“Know Thyself”

Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Self-inquiry was first proposed as a method of discovering our true nature by the Indian saint Sri Ramana Maharshi. His method advised that one start by asking the very simple question “Who am I?”. This question could be further broken down into the following investigations: “Am I my mind/thoughts?”, “Am I my physical body?” and “Am I my emotions?”

Given that your thoughts, mind, and body are in constant change (you will not finish even reading this page with the same thoughts, body or emotions that you started), how can you truly be any of these things? In effect, Ramana suggested using the mind to defeat the mind by examining the assumptions that the mind, meditating on each one, seeing through each one. Having eliminated these options, if I am not my body, mind or emotions, what is left that does not change?

This simple but powerful method leads one deeper into the voyage of self-discovery. The very essence of self-inquiry is to see what is false and then to discover what remains – what is untouched and unchanged, what is already free.

“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players.”

William Shakespeare

The Enneagram is over 2600 years old and having been hidden for centuries, is now a widespread method as the basis of self-inquiry. The Enneagram divides people into nine main character fixations and describes in remarkable detail and depth how each character will see and experience the world and themselves.

The key question that arises from learning and understanding which number you have assumed as your role is: if your view of the world can be described in such detail by someone who has never met you, if your actions can be predicted once my character is known, then where is free will?

In learning about oneself in this manner, one can begin to appreciate that most of what one takes oneself to be is simply a role - one that each of us has unwittingly and subconsciously assumed.

It may be how we show up in the world, but it is not the essence of who we are.

The way that we see, react to, and experience the present is a result of everything that happened to us from the time we were conceived. Modern medical science, and in particular, psychology is discovering more and more that who we are now will be very heavily influenced by what happened to us in the past and in particular what happened when we were infants.

Childhood trauma (which need not entail any form of what we would term “abuse” – it can simply be being present to the breakdown of parents’ relationship or having parents who had to go out to work and were therefore not present to see to an infant’s emotional needs) has the most impact. Unless brought to light, examined and thereby healed, this trauma will continue to affect how we experience the world for the rest of our lives.

To understand why we are who we are, why we play the role that we show up as every day, is hugely beneficial in enabling us to see the falseness of that role. To see that it is just a role no different from the actors on a stage can be the gateway to liberation.

Hypnotherapeutic trance, reiki, other energy healing work as seen necessary moment to moment to help you tend to the wounds of your past.