who am I" or "To whom is this thought occurring?" are only used when a thought arises, in order to ease attention back to the natural feeling of being me. At other times the mind is simply silent.

This practice of turning awareness back upon itself, prior to the ‘I’-thought, is a gentle technique, which is not a means of per se, controlling the mind. It is not an exercise in concentration, nor does it aim at suppressing thoughts; it merely invokes awareness of the source from which the mind springs. The method and aim of self-inquiry is to abide in the source of the mind and to be aware of what one really is by withdrawing attention and interest from what one is not.

In the early stages effort in the form of redirecting attention from the thoughts to the source of thoughts is essential, but once awareness, or, the ‘I’-feeling has been firmly established, further effort is counter-productive. From then on it is a being and not a doing, an effortless being rather than an effort to be.