The ‘I’ is what the seeker has to begin his investigation.+

It is no use in knowing who you are because you are the birth entity. Your individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world is merely an illusion. It is no use of inquiring ‘Who am I?- which exposes only the false nature of the form.

‘Who am ‘I’? - inquiry was introduced by Sage Sankara for beginners. Your journey will not be completed with ‘Who am ‘I’? or ‘I AM THAT’ - teaching.

For Advanced seekers ‘Who am ‘I’? and I AM THAT’- teaching becomes inadequate and useless to realize the truth hidden by the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion.

Unless you unfold the truth of the world that confronts you will not be able to realize the ‘Self’ is hidden by ignorance.

That is why Sage Sankara: ~VC- 63- 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.

Sage Sankara clearly says:~ “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.

Therefore, the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power of reason Sage Sankara clearly says the truth is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman (Gnani) then why go after a Guru or yogi who is not a Gnani.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman (Soul) which is free from all the limitations of human thought”.

The ‘I’ is what the seeker has to begin his investigation with. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ will help the seeker to reach the Soul, which is the Self.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.

This universe is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. From the Soul, the universe appears and when the universe disappears from consciousness, consciousness remains without any division of form, time, and space.

Remember: First find out what this ‘I’ suppose to be in actuality.

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) are the Soul, the 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 hidden by the illusory 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 present then only the mind is present. If the mind is there then only the universe is there. If the universe is present then only the waking is present. Thus, it is very much necessary to realize ‘what ‘I’ is in actuality.

Without knowing ‘what is ‘I’ it is impossible to realize the ‘I-less’ truth, which is hidden by the illusory 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 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 Soul, the Self. The ‘I’ hides Soul, the God in 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)

Sage Sankara said: ~ Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way. (1) Vivekachoodamani v 56, pg. 25

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study the Scriptures, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

~ then why indulge in studying the scriptures.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study philosophy, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why indulge in studying philosophy.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge in rituals, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

~ then why indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge in yoga, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~ then why indulge in yoga.

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) then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

Sage Sankara says ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I’ did not exist as ‘I’ before its appearance, nor will the ‘I’ exist as ‘I’ after its disappearance.+

The ‘I’ did not exist as ‘I’ before its appearance, nor will the ‘I’ exist as ‘I’ after its disappearance.

The ‘I’ appears and disappears its nature is not permanent.

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

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then three states, are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion.

If 'I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, and death is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion, then the duality is bound to be an illusion.

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space

Before the appearance of the ‘I’, it was the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness, and after the disappearance of the ‘I’ it prevails as the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

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.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. is no need to convince such a mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

It is no use in indulging in the Who am 'I' -inquiry which is based on the individual.+

Who am I? – inquiry is not Self-inquiry. Self-inquiry’ is finding out the ‘Self’ which is hidden by the ‘I’.

The Advaitic wisdom will not dawn by adopting ‘Who AM ‘I’? teachings because they are based on individuality. The individual exists with the illusory universe or Maya.

‘Who AM ‘I’? teachings will not yield the truth hidden by the illusory universe or Maya. The illusory universe or Maya is a product of ignorance.*

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the Self is not the ‘I’, therefore ‘WHO AM I?-will not help to unfold the truth beyond form, time, and space.

The one who holds the ‘I’ as the Self never will be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Thus, it is necessary to realize first the ‘I’ is not the Self, but the Self is the Soul, the formless witness of the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ based teaching and teachers are not a yardstick in the path of wisdom. ‘I’ based teaching will not lead the seeker to the ultimate end of his inner journey:

Remember:~

According to Sage Sankara, the individual has no reality because the individual is part and parcel of the illusory universe or Maya.

It is no use in indulging in the Who am 'I' -inquiry which is based on the individual.

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

The Self is not you but the Self is the Soul. the Soul, the Self is not an individual.

The Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in the illusory universe.

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 Maya.

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.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.

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

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward ignorance will prevail as a reality.

Till ignorance is present, the illusory universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.:~Santthosh Kumaar

You cannot get rid of the identity because you are the identity.+

You cannot get rid of the identity because you are the identity. You are the false self (ego) within the false experience (waking).

You will vanish along with your experience of the world in deep sleep (non-duality). You have appeared along with the world in which you exist in the waking (duality).

The world in which you exist is the dualistic illusion or Maya. The dualistic illusion or Maya when the Soul, the Self remains consciously in its own awareness when the Advaitic wisdom dawns.

Advaitic wisdom dawns when you realize with a firm conviction that the ‘Self is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember:~

The Self is not you. Stop identifying Self as you. The Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is everywhere and in everything in the universe. The universe hides the Soul, the Self.

Realizing the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul is real freedom from experiencing the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist) as a reality.

Advaitic Truth is very simple but it is very difficult to grasp because of ignorance. There is no need to search for the truth because, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Only when the conviction of the Soul becomes firm then only you will be able to accept the world in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

You have to only realize the world in which you exist is created out of single clay. And that single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

You and your body and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness. They cease to exist without consciousness. You have to think and reason deeply.

Thus, you and your body and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness because they are merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what,’ leads to a perfect conviction of ‘What is truth?” and ‘What is the untruth? Perfect conviction of the truth leads to Advaitic Self-awareness.

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again till it becomes reality. One needs to constantly reflect on the subject until he gets a firm conviction of what is what. Words are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what’.

People need to read and hear the words of wisdom, to think, reason, reflect deeply, and reach the ultimate end of understanding: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Religion, sect, cult, and yoga is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom.+

SM:-Q:~ “ Let me get this straight. You are suggesting that only those who choose the Advaitic path and belief will have eternal life? Isn't that pretty much what every other cult states? So what happens to all those other Souls? Since we are all "one" regardless, how can non-advaitins not have immortality? “

Santthosh Kumaar: ~ Firstly, the religion, sect, cult, and yoga is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom.

As per the scriptures, the three "Ashrams" or stages in life were originally intended for three grades of intelligence thus:~

 Religion:- low intellects had to do 'karmas' works, ritual actions, chanting of mantras and indulging in Bajans and prayers, etc.

 Middle intellects:- Yoga: taking yellow robes, going to caves, ashrams, etc.

 High intellects:- wisdom who wanted the truth is concerned with no external rites or sanyasa but depends solely on intelligent inquiry for their path.

You are not the ‘Self’ because you are mortal. You are mortal because you are bound by the experience of birth, life, death, and the world. The ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness and is immortal because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The one that is in ignorance is the Soul; the one that has to wake up from the sleep of ignorance is the Soul, the Self.

The world in which you exist is the product of ignorance.

When ignorance vanishes the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Without the illusion, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone will prevail as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth. Thus, the Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Self-realization is necessary to realize ‘what is truth and ‘what is untruth.

Remember:~

The Soul, the 'Self' is neither Advaitin of non-Advaitin because it is the ever formless timeless, and spaceless existence.

If you had said the same thing in the dream ~ The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place.

Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when the Soul, the 'Self', wakes up in its own awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion (waking).

The waking experience itself is an illusion of how mortals become immortal without realizing the whole world in which they exist is created out of immortal stuff, that immortal stuff is consciousness.

The Soul, which is the 'Self’’, is real and eternal, and immortal.

When the 'Self’ is not ‘you’ because you are mortal and you are bound by birth, life, death, and the world. Your existence is limited to the domain of form, time, and space.

The mortal existence is within the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Thus, birth, life, and death take place within the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Thus, your views and wisdom are based on the dualistic perspective.

From the non-dualistic perspective, there is only the immortal Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

You are not the witness. The Soul, the ‘Self’ is the witness.+

You are not the witness. The Soul, the ‘Self’ is the witness.

You are within the dualistic illusion.

You are born, live, and die within the world, which is the dualistic illusion.

The dualistic illusion is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, the ‘Self’, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Knowledge of the Soul is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Realizing the world in which you exist is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is Self-realization because the Soul is the ‘Self’.

The Soul, the Self, witnesses the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist) which comes and goes as the ‘I’.

Thus, your existence is a reality within the dualistic illusion.

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. 

Remember:~

The waking becomes deep sleep and deep sleep become dream but the Soul, the ‘Self’ remains unaffected witnessing the illusory passing show.

You are not the witness because you are not the Self.

The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

Do not make the mistake of saying ‘I AM THIS or I AM THAT without knowing what this ‘I’ is in actuality.

However many books you read. However many gurus you follow, However, many Gods you worship what good will they do you if you do not realize the fact that the ‘Self is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

You have to drop all your accumulated knowledge accumulated from different sources as inadequate and useless. 

You will realize the truth hidden by ignorance only after you drop your accumulated knowledge, which is blocking your realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Advaitic truth has to be proved not assumed. The gurus of the east and west have not proved the Sage Sankara’s Advaitic truth because their knowledge of Advaita is based on the dualistic perspective. Seekers of truth have to realize how this practical life within the practical world is unreal. And on ‘what standpoint it is unreal.

It is foolish to cling to the unreality because reality is hidden by the unreality. The people have stuck by the reality of the world and they stop there.

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

Unless you exercise your reason (Buddhi) -there is no chance of getting the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara:~Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas* can give us Self-knowledge.+

 

It has not been possible to preach Advaitic Truth entirely free from the settings of dualistic weakness it has not been more operative and useful to mankind at large because only few will be able to grasp and realize it.

'To realize the Advaitic Truth a freer and fuller scope the seeker has to realize the form, time and space are one in essence. And that essence is the consciousness. And the Soul the innermost Self is present in the form of consciousness.

To realize the Advaitic truth the seeker has to be free from all superstitions and orthodox contamination. The seeker has to be dedicated to acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone.’

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 (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. (7)

Actions help to purify the mind, but they do not, by themselves, contribute to the attainment of Reality. The attainment of Reality is brought about only by Self-Inquiry and not in the least by even ten million acts. (11)

The fear and sorrow created by the delusory serpent in the rope can be ended only after fully ascertaining the truth of the rope through steady and balanced thinking. (12)

Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas* can give us Self-knowledge. The firm experience of the nature of the Self is seen to proceed from inquiry along the lines of the salutary advice of the wise. (13)

Ultimate success in spiritual endeavors depends chiefly upon the qualifications of the seeker. Auxiliary conveniences such as time And place all have a place indeed, but they are essentially secondary. (14)

He alone is considered qualified to inquire after the supreme Reality, which has discrimination, detachment, qualities of Calmness, etc., and a burning desire for liberation. The four-fold qualifications (17)

Great sages have spoken of four qualifications for attainment which, when present, succeeds in the realization of Brahman and In the absence of which the goal is not attained. (18)

While enumerating the qualifications), first we count the ability to discriminate between the Real and the unreal; next comes a spirit of detachment from the enjoyment of the fruits of actions here and hereafter; after that is the groups of six virtues beginning with Calmness, and the last is undoubtedly an intense desire for liberation. (19)

A firm conviction that Brahman alone is Real and the phenomenal World is unreal is known as discrimination between the Real and The unreal. (20)

They have crossed the dreadful ocean of (embodied) existence through their own efforts and without any (personal) motives; they help others to cross it. (37)

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “The Higher your ideal is, the more miserable you are,' for such a thing as an ideal cannot be attained in the world — or in this life, even. He who wants perfection in the world is a madman — for it cannot be. How can you find the infinite in the finite?

Consciousness is the root element of the universe. Consciousness is present in the form of the Soul, the  Self. From the Soul, the universe comes into existence. In the Soul, the universe resides. In addition, into the Soul the universe dissolves. The Soul is the parent of all that is there.

Rest in consciousness, by realizing the universe in which you exist is nothing but consciousness.

Remember:~

Manduka Upanishads: ~ It is very difficult to find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the religious robe has anything to do with him.

A Gnani sees the sameness in all; this means he sees them all without exception as ideas.

Peace will be disturbed only if one recognizes a second. Hence mystic's peace is temporary; the only enduring peace belongs to the Gnani for it is non-dual.

A Gnani who knows reality interprets everything according to its light. It is not enough to by writing books in order to bring people to the realization of nonduality or Advaita, perfect understanding, assimilation and realization are also necessary.

A Gnani has the world, acts and lives normally in it, but does not regard it as a separate thing.

A Gnani is always aware of the Soul the Self, and though he sees a thousand things, will not forget it.

A Gnani will not show off nor boast; he is a commoner, and he never acts as an extraordinary one. Gnani does not want to think of the ego, therefore he does not do or say anything to make himself appear superior to others, or to pretend to know more than others.

The ordinary person thinks "this is a world "; "that is Me” etc. whereas the Gnani thinks "this is Brahman (consciousness); everything is Brahman." etc.

A Gnani practices action or inaction as he wishes, but he will be concerned with the welfare of humanity in either case.

A Gnani does not try to eliminate thoughts, but he accepts or knows them as Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. He knows that the mind (universe) and Soul (Self) are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness.

The Gnani uses sense objects because he sees they are as consciousness. He is fully aware of the fact that practical life within the practical world is merely an idea created out of consciousness. He is fully aware of the fact that it would be foolish to observe celibacy within the illusory world in which he exists. 

Remember:~

The one who realizes Brahman becomes a Gnani.

A Gnani would be there to show the way to Liberation.

A Gnani does not identify himself as a Guru or swami or yogi or sadhu.

A Gnani imparts Knowledge to others. A Yogi lies in Samadhi like a wooden log so he does not know yogic Samadhi is not wisdom.

Gnani is fully aware of all things, either permanent or perishable and he has realized both permanent and perishable to be consciousness.

Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal all else is merely an illusion.

The one who he realizes Brahman becomes a Gnani.

A Gnani would be there to show the way to freedom from experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.: ~Santthosh Kumaar