Ashtavakra Samhita: - "The man of knowledge, though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.+

In this hi-fi world,  many self-declared Spiritual Gurus are born like mushrooms amidst us and they are looked upon as great solace by the mass of gullible people, who are more ‘peace and wisdom-hungry.  Most seekers are looking for something beyond their inherited belief system. Most of these dollar-hungry Gurus hankering after titles and honors and enjoying it like these modern-day self-styled Gurus and they are connected to one or other controversies and scandals.

People get stuck with these modern self-proclaimed Gurus who claimed to be enlightened. Many of these Gurus have taken many new “avatars” like Corporate Gurus, Universal Gurus, online Gurus, Global Gurus, one name it, he will find them. The honest Gurus and swamis never come to the limelight and they remain to mind their own inherited divine business remains aloof from the publicity.  

There are so many   Gurus who have overnight become Global Gurus. They only play with the feelings of people. Most of them are propagating ancient yogic practices as if it is their own great new invention and branding them or getting them patented,   this is the height of the mockery of spirituality. As long as innocent and ignorant people are there, these kinds of Gurus can flourish their business to peak height. They cannot only fool the mass of people but also the people at political power.

Religion needs a Guru to propagate its belief system, whereas in the Atmic path there is no need for a Guru. The ultimate truth has to be ascertained by him alone.  Yoga needs a Guru to guide its students to practice Samadhi. 

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 one who says he is enlightened is not a Gnani.  The ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. How can you and the world in which you exist remain when the ‘Self’ gets enlightenment?   Only the Soul the innermost ‘Self ‘remains in its own awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion.

Select Works of Sage Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad: ~ “Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Mandukya Upanishads: ~    Even the Gods cannot find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the religious robe has anything to do with him.

Thus, those who identify themselves as a Swami,   a Guru, or a Yogi are not Gnani. A Gnani never identifies himself as a swami, Guru, pundit, or yogi.  The Swami, Guru, pundit, or the yogi belongs to the religious or the yogic path not to the path of wisdom.

That is why Sage Sankara's commentary: ~   "The knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs.  (Page 489)

Page 500 asks in effect "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

On page 482:~ On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."  When the knower of Brahman wears no signs ~ it means he does not identify himself as a Guru. 

Ashtavakra Samhita: - "The man of knowledge, though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.

Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. Know the ‘Self’ not ‘you’, and what is hidden beyond the form, time and space will be disclosed to you.

The feat of a Guru, touching people and thus putting them into mystic states is purely a physical or at best a psychological one; based on the power of suggestions it has nothing to do with epistemology, with the question of truth. The truth is not physical because the ultimate truth is the Soul or the Spirit.

The ultimate truth or Brahman is nothing to with religion.   Religion is based on the illusory ‘I’ as a reality whereas the ultimate truth or Brahman is beyond form, time,  and space. If you are seeking truth make sure you are chosen the wrong path.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Mixing the Advaitic orthodoxy with Advaitic wisdom is like mixing oil and water.+

There are so many obstacles if one tries to reach the Advaitic realization because of orthodox adulteration.  Advaitic wisdom and orthodox or theistic Advaita are not the same.

Mixing the Advaitic orthodoxy with Advaitic wisdom is like mixing oil and water.     Most of the scholars are sentimentally and emotionally involved with orthodoxy because both Advaitic orthodoxy and Advaitic wisdom are propagated by the same founder (Sage  Sankara).  They mix up two viewpoints together, therefore, it becomes difficult to get the Advaitic truth expounded by Sage Sankara.

It is very difficult to understand and assimilate the ultimate truth or Brahman without bifurcating the religion, scriptures, philosophy, and idea of individualized God.  Ultimate truth or Brahman directly realized without Advaitic philosophy and Buddhism by Soulcentric reasoning.  

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

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

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

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

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

The existence beyond limitations of form, time, and space is known as Moksha or Nirvana. Spiritual freedom or Self-realization is the goal of every seeker of truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar  

Sage Sankara says If you give up the external world in your inquiry, you cannot get the whole truth.+

Sage Sankara indicated in Bhaja Govindam  One without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows. 

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~"All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

Sage Sankara says you must first know what is before you. If you cannot know that, what else can you know or understand? If you give up the external world in your inquiry, you cannot get the whole truth.

Sage Sankara VC~.61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

VC-  v6~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not  even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together

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

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it,  your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation

Sage Sankara has enjoined upon the seekers of truth to see and realize the unity in diversity, but one gets confused when he comes across the multifarious objects seemingly quite separate from him. Even while one threads his path he should constantly think what he sees around him has emanated from the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. The world in which he exists is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the consciousness. Till he becomes fully aware of this single stuff firmly establishes in the consciousness he should keep remembering this fact often and often.

Self-Knowledge is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks the physical body is the Self their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality (waking) as a reality.

Millions are in search of the ultimate truth, and only one in million will be able to grasp and realize it. By focusing more attention on the Soul, the innermost Self, by reading, writing, reflecting only of the Soul the inner conviction about the Soul grows and becomes firmer, and then the reality of the dualistic illusion fades away.

Ashtavakra Gita 3:9-10: ~ But he who is truly wise Always sees the absolute Self. Celebrated, he is not delighted. Spurned, he is not angry. Pure of heart, He watches his own actions As if they were another's. How can praise or blame disturb him?

An intense desire for truth -realization is itself the way to it. The Lord is The Self in Advaita. Therefore, one need not accept anything other than the Self, which is consciousness. Thus consciousness alone is the ultimate truth or Brahman that is free from falsehood.

Advaita (non-duality) and dvaita (duality) are the states of the Soul, the innermost Self. It is not some intellectual theory. Religious-based Advaitins believe the Atman (Soul) is Brahman and the world is an illusion. Religious dvaitins believe in the body as Self, and they believe the world is a reality, and they believe in the creator and creation theory. In India Advaita and Dvaita is a merely religious traditions, which they inherited from their ancestors. No one questions their validity because it is considered blasphemy to question any guru and God-men or pundits.

People who are attached to their religious code of conduct and trying to preach Advaita, that is mixing the individual life, and the concept of God, and all mixed up hotchpotch religious doctrine and feed the seeking minds, are themselves not aware of the fact that the individuality and the worldly life is part of the illusion.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Advaita is not the path of exchange of views or discussion.+

Advaita is not the path of exchange of views or discussion. The seeker has to read think deeply and reflect on the subject constantly until the truth becomes firm. When the seeker has a  firm conviction of what is a reality,  then the unreality fades on its own. 

Everyone’s inner work is on. Until a man is ripe to receive Self-knowledge, he will not be able to understand what I am saying. 

Even they may find it difficult in the first as they go on reading and reflecting repeatedly the post their subconscious will start dropping the dualistic egocentric knowledge and start accepting the Soul-centric Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Grasping the truth depends on the spiritual maturity of the seeker. My mission is to share the knowledge by inspiring the serious and sincere seekers of truth and diverting their attention towards the inward reality. 

As their urge is at the seed level and As they go on reading the words of wisdom it will start growing. 

It takes time for the seeker to gain a perfect understanding of ‘what is the truth’? and ‘’what is untruth?’. It takes time for the Soul, the Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

Self-knowledge is not a  question and answers session. As the seeker digs into old and new posts, he will gradually start understanding and assimilating the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

It is a waste of time to spend time discussing. There are many posts and blogs that help you to get rid of ignorance.

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 are the form, time, and space? 

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. The consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

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. 

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, 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 to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

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. 

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 a mindset. 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 Gurus words. For them, their Gurus words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such a mindset. 

Such a mindset is 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 

ZEN Satori is not highest Advaitic or non-dualistic Gnana.+

Nothingness is an erroneous conclusion because every thought has its opposite every word is tied to its coordinate for all thought and speech can only operate under such dualism. Hence, taking the most fundamental word, existence its implied opposite non-existence is also there, and vice versa. So nothingness or “non-entity" is meaningless without "entity". Both are there.

Buddhist Idealism: speaks only of ideas. But they are unaware of the knower of these ideas? It is a thought. The thinker of these thoughts is part of the dualistic illusion without the thinker there are no thoughts. Without form, time, and space there is no thinker.

The Bhagavan Buddha was asked by one of his students, "Are you the Messiah?"

"No", answered Bhagavan Buddha. 

"Then are you a healer?"

"No", Bhagavan Buddha replied. 

"Then are you a teacher?" the student persisted. 

"No, I am not a teacher."

"Then what are you?" asked the student, exasperated. 

"I am awake", Bhagavan Buddha replied.

Bhagavan Buddha said:~ Buddha is not a man, but a state. I have found the way. Enter all of you!

Bhagavan Buddha kept silent, refusing to answer questions about the ultimate. Therefore,  he was the wisest man in refusing to commit himself.

ZEN Satori is not the highest Advaitic or non-dualistic Gnana because it comes as flashes, it does not depend on seeing the world and does not depend upon the mental sharpness so much as intuition. Zen Buddhists are only mystics--they do not offer proof. How is their main method different from that of Christian mystics, Hindu mystics, all of whom do not seek to prove by reason, but by "I know," intuition?

Zen is quite alright in mentioning the nonduality: it is the nearest to Advaita, but nevertheless, it is still inferior because it fails to prove non-duality, it illogically gives loan exercises as a means of attaining that which is beyond attainment, because always here, and it talks of insight or intuition to see Reality when sight involves a second thing, duality.

Zen gives a high important place to meditation practice. The truth is that Zen advocates the necessity of meditation for those of its adherents who cannot grasp the absolute truth.

ZEN is also on this lower stage of Yoga because it depends on flashes of Intuition gained by meditation, not by reasoning.

Bhagavan Buddha gave up his austerities of yoga as impossible and useless. (Page.70/71 "Buddhism in Translation” by Warren)

Bhagavan Buddha got enlightenment only after he gave up Yoga. Unless one exercises his reason--there is no chance of getting the truth.

When one says "Nothing is" what is the meaning of "is"? "Nothingness” is something that exists: one cannot prove that consciousness does not exist.

Has the Void a meaning? If so then it is only your imagination.  Buddha gave up yoga after practicing it for six years. He saw it could not yield truth.

The 'Void' of the emptiness of Buddhism is only a stage. It cannot be ultimate. It says there is really nothing. The mistake of Hinayana Buddhism is to jump to assumptions where Buddha kept silent. :~Santthosh Kumaar

The belief that people born in Brahmin caste, automatically become Brahmins, is a much later concept in the very ancient India.+

The one who is born in the Brahmin caste is not a Brahmin,  but Brahmin is the one who has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman. In spirituality,  Brahmin is not a caste or sect.   

In the Vedic era, a Brahmin was a person who had acquired Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana Atma Gnana. 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 Jnana or Self-Knowledge.

A smritis or code of conduct composed by sage Atri defines brahminhood 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 supreme spirit (Brahma Gnana), he becomes a Brahmin.”

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

Bhagavata clearly says in 7.11.35 that: ~ “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.”

Anyone can become Brahmin by realizing the ultimate truth of Brahman.  A Gnani is a Brahmin because he has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The one who knows Brahman knows his body and his experience of the world are merely an illusion and also he knows his body and his experience of the world are also as Atman (consciousness), which is Brahman. 

Thus, the priestcraft which is crafted on the body-based theories will lead one to hallucinated moksha. But real moksha or freedom is possible only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

If you are seeking truth then you should follow the Atmic path not the path of the Advaitic orthodoxy. Drop all the accumulated orthodox baggage. The orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace.  Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness.  

Sage Sankara, in Bhaja Govindam, says: ~ “(JnanaViheena 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 the means to Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inexhaustible wealth. +

Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inexhaustible wealth. And all other wealth disappears as one spends, but with the ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the more one shares more he gains. The origin of the mind is the Soul. The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The mind appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality). 
The ego is the physical Self. The nature of the ego is restless in its nature. Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana cannot be surmised by merely reading the Vedas and Upanishads.

An urge to know the truth of existence arises in the Soul itself. It is the Soul, which is in the sleep of ignorance. It is the Soul that has to come out of ignorance.  The mind or the universe is the product of ignorance. The true nature of the mind can be recognized with the power of discrimination between the real and the unreal. Discrimination between the eternal and non-eternal is necessary in order to acquire ’Self’ –knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  Self-realization is an impossibility, without understanding ‘what is the mind?’  ‘What is the substance of the mind?’ and “What is the source of the mind?”. 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.  By realizing the consciousness alone is real all else is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness The world in which we exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. This knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana leads one to Self-awareness

Trying to make the mind still is an impossibility without Advaitic wisdom.  Thus, a perfect understanding of  'what is what' is needed to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.
The Soul is the  Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The world in which we exist is created out of consciousness.  The consciousness alone is real and the world in which we exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.  This knowledge of the single stuff (consciousness) leads one to Self-awareness. Self-awareness brings unity in diversity in the midst of duality. Unity in diversity in the midst of the dualistic illusion is the state of the Soul, the Self. The nature of the Soul is stillness. :~Santthosh Kumaar