From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, then Consciousness still remains as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.+

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.*

Remember: ~ All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, then Consciousness still remains as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in 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.*

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, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.*

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 ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as a reality.

The universe itself is what God is all about. The totality of the universe is what God is all about. You just study the nature of the universe with all the seriousness and sincerity to unfold the mystery of the universe. That is all you have to do.

Until the mystery of the universe is not solved, the Self hidden by the illusory universe will not be realized.

Consciousness is the one single reality or Brahman. The individual self is a reality within the illusory universe or Maya.

Remember:~ 

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-63 ~ "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know 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.

If the inquiry does not include the universe then it is incomplete.

Sage Sankara: ~ Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’ how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

To say the universe is an illusion without first examining it and inquiring into its nature thoroughly is to delude oneself. This world is common to every one of us; therefore, the seeker of truth must begin his inquiry with it. It is only after he has inquired into the nature of the objective world, he realizes the universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

It is erroneous to believe the general impression is that the universe disappears to a Gnani, that he sees nothing in Samadhi. Only by deluded persons will have such an impression? Nothing is destroyed. Only ignorance disappears and the unreal nature of the universe is exposed. The universe which appears as the waking experience is the dualistic illusion.

A Gnani has the full and firm conviction that everything is consciousness in the midst of dualistic illusion. The Soul, Self being aware of its true nature in the midst of dualistic illusion is called Self-awareness.

The universe or the waking experience will not disappear. It is there always but the unreal nature of the waking experience is exposed in the midst of dualistic illusion through Advaitic wisdom.

If one thinks its mere disappearance in yogic Samadhi is the ultimate truth or Brahman, then he would get it in deep sleep. Thus, the yogic Samadhi is not the Advaitic wisdom. Thoughtlessness is not Advaitic wisdom.

Thoughtlessness is not wisdom. The thinker & thought and the world are part of the illusion. The thought will not arise without form, time, and space. The form, time, and space will not arise without the mind. The mind ceases to exist without the Soul which is in the form of the Spirit. Therefore, there is a need to know the “Self” is not limited to the physical entity (you), but it pervades in everything and everywhere in the experience of diversity (waking or dream).

Deep sleep is the state of thoughtlessness, silence, wordlessness, silence but it is not considered as a state of oneness because anyone can take a sleeping pill and will be able to get the state of oneness. 

Thus, trying to imitate the state of oneness in duality by observing silence, thoughtlessness, and wordlessness, or by yogic Samadhi or surrendering to the physical Guru, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Without the Advaitic wisdom, ignorance will not vanish. Thus, getting rid of ignorance through wisdom is the only way to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara Says:~ The religion is meant for ignorant people. Advaitic wisdom is meant for the serious truth seekers.+

Sage Sankara says:~ The religion is meant for ignorant people. And Advaitic wisdom is meant for the serious seekers of truth.

Sage Sankara says:~ the scriptures dealing with rituals are addressed to an ignorant person.

Those who lack the intelligence to discriminate between 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 the subject alone.

Ish Upanishad:~ 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 the 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 Sankara explains in Manduka 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 Shruti, 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.

God-created the world is an absolute lie; nevertheless, you will find Sage Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly saying 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 are for religious people only. Religion is only for those who are unable to understand truth beyond form, time, and space. Religion is not final. It only gives satisfaction to the populace. Self-knowledge is for the whole of humanity to free them from experiencing 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.

This is following the prescription prescribed by orthodoxy in the name of Sage Sankara. The orthodoxy has listed down in 5 verses, 40 steps of Sadhanas (discipline) to be followed to achieve the (only meaningful) goal of human life Moksha, liberation. Use it every day as contemplative prayer.

1. Study the scriptures (Vedas) daily.

2. Perform diligently the duties (sva dharma) ordered by the scriptures.

3. Predicate all the actions thus performed (as above) to Ishvara (IshvarArpanna Buddhi)

4. Gradually give up the performance of ‘Selfish actions.

5. Filter sinful/adharmic likes and dislikes.

6. Recognize the inherent defects of material pursuits.

7. Seek moksha with a consistent endeavor.

8. Get out from the bondage of activity (specified to the ones which end up entangling us).

9. Seek companionship with men of wisdom.

10. Be established in firm devotion to Ishvara and perform Upasana.

11. Gain mind control, sense control, withdrawal, forbearance, faith, and focus.

12. Give up karma and Upasana when they are not required any longer for spiritual growth.

13. Seek Knowledge from a SadGuru.

14. Serve his lotus feet.

15. Ask for brahma vidya.

16. Listen in depth, to the Upanishadic declarations.

17. Analyze the meanings of the Upanishadic commandments.

18. Perform such analyses by sticking to scriptures.

19. Get away from the logic-based system (logic is good when it corroborates scripture, in the sense, don't try to substitute it).

20. Dwell upon the discriminative rationale of Shruti (basically, develop Viveka).

21. Constantly remain steeped in the fact that you are Brahman.

22. Renounce pride/vanity/arrogance.

23. Give up the delusionary misconception- "I am the body."

24. Do not argue with wise men.

25. Consider hunger as a disease.

26. Treat hunger, the disease, by taking bhiksha food.

27. Beg no delicious food.

28. Live contentedly with whatever comes your way as prasadam.

29. Endure all pains of opposites- heat/cold, likes/dislikes, pleasure/pain.

30. Avoid wasteful talk.

31. Be indifferent and avoid groupism.

32. Don't get attached to either someone's love or criticism.

33. In solitude also, live joyously.

34. Quieten your mind in Ishvara.

35. Realize and see the ‘Self’ in everything, everywhere.

36. Recognize the universe as a finite projection of the ‘Self.’

37. Destroy the effects of deeds done in earlier lives (sanchit karma) through the strength of knowledge.

38. Through wisdom, become detached from AgAmi karma (give up doership/enjoyership),

39. Experience and exhaust the prarabdh, fruits of past actions.

40. Thereafter, live eternally as Brahman

Remember:~

Sage Sankara says:~ the 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 he 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 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.

That is why 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 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

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. 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

No conceptual God can exist, apart from consciousness. People are not aware of the fact that there is no individual God that can exist, apart from the Soul, the Self, which is in the form of consciousness. Thus, the Soul or consciousness is the true ‘Self’. If there is no consciousness, then there is no body, no ego, no universe, no religion, and no conceptual God. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara proved the existence of God by declaring ~ Atman is the only one ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.+

The proof of God’s existence is not possible without knowing what God is supposed to be in actuality. God in truth is existence itself.

Sage Sankara proved the existence of God from the Vedic perspective and also proved the existence of God rationally.

Sage Sankara was criticized for his views on Maya (illusion) without understanding him.

Sage Sankara said:~

(1) Brahman (Atman) is real

(2) the universe is unreal,

(3) Brahman is the universe.

Sage Sankara did not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence, Maya or illusion and reality are one and the same.

Dulists Gurus criticize the concept of illusion without understanding it.

Sage Sankara said:~

(1) Consciousness (Atman) is real

(2) The universe is unreal,

(3) Consciousness is the universe because the universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

One need not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the Self (Atman or consciousness) and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self (consciousness). Hence, illusion and reality are one and the same because both are one in essence.

Realizing the essence, which is the consciousness as the innermost Self, is Self-Realization or Truth-Realization or God- Realization.

Thus, Sage Sankara‘s declaration is the rational truth, scientific truth, and also ultimate truth.

You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, and none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but the Soul.

Remember:~

Sage Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Shruti, or revealed scripture. This may be because, Sage Sankara addressed the ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus, in the idea of God—and Revelation is indispensable to prove the latter. He believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Shruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

When Sage Sankara says Brahman or God in truth is impersonal and attributeless then why worship God with form, names, and attributes.

God and Goddess are religious concepts. Whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person within the dualistic illusion (world) is a falsehood.

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). 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 (God) is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other besides it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman (God) cannot be described because description implies a distinction. Brahman (God) cannot be distinguished from any other than it. In Brahman (God), there is not distinction of substance and attribute. Awareness constitutes the very essence or the true nature of Brahman (God in truth), and not just its attributes. The attributeless Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal.

When Sage Sankara says Atman is Brahman or God then why believe and accept anything as God other than the Atman. Vedas say 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?

~ Then, why worship non-Vedic Gods in place of Atman, the real God. Self-realization is truth- realization. Truth- realization is God -realization and God- realization is real worship.

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. One must realize the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

Religious Gods are based on blind faith or blind belief. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, the ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman 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)

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

Sage Sankara is the only Sage who proved the existence of God by declaring ~ that Atman is the only ultimate reality or Brahman. Brahman is God in truth.

Atman is Brahman. The Atman is the Self is non-dual because there is no second thing that exists other than the Atman. Atman is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the only true reality, and everything else, which appears as form, time, and space is merely an illusion.

Advaita means the Soul, the Self, which is second to none. The Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is the nature of God, the Self. Advaita is God. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.

The Soul, the Self itself is Brahman or God in truth. God is present in the form of consciousness. God is ever-present. Without God or consciousnesses, the world, in which you exist, ceases to exist. God is self-evident. God is not established by extraneous proof. It is not possible to deny the existence of God because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. God is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. God is everything. God, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

The Soul, the God which is present in the form of the consciousness, is real and eternal. The world in which we exist is an illusion created out of consciousness.

God is beyond is hidden by the physical existence. God can never be proved, through intellectual argument but God can be realized by greeting rid of ignorance. Only by acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana getting rid of ignorance possible. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara proved the existence of God by declaring ~ Atman is the only one ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.+

The proof of God’s existence is not possible without knowing what God is supposed to be in actuality. God in truth is existence itself.

Sage Sankara proved the existence of God in truth from the Vedic perspective and also proved the existence of God in truth rationally.

Sage Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Shruti, or revealed scripture. This may be because, Sage Sankara addressed the ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus, in the idea of God—and Revelation is indispensable to prove the latter. He believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Shruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

When Sage Sankara says Brahman or God is impersonal and attributeless then why worship God with form, names, and attributes.

God and Goddess are religious concepts. Whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person within the dualistic illusion (world) is a falsehood.

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God in truth) is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal, and Akarta (non-agent). 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 (God in truth) is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other besides it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman (God in truth) cannot be described because description implies a distinction. Brahman (God in truth) cannot be distinguished from any other than it. In Brahman (God in truth), there is not distinction between substance and attribute. Awareness constitutes the very essence or the true nature of Brahman (God in truth), and not just its attributes. The attributeless Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal.

When Sage Sankara says Atman is Brahman or God then why believe and accept anything as God other than the Atman. Vedas say 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?

~ Then, why worship non-Vedic Gods in place of Atman, the real God. Self-realization is truth- realization. Truth- realization is God-realization and God-realization is real worship.

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. One must realize the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

Religious Gods are based on blind faith or blind belief f. Religious God cannot be considered as the cause of the universe because the Soul, the ‘Self’ is the cause of all that exists in the form of the universe.

Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is and all else is an illusion

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman 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)

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

Sage Sankara is the only Sage who proved the existence of God by declaring ~ that Atman is the only one ultimate reality or Brahman. Brahman is God in truth.

Atman is Brahman. The Atman is the Self is non-dual because there is no second thing that exists other than the Atman. Atman is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the only true reality, and everything else, which appears as form, time, and space is merely an illusion.

Advaita means the Soul, the Self, which is second to none. The Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is the nature of God in truth, the Self. Advaita is God in truth. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.

The Soul, the Self itself is Brahman or God in truth. God is present in the form of consciousness. God is ever-present. Without God or consciousnesses, the world, in which you exist, ceases to exist.

God in truth is self-evident. God is not established by extraneous proof. It is not possible to deny the existence of God because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. God is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. God is everything. God, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

The Soul, the God which is present in the form of consciousness, is real and eternal. The world in which we exist is an illusion created out of consciousness.

God is beyond is hidden by the physical existence. God can never be proved, through intellectual argument but God can be realized by greeting rid of ignorance. Only by acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana getting rid of ignorance possible. : ~Santthosh Kumaar