One thinks he is born and the world existed prior to him, but he fails realize his idea of birth, life and death and world are reality within the illusory waking experience. When the waking experience itself is illusion the birth, life and death and the world are mere illusion on the standpoint of the formless witness which is Ataman. therefore it is impossible to assimilate truth on the false base.
Atman is prior to duality [mind].
Ataman is prior to objective awareness which is the formless substance of the objective awareness. Man and the world are within the objective Awareness. Pre objective awareness is Ataman or spirit.
The man is conscious of himself and the world within the objective awareness which is called mind. The mind is in the form of sense of `I' or feeling. The mind is the objective awareness which is identified as waking or dream. The one which is aware [knower] of the appearance and disappearance of the three states in succession is the Ataman.
Seeker has to make sure of the fact that the one that witness the appearance and disappearance of the three states is not the form but the formless, because the form is within the waking or dream. Only if the seeker can grasp the existence of the formless witness then he is ready for the higher knowledge or self-knowledge.
Since everyone tries views and judges the Ataman on the physical base it becomes very difficult for them to grasp the non-dual truth.
Some intellectuals say that the universe is eternal, without beginning or end. However, fail to observe that the man and the universe exist with in the illusion. Therefore it is necessary to know in what way it is illusion, rather then arguing on the base of the false entity within the false experience. Only perfect understanding will lead the seeker to unfold the mystery of the mind and realize the fact that mind is the myth.
Universe and its phenomena are self-existent as illusion; thus lifeless insentient matter created and sustained by Ataman and finally dissolves and prevails as Ataman. Mind [waking experience] originates from an intelligent source alone. That source is Ataman or spirit.
However, the man and universe exists within the waking experience. Thus the universe appears and disappears as waking or dream. The waking and dream are in the form of mind. Mind is in the form of `I'. This I' is impermanent because it appears and disappears as waking and dream.
The witness of the waking and dream is formless. Without the formless witness there is neither the dream nor the waking. Thus tracing the formless witness mentally realizing the formless witness which is the true self and also it is the substance of the mind will help the seeker to overcome all the doubts and confusion to realize the fact that the true self is Formless Ataman.
Many people are in confusion and still trying to find answers to their doubts: Who is this God, the Creator, the Self-contained One and the Ordainer of the universe to whom one should consecrate himself. "Some say He is Jesus, others Siva, Allah, the Sun, some avatars; others say Buddha, the life-principle, the Moon, Fire, Karma, Nature, primordial nature and what not. One gets confused because "Each sect gives a different origin for the universe. They want to know which of them is true.
Only the Ataman fits in that slot. "Ataman is the All-Seer which generates, permeates, sustains and destroys the experience of duality and prevails eternally. Ataman is ultimate truth or Brahman.
Mind [Waking experience] being insentient cannot act of its own accord; nor can intellect do so without being powered by Ataman. The universe and the men are preset only within the illusory waking experience [mind]. Man's capacities are limited to the waking experience [mind or `I'].
Whereas the formless substance of the waking experience is perfect in it and creates the whole waking experience or dream without any external aid. This leads to the important conclusion that Ataman is independent. Otherwise, it would be reduced to a glorified human being, requiring innumerable accessories for work and influenced by seasons and environments, in no way different from a creature, and not the Ataman.
Ataman has neither body nor the other aids, yet it still creates the waking and dream. Ignorant are taken in by the notion of giving a body to the formless identity.
