Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures.+

Hinduism indulges non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability and child marriages. All these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Realizing the universe is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic self-awareness. Self-awareness is freedom or Moksha. Moksha is unity in diversity in the midst of duality.

Kabir lived in Kashi, a place abounding in scholars. They believed it was enough to read, to accumulate knowledge from books. They were well versed in the Vedas, in the Upanishads and the other scriptures, and they looked upon Kabir as ignorant, as an illiterate man. In one sense, you can say Kabir was illiterate. If you consider a scholar as literate, as a well-educated man, then Kabir was definitely illiterate. But of what value is the scholar’s knowledge? A scholar will go on and on about the immortality of the soul, but when death approaches you will find him trembling and weeping and wailing. All this talk of immortality will crumble into nothingness because he has not known it..  ~Osho -The Great Secret, ch. 2

Kabir knows. What he is talking about is not an explanation, what he is talking about is an experience – he is sharing his joy, he is sharing something that he has known, and he is singing the song about the unsung.  Remember, that whenever Kabir talks about God it is not a belief; he knows it, it is his experience. He is talking out of his experience; hence he can be of immense help to you...  ~Osho --The Guest, ch. 1

All the Orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in a ritualistic oriented lifestyle and follow the path of karma and Upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.  Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant for those Orthodox who believe their conduct oriented lifestyle leads to Moksha (liberation).  But religious based Advaita is not the means to acquire Self –knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those who are seeking the truth have to do their own homework to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

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 yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into 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 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 the realization of the universal spirit as the result.

Lord Krishna Says Ch. V:~ “Those who know 'Self' 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.

Sage Sankara gave religious, rituals, and 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.

As per the scriptures, the three "Ashrams" or stages in life were originally intended for three grades of intelligence thus:

v             Religion: low intellects had to do 'karmas' works, ritual actions, chanting of mantras and indulging in bhajans and prayers, etc.

v             Middle intellects:  Yoga: taking yellow robes, going to caves, ashrams, etc.

v             High intellects: wisdom who wanted the truth is concerned with no external rites or sanyasa but depends solely on the intelligent inquiry for their path.

Bhagavata clearly says in 7.11.35 that:-

yasya yal laks?an?am? proktam? 

um?so varn??bhivya�jakam 

ad anyatr?pi dr??yeta

at tenaiva vinirdi?et

~Means: - “Just because one is born to a Brahmin doesn’t automatically make him a Brahmin. But he has more chances of becoming a Brahmin by acquiring Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only qualification of Brahmin to become a Brahmin. If a person born to a non-Brahmin who acquires Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana possesses he/she should be immediately accepted as a Brahmin.”

In the Vedic era, a Brahmin was a person who had attained Self- knowledge or Atma Jnana. This was an extremely difficult path of the discipline of body, mind, and intellect, and people irrespective of their birth or class, who were dedicated to such an austere life, were recognized as Brahmins. 

A great example of this tradition (that a person becoming a Brahmin, rather than born as one) is the case of Vishwamitra, a warrior (Kshatriya), who became a Brahmin after attaining Atma Gnana or Self-Knowledge.

A smritis or code of conduct composed by sage Atri defines brahmin hood very clearly.

"By birth, every man is a Shudra (an ignorant person). Through various types of disciplines (samskaras), he becomes a dwija (twice-born). Through the studies of scriptures, he becomes a vipra(or a scholar). Through the realization of the supreme Spirit (Brahma jnana), he becomes a Brahman.

"

The belief that people born in Brahmin caste, automatically become Brahmins, is a much later concept in the very ancient India.  Thus, Brahmin means not caste but one who has attained Atma Gnana or Brahma Gnana.  

The seekers of truth should follow the path of Brahman not the path of orthodox priestcraft. Only by dropping all the accumulated priest-crafted baggage, does one has to move forward to reach the nondual destination in lesser time and effort.  

Sage Sankara, in Bhaja Govindam, says: ~- (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Thus,  it proves that religion is not a means to Self-knowledge. 

The famous peace invocation of Isa Upanishad says: ~

Om Purna- madah, purna-midam purnat-purnam-udacyate Purnaysa purna-madaya purna-meva-vasisyate

This means ~ All this is full /from fullness, fullness comes when fullness is taken from fullness/ fullness still remains.

 This belief is all-comprehensive and all-absorbing. There is nothing that is not God.

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings. Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices. However, the texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) more in favor of the Mimamsaka position came into vogue, projecting Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine.

Sage Sankara:~  Action (karma)  cannot destroy ignorance, for it is not in conflict with or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. -Atma Bodha

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.

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 more 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:~  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, the stage of his life, and 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 an ignorant person.-Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage  Sankara:~ 11.1.  This ignorance (mistaking the body for Self) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body, aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction, and thus a host of miseries(anartha). This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya(object) on the Atman. Sage Sri, Sankara calls this Adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person.-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.-Adhyasa 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

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

 Lord teaches us in the Gita, and in it, he lashes out against the karmakanda. It is generally believed that the Buddha and Mahavira were the first to attack the Vedas.

It is not so. Lord Krishna himself spoke against them long before these two religious leaders. At one place in the Gita, he says to Arjuna: "The Vedas are associated with the three qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas.

 You must transcend these three qualities. Full of desire, they (the practitioners of Vedic rituals) long for paradise and keep thinking of pleasures and material prosperity. They are born again and again and their minds are never fixed in Samadhi, these men clinging to Vedic rituals. 

“In another passage Krishna says: "Not by the Vedas is self to be realised, nor by sacrifices nor by much study. . . . "

Bhagavad Gita 2:46:~ "A man of true knowledge who has attained enlightenment, has the same use for all the scriptures as one has for all reservoir of water in a place flooded on all sides."

Sage  Sankara says:~ “Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Thus,  it proves that Sage Sankara meant, taking sanyasa and wearing the religious robes to earn bread. Sanyasa is not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  

Sage Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Mandukya, he gave the highest non-dual message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practise of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasūtra he gave a lesser teaching, positing both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Ishvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

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.  Sri, Sankara was extremely precise 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. 

Sage Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says:~  [Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena] - One without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

                      

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

Sage Sankara’s supreme Brahman is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes) and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires. Sage Sri, Sankara says, "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 He.

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 was the exponent of the Kevala Advaita philosophy. His teachings can be summed up in the following words:~

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya,

Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah

Brahman alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical to Brahman.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Advaitic wisdom will not dawn just by sitting quietly, observing silence, and meditating, reading books, hearing sermons, meeting gurus or yogis.+

The man who possesses the highest intellect can grasp Advaita, by merely hearing the truth mentioned and will know it

The mind is virtually the universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).  Efforts should be made to understand the mind. Advaitic is wisdom is an ancient truth preserved as a secret by sages of truth. 

Kabir: ~   There is nothing but water in the Holy pools. I know, I have been swimming there. All the gods sculpted of wood or ivory can’t say a word. I know, I have been crying out to them. The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words. I looked through their covers one day sideways. What Kabir talks of is only what he has lived through. If you have not lived through something, it is not true.

Accumulating half-baked knowledge from here and there will not lead the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding.

By just sitting quietly the mind does not become still. When one realizes:  “What is this mind (I)?”, “What is the substance of the mind?”, and ‘What is the source of the mind?”, then he will realize the mind and its substance and its source are one in essence. That essence is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

The mind is present in the form of the form, time, and space. The mind becomes still only when one realizes the form, the time, and space are made out of single stuff.  The knowledge of the single stuff (consciousness) is self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Thus, when the mind becomes still the Soul remains in its own awareness in the midst of the diversity (waking.)

To realize the truth beyond form, time, and space the seeker has to drop all the accumulated egocentric knowledge.   Becoming more and more Soulcentric leads the seeker towards Advaitic Self-awareness. 

We are within the illusion. Whatever we have seen, feel, known, believed, and experienced is also within the illusion. The formless substance and witness of the illusion is the Soul of the Self.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ It is not the absence of Buddhi that can grasp Advaita, but the man who possesses the highest intellect. Brains are necessary. Such a man, by merely hearing the truth mentioned will know it. (Page~ 224).

 In Self-awareness, the substance and witness are one in essence. That essence is the Soul which is present in the form of the consciousness (Spirit).      

The dream entity and the dream world are within the dream. Similarly, you and your experience of the world are within the waking experience.  The witness of the dream is not the waking entity.  Similarly, the witness of the waking experience is not the waking entity. The Soul is the witness of the coming and going of the three states.   The three states are nothing to do with the Soul the Self because, from the standpoint of the Soul the Self,   the three states are non-existent as reality. 

Realize the self is not you, but the Soul is the self. The Soul the innermost self, witnesses you and your experience of the world. 

Advaitic wisdom will not dawn just by sitting quietly, observing silence, meditating, reading books, hearing sermons, meeting gurus or yogis, and doing pranayama, but wisdom dawns only when you realize the fact that the ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the  Soul. 

The seeker has to verify the fact about his true existence through deeper self-search to realize, that the self is not the form, but the self is the formless soul (consciousness).

When he realizes the self is the soul, then he becomes aware of the fact that the practical life within the practical world is merely an illusion created out of the soul or the consciousness.

The practical life within the practical world is nothing to do with the formless Soul, the  Self. The practical knowledge within the practical world is not wisdom, but it is knowledge based on ignorance. The real wisdom is non-dual wisdom, which arises only when ignorance vanishes.

Remember:~

The experience of birth, life, death, and the world is merely an illusion. Thus,  the question of many life cycles is an imagined theory based on the false self (waking entity or ego or you) within the false experience. 

The one, which is born, lives, and dies with the unreal world, is not the self because the self is the birthless soul. It is birthless because it is ever formless.  Thus, one has to realize the self is not you, but the Self is the formless soul, which witnesses you and the world together.  

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is merely an illusion. It is an illusion because the whole experience of birth, life, and death is created out of single stuff. And that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, consciousness alone is real and all else is merely an illusion.  

The belief, actions, conduct, love, virtue, scriptural mastery, religion, rituals, and prayers which are mere theories based on the false self are great hindrances in realizing the Advaitic truth, which is the ultimate truth.

All religious theories are meant for those who believe in the practical life within the practical world as reality because they are not verified the truth of their true existence.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Mixing Path of Karma, Bhakti, Raj yoga with the path of wisdom and trying to assimilate Advaitic truth is an impossibility.+

All these experiences as a father, son, guru, and pupil were one and the same consciousness appearing differently. All these distinctions disappear when one realizes the ultimate truth.

Religions are based on  Gods based on blind faith or blind belief. The belief-based Gods are not God in truth.  Without Gods based on blind belief, there is no religion. Belief implies duality. From the standpoint of the Soul, the  Self the duality is merely an illusion. Thus, whatever one sees, knows and believes, and experiences within the illusion (waking) is bound to be an illusion. 

God cannot be brought down to the domain of duality. There is only one being in reality and it is the Soul, the innermost self.  The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in all three states. Thus, the Soul or consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.  

When one realizes the form, time and space are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness, then he realizes there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus, everything is consciousness. Thus,  consciousness (Soul) is God in truth.

The  Gods based on blind belief are not God in truth. Holding Gods based on blind belief is holding an illusion as a reality because the belief is possible only within the realm of duality. Duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint.  

Without Gods based on blind faith, the belief system holds no water.   Gods based on blind belief are not God in truth. Belief needs a believer.  The believer needs to be born in this illusory world. 

If the believer is born then he is part of the illusion.   Without the believer, there is no belief.  The believer and his world and his belief-based Gods are part of the illusion because the self is birth-less. 

After all, the Self is ever nondual. The one, which is born, lives, and dies, is not the Self.    The Soul, the Self is formless substance and witness of the illusory universe or  Maya. The Soul, the Self is present in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Remember:~

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion.

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

Bhagavad Gita:~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (Gita 14.27) 

Karma, Bhakti, Raj yoga are not the means to acquire Advaitic wisdom because they are based on the ego whereas the Advaitic Gnana is based on the Soul, the Self. And mixing them up with the path of wisdom and trying to assimilate Advaitic truth is an impossibility. 

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."

Karma, Bhakti, Raj yoga are not the means to acquire Advaitic wisdom. And mixing them up with the path of wisdom and trying to assimilate Advaitic truth is an impossibility.

What is the use of practicing Samadhi within the dualistic illusion? Samadhi belongs to the yogic path.

Sage Sankara says: ~ Yoga is not the means of liberation (page 132-133 - Commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad.

In Sutra Bashya and Manduka:~ The Samadhi and sleep are identical.

Brihad Upanishad:~ does not advocate Samadhi.

Sage Sankara in the commentary to "Brahma Sutras:~ " "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga." (Sacred Books of East Series page 298 Vol.1.) And he also says Samadhi is the same as sleep (p.312)

~ this indicates that yoga is not the means to ‘Self’-realization. And yogic Samadhi is not nondualistic Self-awareness.

Panchadasi shows the impossibility of yoga arriving at a successful end to its practices.- P.509 v, 109,

The notions of ‘Self’-realization through yoga are not philosophic. Every yogi who shuts himself in a cave is not thereby freed from thinking.

Yoga can lead only to temporary peace because the world is subject to change. Only Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana can yield Advaitic awareness in the midst of the form, time, and space.:~Santthosh Kumaar

Christ- consciousness. +

Discussion:~ 

Q: Trev light Bown:~ This was posted as a comment to a post by Leonard Jacobson saying that Christ consciousness and God-consciousness are not the same Formless nonduality.

***

Santthosh Kumaar:~ As per my conviction:~

Dear Trev,

I respect the views and wisdom of Leonard Jacobson

What is ‘I’? How these three states are created? Who is its creator? Of what material are these three states are made? This is the way of that inquiry, analysis, and reasoning on the true base. The consciousness or Soul is neither the body, nor the matter, nor is the consciousness an aggregate of the senses; the consciousness is something different from these

Firstly, God is not physical. God means the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman is God in truth. There is only one consciousness because consciousness is second to none.   No personal God can exist, apart from the Spirit (consciousness) because the Spirit itself is God. 

People are not aware of the fact that there is no individual God that can exist, apart from consciousness, which is in the form of the Soul, the  Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.    If there is no consciousness (soul), then there is no physical body, no ego, no universe, no religion, and no conceptual God. 

People think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks of the waking entity (you or ego) as self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks of the Soul( consciousness)  as the Self, then there is nothing exists other than the Soul( consciousness), which is the innermost Self. 

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things besides himself and postulate a God, the creator. The Body, and the world rise and set together from, and into, the Soul, the Self. If God is apart from the Soul (spirit or consciousness), then God would be selfless, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into the consciousness, the universe is dissolved. The consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.

Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation. Advaita does not prove that there is ONE! It proves that there is no second thing.

Remember:~

Theological thinkers say God is a perfect being, but they have never known God, never proved his existence; hence, their ascription of perfection to Him is purely self-imagined. If one has to test the truth in the next world only, then there is no proof of the existence of the next world, other than it is mentioned in the doctrines. The doctrine-oriented truth is not the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The 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.

Suppose one sees God in his vision, or he speaks to God. How is he to know that He is God? His mere statement is not enough. He must have proof; He must show that what he sees He is God.  Every religion has a different idea of God.  

It is impossible to prove the existence of God by any reasoning; one can only say, "I believe. Belief is not the truth. 

“The most rational position is that:  "I do not know."  Every religion has its own idea of God, paradise, heaven, sin, and karma.  But where people have got a little thinking capacity, they begin to disbelieve through the contradictions of various contending orthodox claims and descriptions.

Unless one gives up the ideas of the idea of personal Gods, heaven, and hell, it is impossible to assimilate Nondualistic or Advaitic truth. The ultimate truth must be proved here and now, in this world, in this very life. Not in the next world and the next life.  The idea, as the existence of a personal God, heaven, hell, and sin, and karma are mere imagination based on the false self (waking entity) within the false experience (waking).  When waking experience itself is false, then whatever one sees, knows, believes, and experiences are bound to be a falsehood.

The seeker of truth has to pursue this quest until his questions will be answered until his problems will disappear, and his doubts will be solved.  Only through soul-centricity, the truth will be revealed.

Only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have a difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible.  Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on proof.

The Kingdom of God is inside the 'Self'  and all around the Self, 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)

Jesus said:~ "Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all." (Gospel of Thomas 2)

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)

Gospel Thomas Logan 22:~  Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, “These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom.”

They said to him, “Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?”

Jesus said to them:~ “When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female is female; and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter the kingdom.”

It means ~ where there are no two (duality) there is Nonduality.  Nonduality is the nature of the Spirit of God.

The consciousness has no such thing as upper or lower (part), it has no inside or outside, it has no middle or any ‘across’, and it has no eastern or western direction because it is all-pervading like space or pervades space also. It is one and without parts. It remains as oneself, free from all diversities.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is formless and colorless; it is not tiny, nor big. It is neither short nor long. It is not knowable since it is of the nature of effulgence. It remains as oneself, free from the dualities.

There is neither teacher nor teaching, neither student nor instruction, neither “Me” nor “you”, nor this universe. The knowledge of the real nature of the soul or consciousness does not admit different perceptions. It remains as the one auspicious self, free from all attributes.

The Soul or the consciousness does not have the state of waking, nor of the dream, nor of deep sleep. These three states are only products of ignorance. The consciousness is beyond these three states and it remains as oneself, free from all states.

The Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness is all-pervading, is the desired goal, is self-existent, and is not dependent on anything else, while the entire universe which is different from it is unreal. The consciousness remains as oneself, free from all divisions.

The Soul or the consciousness is one; how can there be a second different from it? It has neither absoluteness nor non-absoluteness. It is neither void nor non-void since it is devoid of duality.  It cannot be described that which is the formless essence of all three states. 

The eternal truth within the universe (mind) and it is without the universe (mind). Direct knowledge of the Soul, the Self can be acquired by realizing the Soul as the  Self. Self-realization is the essence of human existence. Where there is unity, one without a second; there is a world of nondual reality. The non-dualistic truth is the ultimate truth. And the ultimate truth itself is Brahman or God or Christ consciousness or Buddha's nature.

Remember:~

In reality, there is neither father nor son by only the Spirit, the God, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

The Bible says: ~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship God must worship God in spirit and in truth.  (John 4:24)”

The Spirit is present in the form of consciousness. Everything is consciousness. All the moments are within the dualistic illusion. Whatever happens within the dualistic illusion is bound to be an illusion created out of consciousness. Thus, the consciousness alone is real and all else is merely an illusion.

“Spirit is my father and I and my father are one.”

If the Spirit is the father the son is bound to be the Spirit. The Spirit, the beloved alone is real and all else is merely an illusion. 

There is no God in the dualistic illusion because the dualistic illusion is created out of God, which is present in the form of the Spirit or the consciousness.  Thus, God alone is real.

Spirit is prior to Love. Love implies duality. The love hides God. When love disappears the God appears.  Find the Self and Love the Self and rest in God, which is the Spirit.

If the father (God) is Spirit the son is bound to be the Spirit.

If God is Spirit, then how does man know God created the world? There is no proof. If man had seen God creating the world, he could admit it, but how could he have seen God before he came into existence? (i.e. were created).

The Spirit is the root element of the universe. The Spirit is present in the form of the Soul, the innermost Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. From the Spirit, the universe comes into existence. In the Spirit, the universe resides. And into the Spirit, the universe is dissolved.  The Spirit is the parent of all that is there is. 

That is why Jesus said: - Do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew -7:6)

Jesus meant Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana (pearls) should not be given to the ignorant populace (pigs). 

Jesus really say? To the multitude, he said, “God is in heaven; try to go there,” and to reach that end he said to overcome certain temptations and sufferings.

To his followers, he said, “God is everywhere; try to see Him.” and gave explanations to that effect.

To the close circle of apostles, he said, “God is in me and in you too,” and actually revealed this to them.

Why did Jesus say different things? Owing to the time and the persons, according to their readiness to listen and understand. What Jesus meant was to leave all and follow him; that means to know him, see him, and experience him.

The teachings that are being followed by Christians are not the real teachings that Christ gave. The priests have altered his words, added to his teachings, and spoiled them.

Jesus said: ~ Seek and ye shall find. Knock the doors shall open to you. 

 Why did Jesus say different things? Owing to the time and the persons, according to their readiness to listen and understand. What Jesus meant was to leave all and follow him; that means to know him, see him, and experience him.

The teachings that are being followed by Christians are not the real teachings that Christ gave. The priests have altered his words, added to his teachings, and spoiled them.

Jesus said: ~ Seek and ye shall find. Knock the doors shall open to you. 
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Gospel Thomas logian 22:- Jesus saw infants being suckled. He said to his disciples, “These infants being suckled are like those who enter the kingdom.”

They said to him, “Shall we then, as children, enter the kingdom?”

Jesus said to them, “When you make the two one, and when you make the inside like the outside and the outside like the inside, and the above like the below, and when you make the male and the female one and the same, so that the male not be male nor the female is female; and when you fashion eyes in the place of an eye, and a hand in place of a hand, and a foot in place of a foot, and a likeness in place of a likeness; then will you enter the kingdom.”

Santthosh Kumaar: ~ This above passage is Jesus’s version of Nonduality or Advaita. When one realizes mind (matter) and the Soul (Spirit), the  Self, are one, in essence, there is no place for the duality. 

Without duality, the universe ceases to exist. Without the universe, your existence within the universe is merely an illusion. After all, there is scope for two because everything is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the consciousness or Spirit. 

Until one thinks he is an individual separate from this world he remains in the realm of duality. Duality is the product of ignorance. When the Advaitic wisdom dawns, then the ignorance vanishes. When the ignorance vanishes, then the duality never remains as a reality. 

God in truth is not physical. God in truth is present in the form of the Spirit. The Spirit is the cause of the Universe and the Spirit itself is uncaused. 

From the standpoint of the Spirit, the form, time, space, and name are merely an illusion. The Spirit alone is real and all else is an illusion. In reality, the spirit (God) matter (the world in which we exist) are one. :~ Santthosh Kumaar