Where am I? I am just back from a long journey through Japan! Mostly recovered from jet lag, still integrating the depth of experiences shared with my husband Keith, who lived there for a year back in college. I do hope to share some of my tales and reflections on Substack, so thank you for your patience as I “land” and allow the most important pieces to percolate and resurface for you.
Today, however, I am offering something for the seekers and philosophers.
I am giving talks on non-duality (Advaita, or “not two”) this weekend. Last night, we discussed the vichara, a term for the process of investigation, discrimination, and Self-inquiry often used in the Vedantic tradition. This is considered a practice of jñāna (wisdom), or yoga of knowledge.
“Where Am I?” and the Vichara
In this short clip, I explain the inquiry of “Where Am I?” which is similar to yet slightly different than the standard one known by many through Ramana Maharshi, that of “Who Am I?” Here, inquiring into the locus of the arising of the individual self has been a more effective pointer than “who.” Although, it does not matter what words are chosen in the investigation; what is most important is the effectiveness in bringing about an experiencing or awareness of spaciousness. Ultimately, there is a seeing and a full apprehension that there is no one there – no separate, individual doer.
Thoughts without a thinker, seeing without a seer, experiencing without an experiencer. If one looks – with sincerity and whole, open-mindedness – one may ultimately see that there is no central operating mechanism. This seeing and knowing may also happen at any time, regardless of the inquiry practice.
While this might seem to be an advanced teaching or the words and pointers might seem bizarre or foreign, almost anyone can receive some benefit from listening – something will go in, somewhere.
In the beginning of this clip, I am paraphrasing from Ramesh Balsekar’s book, Consciousness Writes (Zen Publications, 1996, p. 21).1
In the second part of the video, I lead satsang participants in a short, guided meditation – into their own self-inquiry of “Where Am I?
If you prefer to skip the philosophical pointers and go right to the meditative inquiry, go straight to minute 7:00.
Viewers and listeners may wish to sit somewhere comfortably and quietly to try this out for themselves.
Thank you, everyone, for your readership and viewership. Please share your reflections and comments below!
May this talk benefit those with an interest in spiritual seeking and most importantly, the end of suffering.
With Love,
Erin Reese
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Ramesh Balsekar (1917-2009) was an Indian Advaita sage, a disciple of Nisargadatta Maharaj, and my teacher aka guru for two years, at the end of his life in Mumbai. I write about this time period and these teachings in my own 2021 memoir, Truth Seeker, which also brings humor and personal vulnerability to my initial encounters with non-duality and the Master.
