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