Perfect understanding of 'what is what' frees the Soul, the Self, from the entanglement of dualistic illusion or Maya.+

Perfect understanding of 'what is what' frees the Soul, the Self, from the entanglement of dualistic illusion or Maya.

What is the use of studying philosophy and scriptures?

What is the use of worshiping Gods and Gurus?

What is the use of and performing religious rituals?

What the use is of observing silence?

What is the use of singing devotional hymns?

Advaitic Wisdom will not dawn, without realizing the world in which you exist is created out of single clay. That single clay is consciousness. The knowledge of the single clay leads to Oneness. Oneness means unity in diversity.

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 the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

There is no need to study philosophy and scriptures.

There is no need for worshiping Gods and Gurus.

There is no need for and performing religious rituals.

There is no need to observe silence.

There is no need to sing devotional hymns.

~ To get Self-realization.

The ultimate truth or Brahman dwells within the three states like fragrance in the flower; Musk lies within the Musk deer yet seeks it afar." 

Until one traces the truth within the three states the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world is experienced as reality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure."+

People make religious God and their master or Guru as the center of their existence. They are hallucinating about their idea of God and Master or Guru. Such people will never be able to overcome the ignorance.

The path of wisdom is not suitable for those who believe in their religion their idea of God and faith in the physical Guru or Master. Such people must tread their own chosen path, which gives them satisfaction.

Mixing up religion and the religious idea of God and trying to impose their religious idea of God on others will make them permanent prisoners of ignorance.

One should not hold a God as the center of existence without knowing what God really is.

Lord Krishna says: ~ “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. (Ch~V) .

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

The religious Gods exist within the domain of the dualistic illusion (waking). The religious Gods exist separately from the world in which man exists. Separation implies duality. The duality always implies a contradiction.

From the non-dualistic perspective, the duality is merely an illusion. Thus, the world in which man exists is within the domain of the duality.

The world in which man exists is merely a dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is created out of a single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit.

Thus, the Spirit (consciousness) alone is real and eternal. The ‘Spirit’ is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the religious Gods cease to exist because the Soul, which is the form of the ‘Spirit’ itself is God. All the religious Gods are imaginary Gods.

Religious Gods are an object, therefore, the Soul, the Self, contradict such imaginary Gods who depend upon the 'Spirit’ for their existence.

Every religion has its own idea of God or Gods. When there are two, then there is contradiction one cannot find non-contradiction in this dualistic world.

Remember:~

A Gnani boldly declares that the religious God does not exist, because Such God's existence implies that the Soul, the Self different from God.

The Bible says:~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

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.

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

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure." (Chapter 40, Verse)

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.

The Vedas exclaim from time immemorial: ~ Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti, Existence is One. (Rig Veda, 1-164-146).

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 realizing 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.

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

The 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."

The God is one and universal. God is the Spirit. The Spirit is the Soul, the Self. The God is the Soul, the Self.

The Soul is the Supreme Being the One eternal homogeneous essence, indivisible consciousness, and intelligence, which is beyond the form, time, and space. To which the Sages describe in a variety of ways through diverse words.

Any kind of difference means contradiction. Nothing exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of the ‘Spirit’.

Advaita means the negation of the second thing. "Neti, Neti," not this, not this means ~ Negation of second thing other than the ‘Spirit’, which is God.

Every word we utter we are uttering within the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is not permanent.

The way of negating "It is not this, not that" is also a way of defining, or conveying the meaning of Reality as much as any positive definition. One has to mentally distinguish the real from the unreal.

The seeker has to go on negating the unreal world in which we exist by realizing the Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit (consciousness), which is real and eternal. The ‘Spirit’ is the cause of the universe in which we exist and it, itself is uncaused.

To find the Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space to eliminate the form, time, and space mentally by realizing the form, time and space are merely an illusion created out of the ‘Spirit’.

The form, time, and space are ‘Spirit’ in their essence. Thus, the ‘Spirit’ alone is real and eternal.

The ‘Spirit’ is the ultimate truth and the ultimate truth is God.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Only when ignorance vanishes then the unreal nature of the universe will be exposed.+

Some Gurus say by dropping the body and mind you get enlightenment but without knowing what this body and mind are supposed to be in actuality it is impossible to realize the truth, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

People only imagine that way by dropping the body and the mind they get enlightenment. Imagination is not truth.

It is impossible to drop the body alone because the body and the world have appeared together and they disappear together.

Only when ignorance vanishes then the unreal nature of the universe will be exposed.

Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the ignorance vanish.

From the dualistic perspective, people see the world in which they exist as a reality. They see their body as the body, their ego as the ego, and the world in which they exist as the world whereas a Gnani sees everything from the non-dualistic perspective.

A Gnani sees his body as the consciousness, his ego as consciousness, and the world in which he exists as the consciousness.

For a Gnani, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced is nothing but consciousness.

There is unity in diversity in Gnani's understanding whereas the ignorant people see only diversity and separation.

Remember:~

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

Only in ignorance, the illusory world in which we exist is a reality.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions determine the world, observed and experienced. The commoner viewing the world will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same world. Each one interprets the world that they see in terms of their existing knowledge. The commoner sees everything based on the ego and, therefore, experiences birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul or consciousness.

All the egocentric (religious) adulteration has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

Thus, it is necessary to learn to view and judge the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective, to realize that form, time and space are one in essence.

There is nothing to realize other than realizing that consciousness is everything. Consciousness is second to none.

Everything is nothing but consciousness. Nothing can exist without consciousness. :~Santthosh Kumaar

Without knowing ‘what is this mind in actuality it is impossible to realize the truth hidden by the mind.+

Without knowing ‘what is this mind in actuality it is impossible to realize the truth hidden by the mind. 

People are stuck thinking the mind is within their body and theorize and write books speculating and creating their own theories.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. And the mind is in the form of the universe. And the universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

Self-realization is necessary to realize the mind, which is present in the form of the universe is merely an illusion. The mind cannot be destroyed because it is merely an illusion. When Advaitic wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed, the same way the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place.

I am highlighting all the obstacles in the inner journey and how to overcome these obstacles. All accumulated knowledge is of no use in the Atmic path.

It is for every seeker, who is on the Atmic path to realize himself “What is the truth? “and “What is untruth?” to assimilate the Self–Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. My postings are only signposts. The seeker needs to reflect constantly on the subject till the cobwebs of his doubts and confusion get cleared.

It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’. It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I’ is not a thought. The ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is the whole universe.+

What is this ‘I’?

The ‘I’ is not a thought. The ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is the whole universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality). 

The one that appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality) is the Soul, the innermost Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in all three states.

Without knowing what the mind is, it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. 

People think the mind is within the body, but deeper self-search reveals the fact that the world in which you exist itself is the mind. 

When the ‘I’ is there then only the mind is there. If the mind is there then only the universe is there. If the universe is there then only the waking is there. Thus, it is very much necessary to realize the ‘what ‘I’ is in actuality. 

Without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’ it is impossible to realize the ‘I-less’ truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Till you hold the ‘Self ‘as the ‘I’ you will never be able to get Self-realization. ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is the  Self. ‘

'I’ is ignorance.

‘I’ is the duality.

‘I’ is the form, time, and space.

‘I’ is the universe.

‘I’ is the waking.

‘I’ is the dream.

‘I’ is the illusion.

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

Remember:~

Without the ‘I’ there is no ignorance.

Without the ‘I’ there is no duality.

Without the ‘I’ there is no form, time, and space.

Without the ‘I’ there is no universe.

Without the ‘I’ there is no waking.

Without the ‘I’ there is no dream.

Without the ‘I’ there is no illusion.

Without the ‘I’ there is no experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole. The ‘I’ hides the truth.

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.

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

If you are seriously seeking truth you must complete your journey.+

If you emotionally stick to the ‘I’-centric Gurus and their teaching you will never reach anywhere.

Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you, yourself test and judge to be true.

Bhagavan Buddha: - There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting

If you are seriously seeking truth you must complete your journey. Your emotions and sentiments towards the physical Guru keep you permanently in the mental asylum of the prison of ignorance.

Jesus said: ~ “Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find it, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel and will reign over all. [And after they have reigned they will rest.]"

Meher Baba: ~ “When the reality appears this ignorance which one thinks as reality becomes unreal.

Sri Swami Vivekananda says: ~ Advaita encompasses everything. Advaita requires heavy-duty intellectualism. From 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda'...

 ‘I’, me, and mine belong to you, not to the Soul, which is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

‘I’, me, and mine are a reality within the domain of illusory form, time, and space.

Remember the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, the witness of the ‘I’.

Without the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness, there is no ‘I’

There is no truth in ‘I’, me, and mine because ‘I’, me,  and mine belong to the dualistic illusion.

‘I’, me, and mine have nothing to do with the Soul, the Self because the Soul is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The mind arises from the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

 The ‘I’ rises as the mind.

 The mind is in the form of the universe.

 Thus, ‘I’ is the mind or universe.

The seeker has to divert his attention to the source from where the mind (universe) rises and subsides.

The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).

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

First, find out how this world, in which you exist, has come into existence. If you know the answer then all your doubts will vanish.

Taittiriya 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.

The truth is very simple. It is only to realize the world in which we exist is created out of single stuff. Knowledge of a single stuff is Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge frees us all from ignorance.

Swami Vivekananda:~ “The wicked are always looking for defects. Flies come and seek for the ulcer, and bees come only for the honey in the flower. Do not follow the way of the fly but that of the bee.

The seeker has to have to discard all accumulated knowledge accumulated from different Gurus and teachers.

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Arise! Awake!

 Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, and none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your own Soul.”

The Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman. The Soul is only held in the illusory bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, Mukthi - freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from ignorance."

That is why Sage  Sankara says:~ “V C:~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.

In reality, three is no scope for two. Advaita means one without the second. Advaita means the Soul. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is one without the second.

Consciousness is one without the second because the world in which you exist is created out of consciousness. Thus, everything is consciousness. No second thing exists other than consciousness. Consciousness alone is real and eternal.

Advaitic truth has to be grasped mentally by realizing that form, time and space are nothing but an illusion created out of the single clay, and that single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of the single clay is Advaita, the one without the second. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

If rightly interpreted Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom as spiritual food for the whole of humanity.+

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.

Isa Upanishads indicate that: Worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use. The time one spends in ritualistic practices is wasted; one can spend the same time moving forward toward Self-knowledge, which is the main goal. One cannot reach the non-dual destination by glorifying God and Goddesses and by doing that, one goes deeper and deeper into darkness. It surely indicates the fact that the seeker of truth has to drop worshiping God and Goddess to get Self-knowledge.

Sage Sankara was a rationalist philosopher. The orthodoxy projected him as a theologian.

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is not even a philosopher dish cooked to suit exclusively the palate of one particular religion. Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is like the air and the water, the common food for the whole of humanity.

Remember:~

Advaitic wisdom is the Science of the Spirit or Consciousness. If rightly interpreted Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom as spiritual food for the whole of humanity. The Advaitic wisdom is the universal wisdom par excellence. Advaitic wisdom is not just a not a philosophy, but not a science, but the Science of Truth.

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, and dogmatic instruction to the masses but pure philosophy 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.

The Upanishads say:~

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8:~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:- “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled, and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ The Soul cannot be realized through hearing a scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the books nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul Consciousness is the real purity.

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~ When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own self, one gains power, and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5:~ If here one knows it, then there is the truth, and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

The scriptures are being added to from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

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

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the Advaitic truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason. I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures but I quote them to help the seekers realize the scriptures are saying

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that say:-

It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

Katha Upanishad: ~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

When the Upanishad says: ~ “The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self–Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it.

The religion, concept of an individualized God, belief in a physical Guru, and scriptures are great obstacles to Self-realization because they are based on a false self.

The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper Self-search and assimilating and realizing it.

That is why Sage Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: - (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Then it is no use going a roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of the mind. By tracing the source of the mind or universe one will be able to realize the Brahman.

Self-knowledge is meant only for those who have an intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dual truth. Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own selves to get a firm conviction.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.

The knowledge of both matter and spirit is the True knowledge. True knowledge is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar