The whole universe and its contents are nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness.+

S R-Q: ~ Santthosh, having read this post, who are we then? I am not asking about the Self, I am asking about us as humans, who are we?

Santthosh Kummar: ~

Dearest brother,

If you had asked the same question in a dream, the dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when you realize the ‘Self is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

If the waking is unreal then your experience of birth, life, death, and the world within the waking experience also is unreal (illusion).

The question is based on the waking entity (you or ego). Whatever is based on the waking entity (ego) is based on the dualistic perspective.

You have to learn to view the worldview from a non-dualistic perspective then only you will be able to have the Soulcentric view of the worldview.

In Advaitic Self-awareness, the ego is not considered as ego, even though the ego is present, the body is not considered as a body even though the body is present, and the world which confronts him is not considered as the world even though the world is present, the duality ceases even though the duality is present, because of wisdom everything is considered as consciousness. Thus, there is conscious oneness.

Only in ignorance, the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self.

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 and, 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.

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

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)

Rig Veda says God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of the real God.

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.

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, that God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then no second thing exists other than consciousness. Thus, the whole universe and its contents are nothing but an illusion created out 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.

Chandogya Upanishad:~ One who meditates upon and realizes the 'Self' discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the Self.

The universe is not different from the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness because the universe is made of consciousness.

Thus, the consciousness alone is and all else (universe) is merely an illusion. Thus the illusion is not different from consciousness, which ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The non-dual consciousness appears as the diverse universe is only an illusion. If it really became diverse then the immortal would become mortal.

The dualist thinkers who seek to prove the origination of the unborn, by that very enterprise try to make the immortal, mortal. The ultimate nature can never change - the immortal can never become mortal and vice versa.

There's no plurality in the non-dual nature of the Soul appears to be many"; those who are attached to creation or production or origination are in ignorance because their approach is more practical, and they are stuck with the reality of the universe (waking) take it as real. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara’s wisdom does not need any support of any scriptures the seeker can arrive at the Advaitic truth by pure reason.+

Yoga Vasistha:~ "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good."

Anybody can write a commentary on the Upanishads and other great philosophic texts, all they need to do to pour out words. Some Westerners along with some orthodox pundits translated and published books.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom does not need any support from any scriptures the seeker can arrive at the Advaitic truth by pure reason.

Sage Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Sruti, 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 Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

In the past, the Gurus and the scriptural interpreters used the word ‘I’ to the ‘Self’ without knowing what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the ‘Self’ is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the witness of the ‘I’, which appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).

The witness of the ‘I’ is the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness is real and eternal.

WHO AM ‘I’ AND ‘I AM THAT’ is only for a lower stage where one gives up externally to expose the false nature of the form(ego), which is not the full truth.

To unfold the ‘Self’ hidden by the ‘I’ the seeker has to inquire into the nature of the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ appears as the universe. Inquiring into nature the universe is higher.

With the ‘WHO AM ‘I’? or ‘I AM THAT’- teaching is not the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara wisdom. With the ‘WHO AM ‘I’? or ‘I AM THAT’- the journey is incomplete.

Sage Sankara introduced WHO AM ‘I’? or ‘I AM THAT’ for the lower stages and it becomes inadequate and useless as the seeker advances in his quest for truth.

Some Gurus in the past introduced WHO AM ‘I’? or ‘I AM THAT’ –as their own teaching with their own cocktail of imagination.

Self-knowledge is the knowledge of the whole, not the part. Therefore universe, which confronts one, has to be included in the inquiry to get the truth of the whole. Thus, the ‘WHO AM ’I’ inquiry does not help unfold the truth.

WHO AM ‘I’?- inquiry is helpful in the first stage, but the seeker has to go much beyond ‘WHO AM ’I’ ?. The seeker has to do his homework to realize the truth of the whole. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

Atman is Brahman. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second.+

The notion of external and internal exists only within the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is a product of ignorance. In reality, there is neither external nor internal.

The external and internal are created out of a single clay. That single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Ignorant wander about deluded by the dualistic illusion taking it as a reality. The Seeker has to behold the Soul, the 'Self' indivisible hidden by the dualistic illusion (I).

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

Atman is Brahman. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other besides it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sri, Sankara is impersonal.

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.

A Gnani knows that there's neither unity nor plurality - the world is neither one nor many. Just as a piece of rope is mistaken for a snake, the Atman is mistaken for this diverse world. Duality is an appearance and the non-dual Atman is the real truth.

The universe is not different from the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness because the universe is made of consciousness. Consciousness alone is real and all else (the universe) is merely an illusion. Thus, the illusion is not different from consciousness, which ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The non-dual consciousness appears as the diverse universe is only an illusion. If it really became diverse then the immortal would become mortal. The dualistic thinkers who seek to prove the origination of the unborn, by that very enterprise try to make the immortal, mortal. The ultimate nature can never change - the immortal can never become mortal and vice versa. 

There's no plurality in the nature of the Soul"; "The consciousness appears to be many"; "those who are attached to creation or production or origination are in ignorance because their approach is more practical, and they are stuck with the reality of the universe (waking) take it as real. ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

When the present birth itself is an illusion the rebirth and reincarnation are only a hoax based on the false self within the false experience.+

When the present birth itself is an illusion the rebirth and reincarnation are only a hoax based on the false self (ego)within the false experience (waking).

The term 'Self' is to designate the totality of objective awareness, and the sum total of the conscious and unconscious contents.

The knowledge of both matter and spirit is True knowledge. The true knowledge is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The knowledge of both matter and spirit is the True knowledge is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

If one has perfect understanding, assimilation, and realization he becomes a Gnani that brings benefit to others by sharing the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana who are seeking the truth.

Remember:~

The rebirth and reincarnation theory is based on the waking entity (physical self or ego).

The Soul, the Self has no birth because it is unborn and eternal. When birth, life, and death are reality within the illusory universe or Maya then rebirth and reincarnation is a reality within the illusory universe or Maya.

Since man has immersed himself in believing the illusory universe as reality, he is unaware of the Soul, the Self, which is hidden by the illusory universe or Maya.

People who are caught up with the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted duality as reality.

People who believe in reincarnation and rebirth theories are unaware that their belief is based on the waking entity (ego), which is the false self within the false experience.

The waking entity itself is the false self within the false experience, it means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is falsehood.

Thus, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as the waking entity is bound to be falsehood because the Soul, the Self is birthless because it is formless.

The rebirth and reincarnation theory based on the false self is bound to be a falsehood.

Accepting rebirth and reincarnation theory as reality is accepting the false self (waking entity or ego) as the real Self and false experience (waking) as reality.

Self-realization is an impossibility if one accepts the present waking entity as the real Self because the Self is neither the waking entity nor the Self is the dream entity but the Self is a formless Soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.

The three states are impermanent but the soul or consciousness, which is the witness of the three states, is permanent and eternal.

In Atmic reality, the three states are one in essence. and that essence is consciousness. Therefore there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

Thus, consciousness (Soul) is second to none.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience itself is an illusion. It means the present experience of birth, life, death, and the world is an illusion.

The reincarnation theory based on the false self within the false experience is bound to be a falsehood.

When the waking entity is not the Self then whatever theories are based on the waking entity imagined theory.

This imagined theory based on the waking entity or ego is for those lower minds set who are incapable of grasping the ultimate truth or Brahman.

People who are caught up with the idea of reincarnation and rebirth theories are not qualified for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because they accepted duality as reality. Birth implies duality and duality is falsehood from the ultimate standpoint.:~ Santthosh Kumaar

Realize what this ‘I’ is in actuality then you will never use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self’.+

The ‘Self is not in you but the ‘Self’ is hidden by the ‘I’. Realize what this ‘I’ is in actuality then you will never use the word ‘I’ for the ‘Self’.

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’ comes and goes to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

‘I’ is not the reality. Whenever the ‘I’ is there the dualistic illusion is present. Whenever dualistic illusion is present the world in which you exist is present. The world in which you exist appears and disappears.

Thus, The ‘I’ appears and disappears. The ‘I’ is not permanent. The Soul, the Self is the witness of the coming and going, of the ‘I’.

It is erroneous to identify the Soul, the Self as the ‘I'. The ‘I’ represents ignorance. How can you watch the ‘I’ the truth which is hidden by the ‘I’?

Remember:~

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

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self:~

Where is the ‘I’?

Where is the ego?

Where is the body?

Where is the mind?

Where is the world in which you exist?

Where are the form, time, and space?

Where is the waking experience?

Where is the duality?

Where is void?

They are or have become one with the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is a waking experience.

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the I’. This truth has to be assimilated.

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.

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 the 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.

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

There is nothing that exists prior to consciousness. The ‘I’ ceases to exist without consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole.

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, that 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 other than consciousness.

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness because it is the very essence of the one who denies it.

Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I’ is an illusion. Illusion is dualistic. Dualistic illusion hides the Soul, the Self, which is Advaita.+

 

The ‘I’ is an illusion. Illusion is dualistic. Dualistic illusion hides the Soul, the Self, which is Advaita.

Advaita means the Soul, the Self. The Soul is one without the second. The Soul is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness. The Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaita is the nature of God, the Soul, the Self. Advaita is the real God. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.

Remember this: ~

The ‘I’ is not limited to you. ‘I’ is the whole universe in which you exist. Without the ‘I’ the world in which you exist, ceases to exist.

The world in which you exist appears when ‘I’ appears and the world in which you exist disappears when ‘I’ disappears.

The seeker must dig into old posts as well as new ones all your doubts about the ‘I’ will vanish.

The Soul, the ‘Self is hidden by the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind, therefore; ‘I’ is the mind.

The mind is present in the form of the form, time, and space

together; therefore, the form, time, and space together are the mind.

The duality is present only when the form, time, and space are present, therefore, the form, time, and space together are the duality.

The form, time, and space are present in the form of the universe, therefore, the form, time, and space together are the universe.

The universe appears as the waking or dream, therefore, the waking or dream is the universe.

The waking is a parallel dream and the dream is a parallel waking.

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

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

Remember this: ~

Without the ‘I’ there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the mind, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without form, time, and space, there is only the Soul, the fullness of consciousness.

Without the universe, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the waking or the dream, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the individual experience of birth, life, and death, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember this: ~

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the ‘I’ is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the mind is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, form, time, and space are an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the universe is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, waking or dream is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the individual experience of birth, life, and death is an illusion.

The Soul is the cause of all that exists as an illusion and the Soul itself is uncaused.

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

Realize, ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality and what is hidden by the ‘I’ will be revealed.

If you realize the ‘Self ‘is not the ‘I’ but the Soul then whatever is hidden by the ‘I’ will be revealed.

Realizing the Soul is not the ‘I’ but the Soul is the Self is Self–realization.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness because it is the very essence of the one who denies it.

Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The Soul becomes an illusion in waking (duality) and waking becomes the Soul in deep sleep (nonduality).

The one that becomes the duality (waking or dream) and one that remains nonduality in deep sleep, is the Soul, the Self.

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 truth other than consciousness. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Many people adopt the attitude that what they know is the truth. And they think what others say is false.+

People are still primitive thinking fall into faulty reasoning through their inherited conditioning, such faulty thinking and reasoning make them accept the experience of birth, life, and death as a reality; taking what one sees through the senses as real, taking what is apparently obvious and superficial as true because it is less troublesome.

Many people adopt the attitude that what they know is the truth. And they think what others say is false. This attitude makes them not verify anything other than what they know. 

One needs to be rational, not merely logical. Logic has its value only in the domain of form, time, and space. Logic implies duality. 

As one advances towards the spiritual plane, he sees the truth underlying experience and becomes more rational. His reasoning is two-fold—dualistic and nondualistic. He uses dualistic reason for practical purposes and nondualistic reason for spiritual pursuit.  

Remember:~ 

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. Thus, consciousness is Brahman.

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

Ashtavakra Gita:~ The Soul, the  Self is perfect and the same in misery and happiness hope and despair, and life and death, therefore in this way enter into the state of dissolution. 

If you hold the Self as 'I' then you are holding the dualistic illusion as a reality. if you hold the dualistic illusion as a reality you are in ignorance of your true existence.

Do not make the mistake of holding the ‘I’ as the Self because it is not permanent. ‘I’ disappears and becomes ‘I’-less.

‘I’ is an illusion and the ‘I-LESS’ is real and eternal. The ‘I-LESS-Soul ‘appears as ‘I’ and ‘I ’‘disappears as I-LESS-Soul.

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

The ‘I’ hides the truth of the whole.

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 Soul appears as the universe, in waking and the universe disappears as the Soul is in deep sleep. The Soul is the universe and the universe is the Soul.

The universe is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The illusion and the reality are nothing but consciousness. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal. :~ Santthosh Kumaar