Biography
Ramana Maharshi was an Indian sage who, at the age of sixteen, experienced a profound spiritual awakening that revealed to him his true nature as pure awareness. Without any formal teaching or initiation, he spontaneously realized the Self and spent the remainder of his life at the holy mountain Arunachala in South India.
For over fifty years, seekers from around the world came to sit in his presence and receive his teachings. He spoke little, often communicating through silence, which devotees found more powerful than words. When he did speak, his teachings were remarkably simple and direct, always pointing back to the fundamental question of identity.
His life was characterized by extraordinary stillness, compassion, and accessibility. He treated all visitors equally—whether scholars, peasants, or animals—and his ashram became a refuge for seekers of truth. His teachings continue to influence spiritual seekers worldwide.
Teaching and methods
Self-inquiry (Atma Vichara): Ramana's primary teaching was the practice of asking "Who am I?" He taught that by persistently investigating the source of the "I"-thought, one discovers that the ego has no independent existence, revealing the ever-present Self. He also taught surrender to the divine as an alternative path, emphasizing that both methods lead to the same recognition of one's true nature as pure awareness.
Selected quotes
“ Everything in the world was my Guru. ”
“ Killing the innocent body is certainly wrong. Suicide must be committed on the mind, where the suffering is deposited, and not on the body, which is insentient and feels nothing. The mind is the real culprit, being the creator of the anguish which tempts to suicide, but by an error of judgement, the innocent, insentient body is punished for it. ”
“ Your duty is to be and not to be this or that. 'I am that I am' sums up the whole truth. The method is summed up in the words 'Be still.' What does stillness mean? It means destroy yourself. Because any form or shape is the cause for trouble. Give up the notion that 'I am so and so.' All that is required to realize the Self is to be still. What can be easier than that? ”