For entering more deeply into Ramana Maharshi’s Self-Inquiry, it is helpful to begin with his own words. The short text “Who am I? (Nan Yar?)” is widely regarded as the core presentation of the method, and is complemented by “Self-Enquiry (Vichara Sangraham)” and the verses of “Upadesa Saram (Essence of Instruction).” “Talks with Sri Ramana Maharshi” and “The Collected Works of Ramana Maharshi” offer a broader context, showing how the same inquiry was explained in response to many different seekers and situations. These primary sources allow the method to be seen not merely as a technique, but as the natural expression of his realization.

To clarify and organize these teachings, several carefully compiled anthologies are especially valuable. “Be As You Are: The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharshi,” edited by David Godman, arranges Ramana’s statements thematically, with substantial sections devoted to the nature and practice of Self-Inquiry. Arthur Osborne’s “The Spiritual Teaching of Ramana Maharshi” and his biography “Ramana Maharshi and the Path of Self-Knowledge” provide concise, accessible presentations that situate the practice within the arc of Ramana’s life and the broader Advaitic vision. Works such as “Day by Day with Bhagavan” further illustrate how the inquiry was lived and discussed in the ordinary flow of ashram life.

For those seeking more detailed analysis and practical guidance, several devotee-authors have explored the subtleties of the inquiry in depth. Michael James’s “Happiness and the Art of Being,” Muruganar’s “Guru Vachaka Kovai (Garland of Guru’s Sayings),” and Sadhu Om’s “The Path of Sri Ramana, Part One & Two” all focus on the inner dynamics of attending to the sense of “I,” the common pitfalls, and the nondual understanding that underlies the practice. These works can serve as a kind of commentary tradition, unpacking the terse statements of the original texts without losing sight of their radical simplicity.

Finally, there are resources that place Self-Inquiry in dialogue with related nondual approaches. Nisargadatta Maharaj’s “I Am That,” though arising from a different lineage, presents a closely allied emphasis on remaining with the sense “I Am” until its source is revealed, and thus can illuminate the shared essence of inquiry across traditions. The official Sri Ramanasramam publications—such as the small booklet “Self‑Enquiry,” other articles and booklets on Ramana’s life and teaching, and materials available through the ashram and its journal—offer reliable, succinct expositions. Taken together, these sources allow a seeker to move from initial conceptual understanding toward a more intimate, experiential engagement with the question “Who am I?”.