“Be As You Are” shines a light on a few core stumbling blocks: the mind’s habit of identifying with the body, the ego’s incessant chatter, deep-rooted vasanas (subtle mental impressions), and the pull of attachments and desires. These forces keep attention scattered, like trying to focus in the middle of a busy street.

The remedy Ramana Maharshi offers is surprisingly straightforward. Self-inquiry—continually asking “Who am I?”—acts like a mental laser, tracing every thought back to its source: the “I-thought.” Rather than combating or repressing mind-noise, this method shifts attention inward, steadily weakening the ego’s hold. Silence and solitude become powerful allies, much as a digital detox cuts through modern distractions—those never-ending pings and pop-ups that fragment attention.

Gathering in satsang, the company of someone steady in their own self-awareness, adds a guiding beacon. Over time, each vasana loses its grip as awareness rests calmly in its own true nature. Alongside inquiry, two ancient tools pave the way: viveka (the ability to discern what’s eternal from what’s fleeting) and vairagya (detachment from passing experiences). Together they lighten the mental load, letting the heart breathe more freely.

Trusting the process—surrender in its truest sense—rounds off the path. Not resignation, but a gentle handing over of resistance to this ever-present Self. In a culture racing towards the next notification, carving out moments of deep introspection and regularly anchoring in the simple “I am” practice feels like uncovering a hidden oasis. Bit by bit, these obstacles dissolve, unveiling the unshakeable peace that was there all along.