If you are caught in the grip of the ‘I’ then you will remain permanently in the grip of ignorance.+

If you are caught in the grip of the ‘I’ then you will remain permanently in the grip of ignorance.

If you hold the Self as ‘I’ you will never be able to cross the dualistic illusion or Maya.

If you follow the ‘I-centric' Gurus and their teaching it is like the blind leading the blind

If you inquire “Who am ‘I’? the ‘I’ will not disappear. You must know the nature of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’ which is permeant and eternal. The Soul is the subject and the ‘I’ is an object.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul. Therefore, the seeker has to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost 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 the consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

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 the 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 'I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, 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 in order to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

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 ever nondual.  

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 it as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. is no need to convince such mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

A Gnani imparts Advaitic wisdom or Self-knowledge and encourages the seeker to seek the truth.+

A Gnani imparts Advaitic wisdom or Self-knowledge and encourages the seeker to seek the truth.

A Gnani helps the seeker to drop all the accumulated knowledge.

The only thing worth remembering is the Soul, the Self. The ‘I’ is the cause of the forgetfulness of reality. The ‘I’ hides the reality, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ itself is form, time, and space.

The form, time, and space itself is the universe.

The universe itself is the waking experience.

The waking experience itself is the mind.

The mind itself is the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ itself is the dualistic illusion.

The dualistic illusion hides the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Stick to the Soul, which is the ultimate truth, or Brahman, and drop the ‘I’, which is the dualistic illusion. Whatever prevails without the ‘I’ is the Soul, which is the fullness of the consciousness without the division of the form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The whole universe is just an illusory play of consciousness.+

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 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, 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.

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

Remember:~

People think that there is God and that the jivas--Souls-like them from the second, other than them. But in reality, there is no such duality at all.

The ignorance is the cause of the ‘I’

The duality is present in the form of the ‘I’.

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

The Mind is present in the form of the universe.

The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).

The formless substance and witness of the appearance and disappearance of the ‘I’, is the formless Soul.

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth because the mind, which is present in the form of the universe, ceases to exist without consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Consciousness is the only reality and there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. The universe is nothing but consciousness because it merely an illusion created out of consciousness. The whole universe is just an illusory play of consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Consciousness is ‘One’, and all divisions of the form, time, and space within consciousness are illusory.+

Only in ignorance, the illusory world prevails as a reality. The reality of the world vanishes with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. A Gnani is free from experiencing the illusory universe as a reality.

Ignorance exists prior to the investigation of the nature of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

The seeker of truth must shed prejudices and get disentangled from all that is not needed to acquire Self-knowledge. You must tread the path to the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the knowledge that unfolds the mystery of the universe. The universe is created out of single stuff. And that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. Without the ‘I’ the mind ceases to exist.

The mind is present when the universe is present. Without the mind, the universe ceases to exist.

The universe is present only when the waking is present. Without the universe, the waking ceases to exist.

So, without the ‘I’ the mind or universe or the waking cease to exist.

On the standpoint of the Soul is the innermost ‘Self’, the ‘I’ the mind or universe or the waking cease exists as a reality.

The Soul is the ‘Self’ that can remain with or without the ‘I’.

Slowly but surely you must imbibe the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space by realizing the form, time and space are one in essence.

When you enthrone the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness in your subconscious, you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusory play of consciousness.

Consciousness is ‘One’, and all divisions of the form, time, and space within consciousness are illusory. Be established in this Advaitic Truth, which is eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara pointed out; even those who were outside the Upanishad fold were as eligible to moksha.+

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

The seeker should not bother about finding the meaning of what is written in the scriptures. To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like injecting medicine into a corpse.

 Mediocre minds waste their time arguing about unimportant matters. Accumulation of scriptural knowledge is dangerous in pursuit of truth. The seeker has to establish the truth of Non-duality by sheer reasoning alone. 

The seeker has to begin by defining "What is real?" "What is unreal?" etc, because that is the right way to discuss, understand and assimilate Self-knowledge. Thus seeker has to remove all the hindrances to acquire Self-knowledge.

In dualistic philosophies, the imaginary god is made as a creator basing on cause and effect theory. Then the doubt natural arises, who is the cause of the creator. The creator is dependent on creation for his existence. 

Without creation, the creator ceases to exist. Thus the dualistic theory holds no water because it is based on mere imagination and speculation, which they try to prove on citing the mythological stories and doctrine of code of conducts. 

When the Self is not the body then all these dualistic ideologies hold no water. Therefore the devotional paths, which are based on human conduct, are not the means for truth -realzation. 

Bhagavad Gita 2:46:~ "A man of true knowledge who has attained enlightenment, has the same use for all the scriptures as one has for a small reservoir of water in a place flooded on all sides."

Sage Sankara strongly advocated the study of Upanishads, and at the same time cautioned that the study of Upanishad alone would not lead to moksha. In matters of such as spiritual attainment, one’s own realization was the sole authority and it cannot be disputed

Sage Sankara also said the study of Upanishad was neither indispensable nor a necessary prerequisite for attaining the human goal, the moksha.

Sage Sankara pointed out; even those who were outside the Upanishad fold were as eligible to moksha as those within the fold were. He declared that all beings are Brahman, and therefore the question of discrimination did not arise. All that one was required to do was to get rid of ignorance (Avidya or duality).

The seeker's aim is the search for the Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The search to find the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth that in actuality never was lost, only hidden.

Upanishad aspiration is best expressed in the following sutra:-

OM Asato ma sad gaMaya , tamaso ma jyotir gaMaya , mrityor ma aamritaam gaMaya . Shanti, Shanti, Shanti

"OM Lead me from ignorance to truth, from darkness to light, from death to immortality. Peace, Peace, Peace" (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad (1/3/28).

Upanishads are based on the insights of the sages and seers, serves primarily as a guidebook. One has to accept the Ultimate reality as Brahman or God in truth.

The Sruti itself’ says:~ "This Atma is NOT to be attained by a study of the Vedas. (Katha Upanishad I, 2, 23.)

Sage Sankara:~ VC- 162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Knowing the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul is the starting point of your quest.+

Knowing the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul is the starting point of your quest. You will not be able to find the truth because you are blindfolded by dualistic illusion. If you have to traverse the path, you will have to seek the aid of the one who knows the truth beyond the form, time, and space; else you will wind up wandering here and there without gaining anything.

The Self is not within you, because the Self is not the body. If the Self is not you, then why you think the Self is within you.

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that you and the world are within the Soul the innermost Self. Perfect understanding and assimilation of 'what is what' lead to Advaitic Self-awareness.

Remember:~

You are conditioned by the ‘I’. the inborn conditioning. The ‘I’ is the basis of the world in which you exist. Without the ‘I’, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. The world in which you exist is the dualistic illusion. The ‘I’ is nothing but a dualistic illusion.

The ‘I’ is the cause of ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as reality.

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

Realize the ‘Self’ in truth is the Soul and the ‘Self’ is not the ‘I’ and stick to the truth.

The one who has realized the ‘Self is not ‘I’ but the Soul will realize the world in which he exists is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. If he misses this realization then he is caught up in the dualistic spider web.

How can you be perfect when you are not the Self? You are a false self within the false experience (world).

The one which is perfect is the Soul, the innermost Self, which is real and eternal because it is the eve formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Satsang is not discussing the myth with ornamental words. Satsang is the thinking and reflecting only of the Atma, the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas of what God is supposed to in truth. From the ultimate standpoint all these Gods, which people believe and worship have no value.+

Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas of what God is supposed to in truth. From the ultimate standpoint, all these Gods, which people believe and worship have no value.

Religious Gods are based on blind faith or belief. Belief is not God. 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. God in truth is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth,  Nothing is real but the Soul, which present in the form of consciousness. Nothing Matters but realize  God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

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

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth.  The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. 

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

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 innermost 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.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) 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.

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

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality. For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sri, Sankara:~VC~.61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

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.

The nature of God in truth can be indicated with words within the domain of the form, time, and space. God in truth cannot be explained because God is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. 

Bhagavad Gita: ~ ‘All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many gods. (7- Verse -20) : ~

Santthosh Kumaar

The Guru is nothing to do with Advaitic wisdom. A Gnani never identifies himself as a guru.+

Manduka Upanishad:~ A Gnani bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the yellow robe has anything to do with him.

Sage Sankara:~ The knower of Brahman or Gnani wears no signs.

Sage Sankara:~Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

Sage Sankara:~On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."

The knower of Brahman or Gnani wears no signs -- means he does not identify himself as a Guru or a teacher or Yogi or Swami.

A Gnani will never force anyone to accept the path of wisdom. He will constantly bring the seeker back to the fact of his inherent perfection and encourage him to seek the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

A Gnani knows you need nothing, not even him, and is never tired of reminding you.

A Gnani continuously shares Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana with like-minded fellow seekers.

A Self-declared Guru is more concerned with himself than with his disciples and plays with their sentiments and emotions. Sticking to such Gurus the seeker will not get the Self –realization. Guru and yogis are meant for those who are emotionally involved with their religion and religious Gods.

Religious Gurus are not Gnanis, they propagate only religion. Religion is not spirituality. Religious Gurus do not propagate wisdom they are meant for injecting morals, ethics, and love and guide ignorant populace in practical life within the practical world.

Many religious Gurus are serving humanity by giving free education and maintain love and harmony in society but they are nothing to do with the Atmic path.

The Guru is nothing to do with Advaitic wisdom. A Gnani never identifies himself as a guru.

There are so many in the guise of Gurus and Godmen with criminal records who indulge in cheating rape, murder.

The Gurus and Godmen who promise instant enlightenment or Self-realization are not Gnanis. Mixing religion with the Atmic path is like mixing oil in the water.

Seekers from the west mistake whoever calls them as gurus are Gnanis, thus, their mission of seeking the truth is misguided by such Gurus.

Those mystics, who talk of experiencing the supreme reality, do not know that the word experience implies something else, a second to be experienced, i.e. duality, i.e. non-reality, and those who talk of "direct knowledge" of reality again do not perceive that knowledge implies a second thing to be known; i.e. duality exists. i.e. no reality here! : ~

Santthosh Kumaar

A person who identifies himself as a Guru or disciple will never be able to get Advaitic Gnana.+

The Guru and disciple and the world in which Guru and disciple exist are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth of Brahman or God in truth.

By identifying as a Guru or some Guru’s disciple keeps one in the cage of ignorance. A person who identifies himself as a Guru or disciple will never be able to get Advaitic Gnana.

Guru, disciple concept is meant for the religious and yogic path. In the Atmic path, the Guru and disciple concept have no value.

A person who realized the ultimate truth or Brahman will throw off his religious robe and all religious identity and lives like a commoner. He never identifies himself as Gnani nor does he identify himself as superior to others. He only shares his knowledge with fellow seekers.

A Gnani never identifies himself as a Guru or a Yogi or someone disciple. The one who accepts himself as a Guru or someone’s disciple is not a Gnani.

Ashtavakra Samhita: ~ "The man of knowledge (Gnani), though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.

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

The truth-seeker seeks only the truth.

The inner Sage will guide you with love. Your sincerity and seriousness lead you to your inner core. Sincere and serious seekers are not excluded.

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Katha Upanishads: ~ This Atman is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (II -23-P-20)

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sannyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sri, Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who were the sannyasin robes are wearing it for the sake of bread belongs to the religion; they are nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

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 to a Guru who is not a Gnani.

That is why Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your own Soul.”

Yogis and Guru s are not Gods.

This idea of worshiping Guru as God is not a Vedic idea but adopted from Jainism and Buddhism.

Vedas bars human worship: ~

Yajur Veda:~

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.":~ (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

Then why worship and glorify the Guru s and Yogis (human form) in place of God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

No one has ever seen God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the religious God and Goddesses because God exists prior to the form, time, and space. The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Guru s have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is the real God. Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

By worshipping the religious Gods and Gurus and Yogis one will not get Self-realization or God-realization.

The Soul, the inner Guru revels ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar