Hindus who hold the Vedas and Upanishads as their authority have to make sure what is God according to the Vedas and Upanishads.+

Hindus who hold the Vedas and Upanishads as their authority have to make sure what is God according to the Vedas and Upanishads.

First, the Hindus who hold the Vedas and Upanishads as their authority have to make sure what is God according to the Vedas and Upanishads then drop all the non-Vedic Gods and non-Vedic rituals and beliefs.

Vedas and Upanishad confirms the Soul, the innermost Self, is present in the form of the Spirit or the consciousness. There is a clear-cut idea of God in the Vedas, Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita. And also there is a clear-cut idea of what not to worship as God in place of real God. Thus, it proves on Vedic perspective the Puranic Gods are not Vedic Gods.

Mythological stories are a myth. Mythological Gods are a myth. By worshipping mythological heroes as God produces only myth. There is a need to realize ‘what God supposed to be in actuality. Religion has been very influential.

Mythology is a synthesis. They are more concerned with synthesis than with truth. The attraction for synthesis is so strong that people accept it blindly without verifying their validity. Mythology is a hodgepodge containing everything; hence it suits everyone because there is something in it for everyone. It is difficult to find any tradition whose voice is not found in the mythology. It is difficult to find anyone who does not take solace from mythology. But for such people ‘Self’-Realization will prove very difficult Vedas says never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Bible says: ~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship God must worship God in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24)”,

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

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ 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.

Religious Gods are not really God. One must know God in truth.

Lord Krishna Says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know the Self in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the ‘Self’. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

There is a clear-cut idea of God in the Vedas, Upanishad and Bhagavad Gita. And also there is a clear-cut idea of what not to worship as God in place of real God. Thus, it proves on Vedic perspective the Puranic Gods are not Vedic Gods.

Vedas says never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman. Hindus assert their religion is monotheistic, even though they honor a number of gods, including Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer. Hindus claim these various Gods are all manifestations of the oneness of the universe.

Hindu religious practices vary from place to place, but they frequently include yoga, physical and mental discipline to harmonize body and the Soul, and ritual bathing. Belief in multiple Gods, The worship of idols and worship of images that are not God, The worship of sacred images, ancestor worship, pilgrimage, priest craft, the belief in avatars or incarnations of God, the hereditary caste system on the grounds that all these lacked Vedic sanction.

Hinduism indulges non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priest craft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, and child marriages. All these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Religious Gods are not  God in truth. One must know God in truth. Those who are seeking truth have to discard inherited beliefs. There is no need to criticize their inherited religion but it is for the seekers to realize the religion is meant for the ignorant people who are unable to grasp the real God.

Thus, it is necessary to realize what is God according to Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita for their own personal information. Many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are not of the Santana Dharma or veridic religion.

The Vedic God is Atma. The Atma is the ‘Self’, which is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

God is not a person. Personifying God can make it difficult to realize the truth is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.+

God is not a person. Personifying God can make it difficult to realize the truth is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

To realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal. All the scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore the consciousness, which is in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth. Thus, to realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal. A well-directed inquiry, analysis, and reasoning will lead one to his nondual destination.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “Brahmano hi pratisthaham’ ~ Brahman is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27)

In Advaita Vedanta: ~ “Brahman is without attributes and strictly impersonal. It can be best described as infinite Being, infinite Consciousness, and infinite Bliss. It is pure knowledge itself, similar to a source of infinite radiance. Since the Advaitins regard Brahman to be the Ultimate Truth, so in comparison to Brahman, every other thing, including the material world, its distinctness, the individuality of the living creatures and even Ishvara (the Supreme Lord) itself are all untrue. Brahman is the effulgent cause of everything that exists and can possibly exist. Since it is beyond human comprehension, it is without any attributes, for assigning attributes to it would be distorting the true nature of Brahman. Those Advaitins who believe in the existence of Saguna Brahman (God with form and attributes) belong to the religion, not spirituality. In Spirituality, Nirguna Brahman (attributeless God). Athma is Nirguna Brahman, which is the absolute supreme truth.

Chandogya Upanishad: ~ One who meditates upon and realizes the Self discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantras and meditation--all come from the Self.

So, it clearly says the one who meditates upon the self (consciousness) discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantras, and meditation--all come from the Self. Therefore, there is a need to know the fact that, the true self is not physical, but the Soul in order to realize the fact that: the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantras and meditation--all come from the Self, which is in the form of consciousness.

Atman is Brahman. Brahman is alone real; this waking is unreal, and the three states are non-different from Brahman.

Whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory." Brahman is not a person, as the Absolute is not this. But if one wants to call it God or Param Atman, then fine. But it is not a person. Personifying God can make it difficult to realize the truth hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Those who blindly accept the religion and its God as the ultimate truth are like the blind led by the blind.+

Those who blindly accept the religion and its God as the ultimate truth are like the blind led by the blind.

Millions of people all over the world have been killed and being killed in the name of religion and God. This is because people are not aware of the ultimate truth of their true existence. People take their inherited belief as the ultimate truth without verifying the validity of their belief.

Does God exists or not is the question that succeeds not only dividing people but creates a tug of war within every individual thinker. Ironically, if one believes in the concept of God then nothing else matters and if one is an atheist, too nothing else matters.

Those who have implicit faith in God bow their head in submission to what they call divine will. They believe the world is testing ground and sorrows must be borne with patience in order to prove their love to God. On the other hand, the Atheist claim the whole world is random creation arising, so to speak from chemical gravy that is accidental. Both these arguments based on the false self’ (ego) within the false experience (waking).

On the base of the Soul, the ‘Self’, the waking experience itself is merely an illusion. The man and his experience of the world are a reality within the waking experience. The waking experience is merely a dream witnessed by the Soul. Thus, all the physical-based theories are mere imagination based on the false ‘Self’ within the false experience. The formless substance and witness of the false experience, which is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness is real and eternal.

God is not physical. God is present in the form of the Spirit. The Spirit is the cause of the world and the Spirit itself is uncaused.

From the standpoint of the Spirit, the form, time, space and name are merely an illusion. The spirit alone is real and all else is an illusion. In reality, the spirit (God) matter (the world in which we exist) are one.

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the innermost ‘Self’. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

The Vedas confirms God is Atman (Spirit), the ‘Self’.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost ‘Self’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of real God.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit), 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 (Spirit) which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Lord Krishna Says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know me in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

The famous peace invocation of Isa Upanishad says: ~

Om Purna- madah, purna-midam purnat-purnam-udacyate Purnaysa purna-madaya purna-meva-vasisyate

Which means: ~ All this is full /from fullness, fullness comes when fullness is taken from fullness/ fullness still remains.

This belief is all- comprehensive and all-absorbing. There is nothing that is not God.

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

The religion, religious Gods rituals, and the sacrifices deal with lower knowledge. The sages of truth ignored religion, religious Gods, rituals and the sacrifices and went in search of the truth of their true existence.

The religion, religious Gods, rituals, and sacrifices are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of the ignorance which is the cause of experiencing the birth, life, death and the world as a reality. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the dualistic illusion (form, time and space) on these poor rafts.

Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded men proud of their inherited beliefs in their religion wage war and violence against humanity in the name of protecting their God and religion.

Those who blindly accept the religion and its God as truth are like the blind led by the blind. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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