The ‘I’ is the cause of forgetfulness of the reality.+

A  Gnani imparts Self-knowledge and encourages the seeker to seek the truth. A  Gnani helps the seeker to drop all the accumulated knowledge.  

The only thing worth remembering is the Soul, the Self. The ‘I’ is the cause of the forgetfulness of reality. The ‘I’ hides the reality, which is beyond form, time, and space.  

The ‘I’ itself is form, time, and space.

The form, time, and space itself are the universe.

 The universe itself is the waking experience.

The waking experience itself is the mind.

 The mind itself is the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ itself is a dualistic illusion.

The dualistic illusion hides the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Stick to the Soul, which is the ultimate truth, or Brahman and drop the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion. Whatever prevails without the ‘I’ is the Soul, which is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of the form, time, and space. 

Remember:~ 

All the Gurus glorified the ‘I’. Thus, it becomes very difficult to discard the ‘I’. Those who have accepted the ‘I’ based teaching refuse to accept anything other than their accepted truth.

Until you hold the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’, your knowledge remains skin deep.

What is it that appears as the ‘I’ and disappears as the ‘I-less? It is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not make the mistake of holding the ‘I’ as the Self because it is not permanent. ‘I’ disappears and becomes ‘I’-less.

‘I’ is an illusion and the ‘I-LESS’ is real and eternal. The ‘I-LESS ‘appears as ‘I’ and ‘I ’‘disappears as I-LESS.

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

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.

Remember this: “The ‘Self’ is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, the witness of the ‘I’, which comes and goes.

There is nothing to realize other than realizing the fact that, you and the world in which you exist are created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, the  Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. 

You and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness. Thus, by realizing this truth the Soul becomes free from the cage of the illusory form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Upanishads declare ~ “Neti Neti—not this, not this, not that.” This does not mean that Brahman is a negative concept.+

Sag Sankara said: Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul, the Self. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self. 

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved.  Consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.  Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation. 

Consciousness is within, consciousness is without; consciousness is before, consciousness is behind;  consciousness is on the right,  consciousness is on the left;  consciousness is above and consciousness is below. Consciousness is not an object, as it is invisible, beyond the reach of the physical eyes.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth. And the ultimate truth is Brahman or God in truth.

The world in which we exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.  Therefore, hold on to consciousness which is real and eternal, and mentally negate the world in which we exist by realizing the world in which we exist is nothing but consciousness.  

Upanishads declare ~ “Neti Neti—not this, not this, not that.” This does not mean that Brahman is a negative concept, or a metaphysical abstraction, or a nonentity, or a void. It is not another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, “Self’-existent, “Self’-delight, “Self’-knowledge, and “Self’-bliss. It is the essence. It is the essence of the knower and the known.

Sage Sankara said: - The Brahman is impersonal, without Gunas or attributes (Nirguna), formless (Nirakara), (without special characteristics (Nirvisesha), immutable, eternal and non-agent (Akarta). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as it is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies the distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than it. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute.

Remember:~

In Manduka Upanishad Brahman and Atman are defined as the same:~

सर्वं ह्येतद् ब्रह्मायमात्मा ब्रह्म सोयमात्मा चतुष्पात् / sarvam hyetad brahmaayamaatmaa brahm soyamaatmaa chatushpaat –

Manduka Upanishad, verse-2

Translation:

sarvam(सर्वम्)- Whole/All/Everything; hi(हि)- Really/Just/Surely/Indeed;etad(एतद्)- This here/This; brahm(ब्रह्म)- Brahm/Brahman;ayam(अयम्)- This/Here; aatmaa(आत्मा)- Atma/Atman; sah(सः)- He;ayam(अयम्)- This/Here; chatus(चतुस्)- Four/Quadruple; paat(पात्)- Step/Foot/Quarter

Fragmented Verse:

सर्वम् हि एतद् ब्रह्म अयम् आत्मा ब्रह्म सः अयम् आत्मा चतुस पात् / sarvam hi etad brahm ayama aatmaa brahm sah ayam aatmaa chatus paat

Simple Meaning:~

All indeed is this Brahman; This Atman is Brahman; He, this Atman has four steps/quarters.

While Brahman lies behind the sum total of the objective universe, some human minds boggle at any attempt to explain it with only the tools provided by reason. Brahman is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination. Indeed, the highest idea is that Brahman is beyond both existence and non-existence, transcending and including time, causation, and space, and thus can never be known in the same material sense as one traditionally 'understands' a given concept or object.

Imagine a person who is blind from birth and has not seen anything. Is it possible for us to explain to him the meaning of the color red? Is any amount of thinking or reasoning on his part ever going to make him understand the sensation of the color red? In a similar fashion, the idea of Brahman cannot be explained or understood through material reasoning or any form of human communication. Brahman is like the color red; those who can sense it cannot explain or argue with those who have never sensed it.

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

In Advaita Vedanta: - Brahman is without attributes and strictly impersonal. It can be best described as infinite Being, infinite Consciousness, and infinite Bliss. It is pure knowledge itself, similar to a source of infinite radiance. Since the Advaitins regard Brahman to be the Ultimate Truth, so in comparison to Brahman, every other thing, including the material world, its distinctness, the individuality of the living creatures, and even Ishvara (the Supreme Lord) itself are all untrue. Brahman is the effulgent cause of everything that exists and can possibly exist. Since it is beyond human comprehension, it is without any attributes, for assigning attributes to it would be distorting the true nature of Brahman. Advaitins believe in the existence of both Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman; however, they consider Nirguna Brahman to be the absolute supreme truth. 

Chandogya Upanishad: - One who meditates upon and realizes the “Self’ discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the “Self’.

So, it clearly says the one who meditates upon the “Self’ (consciousness) discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the “Self’. Therefore, there is a need to know the fact that, the true “Self’ is not physical but the Soul in order to realize the fact that:  the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the “Self’, which is in the form of consciousness. 

Atman is Brahman. Brahman the Absolute is alone real; this waking is unreal, and the three states are non-different from Brahman. 

Remember:~

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ If the universe is 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 universe hides the Soul, the Self. If you realize the nature of the universe then you will know the truth hidden by the universe.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ V.63 ~ "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world.

In deep sleep there is nothing to observe when there is only the observer left, then the observer itself becomes the observed -- because there is nothing else to observe. Deep sleep is still a state of ignorance because we become aware of the deep sleep experience only in waking experience, which is the state of ignorance.

Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana Self-awareness is possible.

In Self-awareness, the witness simply witnesses itself.

The Seer sees itself. There are no thoughts, no objects. The Soul becomes still; it simply becomes a light unto itself. There is nothing that it lights, it lights only itself, the Soul, the Self is surrounded by silence, surrounded by Stillness. It is the objectless awareness in the midst of objects.

The Soul becomes the Soul in Self-awareness. Self-awareness itself is enlightenment. The Soul consciously remains aware of itself in the midst of the dualistic illusion (form, time, and space).

The ‘I’ has dissolved as the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The ‘I’ has dissolved means the mind has dissolved as the Soul.

The mind has dissolved means the form, time and space have dissolved as the Soul.

The form, time, and space dissolved as the Soul-  means the universe has dissolved as the Soul.

The universe has dissolved means the waking has dissolved as the Soul.

The waking has dissolved as the Soul means the individual experience of the birth, life, death, and the world has dissolved as the Soul.

The individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world has dissolved as the Soul means the dualistic illusion is dissolved as the Soul.

The Soul alone exists as the formless, timeless, and spaceless eternal existence.

The seeker must first know the Soul is the only reality and that the world in which he exists is an illusion. The seeker must reason upon this truth from all points of view and up all further argumentation and realize the truth. 

This realization comes from being certain that Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman or is real and the world in which he exists is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Ashtavakra Gita: ~Know the ‘Self’ to be “One” and in this way enter into the state of dissolution.+

Only your intense urge to know the truth will take you to the ultimate end, but your accumulated knowledge will block you from realizing the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

It is impossible for the seeker to discard the ‘I’ because they are stuck up with the idea that ‘I’ itself is the “Self’.  In the past, some famous Gurus and their teachings glorified the ‘I’ people take it as a final and accepted it as the ultimate truth. Such acceptance without verifying the fact about the ‘I’, their journey is incomplete.  Blind acceptance and reverence to the guru will not help the seeker to get rid of the ignorance.

Firstly, doubt about this ‘I’, how it came into existence.   There are no other means to the final goal is the realization of the source of the ‘I’.  There is a need to understand, assimilate, and realize the nature of this ‘I’, which appears and disappears. 

It is erroneous to use the word ‘I’ for the “Self’, because ‘I’ represents the form, time, and space whereas the Soul, the innermost “Self’ is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. 

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

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’ “Self’’ as the ‘I’ leads to hallucination based on the imagination.

Those who are stuck with the ‘I’ based teaching never be able to cross the domain of the form, time, and space.  

All the Gurus glorified the ‘I’. Thus, it becomes very difficult to discard the ‘I’. Those who have accepted the ‘I’ based teaching refuse to accept anything other than their accepted truth. Till you hold the ‘“Self’’ as the ‘I’, your knowledge remains skin deep.

The world in which you exist came into existence because of the ‘I’. The world, in which you exist ceases to exist without the ‘I’.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought”.

The ‘I’ is what the seeker begins his investigation. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ will help the seeker to reach the Soul, which is the “Self’.

Sage Sankara: ~ "VC~ if the universe is 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. 

This universe is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  From the Soul, the universe appears and when the universe disappears from the consciousness, the consciousness still remains without any division of the form, time, and space.

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

To enable the seeker to steer clear of any possible doubt, the seeker should take the Atmic path.  The ‘I’ is the clue and study the nature of the ‘I’ and discover its source. 

The 'Self' is not within you but the ‘“Self’’ is hidden in the world in which you exist. The one which is born lives and dies is not the ‘“Self’’ because the ‘“Self’’ is the Soul, which is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is nothing to do with you the world in which you exist.  From the standpoint of the Soul, the “Self’, the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.

The ‘“Self’’ is not within you because the 'Self' is not the body.   If the ‘“Self’’ is not you,   then why do you think the “Self’ is within you. Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that you and the world are within the Soul the innermost “Self’.  a perfect understanding and assimilation lead to Self-realization.

Until you think he is an individual separate from this world you will remain in the realm of dualistic illusion.  The dualistic illusion is the product of ignorance.  When the Advaitic wisdom dawns, then the ignorance vanishes. When the ignorance vanishes, then the duality never remains as a reality.  

First, the seeker has to know ‘what is the subject’ and ‘what is the object’.  Deeper self-search reveals the fact that”:  the world in which we exist is an object to the formless subject. The formless subject is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Deeper verification reveals the fact that the object and the subject are one in essence. That essence is consciousness.  Thus, the object is only an illusion created out of the formless subject.  The subject alone is real exists eternal. 

Remember:~ 

The traditionally religious people are so entangled in orthodox religiosity; it is very difficult for them to free themselves from narrow-minded prejudices and dogmas and superstitions. These educated orthodox people are more ignorant than illiterate. They strongly stuck to their inherited orthodox baggage meant for the ignorant populace. Even though, their own sage has said that orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace they ignore and they are like the blind led by another blind follow the inherited blind belief.

Sage Sankara clearly indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

But:~

Most Orthodox scriptural scholars are ignorant in the guise of Gnanis.

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings. Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices.

However, the texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) more in favor of the Mimamsaka position came into vogue, projecting Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine.

Sage Sankara:~ Loud speech, a profusion of words, and possessing skilfulness in expounding scriptures are merely for the enjoyment of the learned. They do not lead to Liberation."

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

The scriptural mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that 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.

An adherent of the orthodox philosopher may say his philosophy teaches so and so", another man may object and say “No, his religious philosophy teaches such and such." Thus, they may go on uttering contradictions in the name of philosophy. True philosophy deals only with the appeal to facts, not theories.

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

How is one to know that the scriptures are true? The seeker has to look into the facts, for the proof of what has the worship of God done for the people! When a tsunami occurred in Japan God did not save the believers of Japan. Thus, God saves the one who prays such an argument is of no value in pursuit of truth.

People believe scripture is infallible, but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that they are a mere book of words. The words are a mere expression of thoughts. Then it is impossible to see if the scripture writer's thoughts are founded on facts or not.

The fallacy of orthodoxy’s appeal to scripture lies in the varying and conflicting interpretations of the same scripture that different men feel entitled to give or hold.

The scriptures are for the ignorant masses, who wholly accept the practical life within the practical world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

Scriptural knowledge is conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. All these concepts are a great obstacle in the pursuit of truth. Why should confusion be created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from which they all arise.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

In reality, there is neither the ‘Seer’ nor the ‘Seen’ because the ‘Seer’ and ‘Seen’ are one in essence.+

From the standpoint of the Soul the innermost Self, there is neither Seer nor the Seen because there is only oneness. The 'Seer' is the Soul, the Self. 'Seen' is the universe. The 'Seer' is hidden by the 'Seen'. 

The ‘Seer’ can never be the ‘Seen’. The subject can never become the object. But the most subtle and salient point is that there is no object, ‘the ‘Seen’ at all.

The Soul is The Seer and the dualistic illusion is the Seen. The dualistic illusion appears as the ‘I'. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

In reality, the ‘Seer’ and ‘Seen’ are created out of single clay. That single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. There is no duality in reality because there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus the consciousness alone is real and eternal the ‘I’ is an illusion

A man who describes Sage Sankara’s wisdom as negative (because of his Neti, Neti) does not know that this is applied only to the world of the Seen; the critic ignorantly believes that it is also applied to the Seer.  A Gnani never negates the Seer, only the seen

Whatever is the ‘Seen’ or ‘Known’ is the Soul. The ‘Seer’ or the knower also is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. In reality, there is neither the ‘Seer’ nor the ‘Seen’ because the ‘Seer’ and ‘Seen’ are one in essence.

The consciousness alone remains after one gets rid of ignorance. The consciousness is only the ‘Seer’; it is not Brahman that is an error. It becomes Brahman only after ignorance vanishes through Advaitic wisdom.

Remember, the Soul is the Seer and the Seen together.

The Seer is hidden by the Seen. Seen is the world, in which we exist. 

The Soul is the Seer of the Seen, which appears and disappears as the ‘I’.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is not limited to you because it pervades in everything and everywhere in the whole world in which you exist.

The Soul is nothing to do with you and the world in which you exist because the world in which you exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul is the whole, not the part because the Soul is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of the form, time, and space.

Your existence is limited to the domain of form, time, and space. It is erroneous to identify the Self within your body thinking the ‘Self is within you and think ‘I AM THAT.

Remember:~

The 'Self' is not you but the 'Self' is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

The existence is neither inside your body nor within the world, in which you exist but it is hidden by the illusory world in which you exist. Thus, your existence is illusory.

Your existence is limited to form, time, and space whereas the Soul is beyond form, time, and space. The nature of the Soul is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. If you hold the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’ you are limiting the Soul, the ‘Self' to the form, time, and space.

Identifying the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’, is the mother of all confusion. Holding the ‘Self as the ‘I’ or ‘I AM ‘leads to hallucination. Holding the ‘Self’ as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ blocks the realization of ultimate truth or Brahman.

You must first realize the illusory nature of the ‘I’ before you see the world in which you exist as illusory.

The world in which you exist is created out of the Soul, which is the fullness of the consciousness without the illusory division of the form, time, and space. The Soul is the existence beyond form, time, and space.

Those who think the ‘Soul’, which is present in the form of the consciousness is within their body are never investigated the truth which is hidden by the form, time, and space. 

Remember:~ 

The Seer and the Seen are one in essence. That essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul or consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than God because everything is God. God alone is real and all else is merely an illusion.

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 world, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the world will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same world. Each one interprets the world 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 a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as the consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul or the consciousness. Thus, all the egocentric knowledge has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The seeker has to learn to view the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective then only you will be able to have the Soulcentric view of the worldview. 

In Advaitic  Self-awareness, the ego is not considered as ego, even though the ego is present, the body is not considered as a body even though the body is present, the world which confronts him is not considered as world even though the world is present, the duality ceases even though the duality is present, because of wisdom everything is considered as consciousness. Thus there is conscious oneness.

Only in ignorance, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self. 

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. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

The Soul is not an individual it is not within the body but the hidden by the illusory world in which you exist.+

The Soul, the ‘Self’ is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. The Soul, the fullness of the consciousness, the nature of the Soul is absolute Existence.  The Soul is not an individual it is not within the body but the hidden by the illusory world in which you exist. In reality, the world in which you exist is non-existence itself. 

Knowledge of the individual God is not Advaita.  Those who propagate the individual Gods as the real are ignorant of their true existence. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the true existence.  The true existence is God. Advaita is the nature of true existence. Advaita is the nature of God. Advaita is God itself.

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 present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Religious Gods are based on blind belief. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul and the  ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, it means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

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

The 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)

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

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I: ~  “That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I:~ That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

How can you worship the Absolute? That implies two ~ the worshipper and the worshipped, whereas the Absolute is nondual. One can worship his idea of the Absolute only or realize his unity with it when he can’t worship it as apart.

The Upanishads say in effect that ~ If you believe that the ‘the Soul, the innermost Self’ is one and God (Brahman) is another you cannot understand truth.

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. 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. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. 

Knowledge of the Soul, the Self, is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Atma Gnana is knowledge of God. Realizing God in this very life is your goal. God-realization itself is real worship. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

There is nothing exist prior to consciousness. The ‘I’ cease to exist without the consciousness. +

There is nothing that exists prior to consciousness. The ‘I’ cease to exist without consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

You desire for ‘Self-realization, but you still stuck up with the word ‘I’ or ‘I AM’.  If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’, then you are not a wise seeker. You are simply a man in ignorance.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. There is no need to convince the ‘I’ infected mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth.

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

Remember, the ‘Self is not ‘I’ or ‘I AM’. The ‘I’ or ‘IAM is an object to the Soul which is the ‘I-LESS’ subject.

Find out ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be an actuality.

The ‘I’ present in the form of the mind.

The mind is present in the form of the universe.

The universe appears as waking or dream (duality).  

The ‘I’ is an object to the formless subject. Thus, it is necessary to include the universe in your inquiry to realize the unreal nature of the ‘I’ or the universe. 

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self.

Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Among thousands of men, scarcely one strives for perfection; and of those who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows the ‘Self’  in truth.

The path of wisdom attracts only those who are in search of truth and they appreciate it greatly.   The ignorant are not spiritually matured they receive Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  The ignorant indulge in argument and provocation and personal attack, which hinders their own realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

That is why Jesus said: ~  Do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you. (Matthew -7:6)

~ He meant knowledge of the Spirit or Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Bhagvad Gita says ~ “Don't unsettle the minds of ignorant by revealing the esoteric truth." :~Santthosh Kumaar