Ramana Maharshi's  method of "self inquiry", although technicaly "doing", is simply observing your own consciousness in an attempt to find it's source. The reason it's effective is that a source of "ME" can't be found, leaving one literally aware of the field of consciousness in which things (including individual identity) exist.

What you seek IS already "you" and the only way to discover "it" is by observation, just like in Zen. All "doing" other than observation leads away from the experience of non-duality. In the instances where action is involved, observation of the source of consciousness is still the key to discovery.

All (and I mean absolutely ALL) "doing" is activity of the ego. How is it that we can eliminate the ego and "become" anything?
Answer; we can't! We simply become aware of the source of ego. And as that source we need to do nothing.

[QUOTE=flowupstream;49948]SDP,
You are aware that Sri Ramana died in 1950 aren't you?[/QUOTE]

Yes. What's your point? This dude Ramana is a different guy. He's written some books also.
sdp

[QUOTE=stardustpilgrim;51745] What can watch, what can observe, is separate from ego. 
sdp[/QUOTE]

Hi SDP

          Can we observe anything without the ego having organized it beforehand?

love,
raymond

[QUOTE=stardustpilgrim;52372]Most 'observation' is one fragment of ego trying to observe another fragment of ego. That's not observation. Can one be impartial? Can one observe without trying to change what one observes? For this to be possible there has to be something present which isn't a part of ego. Is this possible? If it weren't, we wouldn't have any hope of escaping the confinement, the narrow peephole that is ego.

But your question is a little ambiguous. Are you saying, can we observe anything without ego doing the organization of the observing? That is an example of what I wrote above. A part observing a part. That doesn't accomplish anything, like a dog chasing its own tail.

But there is a part of our being that can be impartial, simply like a light shining upon an object. There is a part of our being that is separate from thoughts, emotions, actions and sensations.

Or, are you asking:  Can we observe anything that ego hasn't organized? WHAT can observe, is the 'thing' ego hasn't 'organized'.  But, IT, is usually held captive BY ego. This, is our problem, a problem we never recognize.
sdp[/QUOTE]
SDP
You are correct in that "most observation is one fragment of ego trying to observe another...". Then you ask "Can one be impartial? Can one observe without trying to change what one observes?" FOR THIS TO BE POSSIBLE THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING PRESENT WHICH ISN'T PART OF EGO"
THAT, right there is where you jump the tracks. There must be NO-thing present to be observed. When ego observes "that which cannot be defined" it falls into silence. That which cannot be defined cannot be organized, by ego or anything else. When ego recognizes something that cannot be changed of confined. Ego still exists but is inactive since there is no-thing to be controlled. Ego co-exists with with the ineffable in a non-dualistic state. This is the nature you were born with and all you have learned about your seperate self has been your ego organizing "things" and events into ideas it presumes to control. But it NEVER has been in control. It has alwasy been almost in control...will be soon...after one more event...ad infinitum

To say the ego is the enemy is not only duality. It's denial of a function that rises out of the essence of you.

Who are you really, and what can you tell me about the time right now?

As for this from your post #61
You do realize you contradicted yourself? "All (and I mean absolutely all) "doing" is activity of the ego". and All "doing" other than observation leads away from the experience of non-duality". I agree with the later statement, and this is MY point. The VERY point. What can watch, what can observe, is separate from ego.

I see no contradiction. Observation IS activity of the ego, And again; observation of that which can't be contained is "The One True Gate"

[QUOTE=RaymondSigrist;52624]Hi flowingupstream and SDP

         I am not sure whether or not we can report on any experience which the ego has not organized and remembered before we report it happening.  I don[/QUOTE]


Well let's try this again, perhaps it is best not to use "quick reply"

Hi flowingupstream and SDP

         I am not sure whether or not we can report on any experience which the ego has not organized and remembered before we report it happening.  I don