Three benefits of self-enquiry
Self-enquiry – is this another spiritual cliché along with ‘finding yourself’? Do we really have time for soul-searching in our busy lives, when we’re trying to make ends meet? The answers are no and yes. So let’s look at why you should ask yourself: who am I?
This subject came up for me as I observed the public reaction to Queen Elizabeth’s passing and what people were saying about how they felt. The event had clearly affected some quite deeply, a sense of personal loss. The word “constant” described what was perceived as now gone. It sounded and looked like people felt distressed and disturbed as well as sad.
It’s interesting because we didn’t know her at all, of course. Not who she really was, the actual person. People become icons because we project onto them what we need, which is part of celebrity culture. I imagine the Queen offered dependability, predictability and the long-standing symbol of tradition and no-change. A sort of reassuring parent.
But this royal generational shift is an opportunity to discover that whatever we feel an icon gives us, is actually much closer to home. We are unaware of this because of all the distractions around us, and all the things we are chasing: money, status, success etc.
Self-enquiry has its roots in all the ancient cultures and has been going on for millennia. So, it must be important! It’s about discovering that you are more than the physical, the emotional and the mental. You are not your body, you are not your mind. Think of it as peeling back the layers, removing one definition of yourself after another. Beyond your looks, nationality, ethnicity, gender, work status, social status. What is at the core?
Try conducting self-enquiry anytime through meditation, pranayama (conscious breathing) and reading relevant texts such as the Bhagavad Gita. But it’s often precipitated by an event that shakes you to the core and makes you question everything.
Three benefits of self-enquiry:
- a profound connection to this earth and all living things
- you discover that you are your own constant and the source for everything you need
- liberation from fear, anxiety and doubt
To help kickstart the process, I’ve devised a simple exercise which I share in this month’s MatChat with Mina Podcast. It doesn’t take long but will hopefully inspire thought and explain why you should ask yourself: who am I?