Swami Vivekananda aptly described Sage Sri, Sankara’s Advaita as the fairest flower of philosophy.+*****

Santthosh Kumaar

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

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. ~ Santthosh Kumaar

• Kamal Narayan Singh, Mahesh Hegade and Roshan Maraseni like this.
• 

  Mahesh Hegade: ~ Sri Swami Vivekananda says as below. Advaita encompasses everything. Since Advaita requires heavy-duty intellectualism, it had to be progressively simplified as Vishishtadvaita and Dvaita. From 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'...
  
  

  In Advaitism, there is no Jivâtmâ; it is only a delusion. In Dvaitism, there is Jiva infinitely distinct from God. Both are true. One went to the fountain, another to the tank. Apparently, we are all Dvaitists as far as our consciousness goes. But beyond? Beyond that we are Adventists. In reality, this is the only truth. According to Advaitism, love every man as your own Self and not as your brother as in Christianity. Brotherhood should be superseded by universal Selfhood. Not universal brotherhood, but universal Selfhood is our motto. Advaitism may include also the "greatest happiness" theory. So'ham — I am He. Repeat the idea constantly, voluntarily at first; then it becomes automatic in practice. It percolates to the nerves. So this idea, by rote, by repetition, should be driven even into the nerves. Or, first begin with Dvaitism that is in your consciousness; second stage, Vishishtâdvaitism — "I in you, you in me, and all is God." This is the teaching of Christ. The highest Advaitism cannot be brought down to practical life. Advaitism made practical works from the plane of Vishishtadvaitism. Dvaitism — small circle different from the big circle, only connected by Bhakti; Vishishtadvaitism — a small circle within big circle, motion regulated by the big circle; Advaitism — small circle expands and coincides with the big circle. In Advaitism "I" loses itself in God. God is here, God is there, God is "I"
• 

  Mahesh Hegade:~  Good one Santthosh Kumaar, sir. Just adding additional commentary from Sri Swami Vivekananda.
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar:~  Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (our true Advaita philosophy) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yogabut philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into the 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 "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 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.
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar:~  The Bhagavad Gita says:- Among thousands of men, scarcely one strives for perfection, and of those who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows the self in truth.
  
  Dualist sages say God cannot exist without attributes. Then they are making God as an object whereas God is the subject. Attributes can only be seen in the objective world. Causality appears in the duality, but when one goes deeper into the matter even there the causality disappears.
  
  Who else but the self could have imagined the objective world? Ramanuja and Madva see God as the imaginer, but where is the proof. Nobody has seen God creating. You have seen no other creator, whether God or angel. The only self is left. Therefore, self is the creator because imagining means creating. The Dvaita and Religionists talk nonsense. Has God meaning to you? Yes. It is an idea. What is an idea? Idea is an imagination. So God has no proved existence beyond that of the idea.
  
  Where people cannot and do not think, they follow others. A Gnani will see the world and get to know it is the only appearance. He is not blind; he sees three states or objects as it is, but he knows it is only a falsehood. Just as you see a mirage, the Gnani sees the mirage of this universe too, but he is not deceived by it. So long as one is ignorant, he will have the idea that God has created this world because the causal notion will be there. Nobody wants to suffer, and while the notion that suffering can be got rid of by appealing to God, these wishes will sway the mind to believe in God. For them, religion will arise, but for the man who wants the truth, religion offers no consolation.
  
  Anybody can write a commentary on the Upanishads other scriptures and other scriptures, all they need to do to pour out with or mental word words. It is quite easy to do this even by those who have never understood the Upanishads and but think they have. Thus the dualists and their disciple have written commentaries on scriptures: But all these have written to satisfy themselves, not to get the ultimate truth or Brahman.

  
  Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false and by the rulers as useful.
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar:~  Dearest Maheshji thank you for your input. Pranams.
• 

  Mahesh Hegade: ~ Thank you, sir, for such wonderful write-ups. Truly enlightening.
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar:~  Swami Vivekananda also said that it is unfortunate that most of the Indians don’t understand the depth of our culture and exhibit non-culture/non-religion in day to day life in the name of culture/religion.
  
  Swami Vivekananda aptly described Sage Sri, Sankara’s Advaita as the fairest flower of philosophy that any country in any age has produced.
  
  Swami Vivekananda:-"Teach yourself, teach everyone his real nature, call upon the sleeping soul and see how it awakes. Power will come, glory will come, goodness will come, purity will come, and everything that is excellent will come when this sleeping soul is roused to self-conscious activity.

All the Advaitic teachings of different Gurus are based on dualistic perspective.+

All the Advaitic teachings of different Gurus are based on the dualistic perspective. Orthodox Advaita is based on a religious perspective.   Thus, they will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding. The seeker has to do his own homework to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara' gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the mass,  but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus,  they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd. 

The orthodoxy Advaita addressed the ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus in the idea of God.

Those of superior intelligence, have no need for this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason. 

Second-hand knowledge of the self-gathered from books or gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realization will do that. Realize yourself, turning your attention inward. :~ Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89

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.

Without Sage Sankara there is no Advaita (non-duality). Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion. Sage Sankara’s quotes (selected verified) are quoted in my blogs and postings to show what Sage Sankara meant and ‘what is blocking the seekers from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge, but none of them, are helpful to reach the ultimate end.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the self is neither the waking entity not the dream entity, but the self is the formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. In the realm of truth the form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as the ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth, there is no need for scriptures. 

The ultimate truth has to be realized first, then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

Scriptures are being added from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Seekers of truth consider Sage Sankara as a Gnani.+

Seekers of truth consider Sage Sankara as a Gnani.

Dewdrops of the wisdom of Sage Sankara: ~

Sage Sankara is the only sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogma.

Sage Sankara clearly indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

Sage  Sankara: ~ On Gnani: ~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." (page 482)

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." Exploring if an outside observer can, in all cases, determine if a person is Enlightened or not, the venerated Indian Sanyasin, Sage  Sankara (788-820), in his work The Crest Jewel of Discrimination (1) or as it is sometimes known, (VC-2), states that the Knower of the Atman (i.e., a Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539). Continuing, although there are variances found in the actual wording between various translators and translations the gist behind the words remains the same, Sage Sankara writes: - “Sometimes he appears to be a Fool, sometimes a wise man. Sometimes he seems splendid as a king, sometimes feeble-minded. Sometimes he is calm and silent. Sometimes he draws men to him. Sometimes people honor him greatly, sometimes they insult him. Sometimes they ignore him.

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 human thought.

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-63-Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

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.

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita (non-duality). Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion. Sage Sankara’s quotes (selected verified) are quoted in my blogs and postings to show what Sage Sankara meant and ‘what is blocking the seekers from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge, but none of them are helpful to reach the ultimate end.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the mor e advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman. Thus, the purva mimam.sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures.

Sage  Sankara:~  the Gnani "should pass through life", not run away from life, and should take a middle course between seeking worldly honor and worldly basement. (commentary to Brahma sutra ~Chap.34.50) 

Sage Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never advised them to give up their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time, he showed just one step forward towards the truth. Sage Sankara was extremSankaraise and careful in, his ,choice of words.

Sage Sankara' gave religious, ritual or dogmatic instruction to the mass, but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Remember:~

Sage Sankara says in the commentary in Vedanta sutra:~  What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the conty, such will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.

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) VivekaChudmani v 56, pg 25

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 o  rational thinking.

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.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.

Sage Sankara himself has warned us not to use ambiguous words and to practice semantic analysis in his book "Definition of one's own Self. (Page 199, v.24 of "Sankara's Selected Works)

Sage  Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Sruti or revealed scripture. This may be because Sage  Sankara addressed the ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus with the idea of God—and Revelation is indispensable to prove the latter. He believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need for this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

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.

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:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, and the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the Self has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to the ignorant. Adhyasa Bhashya 

Sage Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, the person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage  Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is avidya, an error that can be removed by vidya. -Adyahsa Bhashya 

Sage Sankara: ~ (12) Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals, but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the Self which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Orthodox people consider Sage  Sankara as Jagadguru.

But remember:~ 

The Advaitic orthodoxy is not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant mass that is unfit to grasp the highest truth. The Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to do with ultimate truth or Brahman. The orthodoxy has to be totally ignored if one is seeking the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

There is no such thing as an individual soul.***

Santthosh Kumaar

Thus, one has to analyse the three states to realize, what is it that appears as the waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (Nonduality). one has to investigate: ‘what is it that appears as the duality’ and disappears as Nonduality when the self is neither the waking entity (you) nor the dream entity but the self is the formless soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states. In the realm of truth the three states are one in essence. Thus, the three states are created out of single stuff. That single stuff the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ~ Santthosh Kumaar

"

•  
• Natesh Mahadevan and Rajesh Sachdeva like this.
•  

  View 1 more comment
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar:~  There is no such thing as an  individual soul. The individuality is  a reality  within the duality. The duality is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality). The one which witnesses the coming and going of the three states is the soul. In the realm of truth the witness and the three states are one in essence that essence is the soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. Thus, there is no second thing exists other than soul (consciousness) the question of the individual soul does not arise because the soul(consciousness) pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states. 
  
  In a dream if we have an idea of the individual soul, the dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking experience (the world in, which we exist) becomes unreal when the wisdom dawns. The wisdom dawns when the waking entity (you or the ego) realizes it itself is not the self but the self is the soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states. Thus the individual soul is a reality within the illusion. 
  
  Thus ‘I’ you, others and the world along with all its contents are made of a single stuff. That single stuff is soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. Thus realizing this truth of the single stuff is self-realization.

   

   
• 

  Rajesh Sachdeva:~  _/\_  ! wonderful

  3 hours ago · "}"

   
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar :~ __/\__ 
  
    :)))

Meditation.++****

The witness of the three states is not the waking entity, but the formless soul, which is in the form of consciousness. On the standpoint of the soul the innermost self, the three states are unreal. Whatever happening within the waking experience is a reality, within the waking experience. But the waking experience itself is an illusion. The illusion appears as waking and dream and disappears as deep sleep. The soul, the innermost self, witnesses the coming and going of the three states. The soul, the innermost self, which witnesses the states, is unaffected and apart.

To realize this truth it takes quite a lot of mental effort. A perfect understanding leads the seeker to self-awareness. The one who is able to grasp this truth is a Gnani. ~Santthosh Kumaar

1

• Michael West, Linda Macmillan and Nand Kumar Behl like this.
• 

  Linda Macmillan difficult to do ! lol
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what' is needed. By realizing form, time and space are one in essence, and that essence is consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic self-awareness. When we drop all accumulate knowledge and start afresh then it becomes easier to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
• 

  Linda Macmillan if the form is of the atom is soul/consciousness to be experienced beyond this!!
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar The Atman, the innermost self cannot be experienced, because the experience is possible only in the realm of duality. Atman is prior to any experience. In self-awareness, there is neither experience nor experiencer. In self-awareness, the body, ego and the world are not considered different from consciousness. Thus the whole universe (form, time and space) in which we exist is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness. Thus, the Atman or consciousness alone is real all else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.
• 

  Linda Macmillan so any point in meditating/resting on the inner self nothingness!
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar Without realizing the soul as innermost self, all types’ meditation keeps one in the grip of duality. The people, who practice meditation, are unaware of the fact that the true self is not physical, but the formless soul. When they consider themselves Hindu, Christian or Buddhist or think their meditation as a way to enhance their religious faith are unaware of the fact that, their physical identity is the false self within the false experience. Thus, any type of paths and practices, which are based on the false self (‘waking entity or ego) will not yield any fruits.

  
  
  Practicing meditation does not free one from ignorance. Without getting rid of ignorance, it is impossible to overcome the illusory experience of duality. Therefore, meditation is not a means to self-realization. Through meditation one may get peace in the practical life within the practical world. It is impossible to get nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom through meditation because meditation is based on the false self (waking entity or you) within the false experience (waking). Without realizing the unreal nature of the form, time and space it is impossible to get nondualistic or Advaitic self-awareness. 

  
  
  What is the use of practicing meditation on the base of the body (you), which is not the self? 

  
  Man and his experience of the world is the product of ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing duality as reality. The duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint. All the thoughts, words, feelings, attachment including the man and his experience of the world are part of the illusion. The illusion (universe) is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The soul is the innermost self. On the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self, no second thing exists other than consciousness. Other than knowing the innermost self, there is nothing to know and realize. ~Santthosh Kumaar
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar

   Even Ramana Maharishi: ~

  
  
  Q:~ Which meditation will help me?
  
  Ramana Maharishi: ~ Meditation on an object is not helpful. For this reason, you must learn to realize that the subject and object are one. In meditating on an object, you are destroying that sense of oneness and creating duality. Meditate only on the Self. Try to realize that the body is not you, the emotions are not you, and the intellect is not you. When all these are stilled, you will find something else is there; hold onto that, and it will reveal itself.
  
  Q:~ But when I have stilled everything, I almost fall asleep!

  
  
  Maharishi:~ That does not matter. Put yourself into the condition as deep as sleep, and then watch: be asleep consciously; then there is only the one Consciousness.
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar As we keep digging deeper and deeper, the truth will shines as pure awareness in the midst of the duality (waking). 

  
  The soul, the innermost self is your ultimate teacher. It is only your inner teacher that will walk with you to the goal, for the soul is the goal.

  
  Millions are searching form truth but one in million will realize it. You are one from that million because you have the intense urge to realize the ultimate truth.

  
  

  When the seeker is ready, the guidance comes on its own. An earnest desire to grow and a sense of deep commitment are the hallmarks of one who aspires to be a seeker. When at the core of one's being a person comes to realize he/she needs to seek a path for coming out of one’s unconscious and conditioned life, mysteriously the guidance appears to guide and shows the way.
• 

  Linda Macmillan many thanx for your time and patience . . .
• 

  Santthosh Kumaar U R welcome Dearest Linda Macmillan

  
    :)))

  
  __/\__