Sage Sankara’s whole wisdom can be summed up into one sentence, ‘There is nothing else but Brahman (consciousness).+

India is the home of mysticism and deification and very few are keen on rational Advaitic truth. Indian populace is most interested in their caste and creed propagated by different founders in different regions of India. Very few are interested in Advaitic wisdom. In Atmic path has no place for an extra-cosmic God or for anything supernatural. 

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita. Without Advaita, it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

Sage Sankara’s whole wisdom can be summed up into one sentence: ‘There is nothing else but Brahman (consciousness). He says that Absolute Existence, Absolute Knowledge, and Absolute Bliss are real. The universe is not real. He says that Brahman and Atman are one. 

The ultimate and the Absolute truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Self is real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances. 

Genuine philosophy must be independent of religion, as in Sage Sankara himself, the Saguna Brahman or a personal God is only a part of the phenomenal (if not illusory) world, and the Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion. 

Sage Sankara pokes fun at ascetics and points out that all their austerities do not cause desires to go away. (Altar Flowers" Page 205, v.2, P.207, v.4) 

The Brahma Sutras together with Sage Sankara's commentary thereon do not contain the higher wisdom. They are intended for those who are incapable of thinking rationally. 

Sage Sankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras is not on a philosophical basis, but on an orthodox and mystic basis, with an appeal to the Vedas as the final authority. 

In Brahma Sutra, Sage Sankara takes the position that there is another entity outside us, i.e,. The wall really exists separately from the mind. This was because Sage Sankara explains in Manduka that those who study the Sutras are orthodox minds, intellectual children, hence his popular viewpoint to assist them. These people are afraid to go deeper because it means being heroic enough to refuse to accept Sruti and God's authority, in case they mean punishment by God. A Gnani says the scriptures for children, but wise seekers will think rationally. 

In Brahma Sutras, Sage  Sankara takes for granted, assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy. 

That God created the world is an absolute lie; nevertheless, one will find Sage Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds. 

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion, dogmatism, but in the commentary, Sage  Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that many Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, only a few Upanishads do not, but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof. 

Scholars' translation of Brahma Sutras in Sacred Books of the East must be read cautiously as he has not understood its highest sense, e.g,. For Advaita, they wrongly put "Unity" instead of “Non-duality." 

Sage Sankara gave religion and scholasticism and yoga no less than philosophy, to the seeking world. He was great enough to be able to do so. His commentary on Manduka Upanishad is pure philosophy, but many of his other books are presented from a religious standpoint to help those who cannot rise up to philosophy. 

Orthodoxy is the home of mysticism and deification that is why they are not keen on the rational truth. Thus, Sage Sankara is the Jagadguru to the religious followers and he is a great Sage (Gnani) of the highest order to the seeking world. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Identifying the ‘Self’ as ‘you’, is a great error. The Self is not you but the’ Self’ is the Soul or consciousness.+

Identifying the Self as ‘you’ is a great error. The Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The form, time, and space are objects to the invisible Soul, which is the subject. The invisible Soul witnesses the form, time, and space together.

The form, time, and space appear as ‘I’. When ‘I’ disappears, then the form, time, and space also disappear. When 'I' disappears the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness alone prevails as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

The ‘I-centric Gurus' hold you as the Sel,f are unaware of the truth hidden by the ‘I’.

The knowledge expounded by the ‘I-centric’ Gurus and their teaching is lower knowledge. The seeker has to ignore this ‘I-centric teaching and search for higher knowledge, which is hidden by ignorance.

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

Remember:~

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 or God in truth.

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is the cause of the universe.

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

First, you must make sure the ‘I’ itself is illusory because the ‘I’ is not permanent.

The seeker has to find for himself the truth of his true existence and to come to a fuller and deeper understanding and realization of the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

The purpose quest for truth is to first find out what is the untruth to realize the truth and discard the untruth.

Do not try to get rid of the ego, you will never succeed in getting rid of the ego. Think in a different direction. The ego exists only in the domain of form, time, and space.

The form, time, and space exist only when the mind exists.

The mind exists only when the universe exists.

The universe appears only when the waking appears.

The waking appears only when the ‘I’ appears.

Remember

The ‘I’ disappears in deep sleep.

There is no form, time, or space when ‘I’ disappears.

There is no mind when ‘I’ disappears.

The universe when the ‘I’ disappears.

There is no waking when the ‘I’ disappears.

Remember

‘I’ appears means the duality appears.

The duality appears means there is a division of form, time, and space.

If there is division in the form, time, and space -means there is diversity in the unity.

Remember ~

When ‘I’ disappears, there is nonduality.

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

The fullness of consciousness means unity in diversity.

Unity in diversity in consciousness is Advaita.

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul in the midst of diversity (waking) is Self-awareness or Brahmic awareness.

If you desire Self-realization, but you still say "I,” and if you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise seeker. You are simply ignorant.

‘I’-centric knowledge is unsafe rafts for crossing the Ocean of ignorance, which is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.

Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the Ocean of ignorance on these poor rafts of ‘I-centric knowledge. 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. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

The accumulated knowledge from different Gurus and different books is not the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.+

The path of wisdom is not the path of exchange of views, opinions, and arguments. 

The seeker must have patience and humility. The seeker has to drop all his accumulated knowledge and start afresh. 

One opinion may be used to contradict another, so both may be thrown away. Opinions are only thoughts. Thoughts are not the truth we are seeking because the ultimate truth is nondual.  

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

Ignorant thinks accumulating knowledge he will get wisdom. Thus, he accumulates knowledge from every source and thinks he has accomplished his life’s mission.  

The accumulated knowledge from different Gurus and different books is not the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara. And he is uncertain about the truth, and he thinks he knows the truth. This ‘I ‘know business is a great hindrance in the pursuit of truth. 

Ashtavakra:~There is no wisdom whatsoever in the scriptures-just a collection of words. 

I only highlighted scriptural insights which point to the ultimate reality. what is not helpful in the pursuit of truth has to be discarded.  

The seeker should not bother about finding the meaning of what is written in the scriptures. 

Do not indulge in arguing from your own standpoint holding your accumulated knowledge as a yardstick that is pointless.  

Instead, read, reason, and reflect on the subject, which is the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara to get rid of ignorance.  

Remember:~ 

Exhibiting intellectual knowledge fuels the ego and blocks the realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

People think every path leads towards reality because all the other paths are egocentric paths. The path of wisdom is the Soulcentric path. 

Thus, egocentric intellectualism has nothing to do with the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. All accumulated dross leads to a hallucination. 

Katha Upanishad says:~ Fools dwelling in the darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Ch II-5 P-14) 

It indicates that the one who is ignorant (darkness) of the true Self (Atman) searches for truth by accumulating knowledge of every path and practice, uncertain about the truth, and thinks every path leads towards reality.  Ignorance of the true Self leads one towards unreality or hallucination. 

There is nothing to realize other than realizing the universe in which we exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is real and eternal. 

All my blogs and postings are verified truth. As one goes on reading, all his doubts and confusion will start clearing. It takes time, to be receptive to Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because it is the Soulcentric knowledge whereas all accumulated knowledge is egocentric. 

I am highlighting all the obstacles in the inner journey and how to overcome these obstacles. All accumulated knowledge is of no use in the path of wisdom. 

It is for every seeker, who is on the path of wisdom, to realize himself “What is the truth, “and “What is untruth?” to assimilate the Self–Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

My postings are only signposts. The seeker needs to reflect constantly on the subject till the cobwebs of his doubts and confusion get cleared. 

Self-knowledge will not arise from the exchange of views, opinions, and arguments. The accumulated knowledge is not a yardstick, to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Do not keep on glorifying the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not within your body. Remember the ‘I’ is the whole universe.+

By simply saying God within and discovering what you are not, nothing else matters. Such statements are superficial. The Self is not you to find out who you are, but you must find out the truth of the world in which you exist.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something detrimental to our spiritual progress.

Going within means thinking, reasoning, reflecting deeply, and finding out how this world in which you exist came into existence.

The world in which you exist is not different from the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, because the universe is made of consciousness.

Thus, consciousness alone is, and all else (the universe) is merely an illusion. The illusion is not different from consciousness, which is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Sage Sankara says:~ VC-63- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what leads to the realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara says: ~ A. A 88. When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

You have to reduce the world in which we exist as the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness by realizing the world in which we exist is nothing but consciousness.

Do not keep on glorifying the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not within your body. Remember the ‘I’ is the whole universe. The universe ceases to exist without the ‘I’.

If you are caught in the grip of the ‘I’ then you will remain permanently in the grip of ignorance.

If you hold the Self as ‘I’ you will never be able to cross the dualistic illusion. If you follow the ‘I’ based teaching it is like the blind leading the blind.

If you inquire “Who am ‘I’? the ‘I’ will not disappear. You must know the nature of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

The invisible Soul is the witness of the ‘I’, which is permanent and eternal. The invisible Soul is the subject, and the ‘I’ is an object.

The ‘I’ hides the invisible Soul. Therefore, the seeker has to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the invisible Soul, then from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self:~

Where is the ‘I’?

Where is the ego?

Where is the body?

Where is the mind?

Where is the world in which you exist?

Where are the form, time, and space?

Where is the waking experience?

Where is the duality?

Where is the void?

They are or have become one with the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is a waking experience.

Deeper self-search reveals that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the I’. This truth has to be assimilated.

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the invisible Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the three states are bound to be an illusion.

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

If the 'I’ is an illusion, then the individual experience of birth, life, and death is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

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

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’ comes and goes to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

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

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to realize that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the invisible Soul 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 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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Birth is the birth of ignorance (I). Life is living with ignorance (I). The death is the death of ignorance (I).+

Birth is the birth of ignorance (I). Life is living with ignorance (I). The death is the death of ignorance (I).

The ‘I’ is ignorance. The universe is a product of ignorance because the universe ceases to exist without the ‘I’.

The Self is not ‘I’ because the Self is the invisible Soul, the cause of the whole universe. Limiting the invisible Soul, the Self, to the physical entity is the cause of ignorance.

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions determine the world, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the world will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same world. Each one interprets the world that they see in terms of their existing knowledge. The commoner sees everything based on the ego; therefore, he experiences birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as consciousness, and he is fully aware of the fact that there is no second thing that exists other than the invisible Soul or consciousness.

Thus, all the egocentric knowledge has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Remember:~

Anubava in the Advaitic contest is not an experience, but it is the realization of the Self, hidden by the dualistic illusion (Maya or world).

Remember the Self, is not an individual, but the Self is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. the experience is possible only in the domain of form, time, and space. In reality, the form, time, and space are one in essence.

Sage Sankara himself has warned us not to use ambiguous words, and to practice semantic analysis (“Definition of one's own Self." Page 199, v.24 of "Sankara's Selected Works)”

Sage Sankara strongly advocated the study of Upanishads, and at the same time cautioned that the study of Upanishad alone would not lead to moksha. In matters such as spiritual attainment, one’s own realization was the sole authority and it cannot be disputed

Sage Sankara also said the study of Upanishad was neither indispensable nor a necessary prerequisite for attaining the human goal, the moksha.

Sage Sankara pointed out; that even those who were outside the Upanishad fold were as eligible to moksha as those within the fold were. He declared that all beings are Brahman, and therefore the question of discrimination did not arise. All that one was required to do was to get rid of ignorance (Avidya or duality).

Sage Sankara: ~ 'Like a servant who carries a lamp in front of you to find your way, and you have found it, so becomes the Veda to that person. What is the Veda? ~ utterances of those who have known the Truth. Here is one who has known the Truth; why should he or she depend upon the Veda further? Actual realization takes you beyond books. At a certain stage, books become a botheration. The Upanishad itself says that the 'words are only so much of distraction for such minds'

Upanishads :~They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom and are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada)

Sage Sankara himself says: ~ VC 59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures, consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first, and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make his discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ V C:~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.

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first, and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is truth and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make his discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

Sage Sankara says: ~ What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra).

The Self cannot be experienced because the experience is possible only in the realm of duality.

There is neither experience nor experiencer in reality. In Self-awareness, the body, ego, and the world are not considered different from consciousness.

The experience and experiencer exist within the domain of form, time, and space. The form, time, and space are within the domain of the dualistic illusion.

To experiencer must have a form, without the form the experience is impossible? The experience is impossible without form, time, and space. The experiencer and the experience are one, in essence. The essence is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is the fullness of consciousness without the division of form, time, and space. All the division in consciousness is merely an illusion.

Thus, other than consciousness all else is merely an illusion. The illusion is also consciousness because it is created out of consciousness.

The Atmic path is nothing to do with religion and the yogic path. The Atmic path is the path of wisdom. All your accumulated knowledge has nothing to do with the Atmic path.

The Atmic path is not a path of discussion or exchange of views and opinions, but the direct realization of the Self, hidden by the dualistic illusion.

The seeker must have the patience to open the blogs and posts and read. It will not only help you to clear all your cobwebs of doubts and confusion.

Without reading the blogs trying to argue on your own yardstick, is not of any use. Whatever you have read, whatever you have heard and accumulated becomes a hindrance in realizing the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

All your egocentric accumulated cocktail knowledge is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana soulcentric knowledge is not available in the spiritual supermarket.

All accumulated knowledge is mental garbage and is of no use in the quest for truth. The seeker has to discard all the accumulated knowledge and start afresh.

Reading and reflecting on my blogs and postings gradually, the seekers will start assimilating and realizing ‘what is the truth’ and what the untruth is.

Repeated reading of my blogs and postings makes the seeker Soulcentric, and the inner dialogue will start, and clear all the doubts and confusion.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ through deeper thinking and reasoning helps to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~

In the Atmic path discussion of the unimportant subject matter is a great hindrance. The path of truth is the path of verification.

When there are no doubts and confusion, then they have realized the truth that form, time, and space are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness.

There is no use in wasting time in questioning and arguing same time and effort has to be used to make the seeker more independent and without external spoon-feeding, he can reach the inner core, which is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

The seeker of truth must know the difference between the religious Gods based on blind faith and God in truth.+

The seeker of truth must know the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

Religious people believe the stories of Jesus who raised the dead and Krishna who picked a mountain as a reality but Jesus who raised the dead and Krishna who picked a mountain within the dualistic illusion. Whatever belongs to a dualistic illusion is bound to be an illusion.

One must remember that for all periods the Vedas are the final goal and authority, and if the Puranas differ in any respect from the Vedas, the Puranas are to be rejected without mercy.

If you feel Puranas say something and the Vedas say something else, reject the Puranas and believe in the Vedas. The Puranas are just myths.

India takes pride in being the descendants of the Sages of Truth who gave the Advaita the ultimate truth. The Advaitic truth is the truth beyond form, time, and space.

All the mythological Gods' existence is a myth. Such Gods can exist only within the dualistic illusion. Thus, the existence of such Gods is illusory.

Mythological gods and Goddesses are based on belief. The belief is not God. The belief implies duality. From the ultimate standpoint, the duality is merely an illusion.

Thus, whatever one sees, knows, believes, and experiences within the dualistic illusion is bound to be an illusion.

Mythological stories are a myth. Whatever is based on myth is merely a superstition. Mythology was introduced in the past for the ignorant masses. It has to be discarded as one progresses in his spiritual advancement

Swami Vivekananda:~ “This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, the Soul. Self is infinite, deathless, and birthless. Because the Self is infinite Spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. Self is the entire world. Who can help you? -

Mythology breeds superstition, blind belief, senseless rituals, and the most irrational and gives them a divine outlook.

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “If superstition enters, the brain is gone. Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse.

Mythological contains stories of people with 10 with seven heads, etc., which are fables, yet are taken seriously by pundits. All these stories are a reality within the dualistic illusion. The waking experience is a dualistic illusion. Thus, whatever belongs to the dualistic illusion is bound to be a falsehood. In reality, there is no duality because there is only Oneness.

That the ancient sages had miraculous occult power and books relate stories of their feats, is that fairy tales were meant for children, women, and those whose minds had not developed.

When ‘Self’ is not ‘you’ then whatever you have seen, known believed, and experienced as reality is bound to be an illusion. Thus, self-realization is necessary to realize your present the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.

If the present world in which you exist is merely an illusion, then whatever you believe as a reality of the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Religious Gods are not really God. One must know God in truth.

Lord Krishna says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know the Self in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the Self. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

Vedas and Upanishads confirm that God is the invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the 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.

Even the Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

There is a clear-cut idea of God in the Vedas, Upanishad, and Bhagavad Gita. And also there is a clear-cut idea of what not to worship as God in place of real God. Thus, it proves from the Vedic perspective the Puranic Gods are not Vedic Gods.

Vedas says never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman.

That is why 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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar