I've been self-inquiring for almost two months now, both on (after some concentration) and off-cushion. It's a nice practice which goes well with concentration, and alternately with bare awareness / noting.

So far Self-Inquiry systematically leads to glimpses of a vast openness in the background (often literaly in the back), a deep and obvious -but yet elusive- sense of being. Sometimes it's awareness in a sense of "just feeling / hearing / seeing", in the flesh.

A few powerful experiences also, related in my practice log, such as :
- seeing "I" face to face
- feeling the whole world inside me / seeing "I" in the whole world
- some deep insights in 3 characteristics

This practice is driving me nuts in a way, because I can't find any way to spot something that is, by nature, imperceptible. Everytime I focus on a sense of presence, I have to admit that which I can perceive, is not "I" and so I step back further and further but it ends up cycling like a dog chasing its own tale.
I can feel and intuit that it's here, just right under my nose, but no real sense of realizing it undoubtly so far.

I'd like to be sure my Self-Inquiry practice is right: I ask "Who am I?", then drops everything and focus my awareness on the deepest sense of "I / me / presence" I can find. Then as I perceive stuff, I ask "Who is perceiving that? -Me -Who am I?" and so on.

I just stay with the sense of "I", scrutinizing it, discriminating periodically so not to be lost on perceiving stuff which are not "I". Is it good practice? What's next, pursuing such effort and wait for the grace to happen?

Any pointers or help will be much welcomed.

Hi Jean, i'm happy you are starting a new approach , will follow and read !

As for the pointers,  you know im not an expert , i have none ! ^^

Metta metta metta ;)

ps: you really meant "imperceptible" ?

I wrote "Imperceptible" as in "which cannot be perceived", because any perception is not "I".
But every time I inquire the sense of "I", I perceive something and I can't find any way to realize the IAMness.

How can something not perceptible be found?
Or is it that this realization of IAMness do grow and is realized by itself (= happens when one is ripe) and Self-Inquiry is 'just' a practice to be ripe? which is what those earlier glimpses (see my first post above) seem to confirm, unless I'm not aware of the underlying mechanism.

What if "it" is by nature the mobile awareness, searching for/wanting--?

What if "it" is by nature secondary and an asset to the survival of the senses? For example, you will pull your hand back from a hot surface (sense-based actions) before "you" call the objects or situation anything. 

What if that is what is "I am", a kind of driven breeze or wind that drives pleasing contact and want?

Hi Jean!

I like these recourses:

http://thewholenessprocess.com
I've only tried the free preview. But is was good stuff.

http://www.wearesentience.com/uploads/7/2/9/3/7293936/the-most-rapid-and-direct-means-to-eternal-bliss.pdf

http://isip-rajiv.weebly.com/uploads/1/0/5/8/10586909/autobiography_of_a_jnani.pdf

https://www.scribd.com/doc/233667904/HappinessArtofBeing
Happiness and the art of being i've only begun to read but it seems really fantastic.

Enjoy the silence

I have a feeling of what you mean, and I can "see" my awareness moving from an object to another. But this movement, perceptible as it is, cannot be "I" right?

So your words both do and do not make sense, but I'm sure they will blossom sooner or later

Thanks Gunnar, very much appreciated!

I've read "the most rapid and direct means to eternal bliss" a few years ago, but somehow I was not ready for it and failed to appreciate its pertinence. It reminds me that what you're looking for in Self-Inquiry, is the sense of being aware ; awareness of the awareness. This simple reminder leads me to a quite powerful sit earlier today, so thank you

That "I" is ego here. The "wise and humble practitioner" is phenomenal like the stuff that it witnesses.