Advaita is basically a denial; it is literally the negation of the Dvaita.+

Sage Sankara says you need to study philosophy to realize the Self hidden by the dualistic illusion.

Advaitic wisdom exposes the oneness hidden by the dualistic illusion. the Soul the Self pervades in everything and everywhere in the universe, which is the dualistic illusion. there are many creatures but there is only one Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

How can you talk of many Souls when the whole dualistic illusion (universe) is created out of single clay? The single clay is the Soul, the Self of the whole dualistic illusion.

Sage Sankara asks his opponents "How do you know there are separate individual Souls? Have you seen the Soul of a man? You can only say that you have seen different bodies. To say more is to misuse language. Therefore, I call you liars unless you give proof, which is impossible.

The universe is verily consciousness. Without realizing ‘this truth is impossible to get Self- realization. The universe is not different from the Mind because the universe itself is the mind. The mind is not different from the Soul because the mind is the dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness. The universe is unreal because it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness.

It is impossible for any human being to challenge successfully the Advaitic position, as Sage Sankara says.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ ‘Brahmano hi pratisthaham’- Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material (Gita 14.27)

Bhagavad Gita itself says the all-pervading consciousness is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material.

Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul and the Self is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman (Spirit) is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

The Spirit is the root element of the universe. The Spirit is present in the form of the Soul, the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. From the Spirit, the universe comes into existence. In the Spirit, the universe resides. And into the Spirit, the universe is dissolved. The Spirit is the parent of all that is there is.

To come to a more precise understanding of what non-duality is or might mean, we must return to the original linguistic and philosophic backgrounds from which the word has been translated into English.

If we limit a probe of the meaning of non-duality to Hindu Sanskrit literature, we find that the most frequently used term is “Advaita.

Advaita” is not a religious concept. Advaita is the nature of the existence hidden by form, time, and space. The seeker has to attempt to rule out from the start a false understanding of reality by perfect understanding of ‘what is what.’

The Advaita is hidden by the Dvaita. Advaita is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Dvaita is the universe.

Advaita is basically a denial; it is literally the negation of the Dvaita. That means whatever remains by negating the Dvaita (universe) by realizing the universe is created out of single clay and that clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness, the hidden truth by Dvaita uncovered. The consciousness is the cause of the universe and it is uncaused.

Thus, the path of wisdom is the only means. Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and the witness of the universe (mind). By tracing the source of the mind or the universe one will be able to realize the Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Until one thinks the mind is within the body, all the doubts and confusion will prevail.+

 Until one thinks the mind is within the body, all the doubts and confusion will prevail. When one indulges in deeper Self-search he becomes aware of the fact that the body and the world are within the mind. This is necessary to realize the fact that the body and the world together are the mind (I).

Thus, it is necessary to investigate ‘What is this mind (I)?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind?” and ‘What is the source of the mind?’”

The seeker has to know what is real by realizing our body, ego and our experience of the world is merely an illusion created out of the Soul or consciousness.

The nature of the Self is emptiness. And it is identified by different masters with different names, such as Brahman Christ consciousness, Self, Ultimate Truth.

When the Soul, the ‘Self’, becomes aware of its formless non-dual nature then it becomes empty of ignorance or illusion or duality or experience of waking or dream. Thus, whatever remains empty of duality or ignorance or illusion is the non-dual reality. Only through wisdom does one become aware of the truth in the midst of duality.

That is why Sage Sankara said: ~ “VC-63- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’, how is one to achieve Liberation.

The universe will not remain as reality when wisdom dawns. The universe is a mere illusion created out of consciousness and there is conscious awareness of the unity in diversity because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

One thinks the mind is within this body; whereas the body and his experience of the world are within the mind. The consciousness is hidden within the three states, but it is without the three states.

The one, which has the awareness of the three states, is not the body but the Soul which is in the form of consciousness. Thus, consciousness is not limited to waking experience alone because it pervades all three states.

Till one views and judge the world-view on the base of ego or waking entity, he is in the grip of individuality or intellectuality. The Self is not an individual because it is universal. And it pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. Thus, individualized judgment will not lead to one non-dual destination.

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, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

66. Therefore, the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.

Thus, one has to know what is real by realizing our body and our experience of the world is merely an illusion created out of the Soul or consciousness. The Soul is the Self. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Mentally observing reality hidden by the dualistic illusion is the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.+

The form ceases to exist without time. Form and time cease to exist without space. The form, time, and space cease to exist without the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Mentally observing reality hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya is the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.

As one penetrates more deeply the hidden reality starts revealing on its own. The great Sages of truth too, like scientists in search of truth, delved deeply within and unraveled the mystery of the universe in which we exist.

The universes in which we exist cease to exist without form, time, and space. The form, time, and space are the product of ignorance. Until one realizes the form, time, and space are made of single clay the ignorance will prevail. Knowledge of the single clay is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge of Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is Advaita, the knowledge of God.

Just the way Light destroys the Darkness. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana will dispel the clouds covering over the path to Liberation.

Humility, patience seriousness, sincerity, and an intense urge to realize the truth of his true existence will help the seeker to remove all the obstacles and show the path to liberation.

The Soul, the ‘Self’ is hidden by ignorance. Through Self-knowledge the ignorance vanishes. The Soul remains in its own awareness without ignorance. In self-awareness, the Soul shines as the fullness of consciousness, without the illusory division of form, time, and space.

The Soul, which is the fullness of the consciousness alone, is eternal. Self-knowledge removes ignorance. Self-knowledge removes the knowledge of the individual. Thus, the Soul loses the apparent hold of ignorance upon itself. And it frees itself from experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality~ that is liberation.

From the standpoint of the Soul, there is no such thing as internal or external. Within the dualistic illusion, you create your own set of impressions and experiences and you accept the dualistic illusion as reality.

A personal realization of the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space, is independent and convincing evidence.

People’s individual experiences cannot be disputed, because the experience they went through was real to them; though that may not be real from the absolute standpoint.

The seeker has to make a distinction between the dualistic perspective view and the non-dualistic perspective of the worldview, to realize ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’.

From a dualistic perspective, the world in which we exist is a reality.

From the non-dualistic perspective, the world in which we exist is an illusion.

Thus, it is necessary to realize on what standpoint the world in which we exist, is reality and on ‘what standpoint the world in which we exist is an illusion.

Because you hold the Self’ as ‘I’, you are misled, All this because you are stuck up with some gurus and their teaching as ultimate. There is no Guru whose teaching takes you to realize the Advaitic truth expounded by Sage Sankara. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

You have to get rid of the ignorance, not the ego.+

 You cannot get rid of the ego alone because you are the ego. The ego, body, and the world appear together and disappear together.

The ego cannot be separated from the world in which you exist because the ego is the very basis of the world in which you exist.

Without the ego, the world in which you exist ceases to exist. The world in which you exist is the product of ignorance. You have to get rid of the ignorance, not the ego.

Sage Sankara states wisdom can eliminate ignorance, but the ignorance it eliminates is not real because it has no existence of its own. Once the error is removed the ultimate truth or Brahman hidden by the ignorance will reveal of its own accord.

Sage Sankara explains darkness and light are distinct from each other in their nature and in their functions. Darkness has no existence of its own; it is merely the absence of light, whereas, the light is positive and helps vision. Darkness and light can neither coexist nor share their functions or nature. Darkness is an error that can be removed.

The main purpose of Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is to provide the Knowledge that will eliminate ignorance, which hides the reality of the true existence, which is without the form, time, and space.

Ignorance is the cause of the superimposition of the dualistic illusion or Maya on the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The world in which we exist is not an intellectual construct but a superimposition of the dualistic illusion on the Soul, the Self.

Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana the unreal nature of the world in which we exist is exposed.

