Monday, October 9, 2023

The deepest desire of the seeker is to realize the Self.+

 

In Spirituality or Adyathma, God means the ultimate truth or ultimate reality or Brahman. Self–realization is truth-realization. Truth-realization is God-realization.

This universe comes forth from the Soul and will return to the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. Verily, all is consciousness. The deepest desire of the seeker is to realize the Self.
Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.

That is why Sage Sankara's declaration: ~ “Brahman is the truth the world is unreal everything is truly Brahman and nothing else has any value.
If you are seeking truth, then do not waste time finding a Guru and becoming his slave. The Gurudom belongs to the religious and yogic path and it has nothing to do with the Advaitic path.

Upanishads:~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking they wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikilanada - Ch II-5 P-14)

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

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

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the main aim of every seeker of truth. Since everyone holds the ego as the Self, their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality (waking) as reality.

In pursuit of truth, the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. The individual experience of bliss is not Brahmic bliss or Atmic bliss.

Individual truth is not a universal truth. The individual cannot claim that he has experienced the Soul, the Self.

The Soul, the Self is the cause of the experience, experiencer, and the world experiencer exists.

There is no proof he has seen it because the Soul is not an individual experience.

Man and the world are within the dualistic illusion or Maya. Therefore, such claims of experiencing the Soul, the Self is merely hallucination because the Soul, the Self cannot be experienced because the Soul is ever nondual.

The experience implies duality. The duality is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

All claims of experiencing (anubava) the 'Self' or Brahman is a falsehood because experience implies duality and duality is falsehood from the ultimate standpoint.

Thus 'Self 'or 'Brahman' cannot be experienced because it is prior to any experience and there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

The 'Self' has to be realized not experienced. Get rid of ignorance through Advaitic wisdom.:~Santthosh

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the main aim of every seeker of truth. Since everyone thinks that the ego as the Self, their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality [waking] as reality. 

In pursuit of truth, the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. The individual experience of bliss is not Brahmic bliss or Atmic bliss.  

Individual truth is not a universal truth. The individual cannot claim that he has experienced the whole. There is no proof he has seen it because the whole is not an individual experience. 

Man and the world are within the whole. Therefore such claims of experiencing the Soul, the Self is mere hallucination because the whole cannot be experienced because the experience of the form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

All claims of experiencing ( anubava) the 'Self' or Brahman is a falsehood because experience implies duality and from the ultimate standpoint, duality is falsehood. 

Thus 'Soul' or 'Brahman' cannot be experienced because it is prior to any experience and there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. 'Self' has to be realized by eliminating ignorance through Advaitc wisdom.:~Santthosh Kumaar 


Sunday, October 23, 2022

Awakening, Enlightenment, and Self-realization are one and the same thing.+


Awakening, Enlightenment, and Self-realization are one and the same thing. knowing the Athma, the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sankara says only through direct knowledge of non-duality enlightenment can be achieved.

Self-realization could not be brought about merely by giving up the idea that there is an individual Self, which functions through the body. The 'Self' does not function through the body.
All the functions of the body take place within the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The mind is not within the body, but the body and the world are within the mind.
Till one thinks the mind is within the body it is impossible to realize the ‘Self, which is beyond form, time, and space. The form, time, and space, together are the mind. Form, time, and space are present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).

Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

Realizing the ‘Self’ is not 'you' but the ‘Self is the 'Soul' is Self-realization. The existence of the world in which we exist is dependent on the ‘I’.
Without the ‘I’ the world, in which we exist cease to exist. The ‘I’ hides the truth.
Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16
Remember this: Self-realization is to realize the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘Self’ is not limited to the body because it is not within the body but it pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which we exist. Limiting the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ to the physical body is an error because the Soul is the ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.
The ‘Self is not the body and the ‘Self’ is not within the body. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is nothing but the cause of the world in which we exist and it is uncaused.

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

The sun, the moon, the stars, and the planets shine because of the Soul or Spirit.
The Soul shines and all things else shine as a result. Everything in the universe reflects but that light of the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.
Merely knowing the truth is not enough to escape from the tangle of illusion.
The mind is in the form of the universe. From the standpoint of the Soul the Self the universe is merely an illusion. The illusion arises from ignorance.
Enlightenment comes with detachment from the illusion by realizing the experience of form, time and space are one in essence.

Remember:~

Awakening is the Soul waking up from the sleep of ignorance, and remaining in its own awareness in the midst of diversity.

