Sage Sankara says you must first know what is before you. If you cannot know that, what else can you know or understand?+

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 unreality. The world in which we exist hides the truth.  Whatever belongs to you is unreal. 

Jesus said: ~” Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. (THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS- Saying 5)

Jesus said:~"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all." (Gospel of Thomas 2)

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 Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Soul has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and then only it is possible to realize that form, time and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul or consciousness. If the form, time, and space are one in essence, then there is no division in consciousness.

If there is no division in consciousness, then there is no duality, if there is no duality then there is unity in diversity.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing duality as reality. Realizing Soul as the Self leads to Advaitic Self-awareness.

The Soul, the Self is Absolute Knowledge, which cannot be negated. The nature of the Soul is Advaitic awareness.

You and the world that confronts you are an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. It means you along with the world confronting you created out of single clay, which is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says you must first know what is before you. If you cannot know that, what else can you know or understand? If you give up the external world in your inquiry, you cannot get the whole truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~63- "Without knowing and examining the universe, 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.

Look into the nature of the universe. And you will be able to see that universe by its very nature is illusory. The moment you understand that the universe is illusory, ignorance disappears and Self-awareness arises.

Self-awareness is the state of non-dual reality. That is the state of Advaita.

Mentally hold on to the Soul and mentally reduce the world in which confronts you as the consciousness by realizing the world in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

Mentally reducing the whole world in which you exist as consciousness leads to Advaitic Self-awareness. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

You have appeared along with the world and you will be disappearing along with the world exist.+

You and the world in which you exist are a reality within the dualistic illusion or Maya. Your individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world is nothing to do with the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The happiness and suffering belong to you.

You have to die one day but you are death happens within the dualistic illusion or Maya. You have appeared along with the world in which you exist and you will be disappearing along with the world in which you exist. It is impossible to separate the world in which you exist from you.

This world in which you exist will disappear along with your death sooner or later. Why not then think that the world in which you exist does not exist in reality because the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Mentally reduce the world in which you exist as consciousness and rest in consciousness.

From the dualistic perspective, the world is real. From the non-dualistic perspective, the world is non-existent as a reality.

Those who see the world from the dualistic perspective see the world as reality and their knowledge is limited to form, time, and space.

From the non-dualistic perspective, form, time, and space are one in essence.

The Advaitic path is not meant for those who see the world as a reality but for those who want to realize the truth hidden by the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Advaitic wisdom exposed the unreality of the universe. The universe is nothing but an illusion created out of single clay. That single clay is the Spirit or Soul or consciousness.

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, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, you and your experience of birth, life, death, and the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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. In Self-awareness, the witness and witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

Thus, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality) but the waking experience (duality) itself is merely an illusion. 

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, 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.:~Santthosh Kumaar

The visible is the universe. The invisible is the Soul, the 'Self'. The invisible Soul, the Self is the cause of the visible universe.+

The visible is the universe. The invisible is the Soul, the 'Self'. Invisible Soul, the Self is hidden by the universe. Without the invisible Soul, the visible universe ceases to exist. The invisible Soul can exist with or without the universe. The invisible Soul, the Self is the cause of the visible 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.

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 ‘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 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, God alone is real and eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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.+

Sage Sankara pointed out that rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less Moksha.

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.

All the scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth.  

Thus realizing the ultimate truth is the prime goal.   A well-directed inquiry, analysis, and reasoning will lead one to his nondual destination.  

Self-Realization is the direct realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman or God, in contrast with traditional paths, which are indirect. And the other paths cannot lead to the ultimate destination because they are based on the false ‘Self’, which they hold as the real ‘Self’ and false experience as a reality.  

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

 

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.

 

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immerse themselves in a ritualistic oriented lifestyle and follow the path of karma and Upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.

Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant for those orthodox who believe their conduct-oriented lifestyle leads to Moksha [liberation]. But the theistic Advaita is not the means to acquire Self –knowledge or non-dualistic or Advaitic wisdom. Those who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~ 

Sage Sankara says rituals and rites such as yajna or fire rituals are meant for the ignorant populace. Sage Sankara asserts that rituals will not prepare the mindset for the journey to Self-knowledge.

Moral, ethics, love compassion, code of conduct, celibacy, karma, sin, temple worship, ancestor worship, heaven, and hell are concerned with the one which is born, lives, and dies in the world. Moral, ethics, love compassion, code of conduct, celibacy, karma, sin, temple worship, ancestor worship, heaven, and hell have nothing to do with the Soul, the Self because it is unborn and eternal. It is unborn eternal because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Religion and yoga prevent seekers from attaining Self- knowledge.

According to Sage Sankara Atman, the unchanging entity itself is the ultimate reality or Brahman. Atman alone is real, while the universe is unreal.

Advaitic wisdom cannot be acquired by scripture mastery, yoga, religion, intellectualism, or performing karmas. :~Santthosh Kumaar

The real nature of existence is nondual and the unreal nature of existence is dual.+

 

Existence is nondual. Nonduality cannot be described by means of words for all uses of language fail to express it. Nonduality is sought to be indicated the mental negation of duality (all attributes and characteristics).

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara reveals both the real and the unreal nature of existence.

The real nature of existence is nondual and the unreal nature of existence is dual.

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, 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 the consciousness.

Thus, all the egocentric knowledge has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The world in which we exist is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The whole universe is nothing but the Soul. Therefore, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

It is not as if something that was not consciousness suddenly becomes consciousness. Rather, "knowing the truth” means the removal of ignorance about one's own existence as consciousness. Thus, to "know the truth” is to "be the consciousness."

The consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. The 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

If the form, time, and space are merely an illusion then the present moment is bound to be an illusion.+

The one who says about the present moment is you. You are the false self (ego) within the false experience (waking).

You exist only in the domain of form, time, and space. From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, form, time, and space are merely an illusion.

If the form, time, and space are merely an illusion then the present moment is bound to be an illusion.

Thus, all the claims made about the present moment are part and parcel of that illusion. The illusion is created out of the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the Soul or consciousness alone is real and all else is merely an illusion. Thus, to realize this truth, you have to realize Self is not you, but the Self is the witness of you and the world together.

Whatever is based on you is bound to be an illusion

Remember:~

The present moment is possible only in the domain of form, time, and space. Without form, time, and space, there is no present moment.

The present moment is the time. Without the past, the present will not appear. Every moment, the present becomes the past. The present moves towards the future. Time appears along with form and space.

The form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus one cannot remain in the present moment. Time is the product of ignorance, therefore, every moment is the product of ignorance.

The theory of the present moment is based on the false Self (waking entity) within the false experience (waking).

From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self, the form, time, and space are merely an illusion thus the theory of the present moment belongs to the illusion. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

All the ‘I-centric’ and ‘you-centric’ Gurus spin the yarn of their imagination based on 'I'.+

The ‘Self’ is not within you but the ‘Self’ is hidden by the universe. The ‘Self’ is hidden by the universe because the universe is created out of the Self.

The Self is not ‘you’ but is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

All the ‘I-centric’ and ‘you-centric’ Gurus spin the yarn of their imagination based on 'I'.

From, the Advaitic perspective, the ‘I-centric’ and you-centric Gurus and their teachings have no value because they will not help the seeker to reach the ultimate end of understanding.

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.

The ‘Self’ means existence. The existence is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. Those who say ‘I AM THAT without even knowing what the ‘Self is supposed to be in actuality. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the existence hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-60- The scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the ‘Self’.

People who say ‘I AM GOD’ or ‘I AM BRAHMAN’ or ‘I AM THAT’ are merely repeating like parrot words that they have read in the scriptures or heard. It does not prove that they have realized the ultimate truth or Brahman.

With bookish or hearsay knowledge it is unable to prove that everything is Atman. One has to do lots of homework to realize the 'Self'.

Remember:~

Self–knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inexhaustible wealth. All other wealth disappears as one spends, but with the Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the more one shares more he gains.

The ‘Self’ is not the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. The origin of the mind is the Soul. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The mind comes and goes as the waking or the dream.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The root of the universe is consciousness.

The ego or the physical self is restless in its nature. Whatever is based on the ego is an illusion. Whatever is based on the Soul is the reality.

The universe is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Whatever theories, paths and practices, and knowledge based on the ego will not lead to Self-realization.

Self-realization is to realize the ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. You are the ‘ego’ so you are not the ‘Self’. If you are not the ‘Self, then what is the use of saying ‘I am this’ or ‘I am that’ without knowing what the Self’ is in actuality?

Without the ego, the world, in which we exist ceases to exist. The ego and the world appear together and disappear together. Therefore, it is impossible to get rid of the ego alone because the world has appeared along with the ego.

The world in which we exist is a reality, on the base of the ego. The world in which we exist is an illusion on the base of the Soul, the Self.

The world in which we exist is based on the ego; therefore it is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, the innermost self. The ego is the false self within the false experience.

The seeker has to have a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’- to realize the world in which he exists is merely an illusion.

Without making sure how this world is an illusion and from what standpoint the world is an illusion it is impossible to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The seeker has to think deeply and reason deeply then only it is possible to realize the unreal nature of the ‘I’ and realize the truth, which is beyond the ‘I’. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar