The Advaitic wisdom is hidden by Sage Sankara has to be discovered by the seekers.+

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is nothing to do with the orthodox belief systems. Some philosophers in the past dissented from this interpretation of Vedanta philosophy, holding that the incarnated Souls were separate from the Divine Essence and only finally merged with it after the cycles of birth.

All these theoretical philosophies are based on the imagination based on the false ‘Self’ (ego or you) within the false experience (waking).

Sage Sankara:~ 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. (verses-6)

The Advaitic wisdom is hidden by Sage Sankara has to be discovered by the seekers. 

That is why Sage Sankara: ~65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

Therefore the seeker should personally strive by all the means to be free from the bondage of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.

In fact, Sage Sankara states a paradox- the world is and is not. It is neither real nor unreal. It leads us to recognize the existence of Maya (illusion). He thinks that the world is illusory from one perspective and from the second it is nothing but Brahman(God), Itself in manifestation. This apparent world is Maya and has its basis in Brahman, the Eternal. It looks as real. It has names and forms and actually, it is not real In the light of true knowledge, it disappears and Self-alone shines as real. However, Sage Sankara's Mayavada has not been accepted by many preachers and philosophers.

When Sage Sankara says clearly, the universe is not real. He says that Brahman and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many in different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Soul, the innermost  Self is Real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances, then it indicates the form (waking or duality or mind) is unreal and the formless soul (consciousness or soul) is real.  Therefore, only Atman is real because there is no second thing that exists other than Atman, which is in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is nothing to do with orthodox belief systems. Sage  Sankara is the only sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogma.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is not the means to acquire ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace that is unfit to grasp the highest truth. The Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman.

All sect-based beliefs are dualistic and unphilosophical nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman. In spirituality the ultimate truth is God. Thus, the Advaitic orthodoxy is a sect is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom of the Sage Sri, Sankara. Advaitic orthodox sect is meant for the ignorant populace. 

A scholar is proud that he has accumulated so much knowledge; Gnani is humble that he knows no more.

Sage Sankara:~ 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.

Remember:~

Freedom means freedom from ignorance. It is not you who is seeking freedom. It is the Soul, the Self which seeks freedom from ignorance.

Shun the ignorance which is present in the form ‘I’ and thinks the ignorance is like poison.

Turn your attention to the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Free the Soul, the Self from the illusory prison of the form, time, and space.

When you realize the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul automatically the world in which you exist losses its luster of the reality.

Remember: you are the false self within the dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’. without the ‘I’ you, and the world in which you exist ceases to exist. So do not limit the ‘I’ to an individual because ‘Self is not ‘I’ because the ‘I’ is a whole dualistic illusion.

If you are not the ‘Self’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, then how can you say ‘I AM THAT’ when the Self is not you but the Soul.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-realization. Holding ‘I-centric’ gurus and their teaching as final blocks Self-realization.

If you are the seeker of truth, then you must accept only the truth, not the ‘I-centric or you-centric knowledge, which is half-baked knowledge. The ‘I-centric or ‘you-centric’ is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The ‘I’ hides the reality of existence. The nature of existence is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. There is no ‘I’ in reality. The ‘I’ is merely an illusion. Whatever belongs to the ‘I’ is an illusion.

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject.

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

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion.

If I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, death is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the duality is bound to be an illusion.

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

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘I’ itself is ignorance. The ‘I’ itself is a dualistic illusion.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

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

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

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

People refuse to accept anything other than their Gurus words. For them, their Gurus words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such a mindset.

Such a mindset is not fit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Athma Gnana. The seekers of truth accept only the truth nothing but the uncontradictable truth.

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara has dynamic, direct, universal appeal.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara;s Advaitic wisdom is not ‘I-centric’ knowledge but the knowledge of the true existence.+

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “Advaita encompasses everything. Since Advaita requires heavy-duty intellectualism, it had to be progressively simplified.

Advaitic wisdom is not any type of teaching or philosophy. Advaitic wisdom Sage  Sankara is not ‘I-centric’ knowledge but the knowledge of true existence. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the ‘Self’ which is present in the form of consciousness. Advaita is the ultimate reality, Brahman, or GOD.

That is why 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.

We have to discard orthodox Advaita prescription in order to discover pure Advaitic essence.

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.

Sage Sankara says in the commentary on the Vedanta sutra that what is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.

Seeker of truth should not believe blindly in Orthodox Advaita without verifying all the facts from every angle. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process.

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

The universe is the product of ignorance. The ignorance is present in the form of the ‘I’.

Sage Sankara says: ~VC-47 All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward the ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Remember:~ 

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness. By holding on to theories one remains in the realm of duality. You have to mentally go on dropping what is not the truth through deeper Self-search. Finally when you become aware of the fact that, your ego, your body, and the world are one in essence then there is Self-awareness in the midst of duality. 

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.

Advaitic wisdom cannot be acquired by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and philosophy in order to acquire the Advaitic 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 the scriptures. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara was identified as Guru with parampara by religious people. For the truth seekers, Sage Sankara was Sage of universal order or Brahma Gnani. +

As regards bodily and sensual activity, there is no difference between the Gnani and the ignorant man. You cannot distinguish former from latter because he does not permit such distinctions to appear. Only pretenders show such external works or claims.

People think a Gnani is the one sitting idle, remote from worldly concerns but such idea of sitting idle, remote from worldly concerns is for the yogic idea is nothing to do with a Gnani.

Gnani acts and works in the world as others. You ought not to judge Gnanis by conventional or supernatural morality.

Whilst misunderstanding the doctrine, people must not know that the Gnani differs from them or various troubles will arise. So he tries to be one with them. Moreover, it encourages seekers to believe that attainment is not so difficult after all.

Even friends and family members of a Gnani will not know him as the Gnani. Due to ignorance, people will not be able to recognize a Gnani. Outwardly the Gnani behaves as an ordinary person behaves.  A Gnani talks and jokes like others, but he is not understood as he really is. People may regard him as an exceptional person, but only a few can recognize him as a Gnani

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

So he wore a Guru's robe only for the sake of the ignorant. So he was identified as Guru with parampara by religious people. For the truth seekers, Sage Sankara was  Sage of universal order or   Brahma Gnani.

Thus, it proves that religious Gurus and yogis are not Gnanis because they identified themselves as holy people. 

A Gnani wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."

Sage Sankara states that the Knower of the Atman (i.e., a Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Viveka Chudamani (2),   Stanza 539).

Sage Sankara “Sometimes Gnani appears to be a Fool, sometimes a wise man. Sometimes he seems splendid as a king, sometimes feeble-minded. Sometimes he is calm and silent. Sometimes he draws men to him. Sometimes people honor him greatly, sometimes they insult him. Sometimes they ignore him.

An ignorant observation is based on a dualistic (matter or body or ego) perspective, whereas a Gnanis judgment is based on the nondualistic (Soul or Spirit or consciousness) perspective. 

A Gnani is one who sees the three states in equanimity because he is fully aware of the fact that all the three states are merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. A Gnani sees everything as consciousness, even though he is in the midst of diversity.   

A Gnani sees only unity in diversity, just like a goldsmith estimating the gold in various items of jewelry sees only gold. When one identifies the Self with the form then only the form, time and space are present. But when one transcends form, time, and space the duality never remains as a reality.

A Gnani says everything exists (illusion) but everything is created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.   Everything rises from the Soul or consciousness and subsides as the Soul, the consciousness. Thus, the whole diversity has no relevance, from the standpoint of the Soul as the Self.

Everything (universe or illusion or matter) is the Soul or consciousness realizing the three states are created out of consciousness.

Awareness is the nature of the Soul, the consciousness because there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.   Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

Remember:~ 

The Gnani will neither talk too volubly like shallow persons nor keep complete silence.  He will talk as much as is necessary but no more.

Silence really means keep quiet in controversial discussions because one does not know what anyone has in his mind and without semantic analysis, it is all useless, so silence is better.

In pursuit of truth, silence means thinking constantly of the formless as against the universe. Word and thought always imply duality, the object, whereas the subject, formless witness, or consciousness is beyond both words and thought.

The physical silence practiced by yogis is a sign of their ignorance because they are thinking of tongue and lips, i.e. body, and not of the formless witness, which is consciousness. However, it is useful to those who are not seeking truth as a discipline. The yogic silence was intended only for the ignorant, who are unfit for the path of wisdom.

Consciousness is wrapped in the meaning of words. Semantics aim at clarifying meanings but AUM ultimately shows you that all words are futile because they cannot express the ultimate nature of anything: Nondualistic  Silence alone does this.

There is no need to renounce the worldly life and take sannyasa or monkhood in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana the practical life is nothing to do with the innermost self. One must lead normal lives, striving for excellence in his practical life, and inwardly strive to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Never mix up both and trying to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman because when one realizes the truth the form, time and space are merely an illusion. That is the practical life within the practical world is merely an illusion. 

As one advances within through perfect understanding, assimilating the Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and beholds truth within him, he realizes the waking experience is illusory play.

The Soul or Consciousness is the witness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.

What is not consciousness (formless) in the experience of diversity (waking)?  The waking and the dream cease to exist without consciousness.  The seeker, seeking and his destination all are one in essence.

Sage Sankara says ~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs and also  asks in effect "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." 

It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

Sage Sankara:~ On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life,…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Unlearn whatever is based on the ‘I’ To discard ‘I-centric' knowledge and conditioning.+

Katha Upanishad says:~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Ch~ II-5 P-14)

Yoga Vasistha says:~  Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only through inquiry inspired by the company of wise (Gnani). One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia. 

Advaitc Wisdom consists in knowing the truth, that everything (mind or physical existence) is consciousness.  The freedom (ultimate truth) is always there yet one does not know it.  But to those whose reason is turned away from physicality and who have attained the serenity of the Soul or the consciousness, the Self, is quite near to realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

People born in different sects and castes remain as its follower. Most of the sect is founded by some gurus, thus the Indian belief system is a Guru Cult, i.e. believes in the worship of the Guru as the Supreme Deity. All Guru-centric paths are not meant for those who are not seeking the truth. Gurudom is nothing to do with ultimate truth or Brahman. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is nothing to do with physical Guru. 

A Guru is needed in the religious and the yogic path.  There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

That is why Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing because a wise man said it, Believe nothing because it is generally held. Believe nothing because it is written. Believe nothing because it is said to be divine. Believe nothing because someone else said it. But believe only what you yourself judge to be true. 

Those Gurus who expound ‘I-centric’ knowledge is propagating ignorance. The seeker has to be aware of the fact that the ‘I’ itself is ignorance. The truth is hidden by the ‘I’.  

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

If you stick to ‘I-centric Gurus and their teaching you are sticking up to ignorance. By following ‘I-centric’ teaching even after a hundred years you will never realize the ‘Self’ hidden by the ‘I’.  If you are seeking truth then you should not waste your precious time and fortune by attending to the Satsangha and retreats. 

There is no higher or lower goal. There is only one goal, Self-Realization."  When reality appears this universe which one thinks as reality becomes unreal.

Religious people do not doubt their inherited beliefs. They blindly believe what they inherited from their forefathers. They do not accept anything as truth other than their accepted truth because they feel it is blasphemous to think other than what they have inherited.   

Their truth is based on the moral values ethics prescribed by the religious code of conduct, which qualifies them for their moksha.

Very few people doubt their accumulated knowledge and refuse to question its validity. Yet, the process of doubt is the first step on the spiritual path.

People are stuck up with the idea of Guru and Guru's teaching as final. But in the Advaitic or Atmic path, nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification.

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

The garbage of the religious beliefs dogmas superstition is confounded with the human imagination. The great reality of the glory of the religious Gods is hyped and obscured by so much tinsel and commercialism.

Spirituality is not theology. Advaita is not a philosophy but Advaita is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana or knowledge of the Spirit or God in truth.

The word “Advaita” is one without the second. Advaita essentially refers to the Atman and the whole existence. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness without the illusory division of form, time, and space.

Theology is nothing to do with spirituality. Advaita is pure spirituality. The theological Advaita is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom, which is based on the Spirit or  Atman.

Theological Advaita is conceptual having its own doctrine is nothing to do with the Gnanic Advaita because Gnanic Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Both approaches are not workable together because the theological Advaita is based on the birth entity (ego) Gnanic Advaita is based on the Atman (Soul).

Thus, the theological Advaita has to be discarded without mercy to get Advaitic Gnana.

“Advaita” is a term used variously to express the unity of reality. Advaita is unity in diversity.

The seeker has to begin by defining "What is real?" "What is unreal? to establish in Advaitic reality by sheer reasoning alone. The reasoning is the right way to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. People must first know what is the truth? and what is untruth’.

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.

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

It really depends on his inborn natural capacity to understand and assimilate it. Sage Sri, Sankara’s wisdom is a Self-examiner, to test oneself to discover how near to Gnana he has approached and what progress has already been made on the path, and what still remains to be done. It sets up a criterion for Self-judgement. There are millions in search of truth but one in million will be able to grasp it.

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita (nonduality). Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion. I am highlighting all the obstacles, which are blocking one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge but none of them are helpful to reach the ultimate end.

One has to know and realize his innermost Self is Soul and identify it as his true identity to find liberation from the bondage of the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world(duality). The goal of our life is to find and realize our identity with our Soul, which is our innermost Self.

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) Vivekachoodamani v 56, pg. 25

Unlearn whatever is based on the ‘I’ To discard ‘I-centric' knowledge and conditioning

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. People who are not Spiritually matured will not be able to receive Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The ignorant indulge in argument and provocation and personal attack, which hinder their own realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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)

~ Jesus meant Knowledge of the Spirit, the God or Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Bhagavad Gita says ~ “Don't unsettle the minds of ignorant by revealing the esoteric truth."

When you can see your body not as the body but as consciousness, when you see the world in which you exist not as the world but as consciousness, then you will enter the awareness of the Soul, the  Self. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

People dwelling in India belonged to different castes and communities of Hinduism, worship different Gods, and practice different rites and follow a different code of conducts.+

People dwelling in India belonged to different castes and communities of Hinduism, worship different Gods, practice different rites and follow a different code of conduct. 

The individualized Gods based on blind belief, heaven, hell, paradise, sin, karma, rebirth, and reincarnation are a myth propagated by religion. Religious myths are built on holding the individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality. 

Self-realization is very much necessary to realize the religious propagated belief in individualized God, heaven, hell, paradise, sin, karma, rebirth, and reincarnation are a myth.

God is impersonal. 

Self is not you. The Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Identifying the Self as 'you' is a great error. The Soul, the Self is God. God is impersonal. 

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God) is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal, and Akarta (non-agent). 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 a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal. 

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

In fact, Sage Sankara states a paradox- the world is and is not. It is neither real nor unreal. It leads us to recognize the existence of Maya (illusion). He thinks that the world is illusory from one perspective and from the second it is nothing but Brahman (God), itself in manifestation. This apparent world is Maya (universe) and has its basis in Brahman, the Eternal. It looks real. It has names and forms and actually, it is not real In the light of true knowledge, it disappears and Self-alone shines as real. However, Sage Sri, Sankara's Mayavada has not been accepted by many preachers and philosophers.

When Sage Sankara says clearly, the universe is not real. He says that Brahman and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many in different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Soul, the innermost Self is Real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances, then it indicates the form (waking or duality or mind) is unreal and the formless soul (consciousness or soul) is real. Therefore, only Atman is real because there is no second thing that exists other than Atman, which is in the form of consciousness.

The seeker of truth should not be satisfied with religion and yoga, which are meant for the ignorant populace but inquire into the world around you, which you can see. 

A deeper inquiry reveals it is passing away every second. Everything is dying repeatedly. Where is it going? Thus, you follow up your inquiry into what you can lay hands on. How can you inquire into Atma which you cannot see? So first we deal with the known and seen, this inquiry leads up to the unknown in the end. Atman or Brahman or God are things you can never see. So do not inquire into them.