There is unity in diversity when the Soul remains in its own awareness.

Awakening is freedom from experiencing the illusion as a reality.
Awakening is Soulcentric Gnana.

Awakening happens when the Soul, the Self, witnesses the whole universe in which you exist from a non-dualistic or Advaitic perspective.

From the non-dualistic perspective, you and your experience of the universe are made of the same stuff. That stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the Soul or the consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. And Brahman is God in truth.

Self-realization is God-realization.

Remember:~

Spiritual awakening happens when the seeker has a full and firm conviction of ‘the truth hidden by the 'I'. :
Your existence is a reality within the dualistic illusion. You and his experience of the world are created out of single stuff. That stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of that single stuff is Self-knowledge.
The world 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 world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.
When reality appears this ignorance which one thinks as reality becomes unreal.
We exist within the world which appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality). Thus, we have to realize what is it that appears as duality (waking or dream) disappears as nonduality (deep sleep).
The duality and nonduality are one in essence. That essence is the consciousness (Soul). Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal. And the world in which we exist is merely an illusion. Without consciousness, the world, in which we exist ceases to exist.
A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignores that in a dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real.
Spiritual awakening happens when the Soul, the 'Self’ remains in its own awareness. Spiritual Awakening does not involve losing your practical life within the practical world but only exposes the unreal nature of the world in which you exist.
There is no need to fear losing the world in which you exist. In “Self’-awareness the illusory bondage of form, time, and space becomes an illusion in the midst of the form, time, and space.
Nothing is lost. People think if they accept the world as an illusion they are going to lose (things, homes, jobs, careers, family, friends, etc.).
The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when wisdom dawns. Wisdom dawns, when the Soul. The Soul, the “Self’ remains in its own awareness.
Spiritual awakening happens when the seeker has a full and firm conviction of ‘what is the truth?’ and ‘what is ‘what is untruth?’. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Advaitic wisdom is potent but bitter medicine for those imprisoned by orthodox ideology.+

 

Sage Sankara is independent thinker other schools of Indian philosophy are mere theologies. Advaitic wisdom is the only tool to unfold the mystery of the universe. The dualistic philosophy cannot escape the charge of dogmatism.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

It is that philosophy in India was for centuries more an exposition of the ancient classics than the independent thought of individual thinkers as in ancient Greece or modern Europe and America.

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 ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Hence, so-called philosophers who take Brahman for granted are not philosophers at all.

Lots of Advaitin scholars will teach that all is yourself but none of them can show that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it. Rational proof is required so that one arrives at knowing the ultimate truth or Brahman i.e. Gnana.

Sage Sankara was an independent thinker. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has not been taken seriously by many in India because most of the followers of Sage Sankara are religious orthodox.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Advaitic orthodoxy is the path of ignorance meant for the ignorant populace, which is incapable of grasping the truth hidden by the dualistic illusion (world).

Advaitic wisdom is potent but bitter medicine for those imprisoned by orthodox ideology.

The Vedas talk about Brahman which refers to the ultimate truth or ultimate reality. Consciousness is the ultimate truth, therefore, consciousness is Brahman and Brahman is God in truth.

Sage Sankara is Jagadguru for the ignorant populace and Brahma Gnani for the seeking world.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is nothing to do with orthodox belief systems.

Sage Sankara is the only sage who has final authority on the Advaitic wisdom.

The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogma.

Religion is nothing to do with Advaita. Advaitic sect belongs to religion. Advaita is pure spirituality.

The Advaitic orthodox sect is dualistic is nothing to do with the Advaitic truth which is hidden by ignorance.

Mixing religion and spirituality or Adythma is like mixing oil and water

Sage Sankara says Atman is Brahman and that Atman is God whereas the orthodox Advaitins believe and worship in non-Vedic Gods barred by Vedas.

The orthodox Advaitins consider, birth, life, death, rebirth, heaven, hell, sin, karma, and the world as a reality, whereas Sage Sankara declares the world in which we exist is merely an illusion. If the world is an illusion, then the birth, life, death, rebirth, heaven, hell, sin, karma, and the world, is bound to be an illusion.

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita (non-duality). Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion.

Sage Sankara’s quotes (selected verified) are quoted in my blogs and postings to show what Sage Sankara meant, and ‘what is blocking the seekers from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound on Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge, but none of them are helpful to reach the ultimate end.

As regards the rituals, Sage 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 the 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.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the most advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman. Thus, the Purva mimam. sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures.

Sage Sankara's commentary to Brahma Sutras (Chap.3.4.50) shows that the Gnani "should pass through life", not run away from life, and should take a middle course between seeking worldly honor and worldly abasement.

Sage Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never advised them to give up their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time, he showed just one step forward toward the truth.

Sage Sankara was extremely precise and careful in his choice of words.

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the mass, but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Sage Sankara says in the 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, something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.

Seekers of truth should not believe blindly in traditional orthodox Advaita without verifying all the facts from every angle. Orthodoxy has nothing to do with spirituality, which is based on the Soul or spirit. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Saturday, September 24, 2022

The Self is not you. Identifying the ‘Self’ as you is erroneous.+

The Self is not you. Identifying the ‘Self’ as 'you' is erroneous. Those who assert the Self as you are still in grip of the dualistic illusion. The Soul becomes the universe in waking or dream (duality) and the universe becomes Soul is deep sleep (non-duality).

Until you hold the ‘I-centric knowledge or 'I-centric Gurus as a yardstick you will not be able to assimilate Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

What is it that appears as the ‘I’ and disappears as the ‘I-less? It is the 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 ‘I’-less.

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

‘I’ is an illusion and the ‘I-LESS-Soul’ is real and eternal. The ‘I-LESS-Soul ‘appears as ‘I’ and ‘I ’‘disappears as I-LESS-Soul.

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

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

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.

Discard all the accumulated dualistic knowledge by realizing the world in which you exist, exists because of ignorance. Get rid of the ignorance by realizing the world in which you exist is created out of single clay and that single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Realizing the ‘Self’’ is not you but the Soul is Self-realization. The Soul is the cause of the universe and it, itself is uncaused.

If you search for the ‘Self’ you will find only the Soul. If you search for truth and you will find only the Soul. You search for God you will find only the Soul.

Thus, the Soul is the Goal. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

What exists with or without the world, in which you exist, is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. When the Soul remains in its own awareness in the midst of the world, in which you exist, it is in its swa swaroopa or Self-awareness.

The unreal is created out of the real. The Soul is the fullness of the consciousness without any division. A Gnani is fully aware the division of form, time and space is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Consciousness is one without the second.

Katha Upanishad says:~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Ch~ II-5 P-14)

Those who indulge in the perverted argument from their own standpoint and opinion are not seeking the truth, which is hidden by ignorance. They just want to exhibit their accumulated knowledge accumulated from here and there. They think what they know is the ultimate truth.

They think whatever they propagate is the ultimate truth. The question never occurs to them, “Is what I know is really the truth?: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Friday, September 23, 2022

Vedic religion or Santana Dharma does not exist today. The followers of Vedas today indulge in non-Vedic activities barred by Vedas in the name of Vedas.+

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the political class as useful.

Until and unless the whole of humanity is made aware of what God in truth is the truth of the true existence not what we believe and worship the wars, violence, and terrorism which is going on in the name of God and religion continue.

Until the falsity of religion and its idea of God is not exposed world peace and universal brotherhood are impossible.

Religion is built on the false foundation of belief and faith whereas Spirituality is based on the Spirit the God, which is the cause of the universe in which we exist.
You are searching for the truth. But you are ignorant of the fact that God does not reside in temples, churches, synagogues, or mosques.
All those whose intelligence has been stolen by ignorance follow a religion.
First, realize what God is in actuality. God is Soul, the Self. No other God can exist other than the Soul, the Self.
God in truth is a Spirit. Realize God in truth in this very life.
Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit.
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 is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realizing 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.
Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

The majority of the Indian populace worship sixty million Gods, without even doubting such God are not found in their sacred Vedas. They must realize the God in truth not what they believe and worship

Religious people are unaware of the fact that their inherited religion is of superstition and dogmas based on imagination. They think of whatever they have inherited from their forefathers as the ultimate truth.

The DaVita, Vedanta borrows the concept from Abrahamic religions, such as Eternal Damanation (of certain souls destined to hell forever) which goes against the belief of most Vedanta schools, which state that soul attains liberation.
It looks like the creator-creation theory is also borrowed from Abrahamic religion and on the base, a new belief system has been introduced giving it a Vedic outlook and propagating all non-Vedic rituals and worships by someone in the past.
St. Thomas is said to have come to India to spread Christianity in the first century AD. It first spread among the people of the Malabar Coast and in areas near present-day Madras.
There is a total discontinuity in the concept of God before and after the entry of St, Thomas. As one goes in deeper into the annals of religious history then we become aware of the fact that the Vedic Gods were personifications of Nature and their worship essentially sacrifices to these Natural Forces to appease them. All of a sudden by the first century, we encounter Vedanta. Vedanta literally means “End of the Vedas,” though it is today interpreted as "the essence of Vedas."
Vedanta, which appeared as theological discourse, presents a supreme Godhead, “Para Brahman’. Such an idea was not even remotely conceivable in the Vedic context.
New Gods like Maheshwar and Vishnu appeared. The concept of Maheshwar, Vishnu means Sky or Heavens. Vishnu simply means the God of Heaven lies or one who pervades everything. Then we have the concept of incarnation – God taking flesh in human form to save humanity. All these suddenly appeared after the entry of St, Thomas.
This was also the time when most of the Vedic Gods passed into oblivion. Their place was taken by the trinity of Gods, with Brahma as the creator, Vishnu the preserver, and Shiva the destroyer. It is believed that when evil is rampant, various incarnations of Vishnu enter the world of men to save them. Krishna is one such 'avatar'.
There are many contradictions, Brahma Vishnu and Maheshwar are the three main Gods but they are one. Brahma is the creator of this universe (Generator), Vishnu is responsible for the smooth conduct of the same (sustainer), & Maheshwar is the Destroyer! But if you go and read Vishnu Purana, he is characterized as the supreme power.

Further, due to many castes and sub-castes prevailing in the society, some more rules and principles were added for the benefit of these priests. Can you imagine how would you get rid of the sin you committed by killing a cat? You will have to make a golden cat weighing equal to the dead cat and hand over this golden cat to the priest chanting for the purification of an individual soul! Hinduism is different from Santana Dharma Vedic religion.

Remember:~

After the  2nd century,  there were many adulteration and reforms in Indian societies and there were saints who formed their own religious sects and castes and codes of conduct, and many new belief systems were formed within India. Each sect has its own founder. Thus, the whole Indian society was divided into many sects and creeds creating separation in society. All these diverse groups of caste, sect, and creed together are called Hinduism

Vedic religion or Santana Dharma does not exist today. The followers of Vedas today indulge in non-Vedic activities barred by Vedas in the name of Vedas.

The seeker of truth has to be free from all the baggage of religious superstition and dogmas.   The Orthodox people impose and brainwash their orthodox ideas on their children.  Orthodoxy is the  Self-imposed prison. 

Orthodox people are ignorant people. There is no truth in orthodoxy, which is based on the false self (ego or you) within the false experience (waking).   

Orthodox people without realizing the fact that, they are on the wrong path and they think they are on the right path to Moksha because it is written in their scriptures. All these dualistic scriptures and mythological stories are nothing but imagination.

How can you see and meet God without knowing what God is in actuality? Praying and meditating on God without knowing what God suppose to be in truth really is, leads to hallucinations.    The world in which you exist hides God in truth.

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

That is why 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 Vedas confirm 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 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.

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

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

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

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

When Upanishad itself declares: ~   Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the nondual reality. (Chandogya Upanishad). 

No conceptual God can exist, apart from the Atman, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, the consciousness is God in truth.

People are not aware of the fact that there is no individual God that can exist, apart from the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness. Thus,  the Soul or   Consciousness is the true Self.   If there is no consciousness, then there is no physical body, no ego, no universe, no religion, and no conceptual God.

The religion and its ideas of Gods, and its theories of karma, heaven, hell, papa, Punya, rebirth, and reincarnation are based on the false self (ego), within the false experience (waking). Therefore, they are meant for lower mindsets, they are of no use for those who are seeking higher truth as indicated in the scriptures.  

Ishopanishad: ~ “They are steeped in ignorance and sunk into the greatest depth of misery who worships the matter, instead of the all-pervading God and those who worship things born of matter like trees, animals, man, etc. are sunk deeper in misery."

People think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks physical entity or ego as the Self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks of the Soul as the Self, then there is nothing that exists other than the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things besides himself and postulate a God, the creator. The body, the idea of the God and world rises and set together from, and into, the Soul or consciousness, the  Self. If God is apart from the ‘Self;  then God would be Selfless, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.:~Santthosh Kumaar