Sage Gaudapada: - The non-dual Atman is realized when the individual self (jiva) is awakened from its ignorance.+

Sage Gaudapada: - The non-dual Atman is realized when the individual self (jiva) is awakened from its ignorance. Atman is unborn, dreamless, sleepless, and motionless; and is beyond duality. It is cognition at its purest. It is Brahman- Ayam Atma Brahma, this Atma is that Brahma; Thus epitomizing the core of Upanishad teachings.

Sage Gaudapada expands further on these states of consciousness. The Self is AUM. It represents manifest and un-manifest aspects of Brahman. It is the single syllable that symbolizes and embodies Brahman, the Absolute Reality. It is the Pranava that pervades all existence and is our very life-breath.

Vaisvanara in waking state is A the first part of AUM, One, who realizes this, attains his desires.

Teijasa in the dream state is U the second part of AUM. One, who realizes this, attains knowledge.

Prajna in deep sleep is M the third part of AUM, concluding the sounds of the earlier two parts. One, who realizes this, attains a compressive understanding of all.

The Syllable AUM in its entirety stands for the fourth state, Turiya the one beyond the phenomenal existence, supremely blissful and non-dual.

AUM in its integral whole stands for the fourth state which is transcendental, devoid of phenomenal existence; and is the source of all existence. AUM represents the ultimate reality. AUM is thus verily the Self itself. One who realizes this merges into that Self. Meditate on AUM as the Self.:~Santthosh Kumaar

Manduka Karika:- Sage Gaudapada wrote or compiled the Manduka Karika, also known as the Sage Gaudapada Karika.+

Manduka Karika:- Sage Gaudapada wrote or compiled the Manduka Karika, also known as the Sage  Gaudapada Karika and as the Agama Śāstra. 

The Manduka Karika is a commentary in verse form on the Manduka Upanishad, one of the shortest but most profound Upanishads, or mystical Vedas, consisting of just 13 prose sentences. 

In Sage Sankara’s time, it was considered to be a Sruti, but not particularly important. In later periods it acquired a higher status, and eventually, it was regarded as expressing the essence of the Upanishad philosophy.

The Manduka Karika is the earliest extant systematic treatise on Advaita Vedanta, though it is not the oldest work to present Advaita views, nor the only pre-Sankara work with the same type of teachings.

Sage Gaudapada took over the Buddhist doctrines that "that the nature of the world is the four-cornered negation”. Sage Gaudapada "wove [both doctrines] into a philosophy of the Manduka Upanishad, which was further developed by Sage Sankara.":~Santthosh Kumaar

It is true that some of Buddha's disciples misunderstood and misinterpreted him.+

Buddha also holds that this world which changes from moment to moment is not real, it is only a reflection, and the thing of which it is the reflection alone is real. 

Buddha was not an atheist. He never denied reality. There is nothing in his words or teaching to show that he considered truth to be non-existent, like the horns of a hare. He could not have held the foolish view that something came out of nothing. It is true that some of Buddha's disciples misunderstood and misinterpreted him. His idea was that the truth which cannot be designated by a name or described is words, and of which one cannot even say whether it exists or non-extent, is like non-existent. The idea is quietly in agreement with the view of the Upanishads.

An object which cannot even be talked about, is, for all practical purposes, as good as non-extent. But it is not non-existent in the sense that the son of a barren woman is non-existent. This subtle idea, Buddha's contemporaries, and even his disciples fail to catch. In one passage the Buddha says clearly: Srmana Gautama was an atheist. It is the annihilation of the non-existence of truth that he teaches. So will people attribute to my atheism, which is not mine? So will they ascribe me to the theory of non-existence, which again is not mine?

From these similar statements of Buddha, it is clear that he was not an atheist. All philosophers old and new, arrive at the same point. 

 

Orthodox Advaita (monosim) is inevitable; the people of thoughtful temperament cannot find peace and quietude until they do so. Moksha (liberation) is in the realization of oneness with God. 

They speak of God Goddesses, devotion, and devotees, only in an inaccurate way only from the standpoint of dvaithi. After realizing oneness with God, there is no distinction between God and devotee, and the word "devotion" has no meaning. :~Santthosh Kumaar

Every householder irrespective of any caste or religion is qualified to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

Yoga Vasistha says: ~ Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only through inquiry inspired by the company of wise (Gnani). One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia.

Only an intense urge and sharpness to grasp seriousness and humility are the qualifications to acquire Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Every householder, irrespective of any caste or religion, is qualified to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The caste ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The religion ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Yoga ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Tantra~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Mantra~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Singing devotional songs ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Belief and worship of mythical Gods ~ do not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Belief in superstition or dogmas ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Rituals ~ do not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Customs or tradition ~ do qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Wearing the Religious robe or symbol ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Meditations~ do not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Hearing sermons ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Bathing in the holy river~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.m

Visiting Ashrams and retreats ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Walking up the mountain in search of truth ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Worship of personal Gods and Goddesses ~does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Having a Guru ~ does qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Following any tradition or parampara ~ does qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Serving the Guru ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Studying the scriptures and philosophy ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Learning Sanskrit ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Initiation of any sort~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Spending money in order to realize the truth ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Taking vows to start the journey. ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The grace of physical Guru ~ does not qualify you to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Drop all that is not needed for Self-realization.

Remember:~

Every human being is qualified to acquire the knowledge of Braham Gnana or Atma Gnana.

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.

If you are a truth seeker, then it is better to spend time discovering the facts about your own existence than waste precious time attending Satsang, meeting Gurus and yogis, traveling from one place to another by reading book after book, by staying in Ashrams, and by walking in the Himalayas.

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.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Acquiring Advaitic wisdom or Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the main aim of every seeker of truth. +

Acquiring Advaitic wisdom or Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the main aim of every seeker of truth.

Since everyone thinks of the waking entity (ego) as the self, their aim is misdirected, and they focus their attention on materiality, which makes one feel the duality (waking state) as reality.

In pursuit of truth, the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. The individual experience of bliss is not Brahmic bliss or Atmic bliss.

Individual truth is not a universal truth. An individual cannot claim that he has experienced the whole.

There is no proof he has seen it because the whole is not an individual experience.

The man and the world are within the whole. Therefore, such claims of experiencing the invisible Soul, the Self, are hallucinations because the whole cannot be experienced because the experience of form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of the Soul or Consciousness.

All claims of experiencing (anubava) the Self are a falsehood because experience implies duality, and duality is a falsehood from the ultimate standpoint.

Thus, 'Self 'or 'Brahman' cannot be experienced because it is prior to any experience, and there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

The Self has to be realized by getting rid of ignorance through Advaitic wisdom.: .:~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Ramana Maharishi: Meditation on an object is not helpful.+

People dip into meditation, but they do not understand that that is only one-half of the truth and that this dipping is also a mental discipline for them to understand the true nature of the external universe, which understanding they must next get if they are to become a Gnani.

Ashtavakra says: - "This is your bondage, that you practice Samadhi or meditation.”

Ramana Maharishi: ~

Q: Which meditation will help me?

Sage Ramana Maharishi: Meditation on an object is not helpful. For this reason, you must learn to realize that the subject and object are one. In meditating on an object, you are destroying that sense of oneness and creating duality. Meditate only on the Self. Try to realize that the body is not you, the emotions are not you, and the intellect is not you. When all these are stilled, you will find something else is there; hold onto that and it will reveal itSelf.

Q: But when I have stilled everything, I almost fall asleep!

Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi: That does not matter. Put yourself into the condition as deep as sleep, and then watch: be asleep consciously; then there is only the one Consciousness.

Bhagavad Gita (Chap. XII) Krishna tells Arjuna: ~ Knowledge of both matter and spirit is the True knowledge. One is living in the body, which is the world, and he has to eat and move, and work in the external environment. One cannot get away from it. It is his life.

Therefore, one ought to know, understand, and grasp its meaning. A person who refuses to do so is refusing to face the whole of reality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara says: - Self-knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.+

Advaitic wisdom does not come just by sitting quietly, observing silence, meditating, reading books, hearing sermons, meeting Gurus or yogis, and by doing pranayama, but Advaitic wisdom dawns only when you realize the fact that the Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul. or the Spirit.

Advaitic wisdom arises when the seeker can discriminate the invisible Soul, the Self, from the illusory universe.

Mentally discriminate between the real and unreal to unfold the Self hidden by the 'I'. 

When you finally realize the Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul, then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, the Self. The invisible Soul, the Self, is present in the form of consciousness.

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

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.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47 All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to you, and you are born in it afterward, ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there, the universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why indulge in other types of meditation.:~Santthosh Kumaar