Soul or consciousness is the innermost self. Consciousness is within this universe but it is not of this universe. It is in this universe, but not of this universe means it is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of the mind (I). The mind (I) appears as waking or dream(duality) and disappears as deep sleep(non-duality). The self who is in the form of consciousness is the formless knower of the mind, which comes and goes. Consciousness is above; it is transcendental to all the miseries, which are inevitable in this illusory universe. Therefore, there is a need to realize the fact that, the mind, which is in the form of universe is mere mirage created out consciousness. Thus, the birth, life, death and world are mere mirage on the stand point of the consciousness, which is the true self. Only on the base of physical self the universe is reality. Thus the Self is within the universe but it is without the universe.
Only a Gnani alone can actually create the awareness of the truth. He can enliven and illuminate others to get out of this ignorance by being transcendental to the illusory birth, life, death and the universe. Gnani tries to guide the seekers get rid of the inherited ignorance and, rise above the egocentric concepts, be in this universe, but not of this universe, be in tune with the consciousness, which is his true identity and the ultimate truth.
This material existence is mere mirage. It is like a wax in the candle it will burn away. All attempts for freedom is possible only when one is ready to overcome the ignorance. To overcome the ignorance is possible only when one realizes the birth, life, death and the world are mere illusion created out of consciousness. The consciousness is ultimate truth. And the one who knows this truth knows the knower (consciousness) is free from the known (mind).
Through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, all of one’s egocentric successes and all of his credible accomplishments within the duality are ultimately evaporated and consciousness alone will prevail as nondual existence.
Consciousness has no such thing as upper or lower (part), it has no inside or outside, it has no middle or any ‘across’, and it has no eastern or western direction, because it is all-pervading like space or pervades space also. It is one and without parts. It remains as the one self, free from all diversities.
Consciousness is formless and colorless; it is not tiny, nor big.
It is neither short nor long. It is not knowable since it is of the nature of
effulgence. It remains as the one self, free from the duality.
There is neither teacher nor teaching, neither student nor
instruction, neither “Me” nor “you”, nor this universe. The knowledge of the
real nature of consciousness does not admit of different perceptions. It
remains as the one auspicious self, free from all attributes.
Consciousness, which is the true self, does not have the state of
waking, nor of the dream, nor of deep sleep. These three states are only the
products of ignorance. Consciousness is beyond these three states and it
remains as the one self, free from all states.
Consciousness is all-pervading, is the desired goal, is
self-existent, and is not dependent on anything else, while the entire universe
which is different from it is unreal. Consciousness remains as the one
self-free from all divisions.
Consciousness is not one;
how can there be a second different from it? It has neither absoluteness nor
non-absoluteness. It is neither void nor non-void since it is devoid of
duality. It cannot be described that
which is the formless essence of the all the three states.
