The Soul, the Self is infinite, deathless, birthless, because the Soul is the infinite Spirit.+

The Soul, the  Self is infinite, deathless, birthless, because the Soul is the infinite Spirit. 

In Vedas God has been described as:~

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

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

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

v  Sakshi (Witness)

v  Chetan (conscious)

v  Nirguna (Without form and properties).

v  Nitya (eternal)

v  Shuddha (pure)

v  Buddha (omniscient)

v   Mukta (unattached).

The nature of the Atman (Soul) is:~

   

v  Witness

v  conscious

v  Without form and properties

v  eternal

v  pure

v omniscient

v  unattached

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which it the Atman (Soul), the innermost Self.  It indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false Self.  Thus Atman or Soul, the innermost Self is God.

The ‘I’ I present in the form of the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe.  The universe appears as waking or dream. From the ultimate standpoint, the universe is merely an illusion. 

Whatever the universe contains is a mere illusion.  The whole illusion is created, sustained and finally dissolves as consciousness; therefore there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus, consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in all three states. Hence, it is nondual.  Limiting the Self to the waking entity or ego is the cause of ignorance.  And ignorance is the cause of duality. The duality is the cause of experiencing the illusion as a reality.

Orthodoxy accepts the concept of God in many forms. Sages of truth declare the Atman is Brahman.  That is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  That is the ultimate truth is God in truth.  And the ultimate truth itself is worthy of Godhood. 

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone known as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I:~ That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Swami Vivekananda:~

The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods?

Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What about it? Thus, fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the Gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods? ... The Gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my Soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are the infinite spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? ~ Swami Vivekananda  (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

The mantra-yoga consisting 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 a mere 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 a religious fable 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.

That is why Sage Sankara:~  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.

Ish Upanishad says ~ Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide.

Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide, as it were, are doomed to enter those worlds after death.

This is a condemnation of people who do not try to attain Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana. They are, in a real sense, committing suicide, for what can be worse than being a slave to sense enjoyment, completely oblivious of the real purpose of life, which is to be one’s, own master.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The seeker should discard the accumulated knowledge altogether, as the man who seeks rice and discards the husk.+

The seeker of the truth has to drop all his accumulated knowledge if he is solely intent on acquiring wisdom and realization. 

The seeker should discard the accumulated knowledge altogether, as the man who seeks rice and discards the husk.

No amount of reading will give any person truth -realization!  But, once one becomes soulcentric it ~ it comes suddenly.   The soul is infinite awareness, and this universe in which we exist is merely an illusion

People have full of intellectual questions, but the intellectual questions are based on individuality whereas the soul, the innermost self is not an individual because it is the formless, timeless and spaceless existence.   One will find answers to all his questions if he becomes soulcentric.

If one becomes soulcentric he will not have any doubts and confusion at all about the truth which is beyond the form, time and space. 

Kena Upanishad (1) Chapter II:~  If you think: "I know Brahman well," then surely you know but little of Its form; you know only Its form as conditioned by man or by the Gods. Therefore Brahman, even now, is worthy of your inquiry.

Kena Upanishad (2) Chapter II:~  The disciple said: I think I know Brahman. The disciple said: I do not think I know It well, nor do I think I do not know It. He among us who knows the meaning of "Neither do I not know nor do I know-knows Brahman.

Kena Upanishad (3) Chapter II:~ He by whom Brahman is not known, knows It; he by whom It is known, knows It not. It is not known by those who know It; It is known by those who do not know It.

Kena Upanishad (4) Chapter II:~ Brahman is known when It is realized in every state of mind; for by such Knowledge one attains Immortality. By Atman one obtains strength; by Knowledge, Immortality

Kena Upanishad (5) Chapter II:~ If a man knows Atman here, he then attains the true goal of life. If he does not know It here, great destruction awaits him. Having realized the Self  in every being, the wise relinquish the world and become immortal

Thus, the goal is to realize the Atman (consciousness).  The Atman (  the Soul or the consciousness) is nothing but Brahman. By realizing Atman ( the consciousness) as Brahman ( the ultimate truth) is truth realization or Self-Realization. 

There is no need to follow any religion, study the scriptures or glorifying the Gods and the Gurus,  and follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy to get the Self -realization, when there is an easier path. 

By mentally tracing the source of the mind, from where it rises and subsides, one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as the duality (universe or waking or dream) and subsides as the nonduality (deep sleep).  The mind raises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness.

Remember:~ 

The religion is based on blind belief whereas spirituality is based on Spirit, the truth, which is the existence itself.

Spiritual truth is universal whereas the religious truth is the individualized truth. Religion is based on a dualistic perspective whereas spirituality is based on a nondualistic perspective. Whatever is based on a dualistic perspective egocentric and whatever is based on the nondualistic perspective is soulcentric.

Advaita is pure spirituality nothing to do with religion, sect or dualistic based spirituality. That is why Bhagavan Buddha rejected the religion, scriptures and religious Gods and Sage Sri, Sankara indicated the truth is beyond the religion, scriptures, and belief in relgious idea of God.

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.

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

Comparing Vedas with Koran or Bible or any other scriptures will not yield the truth, which is beyond form, time and space.

The religion was introduced in the past for the benefit of the populace which was incapable of grasping the ultimate truth, which is beyond the form, time and space.

The religions of the world are based on the form, time and space. Thus, religion is nothing to do with the pursuit of truth, because the truth is not belief and religion is based on belief.

The belief is based on the individual whereas the Soul, the innermost Self is not an individual because the Soul is ever formless, timeless and spaceless existence.

The scriptures are not necessary to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God or Spirit. The scriptures are meant for the ignorant populace.

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

Sage Sankara said:~ The world is unreal and Brahman alone is real. It means the birth, life, and death, which happens within the world, has to be unreal. If birth, life, and death are unreal, then the rebirth and reincarnation and Avataric concept have to be unreal. Thus, it is for the seeker to find out, from what standpoint the world becomes unreal, to know the Brahman, which is the ultimate truth or God.

By studying Vedas or Koran or Bible or any other scriptures will not yield the truth, which is beyond form, time and space. The truth beyond the form, time and space are the Spirit or God. 

One must know God in truth, not God based on blind belief. The blind belief-based Gods are not God in truth. The diverse beliefs have diverse ideas of God. The beliefs have no value in the domain of the truth.

That is why Lord Krishna Says Ch ~ V:~ “Those who know the 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.

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Yajur Veda also says:~ God has no image and His name is Holy. (32.3)”

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

The rituals based on belief are meant for the ignorant populace.

That is why Mundaka Upanishad condemns rituals. The Para or Higher knowledge is the knowledge of the Supreme Being while the Apara or Lower Knowledge is that of following sacrificial rites and ceremonies. (1/2/ 1 – 6)

The scriptures are meant for the ignorant mass, which strongly believes, the experience of the world in which they are born, live and die as a reality.

The ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures of any religion, or by intelligence, nor by much hearing of sacred books then why to compare Vedas with Bible or Koran or any other religious scriptures to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time and space.

Katha Upanishad: ~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, nor by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

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 –page-70 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

The above passages further prove that: Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.

Sage Sankara says:~ Keep the scriptures for children but throw them on the fire for wise seekers.

In Brahma Sutras Sage Sankara takes for granted, assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy.

That God created the world is an absolute lie; nevertheless, you will find Sage  Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds.

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion, dogmatism, but in the commentary Sage Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that several Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, but a few Upanishads do not but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof.

The causality and creation are for religious people only. Religion is only for those who are unable to understand truth beyond the form, time and space. Religion is not final. It only gives satisfaction to the populace. The Self - knowledge is for the whole of humanity to free them from experiencing the birth, life, death, and world as reality.

People of small intelligence follow religion and believe that the world was created by God. But how do they know that He did so? When a pot is created, one can see both pot and its maker, but not in the case of the world.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the Advaitic truth. Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own selves to get a firm conviction. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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

Make sure ‘I’ is not the Self. If the  ‘I’ is not the Self then whatever you have seen, known, believed, and experienced as an individual is bound to be a falsehood.

If the Self is not ‘I’ then there is no other ‘I’ because the ‘I’ exist only in the domain of the duality. The Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The nature of the Soul is ‘I’-less. The ‘I’ is an illusory nature of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ appears and disappears.

Thus, holding the ‘I’ as the Self and trying to assimilate Advaitic truth is trying to drain the ocean drop by drop.

What is this “I”? The ‘I’ is the mind. The body and the world together are the mind. If the mind is there, then only you and your experience of the world are there. If the mind is not there, then you and your mind cease to exist.

The mind is present in the form of the universe’ the universe appears as the waking or dream (duality) and disappears into deep sleep (nonduality).

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then it is no use of inquiring ‘Who Am I?. Till one holds the ‘I’ as the Self, is caught up in the prison of the duality.  

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

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that by inquiring Who Am I?- wisdom will not dawn. Who Am I?- inquiry is only for beginners and it is inadequate and useless in the later stages.

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.

That is why in Bhagavad Gita: ~ The permanent is always there, only the transient “I” comes and goes. (2.18)

Until one gets convinced that the ‘I’ is not the Self, he will remain in ignorance of the formless soul, the Self. If the Self is formless, then the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is bound to be an illusion. Therefore, it is necessary to know and realize the fact that, the Self is not the form, but it is formless before indulging in the inner (mental) journey.

The Self- inquiry is not the set of questions but clearing all the doubts and confusion through deeper reasoning on his own.   

There is no scope argument in pursuit of truth because it is a personal journey that starts with the illusion (waking) and ends in realizing the truth. 

Thus, the arguments based on the false Self will not lead one toward the non-dualistic goal. The seeker of truth has to share assimilation of knowledge and help and inspire fellow seekers and divert their attention from outer to inwardness.

   
The inquiry is to know and realize:~ 

v  With what one knows himself and his experience of the world?

v How he and his experience of the world have come into existence and with what? 

Until one becomes aware of that,  that, which is responsible for him to function as a person and perceive the world, he will not become aware of the fact that the true  Self is the formless, timeless, and spaceless identity. 

It cannot be called anything and it cannot be approached because it exists prior to waking or dream. And prior to the appearance of waking and dream, there is nothingness or emptiness.  That emptiness or nothingness itself is the Soul or Spirit, which is the formless substance and the witness of the three states.

Without this formless substance which is in the form of consciousness, nothing can exist. The Soul, the innermost Self is the center of physical existence.  When the center is aware of the objects (waking or dream) it becomes the mind or the ‘I’.  When the center is aware of its formless non-dual true nature, it is Soul, the innermost Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Ramana Maharishi also refers: ~ Pure Consciousness, which is the heart, includes all, and nothing is outside or apart from it.+

Sage Ramana Maharishi Says: ~ The Self is the fullness of consciousness. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it. (Page-8 – Practical Guide To Know Yourself).

Thus, any division (body, ego, and the world) within the consciousness is merely an illusion.   Thus, whatever is experienced as a person within the illusion is bound to be an illusion. 

The first seeker has to find answers to following doubts and confusion which arise in a deeper investigation of Sage Ramana Maharishi's ~ “Who Am I?- inquiry”

v  If the mind is the same as Atman, how can it vanish? How can Atman vanish? (Page 4 para. 3)

v  "Whenever any thought leads you outward" etc, says Sage Ramana Maharishi. What can you be certain of when you leave the external world? And why leave the world if you say everything is Brahman? (Page 6 ~center)

v  The "Mind ceases to struggle" Yes if I commit suicide I shall also cease to struggle! How can you say the world ceases to exist if you don't look at it? ~ (Page ~ 6)

v  Who has seen the subtle mind projecting through the brain and the senses? Can you see it? Is not the brain also a piece of gross matter? Then how can it come into existence after the world is created, if later, depends on the brain? (Page 6 last para)

v  How can you say the world vanishes when you are introspected? The world is still there; whether you see it or not. (Page 7 top)

v  Heart is an idea created by the mind, so how can the Mind emerge from it? (Page 7~ Line 4)

v  One should unquestioningly follow guru"--This is the very reverse of what Sri Ramakrishna taught. What if the guru happens to be a fool or a rascal? Sri Ramakrishna said "Test me! (Page 11, Para 2)

v  "In deep sleep, trance, swoon, mind turns inwards and enjoys atmasukam." Why should any man study or inquire or practice if in sleep he can easily get the Atman? If sleep gives Brahman why trouble with Vedanta? (Page 12: middle)

v  Page 16 middle: "If this truth is appreciated who can refrain from being good?" This is the opposite of real Vedanta. Vedanta says it is not enough to be good, you must serve the world and relieve suffering. ~ (Page 16 center)

v  Is the vanishing of ego to be the end of life? Aham, I must indeed go but tuham (thou) must come; you must know Brahman is everywhere. It is only half to say the ego must vanish. This is only a step, not the highest. (Page 16 last para).

Bhagavad Gita on this point says: ~   The Soul, the Self must see all in itself. (4/34)

Sage Raman Maharishi: ~ He placed his right hand on his right breast and continued, "Here lies the Heart, the dynamic, spiritual Heart. It is called Hridaya and is located on the right side of the chest and is clearly visible to the inner eye of an adept on the spiritual path. Through meditation, you can learn to find the Self in the cave of this Heart." ~ Mercedes de Acosta, Here Lies the Heart

Santthosh Kumaar: ~  The spiritual heart is the Soul, the Self, not the physical heart.   The world in which you exist is within the Soul, the spiritual heart. Mistaking the spiritual heart within the body is a great error. Even some Advaitic guru says that the Self is within the spiritual heart. And the spiritual heart is on the left side.  Such a declaration is merely an imagination, based on the false Self (ego or you). When the Self is bodiless, then the question of the heart being left side or right side does not arise.  

The seeker must realize the Soul, the Self, itself is the spiritual heart.  The Soul the spiritual heart is ever formless. The Soul itself is the spiritual heart that is present in the form of the spirit or consciousness.

Without the form, time, and space, the Soul, the Self, becomes naked. The nature of the Soul, the innermost Self is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. 

Sage Ramana Maharishi also refers to: ~ Pure Consciousness, which is the heart, includes all, and nothing is outside or apart from it. 

That means the fullness of the consciousness is the ultimate Truth or Brahman or God in truth.

I have the highest reverence for Sage Ramana Maharishi as a sage of absolute purity and unworldliness and desirelessness, but those who are seeking truth have to indulge in much deeper Self-search to realize the truth which is beyond the dual (waking or dream and nondual states).  

The serious seekers who are searching for the ultimate truth or Brahman should not stop till they reach their Goal.

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)

Bhagavan Buddha: ~ Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ Believe nothing because a wise man said it, Believe nothing because it is generally held. Believe nothing because it is written. Believe nothing because it is said to be divine. Believe nothing because someone else said it. But believe only what you yourself judge to be true

Dattatreya's Song of the Avadhut 1.36-42:~ Advaita taught by some; some others teach duality. They don't understand that the all-pervading Reality is beyond both duality and non-duality.

Mundaka Upanishad 1.3:~ Complete knowledge includes knowledge of the phenomenal world, the spirit behind it, and the source of both of them.  When the cause of all causes becomes known, then everything knowable becomes known, and nothing remains unknown is Gnana.”

Sage Sankara’s wisdom will remain a dead letter to the seekers who get stuck with orthodoxy and glorifying God and gurus.     All such acts and worship and rituals are not meant for the seekers of truth. 

Sage Sankara: ~ 'Like a servant who carries a lamp in front of you to find your way, and you have found it, so becomes the Veda to that person. What is the Veda? -- utterances of those who have known the Truth. Here is one who has known the Truth; why should he or she depend upon the Veda further? Actual realization takes you beyond books. At a certain stage, books become a botheration. The Upanishad itself says that the 'words are only so much of distraction for such minds'

Sage Sankara: ~ Atman, the innermost Self is verily Brahman (God), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Atman is not the body that is non-existence itself. This is called true Knowledge by the wise. 

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

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

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

Rig Veda, 10:48, 5:~ The Soul is the cause; Soul is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Soul the innermost Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Soul nor worship other than the Soul?

The pursuit of truth is not for getting emotionally involved with some guru or yogi and indulging in glorifying the guru or yogi as God but investigating to find out whether there is any valuable material to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond the form, time and space.  

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.”

Thus, the seeker has to do his own homework to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space.  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. The ultimate truth has to be realized first, and then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

Bhagavad Gita: 7: 19:~ "Such a man who has attained true knowledge, the knowledge of Self, the knowledge of Atman, worships the Self as~ Atman (God in truth) alone exists~ everything is Atman, there exists nothing except Atman. Such a man is extremely rare"

The Soul, the Self is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The seeker should not search for truth outside of the form, time, and space.  Let these words be inscribed in your heart. Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

Nothing matters but an intense urge to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. The Soul or consciousness is everywhere and in everything.  Consciousness is beyond form, time, and space and is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. God in truth alone is and all else is an illusion.:~Santthosh Kumaar