Tattireya Upanishad: ~ “There are two different Samadhis, philosophic and Sahaja Samadhi, which is the highest in which is in full wakefulness, and then he inquires what is meant by this world, the world is seen in this Sahaja Samadhi. +

Tattireya Upanishad: ~ “There are two different Samadhis, philosophic and Sahaja Samadhi, which is the highest, in which one is in full wakefulness, and then he inquires what is meant by this world, the world is seen in this Sahaja Samadhi. Whereas Yogic or Nirvikalpa Samadhi is just like swoon or deep sleep, where one is unaware of anything, not even the world. (Page 640,641 and verse 132,133)

Each person sees in his own Samadhi whatever is uppermost in his mind. How does he/she or anyone know that what he/she or anyone sees is the truth? Similarly, each has intuitions agreeable to what is uppermost in his mind.

A yogi cannot attain realization because he thinks his body to be the body and the world to be the world, and fails to see them as consciousness, and thinks his experience of Samadhi is because of his individual effort. The individual experience is limited to waking experience is merely an illusion.

Thus, even his Samadhi is also limited to the waking experience, which is merely an illusion. He thinks the thoughtlessness is Samadhi, but thoughts are of individuality. Thoughts disappear even in deep sleep. Therefore, deep sleep is not wisdom. If one thinks thoughtlessness is Samadhi and Samadhi is Brahman, then anyone gets knowledge of Brahman by taking sleeping pills or hemp.

In Sutra, Bashya and Mundaka Upanishads: ~ Samadhi and sleep are identical.

Brihad Upanishad does not advocate Samadhi.

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)-- which indicates that yoga is not the means to Self-realization. And yogic Samadhi is not nondualistic or Advaitic-awareness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara pointed out; even those who were outside the Upanishad fold were as eligible to moksha.+

Bhagavad Gita 2:46:~ "A man of true knowledge who has attained enlightenment has the same use for all the scriptures as one has for a small reservoir of water in a place flooded on all sides."

Sage Sankara strongly advocated the study of Upanishads, and at the same time, cautioned that the study of Upanishads 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 the Upanishad was neither indispensable nor a necessary prerequisite for attaining the human goal, the moksha.

Sage Sankara pointed out; 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).

The seeker's aim is the search for the Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The search to find the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth that, in actuality, was never lost, only hidden.

Upanishad aspiration is best expressed in the following sutra:-

OM Asato ma sad gaMaya, tamaso ma jyotir gaMaya, mrityor ma aamritaam gaMaya. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

"OM Lead me from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Peace, Peace, Peace" (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1/3/28)).

Upanishads are based on the insights of the sages and seers, serve primarily as a guidebook. One has to accept the Ultimate reality as Brahman or God in truth.

The Sruti itself says:~ "This Atma is not to be attained by a study of the Vedas. (Katha Upanishad I, 2, 23.)

Sage Sankara:~ VC- 162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.: : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

There is nothing else to realize other than to realize that consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.+

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

Do not accept any other truth other than consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth. Nothing is real but consciousness. Realize consciousness as the ultimate truth or Brahman, or God in truth. Consciousness is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

The ‘Self is neither you nor your body nor the world in which you exist. The Self is the invisible Soul, the cause of the universe.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is hidden by the universe. It is hidden by the universe because the universe is a dualistic illusion or Maya created out of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Those who base the invisible Soul as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ will never be able to cross the threshold of ignorance.

You are not you, but consciousness; your body is not the body but consciousness; the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness.

Everything is known, seen, believed, and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness; then what else remains that is not consciousness?

There is nothing else to realize other than to realize that consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

By realizing that everything is consciousness is the Advaitic wisdom dawns.

A perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ leads to Advaitic awareness.

Without the world in which you exist, God in truth alone exists. When God in truth disappears, the world in which you exist appears. The world, in which you exist, disappears then God in truth appears. Thus, realize God in truth to be the invisible and unborn Soul.

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

If you stick to the ultimate truth, then the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

If you realize this truth, you will live in this world but not of this world. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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