The ‘I’ is the state of the ignorance. The state of ignorance is nothing but an illusion.+

The ‘I’ is the state of ignorance. The state of ignorance is nothing but an illusion. In actuality, the ‘I’ itself is an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

The illusion appears and disappears; therefore, it is impermanent. But the invisible Soul is the witness of the ‘I’, which comes and goes.

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

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

Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (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 invisible Soul is the Self. The invisible Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world in which you exist ceases to exist.

Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is real and eternal. The world in which we exist is an illusion created out of consciousness.

In the state of ignorance, the universe is superimposed over the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness, and accepting the universe as a reality, but in actuality, the universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

From the dualistic perspective, the individual perceives the world. From the non-dualistic perspective, the world is merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is pure, transcendental consciousness, and the world is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

However, the Self, in reality, is not physical; it is absolute, formless, and infinite. The infinite Self appears as the waking world in which the individual perceives the world. So the appearance is superimposed on the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

It is due to ignorance that the individual fails to see the nexus between the invisible Soul and the world. That nexus indicates the oneness underlying the subject-object, inner-outer, Man-Nature distinctions. All that is required is to remove the error, and the invisible Soul will shine on its own accord.

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 not-Self.

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.

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

One can see the bottom of the pond through its still water. When, however, pebbles are thrown into the pond, the water in it is disturbed and the bottom of the pond becomes no longer visible. That bottom, however, is there all the time, and it remains unchanged, no matter whether the surface water is disturbed or not. The water in the pond is the transactional world. The bottom of the pond is the transcendental reality. The disturbance created is ignorance, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

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

Without knowing what is this ‘I’, it is impossible to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time and space.+

People are ignorant of the truth of their true existence. They think that the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, without knowing the ‘I’ itself is an illusion.

People judge the truth on the false self (ego) within the false experience (waking). Therefore, they never can realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

Until one makes sure of the Self is not the ‘I’, it is erroneous to judge and conclude the ultimate truth on the base of the ‘I’.

Realize the Self is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the ‘Soul’. The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

Without knowing what is this ‘I’, it is impossible to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

The one that becomes dual (I) and nondual (I-LESS) is consciousness. Thus, all three states are nothing but consciousness. Consciousness alone is real and all the three states are merely an illusion.

When the conviction about consciousness becomes firm, then it leads to Advaitic awareness in the midst of the duality.

Thus, it is necessary to have a perfect understanding of ‘what is ‘what’ to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

Remember:~

There is no need for a Guru, to know you and your Guru and the world in which you exist are created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

Knowledge of that single stuff is the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Gnana is given neither from outside nor from another person.

There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to practice anything. A perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ leads to the realization of the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study the Scriptures, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~ then why do you indulge in studying the scriptures.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study philosophy, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why do you indulge in studying philosophy.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge in rituals, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why do you indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ There is no need to indulge in yoga, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why do you indulge in yoga?

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

~ then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

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

Those who tell you that Brahman is unity, that you can get it only by intuition, that you should not reason, you should not question or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

A Gnani knows the seeker needs nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding the seeker of the ‘Self’ hidden by the ‘I’.+

Select Works of Sage Sankara and also his commentary on Brihad: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Sage Sankara's commentary: - "The knower of Brahman (Self-realized or Gnani) wears no signs.

Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

Sage Sankara on Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." When the knower of Brahman wears no signs, it means he does not identify himself as a Guru or a teacher.

A Gnani cannot have the idea of renouncing the world or giving up something of the practical world because that would connote the idea of duality. Duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint. Knowing no second thing at all, there remains nothing to be given up.

The Gurus and yogis belong to the religion, not Spirituality. Gurus and yogis are meant for those who are emotionally involved with their religion and religious Gods and Gurus

A Gnani will never force anyone to accept the path of wisdom. He will constantly bring the seeker back to the fact of his inherent perfection and encourage him to seek the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

A Gnani knows you need nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding you of the Self’ hidden by the ‘I’.

A Gnani continuously shares Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana with like-minded fellow seekers.

A Self-declared Guru is more concerned with himself than with his disciples and plays with their sentiments and emotions. Sticking to such Gurus, the seeker will not get the Self–realization.

Gurus and yogis are meant for those who are emotionally involved with their religion and religious Gods.

Remember, religion and yoga are not spirituality. Spirituality has nothing to do with religion and yoga. Spirituality is based on the Spirit, the real God, whereas religion and yoga are based on matter (body). The matter is nothing but an illusion created out of the Spirit, the real God.

Manduka Upanishads:~ Even the Gods cannot find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the yellow robe has anything to do with him.

A Gnani cannot have the idea of renouncing the world or giving up something of the practical world because that would connote the idea of duality.

From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the universe is the dualistic illusion or Maya. Knowing no second thing at all, there remains nothing to be given up.

Self-knowledge is only true knowledge, not the absence of duality. Self-knowledge cannot destroy the world, but it eliminates ignorance and exposes the unreal nature of the mind or universe. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

It is no use in convincing those who never get convinced.+

To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like injecting medicine into a corpse.

There is no need to convince those who think the ‘I-centric teaching is the ultimate. What is the use of convincing those who never get convinced? Those who are stuck with the ‘I’ are sticking to ignorance.

Swami Vivekananda:~ “The wicked are always looking for defects. Flies come and seek the ulcer, and bees come only for the honey in the flower. Do not follow the way of the fly but that of the bee.

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.

The Atmic path is straight. One travels from ignorance to wisdom by perfect understanding of ‘what is what’.

The search for the truth of our true existence ends in the discovery of the invisible Soul, the Self.

When the form, time, and space are created out of a single stuff, then there is no division in consciousness.

The invisible Soul is the fullness of consciousness without the division of form, time, and space.

It is erroneous to identify the Soul, the Self, as 'I' or 'I AM' because the invisible Soul, the Self, is not 'I' or I AM’. The invisible Soul, the Self, is that witness of the 'I'.

The ‘I’ is not the expression of the fullness of consciousness.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the division within consciousness.

The ‘I’ is the ignorance

The ‘I’ is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the experience of birth, death, and the world.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the universe.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the three states.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the mind.

Remember:~

Without the ‘I’, it is the fullness of consciousness.

Without the ‘I’, there is no division within consciousness.

Without the ‘I’, there is no ignorance.

Without the ‘I', there is no dualistic illusion.

Without the ‘I’, there is no experience of birth, death, and the world.

Without the ‘I’ is there is no form, time, and space.

Without the ‘I’, there is no universe.

Without the ‘I,’ there are no three states.

The ‘I’ is the cause of the mind.

People try all kinds of paths and practices to get Self-realization. Realizing the Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is Self-realization. Consciousness is the cause of the world in which you exist, and it, itself, is uncaused.

Consciousness is pure, flawless, and full, beyond form, time, and space. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Consciousness is beyond all limitations of form, time, and space.

By arguing and provoking, the wisdom will not dawn. The argument is useless so long as the ultimate truth is unknown, and an argument is equally useless when the ultimate truth or Brahman has already been known. Advaitic Wisdom is not custom-made stuff to feed different mindsets according to their likes and fancy.

The uncontradictable truth is the ultimate truth or Brahman. The uncontradictable truth is beyond form, time, and space. Thus, whatever knowledge is based on form, time, and space is dualistic knowledge.

The non-dualistic wisdom has nothing to do with form, time, and space. Thus, mixing dualistic knowledge and trying to understand and realize the Advaitic truth is like mixing oil and water.

When the inner conviction becomes firm, then the dualistic illusion will start losing its realistic luster.

Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved. Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.

The worries are of the dualistic illusion. The man and his world are within the waking experience. The waking experience is a dualistic illusion. The waking experience ceases to exist in deep sleep, where the waking experience has disappeared in deep sleep.

The one that appears as waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep is not the Self. The Self is the invisible Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.

The three states appear to be real, but their unreal nature is exposed if one realizes the invisible Soul, the Self.

The worries do not belong to the invisible Soul, the Self. The Soul is ever ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence, whereas you and your worries and your experience of the world are present only in the domain of the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Thus, Self-knowledge is necessary to realize the truth hidden by the illusory universe or Maya.

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again until it becomes a reality.

One needs to constantly reflect on the subject until one gets a firm conviction of what is what. Words of wisdom are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what’.

People need to read and hear the words of wisdom to think deeply and reach the ultimate end.

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 beyond form, time, and space.

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 the duality as reality. Realizing the invisible 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.

The universe in which we exist is present only in waking experience. The waking experience (duality) appears and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

In reality, the Gnani Gnana and the world are one in essence. That essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Consciousness is the formless substance of the universe. Consciousness is the formless witness of the universe. Consciousness is also the source of the universe. Thus, the whole universe in which we exist is nothing but consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Where there is ‘I’ there is the mind. Where there is mind there is ignorance.+

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again till it becomes a reality. One needs to constantly reflect on the subject until one gets a firm conviction of what is what.

Words of wisdom are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what’.

People need to read and hear the words of wisdom to think, reason, and reflect deeply and reach the ultimate end.

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

Where there is ‘I’, there is the mind.

Where there is the mind, there is ignorance.

Where there is ignorance, there is duality.

Where there is duality, there is an illusion.

Where there is an illusion, there is form, time, and space.

Where there is form, time, and space, the world in which you exist is ever-present.

Remember: ~

If there is no ‘I’, then there is no mind.

If there is no mind, then there is no ignorance.

If there is no ignorance, then there is no duality.

If there is no duality, then there is no illusion.

If there is an illusion, then there is form, time, and space.

If there is no form, time, and space, then there is no world in which you exist.

The mind, ignorance, duality, illusion, form, time, and space, the world in which you exist, are present only when ‘I’ is present.

The mind, ignorance, duality, illusion, form, time, and space, the world in which you exist, are absent when the ‘I’ is absent.

Where there is no ‘I’, there is no world in which you exist then the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness alone, exists. When the invisible Soul alone remains in its own awareness is called Self-awareness.

The invisible Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman. The invisible Soul is in the form of consciousness. The invisible Soul is the self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs.

It is not possible to deny the invisible Soul because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. The invisible Soul is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs.

The invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness (spirit), is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman means God in truth:~Santthosh Kumaar

People are being conditioned by the religious myth, which has made them non-thinkers. +

People are being conditioned by the religious myth, which has made them non-thinkers. People need to come out of the religious myth by realizing God in truth.

People believe in old myths propagated by their religion. All religions have propagated their myth. Every religious belief contradicts other beliefs. It is merely blind belief accepted as truth without verification and evidence. This causes division. Modern science has exposed many myths propagated by religion. 

Religious dogmas are based on myth. All these dogmas were introduced in the primitive era before people had the benefit of modern science. Science attempts to objectively discover how life works, and religion makes one blindly believe and cast their burden on blind belief without verification, to live in peace and harmony in worldly life.

The seeker's main aim is to investigate both dual and nondual experiences to find and define the underlying truth in everything, thereby realizing what the ultimate truth is.

Religion has propagated diverse ideas of God. There is no universality in the religious God. Seekers of truth are neither believers of religiously propagated beliefs of God nor atheists to declare that there is no God.

The seekers of truth will not accept the belief blindly without deeper verification. Religionists and atheists both are believers because religionists believe in the belief of God and atheists believe in the belief of no God.

The pursuit of truth is all about accepting uncertainty and open questions and seeking the things that are certainty. Believers and nonbelievers will not accept anything other than their inherited belief system or accepted truth. Atheists feel there is no proof of God’s existence. So an atheist chooses to just believe there is no such thing called God. And religionists just believe in the existence of their conceptual God.

A Gnani is fully aware of the fact that the existence or non-existence of God cannot be proven based on the physical Self. Therefore, a deeper understanding and realization are necessary to understand and assimilate the truth about God's existence, to know what is supposed to be God in truth.

Remember:~

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Prohibition of idol worship in Yajurveda: ~

Orthodox claims that idolatry in India does not mean anything horrible. Idolatry in no way helps undeveloped minds to grasp the spiritual truth.

It is the ignorant people who indulge in idolatry and rituals, even though they are highly qualified with university degrees.

Yajur Veda – chapter- 32:~ God is the Supreme Spirit, has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. He cannot be seen directly by anyone. He pervades all beings and all directions.

Yajurveda: ~ There is no image of God in truth. God in truth is unborn and eternal. (Chapter 32, Verse 3)

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure" (Chapter 40, Verse) 

Yajurveda: ~ "They are entering darkness, those who worship the natural things (like air, water, fire, etc.), they are sinking more in darkness who worship created things." (Chapter 40, Verse 9)

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Yajurveda: ~ "They are entering darkness, those who worship the natural things (like air, water, fire, etc.), they are sinking more in darkness who worship created things." (Chapter 40, Verse 9)

Religious Gurus are not Gnanis; they propagate only religion. Religion is not spirituality.

Religious Gurus do not propagate wisdom; they are meant to guide the ignorant populace in practical life within the practical world.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation.+

The Advaitic wisdom is not suited for the unsettled mind, which sticks to religion, yoga, and all non-Vedic worship and activities. There is no use in convincing such a mindset.

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

The goal of the truth-seeker is to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, is inherent in every seeker of truth.

Sage Sankara pointed out that those rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less Moksha.

Traditionally, religious people are so entangled in orthodox religiosity; it is very difficult for them to free themselves from narrow-minded prejudices and dogmas, and superstitions.

These educated orthodox people are more ignorant than the illiterate. They strongly stuck to their inherited orthodox baggage meant for the ignorant populace. Even though their sage has said that orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace, they ignore it, and they are like the blind led by another blind, following the inherited blind belief.

Sage Sankara indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

But remember:~

Most Orthodox scriptural scholars are ignorant in the guise of Gnanis.

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings.

Sage Sankara severely criticized the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices. However, the texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) were more in favor of the Mimamsaka position, came into vogue, projecting Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine.

Sage Sankara:~ Loud speech, the profusion of words, and possessing skilfulness in expounding scriptures are merely for the enjoyment of the learned. They do not lead to Liberation."

Mundaka Upanishads:~ 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)

The Scriptures' mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that ultimate truth or Brahman.

The ultimate truth is revealed in the clear understanding and realization of ‘what is truth and ‘what is the untruth.

When one realizes the untruth (universe) is created out of a single stuff, Self-awareness rises in the midst of duality, exposing the unreal nature of form, time, and space.

An adherent of the orthodox philosopher may say his philosophy teaches so and so", another man may object and say, “No, his religious philosophy teaches such and such." Thus, they may go on uttering contradictions in the name of philosophy. True philosophy deals only with the appeal to facts, not theories.

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

How is one to know that the scriptures are true? The seeker has to look into the facts for the proof of what the worship of God has done for the people! When a tsunami occurred in Japan, God did not save the believers of Japan. Thus, God saves one who prays; such an argument is of no value in the pursuit of truth.

People believe scripture is infallible, but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that they are merely the book of words.

The words are a mere expression of thoughts. Then it is impossible to see if the scripture-writers' thoughts are founded in fact or not.

The fallacy of orthodoxy’s appeal to scripture lies in the varying and conflicting interpretations of the same scripture that different men feel entitled to give or hold.

The scriptures are for the ignorant masses, who wholly accept the practical life within the practical world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

Scriptural knowledge is a conceptual division invented by teachers of philosophy through their excessive analysis. All these concepts are a great obstacle in the pursuit of truth.

Why should confusion be created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from which they all arise : ~ Santthosh Kumaar