The world’s oldest religion Sanatana Dharma or Vedic religion of India is lost and buried under the different founders of caste and sects.+

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the political class as useful.

If you are the truth seeker then you must first, realize the Hinduism is not the means to realize the truth of Advaita. If you hold Hinduism as a means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana then you will be caught up in the museum of different theories and dogmas and superstition and non-Vedic beliefs and myth.

The world’s oldest religion Sanatana Dharma or Vedic religion of India is lost and buried under the different founders of caste and sects. Santana Dharma or Vedic religion is nothing to with caste and sect dominated Indian populace.

Sanatana Dharma or the Vedic religion ancient religion of India emphasizes Self-realization. The inherited religion is adulterated in the past becomes a great obstacle to realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

A great majority of Hindus are not in contact with their religious history therefore, they believe their inherited beliefs as the ultimate truth.

Hinduism is not an Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma. And all Hindus indulge in non-Vedic practice barred by the Vedas introduced by the different founders of the different sects of Hinduism at different times, whereas the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma is ancient and has no founder. Thus to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the seeker has to realize his inherited religion is adulterated in the past and it becomes a great obstacle in realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

While they do not accept the texts past the Vedas, they are still monists and uphold other Hindu views. In their reformations, they rejected Brahminical control and they are open to all castes and women.

Hinduism is based on myths and thus, the people of Indian are unaware of the facts of their inherited religious history. The Vedic Culture and Vedas are complete in themselves but Hinduism which is a non-Vedic belief system with all rituals and conduct oriented practices has been contributed largely by the orthodox priests to suit their convenience!

The vast ocean of Vedic religion or Santana Dharma was consistently steady and calm for a very long period. It appears that as a consequence of the rage of the Buddhist revolution it got suddenly disturbed and flowed down to us in disorder. Even today Vedic religion or Santana Dharma has not recovered from the onslaught of Buddhism and Jainism and is not able to settle in people's hearts in its original form in the same old measure.

The Buddhist influence is seen in a great measure in the Vedic philosophy which is followed by the majority of Indians. Thus, it is clear that the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma has not retained its original form, but been influenced by other religions that have undergone a sea change. Thus, the influence of Buddhism on Santana Dharma is extraordinary.

Even Kumarila Bhatta, who fought with great heroism for the revival of the Vedic religion, was so much influenced by Buddhism that he established for the first time in the country, an atheist Vedic religion or Santana Dharma. There is no room for any doubt to assert that the Kumarila Bhatta School was influenced by atheist Buddhism because the school which is based on the validity of the Vedas and rituals refutes the existence of God.

Sage Sankara endeavored towards establishing the Vedic religion overthrowing Buddhism. But even he was not able to avoid the influence of Buddhism. The influence of the revolutionary atmosphere of Buddhism has reappeared in the Advaita of Sage Sankara. His inability to revive the Vedic religion that flourished before the Buddhist revolution in its pure form is discernible.

As one peeps into the annals of religious history he finds that Hinduism which exists today is not a continuation of the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma, and it has no real historical foundation. Hinduism is of a much later origin.

As per the researchers, the two faiths the Hindu belief system has drifted miles away from the Vedic faith so that the two seem to be two distinct faiths. It is not difficult to discover that there is no noticeable continuity of Hinduism from the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

The distinctive characteristics of the Hindu belief system cannot be traced in the Vedic literature. Besides, although the Vedas are revered as sacred texts, there are many people in India who do not know what ‘belief in the Vedas’ means. In most cases, the acquaintance of the Hindus with the Vedas is limited to the few hymns that are recited in temples and household liturgies.

It is for every seeker who is seeking truth must first know what God supposed to be in actuality according to Vedas and Upanishads and reject all non-Vedic Gods to realize the Atman is God in truth.

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

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself’.

Thus, it refers to formless and attributeless God, which is the Atman (Soul), the innermost ‘Self’ within the false experience. Thus, it indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false ‘Self’. Thus Atman or Soul, the ‘Self’ is God in truth.

The Vedas do not talk about idol worship. In fact, till about 2000 years ago followers of Vedism never worshiped idols. Idol worship was started by the followers of Buddhism and Jainism. There is logic to idol worship. Vedas speak of one God that is the Supreme ‘Self’ in i.e. Atman or Soul but Hinduism indulges in worshiping 60 million Gods.

It indicates clearly all the Gods with form and attributes are mere imagination based on the false self.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:~ "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)

A great majority of Hindus are not in contact with their religious history therefore, they believe their inherited beliefs as the ultimate truth.

Hinduism is not an Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma. And all Hindus indulge in non-Vedic practice barred by the Vedas introduced by the different founders of the different sects of Hinduism at a different time, whereas the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma is ancient and has no founder.

Thus to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the seeker has to realize his inherited religion is adulterated in the past and it becomes a great obstacle to realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman.

While they do not accept the texts past the Vedas, they are still monists and uphold other Hindu views. In their reformations, they rejected Brahminical control and they are open to all castes and women.

Hinduism is based on myths and thus, the people of Indian are unaware of the facts of their inherited religious history. The Vedic Culture and Vedas are complete in themselves but Hinduism which is a non-Vedic belief system with all ritual and conduct oriented practices has been contributed largely by the orthodox priests to suit their convenience!

Supreme Court of India:~ Hinduism, as a religion, incorporates all forms of belief without mandating the selection or elimination of any one single belief,“ It is a religion that has no single founder, no single scripture, and no single set of teachings. It has been described as Santana Dharma, namely, eternal faith, as it is the collective wisdom and inspiration of the centuries that Hinduism seeks to preach and propagate,” ---Hinduism has no single founder or scripture: SC, The Times of India (Delhi) Dec 17, 2015

Hindus are idol worshipers of a large number of Gods and Goddesses whereas in Vedas the God has been described as:-

Max Müller says: ~ "The religion of the Veda knows no idols; the worship of idols in India is a secondary formation, a degradation of the more primitive worship of idol gods."

In Vedas, God has been described as:-

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

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

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) 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: ~ '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. 

The Vedas as a body of scripture contains many contradictions and they are fragmentary in nature. For Hindus, scriptures like the Bhagavad-Gita, Ramayana, Mahabharata, and Puranas are more attractive and appealing than the Vedas. And also the Gods and Goddesses they worship differ considerably from the Vedic ones. The collection of hymns called Vedas has written in praise of certain deities by poets over several centuries does not seem to have much significance for the Hindus.

Yajur Veda says:~

Translation 1

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.) (Yajurveda 40:9)

Translation 2

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti is intent." (Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Griffith pg. 538)

Translation 3.

"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.)

Remember:~

So, Yajur Veda indicates that:~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc (Yajurveda 40:9)

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." (Yajurveda 40:9.)

Then why worship and glorify the non-~Vedic Gods in place of Vedic 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.

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 Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is real God. Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

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

The Soul, the inner Guru reveals ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready.

The Upanishad says: the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and they indicate the personal gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are the greatest obstacle to Self-realization because they are based on false Self.

The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis, and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sage Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: ~ “One without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Then it is no use going a roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and the witness of the universe. The universe is present in the form of the mind. By tracing the source of the mind (universe) one will be able to realize the Brahman or God in truth.

The Vedas talk about Brahman which refers to the ultimate truth or ultimate reality. The consciousness is the ultimate truth, therefore, the consciousness is Brahman and Brahman is God.

Vedas do not permit idol worship. All the idols are of the Puranic Gods Priests are referring to the Puranic Brahma as God they are ignorant of the God in Vedas even though they speak of Vedas.

Priests do not understand the meaning of the Brahman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The scientists and their inventions are based on the physical Self and its experience world as a reality, whereas, the truth lies beyond physical existence.

Until the Scientists discover the truth beyond the form, time, and space, the mystery of the universe will not be unfolded.

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy, and all the arts can be called lower knowledge. The higher is that which leads to Self-realization. The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless Self has neither caste nor race, neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great and in the small, everlasting and changeless, the source of life.

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

The truth will become clear only when you are able to have the soulcentric vision of the universe.+

Dattatreya's Song of the Avadhut 1.36-42- Non-duality is taught by some; some others teach duality. They don't understand that the all-pervading Reality is beyond both duality and non-duality.

The Gurus who speaks of ripeness and effort, of merits and achievements, of destiny and grace, love compassion; all these are fables of the Gurudom. Only sentimentally addicted mindset falls into these sentimental traps, instead of helping the seeker to progress, they obstruct.

The truth will become clear only when you are able to have the soulcentric vision of the universe. The egocentric vision keeps the Soul, the Self in the grip of ignorance and ignorance is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion (universe) as a reality.

The ‘I’ is inborn samskara or conditioning. Because of this inborn samskara or conditioning, one has accepted the ‘I’ as ‘Self, he is ignorant of the fact that he has accepted illusion as reality. The ‘I’ itself is an illusion. And whatever is connected to the ‘I’ is bound to be an illusion. The Self is not an individual because it is birthless. After all, it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. The Self is not limited to the waking experience alone because it pervades all three states. Thus, identifying the Self without the form alone is erroneous. The Self is without the illusory form, without the time, and without space.

Remember:~

Thoughts are nothing to do with the Soul, the Self, which is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence because without the form, time, and space the thought will not be formed.

The thoughts rise only to the waking entity or dream entity. Without the waking entity or dream entity, the thoughts will not arise.

Thinker, thoughts, and the world in which thinker exists is nothing to do with the Soul, the Self, which is hidden by ignorance.

Those who think by inquiring to whom the thoughts come will not be able to realize the ‘Self’ because they are thinking the ‘Self is within their body. The ‘Self’ is not within the body but it is hidden by the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Thoughts and thinkers and the world the thinker exists belongs to the dualistic illusion. Without the form, time, and space the thoughts will not form. Thoughts come to the thinker. 

The thinker is an individual whereas the ‘Self is not an individual. The source of the thoughts is the ego. Without the ego, the thoughts will not arise. Thoughts and thinker and the world the thinker exists is nothing to do with the Soul, the ‘Self, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion (I).

You are the thinker. The thoughts come to you. You are bound by the form, time, and space whereas The Soul, the Self is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. The thoughts will not raise in the domain of the Soul, the ‘Self’ because it is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The thoughts come to the thinker within the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya. Without the dualistic illusion or Maya the thinker, thoughts, and the world in which the thinker exists cease to exists

Therefore, just by finding out to whom the thoughts come? Who is the knower? it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

A perfect understanding of ‘what is what' is what is very much necessary to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion.

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the Self is neither the waking entity nor the Self is the dream entity but the Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul, the Self witnesses the coming and going of the three states. The three states are nothing to do with the Self because they are merely an illusion.

Till one realizes the truth beyond form, time, and space the duality will prevail as A reality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Mentally reduce duality(mind) into nonduality (Soul).+

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world that 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 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

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.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

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.

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 come 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.

VC-66.- Therefore, the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.

The Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness is the only reality in which the universe exists, to which the universe belongs; from which the universe has emerged, which is the cause of the universe and which itself is uncaused. Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC~ "All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman(Soul) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

The Soul is the Self, the Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the root element of the universe. From consciousness, the universe comes into existence. In consciousness, the universe resides. And into consciousness, the universe is dissolved. consciousness is the parent of all that is there is.

When one realizes mind (matter) and Soul (Spirit), the Self are one in essence then there is no place for the duality. Without duality, the universe ceases to exist as a reality. Without the universe, your existence within the universe is merely an illusion. There is scope for two because everything is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness or Spirit. The spirit of consciousness.

Mentally reduce the ‘I’ into mind

Mentally reduce the mind into the world

Mentally reduce the world into waking

Mentally reduce the waking into the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Mentally reduce duality(mind) into nonduality (Soul).

~By realizing everything is created out of a single clay and that single clay is consciousness. ~ then you enter the Self-awareness or ‘Oneness’ or Advaita.

Advaita is the rational truth, scientific truth, the ultimate truth, and the universal truth cannot be contradicted. The Advaitic truth was declared by the Sage Sankara, 1200 years back. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara:~ “The world appears to be real as long as one is ignorant, but becomes unreal when one is aware of the truth.+

 

Sage Sankara’s Advaita is the fairest flower of wisdom that the world in any age has produced.

Learn yourself, make everyone aware of the truth of their true existence, call upon the sleeping Soul, and see how it awakes.

Power will come on its own, glory will come on its own, grace will come, purity will come on its own, and the truth which hidden by the ‘I; will be revealed when the Soul, the Self wakes up from its sleep of ignorance. this sleeping Soul is roused only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is universal. The whole of humanity owns it because it is the knowledge of their true existence.

The Atmic path of the Path of wisdom is not meant for those who strongly attached to Advaitic orthodoxy. Atmic path is not suited for the orthodox people.

Orthodox people must continue with their inherited path because they are sentimentally and emotionally involved with their orthodox there is no hope that they will adopt anything new. The orthodoxy is a self-imposed prison. It is very difficult for orthodox people to come out of their religious outfits.

For those who want to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman, there is no need for this orthodox baggage they have to discard it as useless because they block the realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Theistic Advaita has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Theistic Advaita is based on the ego whereas the Advaitic wisdom is based on the Atman.

Theistic Advaita is based on the experience of birth, life, death, and the world as reality whereas Sage Sankara declared the world in which we exist is an illusion. The Atman the cause of the world, in which exist is real and eternal.

Sage Sankara said:~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ignorant people who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, thus, the Purva mimam. sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. Thus, all the theistic Advaita is meant for the ignorant populace.

The serious seeker who is seeking truth nothing but the truth or Brahman or God the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond the form, time, and space to realize their true existence is formless, timeless and spaceless existence.

All the theistic Advaita belongs to religion it is nothing to do with Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom

Sage Sankara Advaitic wisdom is purely based on soulcentric reason and independent without the support of any scriptures.

Sage Sankara:~ “This (the unreality of duality) is borne out by the Srutis ... But it is possible also to show the unreality of the objective world even from pure reasoning. (Commentary on the Manduka Upanishad, II, 1)

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 for this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

Sage Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Manduka, he gave the Advaitic message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practice of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasutra he gave lesser teaching, positing both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Ishvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

Sage Sankara says: - Whatever thing remains eternal is true, and whatever is non-eternal is untrue. Since the world is created and destroyed, it is not true.

The Truth is the unchanging thing. Since the world is changing, it is not true.

Whatever is independent of space and time is true, and whatever has space and time in itself is untrue.

Just as one sees dreams in sleep, he sees a kind of super-dream when he is waking. The world is compared to this conscious dream.

The world is believed to be a superimposition of the Brahman. Superimposition cannot be true.

On the other hand, Sage Sankara claims that the world is not false. It appears false only when compared to Brahman. In the pragmatic state, the world is completely true—which occurs as long as we are under the influence of Maya. The world cannot be both true and false at the same time; hence Sage Sankara has classified the world as indescribable. The following points suggest that according to Sage Sankara, the world is not false (Sage Sankara himself gave most of the arguments)

Maya or illusion is the most important contribution of Sage Sankara. Maya or illusion is the complex illusionary power of the Atman (Soul), which present in the form of consciousness.

This Māyāvāda of Sage Sankara was highly criticized and misunderstood. Bhaskaracharya described Sage Sankara to be indebted to the Buddhists for his concept of Maya. The term Maya however, appears in the Bhagavad Gita 7.14 and also in many Upanishads.

The concept of Māyā seems to be a hypothesis. Since according to the Upanishads only Brahman is real, but we see the material world to be real, Sage Sankara explained the anomaly by the concept of this illusionary power Māyā.

Sage Sankara:~ “The world, filled with attachments and aversions, and the rest, is like a dream: it appears to be real as long as one is ignorant, but becomes unreal when one is aware of the truth.

Sage Sankara: ~ “As fire is the direct cause of cooking, so knowledge, and not any other form of discipline, is the direct cause of Liberation; for Liberation cannot be attained without Knowledge." (Self-Knowledge)

Sage Sankara:~ As the moon appears to be moving when the clouds move in the sky, so also to the non-discriminating. Atman appears to be active when in reality the senses are active.

Sage Sankara's commentary to Brahma Sutras (Chap.3.4.50) shows that the Gnani "should pass through life", not run away from life, and should take a middle course between seeking worldly honor and worldly abasement.

Sage Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never advised them to give up their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time, he showed just one step forward towards the truth. Sage Sankara was extremely precise and careful in his choice of words.

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the mass but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Sage Sankara indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: ~ (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows

Sage Sankara believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need for this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason.

Sage Sankara’s supreme Brahman is Nirguna (without the Gunas), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without attributes), and Akarta (non-agent). He is above all needs and desires.

Sage Sankara says:~"This Atman is Self-evident. This Atman or Self is not established by proofs of the existence of the Self. It is not possible to deny this Atman, for it is the very essence of he who denies it. Atman is the basis of all kinds of knowledge. The Self is within, the Self is without, the Self is before and the Self is behind. The Self is on the right hand, the Self is on the left, the Self is above and the Self is below".

Satyam-Jnanam-Anantam-Anandam is not a separate attribute. They form the very essence of Brahman. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies the distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than He.

The objective world-the world of names and forms-has no independent existence. The Atman alone has real existence. The world is only phenomenal.

Sage Sankara was the exponent of Advaitc wisdom. His Advaitic wisdom can be summed up in the following words:

Brahma Satyam Jagat Mithya,

Jeevo Brahmaiva Na Aparah

Brahman alone is real, this world is unreal; the Jiva is identical with Brahman.

Sage Sankara: ~ Just as the snake is superimposed on the rope, this world and this body are superimposed on Brahman or the Soul the innermost Self. If one gets knowledge of the rope, the illusion of the snake will vanish. Even so, if he gets knowledge of Brahman, the illusion of the body and the world will vanish.

The snake is only an idea: it disappears on inquiry but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that the rope is also an idea and its reality will be exposed when wisdom dawns. There is neither snake nor the rope in reality because from the ultimate standpoint the duality is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal, and Akarta (non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as it is beyond the reach of the senses. 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 no 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 Sankara is impersonal.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Ashtavkara Gita:~ "Know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Ashtavkara Gita:~- The universe rises from the Soul, the Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Ashtavkara Gita:~ 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.

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 Maya.

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.

Firstly, we have to realize the fact that, the mind is not within the body, but the body and world are within the mind because the mind itself is the whole universe.

Therefore all our practical life within the practical world is within the mind, which is in the form of the universe. The universe appears as waking or dream (duality or mind or the universe) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality or Soul or Self).

Thus the waking entity is not the ‘Self’. The ‘Self’ is that which witnesses the coming and going of the three states.

The ‘Self’ is not an individual because it pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. Therefore, our practical life within the practical world, which is based on individuality, is nothing to do with the ‘Self’, which is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Remember:~

The universe in which you exist, your thoughts, and your world are made on single stuff. Knowledge of that single stuff is the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

Mentally reduce the universe in which you exist into waking experience and waking experience into mind and mind into consciousness by perfect understating of ‘what is what’.

When you realize’ what is what’ you will realize everything is nothing but consciousness. There is no second thing exists other than consciousness.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate Truth or Brahman or God in truth.

It is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, which appears as the whole universe in which we exist owing to ignorance, just as a shell appears as silver. When the illusion gets dispelled, the silver dissolves into the substratum, the shell. Similarly, when ignorance is erased the whole world dissolves into its substratum the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

Knowledge of the Soul is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the supreme knowledge, as also Moksha. Moksha is liberation from experiencing the illusory experience of birth, life, death, and the world

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom itself is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Until one thinks he is an individual separate from this world he remains in the realm of dualistic illusion.+

The ‘Self' is neither you nor your body nor the world in which you exist. The Self is the Soul the cause of the universe.

The Soul, the Self is hidden by the universe. It is hidden by the universe because the universe is a dualistic illusion or Maya created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Those who base the Soul as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ will never be able to cross the threshold of ignorance.

You are not you but consciousness; your body is not the body but consciousness, the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness.

Everything is known, seen, believed, and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness then what else remains, which is not consciousness. There is nothing else to realize other than to realize consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

By realizing everything is consciousness is the Advaitic wisdom dawns. A perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ leads to Advaitic awareness.

Without the world, in which you exist God alone exists. When God disappears the world, in which you exist appears. The world, in which you exist disappears God appears. Thus, realize the God in truth to be the Soul.

The Soul is the Self. Thus, the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

If you stick to the ultimate truth then the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness.

If you realize this truth you will live in this world but not of this world. Thus, consciousness alone is real and eternal.

Remember:~

The ego, body, and the world in which you exist are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Till we have a firm conviction about this single stuff it becomes difficult to grasp the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

Until one thinks he is an individual separate from this world he remains in the realm of dualistic illusion or Maya. The dualistic illusion or Maya is the product of ignorance. When the Advaitic wisdom dawns, then ignorance vanishes. When the ignorance vanishes, then the duality never remains as a reality.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the world, in which we all exist is merely an illusion.

Rest in consciousness by realizing the world in which you exist is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness. The Soul is the fullness of consciousness without illusory division of the form, time, and space. Thus, consciousness alone is real, and eternal all else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

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

When you start thinking independently then the inner revelation will start clearing all the obstacles.+

When you start thinking independently then the inner revelation will start clearing all the obstacles which were blocking your realization. Deeper thinking and reasoning are very much needed in pursuit of truth.

Your urge is at the seed level. As you go on reading the words of wisdom it will start growing. It takes time for the egocentric subconscious to accept the Soulcentric truth. The Truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to grasp because of ignorance. There is no need to search for the truth, because, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth.

Tripura Rahasya: ~ Second-hand knowledge of the Self-gathered from books or Gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realization will do that. Realize yourself, turning the mind inward. (18: 89)

Swami Vivekananda said:~ You see, no one can teach anybody. The teacher spoils everything by thinking that he is teaching. Thus, Vedanta says that within man is all knowledge? Even in a boy, it is so? And it requires only an awakening, and that much is the work of a teacher. We have to do only so much for the boys that they may learn to apply their own intellect to the proper use of their hands, legs, ears, eyes, etc., and finally, everything will become easy.

There is a need for facts of physical proof in scientific invention, whereas in pursuit of truth the proof has to be grasped mentally and realized. Therefore, the truth is realized only by a few who take this mental pursuit. “Whatever facts revealed, which is uncontradictable has to be accepted as truth.

The truth is based on the formless Soul, the innermost Self is worthwhile; without it, one has something else, not the truth. Most people refuse to venture into the pursuit of truth; because they do not want to go to the root of things.

The seeker of truth has to study, inquire and reason, at the beginning of the pursuit of truth, because it is absolutely necessary, in the pursuit of truth.

One has to know the Self is not physical, but the Self is the formless Spirit. The Spirit or Soul or the Self is present in the form of consciousness. The consciousness gives one the awareness of the three states.

The ignorance of the true Self is the cause of experiencing the duality as reality. The ignorance vanishes through the realization of the true Self, which is the Soul or Spirit or the consciousness.

The 'Self' does not lie in our body or in our brain, or our ego, but it is the essence of the dual and non-dual experiences, which come and go as waking dream (duality) and deep sleep (nonduality).

Remember:~

Even for simple crafts, such as masonry or carpentry, a preliminary course of training is required before a person is allowed to handle the instruments; but in the field of Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the science of the Soul, the Self, the highest and the most difficult of all sciences.

Most people think they are competent and entitled to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana but their egocentric intelligence and accumulated knowledge block them from acquiring Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Katha Upanishad: ~ This Knowledge cannot be attained by common sense or by reasoning. Brahman-Atman is easy to comprehend when taught by one who knows. [1.2.9]

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

Upanishads:~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking they wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikilanada - Ch II-5 P-14)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad 1.3.28:~ “Oṁ asato mā sad gamaya ~`tamaso mā jyotir gamaya~ mṛtyor mā amṛtaṁ gamaya~ oṁ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ śāntiḥ” ~

~Lead Us From the Unreal To the Real, Lead Us From Darkness To Light, Lead Us From Death To Immortality, Let There Be Peace, Peace, Peace.

The Advaitic truth is very simple. It is very difficult to realize because it is lost in the dualistic knowledge we inherited, collected from different sources, different masters’ different gurus, different philosophies, different ideologies, different books, and scriptures. All this accumulated knowledge is merely a hill of garbage.

Nothing is needed other than realizing the knowledge of the single stuff. The single stuff is the cause of the world in which we exist. And that single stuff itself is causeless. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul is the Self. Knowledge of the Soul, the Self, is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Atma Gnana is knowledge of God. Realizing God in this very life is your goal. God-realization itself is real worship.

A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. Only an intense urge to know the truth, humility sincerity, and patience are the only qualifications to realize God in this very life and in this very world.

Drop your all accumulated knowledge drop all the physical Gurus, the Soul the inner Guru, is waiting for you to take the first step for you to realize there are no more steps.

When you will start thinking independently then the inner revelation will start clearing all the obstacles, which were blocking your realization.

Deeper thinking and reasoning is very much needed in pursuit of truth. : ~ Santthosh Kummar