The ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but ‘I’ is the dualistic illusion.+

The ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but ‘I’ is the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is present in the form of the world in which you exist. The world in which you exist appears as waking experience (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (Nonduality). 

Realizing the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul is real freedom from experiencing the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist) as a reality.

Thoughtless awareness comes only when there is oneness in awareness in the midst of dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion exists as a reality until ignorance is there. Ignorance will vanish only when the non-dualistic or Advaitic wisdom dawns.

The wisdom dawns only when one becomes aware of the fact that the world in which you exist is a dualistic illusion created out of single stuff that is consciousness.   Thus, realizing consciousness alone is real and all the three states are merely an illusion created out of consciousness leads to nondual Self-awareness.  

Remember:~ 

The mind is the product of ignorance. Without ignorance, the mind ceases to exist as the mind.

The mind is present in the form of ‘I’. Thus mind (I) itself is ignorance. Till the mind is there the universe is there. Until the universe is there the waking experience is there.

Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, it is possible to get rid of ignorance and realize the fact that the form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘Self’, the mind (I) is merely an illusion. Thus, a perfect understanding and firm conviction are required to know ‘what is what” in order to realize ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ (illusion).

All accumulated bookish knowledge is only intellectual wealth. Intellectual wealth is mental garbage.

A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignore that in a dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real.

When you finally realize the ‘Self ‘ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, you, your experience birth, life, death, and world mere an illusion created out of the consciousness, the consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

In Self-awareness-- the witness and witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

Thus, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality) but waking experience (duality) itself is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness. Without or without waking, consciousness will prevail as consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

There are three kinds of aspirants.+

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.

 There are three kinds of aspirants:  ~ 

1. The ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices follow a religion.

2. Middling intellect who desire peace and well-being follow the yogic path or meditation.

3. The most advanced seeker who seeks to know the ultimate truth follows the Atmic path. The Atmic path with its emphasis on the Advaitic wisdom is meant for those who wish to go beyond the form, time, and space.

Only through deeper self-search beginners and intermediates gradually become aware ‘what is what’. Only after they have realized the fact that the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness,  they are ready for the inner journey towards reality, which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

Upanishad says: ~ “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)

If you are seeking truth you have to realize the  ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion; it includes birth, life, and death, which happens within the world.  Thus, the seeker's main aim is to mentally trace the formless substance of the illusion, which is also the witness of the illusion

Sage Sankara, 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.

Thus, it proves that religion is not the means to ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Because Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is universal knowledge meant for humanity. Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not belong to any religion. 

Lecture consisting of a shower of ornamental words, the skill in expounding the accumulated bookish knowledge, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar, but it is not Gnana or wisdom.

The accumulated scriptural and bookish knowledge is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

To get rid of ignorance, the only remedy is the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. There is no need to study the scriptures in order to get rid of ignorance. The scriptures itself declare this valuable truth. 

Without direct realization, one cannot be liberated from experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

From the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘Self’: ~ There is nothing to accept, Nothing to reject.+

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is not teaching or philosophy but Advaita is the universal wisdom. Advaitic wisdom is neither a teaching nor a theory but it is mere guidance to those who are seriously seeking the ultimate truth or Brahman. Grasp the ultimate truth anytime, any age, if the seeker has the spiritual maturity and capacity to grasp it. 

Advaitic wisdom is pure spirituality. Advaitic wisdom is nothing to do with religion and yoga.

Hindu religious literature is full of such aphorisms as ' there is no higher deity than the Guru; the Guru is the ultimate Truth and Deity. God and Avatars (incarnations) are secondary to the Guru in importance; there is no higher refuge, no higher target, no higher destination than the Guru; the Guru is God Himself; God and the Guru are one; he who makes a distinction between the Guru and God is ignorant and stupid; and scores of similar others. They abound both in Sanskrit and in modern Indian languages.

All Guru-oriented paths and practices belong to religion and yoga. Do not be a slave of the Gurus' ornamental words if you do you will be caught up in a hallucination.  Do not waste time with those who propagate half-baked knowledge.

All those whose intelligence has been stolen by hallucinations follow the Gurus and their teaching.

The Orthodox people are more enslaved than others because they live in ‘Self’-imposed prison. A householder may have a little freedom, but the Gurus, Yogis Saints are more stuck with their own idea of truth than others. Orthodoxies are just blind followers of tradition. They cannot move freely, they cannot sit freely, they cannot live freely.

Many people pretend they are ‘Self’-realized just by being Orthodox one cannot get Gnana. Yogi practices Samadhi he will not get rid of the ignorance. Everyone has their own idea of Gnana.

Remember:~ 

The most important thing is that neither society nor politics nor any religion has anything to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman. ‘Self’ –Knowledge helps the seeker transcend emotion, transcending form, time, and space. Perhaps this is why the Atmic path, has not had much impact.

The path of wisdom is the inner (mental) journey. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and wisdom are one and the same thing. 

Without an intense urge, it is difficult to tread this path. Self-realization is not experienced because the ‘Self’ is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul, the  ‘Self’ cannot be experienced because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is prior to any experience. The experience is possible only in dualistic illusion. The world in which you exist is the dualistic illusion. 

Consciousness is the cause of the dualistic illusion or Maya and it itself is uncaused. Consciousness is the only real thing within the dualistic illusion. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaitic truth is not for synthesis – it is an uncontradictable truth and it is the ultimate truth. The Advaitic truth is just as it is, without any artifice or coloring.

The knower of Advaitic truth is not concerned about the listener, he does not care whether his listener will understand or not. The pure expression of truth comes from the source of his existence.

From  the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘Self’: ~

There is nothing to accept,

Nothing to reject,

Nothing to hold on to,

Nothing to let go of,

Nothing to grasp,

Nothing to spurn,

Nothing to embrace,

Nothing to relinquish,

Nothing to dissolve

Because the Soul is free from the illusory form, time, and space. Only within the dualistic illusion, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is caught up in the illusory experience of the form, time, and space. This is the truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Advaitic Wisdom liberates the Soul, the 'Self' from the cage of the illusory form, time and space.+

Humanity has to awaken to the reality of its true existence by realizing the world in which humanity exists is merely an illusion created out of consciousness through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana frees the Soul, the innermost Self from the cage of the dualistic illusion.

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.

Advaitic Wisdom liberates the Soul, the ‘Self’  from the cage of the illusory form, time, and space. Advaitic truth is the truth of the whole, not the part.

In reality, there is nothing that exists other than consciousness. Only in ignorance, there is diversity. All three states are the product of ignorance. In the state of ignorance, one thinks of his body as the body, the ego as the ego the world in which he exists as the world.

In ignorance, one has the urge to search for the truth of his true existence. When the waking entity (you) indulges in deeper self-search and becomes aware of the fact that the ‘Self’  is neither the waking entity nor the  ‘Self’  is a dream entity, but the  ‘Self’  is the formless substance and witness of the three states. That formless substance and witness are one, in essence, and that essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus,  consciousness alone is real and all the three states are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Therefore, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

The waking is created out of consciousness.

The dream is created out of consciousness

In deep sleep,  consciousness is free of the waking or dream

The three states cease to exist without consciousness. When there is no ignorance, then there is neither waking nor dream nor deep sleep, the Advaita is the very nature of consciousness.

The waking experience is the state of ignorance because it is the product of ignorance. We are discussing consciousness within the waking experience because we are unaware of the fact that the waking experience itself’ an illusion. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

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