Meditation in Advaita Vedanta functions as more than stress relief; it’s the very lever that pries open the mind’s tightly sealed door. By settling the attention on the unchanging witness behind every thought, sensations and emotions reveal themselves as passing phenomena. Rather than chasing mystical experiences, the practice cultivates a steady vigil, like watching clouds drift across a clear sky, until the sense of a separate “thinker” begins to loosen its grip.

Self-inquiry—famously distilled into the pointed question “Who am I?” by Ramana Maharshi—runs alongside meditation like a railroad track. Each time a thought or feeling surfaces, turning the gaze inward with that question gradually dismantles the habitual identification with body, mind, or story. It’s akin to peeling an onion: with each layer removed, the essential core stands more clearly in view. This isn’t mere intellectual navel-gazing, but a radical method for dissolving the illusion of duality.

In today’s world, where burnout and fuzzy focus are practically badges of honor, these ancient techniques have found fresh relevance. Trending meditation apps and virtual satsangs tap into the same hunger for grounding, yet Advaita’s practices aim for nothing less than the dissolution of the ego’s fortress. Self-inquiry spills into daily life: a moment of anger, a pang of jealousy or pride becomes a chance to ask “Who is this one?” until the answer points back to the one consciousness underlying every experience.

Across living rooms and Zoom screens, a global sangha is rediscovering how meditation and self-inquiry serve as the workhorse of self-realization. They sharpen awareness, shatter limiting beliefs, and unveil the simple joy of recognizing one’s true nature—a non-dual awareness in which every boundary softens and every moment becomes an invitation to live from the heart.