Those who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

Sage Gaudapada:~ 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.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that ~ ‘The ego, body, and world are made of the same stuff. That stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  The Soul is the innermost Self.  

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the ego, body, and the world are one in essence.  The ego, body, and the world cease to exist without consciousness.  Thus a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed to realize the truth hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

                                                                            

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone is the direct means to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. Without the Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the ignorance will not vanish the ice will not form without the water.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience. 

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the’ I’. This truth has to be assimilated. 

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion. 

If I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, and death is bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the duality is bound to be an illusion. 

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes. 

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self. 

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal. 

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "I," If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, You are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers. 

Remember:~

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. is no need to convince such mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. 

That is why Sage Sankara says: - VC-65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

As long as there is the sense of "I' and "mine' within us, there can be no Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. When one says 'I’ or me' and "mine' he automatically identifies his- Self with his body. This shows that he is ignorant of his real Self, which is Pure Consciousness and which is also the Self of all. 

 The sign of an ignorant person is in the way he uses the words "I' and "mine'. He says: "I am so and so. I own this much property,  and so on. Thus,  he always remains ignorant without realizing the ‘I’ itself is ignorance.   Therefore, without realizing what is this ‘I’ the ignorance will prevail as reality? If ignorance prevails as reality then the form, time, and space will prevail as reality. If form, time, and space remain as reality then birth, life, death, and the world will prevail as reality.  If birth, life, death, and the world prevail as reality then the duality will prevail as reality. If duality prevails as reality then the three states prevail as reality.   Thus,  the seeker needs a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ in order to come out of the prison of ignorance.  

Doubts and Confusions arise when the seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst.   A disappointment in the religious path or yogic path or even science implies error or ignorance.

When the serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulated knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him.  Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on the right lines?" Thus,  the doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels us to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in perfect understanding of ‘what is what’. And 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 the proof.

Remember:~ 

The seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper inquiry, analysis,  and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact that, the Self is not the form but the Self is formless. Thus,  his analysis and reasoning have to be based on the formless,  not on the form.  By simply going on believing and accepting whatever is said by the punditry will not lead one towards the path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self - Knowledge."  The scriptures and yoga are not necessary if one follows the inner (nondual) path.  Religion and yoga are not the means to the path of wisdom.  

The seeker has to test the truth in this world,  not in the next world.  There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not the truth.  So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them.

Sage Goudpada says: ~ the merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom.   The path of wisdom is the only means. 

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immerse 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 nondual wisdom.  Those who are seeking the truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Buddha gave up yoga after practicing it for six years. He saw it could not yield truth.+

Let carefully noted that the yogic Samadhi is nothing but a long trance, is not Self-awareness. 

Although the ego becomes still for some time, people generally overestimate their feeling and sensation, and a yogic Samadhi is invariably supposed to be Self-realization. 

The yogic Samadhi is a temporary state; as soon as the yogi comes out of it,  he becomes aware of the duality and reminisces again in the grip of ignorance. Thus,  the yogic Samadhi will not eradicate ignorance. 

 The yogic Samadhi is experienced by you. You are the false self within the false experience. Thus,  the yogic Samadhi can never take one beyond the experience of the form, time,  and space.  

Self-realization is the realization of the truth that is beyond form, time, and space.  

Self-realization is only gained through acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the Soul transcends the limits of form, time, and space and becomes free from experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.  Thus, it is only in the realm of the Soul that the mind becomes one with the Soul, the Self.

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

The ‘Self-realization' through yoga is 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.  

Buddha gave up yoga after practicing it for six years. He saw it could not yield truth. 

Buddha gave up his austerities of yoga as impossible and useless. Thus,  Buddha got enlightenment only after he gave up Yoga. (Page.70/71 "Buddhism In Translation” by Warren)

Unless one exercise his Buddhi--reason--there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality. Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world, we agree. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Vedanta in speech but not to Vedanta fully. 

Only when we independently search for the truth without religion and its doctrine,  then we will be able to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Self-knowledge should not be shared with unqualified people.+

It is no use of arguing with the dualist and intellectuals because they are right on their own standpoint.  The pursuit of truth interests only a few. Ultimate truth or Advaitic truth is not the product to sell in the spiritual supermarket.  One should not to ‘throw Advaitic pearls before swine.

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 the knowledge of the Spirit or Self-knowledge should not be shared with unqualified people.

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)

Consciousness (Spirit) 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.  Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.

The urge to know the truth cannot be imposed on others.  It has to sprout within. One need not become Guru because the Guru is within into guide every seeker. If one is aiming to be a master, Guru or teacher, he will never reach his destination. 

One has to share his knowledge with the fellow seeker not to make them his followers but only direct them if they are interested to travel beyond form, time and space.

It is foolish to impose our idea on others because everyone is not on the same level of understanding.  Everyone's inner work is on. When they are ripe enough they will understand, assimilate and realize on their own.  If they are ready and sharp enough they will grasp it instantly and they will reach their destination with lesser time and effort. 

Thus, preaching, teaching is not wisdom, but by very careful reasoning, the seeker has to determine the nature of reality. Thinking in right direction alone helps seeker determining the nature of the reality.

Sugar cannot know itself for its sweetness. The true Self without ignorance is without the experience of duality or illusion. 

Thus, one has to base on the sugar, not on its sweetness. Without sugar,  there is no sweetness. Similarly, without consciousness, the three states cease to exist as a reality. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

You call it God, you call it Brahman, and you call it Para Brahman.+

Rig Veda 1/164/46: ~ “They call God Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, or the heavenly sunbird Garutmat. The seers call in many ways that which is One; they speak of Agni, Yama, Matarishvan.

Rig Veda 8/58/2:~ Only One is the Fire, enkindled in numerous ways; only One is the Sun, pervading this whole universe; only One is the Dawn, illuminating all things. In very truth, the One has become the whole world.

You call it God, you call it Brahman, and you call it Para Brahman, you call it Spirit,  you call it ParamAtman, you call it the ultimate truth or ultimate reality, Christ-consciousness or Buddha’s nature, you are identifying the Atman with different names  

Advaita means the Soul, the Self, which is second to none. The Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Advaita is the nature of God, the Self. Advaita is God in truth. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.

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.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~   God is Supreme or Supreme Spirit.

Vedas and Upanishad confirm the Soul, the Self, is present in the form of the Spirit or the consciousness.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) 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)

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

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. 

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ 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)

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  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. 

All the scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or God in truth.  

The Atman or the Soul or consciousness or ‘Self’ is the witness-consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.

The Atman is God. The Atman is Brahman. The Atman is Para Brahman.  The Atman is Paramatma. Atman is the ultimate truth or the ultimate reality. The Atman is consciousness. The Atman is  God in truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar  

Buddhism did not graduate its teaching to suit people of varying grades; hence its failure to affect society in Asia.+

Everything is consciousness, which Sage Sankara declared 1200 years back –everything is Atman because Atman is present in the form of consciousness. 

Sage Goudpada says that: - The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Non-duality.  There is no doubt Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

The distinction between Sage Sankara’s Advaita and Vijnanavadin Buddhism is that the former is mentalism i.e. mind is the real, whereas the latter is idealism, i.e. ideas are real. Advaitins follow the former.

Buddhism did not graduate its teaching to suit people of varying grades; hence its failure to affect society in Asia.

Bhagavan Buddha as a constructive worker committed an error in failing to give the masses a religion, something tangible they could grasp something materialistic, if symbolic that their limited intellect could take hold of, in addition to his ethics and philosophy. Here  Sage Sankara was wiser and gave religion; such as Bhakti, worship, etc.--to the ignorant masses, as well as wisdom to those of higher intellect.

The Advaita Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the populace, 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.

Bhagavan Buddha's teachings that all life is misery belong to the relative standpoint only. For you cannot form any idea of misery without contrasting it with its opposite, happiness. The two will always go together. Bhagavan Buddha taught the goal of cessation of misery, i.e. peace, but took care not to discuss the ultimate standpoint for then he would have had to go above the heads of the people and tell them that misery itself was only an idea, that peace even was an idea (for it contrasted with peacelessness). That the doctrine he gave out was a limited one, is evident because he inculcated compassion. Why should a Buddhist sage practice pity? There is no reason for it.

Advaita is the next step higher than Buddhism because it gives the missing reason, viz. unity, non-difference from others, and because it explains that it used the concept of removing the sufferings of others, of lifting them up to happiness, only as we use one thorn to pick out another, afterwards throw both away. Similarly, Advaita discards both concepts of misery and happiness in the ultimate standpoint of non-duality, which is indescribable.

Buddhists say that a thing exists only for a moment, and if that thing has still got some of the substance from which it was produced, how then can they deny that its cause is continuing in the effect; hence its existence is more than a moment. Vedanta is concerned with whether it is one and the same thing which has come into being or has come out of nothing.

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

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

Only through Soulcentric reasoning, one will be able to cross the domain of the form, time, and space.+

Yoga Vasistha says: ~ Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only by means of inquiry inspired by the company of wise (Gnani). One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia. 

There is no need to condemn Gurus, but there is a need to highlight how they become an obstacle in realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman.

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

The Guru is useless so long as the ultimate truth is unknown, and Guru is equally useless when the ultimate truth or Brahman has already been known.

A Guru is needed for the religious and the yogic path.  There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

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

Only through Soulcentric reasoning, one will be able to cross the domain of the form, time, and space.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ It is not the absence of Buddhi (reason) 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).

Brahman (God in truth)

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The Ultimate Truth or Brahman is God. Realize consciousness as the ultimate truth or Brahman. Consciousness is existence, knowledge and Absolute awareness. Consciousness is non-dual and infinite, eternal and ‘one’ and which fills all that exists.

Self-realization is the realization of the Advaitic truth.  There is nothing more to be realized, other than the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

After acquiring the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana Knowledge or Atma Gnana nothing needs to be acquired. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana Knowledge or Atma Gnana frees the Soul, the innermost self from the dualistic illusion.  When the Soul is free from the dualistic illusion then it is free from experiencing the illusory birth, life, death, and the world as a reality. 

The one who possesses the highest intellect can grasp the Advaitic truth, by merely hearing the truth mentioned will know it.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Reason as a means to reality. (Chap.18 verse 37)

In chap. 10 of in Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says: ~ I cannot save you, but I can give you Buddhi (reason). (chap. 10)

In chap. 10 of in Bhagavad Gita, Krishna says: ~ "I have given you the most secret teaching, now reflect over it all" Krishna plainly says reflect, think. (Verse 63 of Chap. 18)

Mundaka Upanishad says: ~  Both states are harmful and take you away from the path of inquiry into truth. (Page 234)

The reasoning is interpretable in two ways. The egocentric interpretation is to apply it only to the practical purpose (waking experience). The Soulcentric interpretation is to apply it to the three states. The latter leads to the final settlement of the problems because it takes all data into consideration. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be?+

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the  Self: ~ 

Where is the ‘I’? 

Where is the ego? 

Where is the body? 

Where is the mind?

Where is the world in which you exist?

Where is the waking experience?

Where is the duality? 

Where is void?

They are or have become one with the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience. 

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the’ I’. This truth has to be assimilated. 

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time and space are bound to be an illusion. 

If I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of the birth, life, death is bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the duality is bound to be an illusion. 

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes. 

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal. 

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "I," If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, You are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers. 

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. 

There is no need to convince such mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. 

That is why Sage Sankara says: - VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

People refuse to accept anything other than Their Guru's words. For them, their Guru's words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such mindsets. 

Such mindsets are not fit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The seekers of truth accept only the truth nothing but the uncontradictable truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar