From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the mind is a dualistic illusion.+

You and the world in which you exist are within the mind. From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the mind is a dualistic illusion.

The invisible Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the formless substance and witness of the ‘I’, which comes and goes. The ‘I’ is the dualistic illusion.

The truth is hidden within the dualistic illusion (‘I’), and it is without the dualistic illusion (‘I’).

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

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

You are seeking to realize the truth of your true existence. To discover the truth, there is a need to understand the nature of the ‘I’.

Without knowing what this ‘I’ is supposed to be, an actuality, you will never be able to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Till you hold the Self as the ‘I’, you will never be able to get Self-realization. ‘I’ hides the invisible Soul, which is the Self.

Know what this ‘I’ is first. Without realizing what this ‘I’ is supposed to be, it is impossible for the invisible Soul to free itself from the dualistic illusion.

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole. The ‘I’ hides the truth.

I’ is ignorance.

‘I’ is the duality.

‘I’ is the form, time, and space.

‘I’ is the universe.

‘I’ is the waking.

‘I’ is the dream.

‘I’ is the illusion.

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

Remember:~

Without the ‘I’, there is no ignorance.

Without the ‘I’, there is no duality.

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

Without the ‘I’, there is no universe.

Without the ‘I’, there is no waking.

Without the ‘I’, there is no dream.

Without the ‘I’, there is no illusion.

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

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.

It is no use going roundabout way; trace the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the cause of the world in which you exist, and it, itself, is uncaused.

The invisible Soul is the Source of the dualistic illusion (I) from where it rises and subsides. By tracing the source of the dualistic illusion (universe), one will be able to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

The end goal is still Nirvana, which is ultimately beyond all concepts and language, even beyond the Buddhist teachings.+

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality because Buddhists do not believe in the existence of the Atman. Without Athma, nonduality is impossible. Buddhists believe in emptiness, but they fail to recognize that emptiness is the nature of the Atman. Emptiness is Athma itself

Dalai Lama said: ~ ‘Buddhism need not be the best religion, though it is most scientific and religion and inquisitive. But Buddhism has no answer to certain questions like the existence of Atama [Soul] and rebirth. Dalai Lama said that as an individual, he believes in rebirth, as he had come across a few cases of rebirth. Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped, would unearth the mystery behind the rebirth. (In DH –dec-212009-Gulbarga).

Bhagavan Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world but he told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

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 is it that is Real.

Buddhism says: all things are illusory and nothing exists. However, Advaita 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).

Only when we independently search the truth without religion and its doctrine then we will be able to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

There is no need to study neither Advaita nor Vedas nor Buddhism to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. It is no use going roundabout way; trace the Brahman.

Sage Sankara said: ~ Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way.(1) Vivekachoodamani v 56, pg 25

Advaita is the next step higher than Buddhism because it gives the missing reason, viz. unity, non-difference from others, and because it explains that it used the concept of removing the sufferings of others, of lifting them up to happiness, only as we use one thorn to pick out another, afterward throw both away. Similarly, Advaita discards both concepts of misery and happiness in the ultimate standpoint of non-duality, which is indescribable.

Buddhists say that a thing exists only for a moment, and if that thing has still got some of the substance from which it was produced, how then can they deny that its cause is continuing in the effect; hence, its existence is more than a moment. Vedanta is concerned with whether it is one and the same thing which has come into being, or has it come out of nothing?

Even in Buddhism:~ Buddhist teaching has itself become a kind of interactive and Self-evolving process, much like its idea of pratityasamutpada. However, the end goal is still Nirvana, which is ultimately beyond all concepts and language, even beyond the Buddhist teachings. In the end, even the attachment to the Dharma, the Buddhist teaching, must be dropped like all other attachments. The tradition compares the teaching to a raft upon which one crosses a swift river to get to the other side; once one is on the far shore, there is no longer any need to carry the raft. The far shore is Nirvana, and it is also said that when one arrives, one can see quite clearly that there was never any river at all.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The words are the expression of thoughts. The words have their meaning only within the dualistic illusion. +

The words are the expression of thoughts. The words have their meaning only within the dualistic illusion.

The words are only useful for communication purposes within the dualistic illusion to indicate the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The words thoughts and the world in which you exist are created out of a single clay. Knowledge of the single clay is Self-knowledge of Bramha Gnaana or Atma Gnana.

The language of the Soul is the language without the words, which is nondualistic silence.

The words may give different meanings at different levels of understanding.

As one moves deeper and deeper one realizes the thought, the thinker, words, and the world are one in essence. Thus, in the realm of truth, the thought and words, and the world become meaningless.

Any word one may utter is, after all, they are the words and words that have meaning only within the illusory universe or Maya.

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.

Manduka Upanishad shows how one opinion may be used to contradict another, so that both may be thrown away. Opinions are not for philosophy; they are as Ashtavakra says, merely thoughts; it wants the truth.

Remember:~

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

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.

Error in your understanding of nonduality will not yield the ultimate truth.

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

A Gnani has realized the truth hidden by the illusory form; time and space do not give importance to the thoughts and the words. The thoughts and words have value only within the dualistic illusion. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Guru–Shisya concept is a great obstacle in pursuing truth.+

A guru is needed on the path of religion and yoga. A guru is not needed on the path of wisdom.

The Gurudom has nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The one who thinks of himself as a Guru and the one who thinks of himself as a chela (disciple) will not be able to get Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because both of them accept themselves as the body. And all their understanding, practices, and knowledge are based on the false Self.

The Guru–Shisya concept is a great obstacle in pursuing truth. That is why a Gnani never accepted himself as a Guru or accepted anyone as his disciple because he was fully immersed in invisible consciousness. There was no division in his consciousness, even though he was in the midst of the division or the duality.

The one who claims himself as a Gnani is not a Gnani. A Gnani never claims himself as Gnani, he guides the seekers, not posing himself as a Guru, and he does not force his wisdom on others.

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

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

Sage Sankara page 482: 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."

Sage Sankara: ~ The Knower of the Atman or the knower of Brahman or Brahma Gnani.

When the knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs, it means he does not identify himself as Guru or yogi or teacher, or Swami, because a Gnani sees that form, time, and space are one in essence. Thus, there is unity in diversity in his realization.

Swami Vivekananda said: - “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own Soul.”

The scriptures are not needed in the pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the Sages of truth declare the same.

Katha Upanishad:~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom it chooses. To such a one, Atman reveals its own form. ( Ch-II-23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad: - This Atman cannot be attained through the study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker its true nature. (3 –page-70 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

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 the invisible and unborn Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

In the realm of Advaitic truth, the form, time, and space are created out of a 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 for the scriptures.

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

Scriptures are being added from time to time. This process will go on. There is no final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

I quote Scriptural citation only after verifying reality and proving the truth, to point out that the scriptures teach the same thing. If one quotes them before having demonstrated truth, then it is scholasticism.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the ultimate knowledge of nondual existence.+

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the ultimate knowledge of nondual existence.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnan is Advaita.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnan is knowledge of the Spirit or Atman or the consciousness.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnan is knowledge of the ultimate truth, Brahman or God in truth, which is hidden by the ‘I’.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana, exposes the mystery of the universe.

A Gnani is devoid of ignorance even when he engages in practical life within the practical world because he has no ignorance.

A Gnani does work is ever active and does not sit still in the Ashram or on mountains.

A Gnani is the man of knowledge, though he is rich or poor, living like a householder, is contrary to him.

A Gnani has a firm conviction that the world is an illusion created out of a single clay. And that single clay is Atman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

From the standpoint of the Atman (Soul), there is neither bondage nor liberation. There is but one pure consciousness.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the only reality in which everything exists, to which everything belongs, from which everything has emerged, which is the cause of everything, and which is everything.

Thus, there is a need to realize the Self is not you, but the ‘Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The world in which we exist is nothing but consciousness.

When the matter is an illusion created out of the Spirit, then Spirit alone is real.

When the object is created out of the subject, then the subject alone is real.

When the world in which you exist is created out of consciousness, then the consciousness alone is real.

Reality and unreality are created out of a single stuff because the unreality (the world in which we exist), is experienced as a reality, we are unaware that the reality is hidden by the unreality. 

There is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’, hides the truth.

A Gnani firmly sticks to reality by mentally dropping the unreality. ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~12&13~ Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even hundreds of pranayama* can give us the knowledge.+

The obsession with "our sins" having been "washed away by the water of river would be regarded as evidence of a serious mental illness in an individual within any sane society, but when this is an obsession of millions of people it becomes "religious faith", held by many others to be something that should never be criticized.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~12&13~ Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even hundreds of pranayama* can give us Self-knowledge. A firm realization of the nature of the Self is seen to proceed from inquiry along the lines of the salutary advice of the wise.

It was desperately important for the believers of their belief system, for some reason, that others shared their beliefs because they assumed that their religious doctrine is literally true, and then justified their beliefs because "God says so in their doctrine ".

It is no use in arguing with someone who has faith in his belief system because for him there can be no possible refutation of what he believes is the rational argument is entirely useless. He clings to his belief so strongly that he makes no distinction between the truth and his belief.

One has to know the fact that God cannot exist without his existence. The truth does not depend on God’s existence, but it entirely depends on man’s existence. Thus, it is foolish to venture into knowing the truth of God's existence without verifying the facts about his own existence.

Deeper inquiry reveals that the Self is neither the body nor the ego. If the Self is not the body nor the ego, then it proves that whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced on the base of the Self as body or ego is bound to be a falsehood.

Thus, arguing from the standpoint of the body or ego, which is not the Self, is erroneous. Thus, the whole argument has to be based on the true Self, which is not the body or ego.

Thus, it is necessary to realize the fact that the Self is not the form, but the Self is formless, to realize the Advaitic truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The invisible Soul, the Self, is permanent, and ‘I’ is impermanent.+

The Self is not you but the invisible Soul, the cause of the ‘I’. You and your thoughts and the world in which you exist belong to the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion appears in the form of the ‘I’.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is permanent, and ‘I’ is impermanent. The invisible Soul is the witness of the coming and going, of the ‘I’.

The one that appears as the ‘I’ and disappears as the ‘I-less is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not make the mistake of holding the ‘I’ as the Self because it is not permanent. ‘I’ disappears and becomes invisible Soul.

‘I’ is an illusion, and the invisible Soul, the Self, is real and eternal. The invisible Soul appears as ‘I’ and ‘I' disappears as the invisible Soul.

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

The ‘I’ hides the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present i the form of consciousness.

Remember:~

It is erroneous to identify the invisible 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 the cause of the 'I'.

To understand the false nature of the ‘I’, Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana, is necessary.

The Self is not ‘I’, but the Self is the invisible Soul which is the witness of the ‘I’. Holding the ‘I as the Self leads to hallucination based on the imagination.

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

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.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar