Sage Sankara:~Without inquiring into the nature of the universe, the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe will not be unfolded.+

Sage Sankara:~Without inquiring into the nature of the universe, the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe will not be unfolded.

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘One must first know what is before him. If he cannot know that, what else can he know or understand? If he gives up the external world in his inquiry, he cannot get the whole truth.

The whole universe has to be resolutely weighed, and accurately, observed in pursuit of truth. We must inquire: ‘What is this universe?’ ‘What is this I?’ Hence, an inquiry is a necessary foundation. Hence too, the Yogi who looks only inside and ignores the world throws away part of the materials needed to find the truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ 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 that existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward the ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara:~ VC.63: ~ “Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world.

Without knowing the nature of the universe, it is impossible to realize the truth hidden by the universe. What is the use of trying to find your inner self before you understand the universe?  This world that confronts you is nothing but Atman.

If you do not make your induction from facts from the world before you, the world of the five senses, you are only drawing on your imaginations. Then you say “The Atma is like this, or like that." but it will be only your mental construction.

Sage  Sankara says in the commentary in Vedanta Sutra that what is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.

The seeker of truth should not believe blindly without verifying all the facts from every angle. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process.

You must inquire into the nature of the universe.

Look at everything in the universe because the universe is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Do not avoid the universe, do not shut your eyes to the universe; do not shut yourself away from the universe which is nothing but consciousness. But the yogis tell you to be non-observant and to withdraw: keen powers of observation are desirable and will help, not hinder your pursuit of truth.

Take experiences as they come to you, do not run away from the world in ascetic fear or shyness of them. To say they are an illusion (Maya) without first examining them and inquiring into them thoroughly is to delude yourself. 

This universe is common to all of us; therefore we must begin our inquiry with it and not flee. It is only after you have inquired into the nature of the universe that you should inquire into the Soul the witness hidden by the universe. If, however you inquire into the witness before the inquiry into the universe, then it is mere mysticism. What is the universe? Must precede What is this  I? in pursuit of truth.  

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