Consistency trumps marathon sessions when it comes to self-inquiry as taught by Sri Ramana Maharshi. Rather than fixating on clock time, the real measure lies in sustained attention. A daily ritual of 20–30 minutes, ideally twice a day, tends to offer a sweet spot: long enough to settle the mind, yet short enough to stay motivated. Over a few weeks, those precious pockets of silence often begin to reveal subtle shifts—moments of stillness between thoughts, a gentle letting-go of inner chatter.

Insights sometimes pop up like unexpected guests: a flash of clarity on the subway, a sudden calm amid emails, or a brief pause of pure awareness during a coffee break. These tiny victories accumulate. Recent mindfulness studies, such as an 2023 JAMA meta-analysis, showed that even 10 minutes a day for eight weeks can reduce stress markers. Self-inquiry simply rides that same current, though with an inward twist.

For deeper mileage, weaving inquiry into everyday tasks—washing dishes, walking in the park, scrolling through social feeds—turns every moment into a potential meditation. This living practice reflects Maharshi’s message: it’s never about escaping life, but fully showing up. The key is vigilance: the instant “Who am I?” pops up in daily distractions, it’s like tapping the brakes on a speeding car.

Patience matters too. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and a stable sense of the Self often emerges gradually. Early on, it might feel like chasing shadows; later, those shadows start to dissolve. Week by week, a quieter baseline takes shape: less reactivity, more clarity, a growing sense of being grounded in something timeless.

Ultimately, effects unfold in their own sweet time. Stick with the practice, treat each session as tending to an inner garden, and those blossoms of insight will begin to open—sometimes when least expected.