The universe is within the Soul, but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness is hidden the by the universe.+

The universe is within the Soul, but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is hidden by the universe.

The Soul is the  Self. From the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘Self’, The universe is an illusion created out of consciousness.

Realize the Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul right now and right here and rest in the consciousness.

Sage Sankara says: ~  VC-47~ All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.

Sage Sankara says ~ VC-162~ There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

Without knowing ‘what is this mind?’ people talk of destroying the mind. People are stuck thinking the mind is within their body and theorize and write books speculating and creating their own theories.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ is present in the form of mind. And the mind is in the form of the universe. And the universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

Self-realization is necessary to realize the mind, which is present in the form of the universe is merely an illusion. The mind cannot be destroyed because it is merely an illusion. When Advaitic wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed, the same way the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place.

When the source has reached the mind (I) gets merged into it. The result of Self-knowledge is a cure for getting rid of ignorance. It is the highest of all the results. There is nothing greater than it.

Upanishads: ~ They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada)

That is why Sage Sankara Says: ~ VC-63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’ how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

What is the use of saying ‘I AM THAT’- without knowing what the ‘Self’ is in actuality? Without knowing the truth of the Self, without realizing the truth of the world in which you exist it is impossible to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space. By a mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT', the truth will not be revealed. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

By inquiring ‘WHO AM ‘I’? without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’, the truth, which is hidden by the form,time and space will not reveal.+

By inquiring ‘WHO AM ‘I’? without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’,  the truth, which is hidden by the form, time and space will not reveal.  

The ‘I’ exists only when the form, time, and space are present.  When the Self is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self is ‘I –less Soul, then whatever based on the ‘I’, is bound to be an illusion. 

Thus, the ‘I-less Soul is permeant and eternal, because the Soul is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.   

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

Do not try to know who you are? By inquiring ‘Who am ‘I’,   you will never reach the ultimate end of understanding. ‘Who am ‘I’? is only helpful in the beginning in the later stages it is inadequate to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

  

Try to find out what is this ‘I’ which appears and disappears. What is it that knows this appearance and disappearance of the ‘I’?

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

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.

Self–inquiry is not the critical study of the scriptures. The ‘Self-inquiry’ is finding out the ‘Self’ which is hidden within the world, in which we exist. 

By inquiring ‘Who am I?’, the ignorance will not vanish. Without getting rid of ignorance, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Without the Advaitic wisdom, it is not possible to realize the truth, which is hidden within the world in which we exist. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara explains in Manduka upanishad that those who study the Sutras are orthodox minds, intellectual children, hence his popular view point to assist them.+

Advaitic wisdom is independent of religion.  Sage Sankara himself the Saguna Brahman, or a personal God is only a part of the phenomenal (if not illusory) world and the Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion.  

It is very difficult to bifurcate the pearls of the hidden wisdom of Sage Sankara from the contamination of theistic Advaita and Advaita Vedanta.   

Sage Sankara's wisdom (Advaita) ~ Without a Parallel.  Sage Sankara's wisdom is lofty, sublime, and unique. It is highly interesting, inspiring, and elevating. No other wisdom can stand before it in boldness, depth, and subtle thinking.  Sage Sankara’s wisdom is complete and perfect.

Sage Sankara was a mighty, marvelous genius. He was a profound thinker of the first rank. He was a sage of the highest realization. His wisdom has brought solace, peace, and illumination to countless persons in the world. The Western thinkers bow their heads at the lotus-feet of Sage Sankara. His wisdom has soothed the sorrows and afflictions of the most forlorn persons and brought hope, joy, wisdom, perfection, freedom, and calmness to many. His wisdom commands the admiration of the whole world.

Sage Sankara pokes fun at ascetics and points out that all their austerities do not cause desires to go (Altar Flowers" Page 205, v.2 P.207 v.4)

The Brahma Sutras together with Sage Sankara's commentary thereon do not contain the higher wisdom. They are intended for those who are incapable of thinking rationally.

Sage Sankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras is not on a philosophical basis, but on an orthodox and mystic basis, with an appeal to the Vedas as a final authority.

In Brahma Sutra Sage Sankara takes the position that there is another entity outside us, i.e. the wall really exists separately from the mind. This was because Sage  Sankara explains in Manduka that those who study the Sutras are orthodox minds, intellectual children, hence his popular viewpoint to assist them. These people are afraid to go deeper because it means being heroic enough to refuse to accept Sruti, and God's authority, in case they mean punishment by God.  A Gnani says the scriptures for children, but wise seekers will think rationally.

In Brahma Sutras Sage Sankara takes for granted, assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy.

That God created the world is an absolute lie, nevertheless one will find Sage  Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds.

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion, dogmatism, but in the commentary Sage  Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that a number of Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, only a few Upanishads do not but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof.

Scholars' translation of Brahma Sutras in Sacred Books of East must be read cautiously as he has not understood its highest sense, e.g. for Advaita, they wrongly put "Unity" instead of “Non-duality."

Sage Sankara gave religion and scholasticism and yoga no less than philosophy, to the seeking world. He was great enough to be able to do so. His commentary on Mandukya is pure philosophy, but many of his other books are presented from a religious standpoint to help those who cannot rise up to philosophy.

Advatic Orthodoxy is the home of mysticism and deification that is why they are not very keen on rational truth.

Sage Sankara is a Jagaduru to the religious followers and he is a Brahma Gnani to the seeking world.  :~Santthosh Kumaar

To attain Self- realization, the study of the Advaita Vedanta is not necessary.+

To attain Self- realization, the study of the Advaita Vedanta is not necessary. You want fresh water to drink, but you do not require all the water of the river to quench your thirst.

The intellectual wealth of accumulated knowledge is of no use in the quest for truth. Each Guru spins his own imagination and calls it wisdom.

My blogs and posting are useful in explaining doubts and difficulties the seeker encounters in the course of thinking.

Sage Sankara's wisdom (Advaita) ~ Without a Parallel.  Sage Sankara's wisdom is lofty, sublime, and unique. It is highly interesting, inspiring, and elevating. No other wisdom can stand before it in boldness, depth, and subtle thinking.  Sage Sankara’s wisdom is complete and perfect.

Advaitic wisdom is independent of religion, that in Sage Sankara himself the Saguna Brahman or a personal God is only a part of the phenomenal (if not illusory) world, and the Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion.  

Sage Sankara’s whole teaching can be summed up in one sentence, ‘There is nothing else but Brahman. He says that Absolute Existence, Absolute Knowledge, and Absolute Bliss are real. The universe is not real. He says that Brahma and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Self is real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances. 

There is no need to study Vedanta.  The seeker has to find out: - ‘What is the mind or ‘I’?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind (I)?’  And what is the source of the mind?  (I),  in order to realize the nature of the mind (I). 

Sage Sankara said: ~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the duality (waking experience).  When one is Soul-centric than he will realize ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ and ‘what is a reality and what is unreality’  and able establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the Soul, the Self.  

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

It is unfortunate people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, imagine nonduality and say nothing exists other than the source. But a Gnani says everything exists (illusion) but everything is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is consciousness.  Everything arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness. Thus, the whole diversity (three states) has no relevance, from the standpoint of the Soul,  the Self.

Everything (illusion) is nothingness (consciousness) realizing the three states are created out of nothingness (Consciousness). Nothingness is the nature of consciousness because there is no second thing exists other than itself.       

Religion, mysticism, and yoga are meant for the mass mindset, which is incapable of investigating and verifying their inherited beliefs.  The path of wisdom or truth is to get the pure essence of non-duality or Advaita.

The ultimate truth is based on the formless Soul, the Self.  Soul-centric reasoning leads one to non-dual Self-awareness.  Therefore, there is a  need to rectify the reasoning base from ego base to Soul base to understand, assimilate and realize the Non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Unity in diversity is possible only through a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’.+

Unity in diversity is possible only through a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’. As one goes deeper self-search he realizes that diversity is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. knowledge of that single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

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 diverse world in which we exist is created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Swami Vivekananda said:~ "The Vedas teach that the Soul is divine, only held in the bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, Mukthi - freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from death and misery."

Ashtavakra Gita: ~The universe rises from the ‘Self’ like bubbles from the sea. Thus, know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

The universe is verily consciousness. Without realizing ‘what is the Mind? it is impossible to get self- realization. The universe is not different from the Mind because the universe is the mind itself. 

The mind is not different from the Soul because the mind is the dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness. The universe is unreal because it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness.

It is impossible for any human being to challenge successfully the Advaitic position, as Sage Sankara says.

Sage Sankara asks his opponents "How do you know there are separate individual Souls? Have you seen the Soul of a man? You can only say that you have seen different bodies. To say more is to misuse language. Therefore, I call you liars unless you give proof, which is impossible. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

A Gnani finds the content of all the philosophical books as playthings.+

Sage Sankara said:~Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

Even though people have read e philosophy and may be able to explain things to others, all these philosophers are worthless pieces of paper unless the ‘truth’, which is beyond the form, time, and space, is realized.

Sage Sankara said 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.

One can never attain spiritual perfection without a perfect understanding of what is ‘what’.  A Gnani finds the content of all the philosophical books as playthings.

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

The truth seekers from different walks of life from all over the world are struggling to know the mystery of their own existence. Due to inborn and inherited conditioning or samskara, it becomes difficult to grasp the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

Religious beliefs, social and cultural bondage, personal predilections, and phobias become the greatest obstacle to discovering the ultimate truth. However, an intense inner urge to know the ultimate truth will not be satisfied until the journey to the unknown is completed. The seeker has to cross many obstacles and barricade injected by religion and society and beliefs and behaviors.

The fact is something that has to be proved beyond all doubts and cannot be challenged. The truth cannot be found in an antique shop there is no use of trying one old idea to another it leads towards the confusion. Nothing can be achieved or attained since the very base of seeking truth is based on the false self (ego) and false experience (waking).  

The seeker has to learn to view and judge the three states from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self.  Only when the seeker becomes Soulcentric then the truth will start unfolding gradually according to the spiritual maturity of the seeker.

When the Soul wakes up from its sleep of ignorance then there is no more diversity. The diversity is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to grasp because of ignorance. You have to only realize the world in which you exist is created out of single clay. And that single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, you and your body and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness because they are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. 

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again until it becomes a reality. One needs to constantly reflect on the subject until he gets a firm conviction of what is what. Words are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what’. People need reading and hearing the words of wisdom to think reason and reflect deeply and reach the ultimate end.

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

If you are seeking truth then you must know that yoga is not the means to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space. +

If you are seeking truth then you must know that yoga is not the means to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. Unless one exercises Soulcentric reason there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman.

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

The notion of ‘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. 

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

Bhagavan 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)

Yogis say, ‘I am not the body, but they believe in body-based practices. The Soul is bodiless because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.  Without the body where are the chakras and where is the kundalini.

Yogi thinks the Self is within his body. The Soul, the ‘Self ‘is not within the body because it pervades form, time, and space.

All the yogic theories are limited to form, time, and space whereas the Soul, the Self is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Kundalini is based on the physical form. Kundalini requires a physical form.  Without the physical form, there is no kundalini. The physical form is not the ‘Self’.  The ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ the form, time, and space are merely an illusion. Thus, all the theories based on form, time, and space are bound to be illusory theories based on the false self (form) within the dualistic illusion.

A yogi cannot attain realization because he thinks his body to be the body and the world to be the world and fails to see them as consciousness and thinks his experience of Samadhi is because of his individual effort. The individual experience is limited to waking experience is mere illusion. Thus, even his Samadhi is also limited to the waking experience, which is merely an illusion. He thinks the thoughtlessness is Samadhi, but thoughts are of individuality. Thoughts disappear even in deep sleep. Therefore deep sleep is not wisdom. If one thinks thoughtlessness is Samadhi and Samadhi is Brahman then anyone gets knowledge of Brahman by taking sleeping pills or hemp.

Brih Upanishad: page 32. "Yoga does not yield truth or liberation."

One who is in Samadhi will not know that this universe as the consciousness; therefore yoga is not the means to Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

 In Samadhi, the yogi knows nothing, sees no universe; so if there is nothing but blankness. The blankness is not the Advaitic wisdom.

The yogi does not know the nature of the universe. If the universe is not seen in the Samadhi then there is no need to use the word Atman and Brahman.  The yogi is unaware of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

By shutting his eyes in Samadhi, the Yogi does not know the universe, which confronts him. Hence, the universe can't be known as the Soul or the consciousness through yoga.

One is in a non-dual condition in deep sleep or Samadhi, One without a second, true, but he did not know it at the time. He says only in the waking experience afterward. Hence, there must be an inquiry so that you find non-duality whilst you are awake so that you can see nonduality at the time not afterward. Hence, too the need for inquiring into the nature of the universe and knowing it as the Soul or the consciousness whilst one is awake, and not during sleep or Samadhi.

Advaitic truth is the ultimate truth.  Yogis, mystics, and religious teachers do not accept the path of wisdom because it pries into the truth, the source, and the validity of the knowledge they claim. Therefore, it is the most difficult part of the study of Advaita.

That is why Sage Sankara said:~VC-63- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation.  

The universe in which we exist will not remain as reality when wisdom dawns. The universe is a mere mirage created out of consciousness and there is a conscious awareness of unity in diversity because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

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 the yoga must-see is "Brahman in action." :~Santthosh Kumaar