Ish Upanishad declares: ~ “Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide. 

Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide, as it were, are doomed to enter those worlds after death. This is a condemnation of people who do not try to attain Self-knowledge. They are, in a real sense, committing suicide, for what can be worse than being a slave to sense enjoyment, completely oblivious of the real purpose of life, which is to be one’s, own master? 

Remember, the Self is not you but the Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Until you hold ‘Self’ as you will remain in ignorance. You are the false self within the dualistic illusion (Maya).

The Soul, the ‘Self’ is hidden by the dualistic illusion (I). It is hidden by the dualistic illusion because the dualistic illusion is created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

You and your experience of the world is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The nature of the Soul is awareness. 

Realize what God is supposed to be in actuality according to your own holy books. 

Rig Veda 1/164/46: ~ “They call God Indra, Mitra, Varuna, Agni, or the heavenly sunbird Garutmat. The seers call in many ways that which is One; they speak of Agni, Yama, Matarishvan.

Rig Veda 8/58/2:~ Only One is the Fire, enkindled in numerous ways; only One is the Sun, pervading this whole universe; only One is the Dawn, illuminating all things. In very truth, the One has become the whole world.

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

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 innermost Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5) 

Yajur Veda also says:~ God has no image and His name is Holy. (32.3)”

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~  God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

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

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

 Upanishads say in effect that: ~ if you believe that the Soul is one and God (Brahman) is another you cannot understand Truth. 

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

Lord Krishna says Ch. V:~ “Those who know the ‘Self’ in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God. 

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

Thus, by worshiping individualized God and following religion, studying scriptures are meant for those who are incapable of realizing the truth of their true existence. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Mundaka Upanishad: - The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy and all the arts Can be called lower knowledge.+

The Soul, the 'Self' does not lie in our body or in our brain, or our ego, but it is the essence of the dual and non-dual experiences, which come and go as waking, dream, and deep sleep.

Goudpada Karika-s of the second, third and fourth chapters are the authority that a mumukshu ought to resort to. Since the reality of duality is born of ignorance even to a just born animal, and therefore the cause and characteristic of samsara, bondage, misery, the Upanishads and the Sages who have followed the Vedic tradition teach the unreality of the duality and redeem the suffering humanity from the misery caused by the duality.

For the sincere spiritual seeker duality (dvaita) and suffering are synonyms. So also Nonduality (Advaita) and bliss (sukha) are synonyms. The Veda, especially the Upanishad portions, are full of teachings directed at establishing the unreality and miserable nature of duality and upholding the non-dual nature of the Atman, the sole reality.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 4.3.22 alludes to this experience:~  (In this state a father is no father, a mother no mother, no Gods, no Vedas. In this state, a thief is no thief, the killer of a noble Brahmana no killer,  a monk no monk, a hermit no hermit. This form of his is untouched by good work and untouched by evil work, for he is then beyond all the woes of his intellect.)

Mundaka Upanishad: - The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy, and all the arts Can be called lower knowledge. The higher Is that which leads to Self-realization. The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless 'Self' has neither caste nor race, Neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great And in the small, everlasting and changeless, The source of life. 

The dualist thinkers ’ arguments are based on false Self (ego or waking entity) and false experience (mind or waking or dream or universe)    to show the weakness of the position of the dualistic standpoint.  They at their wits end to explain.

Existence cannot be a cause and effect at the same time, from the point of view of the dualists, but deeper Self-search shows the Existent is no two and causality can’t rise at all. The dualistic theory says that whatever was in the cause was also in the effect. They say that the gold brick, the gold medal, the gold ornaments --are in the seed--the gold. Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that, if cause and effect are one what is the difference between the two? 

In the realm of truth, there is neither unwisdom nor ignorance; neither bondage nor liberation. There is but one pure consciousness. The logic holds good for the practical purpose in practical life (waking). Soul-centric reasoning leads to non-dualistic Self-awareness.  

The consciousness is existence absolute, awareness absolute.  The Existence absolute means that consciousness is not unreal or non-existent. And it is not unconsciousness.  Nothing positive can be stated about consciousness. 

The Soul, the innermost Self is the One without a second. There is not the least shadow of multiplicity in the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

What is it that becomes the waking experience (duality)? ‘What is it that becomes the dream (duality)?’  and ‘what is it that becomes the deep sleep (nonduality)?’ 

The seeker of truth has to direct the realization of the Soul, the Self, through wisdom and avoid losing precious time and effort losing him in philosophical studies. 

Remember:~ 

Both modern science and religion offer hypotheses and theories, but there is one vital difference--science begins with facts which it collects; religion begins with fancies. Science evolves its hypotheses from such facts, religion from fancies.

Science declares that oxygen combines with hydrogen to give water. And it also declares oxygen is protons or electrons. But in pursuit of truth, the whole physical existence (universe or mind) is considered an illusion, and science and its inventions, which are based on physical existence are limited to physical existence. The truth is within, but it is beyond physical existence.  

Science demands physical proof.  But the physical proof is part of the illusion. Hence, science cannot go beyond physicality because the truth cannot be traced with laboratory conditions.  Deeper Inquiry, analysis, and reasoning are required if one wants to push the quest deeply enough.

Common people and primitive minds fall into faulty thinking through their inherited conditioning,  such faulty thinking and reasoning make them accept the experience of birth, life, and death as a reality; taking what one sees through the senses as real, taking what is apparently obvious and superficial as true because it is less troublesome.

Remember:~ 

Many People adopt the attitude that what they know is the truth. And what others say is false. This attitude makes them not verify anything other than what they know.   One needs to be rational, not merely logical. Logic has its value only in the physical plane.

As one advances towards the spiritual plane he sees the logic underlying experience and becomes more rational. His reasoning is two-fold--implicit and explicit.

There is a need for facts of physical proof in scientific invention, whereas in pursuit of truth the proof has to be grasped mentally and realized.  Therefore, the truth is realized only by a few who take this mental pursuit.  “Whatever facts revealed, which is un-contradictable has to be accepted as truth.

The truth based on the formless Soul, the innermost Self is worthwhile; without it, one has something else, not the truth.  Most people refuse to venture into the pursuit of truth; because they do not want to go to the root of things.

The seeker of truth has to study, inquire and reason at the beginning of the pursuit of truth because it is absolutely necessary for the pursuit of truth.

One has to know the Self is not physical, but the Self is the Spirit.  The Spirit or Soul or the Self is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness gives one awareness of the three states. 

The ignorance of the true Self is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.  Ignorance vanishes through the realization of the true Self, which is the Soul or spirit or consciousness.

Remember:~

 Atmic path is the path of Advaitic wisdom. Atmic path is nothing to do with religion and the yogic path. Atmic path is the path of wisdom. All your accumulated knowledge is nothing to with Atmic path. Atmic path is not a path of discussion or exchange of views and opinion but the direct realization of the 'Self' hidden by the dualistic illusion.

The seeker must have the patience to open the blogs and posting and read. It will not only help you to clear all your cobweb of doubts and confusion. Without reading the blogs trying to argue on your own yardstick, is not of any use. Whatever you have read, whatever you have heard and accumulated becomes a hindrance in realizing the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

All your egocentric accumulated cocktail knowledge is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana soulcentric knowledge is not available in the spiritual supermarket.

All accumulated knowledge is mental Garbage is no use in the quest for truth. The seeker has to discard all the accumulated knowledge and start afresh.

Reading and reflecting on my blogs and postings gradually, the seekers will start assimilating and realizing ‘what is the truth’ and what the untruth is. Repeated reading my blogs and postings make the seeker Soulcentric and the inner dialogue will start and clear all the doubts and confusion.

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

In the Atmic path discussion of the unimportant subject matter is a great hindrance. The path of truth is the path of verification.

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 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 the consciousness.

Nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification. Agreeing to disagree causes unnecessary friction.

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.

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

Thus, you and your body and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness because they are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. I can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar