Self-abidance

Self-abidance (Atma Nishta) is the fruition of self-inquiry. While inquiry involves active investigation, self-abidance is simply resting as the Self, no longer needing to ask "Who am I?" because the answer is lived.

Ramana Maharshi described self-abidance as remaining in the heart—not the physical heart but the spiritual heart on the right side of the chest where the "I" rises and subsides. By staying rooted here, in the source of the "I," one remains as the Self.

This is not a practice in the ordinary sense but a way of being. Once the Self is recognized through inquiry, the practitioner simply remains as That. Thoughts may arise, activities may occur, but the sense of being rooted in the Self does not waver.

After self-inquiry has revealed the Self, simply remain there. Don't look for further practices or experiences. Whenever attention moves outward, gently return to the heart. Rest in the sense of being itself, prior to "I am this." This steady resting is itself liberation.

The main obstacle is looking for something more when everything is already complete. Another is subtle identification with the one who is abiding—true self-abidance leaves no one behind. A third is mistaking a pleasant feeling state for abidance in the Self.