The universe appears as waking experience (duality) and disappears as the invisible Soul in deep sleep (nonduality).+

Q: ~ Sir, I don't understand this...The world is a reality within the waking experience, but the waking experience is merely an illusion.

A:~ Santthosh Kumaar: ~ The universe in which we exist is present only in waking experience. The universe appears as waking experience (duality) and disappears as the invisible Soul in deep sleep (nonduality).

The waking experience is a parallel dream, and the dream is a parallel waking experience.

The Self is neither the waking entity nor the Self is the dream entity, but the Self is the invisible and unborn Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.

The invisible Soul, the Self, has nothing to do with you and your experience of the world because it is an ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

A person who stamped his foot on the ground to refute, to show the world, is real, ignores that in the dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real.

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 three states, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the three states will see them differently from a Gnani viewing the same three states. Each one interprets the three states 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 (religious) adulteration has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

That is why 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.

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. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’.+

The seeker of truth has to do his duty in practical life within the practical world. The seeker should not remain idle like yogis who are no better than a wooden log.

Amid difficulties and the busy life of practical life within the practical world, the seeker has to live and yet get on with the inner quest.

There is no alleviation of ignorance except the realization of the ultimate Truth or Brahman. Yoga may alleviate one's mental and physical stress.

The seeker of truth has to live in the world, and he must know the Self is not of this world because the Self is the invisible Soul, which is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The advaitic wisdom will not dawn by renouncing the worldly life and shutting yourself in a cave or Ashram, or monastery. Too much yoga leads to insanity and fixed ideas or delusions.

The main purpose of analyzing the world that confronts is to discover that it is to realize it is nothing but the illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

People fail to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman because they are stuck with the reality of the world.

Too much religion and false belief drugs the power of reason. To effect this discrimination, we need intelligence much sharper than the average. Weak minds cannot take a comprehensive view and so decry what they cannot understand.

When you realize you and your experience of the world are made of the single stuff and that single stuff is consciousness with full and firm conviction, then there is unity in diversity in your understanding. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

It is ignorance that creates illusion, and it is the invisible and unborn Soul, the Self, that gets free of it.

Words may aggravate ignorance; words may also help dispel it. There is a need to repeat the same truth again and again until it becomes a reality.

The seeker has to reflect on the nature of the invisible Soul constantly day after day until the conviction of the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space, becomes firm, and he gets the firm conviction.

The seeker needs to hear the words of wisdom until he realizes that form, time, and space are one in essence.

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is the truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’.

It takes time for the invisible Soul, the Self, to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one to realize the truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

The invisible Soul has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and then only is it possible to realize that form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul or consciousness.

If the form, time, and space are one in essence, then there is no division in consciousness.

If there is no division in consciousness, then there is no duality; if there is no duality, then there is unity in diversity.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing duality as reality. Realizing Soul as the Self leads to Advaitic Self-awareness.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is Absolute Knowledge, which cannot be negated. The nature of the Soul is Advaitic awareness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Bhagavad Gita Krishna says: ~It is only one amongst thousands of people who strive for spiritual salvation.+

Bhagavad Gita Krishna says: ~It is only one amongst thousands of people who strive for spiritual salvation. Even amongst such seekers, it is only the rare person who gets to know “Self” correctly.’ (7.3)

Realizing the universe is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic Self-awareness.

Self-awareness is freedom or Moksha. Moksha is unity in diversity in the midst of duality.

It is very difficult to talk to people about the ultimate truth or Brahman because everyone thinks they know the ultimate truth or Brahman.

This I know business is dangerous. And whatever his reached conclusion is second-hand stuff. Therefore, accepting accumulated knowledge without verification will lead the seekers to a hallucinated realization based on the ego.

One may have some flashes of truth when someone tries to indicate it through fewer words. But it takes us nearer to the truth, not realization.

Mythology contains stories of people with 10 heads, etc., which are fables, yet are taken seriously by religious people. All these stories are a reality within the dualistic illusion or Maya.

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, are 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 the present 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 with the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

The Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God in truth) 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 .:

The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara must have an intense urge, sincerity, and seriousness in his quest for truth.+

The seeker who wants to acquire the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara must have an intense urge, sincerity, and seriousness in his quest for truth.

The seeker must be fully aware of the difference between Atman (Soul) and non-Atman.

Intense urge to reach the ultimate end of understanding and realization.

Seeing all the objects also as the subject, and fully aware of the fact that object and subject are one in essence.

Longing for liberation from ignorance to unfold the mystery of the universe to realize the Soul, the Self, hidden by it.

The seeker must have patience, endurance, unity, peace, trust, and equality.

The seeker of truth should not become attached to words as being in perfect conformity with meaning, because Truth is not in the letters.

The words and their discrimination bind one to the duality; meaning stands alone and is a guide to non-dual awareness. Meaning is attained by much learning, and much learning is attained by becoming conversant with meaning and not with words; therefore, seekers of truth have to avoid the sticklers for particular words. 

You are being conditioned by the religious myth, which has made you a non-thinker. Come out of the religious myth by realizing God in truth.  

The seeker should not mix religion, mysticism, and yoga with the path of wisdom.  The seeker has to deal with the ultimate truth, not mere words, not this Guru's or that Guru's interpretation. 

The path of wisdom of Sage Sankara is divided into three parts: ~

 

First:- Hearing the truth--that the consciousness is the only reality and that the universe, along with you, is merely an illusion or Maya. 

 

Second:-Reasoning upon the words of wisdom of Sage Sankara from all points of view. 

 

Third:- Giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that consciousness is the ultimate truth, or Brahman or God in truth. 

 

The key to Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is to see the whole universe as Consciousness, which is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

 

A Gnani sees and knows the universe as consciousness." This means he sees and knows only one thing, the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of Consciousness. Therefore, there is unity in diversity in his understanding and realization. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

The nature of the Atman, the Self is Advaita or Nonduality.+

Chandogya Upanishad: ~ “Whoever sees the Self in all does not see death, disease, or diversity.

Advaita means non-duality, that is, one without the second. To transcend the duality, which is merely an illusion created out of the Atman, the Self, which is ever nondual Self-knowledge, is necessary.

The nature of the Atman, the Self, is Advaita or Nonduality. Nonduality is the nature of Atman, the Self. Atman, the Self, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is knowledge of Atman, the God in truth. Only the sincere seekers who have an inner urge to know, to realize the Advaitic truth, direct realization

For others, it is merely a philosophical debate. For those who have realized that Advaitic truth stands alone.

Advaita or nonduality is the nature of Atman, the ultimate truth, or Brahman or God in truth.

A person who has mastered discrimination between the invisible Soul and the universe will be able to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

An intense yearning for liberation is liberation through constantly reflecting on the subject. Even after the study of the scriptures and mastering the scriptural knowledge will not be able to realize the truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

Self-realization is not possible due to some obstructions, such as a lack of understanding and assimilation of the knowledge of the Soul. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

The seeker has to drop all the accumulated knowledge and start afresh to understand, assimilate, and realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space

Remember: ~

Sage Sankara is one of the greatest geniuses of all time. This world owes him a deep debt of gratitude. He not only consolidated the classical values of life but also spiritual wisdom.

Sage Sankara is the only Sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogmas.

Unfortunately, few philosophers in the world are as misunderstood and misinterpreted as Sage Sankara. Ironically, most of the harm came from his admirers and followers of Advaitic orthodoxy because they propagated rituals as a means to attain higher knowledge, which is meant for those who believed in the physical existence (universe or waking) as a reality.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is dualistic, and it is not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant masses that are unfit to grasp the highest truth.

Thus, the Advaitic orthodoxy has nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman. Those who have chosen the Atmic path have to discard orthodoxy to get the pure essence of Advaita.

Sage Sankara disagrees with Buddhists who say there is nothing - a nonentity.

Sage Sankara believes there is some reality, even though things are not what they appear to be. If one knows the truth, they will know what to do to find inspiration for action. The seeker of truth‘s subject is to know what it is that is Real.

Buddhism says ~ “All things are illusory and nothing exists. However, Sage Sankara avers that it is not so. It says that the universe, of course, is illusory, but there is Brahman (consciousness), that exists forming the very substratum of all things (illusion or universe)”.

In the context of Advaita Vedanta, ~ Jagat (the world) is not different from Brahman; however, Brahman 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. And that essence is consciousness. The invisible and unborn 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 dedicated himself to acquiring Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana alone. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara cautioned that the study of the Upanishad alone would not lead to Moksha.+

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 a distraction for such minds'

The Upanishad itself says that:~ vacho viglapanam hi tat~ words are only so much of a distraction for such minds.

Sage Sankara cautioned that the study of the Upanishad alone would not lead to Moksha.

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

Manduka Upanishad has no assumptions whatsoever. It is an honest and bold inquiry into truth. It rises above scripture.

By mastering scriptures, it is impossible to establish the Self unless you forget all.

All the interpretation of different scriptural scholars is an arena of conflicting interpretations.

All the scriptural interpretations by the Gurus are based on the dualistic perspective and orthodox point of view.

All the gurus of the East and West interpret Advaita from a dualistic standpoint or orthodox point of view, and they are still dealing with words, not truth. It proves that they have not understood the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.

Scriptures are meant for ignorant people who are in the preliminary stages. Scriptures are of no use to establish the ultimate truth of Brahman.

The seeker has to strive for getting certainty, irrefutable proof of ‘Self’ in truth, not dogmatic assertion to get rid of ignorance.

Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru nor by the study of scripture, it is attained only by a perfect understanding of ‘what is what.

The scriptures are self-contradictory only you have to pick only those insights which are signposts, which are indicated towards the reality, which is beyond the form, time, and space. The subconscious goal of your search is Self- awareness.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children, “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" P.334 line 9)

Scriptures are not needed in the pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the sages of truth declare the same.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy, and all the arts can be called lower knowledge. The highest is that which leads to Self-realization. The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless Self has neither caste nor race, neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great and in the small, everlasting and changeless, the source of life.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity not the dream entity but the Self is a formless Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.

In the realm of truth, form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as the ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth there is no need of the scriptures.

Sage Sankara says: ~ 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.

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

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.

Remember:~

Sage Sankara also said a 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).

That is why Sage Sankara: ~ VC 56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by good work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

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?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly), without direct realization, one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

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.

64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendor of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.

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.

Then there is no need for the scriptures, religion, and the idea of God. One has to be more rational to realize the Advaitic truth, which is the ultimate truth or scientific truth.:~.:~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara is Brahma Gnani for the seeking world. Orthodox people hold Sage Sankara as Jagadguru.+

Sage Sankara is Brahma Gnani for the seeking world. Orthodox people hold Sage Sankara as Jagadguru. 

Sage Sankara’s wisdom has nothing to do orthodox sect because the orthodox sect is dualistic. 

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the orthodox followers and Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Religion has nothing to do with Advaita. The Advaitic sect belongs to the religion. Advaita is pure Spirituality or Adytma. The Advaitic sect is dualistic; it has nothing to do with the Advaitic truth, which is hidden by the illusion.

Mixing religion and spirituality is like mixing oil and water.

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful.

The religion and its sects are based on form, time, and space whereas the Spirituality is based on the Atman the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Religions hold birth, life, death, and the world as a reality. From the ultimate standpoint, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out he the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The seeker must know the difference between religion and Spirituality. Many people think the religion as Spirituality.

Spirituality leads to discovering the truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

Advaita is universal. Advaita is not for sale. Do not buy Advaita from the spiritual supermarket. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the  Self.

The world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

Advaitic truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to realize because you have accumulated mental garbage from different sources in the name of Advaita. Until you discard all the accumulated knowledge, you will never be able to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Advaita is the nondual nature of the invisible Soul, the Self shines in its own awareness when wisdom dawns.

The Advaita is the invisible Soul is the cause and the support of all that exists in the world in which we exist.

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

Religion is nothing to do with Advaita. The Advaitic sect belongs to the religion. Advaita is pure spirituality. The Advaitic sect is dualistic, is nothing to do with the Advaitic truth, which is hidden by the illusion. Mixing religion and spirituality is like mixing oil and water.

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the politicians as useful.

The religion and its sects are based on form, time, and space whereas the Spirituality is based on the Atman the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Religions hold birth, life, death, and the world as a reality. From the ultimate standpoint, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Advaitic sect holds the world (illusion) as a reality, whereas the Sage  Sankara says the world is an illusion.  Therefore, the individual experience of birth, life, death, rebirth, sin, karma, and personal gods and rituals belongs to the illusion. Thus Advaitic religious sect is a path meant for the ignorant populace, which is incapable of grasping the Advaitic wisdom hidden by the Maya or illusion. 

 The seeker must know the difference between religion and spirituality. Many people think the religion as spirituality.

Spirituality leads to discovering the truth, which is hidden by form, time, and space.

Sage  Sankara is the only sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogma.

Advaita is universal. Advaita is the nature of the invisible  Soul, the  Self. The world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom has nothing to do with the orthodox belief systems. 

Some philosophers in the past dissented from this interpretation of Vedanta philosophy, holding that the incarnated Souls were separate from the Divine Essence and only finally merged with it after the cycles of birth.

All these theoretical philosophies are based on the imagination based on the false ‘Self’ (ego or you) within the false experience (waking).

If people have believed false Gods propagated by religion over millions of years, the length of time does not prove it is God in truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar