If people have believed in their blind belief or faith over many centuries, the length of time does not prove it true.+

If you understand the Self is not you but the Soul then you are on the right path.  If you realize the Soul is ultimate truth and universe is an illusion with firm conviction then you have acquired Advaitic Gnana.

If people have believed in their blind belief or faith over many centuries, the length of time does not prove it true.

The ‘Self’ is not within you but the ‘Self’ is hidden by the universe. The ‘Self’ is hidden by the universe because the universe is created out of the Self. the Self is not ‘you’ but is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

All the ‘I-centric’ and ‘you-centric’ Gurus spin the yarn of their imagination based on 'I'. From, the Advaitic perspective, the ‘I-centric’ and you-centric Gurus and their teaching have no value because they will not help the seeker to reach the ultimate end of understanding.

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 ‘Self’ means existence. The existence is hidden by the illusory form, time and space. Those who say ‘I AM THAT without even knowing what the ‘Self supposed to be in actuality. The Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness is the existence hidden by the illusory form, time and space.

That is why Sage Sri Sankara says: ~ “VC-60- The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the ‘Self’.

People who say ‘I AM GOD’ or ‘I AM BRAHMAN’ or ‘I AM THAT’ is merely repeating like parrot words that they have read in the scriptures or heard. It does not prove that they have realized the ultimate truth or Brahman. With bookish or hearsay knowledge it is unable to prove that everything is Atman. One has to do lots of homework to realize the 'Self'.

Yoga Vasishta 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 by means of 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.

The Upanishads: ~

Manduka Upanishad 1:2:8: ~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

Manduka Upanishad 3:2:3: ~ “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed.

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23: ~ The Soul cannot be realized through hearing the scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6: ~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the books nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul Consciousness is real purity.

Kena Upanishad 2:4: ~ When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own Self, one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5: ~ If here one knows it, then there is the truth, and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

The scriptures are being added from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

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

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason. I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures, but I quote then to help the seekers to realize the scriptures are saying.

Remember: ~ ’I’ is not the ‘Self’ and the ‘Self’ is not the 'I '. 'I ' is bound by form, time and space. Without the form, time and space, the ‘I’ cease to exist. Holding, ‘I’ as the ‘Self’, the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ remains in the clutches of dualistic illusion.

When there is duality then there is ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality. One, who identifies the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’, will not be able to cross the threshold of dualistic illusion. There is no point in saying 'I ' or 'I AM THAT' because the '‘Self’' is that which witnesses the 'I ' and the world together without the physical apparatus.

The dualistic illusion is present in the form of the ‘I’. ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The mind is in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality). The individual experiences of birth, life, death, and the world are within the waking experience. The dream is a parallel waking experience and waking is a parallel dream.

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

The nonduality is the nature of the Soul. Therefore, the Soul becomes mind (I). And mind (I) becomes the Soul. The Soul and mind (I) are one in essence. That essence is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. The consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Remember this: ~ The Self is not the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The origin of the mind is the Soul. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The root of the universe is consciousness.

Thus, saying ‘I AM THAT’ keeps one in the domain of the dualistic illusion. The duality is not reality. The duality is a product of ignorance. The body, ego and the world are of the ignorant.

When wisdom dawns the ignorance disappears. When the ignorance disappears the duality will never be a reality even though there is duality, it is merely an illusion created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul that is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul is the innermost Self. The Self is God. It is not “I AM GOD, but it’s correct to say ‘the SELF IS GOD because the Self is not the ‘I’ or ’I AM” but the ‘Self’ is the witness of the ‘I’ or I AM”. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The one which is ignorance and one that has to wake up from its sleep ignorance is the Soul, the Self.+

The one which is ignorance and one that has to wake up from its sleep ignorance is the Soul, the Self. Until the Soul remains in ignorance it is caught up in the cage of the dualistic illusion or Maya. There is no second thing exist other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The reality and the illusion are on in the essence.

Sage Sri, Sankara says: ~ A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by perverse arguments.

Sage Sri Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman (Consciousness) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

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

Sage Sri, 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.

Remember: ~ All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, the consciousness still remains without form, time and space.

As your inner conviction about the Soul grows you will be able to realize ‘what is the truth?’ and ‘what is the untruth?’

As we keep thinking and reasoning deeper and deeper, the truth will shine as pure awareness in the midst of the duality (waking).

The Soul, the ‘Self’ is your ultimate teacher. It is only your inner Guru that will walk with you to the goal, for the Soul is the goal.

Millions are searching for truth but one in million will realize it. You are one from that million because you have the intense urge to realize the ultimate truth.

When the seeker is ready, the guidance comes on its own. An earnest desire to grow and a sense of deep commitment are the hallmarks of one who aspires to be a seeker.

When at the core of one’s being a person comes to realize he/she needs to seek a path for coming out of one’s unconscious and conditioned life, mysteriously the guidance appears to guide and shows the way.

Read repeatedly my postings and blogs and reflect and reason deeply which helps you to create a mental yardstick in your subconscious to discriminate between ‘what is the truth? And what is the untruth? When the subconscious is receptive and ready then it will start rejecting the untruth and finally then the Soul, the 'Self’ alone will prevail as the ultimate truth or Brahman or God.

There is no practice as such, but perfect understanding is needed to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atman Gnana.

A deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the Self is not physical, but the Self is formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Therefore, all the accumulated knowledge, experiences, and understanding based on the ego is a falsehood because the ego is the false self, within the false experience (waking).

The ‘Self’ is not you. You are the ego. The ego is the waking entity. Thus, whatever is based on the waking entity is bound to be falsehood because the waking experience itself is a falsehood. All the Gurus and their teachings limit the ‘Self’ as individuality. Thus, they yield only half-truth.

There is a need to realize the three states, which come and go, are is merely an illusion. All three states are made of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

It is your sincerity and seriousness that will make you reach the ultimate end of understanding and realization.

Your devotion to the goal to realize the truth and perfection will make you acquire the Advaitic wisdom.

Millions are searching for truth, but one in million will realize it. If you are a truth seeker then you are, one from that million.

The Soul, the 'Self' revels ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready.

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

It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the 'Self"(truth), hidden by the ignorance (I).

Slowly but surely you must imbibe the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space by realizing the form, time and space are one in essence.

When you enthrone the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness in your subconscious, you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusory play of the consciousness.

The consciousness is ‘One’, and all divisions of the form, time and space are illusory. Be established in this Advaitic Truth, which is eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The mind will not die because the mind is merely an illusion. When wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed.+

The mind will not die because the mind is merely an illusion. When wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed. Same way as the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place.

Without knowing ‘what is the mind? it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond the 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 and nondual is consciousness. Thus, all three states are nothing but consciousness. The consciousness alone is real and all the three states are merely an illusion. When the conviction about the 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 beyond the form, time and space.

With a firm foot first, inquire into the nature of the universe that confronts you, do not fly to the Atman, the Self.

Sage Sri, Sankara says you must first know what is before you. If you cannot know that, what else can you know or understand? If you give up the external world in your inquiry, you cannot get the whole truth.

The mind rises from the formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The sense of ‘I’ rises as the mind. The mind is in the form of the universe. Thus, ‘I’ is the mind or the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep. 

Holding a sense of ‘I’ limited to the ego is the cause of separation. It makes one feel, he is an individual separate from the world and world existed prior to him, and he is born in it afterwards. Until one has this conviction, it is very difficult to grasp the nondual truth.

Thus, it is necessary to realize the Self is not the ‘I’ but the Self is the witness of the ‘I'.

It is the ‘I’ which is a botheration. the seeker has to first investigate the nature of the ‘I’. Without investigating what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality, the truth of our existence will not be revealed.

As we go deeper in self-search, we become aware of the fact that: ~

The ‘I’ is not limited to an individual because ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is not within the body because the mind is the whole universe.

Thinking the mind is within the body is an error. First, know what is mind. The mind is not within the body. The form, time and space together is mind. Without the form, time and space the mind ceases to exist. Without the form, time and space the world in which you exist ceases to exist. Without the world in which you exist the waking ceases to exist. Without waking the ‘I’ ceases to exist.

Thus, a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is very much necessary to unfold the mastery of the ‘I’.

The mind is present only when the ‘I’ is present and the mind is absent when the ‘I’ is absent. Thus, it is necessary to accept the ‘I’ as the mind.

The mind is present only when the universe is present therefore it is necessary to accept the mind is the universe.

The universe is present only when the waking is present therefore it is necessary to accept the universe as the whole waking experience.

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

The individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world are happening within the waking experience.

As we go much deeper investigation the ‘I’,  we become aware of the fact that: ~

The ‘I’ disappears in deep sleep.

Without the ‘I’ there is no trace of the mind.

Without the mind, there is no trace of the universe.

Without the universe, there is no trace of the waking.

Without waking, there is no trace of the form, time and space.

Without the form, time and space there is no trace of the individual experience of the birth, life, death, and the world.

Without the individual experience of the birth, life and death, and the world it is formless, timeless and spaceless existence.

The formless, timeless and spaceless existence is the nature of the Soul the Self.

The Soul is the Self. When you negate the ‘I’ by Neti / Neti the Soul alone remains as the ultimate truth or Brahman or God.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “The universe rises from the Soul, the innermost Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus, know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sri, Sankara says: ~ Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman (Gnani), followed by reflection, and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

The seeker should personally strive by using the power of Soul-Centric reasoning to be free from the bondage of the dualistic illusion.

The seeker of truth should be aware of everything that is untrue: the stick to the truth and he shall succeed, maybe slowly, but surely.: ~Santthosh Kumaar

The wisdom will not dawn because of your good or bad Action or Karma.+

The wisdom will not dawn because of your good or bad Action or Karma. Your Good and bad deeds has no value because you and your good and bad deeds are part of the illusory universe of Maya. 

There are two kinds of audiences –

1. The religious believers who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of their action or karma

2.  The truth-seeker who seeks to know Brahman or God in truth.

Religion   emphasis on the karma is meant for ignorant people who are incapable of grasping the God hidden by ignorance.

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is meant for those who wish to go beyond illusory universe or Maya.

Those who lack the intelligence to discriminate between formless witness (subject) and three states (object) will not be able to grasp what is real and what is unreal. Both subject and object are consciousness, not subject alone. 

Sage Sri, Sankara’s wisdom is nothing to do with religion and yoga. Religion and yoga are meant for the ignorant.

First Manduka - Chapter 2 (10) - Ignorant fools, regarding sacrifices and humanitarian works as the highest, do not know any higher good. Having enjoyed their reward on the heights of heaven, gained by good works, they enter again this world or a lower one.

First Manduka - Chapter 2 (8) - Fools, dwelling in darkness, but wise in their own conceit and puffed up with vain scholarship, wander about, being afflicted by many ills, like blind men led by the blind.

First Manduka - Chapter 2 (9) - Children, immersed in ignorance in various ways, flatter themselves, saying: We have accomplished life's purpose. Because these performers of karma do not know the Truth owing to their attachment, they fall from heaven, misery-stricken, when the fruit of their work is exhausted.

Sage Sri, Sankara says: ~ The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.  

Adhyasa Bhashya: ~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sri, Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the Self has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Adhyasa Bhashya:~ (11.1) This ignorance (mistaking the body for Self) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body, aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction and thus a host of miseries(anartha).This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya (object) on the Atman. Sankara calls this adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Adhyasa Bhashya:~ (11.2) In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage Sri, Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is avidya, an error that can be removed by vidya. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Spiritual moksha is synonymous with Brahman or God.

 Shruti says "brahmavit brahmaiva Bhavati" - He who knows Brahman becomes Brahman Itself.

In the Advaitic understanding of this statement, the "becoming" is only metaphorical. It is not as if something that was not Brahman suddenly becomes Brahman. Rather, "knowing Brahman" means a removal of the ignorance about the Self essential nature as Brahman.

To "know Brahman" is to "be Brahman". The one who has realized Atman as the Self, which is Brahman or God is the jivanmukta, one who is liberated even while embodied.

Such a realization should not and cannot just be a literal understanding of Advaita. The Jivanmukta is one who has realized himself is not the Self but the Self is Atman, which is Brahman or God.

Thus, moksha cannot be result action or karma nor it is obtained by devotional to any deity.

Moksha is not a result of anything other than perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’. All that is required is the removal of ignorance.

The realization of Brahman or God is possible on this very life not in the next life or next world. The serious and sincere seeker who has patience, humility and intense urge to know the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space, will be able to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

One, who has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman, is a Gnani. A Gnani sees the world in which he exists as the consciousness.

 

All Gurus and paramparas belong to the religion. Religion is nothing to do with Sage Sri, Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom.

Identifying the Atman as Self is the most important in the Atmic path.  The consciousness is the substratum on which the dualistic illusion experienced. The consciousness is hidden by the dualistic illusion.   The consciousness dwells in everything and everywhere in the universe, which is the dualistic illusion.

The Atman, the real Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness. The whole dualistic illusion is nothing but the consciousness, the consciousness alone is real and eternal.

The Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The Soul is in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self -evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Soul, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. The Soul is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs.   The Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness (Spirit), is the ultimate truth or Brahman. The Brahman is God. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar