Bifurcate Bhagavan Buddha from Buddhism and Sage Sankara from Hinduism to realize the truth which is Advaita.+

Unless we bifurcate Bhagavan Buddha from Buddhism and Sage Sankara from Hinduism the Advaita hidden by the Dvaita will not be revealed.

There is no need to argue Bhagavan Buddha is wrong and Sage Sankara is right but the seeker must find out where he is going wrong in understanding the great Sages of truth.

Bhagavan Buddha was a Gnani, not his followers. Bhagavan Buddha’s wisdom was lost, it is because it is mixed up and messed up with other religions in Asia wherever it existed. Bhagavan Buddha started the quest and Sage Sankara completed the journey.

India is the ancient land, where wisdom made its home India whose soil has been trodden by the feet of the greatest Sages of truth like Bhagavan Buddha, Sage Sankara, and Sage Goudpada.

India is the fountainhead of Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic wisdom is brighter, greater which unfolds the mystery of the universe and contains the whole of humanity.

Remember:~

The goal of the truth-seeker is to acquire Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic wisdom itself is Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inherent in every seeker of truth. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not come from outside, it is hidden by the illusory universe in which we exist.

Bhagavan Buddha is not physical. Bhagavan Buddha is the state where which is empty of the illusory division of form, time, and space. Bhagavan Buddha is the fullness of consciousness.

Buddhism is nothing to do with Bhagavan Buddha because Buddhism is physical. Buddhism is based on form, time, and space whereas Bhagavan Buddha is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

From the non-dualistic perspective, nothingness or emptiness is the real nature of the Soul the Self. The Soul the Self, is identified as nothingness or emptiness because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Everything is nothingness. Nothingness is everything and everything is nothingness. Nothingness is nonduality and everything else is duality.

Nothingness is the real nature of the Soul the Self. The duality is the unreal nature of the Soul. Nothingness is eternal because there is no second thing that exists other than nothingness, which is the nature of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember:~

Dalai Lama said:~ Buddhism needs not to be the best religion though it is most scientific and religion and inquisitive. But Buddhism has no answer to certain questions like the existence of Atama (Soul) and rebirth. Dali lama said that as an individual he believes in rebirth as he had come across a few cases of rebirth. Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped would unearth the mystery behind the rebirth. (In DH –dec-212009-Gulbarga).

The Buddhists are unaware of the fact that the Soul is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny the Soul because It is the very essence of the one who denies It. The Soul is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Self is within, the Self is without; the Self is before, the Self is behind; the Self is on the right, the Self is on the left; the Self is above and the Self is below. The Soul is everything. Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Buddhist believe in emptiness but they are unaware of the fact that emptiness is the nature of the Soul.

Remember:~

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

Bhagavan Buddha gave nondualistic wisdom whereas Buddhism has many teachings. Bhagavan Buddha’s wisdom was lost because it is buried under the diverse teaching of Buddhism.

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Nonduality whereas Bhagavan Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world and he told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

Buddhism has Not proved the truth of nonduality because they do not believe in the existence of the Soul. Without the existence of the Soul talking of nonduality is like building a castle with the air.

Sage Sankara disagrees with Buddhists who say, there is nothing - a nonentity. Sage Sankara believes there is some reality, even though things are not what they appear to be. If one knows the truth, he will know what to do to find inspiration for action. The seeker of truth‘s subject is to know what is it that is Real.

Buddhism says: that all things are illusory and nothing exists. However, Advaita avers that it is not so. It says that the universe, of course, is illusory, but there is Brahman (consciousness), that exists forming the very substratum of all things (illusion or universe).

Advaitic Sages disagree with Buddhists only on the Ultimate question, but they agree with their idealism fully.

Remember:~

Even when you say "I am not" you are thinking. Hence, every thought means positing some existence. To exist is to be thought of hence our criticism of Sunyavada which says there is nothing. In saying "There is nothing" they are unconsciously positing something. The thought of nothing is existence itself. Hence only by refraining from thought can they state their case. The thought itself is an object. The negation of existence is a thought. The presence of an object means duality. Hence, this proves that the Sunyavadins never understood non-duality, i.e. Brahman.

Buddhism agrees in thinking that the ego sees itself; they do not admit there is anything that sees the ego: they say there is no proof that any witness exists. When thoughts are there, thoughts become conscious of them. Skandhas which appear and disappear are an object only Buddhists are unaware of the subject.

Only when we independently search for the truth without religion and its doctrine then we will be able to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

Remember:~

Sage Sankara has given the world a message. The essence of Sages Sankara's message is: ~

The entire world which one perceives is illusionary; it is just an appearance of unreality and there is only one indeterminate and attributeless truth at the root of this world".

Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada have declared nondualistic truth centuries back. The seeker has to reach the destination with scientific (rational investigation, not through punditry and intellectuality.

It is necessary for the seeker to do his homework, and verify the validity of all the claims, rather than blindly believe, what others expound as knowledge, till; the un-contradicted truth is obtained.

The seeker must have the courage of Bhagavan Buddha to accept the truth and reject the untruth. Since Bhagavan Buddha rejected religion, the idea of God, and scriptures, therefore, it is evident that he has gone through every aspect and verified and found them to be inadequate and useless for the pursuit of truth.

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

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

One has to mentally reach the final conclusion then only the conviction becomes firm. Without firm conviction, wisdom will not dawn. Therefore, there is a need to know consciousness is real all else is a myth, which Sage Sankara declared as the world is a myth Brahman alone is real.

Remember:~

Sage Sankara says Atman is Brahman and everything is Brahman is a scientific declaration not religious or yogic. Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada are more scientific than anyone else in the world. Since the real Advaitic essence is hidden it cannot be got without the inner (mental) journey.

Sage Goudpada says that:~ The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

Gnana here is knowledge uncontradictable truth or scientific truth. Thus their scientific truth of the whole, not the part is declared by Sage Sankara many centuries back and thought only to those of higher intellect. Thus, karma and Upasana, yoga, and orthodoxy have to be bifurcated in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaitic Wisdom is for those who are capable of inquiring into their own existence to know and realize the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara says:~ The Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for ignorant people.

Sage Sankara, is one of the greatest geniuses of all time. This world owes him a deep debt of gratitude. He not only consolidated the classical values of life but also spiritual wisdom.

Sage Sankara is the only Sage who has final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogmas.

Unfortunately, few philosophers in the world are as misunderstood and misinterpreted as Sage Sankara. Ironically, most of the harm came from his admirers and followers of Advaitic orthodoxy because they propagated rituals as a means to attain lower knowledge which is meant for those who believed in the physical existence (universe or waking) as a reality.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is dualistic and it is not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant mass that is unfit to grasp the highest truth. Thus, the Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman. Those who have chosen the Atmic path have to discard orthodoxy in order to get the pure essence of Advaita

Sage Sankara is Jagadguru for the ignorant populace and Brahma Gnani for the seeking world.

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

Religion is nothing to do with Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic sect belongs to religion. Advaita is pure spirituality. Advaitic sect is dualistic is nothing to do with the Advaitic truth which is hidden by the illusion. Mixing religion and spirituality is like mixing oil and water.

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the politicians as useful.

Religion and its sects are based on form, time, and space whereas Spirituality is based on the Atman the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Religions hold birth, life, death, and the world as a reality. From the ultimate standpoint, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The seeker must know the difference between religion and spirituality.

Sage Sankara says:~ The Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for ignorant people. The orthodox people are ignorant people.

Sage Sankara says the scriptures dealing with rituals are addressed to an ignorant person. Those who are stuck to the rituals and worshiping the personal Gods are ignorant people.

Upanishad aspiration is best expressed in the following sutra:~ OM Asato ma sad gaMaya, tamaso ma jyotir gaMaya, mrityor ma aamritaam gaMaya. Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

"OM Lead me from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Peace, Peace, Peace" (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad (1/3/28)).

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the more advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman. Thus, the Purva mimam.sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures.

Those who lack the intelligence to discriminate between formless witness (subject) and three states (object) will not be able to grasp what is real and what is unreal. Both subject and object are the consciousness, not subject alone.

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

10/11/12

Those people who have neglected the attainment of ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and have thus committed suicide, as it were, are doomed to enter those worlds after death.

This is a condemnation of people who do not try to attain ‘Self’-knowledge. They are, in a real sense, committing suicide, for what can be worse than being a slave to sense enjoyment, completely oblivious of the real purpose of life, which is to be one’s, own master?

The Brahma Sutras together with Sage Sankara's commentary thereon do not contain higher Vedanta. They are intended for duffers.

Sage Sankara's commentary on Brahma Sutras is not on a philosophical basis, but on a religio-mystic one, with an appeal to Vedas as a final authority.

In Brahma Sutra Sage Sankara takes the position that there is another entity outside us, i.e. the wall really exists separately from the mind. This was because Sage Sri, Sankara explains in Mandukya that those who study the Sutras are religious minds, and intellectual children, hence his popular viewpoint to assist them. These people are afraid to go deeper because it means being heroic enough to refuse to accept Sruti, and God's authority, in case they mean punishment by God.

Sage Sankara says: Keep the scriptures for children but throw them on the fire for wise seekers.

In Brahma Sutras Sage Sankara takes for granted, and assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy.

That God created the world is an absolute lie; nevertheless, you will find Sage Sri, Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds.

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion, and dogmatism, but in the commentary Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that a number of Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, but a few Upanishads do not but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof.

The causality and creation, but these are for religious people only. Religion is only for those who are unable to understand the truth beyond the form, time and space. Religion is not final. It only gives satisfaction to the populace. The ‘Self’ - knowledge is for the whole humanity to free them from experiencing the birth, life, death, and the world as reality.

People of small intelligence follow religion and believe that the world was created by God. But how do they know that He did so? When a pot is created, one can see both pot and its maker, but not in the case of the world.

Sage Sankara says, that, orthodoxy is meant for ignorant people.

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

~ This shows Sage Sankara: was wearing the religious robe only for the sake of bread."

All the rituals based on the false belief of Gods will not yield any fruits and they are meant for the ignorant populace who are unable to grasp the God beyond the form, time and space.

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from a ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings.

Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices. However, the orthodox texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) more in favor of the Mimamsaka position came into vogue, projecting Sage Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine.

Sage Sankara:~As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, the stage of his life, his standing in society etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the ‘Self’ has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal ‘Self’ and identifies the ‘Self’ with the body is a confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. (Adhyasa Bhashya-11)

Sage Sankara:~This ignorance (mistaking the body for ‘Self’) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body, aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction and thus a host of miseries(anartha).This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya (object) on the Atman. Sankara calls this adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person. (Adhyasa Bhashya-11.1)

Sage Sankara:~ In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage Sri, Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is Avidya, an error that can be removed by Vidya. -(Adhyasa Bhashya-11.2)

Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma Vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the ‘Self’ which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman. (Adhyasa Bhashya-12)

No personal God propagated by religion can exist, apart from consciousness. People are not aware of the fact that there is no personal God that can exist, apart from Soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

You need no techniques to realize the ‘Self’ other than a perfect understanding of ‘what is what.+

You need no techniques to realize the ‘Self’ other than a perfect understanding of ‘what is what. The ‘Self’ is hidden by ignorance.

Only when ignorance vanishes through Advaitic wisdom, then only the ‘Self’ hidden by ignorance will reveal on its own. Ignorance is present in the form of the ‘I’. the ‘I’ is present in the form of the universe.

The visible is the universe. The invisible is the Soul, the Self hidden by the universe. Without the invisible Soul, the visible universe ceases to exist. The invisible Soul can exist with or without the known (universe)

Advaita is the Soul, the Self. Dvaita is the universe. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The universe hides consciousness. The universe hides consciousness because the universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Without the universe, consciousness alone exists as the eternal reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Remember:~

One who is born, lives, and dies in the world is not the Self. One who is born lives and dies in the world is the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion hides the Soul, the Self because the dualistic illusion is created out of the Soul, the Self.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic Self-awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion or Maya.

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

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).

First, know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ for sure. Without realizing what untruth truth is, it is difficult to know what truth is.

When the sky, clouds, and the world in which you exist are made of single clay then there is no second thing that exists, other than that clay. That clay is the Soul, which is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Reality is hidden by the unreality. The world in which we exist hides the truth. Whatever belongs to you is unreal. The words and thoughts belong to you, not to the Soul, which is the Self.

Whatever has name and form and attributes and whatever belongs to form, time and space is an illusion. The illusion hides the Spirit, which is God in truth. The illusion and Spirit are one in essence. Spirit, the God in truth alone is real and eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

There is no illusion in the Advaitic reality. All the ideas of illusion and reality are within the dualistic illusion.+

There is no illusion in reality. All the ideas of illusion and reality are within the illusion. The illusion is present only in ignorance of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. From the ultimate standpoint, illusion, and reality are one in essence.

Perfect understanding ‘what is what’ leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic self-awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion or Maya.

The Advaitic wisdom dawns when you realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

From the Standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. Thus, all the happening within the illusion is bound to be an illusion.

Until ignorance is present, the world in which you exist prevails as a reality. When ignorance vanishes through Advaitic wisdom than the world in which you exist which you think as reality becomes an illusion.

Sage Goudapada quotes from the Upanishads: ~ "There's no plurality here." "The Soul through its powers appears to be many"; "those who are attached to the creation or production or origination go to utter darkness"; "the unborn is never reborn, for what can produce it?”

Sage Goudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita:~ Whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal.

Thus, whatever you have seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person within the waking experience is bound to be an illusion created out of consciousness. Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, is real and eternal.

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.

The dualistic illusion or Maya hides the Self. Realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The dualistic illusion or Maya is present in the form of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ appears and disappears. The ‘Self is not the ‘I’. The Soul, the ‘Self’ is always present and is hidden by the ‘I’.

Remember: ~

The ‘I’ is the universe. Without the ‘I’ the universe ceases to exist. The Soul, the ‘Self’, and the universe are one in essence because the universe is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

This universe is only the veil of ignorance on the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Self is not you but the Soul, which is hidden by the universe. The Soul is hidden by the universe because the universe is merely a dualistic illusion or Maya created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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.

When you finally realize the ‘‘Self’ ‘is not you but the ‘‘Self’’ is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Remember: ~ All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. Even when the universe disappears, consciousness still remains without the illusory form, time, and space.

Till you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world 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 a reality. Until the universe prevails as a reality the religion thrives. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

All indeed is this Consciousness, which is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.+

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.

All indeed is this Consciousness, which is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. This Atman is present in the form of Consciousness.

While Consciousness lies behind the sum total of the objective universe, some people boggle at any attempt to explain it with only the tools provided by reason. Consciousness is beyond the senses, beyond the mind, beyond intelligence, beyond imagination.

Indeed, the highest idea is that Consciousness is beyond both existence and non-existence, transcending form and including time, causation, and space, and thus can never be known in the same material sense as one traditionally 'understands' a given concept or object.

Sage Sankara’s supreme Brahman is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes), and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires.

Sage Sankara says, "This Atman is Self-evident. This Atman or ‘Self’ is not established by proofs of the existence of the ‘Self’. It is not possible to deny this Atman, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge.

Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam- are not separate attributes. They form the very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than ‘Self’ (Soul).

The objective world, the world of names and forms has no independent existence. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, has real existence. The world is only phenomenal.

Sage Sankara was the exponent of the Advaitic wisdom. His wisdom can be summed up in the following words: Brahman alone is real and this world is unreal.

Sage Sankara said: ~ Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul, the ‘Self’.

If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Consciousness, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish. Consciousness is the root element of the universe.

From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved. consciousness is the parent of all that is there. Consciousness is the only reality, and the universe too but an illusory manifestation. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara pointed out those rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less moksha.+

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

Sage Sankara pokes fun at ascetics and points out that all their austerities do not cause desires to go. (Altar Flowers" Page 205, v.2 P.207 v.4)

The rituals mentioned in the karmakanda of the Vedas are sought to be negated in the jnanakanda which is also part of the same scripture. While the karmakanda enjoins upon you the worship of various deities and lays down rules for the same, the jnanakanda constituted by the Upanishads ridicules the worshipper of deities as a dim-witted person no better than a beast.

This seems strange, the latter part of the Vedas contradicting the former part. The first part deals with karma, while the second or concluding part is all about jnana. Owing to this difference, people have gone so far as to divide our scripture into two sections: the Vedas (that is the first part) to mean the karmakanda and the Upanishads (Vedanta) to mean the jnanakanda.

Sage Sankara:~ VC Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity With the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together. (verses-6)

It is clear that liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itself declares that there is no hope for immortality by means of wealth. (Verses -7)

Religious rites and rigid ceremonies were passed down from one generation to the next as a practice or set customs and tradition and performed automatically with blind faith. Such worship based on the belief of God does not reach God.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of ritual are meant for the ignorant populace.

Belief in God without knowing God in actuality holds the worshiper more firmly in the grip of ignorance.

All worship and the ceremonies and rituals performed on the base of non-~Vedic Gods will not yield any fruits. A deeper self-search reveals the fact that worshiped, the worship and worshiper, and the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of rituals formal observance has long since set in.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of ritual are meant for the ignorant populace. In the Atmic path, the seeker has to discard what is not needed to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of rituals formal observance has long since set in.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross The sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

Sage Sankara pointed out that those rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less moksha. He asserted while the rewards of the rituals were not a matter of direct realization, wisdom which is the fruit of Vedanta is based on immediate and personal realization; one need not have to wait for the reward nor one be in doubt whether the reward would or would not come.

This was in sharp contrast to the position taken by Mimamsakas who asserted that rituals alone would lead one to higher levels of attainment. Further, the deities would reward only those entitled to perform the rituals alone. The entitlement involved the caste, creed, and other parameters.

Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices. However, the texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) more in favor of the Mimamsaka position came into vogue, projecting Sage Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine. His followers might have found Sage Sankara’s mission a hard task and therefore compromised the liberating wisdom with the performance of rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Adhyasa Bhashya of Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the Self has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies the ‘Self’ with the body is confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. - Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11.1) This ignorance (mistaking the body for Self) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body, aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction, and thus a host of miseries(anartha).This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya (object) on the Atman. Sage Sankara calls this adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is Avidya, an error that can be removed by vidya. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara: ~ (12) Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the Self which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara: ~ Atman, the Self is verily Brahman (God in truth), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Atman is not the body that is non-existence itself. This is called true Knowledge by the wise. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar