You’re not what you see because you are not the ‘Self’. The ‘Self’ is Soul that sees the coming and going, of the world in which you exist.+

You’re not what you see because you are not the ‘Self’. The ‘Self’ is the Soul that sees the coming and going, of the world in which you exist. Thus, the world in which you exist is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, the world in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

One thinks the mind is within this body; whereas the body and his experience of the world are within the mind. The consciousness is hidden within the three states, but it is without the three states.

The one, which has the awareness of the three states, is not the body but the Soul which is in the form of consciousness. Thus, consciousness is not limited to the waking experience alone because it pervades all three states.

Until one views and judges the world-view on the base of the ego (waking entity), he is in the grip of individuality. The Self is not an individual because it is universal. And it pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. Thus, individualized judgment will not lead to one non-dual destination.

Till one thinks the mind is within the body, all the doubts and confusion will prevail. When one indulges in deeper Self-search he becomes aware of the fact that the body and the world are within the mind. It is necessary to realize the fact that the body and the world together are the mind (I). Thus, it is necessary to investigate ‘What is this mind (I)?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind?” and ‘What is the source of the mind?’”

The seeker has to know what is real by realizing our body, ego and our experience of the world are an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self.

The nature of the Self is emptiness. And it is identified by different masters with a different names, such as Brahman, Buddha’s nature, Christ consciousness, Self, the Ultimate Truth.

When the Soul the innermost ‘Self’ becomes aware of its formless non-dual nature then it becomes empty of ignorance ( illusion or duality or experience of waking or dream). Thus, whatever remains empty of duality or ignorance or illusion is the non-dualistic reality. Only through wisdom, does one become aware of the truth in the midst of duality.

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 will not remain as reality when Advaitic wisdom dawns. The universe is a mere illusion created out of consciousness and there is a conscious awareness of the unity in diversity because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

People who think, the “I” in everyone and everything is the Self, without realizing the Self is not the ‘I’.+

People who think, the “I” in everyone and everything is the Self, without realizing the  Self is not the ‘I’.

If the ‘I’ be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false.

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

The ‘I’ not within you, but you exist within the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the world in which you exist.

The ‘I’ disappears as deep sleep, so what is the use of being attached to it? It is impermanent and illusory because ‘I’ is physical awareness. Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. ‘I-less awareness is Self-awareness.

It is erroneous to identify the Soul the innermost Self as 'I' or 'I AM' because the Soul the innermost Self is not 'I' or I AM’. The Soul the innermost Self, is that the witness of the 'I'.

To understand the false nature of the ‘I’, the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary.

The Self is not ‘I’, but the Self is the Soul which is the witness of the ‘I’. Holding the ‘I as the 'Self' leads to hallucination based on the imagination.

Remember:~

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.

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that the Self is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. If the ‘Self’ is not you then what is the use of you saying ‘I AM THIS ‘or 'I AM THAT' because you are the false self within the dualistic illusion.

When the Soul wakes up from its sleep of ignorance the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. When the Soul remains in its own awareness, the world in which you exist becomes one with the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If the ‘I’ is there, then only the mind is present. If the mind is there, then only the universe is present. And the universe is present only when the waking or the dream is present.

One sees differences between things because of ignorance; all these differences would vanish when one gets wisdom and the various thoughts arise because one considers the ‘I’ as the Self.

Holding the ‘Self as ‘I’ blocks you from realizing the Self, which is free from the form, time, and space.

First, make sure the Self is not ‘I’.

Make sure what this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.

The ‘I’ is ignorance.

The ‘I’ is the duality.

The ‘I’   form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is the universe.

The ‘I’ is waking.

The ‘I’ is the dream.

The ‘I’ is the illusion.

The ‘I’ is the experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

Remember:~

Without the ‘I’ there is no ignorance.

Without the ‘I’ there is no duality.

Without the ‘I’ there is no form, time, and space

Without the ‘I’ there is no universe.

Without the ‘I’ there is no waking.

Without the ‘I’ there is no dream.

Without the ‘I’ there is no illusion.

Without the ‘I’ there is no experience of birth, life, death and the world.

There is something which exists prior to the appearance of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ appears along with the world in which you exist. The Soul, the innermost Self, exist prior to the appearance of the ‘I’ and it prevails even after the disappearance of the ‘I’

The ‘I’ or the world in which you exist is merely an illusory appearance created out of the Soul which is present in the form of the consciousness. Thus, the ‘I’ is an illusion and impermanent. The Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness, is permanent and eternal.

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. 

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

Intellectual answers to various questions remain in the domain of the form, time, and space. The answers may satisfy one intellectually within the scope of  the form, time and space. The truth is beyond the form, time, and space.

The path of wisdom is the Soulcentric path. Thus, egocentric intellectualism is nothing to do with the truth which is beyond form, time, and space. All accumulated dross leads to hallucination. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Karma Theory is the theory of ignorance and meant for the ignorant populace.+

All our daily activities are Karma. Religious-based karma theory has no value.   Karma is a reality within the dualistic illusion or Maya. No one can stay without karma whether it is religious or non-religious.  

Karma theory based on religion is theory based on the birth entity, which is a false self within the dualistic illusion or Maya.   All actions and inaction are karma. The Soul, the Self has no karma it is unborn eternal.

The ‘Self’ is not you but the Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The karma theory is based on the birth entity whereas the Soul is birthless and deathless because it is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.  The Soul, the ‘Self’ is not limited to you because it pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which you exist. 

The Karma theory is based on form, time, and space. Without the form, time and space the doer, doing and the world ceases to exist.  From the standpoint of the Soul, the form, time and space are an illusion.  If the form, time and space are an illusion the doer, doing and the world is bound to be an illusion.  Thus, the Karma theory is based on the illusory reality is bound to falsehood.

The individual experiences within the practical world are a reality only within the waking experience but the waking experience itself is an illusion created out of the consciousness. If the waking experience is an illusion then practical life within the practical world bound to be an illusion.

The Karma theory is not meant for those who have chosen the religious and yogic path which are based on the birth entity whereas the Atmic path is pure spirituality is based on the birthless Soul, innermost Self.

The rituals mentioned in the karmakanda of the Vedas are sought to be negated in the jnanakanda which is also part of the same scripture. While the karmakanda enjoins upon you the worship of various deities and lays down rules for the same, the jnanakanda constituted by the Upanishads ridicules the worshipper of deities as a dim-witted person no better than a beast.

 This seems strange, the latter part of the Vedas contradicting the former part. The first part deals throughout with karma, while the second or concluding part is all about jnana. Owing to this difference, people have gone so far as to divide our scripture into two sections: the Vedas (that is the first part) to mean the karmakanda and the Upanishads (Vedanta) to mean the jnanakanda.

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

The Atmic path or the path of wisdom is an independent path.  The Soul has no karma, therefore; the karma theory is nothing to do with the Soul, which is birthless and deathless. Thus, the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is a dualistic illusion.  The Advaitic orthodoxy is stuck with the karma theory and rituals are stuck with the theory meant for the lower mindset think by glorifying their guru and conceptual God and indulging in all sorts non-Vedic (Puranic) rituals they get Moksha.

Religious orthodox think that through their good karma and performing rituals they get moksha.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences -There are two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the most advanced seeker who seeks to know the truth beyond the form, time and space. The Religious orthodoxy is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. The Atmic path, with emphasis on the Advaitic wisdom, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures.

That is why 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 (versus-6)

Sage Sankara: ~ “Action (Karma) cannot destroy ignorance, for it is not in conflict with or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. (Atma Bodha)

Sage Sankara says in Aparoksh Anubhuti: ~ “88. When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

   89. O enlightened one; pass your time always contemplating on Atman while you are experiencing all the results of Prarabdha; for it ill becomes you to feel distressed.

   90. The theory one hears from the scripture, that Prarabdha does not lose its hold upon one even after the origination of the knowledge of Atman, is now being refuted.

   91. After the origination of the knowledge of Reality, Prarabdha verily ceases to exist, inasmuch as the body and the like become non-existent; just as a dream does not exist on waking.

   92. That Karma which is done in a previous life is known as Prarabdha (which produces the present life). But such Karma cannot take the place of Prarabdha (for a man of knowledge), as he has no other birth (being free from ego).

   93. Just as the body in a dream is superimposed (and, therefore, illusory), so is also this body. How could there be any birth of the superimposed (body), and in the absence of birth (of the body) where is the room for that (i.e., Prarabdha) at all?

   94. The Vedanta texts declare ignorance to be verily the material (cause) of the phenomenal world just as the earth is of a jar. That (ignorance) being destroyed, where can the universe subsist?

   95. Just as a person out of confusion perceives only the snake leaving aside the rope, so does an ignorant person see only the phenomenal world without knowing the reality?

   96. The real nature of the rope being known, the appearance of the snake no longer persists; so the substratum being known, the phenomenal world disappears completely.

   97. The body also being within the phenomenal world (and, therefore, unreal), how could Prarabdha exist? It is, therefore, for the understanding of the ignorant alone that the Shruti speaks of Prarabdha.

   98. “And all the actions of a man perish when he realizes that (Atman) which is both the higher and the lower”. Here the clear use of the plural by the Shruti is to negate Prarabdha as well.

   99. If the ignorant still arbitrarily maintain this, they will not only involve themselves in two absurdities but will also run the risk of forgoing the Vedantic conclusion. So one should accept those Shrutis alone from which proceeds true knowledge.

The above proves that karma is a reality only on the dualistic perspective.  From the nondualistic perspective, the Karma theory has no value.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is based on the birth entity so it accepts the Karma theory as a reality.  The Karma theory is the theory of ignorance.  If you accept the Karma theory as a reality, you will never be able to come out of ignorance. And ignorance makes you believe the cycle of birth, life, and death as a reality.  Thus, the freedom which you are seeking will remain a distant dream. The one who accepts birth, Karma, and death as reality is unfit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal”.+

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal”. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra) 

Nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification. 

‘WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT   are only stages.  They are helpful at the beginning of the pursuit of truth. As the seeker advances in his quest for truth, he finds them inadequate and useless. 

 The inner journey will not end with ‘WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT   the journey is incomplete.  It is WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT  teaching are final because they are only based on the form and they omit the time and space.

The journey will be completed only when we discover the truth of the whole that is the form, time, and space together. Thus, sticking to WHO AM ‘I’? and ‘I AM THAT  teaching as final and stopping the journey is foolish to venture.   If you are a serious seeker of truth and you want to realize the truth of your true existence then you must be ready to drop what is not needed in pursuit of truth.  Nothing has to be accepted without deeper verification.

All the teachings are useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

Remember:~

If the ‘I’  be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.  

The seeker has to dive deeper and deeper to unfold the mystery of his true existence.

The basic purpose of seeking the truth is to discover the truth of our true existence.  The truth of our true existence will be revealed only by discovering the source of physical existence. Physical existence means the universe.

First, analyze the universe.  How this universe came into existence. And what this universe is supposed to be in truth.

As you go deeper and deeper in analyzing you will discover that the universe is dependent on the ‘I’. Without the ‘I’ the universe ceases to exist.

The ‘I’ is the main ingredient to investigate.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

The ‘I’ appears along with the universe.

The ‘I’ disappears along with the universe.

As you go still deeper you will find.

The ‘I’ is there only when the mind is there.

The ‘I’ appears along with the mind.

The ‘I’ disappears along with the mind.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

The mind appears along with the universe.

 The mind disappears along with the universe.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

The universe appears along with waking experience

The universe disappears along with waking experience.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

 The dream universe appears along with the dream.

The dream universe disappears along with the dream.

The dream is a parallel waking experience

The waking experience is a parallel dream.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

‘I’ disappears in deep sleep.

Along with the ‘I’,  the mind disappears.

Along with ‘I,’ the universe disappears.

Along with ‘I,’ the waking disappears.

Along with the ‘I’ dream disappears.

So,

 ‘I’ is one behind the mind.

The ‘I’ is the one behind the universe.

The ‘I’ is the one behind the waking.

The ‘I’ is the one behind the dream.

So, 

Where this ‘I’ disappeared in deep sleep.

As you go deeper you will find: ~ 

The duality is present only when ‘I’ is present.

The duality is present only when the mind is present.

The duality is present only when the universe is present.

The duality is present only when the waking is present.

The duality is present only when the dream is present.

But

The duality is absent in deep sleep.

The ‘I’ is absent in deep sleep.

The mind is absent in deep sleep.

The universe is absent in deep sleep.

The waking is absent in deep sleep.

The dream is absent in deep sleep.

So,

In deep sleep, there is only non-duality.

So, find out,  

What is it that appears as duality and what is it that disappears nonduality?

~ It is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the cause of the ‘I’ and it itself is uncaused. 

The Soul ~ the One without the Second 

The Soul is the spiritual heart. The Soul is Self-evident. 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. Self is within, the Self is without; the Self is before, the Self is behind; the Self is on the right, the Self is on the left;  the Self is above and the Self is below.  The Soul is everything. 

Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman. There is no need to accept what I write but verify by diving deeply to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

If the ‘I’ be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also.+

If the ‘I’  be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.  

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

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 noN-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.

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 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.

The one who holds the ‘I’ as the Self never will be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Thus, it is necessary to realize first the ‘I’ is not the Self, but the Soul the formless witness of the ‘I’ is the Self.

The ‘I’ based teaching and teachers are not a yardstick in the path of wisdom. ‘I’ based teaching will not lead the seeker to the ultimate end of his inner journey:

Different Gurus and teachers are pointing out the understanding of the Advaitic truth from different standpoints. All such understanding of Advaita is on the dualistic perspective accumulated from here and there.

Remember:~

Advaita is not a theory or a philosophy. Advaita is the nature of the Soul the innermost Self.  There is no need for any theory or philosophy or scriptures to acquire Self-knowledge. Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

The citations from scriptures are not proofs.  The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures.  The ultimate truth is the universal truth and it does not belong to any religion.  Religion causes diversity in unity, whereas, the ultimate truth brings unity in diversity. 

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures.  There is no need to study first, then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’.

One has to make his discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~  "V-C `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