Within the broad stream of Advaita Vedānta, Ramana Maharshi stands out for the radical simplicity and directness of his method. Where classical Advaita often unfolds through a graded discipline of scriptural study, reflection, and contemplative assimilation, his constant refrain is to turn attention back to the very sense of “I” itself. Rather than elaborate philosophical analysis or ritual, he urges seekers to trace the “I”-thought to its source through self-inquiry (ātma-vichāra), asking, “Who am I?” until the ego-sense subsides in pure awareness. This gives his teaching a distinctive experiential focus, even while it fully shares the non-dual vision of traditional Advaita.

A notable point of contrast lies in the role of scripture and preparatory practices. Classical Advaita typically emphasizes qualifications such as discrimination, dispassion, and ethical discipline, along with systematic engagement with the Upaniṣads, Bhagavad Gītā, and Brahma Sūtras, often supported by rigorous reasoning. Ramana acknowledges the value of such purity and maturity of mind, yet consistently presents self-inquiry itself as both path and purifier, encouraging seekers to begin where they stand. Scriptural teachings and philosophical doctrines are affirmed but treated as secondary aids, useful only insofar as they direct the mind back to the immediate investigation of the Self.

His way of teaching also differs in style and atmosphere. Traditional Advaita lineages frequently rely on detailed exegesis, technical terminology, and structured dialogue to unfold subtle metaphysical points, including elaborate accounts of māyā and the status of the world. Ramana, by contrast, tends to bypass extended metaphysical dispute, redirecting questions such as “Is the world real?” into the more fundamental inquiry, “To whom does this world appear?” His language is generally simple and accessible, and he places unusual emphasis on the guru’s silent presence, regarding silence as a powerful mode of instruction through which the truth of the Self is communicated beyond words.

Finally, his integration of different modes of practice gives his approach a distinctive flavor within Advaita. While many traditions treat devotion, meditation, and inquiry as sequential or hierarchical, Ramana presents self-inquiry as the core, with other practices—devotion, mantra, or even breath control—serving as supports when the direct method feels too subtle. Devotion and surrender are not set aside as merely preliminary; they are understood as converging with inquiry in the dissolution of the ego. In this way, his teaching offers a path that is at once uncompromisingly direct and yet flexible enough to meet seekers of varied temperaments, all the while keeping the investigation of the “I”-sense at the center.