The existence beyond limitations of form, time and space is known as Moksha or Nirvana. +*****

All agendas are within the illusion, which appears in the form of mind or universe or waking experience. The self is within the illusion as its formless substance and it is without the illusion as its formless witness. The formless witness is the one which witnesses the body and universe together.  Thus the ordinary awareness is physical awareness (waking) is not self-awareness.  In Self-awareness, the body is not the body but it is the consciousness, the ego is not ego but it is the consciousness, the world is not the world,  but it is the consciousness even though they exist but their unreal nature is exposed. Just as the dream becomes unreal when waking takes place, the waking also becomes unreal when  Advaitic wisdom dawns. 

The Soul or consciousness is the Self. And the nature of the consciousness is formless, timeless and spaceless, therefore, it is non-dual.  One should realize the consciousness as the whole universe without parts.  To describe non-duality as a system is erroneous because the dual and non-dual is the nature of the self. Duality is the illusory nature of the self and non-duality is the real nature of the  Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.  Ultimate truth cannot be confined to a narrow set of ideas.

Non-dualistic truth is supreme truth; all dualistic systems hold false self  (ego)as real Self and false experience(waking)  as reality.  Non- dualistic wisdom is the culmination of all systems including theistic non-duality.  

The true non-dualist will not quarrel and argue with any theoretical philosophy because he is fully aware of the fact that, these orthodox theistic non-dualistic scholars or pundits like Dualist sages could not distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘formless witness.’ The 'I' was the witness. Their highest was the Jiva. One is so much attached to the 'I' that he does not want to think that 'I' does not exist. Again one is unable to detach the ‘I’ from the Real witness.  

There is a need to study the scriptures. One has to self-search the truth and realize it without the scriptures. And then when he reads the scriptures he becomes aware the scriptures are also saying the same thing, but everything is misinterpreted.  

 Mundaka Upanishad:~ This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature.  3 page70upanhsds by Nikilananda

It means the truth is beyond scriptures and egocentric intelligence.  Thus, in order to grasp, assimilate and realize the non-dualistic truth the seeker to employ soul-centric reasoning faculty.  

That is why Sage  Sri, Sankara says in the commentary in Vedanta sutra that what is accepted without a proper enquiry 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.   Seeker of truth should not believe blindly in traditional orthodox non-duality without verifying all the facts from every angle. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process. 

That is why Sri, Sankara:~  58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

 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 which 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?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

There is nothing more rational, more intelligible and more un-dogmatic insights of Sage Sri, Sankara, is to drop all the theistic Advaita,  which is meant for those who are incapable and not receptive to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

If one merely theorizes, tries to understand through his intellect and there contended he cannot become a Gnani, but he becomes a scholar or pundit. The   Seeker of truth must make what he has understood and assimilated has to be realized, to get a firm conviction of the Advaitic truth or the ultimate truth or Brahman, then only it is possible for him to transcend all the limitations of the experience of form, time and space.    

The existence beyond limitations of form, time and space is known as Moksha or Nirvana.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

OM Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrityor ma aamritaam gamaya. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.+

The seeker's aim is the search for the ultimate truth or Brahman.  the search to find the non-dualistic truth that in actuality never was lost, only hidden by ignorance.

Upanishad aspiration is best expressed in the following sutra:~

OM Asato ma sad gamaya, tamaso ma jyotir gamaya, mrityor ma aamritaam gamaya. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

"OM Lead me from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Peace, Peace, Peace" (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (1/3/28)).

The belief system was coherent because they had a transcendent God as a central doctrine, whereas on the non-dualistic perspective god cannot be considered as the center. 

First, one should not hold a God as the center of existence without verification. Both the theist and atheist theories have nothing to do with ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

 

 God based on blind belief is not God in truth. Holding God based on blind belief is holding an illusory universe as reality because the belief is possible only within the realm of the illusory universe. 

Duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint.  Without  God based on blind belief, the belief system holds no water.  God based on blind belief is not God in truth. 

Belief needs a believer.  The believer needs to be born in this world. If the believer is born than he is part of the illusion.   

Without the believer, there is no belief.  The believer and his world and his belief of GOD are part of the illusion because the Self is birth-less because the Self is invisible and nondual. The one, which is born, lives and dies, is not the Self.    

The Soul, the Self is an invisible substance and witness of the illusory universe. The Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth or God in truth.  

The seeker has to become aware of the existence of the formless witness apart from the three states. The formless witness is the soul, the innermost self, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states. 

The seeker  has to indulge in deeper self-search to realize that the Self is neither the waking entity(you)  nor the self is a dream entity,  but the self is a formless Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states, in succession. 

This truth  has to be mentally grasped and assimilated to realize the invisible Soul, the Self is nothing to do with the three states. From the standpoint of the formless Soul, the Self, the three states are merely an illusion. 

Till you realize you and your world are made of the same stuff.  And that stuff is Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, the Soul, the Self remains in the web of ignorance. 

When the Soul wakes up in its own awareness, the illusory form, time and space, become one with the nature of the soul. In Self-awareness, there is neither you, nor me, nor others,  nor the world, because there is unity in diversity. That is oneness in the midst of the dualistic illusion or Maya.  

Thus, you have to realize the fact that, the whole universe in which you exist is made of the single stuff is very much necessary to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form time and space.

The mind becomes still when ignorance vanishes. Ignorance vanishes when  Advaitic wisdom dawns. When Advaitic wisdom dawns, then the Soul, the Self, remains in its own nondual awareness in the midst of the duality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The ultimate truth or Brahman dwells within the three states like fragrance in the flower.+

You are not creating the illusion, because, you are part and parcel of the illusion. The Self is not you but the Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The universe is an illusion. The illusory universe hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The illusory universe hides the Soul, the Self because the illusory universe is created out of consciousness.

The Soul,  or consciousness alone Is real and you and the universe in which you exist are merely an illusion.

Remember: ~

You must first see ‘yourself’ as illusory because yourself is the ego. Yourself is not real Self. Real Self is the Soul.:

The ultimate truth or Brahman dwells within the three states like fragrance in the flower; Musk lies within the Musk-deer yet seeks it afar." Until one trace the truth within the three states the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world is experienced as reality.

Till you think the mind is within the body you will not be able to realize the truth beyond the form, time and space. deeper self-search reveals that the mind is the universe in which you exist. 

When the mind(I) is there the universe in which you exist is there. If the mind disappears the universe in which you exist also disappears. 

You and your senses and your experience of the world are made of the same stuff. That stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of the spirit. 

From the standpoint of the soul or the Spirit, you and your senses and your experience of the world are nothing but the Spirit. 

Thus, the Spirit alone is real and you and your senses and your experience of the world are merely an illusion or Maya. 

If someone has acquired self-knowledge and shares his acquired knowledge with others, they cannot say that there is nothing for them to do. 

Everyone has to discover a fresh for himself by verifying all the facts. Each one has to grasp assimilate and realize it until he gets firm conviction of the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The mind appears due to ignorance. Without ignorance, the mind ceases to exist.  Thus, the mind is in the form of the universe and appears as waking or dream.  

The waking or dream is the state of duality. Thus, the seeker has to hold wherever there is duality there is ignorance.  

If duality is considered as reality than the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is considered as reality.  

If experience birth, life, death, and the world is considered as reality than the form, time and space become a reality. 

If form, time and space become a reality as reality then there is diversity in unity.  To bring back the unity in diversity, one has to put the ego into reverse gear until it reaches the ultimate end or source from where the mind rises and subsides.    

Remember:~  

The Soul or consciousness is without any attribute or activity. Soul or consciousness is eternal, ever free, and imperishable. 

Consciousness is free from all impurity; Consciousness is immovable, unlimited, holy, un-decaying, and immortal.

Ignorant is unaware of the blissful, ever-existent Consciousness, which resides in the three states and is (evidently) different from it because he thinks ‘I’ as self thus limits the mind to the physical entity. 

Ignorant should try to know, through inquiry, analysis, and reasoning, the fact that the true self is not the ‘I’ but the Soul. The true Self is, which is different from the body, (not a void but) the very form of existence, and very difficult for ignorants to realize. 

The Soul, the Self is one, whereas the gross bodies are many. So this body cannot be the Self.  The ego is well established as the subject of perception whereas the body/world is the object. This is realized  from the fact that when one speaks of the body/world he says, “This is mine.” So this body cannot be the self. 

It is a fact of direct realization that Consciousness is without any change, whereas the three states are always undergoing changes. Thus, this ‘I’ cannot be Consciousness because ‘I’ exists only in waking/dream.  

Gnani has ascertained the real nature of Consciousness through deeper inquiry, analysis, and reasoning, “There is nothing higher than Ataman,” thus, the ‘I’ cannot be Ataman. 

The three states are verily the Atman because their formless substance and witness is Atman. 

The Soul, the Self is Self-illumined”. So how can the three states which are inert (insentient) and illumined by an external agent be the Sou, the Self? 

The Karma-theory declares that Consciousness is different from the body and permanent, as it endures even after the fall of the body and reaps the fruits of actions done in this life. 

When the body is not the doer/self how it can reap the fruits of action of last life when it is not the doer in the next life. 

When the Self/doer is unborn then how can it be reborn? Thus the karma theory is based on the false entity and has accepted the false entity as the Self. 

The three states consist of diversity and are impermanent. It is also an object of perception, is changeable, limited and non-existent by nature. 

Thus it cannot be the Soul the Self, because the Soul, the Self is the formless substance and witness of the three states and it is apart from the three states. 

The immutable Consciousness, the substratum of the three states, is thus different from these three states, and is the soul, the Self of all; it is present in everything and everywhere in these three states and yet transcends them all.:~Santthosh Kumaar

You are present in the form of ego. You have an inborn conviction that:~- you are an individual apart from the world.+

Yoga Vasishtha: ~"Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good." 

Without the ego, the world ceases to exist. Without the world, the ego ceases to exist.  You are the ego. Without the ego, you cease to exist.   Thus, you cannot be your own servant.  Without realizing 'what is what'-one will not be able to understand. Assimilate and realize the non-dualistic truth.  

The ego, body, and the experience of the world appear together and disappear together. The ego + body= waking entity (person).  From the Nondualistic perspective, the ego, body, and the experience of the world are one in essence.  That essence is consciousness. Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.  

Thus, there is only oneness.  There is no division in consciousness in Non-dualistic reality. Till one is egocentric all sorts of doubts and confusion arise. If one is soul-centric then there are no doubts and confusion because everything is consciousness.

In a dream, there are a dream ego, a dream body, and the dream world. The whole dream disappears when waking takes place. Similarly, the whole waking disappears in deep sleep and also when wisdom dawns. The wisdom dawns when the waking entity realizes it itself is not the Self.   

The dream is a parallel waking experience and the waking experience is a parallel dream. The one that witnesses the coming and going of the three states is not the waking entity (ego) but the Soul, the  Self.  

Till one holds the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ as the Self, all the confusion will go on. The ‘I’ is not the Self. The ‘I’ is the whole universe in which your body and ego exist. The ego cannot be killed because the ego and the world appeared to gather and they disappear together. Who has to kill the ego? How can the ego kill itself when it is the very basis of physical existence (universe)?

You are present in the form of ego. You have an inborn conviction that: - you are an individual apart from the world. And the world existed prior to you and you are born in this world and you are living in this world.

Even In the dream, one has the same inborn conviction that: - he is an individual apart from the world. And the world existed prior to you and he is born in this world and you are living in this world.

Till this conviction is there the duality prevails.  The illusory nature of the dream is exposed when waking takes place. Similarly, the illusory nature of the waking will be exposed when the Advaitic wisdom dawns.  

The Advaitic wisdom dawns when the waking entity (you or ego) realizes it itself is not the Self but the Self is the formless Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states, in the midst of duality.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Without the experience of the form, time and space the thought will not rise.+

Isha Upanishad:~  The Self is one. Ever still, the Self is Swifter than thought, swifter than the senses. Though motionless, he outruns all pursuit. Without the Self, never could life exist.

Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89: ~ 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.

The thought is not the cause. Without the experience of form, time, and space the thought will not rise. 

Thus, experience is prior to thought. The form, time, and space are present in the form of the “I’.  

The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep).   Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the illusory duality as reality.

Thoughtlessness is not wisdom. The thinker, thought and the world, are part of the illusion. The thoughts will not arise without form, time, and space. 

The form, time, and space will not arise without the mind. The minds cease to exist without the Soul, which is in the form of the Spirit. 

There is a need to know the Self is not limited to the physical entity (you), but it pervades everything and everywhere in the experience of diversity (waking or dream). 

Remember:~

Deeper self-search reveals: ~ Thoughtlessness is not wisdom.   In deep sleep there is thoughtlessness,  but deep sleep is the state of ignorance.  

The thought comes to the thinker. The thinker, thought and the world in which the thinker exists are part of the waking experience. The waking experience is merely a dualistic illusion or Maya

Thoughts and the thinker are a reality within the universe. The thinker and the thought exist within the universe. 

The man and his experience of the universe are a reality within the waking experience.  From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the waking experience itself is a dualistic illusion or Maya. 

The waking entity thinks within the waking experience.  The dream entity thinks within the dream. The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when Advaitic wisdom dawns.  

Advaitic Wisdom dawns when the waking entity becomes aware of the fact that it, itself is not the self, but the Soul, the Self is that which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.   The soul is present in the form of consciousness.  

Thus, the seeker must realize the fact that the existence of the formless witness of the three states apart from the three states. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is also the substance of the three states. 

The Soul or consciousness is within the three states yet it is apart from the three states.   The Soul or the consciousness is within the three states as the substance of the three states,  and it is apart from the three states as their formless witness. 

In reality, the formless substance and the witness are one in essence.  Thus, all three states are one in essence.  Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than that essence, which is consciousness. 

Consciousness alone is real and all else is merely an illusion.  This is rational truth or ultimate truth or scientific truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The ultimate truth or Brahman (God) hidden by the three states like fragrance in the flower; Musk lies within the Musk-deer yet seek it afar.++****

Man and his experience of the world are present only in the duality. The duality is present in the form of the mind. The Mind is present in the form of the universe and the universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

One cannot live without the physical world; it is the basis of his life.  The physical world is within the waking experience.   The same way the dream world and the dream entity exist within the dream.  The dream entity and the dream world are a reality within the dream. Similarly, the waking entity and the waking world are a reality within the waking experience.  

The dream becomes unreal when the waking takes place, and the waking remains as a reality until the ignorance is there. The ignorance will prevail until the waking entity remains unaware of the existence of the formless witness.

One has to trace the formless witness of the three states, in order to realize,  the Self is neither the waking entity nor the Self is the dream entity but the Self is that which witnesses the coming and going of the three states,  without the physical apparatus.   

So it is the starting point of his spiritual quest. Proof, not imaginations, must be the seekers’ material. 

Jesus said: ~ ”Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. (THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS- Saying 5)

"The Kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, Not in a mansion of wood and stone.  Split a piece of wood and God is there, Lift a stone and you will find God." (Gospel of Thomas)

Kabir views humanity as being caught up in the illusion, searching for Ultimate Reality in all the wrong places, always seeking It outside of ourselves in various rituals, temples, forests, and mountaintops, not realizing That for which we seek is already hidden within us. 

The ultimate truth or Brahman (God) hidden by the three states like fragrance in the flower; Musk lies within the Musk-deer yet seeks it afar." Until one traces the truth within the three states the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world are experienced as reality.  

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

That is why Sage Sri, 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.

The very purpose of analyzing the world confronts one, is to realize the fact that, the form, time and space are merely an illusion created out of the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus to enable one to judge the ‘what is what’ from the highest viewpoint.  
People fail to make this analysis, as with so many religious, yogic and intellectual minded seekers fail to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman because their judgment is based on the waking entity (ego), which is the false self within the false experience.

One must be receptive and sharp enough to grasp the existence of formless witness which is ever apart from the three states.

The Soul is the formless substance and the witness of the three states. If the formless witness,  witnesses the waking experience and its attention are fixed to the waking experience than the waking experience is experienced as reality.

 If the formless witness, witnesses the dream and its attention are fixed to the dream than the dream is experienced as reality. If the attention of the Soul is on itself than it is called deep sleep in waking experience, which is the state of ignorance. If the Soul consciously remains in its formless non-dual true nature in the midst of waking experience through wisdom it is called Self-awareness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara says:~ Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?+

Lord Krishna himself says that he can do nothing to make a man intelligent straight away. The adepts give Prasad, blessing, initiations, mantras, etc. only to confer temporary peace of mind, to help you to get rid of worries, but not to confer Gnana. The capacity to receive it must first be inborn in man by evolutionary degree. 

The mantra-yoga consists of repeating the name of God, or even the AUM; thousands of times yield nothing. It can appeal only to the ignorant, to those who cannot think deeper. It is merely a  religious fable. The real exercise is to think of the meaning of the name or the AUM and then only do you get something.

Mantras can do nothing. If they really had any power why did not Krishna use one to stop the Mahabharata war? All the magical power of mantras are religious fables because religion is based on the false Self (waking or ego) and false experience(waking or world)  Visions and Samadhi are illusions from the standpoint of the Soul the  Self. 

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality.  For one who wants to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara VC~.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?

VC-  v6~ 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

Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness of not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman.” Brahman must be experienced. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar