#SriRamanaMaharshi describes the sense of I as the fundamental, self-evident awareness that is always present. It is the consciousness that knows, "I am." This I' is not the body, mind, or ego but the pure, unchanging awareness that underlies all experiences. Ramana often refers to this as the 'I-I' or the true "I.
To know that it is the true 'I' Ramana speaks of, one must recognize that it is ever-present and self-luminous. Unlike the transient thoughts and sensations that come and go, this I' remains constant. It is the silent witness to all that occurs without being affected by it. When all thoughts and identifications with the body and mind are relinquished through self-inquiry, what remains is this pure sense of being.
Ramana advises that through persistent self-inquiry, asking "Who am I?" and turning attention inward, the false identifications fall away. The true I' reveals itself not as an object to be seen but as the very essence of our existence. It is experienced as a deep, inherent sense of presence and peace, devoid of attributes, distinctions, or forms.
In essence, this sense of T' is simply the state of pure awareness, the unchanging consciousness that is always present. Knowing it is the true 'l' comes from the direct experience of this unbroken, self-evident awareness that transcends all temporary experiences and phenomena.