In the teaching of Self-Inquiry associated with Ramana Maharshi, faith or devotion is not set forth as a strict prerequisite. The central demand is earnestness: a genuine, sustained desire to know one’s true nature and a willingness to turn attention inward. The method itself rests on direct observation and discrimination, using the question “Who am I?” to trace thoughts back to the fundamental “I”-sense and thereby recognize the Self that is already present. This process does not depend on adherence to a particular doctrine, ritual, or devotional form, and it can be undertaken by one who simply wishes to investigate experience as it is.

At the same time, some degree of trust naturally underlies any serious engagement with this path. There is usually at least a quiet confidence that freedom from suffering is possible, and that turning inward is a valid means to that end. Such faith is not blind belief, but a practical trust in the teaching, in the possibility of realization, or in one’s own true nature. As inquiry deepens, this trust may quietly grow, supporting the persistence and sincerity required to remain with the sense of “I” rather than being swept away by thoughts.

Devotion, in this context, is best understood as a powerful aid rather than an obligation. Ramana’s teaching allows for the fact that bhakti (devotion) and jñāna (knowledge) ultimately converge, since both involve the relinquishment of the ego’s claims. For some, love for God or Guru and the attitude of surrender soften the mind, making it more receptive to the steady inward turning that Self-Inquiry requires. For others, the path may begin in a more “dry” or analytic manner, with devotional feeling emerging only later as reverence and humility naturally arise from the deepening recognition of the Self.

Because temperaments differ, auxiliary practices such as devotional worship or simple breath awareness were sometimes recommended as supports when direct inquiry felt too difficult. These, however, were presented as skillful means to quiet and focus the mind, not as conditions that must be fulfilled before inquiry can bear fruit. What remains constant is that the decisive factor is the seriousness of the search and the persistence in tracing every thought back to its source in the “I”-sense. In this light, faith and devotion are not mandatory gatekeepers to Self-Inquiry, but they can become valuable companions that help sustain and deepen the journey toward self-awareness.