People refuse to accept the universe is an illusion it is because they are part and parcel of that illusion.+

People refuse to accept the universe is an illusion it is because they are part and parcel of that illusion. The reality of the illusory universe often confuses people. 

Only when one acquires Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then he realizes the world in which he exists is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

The universe is a reality on the base of ‘you (ego). You are the false self within the false experience (waking). 

The universe is an illusion from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self. The Soul is in the form of consciousness. This is because of some logical reasons. First, you have to analyze the definition of truth and hence why the universe is not considered as a reality.

People who strongly believe this world is real must realize:~

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 the 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.

Remember:~ 

Q:~ `Dayanand · All said and done this material Earth is His Creation and every atom is HE only. There is no illusion, Pinch yourself and wake up to Truth.

Santthosh Kummar:~I respect your views and wisdom:~

As per my conviction:~

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

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. 

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) 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)

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of real God.

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.

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions determine the three states, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the universe will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same universe. Each one interprets the three states that they see in terms of their existing knowledge. The commoner sees everything based on the ego, therefore, experiences the birth, life, death, and the world as reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. And the whole universe is nothing but consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The dream becomes unreal when the waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when wisdom dawns. Wisdom dawns when you (waking entity or ego) realize the fact that, the self is not you, but the self is the Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.

The sky,  the star, planet, sun, the moon, the earth,  the mountain,  the ocean, and the person are all the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, but consciousness is not specifically any of these while simultaneously being all of these. Only when the Soul is hidden within the illusory form, time, and space the sky, the star, planet, sun, the moon, the earth, the mountain, the ocean, and the persons are a reality.

The nature of the Soul is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

 Thus, it is necessary to realize the sky, the star, planet, sun, the moon, the earth, the mountain, the ocean, and the persons are all created out of single stuff, which is consciousness.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

Thus God in truth alone is real, the sky, the star, planet, sun, the moon, the earth, the mountain, the ocean, and the person are all merely an illusion created out of the consciousness. :~  Santthosh Kumaar

Mentally reducing the dualistic illusion into nondualistic reality is Advaita.+

Consciousness is the ultimate truth. There is no higher truth other than consciousness.  To realize this truth, there is no need to follow any path. 

There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to become a wandering monk. There is no need to renounce worldly life. Realizing consciousness (Spirit) is ultimate is spirituality.

There is nothing else to realize other than realizing there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Realizing the consciousness is second to none is truth- realization.

Even if you search for million years you will only come to a final conclusion and realization that the world in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

If the world, in which you exist is nothing but the consciousness,  then what else is there to realize other than realizing the consciousness alone is real and the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.

 If the world in which you exist is merely an illusion the experience of the birth, life, and death that happens in the illusory world is bound to be an illusion.

If the world, in which you exist is an illusion then the division of the form, time, and space is merely an illusion because the Soul, the Self, is present in the form of consciousness.  The Soul, the  Self is the fullness of consciousness.  

Mentally reducing the world, in which you exist into consciousness leads to Self-awareness. Realizing the consciousness as the ultimate truth is Advaita. That is mentally reducing the dualistic illusion into a non-dualistic reality is Advaita.

Sage Sankara has declared Advaitic truth 1200 years back but it was hidden and imparted only to a few. Even scientists may declare in the future the world is nothing but the consciousness the Sage Sankara alone is qualified for the noble prize, not the scientists because Sage Sankara declared it 1200 years back. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify. Advaita is not a theory but Advaita is the rational truth, the scientific truth, and the ultimate truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and the Gurus or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it.

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is nothing to do with religion.  Thus, all his religious teaching which is meant for the ignorant populace has to be bifurcated from his wisdom. 
Remember:~ 

India is the ancient land, where wisdom made its home India whose soil has been trodden by the feet of the greatest sages of truth like Bhagavan Buddha, Sage  Sankara, and Sage Goudpada.

India is the fountainhead of Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic wisdom is brighter, greater which unfolds the mystery of the universe, which contains the whole of humanity.

The goal of the truth-seeker is to acquire Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inherent in every seeker of truth. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not come from outside, it is hidden within the world in which we exist.

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and philosophy to acquire non-dualistic wisdom. That is why Bhagavan Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and scriptures.

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, Bhagavan Buddha got enlightenment only after he gave up Yoga. (Page.70/71 "Buddhism In Translation” by Warren)

Unless one exercise his Buddhi--reason--there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality. Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world, we agree. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. However, he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

Dalai Lama said: Buddhism need not be the best religion though it is most scientific and religion and inquisitive. But Buddhism has no answer to certain questions like the existence of Atama [Soul] and rebirth. Dali Lama said that as an individual he believes in rebirth as he had come across a few cases of rebirth. Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped would unearth the mystery behind the rebirth. (In DH –dec-212009-Gulbarga).

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

Bhagavan Buddha: ~ "It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell."
Remember:~ 

Buddhists do not believe in God, they believe in emptiness First tell them that Buddhists don't believe in God, and secondly, you tell them they believe in emptiness. That's worse! That they believe in "nothingness!" That's worse!

That's why you need to explain. Because when Buddhists say they do not believe in God, it does not mean that Buddhists don't believe in the nature of God! Because the nature of God is the nature of truth, is the Shunyata, or emptiness. The same! But Buddhists do not believe in the concept of God. Because in many ways you, you see, however, good the concepts are, it does not do justice for the Absolute. All the concepts of God will not describe, really, what God is.

Do you know what I'm saying? There is a wonderful saying by a great Buddhist master called Shantideva, who is a very great compassion master. He said, "Absolute is beyond the mind." That which is within the realm of mind is called the relative. "Absolute is beyond the mind." Since God is beyond the mind, it is beyond concept. Therefore empty, empty means free, open, like the sky. It doesn't mean emptiness in a nihilistic sense like my cup is empty of tea or something. (OSHO)

The point of the Bhagvan Buddha is that if God is non-existent, the entire creation including the ‘Self’ is non-existent. Sage Sankara wanted to establish the existence of the Brahman. For this purpose, He made the Atman as the Brahman. He brought out the identity of the ‘Self’ with the consciousness and made the Atman the Brahman. Since one will not negate the existence of the Self, he will accept the existence of the Brahman, which is the Atman or Soul, the innermost Self. Both Bhagavan Buddha and Sage  Sankara kept silent about the absolute unimaginable God. The same philosophy was dealt with by them from different angles in different situations.

Sage Sankara opposed the Buddhists only, who misunderstood Bhagavan Buddha and became atheists. 

According to Sage Sankara meditation always means the critical analysis about the Self to get salvation from worldly tensions. Due to the eccentric ego of the then atheists, Sage Sankara did not go beyond this since the atheists will not accept God beyond themselves. This limitation is not due to limited knowledge of Sage Sankara but is due to the then-existing situation of the psychology of the surrounding society. Even Bhagavan Buddha kept silent about God because the society dealt by Him consisted of Purvamimamsakas, who were strong atheists. 

Bhagavan Buddha told that everything including the Self is only relatively real (Sunya). This is correct because the Self is a part of the universe, which is relatively real with respect to the absolute unimaginable God. Bhagavan Buddha stopped at this point because the atheists cannot realize the existence of the unimaginable God indicated through His silence. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Consciousness is prior to all that exist as the universe and it itself is uncaused.+

Q: ~ Life is prior to consciousness. Without life, there cannot be consciousness. Consciousness can be graded into degrees. Life is absolute. Please comment.

Santthosh Kumaar: ~ As per my conviction: ~ 

From the dualistic perspective, dualist thinkers think that Life is prior to consciousness.

 But deeper self-search reveals the fact that life itself is the consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The consciousness is prior to all that exist as the universe and it itself is uncaused.  Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness because the universe is single clay. That single clay is the consciousness.

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

Until one thinks of his body as the body, the ego as the ego the universe as the universe he remains in ignorance because he is still in ignorance and he is unaware of the fact that they too are consciousness.

The seeker has to grow from the inside out. None can teach him, none can make him spiritual. There is no other Guru but his own Soul.”

 The consciousness is not an object, but it is the subject. Within the dualistic illusion, it is the subject and object together.  It is not another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, Self-existent, Self-delight, Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is the essence. It is the essence of the knower. It is the formless substance and the Witness of the dualistic illusion (universe). 

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

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

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

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (consciousness) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

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. 

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)

That is why Sage Sankara  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.

  

Thus, it is necessary to realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the Self is the Soul to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.  In reality,  the form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Without consciousness the worlds in which we exist cease to exist.  Thus, consciousness is the only real thing in the illusory universe. 

Remember:~ 

When you realize the words, thoughts, and the world in which you exist are created out of single stuff and that single stuff is consciousness, then you will realize the truth which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

When everything is created out of consciousness then there is no second thing that exists, other than consciousness. It takes time to grasp the Advaitic truth. All the obstacles have to be overcome one by one. 

Realize with full and a firm conviction that: ~ 

You are not you but consciousness; your body is not the body but consciousness, the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness. 

Everything is known, seen, believed, and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness then what else remains, which is not the consciousness. There is nothing else to realize other than to realize that consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

By realizing everything is consciousness is the Advaitic wisdom dawns. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ lead to Advaitic awareness. 

Without the world, in which you exist God alone exists. When God disappears the world, in which you exist appears. The world, in which you exist disappears God appears. Thus, realize the God to be the Soul. 

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

If you stick to the ultimate truth then the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness. If you realize this truth you will live in this world but not of this world. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

If the ‘Self is not the ‘I’ then what is the use of saying ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM’ THAT there is no individual to say ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM’ THAT.+

The ‘Self’ is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is without the form, time, and space. The ‘Self is not the ‘I’ because ‘I’ is present only within the domain of the form, time, and space.

If the ‘Self is not the ‘I’ then what is the use of saying ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM’ THAT there is no individual to say ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM THAT'.

The Soul is ‘I- LESS” because it is without form, time, and space.

Do not stick to the ‘I’. Stick to the Soul, which is the cause of the ‘I’ and it itself is uncaused. The Soul is the ‘Self’.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. The ‘I’ is merely an illusion.

If you stick to the ‘I’ then you are sticking to the illusion. If you stick to the Soul then you are sticking to the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Soul is permanent and the ‘I’ is impermanent.

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 present in the form of consciousness. 

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.
Remember:~ 

All the ‘I-centric’ Gurus and their teachings are a great obstacle to unfolding the truth hidden by the ‘I’. The ‘I’ itself is ignorance.

As the seeker becomes more and more Soulcentric, he realizes the fact that the ‘Self is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is hidden by the ‘I’. 

From the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul. It is necessary for the seeker to realize, what is ‘I’? - supposed to be in actuality.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. Without the ‘I’ the mind ceases to exist.

The mind is present when the universe is present. Without mind, the universe ceases to exist.

The universe is present only when the waking is present. Without the universe, the waking ceases to exist.

So, without the ‘I’ the mind or universe or the waking cease to exist.

From the standpoint of the Soul is the ‘Self’, the ‘I’ the mind or universe or the waking cease to exist as a reality.

The Soul is the  ‘Self’ that can remain with or without the ‘I’.  Slowly but surely you must imbibe the truth, which is hidden by the form, time, and space by realizing the form, time and space are one in essence.

When you enthrone the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness in your subconscious, you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusory play of consciousness.

Consciousness is ‘One’, and all divisions of form, time, and space are illusory. Be established in this Advaitic Truth, which is eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The truth seekers are moving from ignorance to wisdom, from the dualistic illusion to the nondualistic Reality, from darkness to Light, from death to Immortality.+

The truth-seekers are moving from ignorance to wisdom, from the dualistic illusion to the nondualistic Reality, from darkness to Light, from death to Immortality.

It is necessary to repeat the same truth again and again till it becomes 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 to read and to hear the words of wisdom to think deeply and reach the ultimate end.

Repeated reading and reflecting on my blogs and postings helps the seeker. My blogs and postings are not any type of teaching or theory. It only helps the seeker to remove all the obstacles in the path of truth and reach the ultimate end in lesser time and effort.

The seeker of truth has to constantly reflect on the subject to get a firm conviction of the truth. 

The seeker has 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. The words are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what. People need to read and hear the words to think deeply and reach the ultimate end.

Remember:~

My blogs and postings help the seeker to remove the mental blockade, which is blocking his realization. And it also helps to dispel all the inborn and inherited conditioning or samskara from the subconscious.

My blogs and postings will help not only as information to move in the right direction to reach the ultimate end of the understanding. And they also help as subconscious suggestions, which are very much necessary to establish in the non-dualistic reality.

Repeated reading of the posts and blogs assists the seeker to help to focus his attention from (ego) to formless (Soul), which is very much necessary in pursuit of truth. 

As the conviction about the Soul grows and becomes firm he will become soulcentric and able to judge the three states on the base of the Soul. Repetition reading and reflecting on the subject is an effective tool and has an effect on the subconscious which is egocentric. 

In the beginning, the egocentric subconscious is not receptive to receiving new truth because it is conditioned to receive only a logical conclusion based on ego.

The seeker of truth has to constantly reflect on the subject to get a firm conviction of the truth. The seeker has to reflect on the same truth again and again until it becomes the reality. 

One needs to constantly, reflect on the subject until he gets a firm conviction of what is what. Words of wisdom are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what. People need to read and hear the words to think deeply and reach the ultimate end.

I just write what is revealed from the inner core. My main intention is to divert their attention to the source from where the mind (universe) rises and subsides.

Reading my blogs gradually, they will start assimilation ‘what is the truth and what is the untruth. Repeated reading my blogs makes the seeker, Soulcentric, and the inner dialogue will start and clear all the doubts and confusion.

When there are no doubts and confusion, then they have realized the truth that form, time, and space are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness. 

There is no use in wasting time in questioning and arguing at the same time and effort has to be used to make the seeker more independent and without external spoon-feeding, he can reach the inner core, which is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember:~

The words that mean different things to different people, it is what's behind the words, between the lines that matter. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what' is needed.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant for those who are seriously seeking the truth. Patience and humility are the main ingredients in the path of truth.

When you realize, you and the world in which you exist are made of the same stuff and that stuff is consciousness then you will realize you and your world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

When this truth is realized the unreal nature of the world in which you exist is exposed. the same way as the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place. Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone is real and eternal. Whatever is real and eternal is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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

Scriptures mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of the Ultimate Truth or Brahman.+

Swami Vivekananda:~ Vedanta does not believe in the book. It denies the authority of any book over any other book. It denies emphatically any one book contains all the truths about God, Soul, the ultimate reality.

Those of you who have read Upanishads remember that again and again, “Not by reading books can we realize the Self”

Second, it finds veneration for some particular person still more difficult to uphold. Those of you who are a student of Vedanta – Vedanta is always meant Upanishads- know that this is the only religion that does not cling to any person.

Not one man or woman has become object worship among the Vedantins. 

You see how very little room there is Vedanta for any man to stand ahead of us and for us to worship him. Vedanta does not give you that. No book, no man to worship nothing.  

A still greater difficulty is about God. if you want to be democratic in this country.   It is a democratic God that Vedanta teaches.  ~ (Is Vedanta in future religion? BY Swami Vivekananda –lecture – San Francisco on April 8, 1900)

Scriptures mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of the Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The ultimate truth is revealed in the clear understanding and realization of ‘what is the truth and ‘what is the untruth.  When one realizes the untruth (universe) is created out of single stuff, Self-awareness rises in the midst of duality exposing the unreal nature of the form, time, and space.

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying. I do not require any scriptures.

I quote Scriptural citation and also the citation of the sages of truth only after verifying reality and proving the truth, to point out that the scriptures teach the same thing. If one quotes them before having demonstrated truth, then it is scholasticism.

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

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and other scriptures to acquire non-dual wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sri, Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and scriptures.

The seeker should not bother about finding the meaning of what is written in the scriptures.  The scripters are not necessary to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The scriptures are meant for the ignorant populace. Scriptures have no value for the seeker of truth.

That is why 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

Even Upanishads clearly declare: ~

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

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

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

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

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

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing the spiritual discourse."

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ The Soul cannot be realized by the weak and timid.

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

Remember:~

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 which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

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.

64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendor of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.

Till one knows the truth of his true existence, whatever he knows about God is merely a belief. Belief is individual whereas the ultimate truth is universal every belief system has its own idea of God thus, there is no universality in the belief system.

All these experiences as the father, son, Guru, and pupil were one and the same consciousness appearing differently. All these distinctions disappear when one realizes the ultimate truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again till it becomes reality.+

Swami Vivekananda: ~Jñāna Yoga is divided into three parts. First: hearing the truth--that the Atman is the only reality and that everything else is Maya. Second: reasoning upon this philosophy from all points of view. Third: giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that Brahman is real and everything else is unreal. 

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again till 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. 

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ through deeper thinking and reasoning helps to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Where there is ‘I’ then there is the mind.

Where there is mind then there is ignorance.

Where there is ignorance then there is duality.

Where there is duality then there is an illusion.

Where there is an illusion then there is form, time, and space.   

Where there is,  form, time and space there is the world in which you exist.

Remember:~

Where there is no ‘I’ then there is no mind.

Where there is no mind then there is no ignorance.

Where there is no ignorance then there is no duality.

Where there is no duality then there is no illusion.

Where there is an illusion then there is form, time, and space. 

Where there is form, time and space then there is no world in which you exist.

 The mind, ignorance, duality, illusion, form, time and space, the world in which you exist are present only when ‘I’ is present.

The mind, ignorance, duality, illusion, form, time and space, the world in which you exist are absent when the ‘I’ is absent.

Where there is no there is no world in which you exist then the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness alone exists.  When the Soul alone remains in its own awareness is called Self-awareness.  

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

Remember:~ 

Most of the Gurus and Yogis approach was more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the 'I', they take it as real. All their teachings of Advaita is based on the dualistic perspective. They describe marvelously the goal but do not indicate the steps to be taken: their recurring phrases "unified consciousness" and "let go" and "'love alone" are not a road-map. Such teaching will not yield the truth of the whole.

Many Gurus describes to perfection is the awakening to Reality ~the realization that pure Consciousness alone is, that the perpetually fluctuating and evanescent contents of the mind derive from it. This awakening effectively happens in an instant. But in order for the lightning flash to take place, resulting in a firm and unshakable certitude, long labor is necessary, which they seem to underestimate. “Truth is formless is their answer.

Many Guru's teachings seem essentially negative, potent but bitter medicine for those imprisoned by institutional cults. They break the disciple's bonds but then lead him to a vast desert where they abandon him.

The ‘I’ is blocking your realization of truth. The ‘I-centric' teachings have to be discarded in order to realize the Advaitic reality.

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes in order to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

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

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole.

Where there is ‘I’ there is ignorance.

Where there is ignorance there is separation.

Where there is a separation there is duality.

Where there is duality there is an illusion.

Where there is illusion there is mind.

Where there is mind there is the universe.

Where there is universe there is waking or dream.

Where there is universe there is waking or dream there is form, time, and space.

Remember:~

Where there is no ‘I’ there is no ignorance.

Where there is no ignorance there is no separation.

Where there is no separation there is no duality.

Where there is no duality there is no illusion.

Where there is no illusion there is no mind.

Where there is no mind there is no universe.

Where there is no universe there is no waking or dream.

Where there is no waking or dream there is no form, time, and space

When there are no divisions of the form, time, and space, there is the Advaitic reality.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what leads to the realization of Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

Without knowing ‘what mind is in actuality how you can know the consciousness? Playing with words is not spirituality. Consciousness is the cause of the mind and it itself is uncaused.

Preaching teaching is not wisdom. only through perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what leads to the realization of the truth, which is hidden within the form, time, and space and it is without the form, time, and space.

The consciousness is not an object but it’s the subject. Knowledge of both object and subject is ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar