Isa Upanishads: ~ By worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use.+

Religion can never make you know God. Only an intense urge to know what God is supposed to be in truth can make you realize God.  The Soul, the ‘Self is the Infinite God. 

The Soul, the ‘Self is the Infinite God. 

The Soul is the  Self. God is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. God is the fullness of the consciousness without the illusory division of form, time, and space.  Therefore, there is nothing apart from it. 

God is Self-evident. God is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny God because God is the very essence of the one who denies it. God is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. God is within the universe in which you exist, God is without the universe in which you exist.

No second thing exists other than the Soul which is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of the form, time, and space.

From the standpoint of the Soul, there is neither form nor time nor space.

Religion propagates the creator and the creation theory hence people are forced to admit it. People are stuck believing in the creator and the creation theory thus they are stuck to the reality of the world in which they exist.  

Religion makes humanity remain in ignorance of the reality of their true existence with its beliefs, superstitions, and dogmas, the ideas of heaven, hell, sin, karma, and rebirth.  

Heaven is the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth, and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

When Vedas and Upanishads give a clear-cut idea of what God is supposed to be then all these Gods and Goddesses which people worship have no value from the ultimate standpoint.   

For those ignorant who believe their experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, think that the effect of action done in previous births, as the Prarabdha in this birth, but for the realized one the present birth, life, death and the world itself is an illusion because they have realized the fact that, waking experience itself is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

Isa Upanishads: ~ By worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use.  The time one spends in ritualistic practices is wasted; one can spend the same time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is the main goal. One cannot reach the non-dual destination by glorifying gods and goddesses and by doing that, one goes deeper and deeper into darkness. It surely indicates the fact that the seeker of truth has to drop the worshiping god and goddess to get self-knowledge.

Sage Sankara says ~ “The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.- Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the 'Self' has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

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

Sage Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is Avidya, an error that can be removed by Vidya.-Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara: ~ (12) Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma Vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the Self which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman.-Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara: ~ 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. 

Isa Upanishads: ~ Religious Rituals (Avidya) is Karma (action) and, therefore, a hindrance. By performing Agnihotra and other sacrifices (Avidya) is a roundabout way of purifying the mind, and it is also groping in the dark.

 Vedic karma is limited only to the religious rituals, but not on the whole, human life. This karma theory based on human conduct must have been adopted from Buddhism and other theories based on human conduct. 

When it says: Perform the obligatory karmas without any attachment to the fruits, and at the same time worship Gods and Goddesses, again without any desire to go to heaven - then you can get the benefit of both, liberation and bliss. 

For those who are not yet ready to renounce, this path is recommended, it means that the religion and its idea of God and Goddesses and code of conduct, and its rituals are meant for the mass who are incapable of thinking of the beyond.

If the ‘Self’ is not the body, then the karma theory has no meaning.  From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self no second thing exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness because the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the consciousness. 

Thus, whatever karma performed by you within the world in which you exist has no value because the world in which you exist is an illusion.

Mundaka Upanishad says ~ “The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

Heaven is the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth, and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

Remember:~ 

When Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas that God is supposed to be then all these Gods and Goddesses which people worship have no value from the ultimate standpoint. 

  

Religious Gods are based on beliefs. Belief-based Gods are not God in truth.  Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence. God in truth is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. 

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

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)

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Religious beliefs are self-imagined. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

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. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness. 

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad declares: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from him does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality.  For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

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. 

If God is the formless 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). 

Sage  Goudapada quotes from the Upanishads: ~ "There's no plurality here"; "The Soul through its powers appears to be many"; "those who are attached to the creation or production or origination go to utter darkness"; "the unborn is never reborn, for what can produce it?”. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I KNOW’ attitude is blocking your realization.+

People’s   ‘I KNOW’ attitude is blocking their realization. Their scriptural mastery is making them more egoic.   Without humility and patience, they are unfit to receive self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Till they drop all their accumulated knowledge their egoic attitude will not allow them to move further, they simply waste time arguing,  provoking, and trying to snub others. It is better to Keep away from those who want to exhibit their accumulated intellectual wealth.   Those who have mastered scriptures are unaware of the fact that their scriptural mastery is of no use in the Atmic path.

Sage Sankara says ~   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.

Sage Sankara says Atman is Brahman and everything is Brahman is a scientific declaration not religious or yogic or dogmatic. Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada are more scientific than anyone else in the world. Since the real Advaitic essence is hidden it cannot be got without the inner (mental) journey.

A Gnani will never force anyone to accept the path of wisdom. He will constantly bring the seeker back to the fact of his inherent perfection and encourage him to seek the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. A Gnani knows you need nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding you.  A Gnani continuously shares Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana with like-minded fellow seekers.

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

Truth- realization is very simple. We make it complicated by mixing diverse theories, different ideologies, religions, and yoga.  

All our accumulated knowledge is the greatest hindrance in the pursuit of truth. To realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space, one must have the courage of Buddha. Buddha got enlightenment only after dropping the religion, Vedas, and the concept of God.  

To realize the simple truth there is no need to go from one mountain to another, one Ashram to another or worship the Godmen or   Guru as a God, or converting from one faith to another.  The truth is universal. Anyone can realize it if has an intense urge. 

There is no second thing exists other than consciousness.  In the world in which we exist, all our thoughts, words, beliefs, experiences are nothing but consciousness. Realizing consciousness is everything, is truth realization or Self-realization or God-realization.

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

A Guru is needed in the religious and the yogic path.  There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   The inner Guru to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’.

Bhagavan Buddha: - There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting.

The world in which you exist is the dualistic illusion created out single stuff. To realize this knowledge of single stuff, there is no need for a Guru, there is no need to study scriptures, there is no need to go to the mountain, there is no need for gurus blessing or grace in order to get Self-realization.   

If you have an intense urge and are ready to drop all your accumulated knowledge and start afresh then you are fit and ready to take this mental journey.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Chandogya Upanishad:~ “One who meditates upon and realizes the ”Self’ discovers that everything in the cosmos --all come from the “Self’ +

Chandogya Upanishad:~ “One who meditates upon and realizes the ”Self’ discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantram and meditation--all come from the “Self’”.

So, it clearly says the one who meditates upon the “Self’ (consciousness) discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the “Self’. Therefore, there is a need to know the fact that, the true “Self’ is not physical but the Soul in order to realize the fact that:  the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the “Self’, which is in the form of consciousness. 

Atman is Brahman. Brahman the Absolute is alone real; this waking is unreal, and the three states are non-different from Brahman. 

The body, the ego, the world are one,  in essence.  The essence is consciousness. Therefore, the body, the ego, and the world are created out of single stuff.  That single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.  The “Soul is the fullness of consciousness. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it. 

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad- The “Self’ is indeed Brahman (consciousness), 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. 

Consciousness is within,  consciousness is without;  consciousness is before, consciousness is behind;  consciousness is on the right,  consciousness is on the left; consciousness is above and consciousness is below.  Consciousness is not an object, as it is invisible, beyond the reach of the physical eyes.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth. And the ultimate truth is Brahman or God in truth.

The world in which we exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.  Therefore, hold on to consciousness which is real and eternal, and mentally negate the world in which we exist by realizing the world in which we exist is nothing but consciousness. :~Santthosh Kumaar  

That alone know 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.

Sage Sankara:~  The vital- air-Sheath cannot be the Self because it is the modification of air (Vayu). Like air, it enters the body and goes out of it never knowing the joy and sorrow like others. It is ever dependent on the Self.  ~VC~165-166

The breath, body, and the world are one in essence. That essence is formless consciousness.   The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the Self.  Breath, body, and the world are part and parcel of the illusion. 

By holding the breath (vital force) as the Self, one cannot get rid of ignorance. Without getting rid of ignorance wisdom will not dawn. Wisdom dawns only when one realizes the form, time and space are one in essence.

The Soul, the 'Self' does not breathe because it is formless. The Self is not a thinker because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless. By regulating the thought or by regulating the breath, it is impossible to get Self-realization. 

The Self is not the thinks and the one which breathes. You are the thinker. You are the breather. The Self is not you, but the Self is the one which witnesses you and the world together. Therefore, it is erroneous to say ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM THAT’ because the  ‘I’ itself is an illusion. Thus, it is necessary to know ‘What is ‘I’? in order to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

If you are caught in the grip of the ‘I’ then you will remain permanently in the grip of ignorance. If you hold the Self as ‘I’ you will never be able to cross the dualistic illusion.    If you follow the ‘I’ based teaching it is like the blind leading the blind.

If you inquire   “Who am ‘I’?  the ‘I’ will not disappear. You must know the nature of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’ which is permeant and eternal. The Soul is the subject and the ‘I’ is an object.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul. Therefore, the seeker has to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality

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. 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 a 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 the 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 in order 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, which is the cause of the 'I'. 

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 mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar  

A scholar is proud that he has accumulated so much knowledge; Gnani is humble that he knows no more.+

Meher Baba Said: ~ A true aspirant is not content with the knowledge of spiritual realities based on hearsay... he insists on the direct knowledge."

A scholar is proud that he has accumulated so much knowledge; Gnani is humble that he knows no more.

The Upanishads declare:~

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8:~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.” 

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing the spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed.

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ The Soul cannot be realized through hearing the scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the book nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul Consciousness is real purity. 

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~ When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own Self, one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality. 

Kena Upanishad 2: 5: ~ If here one knows it, then there is the truth, and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

The scriptures are being added from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

The scriptures are for ignorant masses, who wholly accept the material world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason.   I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures, but I quote them to help the seekers realize the scriptures are saying   

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that declare:~ It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

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. (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)

When the Upanishad says: ~ The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized God, belief in physical Guru, scriptures are the greatest obstacle to realizing the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth because they are based on false Self.  The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper Self-search and assimilate and realize it.

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

Then it is no use going a roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance, and witness of the universe, which is in the form of mind.  By tracing the source of the mind or universe one will be able to realize the Brahman or God in truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Do not make the mistake and say ‘I AM THIS or I AM THAT without knowing what this ‘I’ is in actuality.+

The waking becomes deep sleep and deep sleep become a dream but the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ remains unaffected witnessing the illusory passing show.

You are not a witness because you are not the Self.  The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

Do not make the mistake and say  ‘I AM THIS or I AM THAT without knowing what this ‘I’ is in actuality.

However many books you read. However many gurus you follow, However, many Gods you worship what good will they do you if you do not realize the fact that the ‘Self is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

You have to drop all your accumulated knowledge accumulated from different sources as inadequate and useless. You will realize the truth hidden by ignorance only after you drop your accumulated knowledge, which is blocking your realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Advaitic truth has to be proved not assumed. The gurus of the east and west have not proved  Sage Sankara’s Advaitic truth because their knowledge of Advaita is based on the dualistic perspective.  Seekers of truth have to realize how this practical life within the practical world is unreal. And on ‘what standpoint it is unreal.

It is foolish to cling to the unreality because the reality is hidden by the unreality.  The people have stuck by the reality of the world and they stop there.

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

Unless you exercise your reason (Buddhi) -there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman.:~Santthosh Kumaar

The breath is not the ‘God’.+

Some Gurus hold their breath as God.   The "Breath is not God". The breath is not the Self. The breath, body, and the world are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  

Thus, the breadth and breather and the world are part of the illusion created out of single stuff, which is the consciousness. The knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The ‘Self is not you. The ‘Self’ is the formless, timeless, and spaceless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  

The breath, breather, and the world are present in the domain of the dualistic illusion.  The dualistic illusion is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Even the Sunyavada ultimate of the "void" is really a breath, and, therefore, imagination and not the truth.

Sage Sankara:~  The vital- air-Sheath cannot be the Self because it is the modification of air (Vayu). Like air, it enters the body and goes out of it never knowing the joy and sorrow like others. It is ever dependent on the Self.  ~(VC 165-166)

People who hold their breath as the ‘Self’ are still thinking within the domain of form, time, and space.

Thich Nhat Hanh _-"Breath is the bridge, which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts."

But 

Santthosh Kumaar:~ The one can breathe only within the world in which he exists.  The ‘Self is not the one who breathes or the breath.  The breather, breathe and the world in which he exists, is created out of a single clay. That single clay is consciousness. The breather, breathe, and the world in which he exists cease to exist without consciousness. Consciousness can exist with or without the world in which we exist.   consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar