Why do I believe that ātma-vicāra is the only direct means by which we can eradicate the illusion that we are this ego?
In a comment on my previous article, Thought of oneself will destroy all other thoughts , an anonymous friend asked me ‘a couple of blunt and direct questions’, so this article is my response to those questions and also to some of the other comments on that article. Questioning is the means to develop clarity of understanding and depth of conviction Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 33: it is ridiculous to say either ‘I do not know myself’ or ‘I have known myself’ Which kind of sat-saṅga is more efficacious: physical or mental? Śrī Aruṇācala Akṣaramaṇamālai verse 44: to see ourself, we must turn back and look at ourself Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 22: unless we turn within to look at ourself, how can we see what we actually are? Uḷḷadu Nāṟpadu verse 25: so long as we are aware of anything other than ourself, we seem to be this ego Distinguishing what is necessarily true from what is contingently true Will ātma-vicāra work for everyone? Ātma-vicāra is a guaranteed means to weaken our viṣaya-vāsanās...