The ultimate truth or Brahman has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.+

Scriptures mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Mundaka Upanishads: ~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

Scriptures are not needed in pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the Advaitic Sages declare the same.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the Self is Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. 

In the realm of truth the form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth, there is no need for scriptures. 

The ultimate truth or Brahman has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC 56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by good work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

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.

Advaita is the nature of the Soul. Advaita is second to none. Advaita is universal wisdom that reveals on its own to all the serious and sincere seekers of truth.

The real Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is soulcentric knowledge.  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is soulcentric knowledge that destroys ignorance.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Belief in reincarnation which is central to Hinduism of today is not really attested in the Vedas.+

In the early Vedic literature, there is no express mention of the doctrine of transmigration. In the entire Rig Veda consisting of about 10,500 verses ― there is only one occasion where there is mention of a return to this world after death. What is implied here is that it cannot be taken as important teaching of the Rig Veda.
Reincarnation was not a Vedic belief. Belief in reincarnation which is central to Hinduism of today is not really attested to in the Vedas though they hint at life after death. The doctrine of transmigration as elaborated in Hinduism has no place in the Vedic hymns”.
It is in the Upanishads that it appears for the first time. The Rig Veda speaks of two paths for the Souls of the deceased, namely, the path of the God s (devayana) and the path of the fathers (pitriyana). Those who go by the former enjoy immortality and there is no return to physical life after that.

In fact, the Vedic man longed for this state of life. Whereas those who go by the latter path, unite with the fathers and then return to earth, after having enjoyed the fruits of his deeds.
People who are caught up in the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted the duality as reality.
People who believe in reincarnation and rebirth theories are unaware of the fact that their belief is based on the waking entity, which is the false self within the false experience. The waking entity itself is false Self within the false experience, it means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is a falsehood.
Whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as the waking entity is bound to be a falsehood because the Soul, the innermost Self is birthless because it is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. Therefore, the rebirth and reincarnation theory based on the false Self is bound to be a falsehood because the birth and death take place domain of the form, time, and space whereas the 'Self is birthless and deathless. 

The one, which is born, lives, and dies in the world, is not the Self. When the world itself is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness then the birth and rebirth happening within the world are bound to be an illusion. 
A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience itself is an illusion. It means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is an illusion. Thus, the reincarnation theory based on the false self within the false experience is bound to be a falsehood. When the waking entity is not the Self then whatever theories are based on the waking entity imagined theory.
This imagined theory based on the waking entity or ego is for those lower mindset who are incapable of grasping the ultimate truth or Brahman.

People who are caught up in the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted the duality as reality. Birth implies duality, and the duality is falsehood from the ultimate standpoint.

DeeperSelf-search reveals the fact that the body is not the Self. Religion is based on the body as the Self because it speaks of birth, death, and rebirth whereas the 'Self' is birthless and deathless because it is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. 
Ignorance is the cause of experiencing birth, life, death, and the world as reality. Once the ignorance is dropped then one becomes aware ‘what is the truth?‘, and what is the untruth?.
From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self - There is no birth, No death, No world ~. This is the truth.
From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self, there is neither birth nor death nor the world. From the non-dualistic perspective, the present birth itself is an illusion because the Soul, the Self is birthless and deathless.

The one which born, lives, and dies in this world is not the Self. If the ‘Self’ is not the birth entity then whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a birth entity is bound to be an illusion. Thus, the reincarnation theory is based on the birth entity (you or ego), which is the false self within the false experience (waking).

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, The world in which we exist is merely an illusion. If the world in which we exist is an illusion then the birth, life, death and rebirth, and reincarnation that happens within the illusory world are bound to be an illusion.

Accepting rebirth and reincarnation theory as reality is accepting false Self (ego) as real Self and false experience (waking) as reality.
Self-realization is impossible if one accepts the present waking entity as the real Self because the Self is neither the waking entity nor the Self is the dream entity, but the Self is the Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Remember the ‘I’ is the whole universe.+

Do not keep on glorifying the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not within your body. Remember the ‘I’ is the whole universe. The universe ceases to exist without the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not limited to the ego, the ‘I’ is the world in which you exist.

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, the Self is the witness of the ‘I’ which is permeant and eternal. The Soul, the Self 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 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, which is the cause of the universe. 

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 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.

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

Maharishi Dayananda called women as the most honourable. And criticizing those who prevented women from learning Vedas.+

It is ridiculous when women are successful in every field; the traditionalists are barring women under some pretext or the other from learning Vedas is orthodox hypocrisy. Accordingly, during the Vedic age, women were given the utmost position. Vedas says Gods reside where women are held in high esteem.

Vedas unequivocally proclaim equal rights for all people regardless of caste, gender, or geography. While the west could give voting rights to women only in the early 20th century, Vedas talk of women being the path-makers and decision-makers in society since the dawn of civilization.

Accordingly,  during the Vedic age, women were given the utmost position. We see the names of Ghosha, Apaala, Lopamudra, and Ruchi-Indraani being cited as Rishikas similar to the names of Rishis like Vasistha, Vishwamitra, and Vamadeva, etc. They had realized the truth contained in many Veda mantras.

Even they had full powers to administer various Vedic rituals called karmakand. It is clear from the Vedic authority Stree hee brahma babhuvita that women were partaking in the Yagnas. They conducted the yagnas seated as Brahma. They also had access to learn the warfare and had the freedom to partake therein. They bequeathed the qualities of courage and heroism to their children also. A heroic mother proudly announces in Veda thus Mama Putro Shatruhane mamaduhita virat meaning that my son is a vanquisher of enemies and my daughter is honorable.

 The tradition continued in the Upanishadic era also. There were many spiritually endowed women called Brahmavaadins like Gargi, Maitreyee, etc. They were master debaters and even reputed Rishis were hesitant to engage them in debates. Gargi’s intellectual combat with Rishi Yagnavalkya is quite well-known.

However,  it must be said that the position of women detracted during the middle ages. Her prestige suffered during the Puranic age. In Sanskrit literature, she was treated as an object of enjoyment.

Orthodoxy described characterized women as the way to hell and untrustworthy. The dualist sages called women as anuchari and not as sahachari. The men who led the Bhakti movement also disregarded women.

Women Saints and Sages

Women saints and sages of India have been given less importance, for several reasons obvious to anyone studying history...

In the medieval period, women were confined to homes and according to some moral codes, women were not allowed to study scriptures and chant mantras while mantras were invoked as female deities or Goddesses.

The Vedic rishis had wives who were learned women and took part in philosophical discussions. The crippling social practices for women, considering them as inferior, unfit for scriptural studies were introduced by male-dominated societies...While women monastics or nuns were introduced in Buddhism; it was not a common practice to have nuns in Hindu monastic orders until recent times.

Sage Sankara says in Mand.P.351 and also in Vivekachoodamani, that even women can realize the truth if they persist.

Thus,  it proves that Sage Sankara wanted even women to acquire Advaitic wisdom, whereas the orthodox Advaitins Bars women to indulge in the path of wisdom even in these modern days.  T. the orthodoxy is based on the experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality whereas the ultimate truth is based on the formless Soul, the innermost Self.   Thus, Advaitic wisdom is for the whole universe irrespective of any gender, race, creed, or religion. 

Sage Sankara has philosophical disputes and debates with an equally great scholar, Mandana Mishra.  Mishra's learned wife Bharathi served as the umpire.

However, the credit for uplifting women and restoring their rights should go to liberals like Maharishi Dayananda (1824 -1883) the founder of the movement called Arya Samaj to work incessantly for their all-round welfare. He called women the most honorable.  And criticizing those who prevented women from learning Vedas

Maharshi Dayananda quoted: ~ Yajurveda mantra ~Yathemam Vacham kalyani mavadhani janebhyah: Brahmararjaanaabhyam shudrayacharyaa cha swaya chaaranaya|| ladies and even persons lower than shudras. Here shudras mean ignorant people. Condemning certain verses whose authority was doubtful like Stree-shudro Na deeyataam, he countered them with the Vedic mantra Bramhacharyena Kanya yuvaanaam vindate patim which enabled women to go for marriage after observing Brahmacharya and after studying the true shastras like Vedas, etc.

He also quoted amply from other sources that sanction women the authority to learn Vedas. Recalling those days he said women like Gargi were total scholars. Citing another incident he pointed out how a queen like Kaikeyee could assist her husband in a war unless she had training in martial arts. His assertions in favor of women learning Vedas had the desired effect and the opposition to women from learning Vedas has waned but not totally eliminated.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

All imagined Advaita will not help to cross the domain of the form, time, and space.+

All the Advaitic Gurus of the east and the west are based on a dualistic perspective. Dualistic knowledge is egocentric knowledge. All egocentric Advaita or nonduality is based on imagination. All imagined Advaita will not help to cross the domain of form, time, and space.

The egocentric knowledge keeps the Soul in the intoxication of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ hides the whole truth.  The Gurus and the teachers of the nonduality of the east and west are stuck up with their own accepted truth gathered from here and there and  Their egoic attitude blocks than from realizing the Advaita hidden by the dvaita, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

Mundaka Upanishads: ~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

Scriptures are not needed in pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the Sages of truth declare the same.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the Self is formless Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. 

In the realm of truth the form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth, there is no need for scriptures. 

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC 56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by good work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

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.

The real Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is soulcentric knowledge.  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is soulcentric knowledge that destroys ignorance.

Advaita is universal. Advaita is not for sale. Do not buy Advaita from the spiritual supermarket. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self. The world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

Advaitic truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to realize because you have accumulated mental garbage from different sources in the name of Advaita. Until you discard all the accumulated knowledge you will never be able to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

The Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the 'Self' shines on its own awareness when wisdom dawns. 

The Advaita is the Soul is the cause and the support of all that exists as the world in which we exist. Advaita is the nature of the Athma, the Self, which is God in truth. 

The Advaita is present in the form of consciousness. Advaita is the root element of the universe. From the Advaita, the universe comes into existence. In the Advaita, the universe resides. And into the Advaita, the universe is dissolved. The Advaita is the parent of all that is there is.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The God is always there, only the transient ‘world’ comes and goes.+

All that is real is hidden by the world in which we exist is Soul, the real God. God is the innermost Self. The gulf between the world and 'Self is thus bridged. Thus, by knowing God, we find that the kingdom of heaven is hidden by the world in which we exist. 

From the standpoint of the Soul, which is God in truth, the world in which we exist is merely an illusion. The Soul, the real God, is present in the form of consciousness, realize this truth and rest in consciousness.

God is always there, only the transient ‘world’ comes and goes. 

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ 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. (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.

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

Even 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 innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

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)

Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness is 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 realized. 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.”

Sage Sankara says:~ 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, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments.

Meher Baba said: ~ God is your innermost Self. Do not search for God outside of you. Let these words be inscribed in your heart. Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God. God is everywhere and does everything. God is beyond us and is everything. God alone is and all else is an illusion.

Remember:~

The Soul, the Self is present in the form of consciousness is God in truth. God in truth is invisible to physical eyes. 

The Soul, which is the God in truth is the Self is Self-evident. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Soul because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. The Soul is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. 

Mentally hold on to God in truth and drop all other God you worship and rest in God in truth, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

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

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth.  

Remember:~ 

The Soul, the Self is the only Ancient One. Realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul. God is not a belief that you worship because the Soul itself is God in truth.

It is for every seeker who is seeking truth must first know what God is supposed to be in actuality according to Vedas and Upanishads and reject all non-Vedic Gods to realize the Atman is real God.

Bhagavad Gita:~ “All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20)

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the  ‘Self’ within the false experience (waking). Thus,  it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are merely imagination based on the false ‘Self’(ego). Thus, Atman or Soul, the  ‘Self’ is God.

Sage Sankara:~ VC 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 (verses-6)

It is clear that liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itself declares that there is no hope for immortality through wealth. (Verses -7)

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

Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (Advaitic wisdom ) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it. (Gita –Chap- IV-v.2)

In Gita Chap.IV where Lord Krishna says: ~ "This yoga has been lost for ages" the word yoga refers to Gnana yoga, not other yogas: the force of the word this is to point this out.

Lord Krishna describes some of the other yogas but devotes this chapter separately to Gnana Yoga. So one sees even in those ancient days people did not care for Advaita; they wanted religion; hence,  Gnana got lost. That is why Krishna calls it "the supreme secret." Krishna points out that yoga must-see "Brahman in action."

Gita Chap.IV: "He who achieves perfection in Yoga finds the Self in time." This means that after his yoga is finished, he begins the inquiry into ultimate truth, and in due course, this inquiry produces the realization of the universal spirit as the result.

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.

There is no need for any practice to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Perfect understanding assimilation of ‘what is what’ is very much necessary to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman, which is God.

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

The Soul or Brahman or God in truth cannot be realized through performing ceremonies and rituals, the seeker must understand that whatever Sage Sankara indicated, the seekers have to follow it faithfully, honestly with humility to overcome the ignorance, which is blocking their realization of the ‘Self’.

Do not make your understanding just mechanical it will then bind you, rather than free you. Let all be done with all your heart in it; then you will know that all is an illusion and God is the only Reality. And, unless you have that realization and continual awareness ~ that continual Existence continually infinite ~ all else is beliefs that are untrue or make no sense. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “For the Self there is neither bondage nor liberation.+

Mentally reduce the world in which you exist as consciousness by realizing the world in which you exist is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness. 

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

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

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

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

God in truth is hidden behind the illusory world in which you exist.  Consciousness, which is God in truth is the cause of the illusory world in which you exist. 

Why you are struggling to realize this simple truth.  There is no need to go from one mountain to another, one Guru to another, one Ashram to another, read books after books. 

Realizing the world, in which you exist is nothing but consciousness. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   

Thus, there no second thing exists other than consciousness.  Thus, everything is the consciousness whether it exists as the world, in which you exist or without the world, in which you exist. 

Realizing the consciousness as the ultimate truth is truth- realization. Truth realization is Self-realization. Self-realization is God-realization.

A permanent view of the world as an illusion can come only after Soul centric reasoning; such knowledge cannot change. Were the seeker is sufficiently sharpness he could grasp the unreal nature of the world by Soul-centric reasoning alone.  To know the whole truth, one must know the whole universe, otherwise, he gets only half-truth. 

Renouncing the worldly life and accepting sannyasa or monk-hood means the incapacity to think deeper, impotency to inquire, and reason. 

People speak of getting rid of conditioning or samskara,  but they themselves are unaware of the fact that the universe in which they exist is the product of the inborn samskara or conditioning.  Ignorance is the cause of the inborn samskara or conditioning which is present as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’. 

The real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness. Physical awareness is present in the form, time, and space. The form, time, and space are present in the form of the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe.  The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality)     Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. Self–awareness is when the  Soul or consciousness remains aware of its own non-dual true nature.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “Truly the dualism is the root of suffering. There is no other remedy for it than the realization that all this that we see is unreal and that the Soul, the innermost Self, is the one stainless reality, consisting of the consciousness”. 2:16

The sun, the moon, the stars, planets shine because of the Soul or Spirit. The Soul shines and all things else shine as a result. Everything in the universe reflects but that light of the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. Merely knowing the truth is not enough to escape from the tangle of illusion.

The mind is in the form of the universe. From the standpoint of the Soul,  the Self, the universe is merely an illusion.  The illusion arises from ignorance. Enlightenment comes with detachment from the illusion by realizing the experience of the form, time and space are one in essence.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “The Self is pure awareness though through ignorance the ‘Self' has imagined itself to have additional attributes. By continually reflecting like this, the Self’s dwelling place is unimagined. 2:17

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “For the Self, there is neither bondage nor liberation. The illusion has lost its basis and ceased. Truly all this exists in the Self though ultimately it does not even exist in the Self. 2:18

By saying I know the truth; I know Brahman is not wisdom. The Truth is found only in the Unity of understanding that is the knowledge of both the matter and spirit. That is the matter and the spirit, are one in essence.  And that essence is the spirit, which is present in the form of the Soul or the consciousness.:~ Santthosh Kumaar