Realize the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution.+

Tattireya Upanishad:~  The Self in man and in the sun is one. Those who understand this see through the world and go beyond the various sheaths of being to realize the unity of life.

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

There is no meaning of life from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self because the world, in which you exist, is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The one which is born, live, and dies is not the Self.  

You are bound by birth, life, and death so you are not the ‘Self’ because the ‘Self is the Soul, which is birthless and deathless because it is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Only the false self thinks there is a meaning of life within the dualistic illusion because of ignorance.  Without the Soul the world in which we exist ceases to exist.  the Soul, which is the cause of the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist), and it, itself is uncaused.  The Soul is the only reality that is the basis of our illusory existence in which we are experiencing our birth, life, death, and the world as a reality.

The birth, life, death, and the world are part of the waking experience, which is an illusion from the standpoint of the true Self (consciousness).  It is no use of saying that, we are not born, we do not die because we all were born and we all are going to die. However, birth, life, death, and the world are part of the illusion, which comes and goes as the waking experience.  The formless substance and witness of the three states is real, which is our true identity.   The Self which is in the form of consciousness has no birth and death.

When there is no scope for two in reality. Only from the dualistic perspective, there is meaning in life. From the non-dualistic perspective, life is meaningless. 

Remember:~ 

Until identify the Self your ignorance will prevail.  It is your habitual ‘I-centric’ attitude that will not allow you to know the truth hidden by the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Remember:~

The form, time, and space are connected to the ‘I’.

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

The waking experience is connected to the ‘I’.

The dream is connected to the ‘I’.

The universe in which you exist is connected to the ‘I.

The mind is connected to the ‘I’.

The Self is not the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is permanent because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

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

Why are you struggling to find out who you are? You will never find the answer if you get stuck to the ‘I’. Find out ‘what is this ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

What is that is aware of the coming and going, of the ‘I’?

Without realizing ‘what is this ‘I’ you will never be able to realize the mystery of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is the most intoxicating stuff. Those who use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self ‘will never be able to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding.

‘I’ is the cage for the Soul. ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only weapon to get rid of ignorance.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding. Perfect understanding of ‘what is this ‘I’ leads to realizing the truth beyond the form, time, and space.

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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Ramana Maharishi:~ To whom is the illusion? Find it out then illusion will vanish.+

So many centuries have passed since Sage Sankara appeared, yet it is very hard to find his true wisdom understood anywhere in the world today. It is because so few could rise to his level. Hence, the Bhakti Saints and others came to supply the common demand.

Sage Sankara's wisdom  has two aspects: the dualistic perspective and the non-dualistic perspective.

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the populace but the Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it. Hence,  the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Q: ~ “What is an illusion"?

Ramana Maharishi:~ To whom is the illusion? Find it out, and then the illusion will vanish. Generally, people want to know about illusion and do not examine who it is. It is foolish. The illusion is outside and unknown.

 But

Ramana Maharishi:~ The seeker is considered to be known and is inside. Find out what is immediate, intimate, instead of trying to find out what is distant and unknown.” ~ Talks with Ramana Maharishi: On Realizing Abiding Peace and Happiness.

But  Remember 

Santthosh Kumaar: ~ The 'I' itself is the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is present in the form of the world in which you exist. When the Self is not the form, then the question to whom does not arise.  A Deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ itself is an illusion.  If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then it is no use in inquiring ‘Who Am I?. Till one holds the ‘I’ as the Self, the Soul, the innermost self is caught up in the prison of the dualistic illusion.  

Sage Sankara:~  VC-63- "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the 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.

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that by inquiring the Who Am I? the wisdom will not dawn. Who Am I? - inquiry is only for beginners and it is inadequate and useless in the later stages.

That is why Sage Sankara: ~ VC~.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?

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.

Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness of not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman.” Brahman must be experienced. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it,  your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, and contemplation, but never by subtle arguments. 

Remember:~

Thinker, thoughts, and the world in which the thinker exists have nothing to do with the Soul, the Self, which is hidden by ignorance.

Those who think by inquiring to whom the thoughts come, they will not be able to realize the ‘Self’ because they are thinking the ‘Self is within their body. The ‘Self’ is not within the body but it is hidden by the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Thoughts and thinker and the world the thinker exists belongs to the dualistic illusion. Without form, time, and space the thoughts will not form. Thoughts come to the thinker. The thinker is an individual whereas the ‘Self is not an individual. The source of the thoughts is the ego.

Without the ego, the thoughts will not arise. Thoughts and thinker and the world the thinker exists is nothing to do with the Soul, the ‘Self, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion (I).

You are the thinker. The thoughts come to you. You are bound by form, time, and space whereas The Soul, the Self is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. The thoughts will not rise in the domain of the Soul, the ‘Self’ because it is the ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The thoughts come to the thinker within the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya. Without the dualistic illusion or Maya the thinker, thoughts, and the world in which the thinker exists cease to exist.

Therefore, just by finding out to whom the thoughts come? Who is the knower? it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what' is what is very much necessary to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Self-realization is not easy because you refuse to accept the ‘Self is not within you.+

Self-realization is not easy because you refuse to accept the ‘Self is not within you because some guru said it, because it is generally held, because it is written in the holy book because someone else said it, because you refuse to accept anything other than your accepted truth.

You indulge in what is not needed to unfold the mystery of the ‘Self’ which is hidden within the form, time, and space. Your stubborn attitude blocks you from ‘Self-realization.

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) 

Sage Sankara says: ~ 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.

There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to practice anything. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’, lead to the realization of the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.   

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 by means of 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. 

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study the Scriptures, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~ then why you indulge in studying the scriptures.

 Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study philosophy, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in studying philosophy.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge rituals, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge yoga, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in yoga.

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

~ then why you are sticking to a Guru who is not a Gnani.

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

Sage Sankara regards personal realization as independent and convincing evidence. 

Sage Sankara says that an individual’s experience cannot be disputed because the experience he went through was real to him; though that may not be the real from the absolute point of view.

Sage Sankara makes a distinction between the absolute view and the relative view of things.

If one starts with the idea that the universe exists, he can never see the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness, because the universe is an illusion and only ignorant people read it as a reality.

Hence, Sage Sankara says:~ V.63 ~"Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the 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. 

Remember:~

By inquiring ‘WHO AM ‘I’? or by saying ‘I AM THAT’, without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’, one will not realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ exists only when the form, time, and space are present. When the Self is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self is ‘I –less Soul, then whatever based on the ‘I’, is bound to be an illusion. Thus, the ‘I-less Soul is permanent and eternal, because the Soul is ever formless, timeless and spaceless existence.

By hugging the Guru, you may feel happy and peaceful, emotionally, but by hugging a Guru you will not get Self-realization. Self-realization is not possible through mentally getting involved with a Guru. The emotional is the greatest obstacle in realizing the truth which is beyond the form, time, and space. The emotions and feelings are possible physical existence, whereas the ‘Self’ is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the physical existence (duality or world) itself is an illusion.

Thus, all these hugging pursuits are meant for those who are in search of temporary peace of mind in the practical life within the practical world and it is not for those who are seriously searching the truth of their true existence.

The seeker has to realize the hugging, the Guru who hugs and the world in which they exist is created out of single stuff. The knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Athma Gnana.

By hugging and laughing, the ignorance, will not vanish. Without getting rid of ignorance, wisdom will not dawn. Without wisdom, the dualistic illusion will prevail as a reality.

The ignorance of the 'Self’ will block you from realizing the Self, which is ever the formless, timeless and spaceless existence.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Gurus who declare “I am God or “I am Brahman" is merely repeating like a parrot words which they have read in the scriptures or heard.+

Before saying ‘I AM GOD’ one must realize what ‘God’ supposed to be in actuality.   Only ignorant says ‘I AM GOD’ without knowing what it means.  

People say I AM THAT ~ I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I,  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. 

You are not God. The Soul the ‘Self’ is God in truth.  It is not correct to say God or I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman or God in truth remains, not the I. 

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the ‘I’ is an illusion, 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. 

Some Gurus and Self-declared Godmen say:  "I am God." This presupposes that they have the same miraculous and creative powers of God. They do not, however, display possession of such power. Such is the fallacy of their logic.

The Gurus who declare “I am God or “I am Brahman" is merely repeating like parrot words which they have read in the scriptures or heard. It does not prove that they have realized the ultimate truth or God or Brahman or God in truth. With bookish or hearsay knowledge, it is unable to prove that everything is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. One has to do lots of homework to realize the Soul, the Self. 

A Guru who speaks of knowing Brahman within the body is thinking only of his head or heart, i.e. of his body. He is hallucinating. 

Some religious Gurus give medicinal herbs and cured people, the latter then falls into the fallacy of attributing their cure to the Swami's spiritual power, status or greatness. Those Gurus may have expert knowledge of herbs, but that does not prove they are Gnanis. 

Remember:~  

The stories of non-believer coming to a Guru denouncing him as a deceiver, and then suddenly being converted to faith in him are easily explicable. Both attitudes are merely emotional. One emotion succeeded another; it is in the nature of emotion to change. People are emotionally carried off their feet when they first visit a famous Guru.

Gurus who propagate Samadhi through sexual intercourse are not Gnanis. Sexual intercourse is nothing to do with the Soul, which is ever formless, timeless and spaceless existence.   Those who indulge in sexual activities in order to get enlightenment will permanently remain in the prison of the dualistic illusion.  They are unfit to acquire Self-knowledge.

Those Gurus who glorify themselves as God and collect money by promising people instant realization are frauds. 

Whoever speaks of knowing Brahman within us is thinking only of his body. He is hallucinating about getting instant realization because he is an intellectual. He thinks he has read and understood everything.   

The Gurudom is nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Religious Gurus are concerned with the welfare of humanity to propagate love, peace, harmony and compassion to the populace.  Humanity belongs to the dualistic illusion.  Spirituality is beyond the dualistic illusion. Mixing religion and spirituality is like mixing oil and water. Religion is nothing to do with spirituality.   Religion is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.    

Remember:~ 

How can you see and meet God without knowing what God is in actuality? By praying and meditating on God without knowing what God really is, leads to hallucination. The world in which you exist hides God in truth. Thus, Self-realization is necessary to realize ‘what God is in actuality.

Swami Vivekananda: ~ The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods?

Knowing this, stand up and fight! Not one step back that is the idea. ... Fight it out, whatever comes. Let the stars move from the sphere! Let the whole world stand against us! Death means only a change of garment. What of it? Thus, fight! You gain nothing by becoming cowards. ... Taking a step backward, you do not avoid any misfortune. You have cried to all the Gods in the world. Has misery ceased? The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods? ... The Gods come to help you when you have succeeded. So what is the use? Die game. ... This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, my Soul. You are infinite, deathless, birthless. Because you are the infinite Spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. You are the entire world. Who can help you? - Swami Vivekananda (Delivered In San Francisco, on May 28, 1900) -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “Stick to the truth”

The belief system preaches that God is one and the ways to God are many. It simply tries to lead them to darkness with its dogma and idea of many Gods, which is apart from the Self. The religion is based on the false self (ego) and false experience (world) thus; all religiously-based beliefs are a falsehood.

Religious Gods are based on belief. Belief is not God. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, 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. God in truth is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ “Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God in truth) 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)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says: "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)

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality. For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara:~ VC~.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?

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

Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness is not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman.” Brahman must be experienced. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments.

As indicated in ISH Upanishads: ~ “By worshipping Gods and Goddesses you will go after death to the world of Gods and Goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spent there is wasted because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of Gods and Goddesses you cannot do that, and, thus, you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

It clearly indicates that:-If the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge then why one has to indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual Gods, Goddesses, and Gurus to go into deeper darkness. Instead, spend that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is one’s prime goal. ~Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.+

The existence of the world in which we exist is dependent on the ‘I’. Without the ‘I’ the world, in which we exist cease to exist.  The ‘I’ hides the truth.

Self-realization is to realize the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘Self’ is not limited to the body because it is not within the physical body, but it pervades everything and everywhere in the world in which we exist.  Limiting the Soul, the ‘Self’ to the physical body is an error because the Soul is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The ‘Self' is not the body and the ‘Self’ is not within the body.  The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is nothing but the cause of the world in which we exist and it itself is uncaused.

Most of the Gurus use the word ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ for the Soul. The translator used the word ‘I’ and ‘I AM’ for the Self.   You must remember the fact that the ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance.  

The 'Self' is not within the physical body because the ‘Self' pervades in everything and everywhere in the world, in which you exist. Limiting the 'Self' to the physical body is an error.

All the modern Gurus of the East are stuck with the ‘I’ and glorified the ‘I’ and propagated an imaginary cocktail of imagination.

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.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the’ I’. This truth has to be assimilated.

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.

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, and 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 in order to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

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 'I' 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. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara’s Advaita is universal wisdom reveals on its own to all the serious and sincere seekers of truth.+

The Advaitic Sages have received their wisdom through inner revelation.   They hold that existence is without beginning and without end. Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is a hidden treasure of the spiritual truth. 

Sage Sankara says: ~   “A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it, your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments”.

People who are stuck with the idea that the Soul is within their physical body will never be able to grasp the Advaitic truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.  Without the form, time, and space the ‘I’ cease to exist.  Without the ‘I’ the form, time and space cease to exist. Without the form, time, and space, the world in which we exist ceases to exist. 

Without the world, in which we exist the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone exists.

The Soul is not limited to an individual. The individuals are many, but the Soul is one.  The individual exists within the illusory universe or Maya.  

The Soul is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.  The Soul is not within the human body.  The universe is created out of single stuff.  That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, whatever the universe contains is bound to be the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

All the Advatic Gurus of the east and the west are based on the dualistic perspective. Dualistic knowledge is egocentric knowledge based on ignorance. 

All egocentric Advaita or nonduality is based on imagination. All imagined Advaita is will not help to cross the domain of the illusory form, time, and space.

The egocentric knowledge keeps the Soul in the intoxication of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ hides the Advatic truth.  The Gurus and the teachers of the nonduality of the east and west are stuck up with their own accepted truth gathered from here and there and their egoic attitude blocks than from realizing the Advaita hidden by the dvaita, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

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)  

Advaita is the nature of the Soul. Advaita is second to none. Sage Sankara’s Advaita is universal wisdom that reveals on its own to all the serious and sincere seekers of truth.

The real Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is soulcentric knowledge.  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is soulcentric knowledge that destroys ignorance. :~Santthosh Kumaar  

Self-realization is the only way to God-realization because the Soul, the Self itself is God in truth.+

Self-realization is the only way to God-realization because the Soul, the Self itself is God in truth. 

Religion is the home of mysticism and deification that is why they are not keen on rational truth.  Religion and scholasticism and yoga are for those to help those who are incapable of grasping the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Religion is based on dogmatism, not philosophy. One finds philosophical insights here and there in religious doctrine. All the religious doctrines are dogmatic because they also begin by assuming their  Gods based on blind faith or blind belief.  Gods based on blind faith or blind belief become a center of the religion, thus every religion has its own idea of God thus there is no universality in religious beliefs. 

Religion takes the position that God as a separate entity outside us, i.e. God really exists separately from us. Orthodox people are afraid to go deeper and refuse to accept anything other than their religious authority because of punishment by God.

 A Gnani says the scriptures for children, but wise seekers will think rationally.

Vedas bars human worship: ~

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal Prakriti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the Prakriti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow  and suffer terribly for a long time.":~  (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

Then why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis (human form)   in place of God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow and suffer terribly for a long time.

No one has ever seen God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the religious God and Goddesses because God exists prior to the form, time, and space.  The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is the real God.  Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

By worshipping the religious Gods and Gurus one will not get Self-realization or God-realization.

There is no scope for belief-based God because the belief is not God.  Religion and its ideas of Gods are mere imagination based on the false self (ego), within the false experience (waking).

Thus, whatever beliefs are based on the false Self is bound to be a falsehood.   Thus, it is erroneous to worship the matter, instead of the All-Pervading Spirit (God) and those who worship things born of matter. Religious Gods and Goddesses are with form and attributes (matter) are not real Gods.  That is why Vedas declare, those who sink into the greatest depth of misery and suffer who worship the matter.

Ishopanishad says: ~ “They are steeped in ignorance and sunk into the greatest depth of misery who worships the matter, instead of the All-Pervading God and those who worship things born of matter like trees, animals, man, etc. are sunk deeper in misery."

Rig Veda: ~ May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman

Vedas declare: ~ One should never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman. If one, worships any other God in place of Atman, are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."

So, it clearly indicates the so-called Gods worshiped in the temples today are not Vedic Gods.  Vedas bars worshiping of such Gods.  Why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis when Vedas bars human worship.  

Remember:~ 

The truth-seeker has to reject the devotional path if he wants to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space. The path of Bhakti is for the ignorant populace.

The Vedas talk about Brahman which refers to the ultimate truth or ultimate reality. The consciousness is the ultimate truth, therefore, the consciousness is Brahman and Brahman is God in truth.

Vedas do not permit idol worship. All the idols are of the Puranic Gods priests are referring to the Puranic Brahma as God they are ignorant of the God in Vedas even though they speak of Vedas.

Priests do not understand the meaning of the Brahman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Only the path of wisdom leads the seeker of truth on his journey to the ultimate realization of the true nature of the Universal Essence, which is the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

Bhagavad Gita: 7: 19:~ "Such a man who has attained true knowledge, the knowledge of Self, the knowledge of Atman, worships ‘Self’ as~ Atman (God in truth) alone exists~ everything is Atman, there exists nothing except Atman. Such a man is extremely rare"

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God in truth) 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.

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. 

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the innermost Self. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the Self.

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.

Yajurveda: ~ There is no image of God in truth. God in truth is unborn eternal. (Chapter 32, Verse 3)

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure"

Yajurveda: ~ "They are entering darkness, those who worship the natural things (like air, water, fire, etc.), they are sinking more in darkness who worship created things." (Chapter 40, Verse 9)

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Yajurveda: ~ "They are entering darkness, those who worship the natural things (like air, water, fire, etc.), they are sinking more in darkness who worship created things." (Chapter 40, Verse 9)

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

People, who worship the belief of God, are hallucinating that they become one with such God. 

Vedas itself declares: May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman? Thus, to know the real God Self-realization is necessary. Self-realization is God-realization. Self-realization itself is real worship. 

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) 

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

When Upanishads and Vedas declare that “God is the form of the Athma, and God is indeed Athma itself” then why accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar