205: Back to Basics with Ramana and Nisargadatta

Jan 30, 2026

A spirited revisit of classic non-dual teachings and why they still matter. Short biographical color and contrasts in teaching styles. Clear focus on self‑inquiry practices like tracing the “I” to its source. Discussions on silence, wordless perception, non‑doership, and the idea that the true self is already present. Includes a guided self‑inquiry meditation to rest as pure awareness.

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INSIGHT

Identity As The Core Teaching

Both Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj focus on identity as the core of awakening.
They point practitioners to investigate the root 'I' rather than outer identities or accomplishments.

INSIGHT

Ego Is A Thought Bundle

Their teaching reframes ego as a bundle of thoughts with the root thought 'I'.
Disidentifying from body, mind, and personality reveals the unchanged witnessing presence.

ANECDOTE

Meeting Papaji Changed Identity Fast

Brian recounts meeting H.W. Poonja (Papaji) in India where being looked in the eye precipitated realization.
He stopped listing identities and directly felt a shift by just being seen.

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In this episode we review the core non-duality teachings of Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj, including their inquiries into the nature of the Self. These teachings have been among the most influential in the present-day satsang and nonduality movements in the West.

• Includes a guided self-inquiry meditation to trace the "I" thought to its source as the knower of all experience, and to help the listener identify as pure, choiceless, allowing, loving awareness.

A good place to get a feel for the teachings of both Ramana Maharshi and Nisargadatta Maharaj is the YouTube channel, "Eternal Life | Non-Duality" from @EternalLife7, here: https://www.youtube.com/@EternalLife7

The "Spiritual Laughter" YouTube playlist mentioned in this episode can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5MGGRY0HO9ftghd8xwKE9pPL_LmJkz7G

Don't forget to subscribe for more ingenious ways to tap into the ever-present stillness and joy of our true nature.

To learn more about Awareness Explorers, and to listen to all of our podcast episodes, please visit: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/

If you want to listen to the meditations alone, you can find all of our meditations excerpted either in this playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAVvivvVVGNfQgJxbWB6dF6Z

Or on our Awareness Explorers website: https://www.awarenessexplorers.com/meditations

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To learn more about Jonathan Robinson and Brian Tom O'Connor, please visit https://findinghappiness.com/ and https://www.playawarenessgames.com/

You can listen to all of our episodes on this YouTube playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLThffcko0gAXyaArC4OyY0y84CZ8uSb_n

Enjoy, Jonathan and Brian