The ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is the whole universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality). +

The ‘I’ is not a thought. The ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is the whole universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).

The one that appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality), is the Soul, the Self.

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in all three states.

Without knowing what the mind is, it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

People think the mind is within the body, but deeper self-search reveals the fact that the world in which you exist itself is the mind. When the ‘I’ is there then only the mind is there.

If the mind is there then only the universe is there. If the universe is there then only the waking is there. Thus, it is very much necessary to realize ‘what ‘I’ is in actuality.

Without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’ it is impossible to realize the ‘I-less’ truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Till you hold the ‘Self ‘as the ‘I’ you will never be able to get Self-realization. ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is the Self, which is the cause of the 'I'.

Remember:~

Swami Vivekananda: ~Jñāna Yoga is divided into three parts. First: hearing the truth--that the Atman is the only reality and that everything else is Maya.

Second: reasoning upon this philosophy from all points of view.

Third: giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that Brahman is real and everything else is unreal.

The ‘I’ becomes ‘I’-less in deep sleep and the ‘I’-less appear as waking or dream (duality). The one that appears as the ‘I’, and the one that disappears as the ‘I-less, is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘I’ (mind) and ‘I-less (Soul) both are one in essence.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the three states are merely an illusion. The ‘I’ never exists in reality.

The ‘I’ is impermanent. The ‘I’ comes and goes as waking or dream, and disappears as deep sleep. There must be something permanent, to register the coming and going, of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ itself is an illusion. The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’ is permanent and eternal.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in all three states.

It is for the seeker to go on his own and remove all the obstacles, which are blocking the realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The greatest hindrance is mixing religion, God, scriptures, and yogic theories. Moreover, attachment to scriptures, personal God, and religious code of conduct keep one permanently in the grip of the dualistic illusion or Maya.:~Santthosh Kumaar