Man is primarily interested in himself. Hence, to get him started on a higher quest he has to go to the root of his own self, i.e. to inquire "WHO AM “I”?" This is a spiritualistic formula. When as a later consequence of this inquiry he gets more impersonal he has to go to the root of the physical existence (Mind or universe), to realize the whole physical existence(Mind or universe) is mirage created out of consciousness."
Truth reveal only when one indulges in deeper self-search to realize “What is this universe” “What is I” “What is the meaning of physical existence as a whole?"
The soul or consciousness is the innermost self. the mind ,which is in the form of universe is created out of consciousness. One cannot get away from body or thoughts. They are part of the mind [waking or dream] so is the universe. Hence need to understand universe, if he wants ultimate truth or Brahman.
Until a person is receptive and ripe enough it is difficult to understand, assimilate the ultimate truth or Brahman.
It should be understood by novices that both religion and yoga and intellectuality are all right in their places and that they are steps which should lead to the path of ultimate truth, but when religion, yoga and intellectuality are made ends in themselves and not means to be used later in conjunction with inquiry, they may become and do become detrimental. Yoga is not useless, but it is not the means to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana. Yoga cannot remove ignorance. It is only a step. It removes obstructions.
Only through non-dual wisdom the individual soul realizes through knowledge its identity with the universal soul. The one who knows truth knows what the universe is. One has to make use of treason based on the soul , the innermost self to know “What is reality” and “What is unreality” .
Even Sri, Sankara says: - that Yoga is not the means of liberation [page 132-133 of his commentary on Brihad upanishad.
The one who loses touch with the external world and gives himself over to his thoughts alone takes his illusions to be reality.
One has to know mind and its substance if one is to find truth. Yogi avoids inquiring, hence cannot find truth. If he thinks he does not see the world by shutting his eyes and omitting it from his thought, he is an ignorant and not a Gnani. The mere absence of the external world from cognition gave ultimate truth, and then everyone would attain knowledge of truth because they lose the universe in deep sleep.
It is not possible by mental control alone, by yoga, to achieve Brahman, but at best one falls into a sleep. It is like trying to eat food from the ears or nose, to try the yogic way.
The dualist only shuts his eyes and does not see the universe. He does not examine the phenomenal universe and hence is not aware of the truth that the universe also is consciousness. He takes his body and universe as real and talks of humanity and world peace, which are unreal on the standpoint of the true self.
Inquiry must begin with duality, i.e. with a universe or mind to inquire into. It will end with unity. The dualist tries to avoid this duality by ignoring the universe. Hence he gets a false unity only.
