When God in truth is present, then man and his world are absent. When man and his world are present then God in truth is absent.+

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which present in the form of consciousness. Nothing Matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion. 

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

Sage Sankara says:~ One alone exists, and the rest is all superimposition on that One, due to ignorance

Mundaka Upanishad 1.3:~ “Complete knowledge includes knowledge of the phenomenal world, the spirit behind it, and the source of both of them. When the cause of all causes becomes known, then everything knowable becomes known, and nothing remains unknown.”

Meher Baba: ~ "There is no higher or lower goal. There is only one goal, Self-Realization."

The Soul is the Self. The Self is God. The Soul remains in its own awareness which we identify as deep sleep in the waking experience. The waking is the state of ignorance. When ignorance vanishes, then the Soul remains in its own awareness in the midst of duality (waking).

Man cannot see God (Spirit), because man and the world in which he exists, are the product of ignorance. Man cannot see God because God is prior to anything that exists.

When God in truth is present, then man and his world are absent. When a man and his world are present then God in truth is absent.

Meher Baba: ~ “When the reality appears this ignorance which one thinks as reality becomes unreal.

Kabir: ~ There is nothing but water in the holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the Gods sculpted of wood or ivory can’t say a word. I know, I have been crying out for them. The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words. I looked through their covers one day sideways. What Kabir talks of is only what he has lived through. If you have not lived through something, it is not true.

When the Soul the 'Self' stabilizes in its own awareness, then it will transcend the illusion of the form, time, and space and reveals its formless, timeless, and spaceless true nature.

The realization of Brahman is possible in 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 orthodoxy. Orthodoxy is nothing to do with Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom.

Identifying the Atman as Self is the most important in the Atmic path. Consciousness is the substratum in which the dualistic illusion is experienced. Consciousness is hidden by the dualistic illusion. Consciousness who dwells in everything and everywhere in the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

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

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

People refuse to accept the universe is an illusion, it is because they are unaware of the fact that they are part of the Maya.+

The universe in which we exist is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the universe, they take the universe as real. That is why all the confusion.

When the seeker has the firm conviction that the form, time, and space are made of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, then the Soul, the Self, will be able to remain in its own awareness in the midst of the illusory universe or Maya.

The universe in which you exist is unreal and the consciousness alone is real. It means birth, life, and death, which happens within the world, also is unreal. If birth, life, and death are unreal, then the rebirth and reincarnation and the Avataric concept have to be unreal.

Thus, it is for the seeker to find out, on what standpoint the world becomes unreal, to know the Brahman, which is the ultimate truth.

Remember:~

People refuse to accept the universe is an illusion, it is because they are unaware of the fact that they are part and parcel of that illusion or Maya. The reality of the illusory universe often confuses people.

Sage Sankara:~“The world, filled with attachments and aversions, and the rest, is like a dream: it appears to be real as long as one is ignorant, but becomes unreal when one is awake.

Only when one acquires Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then realizes the world in which he exists is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

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).

First, know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ for sure. Without realizing what untruth truth is, it is difficult to know what truth is.

The universe is a reality on the base of ‘you (ego). You are the false self within the false experience (waking). The universe is an illusion on the standpoint of the Soul, which is the Self. The Soul is in the form of formless consciousness. This is because of some logical reasons. First, you have to analyze a definition of truth, and hence why the universe is not considered as a reality.

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

People who strongly believe this world is real must realize: ~

A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignore that in a dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real.

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, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, you, your experience birth, life, death, and the world merely an illusion created out of consciousness, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC "As layers of clouds generated by the sun's rays cover the sun and alone appear (in the sky), so egoism generated by the Self, covers the reality of the Self and appears by itself."

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

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

In Self-awareness-- the witness and witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~VC-63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

Sage Sankara said: ~ Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul, the Self. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

The Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is the root element of the universe. From the 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. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman is God in truth.

Thus, whatever seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality) but waking experience (duality) itself is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

We contemplate the reality in which everything exists, to which everything belongs, from which everything has emerged, which is the cause of everything is and which is everything.

People’s opinions are based on the dualistic perspective based on the false self (ego or you) within the false experience (waking). Therefore, people go on arguing holding their accumulated knowledge as a yardstick. The pursuit of truth is the pursuit of verification not the pursuit of an argument. Nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification.

The judgment has to be is based on the Soul, the innermost Self to understand, assimilate, and realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

The judgment based on the nondualistic perspective leads to Self-awareness. In Self-awareness, the Soul, the Self, will remain in its own awareness in the midst of diversity.

Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. By realizing form, time and space are one in essence and that essence is consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic Self-awareness.

When we drop all accumulated knowledge and start afresh it becomes easier to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sage Sankara said: ~

(1) Brahman (Atman) is real

(2) The universe is unreal,

(3) Brahman is the universe.

He did not stop at second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence Maya or illusion and reality are one and the same.

The realists criticize the concept of illusion without understanding it.

Sage Sankara said:~

(1) Consciousness (Atman) is real.

(2) The universe is unreal.

(3) Consciousness is the universe because the universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

One need not stop at second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the Self (Atman or consciousness) and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self (consciousness). Hence illusion and reality are one and the same because both are one in essence. Realizing the essence, which is the Soul or consciousness, is Self-Realization or Truth-Realization of God- Realization.

Thus, Sage Sankara‘s declaration is the rational truth, scientific truth, and also the ultimate truth.

The seeker has to have the inner urge to know the truth seriousness, patience, and humility in order to reach the ultimate end of understanding. A Gnani will not indulge in the argument he keeps his distance with such a mindset. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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

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

Everybody has their own imagination about facts and starts from that, instead of discarding his personal idea and looking at the fact. 

Manduka shows how one opinion may be used to contradict another, so that both may be thrown away. Opinions are not for truth; they are merely thoughts, not truth. 

The whole universe, that whatever is seen is illusory even though it is harder for the seeker to realze at first he can attain Brahman as his understanding of Advaita matures.

Look into the nature of the universe. And you will be able to see that universe by its very nature is illusory. The moment you understand that the universe is illusory, ignorance disappears and Self-awareness arises.

Self-awareness is the state of non-dual reality. That is the state of Advaita.

People never realize non-dualistic awareness through religion and yoga.

Manduka Upanishad:~Only a few will be able to understand and assimilate it 

Self-awareness raises only by mentally transcending the dualistic illusion into non-dualistic reality.

Consciousness is the one single reality or Brahman. The individual self is a reality within the illusory universe or Maya.

Manduka Upanishad has no assumptions whatever. It is an honest and bold inquiry into truth. It rises above scripture.

Advaitic wisdom is buried under religion and yoga and other philosophies. The Advaita is hidden by the Dvaita. Advaita is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Dvaita is the universe.

Advaitic wisdom is nothing to do with Advaitic orthodoxy. As per Sage Sankara, Advaitic orthodoxy meant for the ignorant populace.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is not a teaching or philosophy but Advaita is the universal wisdom. Advaitic wisdom is neither a teaching nor a theory but it is merely guidance to those who are seriously seeking the ultimate truth or Brahman. Grasp the ultimate truth anytime, any age, if the seeker has the spiritual maturity and capacity to grasp it.

It really depends on his inborn natural capacity to understand and assimilate it. Sage Sankara’s wisdom is a Self-examiner, to test oneself to discover how near to Gnana he has approached and what progress has already been made on the path, and what still remains to be done. It sets up the criterion for Self-judgement. There are millions in search of truth but one in million will be able to grasp it.

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita (nonduality). Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion. I am highlighting all the obstacles, which is blocking one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge but none of them are helpful to reach the ultimate end.

Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (Advaitic wisdom) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it. (Gita –Chap- IV-v.2)

In Gita Chap.IV where Lord Krishna says: ~ "This yoga has been lost for ages" the word yoga refers to Gnana yoga, not other yogas: the force of the word this is to point this out.

Lord Krishna describes some of the other yogas but devotes this chapter separately to Gnana Yoga. So one sees even in those ancient days people did not care for Advaita; they wanted religion; hence Gnana got lost. That is why Krishna calls it "the supreme secret." Krishna points out that the yoga must-see "Brahman in action."

Sage Sankara said: ~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

The seeker has to realize the Self is not 'i' but the Self is Soul to find liberation from the bondage of the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world (duality). The goal of human life is to find and realize Soul, the Self.

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

To come to a more precise understanding of what non-duality is or might mean, we must return to the original linguistic and philosophic backgrounds from which the word has been translated into English.

If we limit a probe of the meaning of non-duality to Hindu Sanskrit literature, we find that the most frequently used term is “Advaita.

Advaita” is not a religious concept. Advaita is the nature of the existence hidden by the form, time, and space. The seeker has to attempt to rule out from the start a false understanding of reality by perfect understanding of ‘what is what’.

The Advaita is hidden by the Dvaita. Advaita is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Dvaita is the universe.

Advaita is basically a denial; it is literally the negation of the Dvaita. That means whatever remains by negating the universe by realizing the universe is created out of single clay and that clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, the hidden truth by Dvaita uncovered. Consciousness is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘universe supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the universe comes and goes in order to realize the truth, which is hidden by the universe.

The Soul is permanent is always present, only the transient universe comes and goes.

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

The universe hides the truth of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

The Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or God in truth. There is no higher truth other than consciousness.

To realize this truth there is no need to follow any path. There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to become a wandering monk. There is no need to renounce worldly life. Realizing the consciousness (Spirit) is ultimate is spirituality.

There is nothing else to realize other than realizing there no second thing exists other than consciousness. Realizing the consciousness is second to none is truth realization.

Even if you search for million years you will only come to the final conclusion and realization that the world in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

If the world, in which you exist is nothing but consciousness, then what else is there to realize other than realizing consciousness alone is real and the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.

If the world in which you exist is mere an illusion the experience of the birth, life, and death that happens in the illusory world is bound to be an illusion.

If the world, in which you exist is an illusion then the division of the form, time, and space are merely an illusion because the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the Self. The Soul, the Self is the fullness of consciousness.

Mentally reducing the world, in which you exist to consciousness leads to Self-awareness. Realizing consciousness as the ultimate truth is Advaita. That is mentally reducing the dualistic illusion into non-dualistic reality is Advaita.

Sage Sankara has declared Advaitic truth 1200 years back but it was hidden and imparted only to a few. Even scientists declare in the future the world is nothing but consciousness, Sage Sankara alone is qualified for the noble prize, not the scientists because Sage Sankara declared it 1200 years back. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify. Advaita is not a theory but Advaita is the rational truth, the scientific truth, and the ultimate truth. But nobody knows it.

The teachers of philosophy and the Gurus or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it.

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is nothing to do with religion. Thus, all his religious teaching which is meant for the ignorant populace has to be bifurcated from his wisdom. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The essence of Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom - Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe to but an illusory manifestation.+

Sage Sankara was the first Sage scientist who unfolded the mystery of the universe 1200 years back. Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom more rational and scientific and nothing to do with religion and its dogmas.

Sage Sankara says this entire universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from human thought limitation.

In the scientific field, the knowledge one can bank on discoveries of different scientists. Newton discovered the law of gravity and Einstein formulated the principle of relativity. Besides, scientists take it for granted that these principles are valid. It is not so in pursuit of truth. If one sage discovers the ultimate truth then the seeker without verification cannot accept it as truth blindly.

Newton discovered the law of gravity, which is applicable only to the waking experience, which is only a half-truth. Nobody has discovered there is no gravity in deep sleep. All three states have taken into account to get the whole truth.

Only Sage Sankara has discovered the whole truth 1200 years back. Scientific inventions are limited to form, time, and space. The mystery of the universe is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it be perceived in the state of deep sleep. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.

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.

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, mantrams and meditation--all come from the Self.

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘Whatever thing remains eternal is true, and whatever is non-eternal is untrue. Since the world is created and destroyed, it is not true.

Truth is the thing that is unchanging. Since the world is changing, it is not true.

Whatever is independent of space and time is true, and whatever has space and time in itself is untrue.

Just as one sees dreams in sleep, he sees a kind of super-dream when he is waking. The world is compared to this conscious dream.

The world is believed to be a superimposition of the Brahman. Superimposition cannot be true.

On the other hand, Sage Sankara claims that the world is not absolutely false. It appears false only when compared to Brahman. In the pragmatic state, the world is completely true—which occurs as long as we are under the influence of ignorance.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

Remember:~

People's approach is more practical, and they are stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

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 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, experiences the birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as the consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul or the consciousness.

Thus, all the egocentric (religious) adulteration has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

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).

Remember:~

First, know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ for sure. Without realizing what untruth truth is, it is difficult to know what truth is.

Sage Sankara was criticized for his views on Maya (illusion) without understanding him.

Sage Sankara said: ~

(1) Brahman (Atman) is real

(2) The universe is unreal.

(3) Brahman is the universe.

He did not stop at second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence Maya or illusion and reality are one and the same.

The realists criticize the concept of illusion without understanding it.

Sage Sankara said that:~

(1) Consciousness (Atman) is real

(2) The universe or mind is unreal

(3) Consciousness is the universe because the universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

One need not stop at second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the Self (Atman or consciousness) and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self (consciousness). Hence illusion and reality are one and the same because both are one in essence. Realizing the essence, which is consciousness as the innermost Self, is Self-Realization or Truth-Realization of God-Realization.

Thus, Sage Sankara‘s declaration is rational truth, scientific truth, and also the ultimate truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ “The world, filled with attachments and aversions, and the rest, is like a dream: it appears to be real as long as one is ignorant, but becomes unreal when one is awake.

Sage Sankara:~ “As fire is the direct cause of cooking, so knowledge, and not any other form of discipline, is the direct cause of Liberation; for Liberation cannot be attained without Knowledge." (Self-Knowledge)

Sage Sankara:~ As the moon appears to be moving when the clouds move in the sky, so also to the non-discriminating. Atman appears to be active when in reality the senses are active.

Sage Sankara said: ~ Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul, the Self. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

The Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into the consciousness, the universe is dissolved.

Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman is God in truth.

The essence of Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom - Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe to but an illusory manifestation.

Sage 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.

Sage Sankara says in a commentary in Vedanta-sutra that what is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something detrimental to our spiritual progress.

Sage Sankara not only proved the existence of God on the Vedic perspective but also proved the existence of God rationally by pure reason.

The seeker has to discover a fresh by dropping all the egocentric dualistic knowledge to realize’ what is truth’ and ‘what is not truth’ and accept only the truth and mentally drop the untruth. Thus, constant reflection on the subject is very much necessary in pursuit of truth. ~ Santthosh Kumaar