You have to ask yourself the question ‘Who am I?’ This investigation will lead in the end to the discovery of something within you which is behind the mind. Solve that great problem and you will solve all other problems.
— Ramana Maharshi
That's a direct and powerful invitation to engage in the fundamental practice of self-inquiry, a cornerstone of many spiritual traditions, particularly Advaita Vedanta and the teachings of Ramana Maharshi, with the focus on "I am."
The instruction "You have to ask yourself the question ‘Who am I?’" is deceptively simple, yet it can lead to profound depths of understanding. It encourages a shift in focus from the external world and our thoughts and feelings to the very source of our being.
The promise that "This investigation will lead in the end to the discovery of something within you which is behind the mind" is the core of the practice. It suggests that our usual identification with our thoughts, emotions, and physical body is not our true nature. By persistently questioning "Who am I?", we can begin to peel away these layers of identification and uncover a deeper, more fundamental awareness that underlies all mental activity.
The profound implication of the final statement, "Solve that great problem and you will solve all other problems," is that the root of our suffering and confusion lies in our misidentification of the self. By understanding our true nature – that "something within you which is behind the mind" – we can transcend the limitations and illusions created by the ego and the mind, thereby resolving the myriad problems that arise from this fundamental misunderstanding.
