Consciousness is prior to all that exist (universe).+

A R- Q: ~ Life is prior to consciousness. Without life, there cannot be consciousness. Consciousness can be graded into degrees. Life is absolute. Please comment.

Santthosh Kumaar: ~ As per my conviction: ~ From the dualistic perspective, dualist thinkers think that Life is prior to consciousness.

But deeper self-search reveals the fact that life itself is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Consciousness is prior to all that exist ( universe).

Consciousness is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused. The universe is nothing but consciousness because the universe is created out of a single clay. That single clay is consciousness.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proof. 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.

Until one thinks of his body as the body, the ego as the ego the universe as the universe he remains in ignorance because he is still in ignorance and he is unaware of the fact that they too are consciousness.

The seeker has to grow from the inside out. None can teach him, and none can make him spiritual. There is no other Guru but the Soul, the Self.”

Consciousness is not an object, but it is the subject. Within the dualistic illusion, it is the subject and object together. It is not another. It is all-full, infinite, changeless, Self-existent, Self-delight, Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is the essence. It is the essence of the knower. It is the formless substance and the witness of the dualistic illusion (universe).

Even 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.

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 (consciousness) 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

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad declares: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from the Self does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

That is why Sage Sankara VC- v6- 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.

Thus, it is necessary to realize the ‘Self’ is not you, but the Self is the Soul to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. in reality, form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Without consciousness, the worlds in which we exist cease to exist. Thus, consciousness is the only real thing in the illusory universe. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Whatever appeared as ‘I’ is merely an illusion. The Soul, the Self is hidden by the ‘I’.+

No second thing existed before the appearance of the ‘I’ and ‘I’ never exists now and also ‘I’ never exists in the future. Whatever appeared as ‘I’ is merely an illusion or Maya.

Let you be clear on one thing. The ‘I’ is merely a dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. but in the reality, ‘I’ neither exists in the past nor exists now, nor going to exist in the future.

Whatever existed in the past and whatever exists now and whatever is going to exist in the future is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Whatever has appeared as ‘I’ is nothing but consciousness? The ‘I’ has no value because it is merely an illusion.

If you search for the truth and you will find only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. If you search for the Soul then you will find only the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Freedom means freedom from ignorance. It is not you who is seeking freedom. It is the Soul, the Self which seeks freedom from ignorance.

Shun the ignorance which is present in the form ‘I’ and think the ignorance is like poison.

Turn your attention to the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Free the Soul, the Self from the illusory prison of form, time, and spaceby acquiring Self-knowledge

When you realize the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul automatically the world in which you exist loses its luster of reality.

Remember:~

You are the false self within the dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’. without the ‘I’ you, and the world in which you exist ceases to exist. So do not limit the ‘I’ to an individual because the ‘Self is not ‘I’ because the ‘I’ is a whole dualistic illusion.

If you are not the ‘Self’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, then how can you say ‘I AM THAT’ when the Self is not you but the Soul.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-realization.

Holding ‘I-centric’ Gurus and their teaching as final keeps the seeker in the domain of ignorance.

If you are the seeker of truth, then you must accept only the truth, not the ‘I-centric or you-centric knowledge, which is half-baked knowledge. The ‘I-centric or ‘you-centric’ is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The ‘I’ hides the reality of existence. The nature of existence is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. There is no ‘I’ in reality. The ‘I’ is merely an illusion. Whatever belongs to the ‘I’ is an illusion.

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject.

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.

The Soul, the Self is hidden by the ‘I’ because the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness is the cause of the 'I'.

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, which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘I’ itself is ignorance. The ‘I’ itself is a dualistic illusion.

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.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

People refuse to accept anything other than their Guru's words. For them, their Guru's words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such a mindset.

Such a mindset is not fit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Athma Gnana. The seekers of truth accept only the truth nothing but the uncontradictable truth.

The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara has dynamic, direct, universal appeal.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Religious rituals and scriptural mastery, are not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

The path of wisdom is only for those who are seriously seeking the truth. The path of wisdom is not for religious-minded people.

Everyone is free to follow their chosen path, which gives them satisfaction and makes them happy. The path of wisdom is only for those who are seriously seeking the truth.

There is no need to walk in the mountains in search of the truth.

There is no need to meet any Gurus.

There is no need to renounce family life.

There is no need to study the scriptures.

There is no need for glorifying the Gurus.

There is no need to spend a fortune to please the Gurus.

Going to the mountains, searching for a Guru, renouncing the family life, studying the scriptures, and glorifying the personal Gods and Gurus are the greatest obstacle in the path of wisdom. 

No need to become a monk, or sanyasi, or a swami to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Religious rituals and scriptural mastery, are not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~

Spirituality is nothing to do with religion. Whatever is written is the words of wisdom of the Sages of truth. Do not mix religion with spirituality. Religion is meant for the ignorant populace.

Without an intense urge to realize the truth is not possible to tread the path of wisdom.

Swami Vivekananda:~ This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, the Soul. Self is infinite, deathless, and birthless. Because the Self is infinite Spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave. ... Arise! Awake! Stand up and fight! Die if you must. There is none to help you. Self is the entire world. Who can help you? -

Swami Vivekananda: ~Jñāna Yoga is divided into three parts. First:- Hearing the truth--that the Atman is the only reality and that everything else is Maya. Second:- Reasoning upon this philosophy from all points of view. Third:- Giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that Brahman is real and everything else is unreal.

Remember:~

All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, consciousness still remains without form, time, and space.

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.

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

After verifying through deeper inquiry if one finds the world is a reality within the illusion then he cannot again say the world is not an illusion.

If one is frightened to accept the world is an illusion (waking) then he is unfit to acquire ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those who are stuck with the reality of the world are stuck with the reality of the individual experiences of birth, life, and death, which take place within the unreal world. Thus the pursuit of truth is for those who have the courage to accept reality as it is, that is the reality without form, time, and space.

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 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.

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness.

By holding onto theories one remains in the realm of duality. You have to mentally go on dropping what is not the truth through deeper Self-search.

Finally when you become aware of the fact that, your ego, your body, and the world are one in essence then there is Self-awareness in the midst of duality. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara:~ "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga."+

The novice seekers must realize that yoga is all right in its place and that it is good, at the beginning of the pursuit of truth, but when yoga is made ends in itself and it is not a means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Yoga and meditation are not useless, they are helpful to bring the restless ego under control.

Yoga and meditation are not final. By indulging in yoga and meditation, it will lead not lead to the ultimate end of understanding.

Yoga cannot remove ignorance. It is only a step. It removes obstructions.

Sage Sankara definitely says that yoga is not the means of liberation (pages 132-133 of his commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad).  

Avadhuta Gita:-“The Atman cannot be purified through the practice of the six limbs of the yoga, or through the annihilation of the mind, or through the instruction of a teacher. The Atman is the Reality Itself and It is Purity Itself."

Brihad Upanishad. Page 133 1st para points out:~ Even yoga cannot give perfect concentration and that the only way to gain it is philosophical realization. This confirms Mandukya's statement that yoga can no more succeed than the ocean can be emptied with a blade of grass.

Brihad. Upanishad page 32:~ "Yoga does not yield truth or liberation."

One may read the Mahabharata for all philosophical, yogic, and cosmological teachings but at the end, it finally says "All is imaginative."

Brihad Upanishad:~ It too declares Yoga cannot give you the truth.

Sage Sankara says: - Yoga is not the means of liberation. (page 132-133 - Commentary on Brihadaranyakopanishad.

In Sutra Bashya and Manduka: - The Samadhi and sleep are identical.

Brihad Upanishad: does not advocate Samadhi.

Sage Sankara in the commentary to "Brahma Sutras:- "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga." (Sacred Books of East Series page 298 Vol.1.) he also says Samadhi is the same as sleep (p.312) - this indicates that yoga is not the means to Self-realization. And yogic Samadhi is not nondual Self-awareness.

Panchadesi: - The impossibility of yoga arrives at a successful end to its practices. (P.509 v, 109)

Remember:~

You are not the ‘Self’. You are bound by birth, life, death, and the world.

Without realizing ‘what the ‘Self’ is supposed to be, simply saying ‘I AM THAT’ shows are mere imagining of the ‘Self’. Your knowledge based on imagination is not Self-knowledge, Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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)

The form, time, and space are connected to the ‘I’.

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

The waking experience is connected to the ‘I’

The dream is connected to the ‘I’

The universe in which you exist is connected to the ‘I'.

The mind is connected to the ‘I’

The Self is not the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The ‘I-LESS' Soul is permanent because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Why are you struggling to find out who you are? You will never find the answer if you get stuck to the ‘I’. Find out ‘what is this ‘I’, which appears and disappears. What is that is aware of the coming and going, of the ‘I’?

Without realizing ‘What is this ‘I’? you will never be able to realize the mystery of the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ is the most intoxicating stuff. Those who use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self ‘will never be able to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding.

The ‘I’ is the cage for the Soul. ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the only weapon to eliminate ignorance.

The ‘I’ based teachings will not transport the seeker to the ultimate end of understanding.

A perfect understanding of ‘what is this ‘I’ leads to the realization of the truth beyond form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara has already declared what is the ultimate truth and what is the untruth. Sage Sankara declaration is final.+

Why you are struggling to realize the truth. Sage Sankara has already declared what is the ultimate truth and what is the untruth. Sage Sankara's declaration is final. There is no need to follow anyone or any teaching.

Sage Sankara says: ~ Atman is Brahman. The Atman alone is real is not religious truth. Sage Sankara declared this Advaitic truth, which is the ultimate truth to the whole world, many centuries back is the rational truth, scientific truth, and ultimate truth.

The Atman which is present in the form of consciousness is real and eternal, the world in which we exist is merely an illusion or Maya.

There is no need to search for the truth the truth is already declared by Sage Sankara you have to realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. to realize this simple truth why you are struggling.

The seeker who is seriously seeking truth must discard all ‘I-centric’ or ‘You-centric’ Gurus and their teaching because ‘I-centric’ or ‘You-centric’ Gurus and their teaching are the Advaita-based on the dualistic perspective.

Orthodox Advaita is dualistic because it is based on the birth entity and will not help the seeker to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion because the Self is not the birth entity. The Self is the unborn Soul.

That is why Bhagavan Buddha: ~ Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

To realize the Self is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, there is no need for a Guru, there is any need to study scriptures, there is no need to go to the mountain, there is no need for gurus blessing or grace. There is no need to waste your fortune and precious time of your life. There is no need to follow anyone.

If you have an intense urge and are ready to drop all your accumulated ‘I-centric’ or You-centric’ Gurus and their teachings and start afresh then you are fit and ready to take this mental journey.

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.

So-called spiritual paths are useless unless it causes us to seek the truth of our true existence. All controversies about creation, the nature of the universe, evolution, the purpose of God, etc., are useless in the Atmic path.

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

Throw the mental garbage and start NOW.

Swami Vivekananda: This bending the knee to superstitions, this selling yourself to your own mind does not befit you, the Soul. Self is infinite, deathless, and birthless. Because the Self is an infinite Spirit, it does not befit you to be a slave... Arise! Awake!

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

Why you are waiting, conquer the truth on your own independently. That is what Sage Sankara wants you to do. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Ashtavakra:~There is no wisdom whatsoever in the scriptures-just a collection of words.+

Ashtavakra:~There is no wisdom whatsoever in the scriptures-just a collection of words.  

I only highlighted scriptural insights which point to the ultimate reality. what is not helpful in the pursuit of truth has to be discarded.  The seeker should not bother about finding the meaning of what is written in the scriptures. 

Do not indulge in arguing from your own standpoint holding your accumulated knowledge as a yardstick that is pointless.  Instead, read, reason, and reflect on the subject, which is the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara to get rid of ignorance.

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

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

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

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason. 

Remember:~

Scriptural mastery including ancient Sastras, Tarka, and Samkhya disciplines to support Karmas & belief Bhakti Argument & interpretation with the help of logic, grammar, etc. to support beliefs, revelations, prayers, etc. and, dogmas, theological or other based on authorities create an obstruction to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space.

Sticking to ritual in the name of purification is sticking to ignorance.

That is why 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:~ The scriptures dealing with rituals, and rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.

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, the 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), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Atman is not a body that is non-existence itself. This is called true Knowledge by the wise.

Everyone’s inner work is on. The Soul is the Self. The Soul the inner Guru guides us all till we get the stillness of its Advaitic true nature. It is the Soul which is in ignorance it is the Soul that has to wake up from its sleep of ignorance. : ~Santthosh Kumaar