The ‘Self is not within you but the ‘Self’ is within the ‘I’. Realize what this ‘I’ is in actuality then you will never use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self’.
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.
‘I’ is not the reality. Whenever the ‘I’ is there the dualistic illusion is present. Whenever dualistic illusion is present the world in which you exist is present. The world in which you exist appears and disappears.
Thus, ‘I’ appears and disappears. The ‘I’ is not permanent. The Soul, the innermost Self is the witness of the coming and going, of the 'I’. It is erroneous to identify the Soul, the innermost Self as the ‘I'. ‘I’ represents ignorance. How can you watch the ‘I’ the truth which is hidden by the ‘I’? by you keeping quiet and keeping silent the truth will not emerge.
The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.
Remember:~
If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self:~
Where is the ‘I’?
Where is the ego?
Where is the body?
Where is the mind?
Where is the world in which you exist?
Where are the form, time, and space?
Where is the waking experience?
Where is the duality?
Where is void?
They are or have become one with the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. The consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.
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.
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, 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.
Bhagvad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16
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.
That is why Bhagavad Gita: ~ The permanent (consciousness) 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.
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.
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 in truth. :~Santthosh Kumaar