Sage Sankara:~ Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion.+

Genuine philosophy must be independent of religion, that in Sage Sankara himself the Saguna Brahman or a personal God is only a part of the phenomenal (if not illusory) world, and the Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion.

The main hurdle in his way of thinking is the fact that Sage Sankara did not claim to be an original thinker at all, and his philosophy took the form of commentaries on the generality of Hindu scriptures, particularly the Upanishads and the Gita.

Sage Sankara was an independent thinker. His philosophy has not been taken seriously by many in India because most of the followers of Sage Sankara are orthodox. 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  Sage Gaudapada are independent thinkers other schools of Indian philosophy are mere theologies. Advaitic philosophy is a real philosophy. The dualistic philosophy cannot escape the charge of dogmatism.

Intelligence and thought, is not applicable to Advaitism intelligence and thought are based on false self (waking entity) within the false experience (waking).   The whole Advaitic philosophy is an attempt to transcend the limitations of intelligence and thought.

The two points of view A Gnani is not cut off from the experience of practical life within the practical world because the Advaitic truth is neither realism nor idealism; it is beyond both these.

Sage Sri, Sankara said:- Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

Philosophy does not begin with the ultimate truth. 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.  Theirs is merely a dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read in scripture.  Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

Consciousness is that which knows everything, that which sees.  Consciousness alone remains after one gets rid of all thoughts and ideas by identification with the 'Self'. Consciousness is only the seer; it is not Brahman that is an error. It becomes Brahman only after inquiry and reasoning.

The ‘I ‘or mind or universe, waking or dream, duality, are one and the same thing. Since ‘I’ is identified as self all the confusion. And taking ‘I’ or ‘I AM’   as self is the cause of confusion. Taking ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ as self is blocking the realization of ultimate truth.  The ‘I’ or universe is an object to the formless subject. Thus, it is necessary to include the universe in the inquiry to realize the unreal nature of the ‘I’ or the universe. 

When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be consciousness, which is the innermost self and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is the 'Self'?

Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve.

Santana Dharma meaning that it has no beginning or an end, righteousness forever. Today going to a temple would make you a follower of Hinduism.

Orthodox Advaitins must try to get more empathy and mere Rituals and expertise in Sanskrit do not lead you to Moksha.

 Sage Sankara ’says:~ "Kuruthe Ganga sahar gamanam Vratha paripal mathva dhanam. Gyana Vihine... Sarva Mathene.”

Gnana is common to all religions.  There is nothing like One Gnana for a Hindu and another for a Christian. 

Remember 

There is a need to bifurcate religion from spirituality. People think religion is the stepping stone for Self-realization but it is not so. Religion is based on ignorance and it keeps the seeker permanently in ignorance by hiding the truth with its mythical beliefs and dogmas and superstition. According to Vedas and Upanishads, all religious propagated beliefs are a myth.

Whereas Spirituality is based on the Spirit, which is the cause of the world in which we exist.

As one goes deeper in annals of history he becomes aware of the fact that the so-called present Hinduism has adopted many things from Buddhism, the religion of Abraham, Jainism, and Islam. If one goes deeper enough he will become aware everything is mixed up and messed up in time.

Sage Sankara endeavored towards establishing the Vedic religion overthrowing Buddhism. But even he was not able to avoid the influence of Buddhism. The influence of the revolutionary atmosphere of Buddhism has reappeared in the Advaita of Sage Sri, Sankara. His inability to revive Vedic religion that flourished before the Buddhist revolution in its pure form is discernible.

No one is taken pains to rectify it because; because people have been inherited them, from their ancestors and they think it is blasphemy even to hear anything against their inherited religion and belief. Once one gets involved with the religious class it is the end of the pursuit of truth.

The theistic (orthodoxy) Advaita is based on the dualistic perspective but Advaita philosophy is based on the nondualistic perspective. The theistic (orthodoxy) Advaita bifurcated from Advaitic philosophy. The theistic (dualistic) Advaita is meant for the ignorant populace.

Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada are independent thinkers other schools of Indian philosophy are mere theologies. Advaitic philosophy is a real philosophy. The dualistic philosophy cannot escape the charge of dogmatism.

Advaitic wisdom propagated by Sage Sankara is on the non-dualistic perspective.

There is no need to study neither Advaita Vedanta nor Vedas nor Buddhism to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. It is no use going roundabout way; trace the Brahman.

Philosophy does not begin with the ultimate truth. 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. Theirs is mere dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read in scripture. Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

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.

Sage Sankara ’says:~ Gnana is common to all religions.

There is nothing like One Gnana for a Hindu and another for a Christian.

The entire wisdom of Sage Sankara can be summed up in the following statement:-

Brahma Satyam, jaganmithya, jivobrahmaivanaparah: - Brahman alone is real; the world is non-real, and the individual ‘Self’ is essentially not different from Brahman.

This is the quintessence of Sage Sankara’s wisdom.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara:~ "This Atman is Self-evident.+

Mundaka Upanishad:~ The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

When the world in which you exist is created out of the ‘Self’ which is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness then whatever you have seen, known, believed, and experienced is bound to be the consciousness. 

Like an ornament made from gold is Gold, which is born out of consciousness is consciousness. Like gold is the permanent thing, in ornaments made of gold, similarly, the mind, which is in the form of the universe is born out of consciousness, is consciousness in its essence.

Sage Sankara is the foremost among the Sages of truth that India has produced. He was the expounder of the Advaitic wisdom, which is the knowledge of the beyond the form, time, and space. 

Sage Sankara was a Gnani for the Seekers of truth and Jagadguru for the ignorant populace dynamic personality and a stupendous moral and spiritual force. His grasping and elucidating powers knew no bounds. He was a great Sage and was a powerful spiritual magnet.

Sage Sankara’s scholarly erudition and his masterly way of the exposition of intricate philosophical problems have won the admiration of all the philosophical schools of the world at the present moment.

Sage Sankara was an intellectual genius, a profound philosopher, an able propagandist, a matchless preacher, a gifted poet, and a great religious reformer. Perhaps, never in the history of any literature, a stupendous writer like him has been found. Even the Western scholars of the present day pay their homage and respect to him. Of all the ancient systems, that of Sage Sankara will be found to be the most congenial and the very easy of acceptance to the modern mindset.

There is no place for a personal God (Ishvara), Sage Sankara’s wisdom because the personal Gods imply duality.  The duality is an illusion. Thus, the ideas of personal Gods are part of the illusion; because of the curtain of ignorance man worships personal Gods within the illusion.

Sage Sankara’s supreme Atman is Attributeless (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes), and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires.

Sage Sankara:~ "This Atman is Self-evident. This Atman or Self is not established by proofs of the existence of the Self. It is not possible to deny this Atman, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge. The Self is within, the Self is without, the Self is before and the Self is behind. The Self is on the right hand, the Self is on the left, the Self is above and the Self is below".

Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam is not a separate attribute. They form the very essence of Atman. Atman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Atman cannot be distinguished from any other than Atman, which is present in the form of the spirit.

The objective world-the world of names and forms has no independent existence. The Atman alone has real existence. The world is only Vyavaharika or phenomenal.

There is not one branch of knowledge that Sage Sankara has left unexplored and which has not received the touch, polish, and finish of his superhuman intellect.

Every seeker of truth has very high reverence for Sage Sankara and his wisdom. The loftiness, calmness, and firmness of his mind, the impartiality with which he deals with various questions, his clearness of expression of the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space all these make us revere the Sage Sankara more and more. His wisdom will continue to live as long as the sun shines.

Sage Sankara taught that it was only through direct knowledge of Advaita that one could be enlightened.

Sage Sankara wisdom can be summed up in the following words: ~

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya,

Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah

Atman alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical with Atman.

Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world in which you exist is superimposed on the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If one gets the knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if one gets knowledge of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, the world in which you exist will become unreal.

Remember:~ 

The Soul, the Self is the only Ancient One. Realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul. God is not a belief that you worship because the Soul itself is God in truth.

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

It is for every seeker who is seeking truth must first know what God is supposed to be in actuality according to Vedas and Upanishads and reject all non-Vedic Gods to realize the Atman is real God.

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

Thus, it refers to the formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost ‘Self’ within the false experience. Thus,  it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false ‘Self’. Thus, Atman or Soul, the  ‘Self’ is God in truth.

Sage Sankara:~ VC Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together (verses-6)

Liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itself declares that there is no hope for immortality through wealth. (Verses -7)

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

Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (Advaitic wisdom ) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it. (Gita –Chap- IV-v.2)

In Gita Chap.IV where Lord Krishna says: ~ "This yoga has been lost for ages" the word yoga refers to Gnana yoga, not other yogas: the force of the word this is to point this out.

Lord Krishna describes some of the other yogas but devotes this chapter separately to Gnana Yoga. So one sees even in those ancient days people did not care for Advaita; they wanted religion; hence,  Gnana got lost. That is why Krishna calls it "the supreme secret." Krishna points out that the yoga must-see is "Brahman in action."

Gita Chap.IV: "He who achieves perfection in Yoga finds the Self in time." This means that after his yoga is finished, he begins the inquiry into ultimate truth, and in due course, this inquiry produces the realization of the universal spirit as the result.

Lord Krishna says Ch. V:~ “Those who know me 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.

There is no need for any practice to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Perfect understanding assimilation of ‘what is what’ is very much necessary to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~"All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of Maya. 

The Soul or Brahman or God in truth cannot be realized through performing ceremonies and rituals, the seeker must understand that whatever Sage Sankara indicated, the seekers have to follow it faithfully, honestly with humility to overcome the ignorance, which is blocking their realization of the ‘Self’.

Do not make your understanding just mechanical it will then bind you, rather than free you. Let all be done with all your heart in it; then you will know that all is an illusion and God is the only Reality. And, unless you have that realization and continual awareness that continual Existence is continually infinite ~ all else is beliefs that are untrue or make no sense. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality. There is no doubt Buddha pointed out unreality of the world. +

Dalai Lama said:~  Buddhism need not be the best religion though it is most scientific and religion and inquisitive. But Buddhism has no answer to certain questions like the existence of Atama [Soul] and rebirth.   Dali Lama said that as an individual he believes in rebirth as he had come across a few cases of rebirth.  Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped would unearth the mystery behind the rebirth. (In DH –dec-212009-Gulbarga).

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality. There is no doubt Bhagavan Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

Bhagavan Buddha told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Vedanta in speech but not to Vedanta fully.

Only when we independently search for the truth without religion and its doctrine then we will be able to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

Buddhism says Soul (Atma) does not exist because it is limited to form alone and stopped there.

Buddhism says ~ “All things are illusory and nothing exists.  However, Advaita avers that it is not so.  It says that the universe, of course, is illusory, but there is Brahman (consciousness), that exists, forming the very substratum of all things (illusion or universe)”.

Sage Sankara disagrees with Buddhists who say, there is nothing - a nonentity. Sage  Sankara believes there is some reality, even though things are not what they appear to be. If one knows the truth, he will know what to do to find inspiration for action.  The seeker of truth‘s subject is to know what is it that is Real.

Unless one exercises his Buddhi--reason--there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman.   

Sage Sankara Advaitic wisdom starts where Buddhism stops. Sage Sankara declares the universe, of course, is illusory, but there is Brahman (consciousness), that exists, forming the very substratum of all things (illusion or universe).

Advaita is the ultimate truth. Advaita,   the complete knowledge of the whole.

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul)  is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe.

Thus, Sage Sankara’s wisdom is the ultimate truth declared 12 centuries back the Spiritual Truth, rational, truth, scientific truth, and the ultimate truth.

Remember 

Buddhist Sunyavada is incongruous because every thought has its opposite every word is tied to its coordinate for all thought and speech can only operate under such dualism. Hence, taking the most fundamental word, existence is implied opposite non-existence is also there, and vice versa. Therefore, the Sunya "non-entity" is meaningless without "entity". Both are there.

Buddhist Idealism speaks only of ideas.

What about the knower of these ideas?

Buddhist Nihilism does not ask "What is meant by Nihilism?

It is a thought. There must be a thinker of this thought.

Bhagavan Buddha kept silent, refusing to answer questions on the ultimate. Therefore, he was the wisest man in refusing to commit himself.

Zen is quite OK in mentioning non-duality: it is the nearest to Advaita, but it is still inferior because:~

(1) It fails to prove non-duality,

(2) It illogically gives ‘Koan’ exercises as a means of attaining that which is beyond attainment, because always here

(3) It talks about insight or intuition to see Reality when sight involves a second thing, duality.

When you say "Nothing is" what is the meaning of "is"? "Sunya" is something that exists: you cannot prove that consciousness does not exist.

Zen Buddhism gives high importance to meditation practice. The truth is that Zen advocates the necessity of meditation for those of its adherents who cannot grasp the absolute truth.

Zen Buddhism is also on this lower stage of Yoga because it depends on flashes of Intuition gained by meditation, not by reasoning.

Has the Void a meaning? If so then it is only your imagination.

Bhagavan Buddha gave up yoga after practicing it for six years. He saw it could not yield truth.

Bhagavan Buddha gave up his austerities of yoga as impossible and useless. (Page.70/71 "Buddhism in Translation” by Warren)

Bhagavan Buddha got enlightenment only after he gave up Yoga. Unless you exercise your Buddhi--reason--there is no chance of getting the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. Buddhism is based on form alone, and it does not include time and space in its investigation.

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality. Bhagavan Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

Zen Buddhism Satori is not Advaitic wisdom because it comes as flashes, it does not depend on seeing the world and does not depend upon mental sharpness so much as intuition.

Zen Buddhists are only mystics ~ they do not offer proof. How is their main method different from that of Christian mystics, and Hindu mystics, all of whom do not seek to prove by reason, but by "I know," intuition? : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

If one is seeking the truth, there is no need to discuss no need to argue read and think and reason deeply the truth will start revealing on its own.+

Instead of finding fault and maligning others first realize what the Self is in actuality. Amazingly an honest introspection will reveal that all fault lies with " you " and " your "own perceptions and attitudes. 

If there is an error in understanding what 'Self' is in actuality it is in " you".  Correcting this and changing to a soulcentric attitude will change your perception and then the Soul, the 'Self' will reveal its formless, timeless, and spaceless true nature. 

What is there to discuss and argue and exchange opinions?  If one is seeking the truth, there is no need to discuss no need to argue read and think and reason deeply then the truth will start revealing on its own.  

Be an independent thinker. Do not accept anything without verification the seeker should not argue and waste his time. The argument will not yield truth. Only intellectuals argue to exhibit their intellectual wealth.  

The intellectual argument is based on ego. The ego-based intellectuality is limited to form, time, and space.  The truth you are seeking is based on the Soul. The Soul is beyond form, time, and space.  Thus, what is the use of egocentric argument in the soulcentric discussion?

That is why Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ Believe nothing because a wise man said it, Believe nothing because it is generally held. Believe nothing because it is written. Believe nothing because it is said to be divine. Believe nothing because someone else said it. But believe only what you yourself judge to be true.

The Advaitic wisdom consists in knowing the truth, that everything (mind or physical existence) is consciousness.  The freedom (ultimate truth) is always there yet one does not know it.  But to those whose reason is turned away from physicality and who have attained the serenity of the Soul or consciousness, the Self, is quite near to realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

Ashtavakra: ~ Diamonds are not many; only pebbles and rocks are so common. A single diamond is enough.

Intellectuals argue, if everything is the consciousness, how can one give up anything?  Can you give up anything?  These types of questions are speculation based on the waking entity (ego), which is the false self within the false experience. Without knowing the ‘Self is not the form but the ‘Self’ is formless it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

All their speculation is limited to the domain of the form, time, and space whereas the truth is beyond the form, time, and space.    They are incapable of understanding and assimilating truth, which is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.  they refuse to verify and they want the truth on their own terms. 

Remember: 

Read repeatedly my postings and blogs and reflect and reason deeply which helps you to create a mental yardstick in your subconscious to discriminate between ‘what is the truth? And what is the untruth? 

When the subconscious is receptive and ready then it will start rejecting the untruth and finally, then the Soul, the 'Self’ alone will prevail as the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

There is no practice as such, but perfect understanding is needed to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atman Gnana.

A deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the Self is not physical, but the Self is a formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Therefore, all the accumulated knowledge, experiences, and understanding based on the ego are falsehood because the ego is the false self, within the false experience (waking).

The ‘Self’ is not you. You are the ego. The ego is the waking entity. Thus, whatever is based on the waking entity is bound to be falsehood because the waking experience itself is a falsehood. All the Gurus and their teachings limit the ‘Self’ as individuality. Thus, they yield only half-truths.

There is a need to realize the three states, which come and go, are merely an illusion. All three states are made of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship; the followers of Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma never worshiped idols.+

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship; the followers of Vedic Religion or Santana Dharma never worshipped idols. Thus, all the Puranic Gods which are of the form and attributes are not Vedic Gods.

Hinduism is not Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.  Hindus do idol-worship while Vedas bars idol worship.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshipped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains. 

There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme ‘Self’ in i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods. All these 60 million Gods are non-Vedic Gods based on the beliefs.

The Vedas confirms God is Atman (spirit), the innermost ‘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 innermost ‘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.

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

When Upanishad itself says: ~   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 non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad). 

One must remember that for all periods the Vedas are the final goal and authority, and if the Puranas differ in any respect from the Vedas, the Puranas are to be rejected without mercy.

If you feel Puranas says something and the Vedas say something else, reject the Puranas and believe in the Vedas.  The Puranas are just a myth.

Even Sage Sri, Sankara declares: ~ Supreme Brahman (God) is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal and Akarta (non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as it is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sri, Sankara is impersonal.

God is formless, timeless and spaceless existence. Thus according to the Vedas God neither has any image nor God resides in any particular idol or statue. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions.   

                               

On the Vedic perspective, Lord Krishna has been just a Mahan yogi and not God himself. Because in the Bhagavad Gita itself’ says: ~

The Bhagavad Gita: ~ 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)

Lord Krishna Says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know me 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.

So, on Vedic perspective, Lord Krishna is not Vedic God because Rig Veda says:   May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?"

All Hindus indulge in non-Vedic practice barred by the Vedas introduced by the different founders of the different sects of Hinduism at a  different time, whereas the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma is ancient and has no founder.

Hindus do idol-worship while Vedas bars idol worship, therefore, it proves that Hinduism is not the ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Sage Sri, Sankara: ~"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman  (God)."

The Non-Vedic rituals and the sacrifices are introduced for the ignorant populace.  The Sages of truth condemned these worship and rituals.  Because Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the ocean of the dualistic illusion. 

Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded persons proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Realize the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution.+

Tattireya Upanishad:~  The Self in man and in the sun is one. Those who understand this see through the world and go beyond the various sheaths of being to realize the unity of life.

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

There is no meaning of life from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self because the world, in which you exist, is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The one which is born, live, and dies is not the Self.  

You are bound by birth, life, and death so you are not the ‘Self’ because the ‘Self is the Soul, which is birthless and deathless because it is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Only the false self thinks there is a meaning of life within the dualistic illusion because of ignorance.  Without the Soul the world in which we exist ceases to exist.  the Soul, which is the cause of the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist), and it, itself is uncaused.  The Soul is the only reality that is the basis of our illusory existence in which we are experiencing our birth, life, death, and the world as a reality.

The birth, life, death, and the world are part of the waking experience, which is an illusion from the standpoint of the true Self (consciousness).  It is no use of saying that, we are not born, we do not die because we all were born and we all are going to die. However, birth, life, death, and the world are part of the illusion, which comes and goes as the waking experience.  The formless substance and witness of the three states is real, which is our true identity.   The Self which is in the form of consciousness has no birth and death.

When there is no scope for two in reality. Only from the dualistic perspective, there is meaning in life. From the non-dualistic perspective, life is meaningless. 

Remember:~ 

Until identify the Self your ignorance will prevail.  It is your habitual ‘I-centric’ attitude that will not allow you to know the truth hidden by the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Remember:~

The form, time, and space are connected to the ‘I’.

The experience of birth, life, death, and the world is connected to the ‘I’.

The waking experience is connected to the ‘I’.

The dream is connected to the ‘I’.

The universe in which you exist is connected to the ‘I.

The mind is connected to the ‘I’.

The Self is not the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is permanent because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

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

Why are you struggling to find out who you are? You will never find the answer if you get stuck to the ‘I’. Find out ‘what is this ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

What is that is aware of the coming and going, of the ‘I’?

Without realizing ‘what is this ‘I’ you will never be able to realize the mystery of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is the most intoxicating stuff. Those who use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self ‘will never be able to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding.

‘I’ is the cage for the Soul. ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only weapon to get rid of ignorance.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding. Perfect understanding of ‘what is this ‘I’ leads to realizing the truth beyond the form, time, and space.

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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar