Without becoming aware of the existence of the formless witness of the three states, it is impossible to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Q: could you please explain a bit more on Paramatma vs Atma vs Jivatma

Sometimes I seem not to be able to get my mind around that one.

A:-As one goes deeper self-search , he becomes aware of the fact that, the self is not physical but it is the formless soul or  spirit.  The soul is the innermost self. The soul is present in the form of consciousness. Due to ignorance one judges and reasons  on the base of waking entity or ego,which is the false self within the false experience.  Thus the reasoning base has to be rectified from form base to formless base in order realize the the three state ,which comes and goes are unreal and the formless witness of the coming and going of the three states is real and eternal. The soul or consciousness is the formless witness of the coming and going of the  three states.  Thus one has to becomes aware of the existence of the formless witness ,which is apart from the three states. Without becoming aware of the existence of the formless witness of the three states, it is impossible to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.    

Through soul-centric reasoning one  realizes the fact that , whatever seen, known, believed and experienced on the base of  physical self is mere illusion.   Within the illusion we are bifurcating it Jivatma, Atma and Parmatama, but on the ultimate stand point, the  illusion is made of single stuff . that single stuff is consciousness.  Consciousness(soul or spirit) .

When the is  soul identified with physical body it is ego/physical self/Jivatma. When the soul is identified with body+world--it is mind. When one investigates the mind, he become aware of the fact that the substance of the mind is spirit.  Thus the whole diversity[mind] is created out of single stuff ,which is Soul or Consciousness. 

One has to realize the fact that,  the  self is  soul (consciousness or spirit). the formless soul is our  true identity.  Soul or consciousness  is  ultimate truth  or  Brahman  or Paramataman.  

When one realizes the self is formless  soul(consciousness or spirit) , how any second thing can  exist, other then the contagiousness or spirit or soul. Therefore, the soul or consciousness  itself is ultimate truth or Brahman or Parmatman or Christ or Emptiness.

It is better use less words and try to understand the ultimate  truth. There is no need of  Paramatms vs Atma vs Jivatma doctrine.  Seeker has to  just  drop all accumulated dross.  It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study. Even Upanishads conform this. 

Katha Upanishad:

  This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad  :- This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature.(3–page-70 Mundaka Upanishad  Upanishads by Nikilanada)

When the Upanishads 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 greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or self-realization, because they are based on false self.  The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.

 It is much easier to understand and  assimilate, when one tries to verify the facts on his own.  We have only the mind, in which I, you and others and the whole universe exists. If there is no mind then ‘I’, you and others and the whole universe ceases to exist.

All that scriptures will not allow you to think beyond the mind. The mind appears and disappears as waking or dream.  There is no mind in deep sleep.  The deep sleep is unconsciousness of the self. The nature of the  soul or consciousness is like deep sleep.  When we consciously become aware of the nature of the soul, the innermost self  through wisdom , in the midst of waking ( universe or duality), is Self -Realization. Self -Realization is Truth -Realization. Truth realization is God -Realization.   Therefore, analyzing the Mind(Matter) and No mind(spirit necessary  in order to unfold the mystery of the mind or illusion.