Just as a dream becomes “unreal” when waking takes place, the waking becomes unreal when the wisdom dawns.

Inquiry and reasoning on the true base revels the fact that neither physical body nor the ‘I’ the true self.  The formless witness of the ‘I’ is the true self.  The formless witness is Ataman/spirit.  The three mental states of waking, dream and deep sleep are unreal, because they have no permanence. Man and his experience of the world is reality within the waking /dream. But the point is the waking is also as unreal as dream. They come and go.  Thus one has to realize the fact that there must be a knower [witness] of these three states which appear and disappear in succession.

One knows nothing about the deep sleep except the recollection of its repose on waking. And on waking one becomes aware the dream is unreal.  The reason for this is the apparent absence of continuity of events between two or more dream and absence of corroboration about the dream on waking.  It is erroneous to view and judge the three states on the standpoint of the waking entity. When the inquiry and reasoning reveals the fact that, physical body is not the self, then it is clear that one which is without the body [formless] is the knower of the three states, which come and go. Therefore, it is erroneous to view and judge the three states on the standpoint of waking entity/ego. Thus there is a need to become aware of the formless witness of these three states. 

Even the dream is self contained and it has perfect inner logic and sequence. During the dream experience the dream entity and the dream world are reality, within the dream.  But the dream is unreal. Similarly, the waking entity, and waking world, is reality within the waking, but the waking is unreal on the standpoint of the true self [Ataman].

However, if one analyze deeply one becomes aware every state is self contained; it has perfect inner logic and sequence.  During the subsistence of the dream there is no doubt about its reality. Thus one can easily conclude that each state has its own illusion which can be got over only if one wakes up from that particular illusory state into another.  Just as the dream appears unreal to the one who is awake, so too would waking itself be if one awakes from it to the nondual natural state.   Natural state is ‘I’-less [duality less] state in which the mind stays merged in the Ataman the true self.  It is only when one traverses beyond the mind [‘I’/waking] through inquiry and reasoning on the true base that it is possible to negate the whole waking experience.  Then one is in the state of awaken sleep, a state which combines the conscious of the waking experience with the repose of the deep sleep. In this state of awaken sleep one is fully aware of the fact the waking experience also as real as dream. 

The observation of the three states will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. Infact, one’s mental and intellectual conditions will determine the dual and nondual experiences observed and experienced.  The religionists viewing the three states will see it differently from the spiritualist viewing the same three states.  Each one interprets the three states that he observes in term of his existing knowledge.

 The man of truth sees Ataman in everything and everywhere. Because he is fully aware of the fact that, the Ataman pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states, therefore he has the firm conviction that everything is Ataman/sprit and no second thing exists other then the Ataman in experience of diversity. Then only unity in diversity is possible. Thus three state analyses is the one of the step in pursuit of truth. 

Just as a dream appears “unreal” when waking takes place, the waking becomes unreal when the wisdom dawns.

People who view and judge on the standpoint of the physical self/ego will not understand non-duality because they see diversity as reality.

 People who view and judge on the standpoint of the physical self/ego will not understand non-duality because they see diversity as reality. They think ‘I’ is self, and body is illusion, whereas, the body and the ‘I’, both are part of the illusion.   They think whatever exists within the waking experience that is, man and his experience of the world is perfectly perfect.  There are so many obstacles if one tries to reach non-dual destination through Advitha. Therefore, Advith is round about way to reach the non-dual destination. Since, the scholars are sentimentally and emotionally involved with Advita philosophy which is based on the Vedas they will not be able to grasp the non dual truth, without bifurcating the religion, scriptures and god glorification. The nondual truth is noting to do with religion .  

[Upanishads Nikhilananda]

Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. [Ch II-5 P-14]

 Only F.S helps the seeker to remove all the obstacles in pursuit of truth.  They are so many scholars in India who mastered Adivitic philosophy.  It is impossible to acquire self-knowledge in the present form of Advitic philosophy. Because their preaching is based on non-duality and practices is based on duality. F.S way is the only way.  

Katha Upanishad:

  This Ataman 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 Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

It is very difficult to talk to people about Advith because everyone thinks he is scholar and authority on Advith. This- I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second hand stuff.

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 realisation will do that. Realise yourself, turning the mind inward. – Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89

The essence of Advitha is:

"DVI" means two. DVI" connotes dual existence and "ADVITA" the non-dual, which of these two is non existence? People think that there is God and that the jivas--souls-- like them form the second, other then them. There is no such duality at all. "Brahman” is the only reality and there is nothing other then this Absolute Supreme Being. That Brahman through Maya or the multiplying power of illusion appears as many Jivas. But this is just the play of Brahman, even as an actor in a drama remains unchanged throughout although Brahman   plays different roles. The seemingly obvious duality between Brahman and Jiva does not actually exist because both are one and the same Ataman. If only one transcend this phenomenal illusion and experience of duality with Brahman, he would then be not the individual souls with all his little failings but one with it--the Absolute, infinite Reality. This is the tenet of Advith philosophy thought by great master Sri,Sankara.

Now please think deeply, is it possible to overcome the illusion with all its diversity? What are the obstacles in Sri,Sankara’s teachings? Where the scholars are going wrong? How to overcome all the obstacles?

2. When one experiences the state of bliss, misery, suffering, fear, desire and hatred --none of these would bind us. If on other hand one thinks that there is something other than himself, then of course he is bound by shackles, the "Samasara Banda ".But actually there is nothing other then the "SELF'. So in absence of any such thing as dual, who binds whom and what is this bondage itself? When one is delivered from this bondage he attains that state of complete freedom known as Mukthi.

3.To get at this state, one need not proceed either to Vaikunta or Kailasa. Is attainable with in us in this very life itself. In fact, this state of deliverance is not to be delivered afresh. It is there already being the one reality that is once boundless and infinite, even as the ether is pervasive throughout the universe. Suppose one has several pots with him, there is bound to be ether in the empty space in each of them. While the one is the great space spread AD INFINITUM in the vase universe, the other --Ghatakasa-- is limited within the pot-space. Though they seem different for outward purposes, the same ether is there spread in both. This would become evident of the pots are broken. Likewise, the universe and the multiplicity of individual souls are just like the pots born out of illusion, and one is not aware of the fact because of "Maya”, one become aware one with cosmos as he has no separate existence apart from "Brahman".   

He is formless, and can never be seen with these two eyes. But he reveals himself in the heart made pure through meditation and sense-restraint. Realizing him one is released from the cycle of birth and death.

- Katha Upanishad

When the self is formless it is not He or She but it is It.

Advitic prescription to get Brahmic wisdom:-

4.  To gain this experience of Brahmic bliss, there are several paths such as ‘Karma’ and ‘Devotion’. Sri,Sankara has carved out several paths one may progress spiritually step by step . Even while one threads his chosen path he should constantly think what he sees around him has emanated from That One, and that they are as that one being. Till he becomes fully aware of and get himself firmly establishes in that cosmic consciousness he should keep remembering this fact often and often.

Sri,Sankara has enjoined upon the seekers of truth to see and realize the unity in diversity but one gets confused when he comes across the multifarious objects seemingly quite separate from him.

Self-Knowledge is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks the physical body is the self their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality [waking] as reality.

Nisagadutta said:  Millions are in search of the ultimate truth, and only one in million will be able to grasp and realize it. By focusing more attention on Ataman by talking, writing, discussing only of Ataman, the conviction grows and becomes firmer and the duality will fade away as reality. Ataman/sprit which is one’s   true identity will prevail as birth-less and deathless, eternal substance and witness of the mirage called duality.

Therefore there is no need to study scriptures, or indulge in god and guru glorification or performing religious rituals in pursuit of truth.  Since, they are not the means to acquire non-dual wisdom. It is only waste of time and effort to indulge in those things.

 When you try and verify all this paths and practices and find them useless and inadequate to acquire non dual wisdom, then one will find reasoning on the true base  is the only tool to acquire non dual wisdom.

Everything here refers to Ataman, because everything [three states] is created out of soul/spirit.

To understand and assimilate this truth there is no need for the seeker to lose him self in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise and subside.

Everything here refers to Ataman, because everything [three states] is created out of soul/spirit.   On the standpoint of soul/spirit there is nothing exists other then the soul.  Thus everything, which is soul/spirit, is perfectly perfect.  People who view and judge on the standpoint of the physical self/ego will not understand this because they see diversity as reality. They think ‘I’ is self, and body is illusion, whereas, the body and the ‘I’, both are part of the illusion.   They think whatever exists within the waking experience that is, man and his experience of the world as reality. 

There are so many obstacles if one tries to reach non-dual destination through physical/ego based paths and practices. Therefore, physical/ego based paths and practices are round about way to reach the non-dual destination.

The scholars are sentimentally and emotionally involved with their inherited philosophy which is based on the scriptures they will not be able to grasp the non dual truth. The nondual truth has to be grasped without the religion, scriptures and god glorification. 

Until one has the conviction that he is born in this world and world existed prior to him, he will not be able to assimilate self-knowledge.

Until one has the conviction that he is born in this world and world existed prior to him, he will not be able to assimilate self-knowledge. When he realizes the fact that, he and his experience of the world co-exits together and disappears together then he becomes aware of the fact that the physical entity is not the self.  Therefore, it is impossible to judge the truth on the physical entity, and come to some conclusion and conviction and then accepting the imaginary truth based on the false self as ultimate truth is mere theory based on the false self.  

Self-knowledge comes through one's own direct realization of truth, not through beliefs and dogmas or by following religious code of conducts. The religion and its concepts have value with in the illusion, and have nothing to do with the truth, which is based on the soul. 

The three states come into being because of ignorance of the permanent self. Thus, they have no existence of their own without a permanent self, which is the soul. There is neither the three states nor the witness; only nondual reality.

Only when the wisdom dawns the waking become unreal. The man who believes himself as a person born in this world and world existed prior to him will not be able to assimilate self-knowledge.

What's most important to understand about the three states is that they are unreal in their nature. They are mere appearances, because there are impermanent.  Thus the physical self/ego is not the self because it is limited to the waking/dream. The true self is the formless substance and witness of the three states, which is the soul. The soul is apart and permanent.  The soul is the true self because the three states are dependent on the soul for their existence, whereas the soul exists with or without the three states, which appear and disappear in succession.

The physical is not an integral, autonomous entity. The individual self, or what we might call the ego, is part of the waking/dream. The ego ceases to exist without the waking/dream.

If one can view the three states on the standpoint of the soul as self, he becomes aware of the fact that, the true which is the soul is not subject to the birth, life and death. The true self is only formless substance and witness of the three states.

The belief and experience.

The one which believes itself as body is not the body.  Only after this belief all other beliefs will arise. Thus the basic belief “I am the body” has to be there before any belief. After this basic belief, the belief of name is accepted. After the belief of body with the name, the belief of person is born. Thus, the belief of birth becomes belief of ignorance, without realizing the fact that, the believer is formless soul, which is the true self.

 

On the base of ignorance of the true self, the belief of the man and his experience of the world are based. Thus, the truth is hidden within the belief, which is cause by the ignorance. Thus, the whole experience of diversity is caused by the ignorance.

Without the experience of diversity there is no belief, because the belief rises within the experience of diversity. When one knows the source of the experience the ignorance vanishes and one realizes the fact that, there is neither belief nor experience. The diversity is mere mirage. Thus individuality, which is based on the belief is part and parcel of the mirage.    

Thus, it is necessary to realize the fact that, the belief and experience are part of the illusion created out of the soul, which is in the form of spirit.

Many are good at acrobatics with words, but their knowledge is limited to the physical self, which is ego.  When the inner work is at progress then the realization will happen as conviction soul as self grows.   Only the chosen one by the soul will be able to realize the truth. 

 Everyone’s individual experiences are not the same.   Some are so much immersed in materiality, religion, duty bound towards their family and society, and they will not be attracted to the non-dual wisdom or understand and assimilate the non-dual truth, because they accepted the duality as reality.

The self/soul is not Christian, Hindu or Muslim.  The path of truth is path of Christ/Brahman /Buddha.  The religious path is limited to individuality, whereas the spiritual path is towards universality.  Mistaking the religious or yogic path as spiritual path is greatest obstacle in pursuit of truth, because they will not lead the seeking mind beyond individuality. 

The non duality has to be grasped in the midst of the experience of duality

The non duality has to be grasped in the midst of the experience of duality.  That is, being aware of the truth and untruth, reality and unreality. And able establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the soul, which is ultimate truth/Brahman.

It is unfortunate people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, and imagine about non duality and say nothing exist other then the source. But a Gnani says everything exists [illusion] but everything is created out of the soul/spirit.  Everything rises from the soul/sprit, and subsides as soul/sprit. Thus, the whole diversity has no relevance, on the standpoint of the soul as self.

Everything [illusion] is nothingness [spirit] realizing the three states are created out nothingness [Soul/Spirit]. Nothingness is the nature of the soul/spirit, because there is no second thing exist other then itself.       

Devotional path is religious path

Devotional path is religious path. Devotion towards an inherited belief cannot transport the seeker of truth towards the nondual destination.  Devotion is between the person and his belief.  The devotion is based on the belief system. The person who has inherited some belief system believes in the individualized God and indulges in the devotional path. The devotion makes one believe that he is person and god has created this world.  Therefore he believes that he is born in this world and world existed prior to him, this conviction makes him feel he is the doer.  Since, he accepts himself as the doer he will remain ignorant of the true self, which is the soul.    The ignorance makes him feel the illusion as reality.

People are not aware of the fact that there is no God can exist, apart from self/Ataman. If there is no self/Ataman, then there is no body, world and their belief of god. They think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks body /’I’ as self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks the soul as the true Self, then there is nothing exists other then the soul.

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things beside himself and postulate a God, the creator. Body, God and world rise and set together from, and into, the Self/soul. If God is apart from the Self/soul, then He would be Self-less, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.

In Isa Upanishad says:

MANTRA 10

Scholars say that the path of Avidya [performing Aganihotra and other sacrifices] and the path of vidya [worshipping gods and goddesses] produce different results. Wise men confirm this. [X]

Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense; here it means worshipping gods and goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there is wasted, because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

Avidya is Karama and therefore a hindrance. You perform Avidya - i.e., you perform Agnihotra and other sacrifices. This is a roundabout way of purifying the mind, and it is also groping in the dark. But it may not have as heavy a toll on your time and energy as the other.

The final advice by sankara is: combine both work and worship. Together they may quicken your pace towards Self-knowledge, because it will lead to Chitt shuddhi, purification of the mind. When this happens your desire for enjoyments will become less and your sense of "I' and "mine' will subside. This is the way to Karama-Mukthi, gradual, or progressive, liberation, according to Sankara.

MANTRA 11

He who worships gods and goddesses [Vidya] and also performs sacrifices [Avidya] attains immortality by sacrifices [Avidya] and attains bliss by worshipping gods and goddesses [Vidya]. [XI]

The condition in both cases worshipping gods and goddesses and performing sacrifices is that the person should have no motive for personal gain. He should not desire the fruits of his actions, such as going to the heaven of gods and goddesses.

As earlier explained, the word Vidya ¸ has a special meaning here. It means worship of gods and goddesses. Similarly, Avidya ¸ also has a special meaning. It is Karma that is, performing Aganihotra and other sacrifices. Such karamas are obligatory, but if they are done without any attachment to their fruits, they help purify the mind. Combining karama and worship is a path to gradual liberation. Sankara approves this for those who are not yet ready to renounce.

But suppose you follow the two paths separately. If you perform Avidya ¸ you will go to Pitra loka (the world of your ancestors). This is a dark region, because it is far removed from Self-knowledge. In fact, you will have to wait a long time to attain Self-knowledge. But if you worship Vidya ¸ - that is, gods and goddesses you go into still darker regions, and your attainment of Self-knowledge is even further delayed.

True, you go to Dev loka (the heaven of gods and goddesses), but you are caught in the pleasures there, and you remain there until the fruits of your worship are fully exhausted. You are then reborn as a human being, and your struggle resumes from where you left off. This is why Vidya ¸ is considered worse. But if you combine the two that is, perform the obligatory karmas without any attachment to the fruits and at the same time worship gods and goddesses, again without any desire to go to heaven - then you can get the benefit of both, liberation and bliss. For those who are not yet ready to renounce, this path is recommended.

It proves that the concept of god, karma, heaven and hell are ideas created by religion, to help for those who are incapable of grasping. The concept of god and goddesses and karma are part of the ignorance. By worshiping god and goddesses one accepts the false self as true self, thus he is unfit for self-knowledge. Therefore concept of god is not the means to acquire the self knowledge. That is why Buddha rejected concept of God.

Devotion is meant for those who are unable to think deeply and more interested in worldly life  to manipulate  the worldly life with the belief of individualized god.  Thus the belief is part of the illusion. Therefore, the devotional path is limited to duality/mind.  

The one which wakes up dreams and sleeps is not the soul/self.

The one which wakes up dreams and sleeps is not the soul/self. The one which is aware of the waking/dream and deep sleep is the true self, which is in the form of consciousness. Thus the waking/dream and deep sleep is mere mirage on the standpoint of the soul, which is aware.  The soul/Christ is ever aware and is aware of the three states [illusion] which comes and goes in succession.

 The waking or dreams are unreal on the base the soul. The reality wills not the reveal until one becomes aware mentally of the formless witness and substance of the three states. Therefore, the practices and theories based on the physical self/ego are not the means to self-knowledge. If the meditater thinks he is the doer of the meditation and takes the authorship of meditation it is not meditation. The body is not the doer. The body is mere an experience within the experience. The one which knows itself as body and perceives the world is not the body, but the soul. Without the soul the experience of diversity [waking/dream] is non existent. The soul, which is the true self can exist with or without the experience of diversity [waking/dream], the illustration is deep sleep. [In deep sleep the soul witnesses its formless nondual true nature.]   Thus consciously being aware of the self is soul in the midst of experience of diversity/waking will lead to nondual/ meditative awareness of the soul in the midst of duality.   Thus all meditation practiced on the false self /ego is preparatory practices to reach the ultimate state, which is frees one from experiencing the duality [birth, life and death] as reality.  The formless substance and witness of the three states is not physical but the Spirit/Christ/Brahman.   

Thus seeker of the truth has to verify the fact that whether his practice of meditation is based on the physical self/ego through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning.  This is possible only when one feels, his present practice of meditation is inadequate and useless.  This feeling comes only after years and years of meditation practice.

For those who are not yet ready and not receptive to self-knowledge the religion and yoga are recommended.

One of the more disturbing occurrences around the swamis and godmen is the attitude of followers to believe that their guru is watching their every move and intervening in their day today affairs constantly.

Due to ignorance, even a rogue with a few of followers can be called an Avatara/Gnani/god all in the past centuries and is still prevailing in the modern world.  Many of the self-declared god men are able to make their own cult and busy amassing wealth and indulging in all types immortal activities behind the screen.

When scriptures itself declare that:-

Yajurved says:

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.]

So, Yajur Veda clearly indicates that:-

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, 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."

Thus glorifying and worshiping gurus and god men and avatars are extremely foolish and it will lead on to greater ignorance.  But they are lots of add-ons by priest-crafts for their convince to fool people into greater darkness.

When Katha Upanishad and Mundaka Upanishad  declare:-  

 This Ataman 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 Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

Mundaka Upanishad  :-

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

If the self which is Ataman/soul cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books, then why indulge in all these things which are not the means for achieving the human goal.

In Isa Upanishad says: [M-10] Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense; here it means worshipping gods and goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there is wasted, because if you were not there you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

Mundaka Upanishad: The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross The sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

 [Upanishads Nikhilananda]

Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. [Ch II-5 P-14].

When the self –knowledge is the goal of every human being and worshiping god and goddesses are hindrance to self-knowledge and they are not the means to self-knowledge then why indulge in it. Why follow the god men who are based on the scriptural authority and religious ideologies.

That is why Raman Mahrshi says:  [page 111/112- practical guide to know your self]:-

Q: D: Is it not necessary to study the Vedas or at least Prastnatraya[Bagvad gita.Dasoponishad and Brahma Sutra all with commentaries] to ensure firm realization?

A: Bhagvan: - No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explain doubts and difficulties if others rise them if you yourself encounter them in course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary. You want fresh water to drink, but you do not require all the water of the river Ganges to quench your quest.

Buddha rejected idea of god, religion and scriptures and got enlightenment. He must have studied and verified the facts before rejecting them.   It further proves that there is no need to indulge in religion, god glorification and scriptural studies in pursuit of truth.

J. Krishnamurthy with all his theosophical grooming rejected every aspect of the priest craft. There is necessary for the people who are searching truth have to realize the fact that, the ultimate truth lies beyond scriptures, all the theories and religion and concept of god and yoga.

Swami Virjanand :- Hinduism  is the world's oldest dogma. "Is it possible that any moral man can tolerate the supremely disgusting and insufferable stuff to be found, for instance, in the Linga Purana? The feats of the Linga, though heroic (!) indeed, are a record of shame and a tale of utter indecency and obscenity. Do such books teach religion? If the reply be in the affirmative, then I say that they teach religions which can only debase the people."  

Looking to all these facts, the seekers of truth must avoid falling in the trap of these con god men and gurus and pundits’.  The truth is beyond physical existence and there is no need for a guru in pursuit of truth. Gurus are needed only in religion and yoga not in pursuit of truth.  For those who are not yet ready and receptive to self-knowledge the religion and yoga are recommended.