It is only a matter of realization of truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Within the dualistic illusion we mistake one thing and its attributes for another; superimposing one level of reality over others. This we do every day because we see the world from a dualistic perspective.

An individual experiences the world are based on a dualistic perspective. The individual experience of the world is the product of ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the world in which we exist as a reality. The world in which we exist is the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is superimposed on the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what helps to acquire Advaitic wisdom or Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~

Make sure ‘what is this ‘I’, supposed to be in actuality.

The Self is not ‘I’.

The ‘I’ is not the Soul, the Self.

The ‘I’ is the mind.

The mind is the universe.

The universe appears as waking or dream (duality).

The waking is a parallel dream

The dream is parallel waking.

The ‘I’ appears and disappears.

Remember:~

When ‘I’ appears then the mind appears.

When ‘I’ disappears then the mind disappears.

When the mind appears then the universe appears.

When the mind disappears then the universe disappears.

When the universe appears then the waking appears

When the universe disappears then the waking disappears.

Whatever prevails without the ‘I’ is the Soul, which is the cause of the ‘I’ and it itself is uncaused. The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

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

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole.

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

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 as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. 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, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

People refuse to accept anything other than their Gurus words. For them, their Gurus words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else 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 Self-realization cannot be the result of good works any amount of charity or dip in holy rivers.+

The world in which you exist is a dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The only thing which is real and eternal in the world in which you exist is the Soul, the Self. Thus, the Soul alone is real and eternal. Whatever is eternal is God in truth.

The one who thinks he is independent apart from the world and believes in action (karma) is not aware of the fact that the world in which he exists is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, all good karma performed with the dualistic illusion has no value because the karma performed within the dualistic illusion has only value in the state of ignorance.

Self-realization cannot be the result of good works any amount of charity or dip in holy rivers or by visiting holy mountains or pilgrimaging or even hundreds of pranayamas all types of Kriya yogas.

That is why 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

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)

Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas can give us knowledge about the Self. The firm experience of the nature of the Self is seen to proceed from inquiry along the lines of the salutary advice of the wise. (13)

It is clear that liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itself declares that there is no hope for immortality by means of wealth. (Verses -7).

Sage Sankara:~ From the point of any of these four uses karma is of no use for attaining liberation. Remaining in one's own true form is release. It consists of realizing the true nature of the Self which is ever-existent and eternal. Moksha, therefore, is not something to be produced, for it is eternal (nityatvat). It is not something to be purified, for it is bereft of all qualities and impurities (nirgunatvat, nirdoshatvat cha). There is also another reason here. It cannot be purified since it is not a means (asadhanadravyatmakatvat). Only a thing that serves as a means can be purified, as the sacrificial vessel or clarified butter by the sprinkling of water and so on. (Commentary on Bhr, Upanishads 3-3-1)

Sage Sankara says:~Karma is not competent to remove ignorance, for it is not opposed to it. It does not matter in what way we characterize ignorance, whether as the absence of knowledge or as doubt or as erroneous knowledge. It is always removable by knowledge, but not by action in any of its forms, for there is no contradiction between ignorance and karma. (Commentary on Brah.3-3-1 )

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

Then the karma theory has no value. The karma theory is merely a religious fable meant for ignorant masses. The karma theory is not the means to acquire Advaitic wisdom or Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

It is not you who has to get freedom because the Self is not you.+

It is not you who has to get freedom because the Self is not you. It is the Soul, which is the prisoner within the dualistic illusion has to get freedom from ignorance.

It is not you who has to wake up from ignorance. it is the Soul that has to wake up from its sleep of ignorance.

Experience is possible in the domain of dualistic illusion. In the realm of the Soul, where there is no second thing exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form the consciousness.

How can you get enlightened when you are part of the illusion? The world in which you exist is the product of ignorance. When ignorance vanishes, the unreal nature of the world in which you exist is exposed.

Remember this: You are not the Self. The Self is the Soul. It is not you, who has the ignorance, but it is the Soul, the Self, is in the sleep of the ignorance of its own true nature. It is the Soul; the Self has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance.

The world, in which you exist prevails as reality until the Soul, the innermost Self, remains in ignorance of its true nature. When Soul wakes up consciously in the midst of the waking experience the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

It is not you who has to get Mukthi or freedom it is the Soul, the Self that has to get Mukthi from the Maya.+

The Soul is the Self. The Soul, the Self is not the ‘I’ but the witness of the ‘I’. The Soul, the Self is infinite, deathless, and birthless, because the Soul is infinite Spirit or consciousness.

All that is real in this world in which we exist is Consciousness, which is God in truth. The world in which we exist hides God in truth because the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of God in truth.

The Soul itself is God, only held in the bondage of the dualistic illusion; perfection will be reached when ignorance vanishes through wisdom and the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya will no longer remain as a reality.

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion.

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

It is not you who has to get Mukthi or freedom it is the Soul, the Self that has to get Mukthi from the dualistic illusion or Maya (universe).

Therefore, you must make sure the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember:~

The Mukthi or freedom is for the Soul, the Self for the Soul from experience the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya as a reality.

Freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from ignorance, freedom from the illusion.

It does not befit you to be a slave of the inherited belief. It is time to wake up and start your quest for truth.

Arise! Awake! There is none to help you. The Soul, Self is the entire universe. No one can help you.

Swami Vivekananda said:~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your own Soul.”

Mundaka Upanishad condemns rituals. The Para or Higher knowledge is the knowledge of the Supreme Being while the Apara or Lower Knowledge is that of following sacrificial rites and ceremonies. (1/2/ 1 – 6)

What is the use of saying ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM THAT’- without knowing what is this ‘I’ in actuality? The ‘I-centric’ teachings are limited to the form, not the time and space. The ‘I-centric’ teachings will not help the seeker to reach the ultimate end of understanding.

All the ‘I-centric’ Gurus and their teaching make the seeker hallucinate. Playing with the sentiments and emotions of the seeker makes him remain permanently in the domain of ignorance. Ornamental words satisfy only an emotional mindset.

The words that mean different things to different people, it is what is behind the words, between the lines that matter. If you are seeking truth nothing but the truth then you have to discard I-centric’ Gurus and their teaching to realize the truth hidden by the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

When a Gnani does not see his body as the body, his ego as the ego, his experience of the world as the world, then he has realized his body, his ego, and his experience of the world as consciousness. Thus, everything is Soul or consciousness. Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

When conviction of the Soul the ‘Self’, grows stronger everything falls on the right slot.

Remember, the ‘I’ is not limited to the form, therefore, there is a need to realize ‘what this ‘I’ is in actuality.

The ‘I’ is the mind.

The ‘mind’ is the form, time, and space together.

The form, time, and space together are the universe.

The universe is the waking or the dream.

The waking is a parallel dream

The dream is parallel waking.

The ‘I’ cannot exist just be by itself. The ‘I’ has no separate, independent existence. ‘I’ is dependent on the Soul, the Self for its existence. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

From the standpoint of the Soul the Self: ~

The ‘I’ is an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the mind is bound to be an illusion.

If the mind is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion

If form, time, and space are an illusion then the universe is bound to be an illusion.

The universe is an illusion the waking or the dream is nothing but an illusion.

If the waking is an illusion then the experience of birth, life, death, and the world which is present only when the waking experience is present is bound to be an illusion.

Sage Sankara says the world is illusory; it includes birth, life, and death, which happens within the world. Thus, seekers, the main aim is to mentally trace the formless substance of the illusion, which is also the witness of the illusion. The formless substance and witness of the illusion (world) are the Atman, and this Atman itself is Brahman. This Brahman cannot be attained by indulging in egocentric religious orthodoxies.

The knower of Brahman is Brahmin, not the Brahmin who indulges in priestcraft, which leads one to utter darkness as per Yajur Veda.

Yoga Vasistha:~ "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good.

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)

Sage Sankara said:~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is necessary to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar