When one is instructed to focus on the Self, one believes that it means to focus the mind on an objective Self. The reflected light of the mind allows one to perceive objects of the outer world. But, that is not what the Guru has told you to do in the process of Self Inquiry. In fact, the Self being called by various names including the Heart, leads one to believe that it is some thing inside the body. In fact, there is confusion created in the mind of the seeker, when he/she hears of the Heart being on the right side of the chest, whereas we all know that the physical heart is on the left side of the chest. But that is not what the Guru is pointing to. The Guru is only trying to guide your mind towards the source of the "I". The reason as to why the right side of the chest is pointed to is obvious when you consider that in every culture, a person will always point to the right side of the chest when he/she wants to point to himself or herself.
The Self (or the Heart) is actually neither inside nor outside the body and both inside and outside the body. It is like space without any conditioning whatsoever, including the objective description of space. It is beyond or prior to time and space. Time and space are concepts created by the mind.
In fact, what is self luminous, like the Self, does not need the reflected light of the mind to be seen. Just like the sun does not need the light of a lamp to be seen. It is only in darkness (of ignorance) that one needs a light to be able to see. Similarly, the reflected light of the mind is needed only to see one's own ignorance.
To find your self you have to focus your mind on IT. What then does focusing the mind on the Self mean? It means that instead of focusing the mind on what is outside, such as the body or the objects in the world, one has to TURN the MIND INWARDS towards its SOURCE. As the mind turns its attention inwards it loses itself, leaving the glory of the Self to shine forth effortlessly. What you really, really ARE, is OUT of your Mind!!
