Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the Advaitic truth.+

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the  Advaitic truth. Only a few escape from the web of illusion, and only a few will be able to acquire nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom.

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the waking experience (duality or mind or universe).  That is, being aware of the truth and untruth, reality and unreality. And able to establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the Soul, the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

It is unfortunate people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, imagine nonduality and say nothing exists other than the source. But a Gnani says everything exists (illusion) but everything is created out of the Soul (Spirit or consciousness).  Everything rises from the soul (Spirit or consciousness) and subsides as the Soul (Spirit or consciousness). Thus, the whole diversity has no relevance, from the standpoint of the Soul as the Self.

Everything (universe or illusion or matter) is the consciousness (Soul or Spirit) realizing the three states are created out of consciousness (Soul or Spirit).

Awareness is the nature of the soul (spirit or consciousness) because there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul (Spirit or consciousness), the Self.   Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

The illusion can be understood only when the mind learns to view and judge the worldview, on the true base.

Paul Brunton was a great seeker of truth. When he went to seek guidance from Sri, Sankaracharya from South India a great religious sage, was so honest, that he said: "the truth you are seeking is not with me, please go to Sage Ramana Maharshi". So sincere and honest advice from such a great religious personality Shankaracharya of South India. It only proves the fact that the orthodox  Advaita has no truth because it is meant for the ignorant or lower mindset. 

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) VivekaChudamani v 56, pg 25

As one goes deeper into annals of the religious history, even after So many centuries have passed since Sage Sankara appeared, it is very hard to find his true teachings understood anywhere in India today. It is  Because so few could rise to his level. Hence, the dualist Gurus and others came to supply the common demand.

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

As one goes deeper into self-search Sage Sankara's work has got two aspects: the practical aspect and the spiritual. for the practical aspect, he introduced religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the populace 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. 

He founded a new belief system religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to suit the populace in the name of Vedas, which is present days Hinduism.  Hinduism is nothing to do with the Vedic religion because  Hinduism indulges in non-Vedic activities barred by Vedas. but still one finds it difficult to accept Sage Sankara founded orthodox Advatic sect because orthodoxy is based on dogmas, but his philosophy is pure truth. 

As per the religious history, Sage Sankara was a great Advaitic Sage in the name of Vedas to uplift the Vedic culture and Sanatan Dharma, which were in ruins in the clutches of Buddhism.

The true essence of Vedanta expounded by Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada was lost in the labyrinth of orthodox ritualism and dogmatic beliefs.  

It is true that Sage Sankara advocated the necessity of taking Sanyasa, but he did so in order to make the Sanyasins devote their whole lives to the service of mankind, whereas other advocates of sanyasa merely propagate it in order to make selfish ego-centered ascetics who withdraw from society and let it go to the dogs.

The Upanishads say do not teach the wisdom to many, only a few. Hence, the sage of truth in the past taught only a few who are capable of assimilating nondualistic or Advatic wisdom. one should  not regard all gurus, swamis, sadhus, and yogis as Gnanis 

Common people are stuck to religion, yoga, dogmas, and all rituals, not more. They are followers of their inherited beliefs and dogmas. The higher philosophy falls flat on those who lack the capacity to understand and assimilate it. 

It is necessary for the seeker to do his own homework, and verify the validity of all the claims, rather than blindly believe, what others expound as knowledge, till; the un-contradicted truth is obtained.

The seeker must have the courage of Bhagavan  Buddha to accept the truth and reject the untruth. Since Buddha rejected religion, the idea of God, and scriptures, therefore, it is evident that he has gone through every aspect and verified and found them to be inadequate and useless for the pursuit of truth.

Even Buddhism is mixed up with regional culture and traditions of the local religion, wherever it existed. Thus getting the full essence of Buddhism is very difficult.

Truth is a bitter pill. It becomes very difficult for the seeker to accept it at first; because of his inherited conditioning. Gradually he will be able to grasp it as he moves on.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, and the universe is merely an illusion. If the universe is merely an illusion then the experience of birth, life, and death happen within the universe is merely an illusion. 

If the universe is merely an illusion then the form, time, and space are merely an illusion. 

If form, time, and space are merely an illusion then the mind is merely an illusion. 

If the mind is merely an illusion then the ‘I’ is merely an illusion.  

