Tattireya Upanishad: ~ “The Self in man and in the sun is one.+

The ‘Self’ does not reside in the human heart, and one will not find the ‘Self’ in the human heart if he searches for it. The Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which we exist. Limiting the ‘Self’ to the human heart is erroneous. The truth is not belief propagated by the belief system.

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”.

Holding the ‘I’ as the ‘Self’ is the main mistake. People refuse to rectify the mistake because they are sentimentally attached to their Gurus and their teaching. Such people are like stagnant water in the dirty pound. Rectifying the mistake will unfold the mystery of the whole world.

The sun is simply bright. It does not correct anyone. Because it shines the whole world is full of light. The Soul is the fullness of consciousness. 

The universe exists because of the Soul. Without the universe the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone exists. The universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Realize consciousness is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.

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

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?"

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana frees the Soul from the cage of the illusory form, time, and space.

Due to ignorance, the Soul, the Self is in forgetfulness of its own true nature in the dualistic illusion. When the Soul wakes up from its sleep of ignorance, the unreal nature of the world, in which you exist, is exposed. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

The reincarnation theory based on the false self within the false experience is bound to be a falsehood.+

 

From The Teachings of Sri Ramana Maharishi

Edited by David Godman

Question:- is reincarnation true?

Ramana Maharshi: - Reincarnation exists only so long as there is ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of the experience of the illusory birth, life, death, and the world as reality.

There is really no reincarnation at all, either in the present or in the past. Nor will there be any in the future. This is the truth.

[Note: Comments by David Godman: Most religions have constructed elaborate theories which purport to explain what happens to the individual soul after the death of the body. Some claim that the soul goes to heaven or hell while others claim that it is reincarnated in a new body.

Ramana Maharshi taught that all such theories are based on the false assumption that the individual self or soul is real; once this illusion is seen through, the whole superstructure of after-life theories collapses. From the standpoint of the Self, there is no birth or death, no heaven or hell, and no reincarnation.

As a concession to those who were unable to assimilate the implications of this truth, Sri Ramana would sometimes admit that reincarnation existed. In replying to such people he would say that if one imagined that the individual self was real, then that imaginary self would persist after death and that eventually, it would identify with a new body and a new life. The whole process, he said, is sustained by the tendency of the mind to identify itself with a body. Once the limiting illusion of mind is transcended, identification with the body ceases, and all theories about death and reincarnation are found to be inapplicable.]

Santthosh Kumaar:~ People who are caught up with the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted duality as reality.

People who believe in reincarnation and rebirth theories are unaware of the fact that their belief is based on the waking entity (ego), which is the false self within the false experience. The waking entity itself is a false self within the false experience, it means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is falsehood. Thus whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as the waking entity is bound to be falsehood because the soul or consciousness the innermost self is birthless because it is formless. Therefore the rebirth and reincarnation theory based on the false self is bound to be a falsehood.

Accepting rebirth and reincarnation theory as reality is accepting false self (waking entity or ego) as real self and false experience (waking) as reality. 

Self-realization is an impossibility if one accepts the present waking entity as real self because the self is neither the waking entity nor the self is a dream entity but the self is a formless soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states without the physical apparatus.

The three states are impermanent but the soul or consciousness, which is the witness of the three states, is permanent and eternal. in reality, the three states are one in essence. and that essence is consciousness. Therefore there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus consciousness (Soul) is second to none.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience itself is an illusion. It means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is an illusion. 

Thus the reincarnation theory based on the false self within the false experience is bound to be a falsehood. When the waking entity is not the self then whatever theories are based on the waking entity imagined theory.

This imagined theory based on the waking entity or ego is for those lower minds set who are incapable of grasping the ultimate truth or Brahman.

People who are caught up with the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted duality as reality. Birth implies duality and duality is falsehood from the ultimate standpoint. :~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Centuries have passed since Sage Sankara appeared, yet it is very hard to find his wisdom understood anywhere in the world.+

 

Centuries have passed since Sage Sankara appeared, yet it is very hard to find his wisdom understood anywhere in the world today. It is because so few could rise to his level. Hence dualistic cults and devotional sects came into existence prospered.

The Advaita wisdom of Sage Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one. According to Sage Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman, Itself is absolutely homogeneous. All differences and plurality are illusory.

Sage 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.

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 not-Self.

Sage Sankara says:~ “VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense-organs, etc., which are unreal.

Select Works of Sage Sankara (also his commentary on Brihad): "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Sage Sankara himself said: ~ A Gnani "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

Thus, it proves that the religious gurus and yogis who identify themselves as holy people have nothing to do with Advaitic Gnana.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “V C: ~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.

Keeping Sage Sankara's words in when one goes into the deeper self-search through the mental microscope he finds Advaitic wisdom is nothing to with Advaitic orthodoxy. And the truth will not reveal by studying the philosophy of Vedanta.

Some thinkers hold views of Maya which are entirely incorrect and untenable. They do not know Sage Sankara's Upanishad Bashya, but only the Brahma Sutra Bashya. The followers of Sage Sankara have constituted a religious sect. Thus, all movements ultimately degenerate.

Sage Sankara gave religious, rituals, and dogmatic instruction to the ignorant populace but Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it.

Sage Sankara believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Shruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God) is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes), and Akarta (non-agent). God 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” ~ are not separate attributes. They form the very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described, because description implies a distinction Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than Brahman.

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

Sage Sankara said:~ Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the innermost Self.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved. Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is. Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation.

The Veda serves only at the starting point. What one has to learn from Veda must be understood through the exercise of reason, as far as reason might go. And what one has understood must be realized in one’s life.

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first then realize. One has to realize first then only he will know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara says - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta.+

Advaita Vedanta is nothing to do with Advaitic wisdom. Vedanta is only an indicator to show the truth hidden by the illusion. By challenging provoking and passing opinion and judgment based on the dualistic perspective, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. By studying Advaita Vedanta you will not be able to realize the truth.

Sage Sankara says - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

By challenging provoking and passing opinion and judgment on Advaita-based on the dualistic perspective belongs to orthodoxy, not spirituality.

Upanishads:~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking they wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikilanada - Ch II-5 P-14)

The inner Self reveals ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready.

Religious and yogic paths are not the Gnanic path or the Atmic path. Never mix religious and yogic ideas in the Atmic path.

Guru, the disciple concept is meant for the religious and yogic path. In the Atmic path, the Guru and disciple concepts have no value.

A person who realized the ultimate truth or Brahman will throw off his religious robe and all religious identity and live like a commoner. He never identifies himself as Gnani nor does he identify himself as superior to others. He only shares his knowledge with fellow seekers.

There is no need for Guru to realize the ‘Self’ hidden by the illusion or Maya.

The Guru and disciple and the world in which Guru and disciple exist are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth of Brahman.

Identifying as a Guru or some Guru’s disciple keeps one in the cage of ignorance. A person who identifies himself as a Guru or disciple will never be able to get Advaitic Gnana.

The Guru and disciple and the world in which Guru and disciple exist are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth of Brahman.

Ashtavakra Samhita: ~ "The man of knowledge (Gnani), though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

The truth-seeker seeks only truth. The inner Sage will guide you with love. Your sincerity and seriousness lead you to your inner core. Sincere and serious seekers are not excluded.

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Katha Upanishads: ~ This Atman is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (II -23-P-20)

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sri, Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who were the sanyasin robes are wearing it for the sake of bread belongs to the religion; they are nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

~ Then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

That is why Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your own Soul.”

What is the use of studying the biography when biography does not belong to the Soul, the ‘Self’ because the Soul is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence?

Everyone’s inner work is on. Until a man is ripe to receive Self-knowledge, he will not be able to understand what I am saying.

Even they may find it difficult in the first as they go on reading and reflecting repeatedly the post their subconscious will start dropping the dualistic egocentric knowledge and start accepting the Soul-centric Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Grasping the truth depends on the spiritual maturity of the seeker. Gnani ’s mission is to share knowledge by inspiring the serious and sincere seekers of truth and diverting their attention towards the inward reality.

As their urge is at the seed level and as they go on reading the words of wisdom it will start growing.

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’. It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

Self-knowledge is not a question and answers session. As the seeker digs into old and new posts, he will gradually start understanding and assimilating the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

It is a waste of time to spend time in discussion.

Advaita is not the path of exchange of views or discussion. The seeker has to read think deeply and reflect on the subject constantly until the truth becomes firm. When the seeker has a firm conviction of what is reality then the unreality fades on its own.

Everyone’s inner work is on. Until a man is ripe to receive Self-knowledge, he will not be able to understand what I am saying.

Even they may find it difficult in the first as they go on reading and reflecting repeatedly the post their subconscious will start dropping the dualistic egocentric knowledge and start accepting the Soul-centric Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Grasping the truth depends on the spiritual maturity of the seeker.

Gnani's mission is to share the knowledge by inspiring the serious and sincere seekers of truth and diverting their attention towards the inward reality hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’. It takes time for the Soul, the Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Self-knowledge is not a question and answers session. As the seeker digs into old and new posts, he will gradually start understanding and assimilating the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Maya or the dualistic illusion.+

 Māyā:~

Maya or illusion is the most important contribution of Sage Sankara. Maya or illusion is the complex illusionary power of the Atman (Soul), which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.

Maya or the dualistic illusion is present in the form of mind (I). And the mind (I) is in the form of the universe. And universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (Nonduality).

The waking experience is real from the standpoint of the waking entity (ego).

The waking experience is unreal from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self.

The shelter of the three states is consciousness (Brahman but consciousness itself is untouched by the profanity of illusion (Maya).

Dualistic Illusion (Maya) is temporary and is destroyed with Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana "

Advaitin Sage and Maya:  

The King of the Hoysalas was a dualist and was greatly incensed at the doctrine taught Advaitin Sage that everything here below is an illusion. He wanted to teach the exponent of this doctrine a lesson. So he invited the then Advaitin Sage to his palace. That Advaitin sage went there and stoutly maintained that everything in this world was an illusion. The king had arranged to let loose an infuriated elephant against, Advaitin sage. The beast rushed at Advaitin sage who took to a precipitate flight to save himself.

'Oh, Venerable Sir,' shouted the king, 'why do you run so fast seeing that the elephant is only an illusion?'

'Oh, king,' said Advaitin sage in the course of his flight, 'my running too is an illusion. Everything in this world is an illusion.’

Similarly, the practical life within the practical world is merely an illusion. A Gnani is fully aware of ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. A Gnani e is fully aware of the fact that the experiences the pleasure and pain within the waking experience are merely an illusion because the waking experience itself is an illusion.

Thus, life within the waking experience will go on, on its own.  It is nothing to do with the Soul, the  Self.  The waking or dream is merely an object to the formless witness. The Soul is the innermost Self. The Soul is the witness. The Soul the witness is nothing to do with the three states, because it is merely the witness of the coming and going of the three states or illusion.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

There is no need to study the philosophies of Berkeley, Kant, Hume, and other western and eastern philosophers; they are not the means to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

 

There is no need to study the philosophies of Berkeley, Kant, Hume, and other western and eastern philosophers; they are not the means to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

They are in fact an obstacle in pursuit of truth because they are based on the dualistic perspective. There is no necessity to study the philosophy of any great thinkers to ensure firm realization.

Philosophical Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

The philosophical argument leads nowhere. If a philosopher says the ’Self’ is formless “another will reply, "No, Self has a form! If one says "his adopted philosophy has a higher value than all other philosophy” another will say, "No, that is lower and there are many philosophies higher than that." It is impossible to get anywhere with such talk because both sides are merely assuming and imagining.

There is no need for any philosophy to verify the truth of the Self. All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining doubts and difficulties if others rise them if he encounters them in course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary.

The seeker of truth should not hold any philosophy as a yardstick. One needs fresh water to drink, but he does not require all the water of the whole lake to quench his thirst for truth.

All the philosophies are a mental fabrication. There has never been a single doctrine that reveals the ultimate truth.

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta or Buddhism to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. All accumulated knowledge is of no use to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy and all the arts Can be called lower knowledge. The higher Is that which leads to Self-realization. 

Mastering the philosophy of Vedanta will not help to get rid of ignorance. The realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible and by no other means.

Sage Sankara says ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta to realize the Advaitic truth, which is hidden by the illusory universe or Maya. 

The essence of Mundaka is: Do not be satisfied with rituals, yoga, etc. which are good in their own way but inquire. Into what? Brahman and Atman are things you can never see. So do not inquire into them. Inquire into the world around you, which you can see. Science tells you it is passing away every second. Everything is dying repeatedly. Where is it going? Thus you follow up your inquiry into what you can lay hands on. How can you inquire into Atma which you cannot see? So first we deal with the known and seen, this inquiry leads up to the unknown in the end. 

Advaita is not a theory or a philosophy. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the innermost self. There is no need for any theory, philosophy, or scriptures to acquire Self-knowledge. Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

Sage Sankara clearly says:~ Neither studying philosophy nor by worship as many gods nor observe ceremonies nor by singing devotional hymns nor by uttering mantra nor by mastering the scriptures liberation comes without realizing the Oneness.

There is no need to buy the books on Sage Sankara to acquire Self-knowledge. A perfect understanding of 'what is what' is needed. Nothing else is needed other than realizing the fact that, the form, time, and space are one in essence and that essence is the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness to get nondualistic Self-awareness.

There is no wisdom whatsoever in any of the philosophies, they are just a collection of words.

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and other scriptures to acquire non-dual wisdom. 

That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and the scriptures.

The fortunate is the one who does not lose themselves in the studying of philosophies. All conceptual divisions were invented by philosophers by their excessive analysis. 

Fortunate is the seeker who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from which the universe arises and is dissolved.  

There is only one Reality to be known, the same for all seekers, but the ways to it, are hidden by the religion. Self-discovery is the only way, towards non-dualistic absolute without any religious doctrines, which will help the seekers to unfold the mystery of the illusion in which we all are searching the truth of our true existence.

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

The citations from scriptures are not proof. The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures. The ultimate truth is the universal truth and it does not belong to any religion. Religion causes diversity in unity, whereas, the ultimate truth brings unity in diversity.

That is why Sage Sankara himself says: ~ VC 59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The scriptures, consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first, and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make his discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

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 come 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.

He who has not rectified his reasoning base from the ‘I’(form) base to soul(formless) base and one who does not have the intense urge to know the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth, and who is not tranquil and subdued and whose mind is not receptive, cannot acquire Self-Knowledge or brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar