Thoughts and Self Enquiry

Q&A with Sirshree

Who am I?

Seeker: How to make the mind thoughtless?

Sirshree: Mind means thoughts. Being thoughtless means being in a “no mind” state. To quieten the mind, self-enquiry is the most beautiful method. This method is the road (means) as well as the destination (end). When you ask, “Who am I?”, this thought in the form of a question will cut off other thoughts. While this enquiry is on, other thoughts cannot remain. After ending all other thoughts – this last thought of ‘Who am I?’ will also end itself. Then self-realization takes place. This will break the concept of form – the concept of body. You are not limited by the body. You are boundless and boundary less. You will come to know by experience. That is why self enquiry is the most beautiful method to make the mind thoughtless.

Seeker: Why do you say that self enquiry is the best method? Why is it better than all other meditations?

Sirshree: Those who meditate generally do so by uttering a word, visualizing an image, repeating a mantra, etc. But, these repetitions are not effective to enhance your awareness about yourself as the question “Who am I?”. Many who meditate don’t know whether they are meditating or sleeping or are merely in a hazy state of mind. You cannot be in a hazy state when you ask the question “Who am I?”. You become aware of the response to this question. This question pierces within you like a sharp instrument and drives you within to ‘your centre’. In the beginning you may not be able to recognize the deep silence within you in spite of reaching your centre (source). However by persisting to ask this question, you will gradually start recognizing the deep silence, a stillness – which is your true self. Later the question itself becomes the answer.

However advanced a meditator is, thoughts continue to crowd the mind. We need a very potent thought to annihilate these thoughts; a thought that will annihilate all the thoughts. You require a steel instrument to cut steel. An antidote for a poison is another poison. In the same way, let one thought annihilate all other thoughts.