If the ‘I’ is merely an illusion then the substance and the witness of the ‘I’ which is the formless soul alone is real and eternal. 

The illusion is present only in ignorance where 'I' and you are separate entities. In truth, there is neither 'I' nor you, nor, the illusion. Therefore, there is no teaching, no teacher, and no student in reality.

The word "I” used in the eastern scriptures is not the individual me as one imagines, but the Soul, which is the true Self. Since everyone thinks the ‘I’ is the Self only the body is not the Self and base their theory and understanding on the base of ‘I’ as the Self. It is very difficult for them to accept the fact that the ‘I’ itself is not the Self.  If this is understood the truth pursuit becomes easier.   

Truth pursuit is a very personal journey. It is very much necessary to verify minutely, on your own, what truth is, and what is not the truth, before accepting anything as truth. And move ahead to realize the fact that, the illusion exists as a reality, only on the base of your false identity.

For a Gnani who has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman, there is no illusion, even though; it is in the midst of illusion because it is fully aware of the fact that, the substance and the witness of the illusion, is the formless non-dual Spirit (Soul or consciousness.). 

Thus,  there is no second thing, other than the Soul, the Self. Hence, it is nonduality.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

People say Aham Brahmasmi ~ I am God, I am Brahman.+

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

People say Aham Brahmasmi ~  I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I.

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. 

To say there is God or no God, you must be present. You are present only when the world is present. Without you, the world ceases to exist. Thus,  you and the world appear together and disappear together. A deeper investigation reveals the fact that there is no use of inquiring “WHO AM “I ?  because you are inquiring only about your existence dropping the world in which you exist. Without including the world in your inquiry it is impossible to realize the Advatic Truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara said:~  VC-63- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the self, how is one to achieve Liberation.

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.

66. Therefore, the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.

Thus,  one has to know what is real by realizing our body and our experience of the world is merely an illusion created out of the Soul,  the Self.  The nature of the Self is emptiness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul (Atman) in the midst of the waking experience leads Advaitic awareness.+

The Self is not within you, but you and the world are within the Soul, the Self.  You will not find the Soul, the  Self within your body. 

Thinking the Self is within the body is an error and it creates a great obstacle in realizing the Self, which is hidden by the illusory universe or Maya.  The illusory universe is present in the form of form, time, and space.

The Soul, the Self is in the sleep of ignorance of its non-dual true nature and experiences the illusory universe as reality.

When it wakes up from the sleep of illusion, then the body and the world will never again prevail as reality because they are just an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self. 

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. A Gnani still remains absolutely unattached to the illusory reality in the midst of the illusory reality.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the three states as reality. Thus, complete eradication the ignorance is very much necessary. This is possible only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

There is no other road to freedom other than Gnana.  There is no other entrance other than Gnana.  Ignorance will vanish only when the Advaitic wisdom dawns.

Sage  Sankara, in Bhaja Govindam, says:~  (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) ~ One without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Detachment to attachment is impossible without nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom. Only when one realizes the fact that the Self is not you but the Self is Soul, which is ever nondual, then only it is possible to detach the ‘Self’ from the illusory attachment. 

Man and his individual experience of birth life and death are reality within the illusory universe or Maya.  

Until one has a firm conviction he is an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to him, and he is born in it afterward,  he will never be able to acquire nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom. Because of this reason, he will not be able to think beyond the illusory form, time, and space.    

Until this conviction is there all his views, judgments and conclusions are based on the false self (ego) within the false experience(waking). 

There is a need for overcoming this conviction by realizing the fact that,  the form, time, and space are one in essence, and that essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Anyone puts their hand in the fire,  it is the universal experience that,  the nature of the fire is hot, and that even if a man says it is cold, the fact of heat remains.  In the same way, the one who is aware of the three states in the waking experience is aware of the awareness of the three states.  The "three states" is the totality of man's experience, which gives him dual and non-dual experiences. The waking experience is converted into an idea.

People do not want to think deeper.   They do not want to know what an idea is. Where has the deep sleep gone? It disappears as the soul (Atman) when waking takes place. 

The whole experience of diversity(waking experience) disappears as consciousness (Soul or  Atman). That is the point. That the Soul (Atman) is what the seeker of truth has to get at.

v  What is the experience?

 It implies a second thing, i.e. duality. Unless one rises to unity, he has no peace.

v  Why does man have wants, peace?

Because, he has a sense of duality, which is the cause of experiencing the illusory duality as reality.

Absence of experience, then the whole experience of duality is converted into non-duality. When one knows that all the three states have merged into the formless Soul the Self, and then there is nothing to experience because there is no second thing other than the Soul (Atman).
  

The Soul(Atman) creates and in which the creator is dissolved. "Awareness is the nature of the Soul, the Self”. The three states are dissolved as the Soul (Atman). The waking or dream is a mirage; the waking or dream gets merged in the Soul (Atman) in sleep.

The whole waking or dream is merged in the Soul(Atman) in sleep, and then one gets the same position as the Soul, the Self unconsciously in deep sleep.  

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul( Atman) in the midst of the waking experience leads to  Advaitic awareness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The ultimate goal of the soul is to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

 What is it that attaches you to this world?

It is the ‘I’, which is present in the form of the mind.  Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the mind rather than indulge in godly business in order to overcome the illusory duality. 

The seeker’s search for the ultimate truth of or Brahman is the prime goal. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is a practical solution for seekers all over the globe.

What is the nature of the Soul, the Self?

The nature of the soul is formless, timeless and spaceless existence”.

 “What is the ultimate goal of human life?

On the dualistic perspective: “The ultimate goal of the soul is to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. From the non-dualistic perspective,  there is no goal or any purpose in life.

Equanimity -- treating the whole universe as the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness leads to Advaitic Self-awareness. 

The pursuit of truth has nothing to do with the next world. It wants proof, there is no proof in the next world, but there is proof available in this world. The next world belongs to the realm of faith and religion. 

The religious conditioning in childhood grows stronger becomes firmer and fanatical later. All attempts to unify the religions of the world and all attempts to unite religion and science are bound to fail.  The ordinary mass has to be given religion, a theatrical show in a temple, church, mosque, a God to frighten him, etc. Otherwise, there would be no means of keeping his conduct within the bounds of decency. 

For the uninquiring mindset, anything other than their worldly life matters very little. They are struggling to live on a day-to-day basis. Religion helps them to cast the burden on their inherited belief indulge in worldly life.    If the people believe that they must live a good life,  in order to secure a better fate after death or place in paradise or heaven, it helps to keep them within moral bounds and even to perform works of charity.

In religion, one wants something from God for himself. In Yoga,  one also wants some state for himself. Only in the pursuit of truth one wants the nondual wisdom which frees the man from all illusion. 

There is no proof to say that any authority, interpretation, or yogic experience reveals the Truth. Till this is proven the quoting of authority, interpretations, and so forth are for those who require a mental spoon-feeding, not for those who are capable of thinking, howsoever learned the scholar that deals with them maybe. They are of use for mental children. By this method, men deceive themselves and others too. Seekers of truth do not have recourse to these methods. Till the truth of any authoritative statement or interpretation or yogic experience is proved,  what is said or done is an only intellectual play based on the false self and self-deception. 

Remember:~  

The Seeker has to go to the very root where there is nothing more to doubt, nothing more to question.  Every system may be demolished by another system because all are defective as all are based on imagination. 

Skepticism is good if it means keeping the mind open; raising doubts, but it is bad if it means closing the mind by saying truth is unattainable or refusing to face doubts until they are removed.

 Religion is a matter of passion and emotion. In religion, one can imagine as he pleases. In the pursuit of truth only uncontradictable truth that matters. But in religion, only blind faith in the belief, that matters. 

There is no possible hope of getting these people who are immersed in the religion and accepted the truth from accumulated and inherited dross to understand nonduality.  

It matters very little whether they exist or not, so long as the practical end in view is achieved. Common People believe that they must live a good life in order to secure a better fate after death, it helps to keep them within moral bounds and even to perform works of charity for society.

One need not condemn religion, but only try to purify and lift it, and encourage people to do their religious duties properly, but the whole system depends upon the belief and faith of the devotee and falls to the ground when he loses his faith in the existence of God and in the efficacy of religious rituals.

The common people, who lack reason, get psychological comfort from religious faith and prayers for material benefits because they are thus helped to bear their troubles and endure misfortunes. Hence it is not wise to take this comfort away from them since they are not fit for the pursuit of truth.

Religion is for the masses, it is absolutely necessary for them.  The pursuit of truth is only for the seekers who have an intense urge. Religion is better for the masses than worldliness because it gives the impression that there is something beyond all this material appearance, something higher. 

It is not correct to displace common people's faith in God and give them nothing to replace it, they will lose ethical restraints and descend to steal and murder. Hence their faith should not be prematurely disturbed. It serves a useful social purpose when operative.  The value of religion is that it teaches people that there is something beyond this physical life, beyond death for people.

There is no harm in people worshipping conceptual God if it makes them happy. But this has nothing to do with the question of truth. The latter is on a  quite different plane from that of satisfaction from the religious perspective.

The scriptures are the diaries of the sages, they have written their views and judgment of truth for others' reference and guidance, but the full truth may be only partly revealed; the rest is a  fable on the standpoint of the Soul as the Self.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The religious scholars are great parrots who go on quoting scriptures without verifying them deeply.+

Life is too short to waste. There is no use in studying the Veda and Upanishads they are mere interpretations of words. It is far better to devote our time we have, to truth rather than to the master the interpretations of texts. 

The religious scholars are great parrots who go on quoting scriptures without verifying them deeply. However, they served a useful purpose by preserving these texts, handing them down by mouth from generation to generation, which is helpful only to preserve the customs and traditions of the religion.

The difference between nonduality and all the so-called philosophies is that the latter leave one with doubts or questions whereas the former fully clears them. Religion kills doubt by threats of hell while mysticism ignores them.

The populace which is incapable of thinking take the world to be real, miracles to have occurred, and scripture to be the truth; they are content to have judged without inquiry. Hence, they are also deluded.

Why worry about those who refute nonduality? What is nonduality to them? It is only an idea; they imagine nonduality in their own way. They can never grasp the actual nonduality. Therefore, any criticism made about non-dualistic truth is due to their ignorance and non-receptivity.   Numerous books have been written about non-duality, which are mere philological quibbles, but entirely omit to deal with the question of the nondualistic truth in their writing. 

Indian philosophy has been brought into a hopeless muddle because of those who start with dogmas which are imaginings. 

There is also Davita (dualistic) and Vishita Advaita to refute the Advaitic claims.  And spiritual Advaita is nothing to do with religious Advaita which is propagated by religious Advaitic Gurus, which is based on  Brahma Sutras is meant for mediocre. Since all the western seekers are attracted to Advaita and they get involved in studying Vedas and Upanishads in order to gain Advaitic truth and waste their precious lifetime and effort which yields no fruits.  

There is no use of quarreling whatsoever with religionists and dualist philosophers. They claim to have the highest truth trying to prove with Vedas and other scriptures.

When Upanishads says:~

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

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

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) VivekaChudamani v 56, pg 25

The citations from scriptures are not proof.  The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures.  The ultimate truth is the universal truth and it does not belong to any religion.  Religion causes diversity in unity, whereas, the ultimate truth brings unity in diversity. 

That is why Sage Sankara himself says: ~ VC-59- The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

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.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures.  There is no need to study first, and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

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 come 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.

He who has not rectified his reasoning base from the ‘I’(form) base to soul (formless) base and one who does not have the intense urge to know the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth,  and who is not tranquil and subdued and whose mind is not receptive, cannot acquire Self-Knowledge or brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Then what is the use of studying the Vedas and scriptures when the knowledge of Atman cannot be attained by studying or hearing them?  Therefore, the seeker of truth has to drop all the scriptures in order to acquire self-knowledge.:~Santthosh Kumaar  

Spirituality or Adyathma is nothing to do with any religion.+

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 at any time, any age, if the seeker has the spiritual maturity and capacity to grasp it. 

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.

It really depends on his inborn natural capacity to understand and assimilate Advaitic wisdom.  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 a 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 are 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.  Religions are egocentric whereas Spirituality is soulcentric.  

The garbage of the religious beliefs dogmas superstition is confounded with the human imagination. The great reality of the glory of the religious Gods is hyped and obscured by so much tinsel and commercialism.

Spirituality is not religion.  Advaita is not a philosophy but Advaita is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana or knowledge of the Spirit or God in truth.

The word “Advaita” is one without the second.  Advaita essentially refers to the Atman and the whole existence. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness without the division of form, time, and space.

Religions are nothing to do with spirituality. Advaita is pure spirituality. The religious Advaita is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom, which is based on the Spirit the Atman. 

Religious Advaita is conceptual having its own doctrine is nothing to do with the Gnanic Advaita, because, Gnanic Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Both approaches are not workable together, because, the religious Advaita is based on the birth entity (ego)   Gnanic Advaita is based on the Atman (Soul).

Thus, the theological Advaita has to be discarded without mercy to get Advaitic Gnana.  

“Advaita” is a term used variously to express the unity of reality.  Advaita is unity in diversity.  

The seeker has to begin by defining "What is real?" "What is unreal?,   to establish in Advaitic reality by sheer reasoning alone.   The reasoning is the right way to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. People must first know what is the truth? and what is untruth’.  

Remember:~ 

At no point in time, the world was at peace. History speaks the ware violence and terrorism in the name of religion and God.  The universal brotherhood is an impossibility with diverse beliefs and the idea of God lifestyles and culture.  

Everyone thinks is religion is superior to another religion,  so there is no universality in any religion.  Till religion and the ideas of religious God is there the wars, violence and terrorism will continue.  Till people become more and more rational and try to realize the truth of the universe in which they exist, the belief system will dominate.

It is not possible to bring order in the restless world without realizing the world is an illusion.   To realize the world in which we exist is an illusion, one has to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Spirituality is not a religion. Spirituality is nothing to do with religion and its concept of god and its code of conduct and its holy books.  Monotheism is based on religion, not spirituality. Spirituality is based on the soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit.  And the religion accepts the experience of birth, life, death, and the world as reality, whereas Sage Sri, Sankara declares the world is unreal Brahman alone is real.  

Thus, the experience of birth, life, death happening within the unreal world is bound to be a falsehood. Thus, the religious and religious belief and its ritual based on the birth entity is bound to be a falsehood.  Thus, the seeker has to realize ‘what is that is real and eternal?

In Vedas, God has been described as: ~

Vedas itself declares: May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman? Thus, to know the real God Self-realization is necessary. Self-realization is God-realization. Self-realization itself is real worship.

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the Self.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~  God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

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)

How can you worship God? That implies two ~ the worshiper and the worshiped, whereas God is nondual. One can worship his idea of God only or realize his unity with it when he can’t worship it as apart.

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

When Upanishads and Vedas declare, “God in the form of the Athma and God is indeed Athma itself” then why to accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman.

People, who worship the blind belief-based God, are hallucinating that they become one with such God.

The Soul, the ‘Self itself is the Infinite God. 

The Soul is the Self. God is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. God is the fullness of the consciousness without the illusory division of form, time, and space. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it.

God is Self-evident. God is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny God because God is the very essence of the one who denies it. God is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. God is within the universe in which you exist, God is without the universe in which you exist.

The nature of the Soul, the Self is:~ 

 Sakshi (Witness)

 Chetan (conscious)

 Nirguna (Without form and properties).

 Nitya (eternal)

 Shuddha (pure)

 Buddha (omniscient)

   Mukta (unattached).

All this the above is the nature of the soul, the Self. Thus, the innermost self is God.   That is Atman is Brahman.   Brahman is God. 

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. Advaitins believe in the existence of both Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman; however, they consider Nirguna Brahman to be the absolute supreme truth. 

Atman is the innermost self.   The Atman is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.   Brahman is God.   Therefore, self-realization is necessary in order to realize the ultimate truth or God in truth.  Self-realization is real God-realization. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

If the 'Self ' is not you, but the 'Self' is the Soul, then the religion you follow, the God in which you believe and your practical life within the practical world has no value.+

If the 'Self ' is not you, but the 'Self'  is the Soul, then the religion you follow,  the God in which you believe, and your practical life within the practical world have no value.   Religion is based on the false self (you) within the false experience (waking).  The religion and its idea of God and its code of conduct and its rituals have importance only in the domain of ignorance.

The paradise or heaven exists according to the imagination, of the religious believers.  But where people have got a little inquiring capacity, they begin to disbelieve through the contradictions of various contending religious claims and descriptions.

Religious scholars say God is a perfect being, but they have never known God, never proved his existence; hence their ascription of the perfection of God is purely self-imagined.

Religion is so strong and popular because it makes no demand on the intelligent: It simply requires belief in the religious idea of God. Has it ever struck a religious believer to doubt whether his religion is true?  Religious believers never use their reason because they start and conclude that, their religion alone is true because they never question.

If one says "his religion is higher" another will reply, "No, it is lower." It is impossible to get anywhere with such talk because both sides are merely imagining.

Spirituality is nothing to do with religion. Spirituality is realizing the truth beyond form, time, and space.

That is why Swami Vivekananda:~

The masses in India cry to sixty million gods and still die like dogs. Where are these gods?

Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus, fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million gods and still die like dogs. Where are these gods? ... The gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are the infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? ~ Swami Vivekananda  (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

As indicated in ISH Upanishads:~  By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spent there is wasted because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses, you cannot do that, and thus, you go deeper and deeper into the darkness.

It clearly indicates that:-If the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge then why one has to indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual Gods, Goddesses, and Gurus to go into deeper darkness. Instead,   spend that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is one’s prime goal.   

Since it is eternal and infinite, it comprises the only truth. The goal of Vedic religion, through the various yogas, is to realize that consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman.

The Vedic pantheon of gods is said, in the Vedas and Upanishads, to be the only higher manifestations of Brahman. For this reason, "ekam sat" (all is one), and all is Brahman.

Thus, the goal is to realize Atman (consciousness).  If Atman (consciousness) is nothing but Brahman and by realizing Atman (consciousness) as Brahman (ultimate truth) is truth realization or Self-Realization, then there is no need to follow a religion, study scriptures or glorify Gods or Gurus and follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy, when there is an easier path.  By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind rises from the soul  (consciousness) and subsides as the soul ( consciousness).

Yajurveda says: - if one worships what is not God in truth:~  

Translation 1.

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc.).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.)~ (Yajurveda 40:9)

Translation 2.

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti is intent. ("Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538)

Translation 3.

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time." ~(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

So, Yajur Veda indicates:~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc. ~(Yajurved 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.~(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which were introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed.  

When the religion of the Veda knows no idols then why so many gods and goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic gods. Why these conceptual gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes. 

Vedic religion was modified and reintroduced with new add-ons by Sri, Sankara a great Advaita Master to uplift the Vedic culture and Santana Dharma,  which was in ruins in the clutches of Buddhism. 18 Puranas are introduced in the name of Veda Vyasa not by Sri, Sankara but someone else because the Puranic gods are non-Vedic Gods. The worship of Such Gods has barred Vedas.  

As one goes deeper into the annals of history, it indicates the fact that somewhere someone has added the Puranas in the name of Veda Vyasa the grandmaster of Vedas. It is impossible to accept and believe that Veda Vyasa authored and introduced Puranas which have all conceptual Gods. 

Remember:~ 

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

In Yajurveda – chapter- 32: - God Supreme or Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. He cannot be seen directly by anyone. He pervades all beings and all directions.

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas. Vedas do not permit idol worship. All the idols are of the Puranic Gods priests are referring to the Puranic Brahma as God they are ignorant of the God in Vedas even though they speak of Vedas.

Priests do not understand the meaning of the Brahman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Vedic Gods, hardly have any significance in the present-day Hindu belief system. The Gods and Goddesses important to the Hindus of today are Ram, Krishna, Kali, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the respective consorts of the last three, namely, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. None of these deities figured prominently in the Vedic pantheon and some of them are clearly non-Vedic.

Why worship and glorify the non-~Vedic Gods in place of Vedic God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

God in truth exists prior to form, time, and space. The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is  God in truth. Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

The Bhagavad Gita itself says: ~ 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.

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 innermost Self. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter: ~ “All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many gods. (7- Verse -20)

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the Self.

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)

How can you worship God? That implies two ~ the worshiper and the worshiped, whereas God is nondual. One can worship his idea of God only or realize God's unity with it when God can’t worship it as apart.

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I: ~ “That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I:~ That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I:~ That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I:~ That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

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

Thus, it clearly indicates the God is without the form and attributes and ever free. The real God is stolen by ignorance and people worship ignorance as God.

When Upanishads and Vedas declare that, “God is present in the form of the Athma, and God is indeed Athma itself” then why accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar