The mind ceases to exist without the matter.+

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

The Soul, the Self is the fullness of consciousness. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it. Thus, any division (body, ego, and the world) within the consciousness is merely an illusion.   Thus, whatever experienced as a person within the illusion is bound to be an illusion.

Without knowing what the truth is, how can one know what is untruth? Mere bookish knowledge or speculation and assumption are merely playing with the words, not Advaitic wisdom. Intellectuality is based on the false self thus it will not yield any fruits.  

How can one look at the conscious level when his body, ego, and the universe are an object to the true Self, which is in the form of consciousness.  Until one traces the formless substance and the witness of the mind (universe), the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn.

The longer explanation in depth is very much needed in the pursuit of truth and it helps the seeker think and helps the seeker to divert his attention from the form (universe)  to the formless (Soul).

The scriptures,  theories, and teaching based on the ego are not a  yardstick. Using them as a yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards the pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is the mind?” and “what is the substance of the mind?” and move forward.  

The wisdom consists in knowing the truth, that everything (mind or physical existence) is consciousness. Freedom (truth) is always there yet one does not know it.  But to those whose reason is turned away from physicality and who have attained the serenity of the Soul/Self (consciousness) are quite near to the ultimate truth. 

It is difficult to accept once own body and his experience of the world is an illusion. Until one realizes the Self is not physical, but it is the formless Soul,  it is difficult to have a glimpse of truth.

When one realizes the fact that, the Self is not physical, but the formless Soul, then naturally the body and the universe become an illusion.

The body, the ego, and the world together, are the mind. If the mind is there then only the body, the ego and the world are present. The body, the ego, and the world appear together and disappear together.  That is the mind that is present in the form of the ‘I’ appears and disappears. The one which witnesses the coming and going of the ‘I’ (mind) is the Soul, the Self.  

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self the mind (the universe in which we exist) is non-existent as a reality. 

The mind cannot be purified because the mind itself is an illusion. Till one thinks the mind is within the body, he will not be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, because the body and the world are within the mind.   And the mind is within the Soul.

Deeper self-search reveals: ~ The mind (universe) is emanating from the Soul (consciousness) means the mind is being the effect of the consciousness is not different from it.  Deeper thinking and reasoning are necessary to understand the truth beyond form, time, and space.  

The mind is present in the form of the universe(form). But where is the form of consciousness (Soul) because consciousness is like an ocean and the mind is like a wave?  The universe is the same consciousness, as the ocean produces the wave, so the consciousness produces the mind (universe).

The moment one realizes the fact that the mind (universe) is nothing but an illusion created out of the consciousness the ignorance ceases. If one knows consciousness as the Self then everything is consciousness.  

Consciousness is second to none.  The mind is consciousness.  Due to ignorance one mistakes it for something else. One thinks the Self is within the body, but the Self is without the body, and the world

The mind ceases to exist without the matter. The mind itself is the matter.  Without the matter, the mind ceases to exist as the mind,  but it exists as a matter- less awareness or consciousness. Without the mind, the world in which we exist ceases to exist. 

Without the matter, there is no duality. Without duality, there is no experience. Without experience, it is a non-dual reality. Therefore, whatever prevails without the mind is the ultimate reality. 

The true nature of the Soul (consciousness) is camouflaged by the illusion(duality).  To know the truth one has to discover and realize the formless substance of the mind ( illusion). One has to learn to view and judge the worldview from the standpoint of the formless Soul as the Self.    

Self-knowledge is the prime goal of the truth seeker. This goal is hidden within the mind as its formless substance and the witness. Therefore, it is a necessary inquiry, analyze and reason into the nature of the mind (duality/illusion) in order to unfold the mystery of the mind ( duality or illusion).:~Santthosh Kumaar 

God is not within you, but the universe in which you exist is within the God.+

It is only one in millions who realize that consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  A Gnani is fully aware of the fact that the consciousness alone is Real all else is merely an illusion.  No amount of studying Vedanta can give Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

On the spiritual path, the seeker must have an intense urge to realize the truth. All accumulated knowledge, accumulated from here and there leads the seeker away from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God.  The seeker has to have a rational outlook to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Soul, the innermost self is God. The soul is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, consciousness itself is God.  God is not within you, but the universe in which you exist is within God. The universe in which you exist is created out of God, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, all those Gods people believe and all those Gods you worship are manmade because in reality God alone is real and the universe in which we exist is merely an illusion.   

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:~ The Self is indeed Brahman (God), but through ignorance, people identify it with intellect, mind, senses, passions, and the elements of earth, water, air, space, and fire. This is why the Self is said to consist of this and that and appears to be everything. 

Yajurveda says: - If one worships what is not God: ~ 

Translation 1.

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc.).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.) ~ (Yajurveda  40:9)

Translation 2.

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti is intent.~("Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538)

Translation 3.

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."~(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

So, Yajur Veda indicates that: ~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc ~(Yajurved 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."~ (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which were introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed. 

When the religion of the Veda knows no idols, then why so many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods. Why these conceptual Gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes.

Someone has introduced the concept of God with attributes and attributeless Gods when Yajur Veda says: ~ those who worship visible things, born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like), in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness. Therefore, all these add-ons prove that the form and attribute-based concepts are introduced by some sages of the past with a new belief system and code of conduct in the name of Vedas. 

It clearly indicates that: -If the human goal is to acquire Self -Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then why one has to indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual Gods and Goddesses to go into deeper darkness. Instead, spend that time moving forward towards Self -knowledge, which is one’s prime goal.  

Since it is eternal and infinite, it comprises the only truth. The goal of Vedic religion, through the various yogas, is to realize that consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman.

The Vedic pantheon of Gods is said, in the Vedas and Upanishads, to be the only higher manifestations of Brahman. For this reason,- "ekam sat" (all is one), and all is Brahman.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

AUM represents manifest and un-manifest aspects of Brahman.+

Sage Goudpada:~ The non-dual Atman is realized when the individual Self  (Jiva) is awakened from its ignorance. Atman is unborn, dreamless, sleepless, and motionless, and is beyond duality. It is cognition at its purest. It is Brahman- Ayam Atma Brahma, this Atma is Brahma; Thus epitomizing the core of Upanishad teachings.
 

Sage Sri, Gaudapada expands further on these states of consciousness. The Self is AUM. It represents the manifest and unmanifest aspects of Brahman. It is the single syllable that symbolizes and embodies Brahman, the Absolute Reality. It is the Pranava that pervades all existence and is our very life breath.

Vaisvanara in waking the state is A the first part of AUM, One, who realizes this, attains his desires.

Teijasa in the dream state is U the second part of AUM. One, who realizes this, attains knowledge.

Prajna in deep sleep is M the third part of AUM, concluding the sounds of the earlier two parts. One, who realizes this, attains a compressive understanding of all.

The Syllable AUM in its entirety stands for the fourth state, Turiya the one beyond the phenomenal existence, supremely blissful and non-dual.

AUM in its integral whole stands for the fourth state which is transcendental, devoid of phenomenal existence, and is the source of all existence. AUM represents Ultimate Reality. AUM is thus verily the Self itself. One who realizes this merges into that Self. Meditate on AUM as the Self.

Ignorance is the cause of duality.   The duality is the cause of the illusion. The illusion is the cause of experiencing birth, life, death, and the world as a reality.

Self-knowledge leads to Self-awareness.  The quest for truth is not the quest for acquiring the dualistic truth within the world.    The seeker must have an intense urge to realize the truth which is beyond form, time, and space.

 The dualistic knowledge hides the truth beyond form, time, and space.  The practical life within the practical world is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman.   

The dualistic knowledge within the dualistic illusion is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

This vast cosmos with all its contents (atom, molecule, sun, moon, planet, and star) all are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

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