Sage Sankara:~Without inquiring into the nature of the universe, the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe will not be unfolded.+

Sage Sankara:~Without inquiring into the nature of the universe, the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe will not be unfolded.

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘One must first know what is before him. If he cannot know that, what else can he know or understand? If he gives up the external world in his inquiry, he cannot get the whole truth.

The whole universe has to be resolutely weighed, and accurately, observed in pursuit of truth. We must inquire: ‘What is this universe?’ ‘What is this I?’ Hence, an inquiry is a necessary foundation. Hence too, the Yogi who looks only inside and ignores the world throws away part of the materials needed to find the truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ 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:~ 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.

Without knowing the nature of the universe, it is impossible to realize the truth hidden by the universe. What is the use of trying to find your inner self before you understand the universe?  This world that confronts you is nothing but Atman.

If you do not make your induction from facts from the world before you, the world of the five senses, you are only drawing on your imaginations. Then you say “The Atma is like this, or like that." but it will be only your mental construction.

Sage  Sankara says in the commentary in 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.

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

You must inquire into the nature of the universe.

Look at everything in the universe because the universe is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Do not avoid the universe, do not shut your eyes to the universe; do not shut yourself away from the universe which is nothing but consciousness. But the yogis tell you to be non-observant and to withdraw: keen powers of observation are desirable and will help, not hinder your pursuit of truth.

Take experiences as they come to you, do not run away from the world in ascetic fear or shyness of them. To say they are an illusion (Maya) without first examining them and inquiring into them thoroughly is to delude yourself. 

This universe is common to all of us; therefore we must begin our inquiry with it and not flee. It is only after you have inquired into the nature of the universe that you should inquire into the Soul the witness hidden by the universe. If, however you inquire into the witness before the inquiry into the universe, then it is mere mysticism. What is the universe? Must precede What is this  I? in pursuit of truth.  

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.

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness. By holding onto 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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

What is God in truth like? +

Every religion created its own path to salvation.  The religious ideas of Gods are based on myth. All the myths are based on human imagination. Religion never defines God because the religious Gods are based on belief. Without the belief, religious God ceases to exist.

Religion can never make you know God. Only an intense urge to know what God is supposed to be in truth can make you realize God.  The Soul, the ‘Self is the Infinite God. 

God in truth is not a Christian; God in truth is not a Jew, or a Muslim, or a Hindu, or a Buddhist. There is no God but God in truth. There is no God because the world in which we exist is merely an illusion created out of God in truth, the Spirit. Call it by any name God in truth is universal. God in truth belongs to the whole of humanity.   

Religion creates separation God is unity in diversity.   God in truth is one which the cause of the whole world in which humanity exists.  There is no God but God in truth means the world in which we exist is an illusion that God in truth is the cause of the world is real and eternal.  God in truth alone is real and all else is an illusion. There is no second thing that exists other than the Spirit, God, which is God in truth thus, God in truth is Advaita.

Religion belongs to you.  The religious God belongs to you. The religious code of conduct belongs to you. Religious rituals belong to you.  But remember you belong to the dualistic illusion because the world in which you exist is an illusion created out of the Spirit, the God,  in truth, God in truth is present in the form of the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

God in truth is divine, only held in the bondage of ignorance (matter); perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from ignorance.

What is God in truthlike?

God in truth is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. According to the Vedas, God has neither any image nor God resides in any particular idol or statue. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions.

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.  

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. 

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. (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 Brahman (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. 

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). The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sri, Sankara is impersonal. 

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 (God) of Sage Sankara is impersonal. 

Sage Sankara: ~"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman or God in truth."

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

There is a clear-cut idea of God in the Vedas, Upanishad, and Bhagavad Gita. And also there is a clear-cut idea of what not to worship as God in place of God in truth.

Meher Baba said: ~ God is your innermost Self. Do not search for God outside of you. Let these words be inscribed in your heart. Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God. God is everywhere and does everything. God is beyond us and is everything. God alone is and all else is an illusion.

Self-realization is the Truth realization, truth realization is God-realization. Thus, Self-realization itself is real worship. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Yajur Veda says those who worship non-Vedic Gods are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly.+

Swami Vivekananda:~ The masses in India cry to sixty million Gods and still die like dogs. Where are these Gods? -The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda/Volume 1/Lectures And Discourses/The Gita II

Rig Veda says God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship 33crores of Gods when in place of the real God.

Vedas reveal God as Spirit (Atman or Brahman) and no form,  whereas Hinduism worships God in the form of various non-Vedic idols of Gods, and Goddesses are barred by the  Vedas.

Rig Veda says God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship the 33crores Gods of Hinduism in place of the real God.

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

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

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

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

Rig Veda 1/164/46: ~ “They call him 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.

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

When Upanishad itself declares: ~ Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad). 

 

Yajurveda says :~ 

Translation 1.

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc). 

They sink deeper into darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.) (Yajurved 40:9)

Translation 2.

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshipers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti is intent."(Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538)

Translation 3.

"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.)

So, Yajur Veda indicates that:~

They sink deeper into darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc (Yajurved 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, 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.)

When the religion of the Veda knows no idols, then why so many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods. Why these conceptual Gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes. 

Yajur Veda says: ~   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. Therefore, all these add-ons prove that the form and attribute-based concepts are introduced by some sages of the past with a new belief system and code of conduct,  in the name of Vedas. 

It proves that all Gods belonging to Hinduism are non -Vedic Gods. According to Yajur Veda, those who worship  non-Vedic Gods are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."  

Rig Veda clearly says: ~ May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Yajur Veda:~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.

Sruti is made the final or exclusive authority in apara Vidya and that for supporting the tenet of the CAUSAL relation or the creatorship of Brahman, Nirguna Brahman = the "Absolute beyond qualities," which can be defined only in a negative way. For the Sankaran school = the Ultimate Reality, higher than the Lord. i.e. of Saguna or apara Brahman ... The support of Scriptural Revelation is, therefore, absolutely necessary for this hypothesis of cosmology, this Saguna or apara (= inferior) Brahman, but not for the absolute truth of Nirguna Brahman.

The Vedic Culture and Vedas are complete in themselves, but Hinduism which is a non-Vedic belief system with all its ritual and conduct-oriented practices has been contributed largely by the orthodox priests to suit their convenience!

Remember:~ 

Sage Sri, Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is the fairest flower of wisdom in the world. Sage Sri, Sankara says 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.

Advaita is not philosophy. Advaita is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. The nature of God is Advaita. All the teaching propagated by some gurus are adulterated with theories, tradition, religions are not Advaitic wisdom. Advaita Gnana is “Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Lord Krishna confesses that the oldest wisdom of India (Advaitic wisdom) has been lost: people misinterpret and falsify it today as they did then. It is not yoga but the philosophic truth. But nobody knows it. The teachers of philosophy and leaders of mysticism or religion do not want to inquire into truth and have no time for it. (Gita –Chap- IV-v.2)

In Advaitic reality, there is neither God nor Goddess but only the consciousness. The consciousness is the real God.

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.

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 me 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.

 It is for every seeker who is seeking truth must first know what God is supposed to be in actuality according to Vedas and Upanishads and reject all non-Vedic Gods to realize the Atman is real God.

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

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

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost ‘Self’ within the false experience. Thus, it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self. Thus Atman or Soul, the ‘Self’ is Godin truth.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshiped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jains. There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the supreme ‘Self’ in i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

It indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad says: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from the Self does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

A great majority of Hindus are not in contact with their religious history therefore, they believe their inherited beliefs as the ultimate truth.

Meher Baba said: ~ God is your innermost “Self’. Do not search for God outside of you. Let these words be inscribed in your heart. Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God. God is everywhere and does everything. God is beyond us and is everything. God alone is and all else is an illusion.

People who are saying ‘I AM GOD’ are hallucinating that they become God. First, you must know what God is supposed to be in actuality.

Sage Sankara declares Atman is Brahman. That is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth and the ultimate truth or Brahman is God.

The nature of God is Advaita. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness. God is in the form of the Atman, therefore; never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman.

Thus, Truth-realization is Self-realization. Self-realization is God-realization. God-realization itself is real worship. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Identifying the ‘Self’ as 'I' or 'You', is a great error.+

Identifying the ‘Self’ as 'I'  or  'You',  is a great error. The Self is not you but the’ Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The form, time, and space are an object to the Soul, which is the subject.  The Soul witnesses the form, time, and space together.

The form, time, and space appear as ‘I’. When ‘I’ disappears then the form, time and space also disappear.

The ‘I-centric Gurus hold you as the 'Self'  are unaware of the truth hidden by the ‘I’.

The knowledge expounded by the ‘I-centric’ Gurus and their teaching is lower knowledge. The seeker has to ignore this ‘I-centric teaching and search for higher knowledge, which is hidden by ignorance.

This is your bondage that you are stuck up to the ‘I’ centric teaching.  ‘I’ centric teachings are lower knowledge meant for lower stages.

The seeker has to ignore these ‘I-centric' teaching and search for higher knowledge. ... Such teachings are unsafe rafts for crossing the ocean of ignorance.  Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the ocean of the ignorance on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded people proud of their vain learning go round and round like the blind led by the blind.

The Soul, the innermost Self is verily Brahman (God), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Awareness.  The Soul is not the ‘I’ which is non-existence itself.  The realization of this truth is called Self- Knowledge by the Sages of truth.

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 the cause of the 'I'. 

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

First, you must make sure the ‘I’ itself is illusory because the ‘I’ is not permanent. 

The seeker has to find for himself the truth of his true existence and to come to a fuller and deeper understanding and realization of the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

The purpose quest for truth is to first find out what is the untruth to realize the truth and discard the untruth.  

Do not try to get rid of the ego you will never succeed in getting rid of the ego. Think in a different direction.  The ego exists only in the domain of form, time, and space. 

The form, time, and space exist only when the mind exists. 

The mind exists only when the universe exists. 

The universe appears only when the waking appears. 

The waking appears only when the ‘I’ appears. 

Remember:~ 

The ‘I’ disappears in deep sleep.

There is no form, time, and space when ‘I’ disappears. 

There is no mind when ‘I’ disappears. 

There is the universe when the ‘I’ disappears. 

There is no waking when the ‘I’ disappears. 

Remember:~ 

‘I’ appears means the duality appears. 

The duality appears means there is the division of form, time, and space. 

If there is division in the form, time, and space -means there is diversity in unity. 

Remember ~ 

When ‘I’ disappears there is nonduality. 

Nonduality is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of form, time, and space. 

The fullness of consciousness means unity in diversity. 

Unity in diversity in consciousness is Advaita.  

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul in the midst of diversity (waking) is Self- awareness or Brahmic awareness. 

If you desire Self-realization, but you still say "I,” and if you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise seeker. You are simply ignorant. 

‘I’-centric knowledge is unsafe rafts for crossing The Ocean of the ignorance, which is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the Ocean of ignorance on these poor rafts of ‘I-centric knowledge. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded people proud of their vain learning go round and round like the blind led by the blind. 

The separation exists when the ‘I’ exists. Without the ‘I’ there is no separation of the form, time, and space. 

Till you hold the ‘I-centric vision the separation is bound to be a reality.  In the domain of the Soul, there is no separation, therefore, there is no duality.  There is unity diversity or oneness because the form, time, and space are one in essence. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Advaita or nonduality is ever present. Dvaita or duality is impermanent. Dvaita or duality appears as ‘I’. ‘I’ itself is ignorance.+

Advaita or nonduality is ever-present.  Dvaita or duality is impermanent.  Dvaita or duality appears as ‘I’. ‘I’ itself is ignorance.

Advaita is the reality hidden by the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is the dualistic illusion.  The dualistic illusion is 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) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

 Until you discard the ‘I’, which is ignorance you will never be able to realize the Advaita the only reality hidden by the ‘I’, which is present in the form of the form, time and space.

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.

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

First, you must make sure the ‘I’ itself is illusory because the ‘I’ is not permanent.

The seeker has to find for himself the truth of his true existence and to come to a fuller and deeper understanding and realization of the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

 The purpose quest for truth is to first find out what is the untruth to realize the truth and discard the untruth. 

Do not try to get rid of the ego you will never succeed in getting rid of the ego. Think in a different direction.  The ego exists only in the domain of the form, time and space.

The form, time, and space exist only when the mind exists.

The mind exists only when the universe exists.

The universe appears only when the waking appears.

The waking appears only when the ‘I’ appears.

Remember

The ‘I’ disappears in deep sleep.

There is no form, time and space when ‘I’ disappears.

There is no mind when ‘I’ disappears.

There is the universe when the ‘I’ disappears.

There is no waking when the ‘I’ disappears.

Remember

‘I’ appears means the duality appears.

The duality appears means there is the division of form, time and space.

If there is division in the form, time and space - means there is diversity in unity.

Remember ~

When ‘I’ disappears there is nonduality.

Nonduality is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of the form, time and space.

The fullness of consciousness means unity in diversity.

Unity in diversity in consciousness is Advaita.

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul in the midst of diversity (waking) is Self- awareness or Brahmic awareness.

If you desire Self-realization, but you still say "I,” and if you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise seeker. You are simply ignorant. Glorifying ‘I’- centric’ Gurus and their teaching will lead one to hallucinate nothing else. : ~Santthosh Kumaar