"One without a Second” that is the Advaita.+

Advaita is not a religion. Advaita is not philosophy. Advaita is not yoga. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Advaita is the Soul itself. Advaita is the ultimate truth. Advaita is Brahman. Advaita is God, the one without the second.

The word ‘One’ is not understood anywhere except in the Advaitic path. ‘One’ always means two when analyzed. Hence, the Upanishads are careful to show they do not mean this monism, but "One without a Second” that is the Advaita. No philosophers of the world have seen this point. Monism is really a pseudo-monism that is the duality.

Unless one realizes the Soul as the  Self, as it really is” it is impossible to realize the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.  

In a lecture on Vedanta, delivered at Lahore on the 12th November 1897, Swami, Vivekananda asserted the superiority of Advaita in the following way: ~

Swami, Vivekananda:~ The same God whom the ignorant man saw outside nature, the same whom the little-knowing man saw as interpenetrating the universe, and the same whom the sage realizes as his own Self, as the whole universe itself-all are One and the same Being, the same entity seen from different standpoints, seen through different glasses of Maya, I perceived by different minds, and all the difference was caused by that. Not only so, but one view must lead to the other... Thus, you can see that this~ (Advaita) and this alone, and none else, can be the only scientific religion. . . . let us take the ignorant by the hand, lead them always step by step just as they can go, and know that every step in religious growth in India has been progressive. The Complete Works, Vol. 3, pp. 423, 424.

In the scientific field of knowledge, one can bank on discoveries of different scientists. Newton discovered the law of gravity and Einstein formulated the principle of relativity. And scientists take it for granted that these principles are valid. It is not so in pursuit of truth. If one sage discovers the ultimate truth, it cannot be accepted blindly by the seeker without verification.

The seeker has to discover a fresh on his own to realize’ what is the truth’ and ‘what is not the truth’ and accept only the truth and mentally drop the untruth. Thus, constant reflection on the subject is very much necessary in the pursuit of truth.

The dualist says: - the consciousness and mind are co-eternal. Each is independent o of others; each represents one complimentary aspect of reality. While the mind is present the consciousness is absent. It is through collaboration between these two aspects of reality that evolution takes place. Apart from these two aspects of reality, the realists or dualists do not recognize the ultimate reality transcending these, serving as the base of these.

Remember:~

From the dualistic perspective the world in which we exist as a reality. From the non-dualistic perspective, the world in which we exist is an illusion.

First, the seeker has to know ‘what is the mind” What is the substance of the mind? And ‘what is the source of the mind? , in order to realize ‘what is what’?

The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality). Thus, a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is necessary to realize that form, time, and space are an illusion created out of single stuff.

The purpose of the spiritual pursuit is to realize the whole world in, which we exist, is created out of single stuff. And that single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

From the standpoint of the Soul,  the Self, the world in which we exist is an illusion.

Nothing can be independent of consciousness because no second thing exists other than consciousness. The whole universe without form, time, and space is consciousness. Without the form, time, and space there is no universe but it is only the formless non-dual consciousness. But this truth has to be grasped to assimilate and realize the true essence of non-duality.

The ultimate conclusion is this there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Everything is consciousness. Thus, diversity has no value in light of wisdom. Thus, recognizing the world is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness brings unity in diversity. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar