Self-inquiry is finding out the ‘Self’ which is hidden by the illusory universe, in which we exist.+

Self-inquiry is finding out the ‘Self’ which is hidden by the illusory universe, in which we exist. 

By inquiring ‘Who am I?’, the ignorance will not vanish. Without getting rid of ignorance, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Without the Advaitic wisdom, it is not possible to realize the truth, which is hidden within the world in which we exist.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ 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 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, in something detrimental to our spiritual progress.

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).

Remember:~

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

If you hold the ‘I’ as reality then you are unfit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

People think ‘I’ is the product of the mind, but they fail to recognize what is this ‘I’ supposed to be an actuality.

Different people have different ideas about ‘I’.

First, know what ‘I’ is supposed to be in actuality.

The Soul does not change; all the changes are merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

As you go deeper in self-search you will realize the fact that ‘I’ itself is an illusion.

The ‘I’ appears and disappears but the Soul, the witness of the ‘I’ witnesses the coming and going, of the ‘I’.

People think if one inquires ‘WHO AM ‘I’? then ‘I’ disappears.

How can the ‘I’ disappear?

The ‘I’ is the basis of the world in which you exist. Without the ‘I’ the worlds in which you exist cease to exist because 'I' itself is the universe. 

The world has appeared along with ‘I’ and disappears along with the ‘I’.

Just because some Gurus propagated glorified the ‘I’ it does not mean it is final.

That is why Bhagavad Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing because a wise man said it, Believe nothing because it is generally held. Believe nothing because it is written. Believe nothing because it is said to be divine. Believe nothing because someone else said it. But believe only what you yourself judge to be true

There is nothing that exists prior to consciousness. The ‘I’ cease 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. (2.18)

Discard the ‘I’ as illusory by realizing the Self is not the ‘I but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

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

The Soul is the fullness of consciousness without division of the form, time, and space. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal all else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar