Self-inquiry
Ātma-vicāra
आत्म-विचार
In Yoga philosophy, it refers to the practice of deeply questioning "Who am I?" to directly realize the nature of the true self (Atman).
Ātma-vicāra means "inquiry into the self" or "investigation of the self" in Sanskrit. In Yoga philosophy, it refers to the practice of deeply questioning "Who am I?" to directly realize the nature of the true self (Atman).
It is a key teaching of Vedanta philosophy, aiming to liberate oneself from the fundamental misconception (Avidya) of identifying the self with the physical body, mind, or ego. Through self-inquiry, one aims for unification with universal consciousness.
In meditation and philosophical discussions, the question "What is the true self?" is posed to encourage self-inquiry. Expressed with phrases like "listening to your inner voice" or "a journey of deeply knowing oneself." Instructors convey that self-inquiry leads to discovering life's purpose and meaning.
Emphasize that "self-inquiry is not about finding answers, but the process of continuously asking questions holds value." Encourage practicing questioning one's motivations for actions and thoughts in daily life.