It is necessary to investigate ‘What is this mind (I)?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind?” and ‘What is the source of the mind? +

Until one thinks the mind is within the body, all the doubts and confusion will prevail. When one indulges in deeper self-search he becomes aware of the fact that the body and the world are within the mind.   This it is necessary to realize the fact that the body and the world together,  is the mind (I).   Thus, it is necessary to investigate ‘What is this mind (I)?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind?” and ‘What is the source of the mind?’”

The seeker has to know what is real by realizing our body, ego and our experience of the world are merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.  The nature of the Soul, the  Self is emptiness. And it is identified by different masters with different names, such as Brahman, Buddha’s nature, Christ consciousness, Self, or the  Ultimate Truth.

When the Soul, the  'Self' becomes aware of its formless non-dual nature then it becomes empty of ignorance or illusion.  Thus, whatever remains empty of duality or ignorance or illusion is the non-dualistic reality. Only through wisdom one becomes aware of the truth in the midst of the dualistic illusion (Maya).

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.

The universe will not remain as reality when wisdom dawns. The universe is a mere illusion created out of consciousness and there is a conscious awareness of unity in diversity because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

One thinks the mind is within this body; whereas the body and his experience of the world are within the mind. The consciousness is hidden within the three states, but it is without the three states.  The one, which has the awareness of the three states, is not the body, but the Soul which is in the form of consciousness. 

Thus, consciousness is not limited to waking experience alone because it pervades all three states. Till one view and judge the world-view on the base of the ego or the waking entity, he is in the grip of individuality or intellectuality.  The Self is not an individual because it is universal. And it pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. Thus,  the individualized judgment will not lead one to a non-dual destination.  

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 or consciousness. The Soul is the innermost self.  The nature of the Soul the innermost self is emptiness. And it is identified by different masters with a different names, such as God or Brahman or Buddha’s nature or Christ consciousness or Self, Ultimate Truth.

Remember: ~

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

The universe is the product of ignorance. The ignorance is present in the form of the ‘I’.

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 non-Self.

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara says ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness. By holding onto theories one remains in the realm of duality. 

You have to mentally go on dropping what is not the truth through deeper Self-search. Finally when you become aware of the fact that, your ego, your body, and the world are one in essence then there is Self-awareness in the midst of duality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar