It is not the ego, which is blocking Self-realization. It is ignorance that is blocking realizing the Self.+

It is not the ego, which is blocking Self-realization. It is ignorance that is blocking realizing the Self. The ego is the product of ignorance.

It is impossible to eliminate the ego. You cannot go beyond the ego because you are the ego. The ego is the very basis of the world in which you exist. It is impossible to eliminate the ego.

Remember: ~

People talk of getting rid of the ego but it impossible to get rid of the ego. The ego is the very basis of form, time, and space. Without the ego, the form, time, and space cease to exist. Without the form, time, and space the world in which we exist ceases to exist.

Thus, a perfect understanding of ‘what is what' is required to get rid of ignorance. Without getting rid of the ignorance the form, time, and space prevail as a reality.

One has to get rid of the ignorance, not the ego because the ego is the product of ignorance.

Just by saying let there be ‘oneness’ the diversity will not vanish. Without the Advaitic wisdom, ignorance will not vanish. Without getting rid of the ignorance the dualistic illusion (the world in which you exist) prevails as a reality.

Trying to get rid of the ‘ego’ is like trying to get mangoes from a coconut tree. The truth is not imagination. Ornamental words may give satisfaction to a certain mindset but it blocks one from realizing the ‘Self’ hidden by the ignorance.

The ultimate truth is the fullness of consciousness. There is nothing apart from the consciousness, because, the whole universe is nothing but the consciousness.

Remember:~

It is foolish to say by getting rid of the ego the wisdom dawns. It is impossible to get rid of the ego. You are the ego. The ego, body, and the world appear together and disappear together. It is impossible to get rid of the ego alone.

The ego, body, and the world together are the’ I’.

Without the ‘I’, the ego, body, and the world cease to exist.

Remember, the ‘Self is not the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ itself is the illusory bondage because the ‘I’ itself is the cause of ignorance.

Only in ignorance, the Soul is bound by the illusory experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

In reality, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If the Soul is free from the ‘I’ then it is free from ignorance.

If the Soul is free from the ‘I’ then it is free from the dualistic illusion.

The Soul is free from the dualistic illusion then it is in its own awareness. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Scriptural mastery is not actually the cause of the Self-realization.+

Adyatma is nothing to do with religious sect or creed and religious belief. Adyatma is pure spirituality. Knowledge of Atma is Adyatma. Advaita is Adyatma.

Adyatma is the knowledge of the truth beyond the form, time, and space. Bifurcate religion, yoga, and theoretical philosophy, and scriptural knowledge and based the truth on the Athma it is Adyatma.

Adyatma is based on the ultimate truth which is based on the Atma or Spirit, which is the Self.

Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom is pure spirituality or Adyathma.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana cannot be surmised by merely reading the Vedas and Upanishads.

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 religious person who has renounced the use of reason is like injecting medicine into a corpse.

Remember:~

The scriptures are not needed for Self-realization. Scriptural mastery is not actually the cause of Self-realization.

The seeker having been instructed by the Guru to search the truth in the scriptures spends all his time searching for the truth.

He thinks by mastering the scriptural knowledge he attains Gnana, But he fails to find this.

Instead, if he perseveres, he finds something of much greater value – his true Self. This cannot be found directly as the result of anyone’s teaching or in any scriptures. It can be attained from the instruction of the knower of Brahman, not gurus.

Yoga Vasistha says: ~ Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only by means of inquiry inspired by the company of wise (Gnani). One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia.

Upanishads clearly declare: ~

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ “The Soul cannot be realized through hearing the scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul, God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the book nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul-Consciousness is real purity.

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~ “When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own ‘Self’ one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5:~ “If here one knows it, then there is truth, and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, the wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8:~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed."

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:~ “The Soul cannot be realized by the weak and timid.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-56- Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

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?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

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.

64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendor of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.

Until one knows the truth of his true existence, whatever he knows about God is mere belief. Belief is individual whereas the ultimate truth is universal every religion has its own idea of God, thus, there is no universality in the belief system. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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

All the Advaitic Gurus of the east and the west are based on the dualistic perspective. The dualistic knowledge is egocentric. All egocentric Advaita or nonduality is based on the imagination. All imagined Advaita is will not help to cross the domain of the form, time, and space.

The egocentric knowledge keeps the Soul in the intoxication of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ hides the whole truth. The Gurus and the teachers of nonduality of the east and west are stuck up with their own accepted truth gathered from here and there and their egoic attitude blocks than by realizing the Advaita hidden by the Dvaita, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

Mundaka Upanishads: ~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

Scriptures are not needed in pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the sages of truth declare the same.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the Self is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. In the realm of truth, form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as the ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth there is no need for the scriptures.

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC 56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by good work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

The real Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is soulcentric knowledge. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is soulcentric knowledge that destroys ignorance.

Advaita is universal. Advaita is not for sale. Do not buy Advaita from the spiritual supermarket.

Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self. The world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

Advaitic truth is very simple, but it is tough to realize because you have accumulated mental garbage from different sources in the name of Advaita.

Until you discard all the accumulated knowledge you will never be able to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

The Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self shines on its own awareness when wisdom dawns.

The Advaita is the Soul, which is the cause and the support of all that exists as the world in which we exist. Advaita is the nature of God, the Self.

The Advaita is present in the form of consciousness. Advaita is the root element of the universe. From the Advaita, the universe comes into existence. In the Advaita, the universe resides. And into the Advaita, the universe is dissolved. The Advaita is the parent of all that is there is. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The ‘I’ itself is the illusory bondage because the ‘I’ itself is the cause of ignorance.+

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

The ‘I’ itself is the illusory bondage because the ‘I’ itself is the cause of ignorance. Only in ignorance, the Soul is bound by the illusory experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

In reality, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If the Soul is free from the ‘I’ then it is free from ignorance.

If the Soul is free from ignorance then there is no bondage of the form, time, and space. The bondage is present only when the ‘I’ is present.

When the Soul is free from the ‘I’ then it is free from the bondage of the form, time, and space.

If the Soul is free from the bondage of the form, time, and space then it is free from the bondage of the universe.

If the Soul is free from the bondage of the universe then it is free from the waking experience.

If the Soul is free from the waking experience then it is free from the experience of birth, life, and death.

If the Soul is free from the experience of birth, life, and death then it is free from the dualistic illusion.

If the Soul is free from the dualistic illusion then it is in its own awareness. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is required.

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 until it becomes a 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 reading and hearing the words of wisdom to think reason and reflect deeply and reach the ultimate end.

“It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is the truth?’ and ‘’what is untruth?’. It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one realizes the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

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