If you are seeking truth nothing but truth then prepare yourself for unfolding the truth, which is hidden by the I.+

All those whose intelligence has been stolen by the intoxication of the illusory ‘I', stick to the ‘I’ based Gurus and their teachings.

Many have a childish and slavish mentality and accept statements merely because they are uttered by famous men or a popular guru or a yogi. They lack the scientific method of investigation.

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "I," If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated that the Self is the ‘I’. There is no need to convince such a mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth.

If you are seeking truth nothing but the truth then prepare yourself to unfold the truth which is hidden by the ‘I’.

Remember:~

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

Remember this:~

The ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance because ‘I’ itself is ignorance.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the mind because ‘I’ itself is the mind.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the form, time, and space because the ‘I’ itself is the form, time, and space together.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the universe because the ‘I’ itself is the universe.

The ‘‘I’ is the case of the waking or dream, because, the ‘I’ itself appears as the waking or dream.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the experience of the birth, life, death, and the world because the ‘I’ itself is the experience of the birth, life, death, and the world.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the duality because ‘I’ itself is duality.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the illusion because the ‘I’ itself is an illusion.

The ‘I’’ is the cause of all their ignorance, mistakes, and misunderstanding.

Remember:~

Every man thinks "I know". He does not stop to ask first "What is the meaning of what I believe I know?

This ‘I’ know attitude blocks one from realizing the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

First, the seeker has to investigate ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality?

Everyone says they know everything and all the facts. “No one stops to doubt or to understand, or to inquire as to ‘what is the fact?’ or ‘what is the definition of experience?’.

Ignorants take the simplest path, that of the uninquiring mind, because, the other way, the search for truth, is hard and difficult and laborious.

The religionists, yogis and the common people do not worry about finding the truth of their true existence. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The jivanmukta is one who has realized the invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, hidden by ignorance.+

A Gnani consciously becomes one with the Soul before his physical death, whereas the ignorant unconsciously becomes one with the Soul after his death.

Sage Sankara: ~ “Action (karma) cannot destroy ignorance, for it is not in conflict with or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. -Atma Bodha

The Moksha is not a result of ritual action (karma marga) or of devotional or bhakti. The rituals and devotionally performed worship to an imaginary God within the illusory world with the illusory identity (you) will not yield any fruit.

Sage Sankara:- VC Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity With the ‘Self’, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together- (verses-6)

Advaitic Moksha is Gnanic Moksha. The Advaitic Moksha is synonymous with Brahman. Sruti says, "brahmavit brahmaiva bhavati" - He who knows Brahman becomes Brahman itself. It is not as if something that was not Brahman suddenly becomes Brahman. Rather, "realizing Brahman" means the removal of ignorance by realizing the Self is not an individual but the Soul, which pervades everywhere and in everything in the universe.

Thus, to "know Brahman" is to "be Brahman". The one who has realized the Soul, the ‘Self’, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion (Maya), is the jivanmukta, one who is liberated even while embodied. Such realization is possible by acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana itself is the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.

The jivanmukta is one who has realized the invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, hidden by ignorance.

Gnanic moksha is not a religiously propagated moksha. Religious propagated moksha is dualistic. The religion that propagates moksha is the result of ritual action (karma marga) or of devotional service (bhakti marga).

The religious propagated paths, not the liberation. Gnanic moksha is not a result of anything, for it always exists. All that is required is the removal of ignorance.

Advaitic realization comes only by getting rid of ignorance by perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Soul, the ‘Self’ does not reside in the human heart, and one will not find the Soul, the ‘Self’ in the human heart if he searches for it.+

Q: ~ ‘Much gratitude for your posts! Could you define consciousness or soul, and how do you feel it if not from the heart?

Santthosh Kumaar: ~The Soul, the Self, does not reside in the human heart, and one will not find the invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, in the human heart if he searches for it.

The Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which we exist. Limiting the invisible Soul, the Self, to the human heart is erroneous. The Advaitic truth is not based on blind belief propagated by religion.

Tattireya Upanishad: ~ “The Self in man and in the sun is one. Those who understand this see through the world and go beyond the various sheaths of being to realize the unity of life”.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says: ~ In that unitive state, there is neither father nor mother, neither worlds nor gods nor even the Scriptures. In that state, there is neither thief nor slayer, neither low caste nor high, neither monk nor ascetic. The Self is beyond good and evil, beyond all the suffering of the human heart.

The invisible and unborn Soul itself is the Spiritual heart.. The invisible Soul, the Self, does not reside in the human heart, and one will not find the invisible Soul, the Self, in the human heart if one searches for it.

The Self is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which we exist.

Limiting the invisible Soul, the Self, to the human heart is erroneous. The truth is not based on the blind belief propagated by the belief system.

In the Spiritual sense, the heart is not the human heart. Heart is merely another name for the invisible, unborn Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in the universe.

The entire universe is merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the cause of the universe, and it itself is uncaused.

The invisible Soul is the spiritual heart. The invisible Soul is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the invisible Soul because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. The invisible Soul is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs.

The invisible Soul, the Self is within, the invisible Soul, the Self is without; the invisible Soul, the Self is before, the invisible Soul, the Self is behind; the invisible Soul, the Self is on the right, the invisible Soul, the Self is on the left; the invisible Soul, the Self Self is above and the invisible Soul, the Self is below.

The invisible Soul is everything. Thus, the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Emptiness is the nondual nature of the invisible Soul, the Self. Emptiness is the Soul itself.+

Emptiness is the nondual nature of the Soul, the Self. Emptiness is the invisible Soul itself.

Emptiness is the fullness of consciousness without the illusory division of form, time, and space.

There is unity in diversity in emptiness. There is oneness in emptiness.

When the invisible Soul, the Self, remains in its own nondual awareness, then there is emptiness.

When there is no ignorance, then there is emptiness.

When there is no dualistic illusion, then there is emptiness.

The emptiness is the nondual nature of the Soul, the Self.

The emptiness is the fullness of consciousness.

The invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, is the fullness of consciousness.

Remember this:~

If the Self is empty of the ‘I’, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of the mind, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of the universe, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of duality, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of ignorance, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of the illusion, then it is the fullness of consciousness

If the Self is empty of the three states, then it is the fullness of consciousness.

If the Self is empty of form, time, and space, then it is the fullness of consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

From the Advaitic perspective, the ‘I’-centric’ knowledge is dualistic knowledge based on ignorance.+

From the Advaitic perspective, the ‘I’-centric’ knowledge is dualistic knowledge based on ignorance.

If ‘I’ is present, then only there is ignorance.

If ignorance is there, then only there is duality.

If there is duality, then only the mind is present.

If there is mind is present, then only the form, time, and space are present.

If the form, time, and space are present, then only the universe is present.

If the universe is present, then only the waking is present.

If the waking is present then only the individual experience of the birth, life, death, and the world is experienced as a reality.

If the ‘I’ is absent, then: ~

If ‘I’ is absent, then there is no ignorance.

If ignorance is absent, then there is no duality.

If there is no duality, then the mind is absent.

If the mind is absent, then the form, time, and space are absent.

If the form, time, and space are present, then only the universe is present.

If the universe is absent, then the waking experience is absent.

If the waking is absent, then only the individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world is an illusion.

Without the illusion, the invisible Soul, the Self alone prevails as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the seeker will be able to mentally observe the invisible Soul, the Self as it is in the midst of the dualistic illusion by realizing the form, time and space are one in essence.

This is your bondage that you are stuck in the ‘I-centric' teaching. ‘I-centric' teachings are lower knowledge meant for lower stages.

The seeker has to ignore these ‘I-centric’ teachings and search for higher knowledge. Such teachings are unsafe rafts for crossing the ocean of ignorance.

Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the ocean of ignorance on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded people, proud of their vain learning, go round and round like the blind led by the blind.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is verily Brahman (God in truth), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Awareness.

The invisible Soul is not the ‘I’ which is non-existence itself. Realization of this truth is called Self-knowledge by the Sages of truth.

There is nothing that exists prior to consciousness. The ‘I’ ceases to exist without consciousness.

The invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman. : ~Santthosh Kumaar 

To unfold the mystery of the universe it is necessary to realize what this 'I' suppose to be in reality. +

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

To unfold the mystery of the universe it is necessary to realize what this 'I' suppose to be in reality.

That is why Bhagavad Gita says: ~ “The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Where there is ‘I’ there is ignorance.

Where there is ignorance there is separation.

Where there is a separation there is duality.

Where there is duality there is an illusion.

Where there is an illusion there is the mind.

Where there is a mind there is the universe.

Where there is the universe there is waking or dream.

Where there is the universe there is waking or dream there is form, time, and space.

But remember:~

If there is no ‘I’ then there is no ignorance.

If there is no ignorance then there is no separation.

If there is no separation then there is no duality.

If there is no duality then there is no illusion.

If there is no illusion then there is no mind.

If there is no mind then there is no universe.

If there is no universe then there is no waking or dream.

If there is no waking or dream then there is no form, time, and space.

If there are no divisions of form, time, and space then it is the Advaitic reality.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what leads to the realization of Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.:~ Santthosh Kumaar

If the inquiry does not include the universe then it is incomplete.+

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~63- "Without knowing and examining the universe, one can’t know the Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world.

If the inquiry does not include the universe, then it is incomplete. The universe itself is what God is all about. The totality of the universe is what God is all about.

You just study the nature of the universe with all the seriousness and sincerity to unfold the mystery of the universe. That is all you have to do.

Until the mystery of the universe is solved, the Self hidden by the illusory universe will not be realized.

Consciousness is the one single reality or Brahman. The individual self is a reality within the illusory universe or Maya.

Manduka:~ Those who want the ultimate truth, Brahman, will not practice control of the mind. (p.231)

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy, and all the arts can be called lower knowledge. The higher is that which leads to Self-realization.

Manduka Upanishad has no assumptions whatever. It is an honest and bold inquiry into truth. The world is believed to be a superimposition on consciousness, which is Brahman. Superimposition cannot be true.

Manduka Upanishad:~ Reality and illusion together make Brahman: nothing can be left out.

Manduka Upanishad:~ Atman is the highest Reality.

Manduka Upanishad:~ Only a few will be able to understand and assimilate it

Manduka Upanishad is not meant for all, as it is based entirely on reasoning.

Sage Goudapad:~ Duality is for the unwise, non-duality and undifferentiated Reality is for the wise and difficult to grasp.

Remember:~

The world is believed to be a superimposition on consciousness, which is Brahman. Superimposition cannot be true.

On the other hand, Sage Sankara claims that the world is not false. It appears false only when compared to Brahman (Consciousness).

In the pragmatic state, the world is completely true, which occurs as long as we are under the influence of Maya. The world cannot be both true and false at the same time; hence, Sage Sankara has classified the world as indescribable. The following points suggest that, according to Sage Sankara, the world is not false (Sage Sankara himself gave most of the arguments)

Remember:~

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta. The seeker has to find out: - ‘What is mind or ‘I’?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind (I)?’ And what is the source of the mind? (I), to realize the nature of the mind (I).

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the duality (waking experience).

When one is Soul-centric then he will realize ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ and ‘what is reality and what is unreality’ and be able to establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the invisible Soul, the Self.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth, or Brahman or God in truth.

Unfortunately, people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, and imagine nonduality and say nothing exists other than the source. But a Gnani says everything exists (illusion), but everything is created out of a single stuff, and that single stuff is consciousness.

Everything arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness. Thus, the whole diversity (three states) has no relevance, from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Everything (illusion) is nothingness (consciousness), realizing the three states are created out of nothingness (Consciousness).

Nothingness is the nature of consciousness because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

Religion, mysticism, and yoga are meant for the mass mindset, which is incapable of investigating and verifying their inherited beliefs.

The path of wisdom or truth is to get the pure essence of non-duality or Advaita.

The ultimate truth is based on the invisible Soul, the Self. Soul-centric reasoning leads one to non-dual Self-awareness.

There is a need to rectify the reasoning base from ego base to Soul base to understand, assimilate, and realize the Non-dualistic or Advaitic truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara:-All names and forms are real when seen with the Brahman (Soul) but are false when seen independent of Brahman.+

Yoga Vasistha: ~ “Even as particles of sand floating in water settle down when the water is absolutely steady, the mind of the man who has gained the knowledge of truth settles down in total peace.

Yoga Vasistha: ~ “The sun and the worlds become non-objects of perception, to those who have gone beyond the realm of objective perception and knowledge, even as lamps lose their luminosity while the mid-day sun shines.

From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the effect is non-different from the cause. However, in the realm of duality cause is different from the effect. The non-difference of the effect from the cause has to be grasped perfectly to realize, from the ultimate standpoint, that there is neither the cause nor the effect because the cause and effect are one, in essence. That essence is consciousness.

Sage Sankara says:~ If the cause is destroyed, the effect will no longer exist. For example, if from the effect, cotton cloth, the cause, threads, are removed, there will be no cloth, i.e., the cloth is destroyed. Similarly, if in the effect, the thread, the cause, cotton, is removed, there will be no thread, i.e., the thread is destroyed. (Brahmasūtra Bhashya, commentary on the Brahma-sutra- (9) 2.1.9)

Despite the non-difference between cause and effect, the effect has its Self in the cause but not the cause in the effect. The effect is of the nature of the cause and not the cause, the nature of the effect. Therefore, the qualities of the effect cannot touch the cause because the cause and effect are present only when the duality is present.

The duality is present only when there is an illusion. The illusion is there only when there is ignorance. When there is no ignorance, then there is no illusion. When there is no illusion, then there is no duality.

When there is no duality, then there is no cause and effect. When there is no cause and effect, then there is a non-dualistic reality.

Sage Sankara says:~ During the time of its existence, one can easily grasp that the effect is not different from the cause. However that the cause is different from the effect, which is not readily understood. As to this, it is not possible to separate cause from effect. But this is possible by imagining so. For example, the reflection of the gold ornament seen in the mirror is only the form of the ornament but is not the ornament itself, as it (the reflection) has no gold in it at all. All names and forms are real when seen with the Brahman, but are false when seen independent of Brahman (Soul). This was the seeker of truth establishes the non-difference of the effect from the cause.

In the context of Advaita Vedanta: ~ Jagat (the world) is not different from Brahman (Soul); however, Brahman (Soul) is different from Jagat.

It has not been possible to preach Advaitic Truth entirely free from the settings of dualistic weakness; it has not been more operative and useful to mankind at large because only a few will be able to grasp and realize it.

'To realize the Advaitic truth, a freer and fuller scope, the seeker has to realize that form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. The invisible Soul, the Self, is present in the form of consciousness.

To realize the Advaitic truth, the seeker has to be free from all superstitions and orthodox contaminations. The seeker has to be dedicated to acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone.'

A Gnani will easily appreciate that the high flights of Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom are one of the most majestic structures and valuable products of the Genius of man in his search for Truth.

The Self is not the ‘I’. The Self is not within the body. The Self is the invisible Soul hidden by the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is ignorance. The ‘I’ is an illusion.

Remember:~

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

The seeker has to make sure what this ‘I’ is supposed to be. The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’, which comes and goes, to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

That is why Bhagavad Gita: ~ The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

The ‘I’ hides the invisible Soul, the Self, which is Brahman or God in truth.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say 'I', if you feel the Self is the ‘I’, you are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated that the Self is the ‘I’. There is no need to convince such a mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth, nothing but the truth.

That is why Sage Sankara says: - VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman.

People refuse to accept anything other than their Guru's words. For them, their Guru's words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such a mindset.

Such a mindset is not fit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana. The seekers of truth accept only the truth, nothing but the uncontradictable truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara :~ Yoga is not the means to Self-realization.+

Self-realization is not just a matter of literal or intellectual understanding, but something that is to be grasped and realized by the individual in his/her own personal realization.

Yogic practices will not help in acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

Yogic practices help only in the repertory stages to be calm, to have patience and humility, and keep away unwanted thoughts.

Yoga is not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because yoga is based on the chakras. The chakras are within the body, whereas the invisible Soul, the Self, has no chakras because it is an ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Sage Sankara said:~ Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way.(1) Vivekachoodamani v 56, pg. 25

The practice of yoga is not recommended for seekers by the Sages of truth.

Sage Sankara in the commentary to "Brahma Sutras: ~ " "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga." (Sacred Books of the East Series page 298 Vol.1.) And he also says Samadhi is the same as sleep (p.312)- this indicates that yoga is not the means to Self-realization. And yogic Samadhi is not Advaitic Self-awareness.

Sage Sankara says: - Yoga is not the means of liberation (page 132-133 - Commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad.

Yoga can yield only the duality because everything that one can do or practice becomes a vanishing 'known.' It yields relative truth based on imagination, which is true from the physical viewpoint of view, not the Advaitic truth, which is the ultimate reality.

The essence of Mundaka is: Do not be satisfied with rituals, yoga, etc., which are good in their own way, but inquire. Into what?

Brahman and Atman are things you can never see. So do not inquire into them. Inquire into the world around you, which you can see. Science tells you it is passing away every second. Everything is dying repeatedly. Where is it going?

Thus, you follow up your inquiry into what you can lay your hands on. How can you inquire into Atma, which you cannot see? So, first we deal with the known and seen; this inquiry leads up to the unknown in the end.

Belief in Yoga is a self-hypnotic condition out of which it is extremely difficult to escape.

The yogis say that only yoga leads to Self-realization.

The seeker has to investigate “Why Yoga is right and other paths can't give the truth?" Or how is one to know that Yoga leads to the final truth?"

Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (Advaitic wisdom) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it. (Gita –Chap- IV-v.2)

In the Gita Chapter.IV, where Lord Krishna says::~ This yoga has been lost for ages." The word yoga refers to Gnana yoga, not other yogas: the force of the word is to point this out.

Lord Krishna describes some of the other yogas, but devotes this chapter separately to Gnana Yoga. So, one sees even in those ancient days, people did not care for Advaita; they wanted religion; hence, Gnana got lost. That is why Krishna calls it "the supreme secret." Krishna points out that yoga must see "Brahman in action."

Gita Chap.IV: "He who achieves perfection in Yoga finds the Self in time." This means that after his yoga is finished, he begins the inquiry into the ultimate truth, and in due course, this inquiry produces the realization of the universal Spirit or Soul as the result.

It is important to remember that Moksha is not a result of the yogic ritualistic practice.

The seeker has to be equipped with requisite qualities such as patience, humility, the ability to focus one's concentration in an intense manner, the ability to discriminate between the Real and the non-Real, and an intense urge for liberation.

First, realize the Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Mentally hold on to the invisible Soul and mentally reduce the world in which you exist as consciousness by realizing the world in which you exist is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness.

Swami Vivekananda: ~ Jñāna Yoga is divided into three parts. First: hearing the truth--that the Atman is the only reality and that everything else is Maya. Second: reasoning upon this philosophy from all points of view. Third: giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that Brahman is real and everything else is unreal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar