Mastery over quoting the authorities from the scriptures and mastering the scriptural knowledge is not wisdom.

Mastery over quoting the authorities from the scriptures and mastering the scriptural knowledge is not wisdom. Those who are conditioned by religion and yogic outlook find it difficult to grasp it. Until and unless there is strong urge to know, realize the truth, and reject the untruth, it is impossible to   acquire the non-dual wisdom.

That is why Sri, Sankara [ V C]  indicated that:-

 

56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but by the realisation of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar, but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utter the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realisation one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

Holding some teacher or teaching as yardstick and trying to prove that he is right and others are wrong and indulging in perverse argument will help to unfold the mystery of the mind. Seeker has to learn to view and judge on the standpoint of formless witness (soul or consciousness, the innermost self), then he will be never having any doubts and confusion.  When one thinks deeply then only the inner revelation starts and start burning the dross (confusion/doubts). 

 Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  frees the self from the experience of burden and bondage of duality, which is experienced as reality.

Deeper self-search  reveals:-

Deep sleep is merely used as illustration of soul, which is in the form of consciousness. If the one is sharp, enough he can get the glimpse of the soul/self   mentally is as lightning flashes even in the  midst waking the experience. Then it is called Natural Awareness.

Pursuit of truth will not end if one confines his-self to Waking state alone. In waking experience, it always produces, endless ideas and notions, hence it is restless state. Only in deep, sleep where there is no experience of duality. When this non-dual experience is brought into waking state consciously, then it is called natural awareness, the ultimate state.

Seeker of truth has to first realize the fact that, the Waking experience is also unreal, the same way as the dream experience. One must know wherever there is duality, it is mere illusion. Then only he will be able to elevate to the deeper level of understanding.

By analyzing the three states one becomes aware of the fact that the self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity, but it is the formless knower [witness] of the three states, which come and go in succession.  Illustration of dream shows that the power of the consciousness. Consciousness possesses the power to create the experience of duality (waking or universe) as reality and sustains and then subside it without any trace.

The deep sleep shows what power the consciousness possesses to reabsorb, store and reproduce the experience of duality [Waking or dream]. Finally having shown all three states analysis clinches and carries to culmination. The notionalistic theories based on the facts and show the nature or substance of the Waking experience is consciousness. Hence consciousness is not apart from it but it is in illusion creates the duality in consciousness and viewed judged each object is apart from one another. Therefore, whatever, the Waking experience contains the cosmos people and creates and animals are made out of one and only substance that is consciousness.  Since there is, no other material other than consciousness the witness is bound to be consciousness.

If the consciousness becomes aware of its non-dual true nature it automatically establishes itself in its true state and views experience of duality (waking or dream) as illusion. Therefore, it will be at once free from the bondage and burden of the Waking experience, which was, considers as real as snake it becomes a rope or falsehood.

The three states, sleeping, dreaming and waking, manifest from the soul, which is in the form of consciousness

The three states, sleeping, dreaming and waking, manifest from the soul, which is in the form of consciousness; the unmanifested is the soul, which is formless substance and witness and the source of the three states which can exist with or without the three states.

The soul, the innermost self is beyond the three states altogether lies the unmanifested, and pervading all the three states and witnesses all the three states which appear and disappear in succession.

It is the instinct of exploration, the intense urge to know the unknown, which brings one into existence. The true existence is beyond experience of duality.

Once the seeker realizes that the non-duality is the goal and that he is on the right path to reach his goal, then he will be able to acquire non dual wisdom. In the realm of non-dual reality, life ceases to be a task and becomes natural and simple and burden- less.

After all, what does the soul, the true self really wants? Not perfection; it is already perfect. What it seeks is to express in action what it is in the midst of the illusion. For this it has the ignorance. By overcoming the ignorance it is back to its formless non dual true nature.

Soul/true self   cannot be given name and form, for it is without quality and beyond duality. Like water in the snow or cloud   yet not of water, so is the soul , the innermost self is the formless substance of whatever that exits in objective experience.

Soul, the innermost self by itself the light can only be compared to a solid, dense, rock like, homogeneous and changeless mass of pure awareness, free from the mental patterns of name and shape. The supreme gives existence to the objective experience.

There can be no experience of the soul , the innermost self as it is beyond all objective experience. On the other hand, the soul, the innermost  self is the experiencing factor in every experience and thus, in a way, validates the multiplicity of experiences.

The waking may be full of things of great value, but if there is nobody to buy them, they have no price. The soul contains everything experience-able(waking or dream), but without the formless  witness they are as nothing. That which makes the experience possible is the formless  soul. That which makes it actual is the soul, the innermost  Self.

When the non-dual wisdom dawns the one becomes aware of the formless witness of the three states, which is the soul, the innermost self. The witness also is the formless substance of the three states, therefore the witness (soul) and witnessed (three states) both are one in essence.  Thus, form is formless in essence.

Soul, the innermost self is both the source and the manifestation. In self-awareness , the soul turns its attention  upon itself. The reality is beyond objective awareness, beyond the three states of becoming, being and not-being.

The body and world are within the waking or dream, which appears as mind or ’I’.  The Soul is the motionless witness of the mind or ’I’.

Mind or ’I’ cannot be without the soul , the innermost self. Man and the world exist in waking or dream. The whole   Waking or dream is mind. Waking or dream arises from the soul or consciousness. 

Nobody can claim as I am the self or “I am the witness". The "I am" is always witnessed. The state of detached objective awareness is the witness-consciousness, the "mirror-mind".

"I' (Waking or dream or mind or universe)  rise and set thus it is not the real. The formless  soul the witness of the three states  remains the same, hence it is real.  formless Soul(consciousness)  partakes of both the real and the unreal, because it is not only formless witness but also the formless substance of the three states.

There is nothing exits other than the soul. The soul is the illusion, and the soul is the reality, because the illusion is created out of the soul. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other than the soul.

All the three states are temporal. The waking experience, which contains the man and his universe, cannot exist eternally. So why concentrate so much attention on something temporal?

Inherited Religious bigotry existing in the so-called modern age of Reason, has affected the mental growth and people are not ready to think beyond their physical existence, to discover the truth of their true existence.  

Only when one is able to think beyond his physical existence then he will be able to discover and realize the fact that, the physical existence is mere mirage created out of consciousness.  The body and the world are made out of consciousness. Therefore, the ultimate truth is consciousness and there is nothing beyond the consciousness.  The consciousness is the ultimate truth. God is not creator; man created God though his imagination.

Even in  Bhagavad Gita it is mentioned:-

(THE SPIRIT IS ETERNAL - THE BODY IS TRANSITORY)

The invisible Spirit (Atma, Atman) is eternal, and the visible physical body, is transitory. The reality of these two is indeed certainly seen by the seers of truth. (2.16)

The Spirit by whom this entire universe is pervaded is indestructible. No one can destroy the imperishable Spirit. (2.17)

The physical bodies of the eternal, immutable, and incomprehensible Spirit are perishable. Therefore fight, O Arjuna. (2.18)

The one who thinks that the Spirit is a slayer, and the one who thinks the Spirit is slain, both are ignorant. Because the Spirit neither slays nor is slain. (2.19)

The Spirit is neither born nor does it die at any time. It does not come into being, or cease to exist. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. The Spirit is not destroyed when the body is destroyed. (2.20)

O Arjuna, how can a person who knows that the Spirit is indestructible, eternal, unborn, and immutable, kill anyone or causes anyone to be killed? (2.21)

Along with the universe one comes: along with the universe one goes. In universe one is born: in universe one dies. In universe one gives, in universe one takes. In universe one earns, in universe one wastes. In universe is one truthful or lies like a liar. In universe one reflects on Virtue and Sin. In universe do we land in Heaven and Hell. In universe one is happy, in universe one is in sorrow. In universe one commit sin, in universe one washes it off. In universe does one lose the distinctions of caste and kind? In universe one is wise; in universe one is unwise.

The mind appeared as universe. Universe is the illusion; in illusion is one shadowed by Doubts. In illusion is our birth, life, death and the universe is reality.

 If one discovers the source of the mind then he realizes the ultimate truth. The nature of mind is consciousness.  Until one thinks that the self is physical he is in the bondage of duality.  Until he is in the bondage of duality he experiences the illusion as reality.

How is Mind born? In which way is the release? Mind is a chronic malady; but within it also is its remedy.

When one discovers and realizes substance of the mind then the mind   stills, one destroys the sense of the Second thing. For the egocentrics the universe is reality. One should see the consciousness within the mind (I) but without the mind (I).

People are immersed and intoxicated by egocentricity. The egocentrics are filled with craving material things, and myriad hopes of all kinds. They are gripped by the chronic disease of egocentricity. By discovering and realizing the truth that the self is not physical but consciousness, is the only cure to overcome the duality, which is experienced as reality.  

When one inquires “Who am I?” or “What am I ?”

When one inquires “Who am I?”  or “What am I ?”

When one inquires “who am I?”  or “what am I ?” he will never be able to reach the ultimate  end.  Who or Am represents physicality.  To understand ‘I’ in a broader prospect, we have to verify the very existence of the ‘I’. Since people think ‘I’ as self, they will never be able to go deeper in inquiry. The “Who am ‘I’? or “What am ‘I’?  Inquiry is helpful for the beginners, but they are inadequate penetrate to Ultimate end.  Therefore, instead of who, or am, we have to investigate the very existence of the ‘I’ which appears and disappears.   When ‘I’ appears the ego, body and the world appears together, and when ‘I’, disappears then the ego, body and world disappears together.  

So the ‘I’ is not limited to the physical entity alone, but ‘I’ is the mind, which contains the whole universe in you and me and other exists. So we all appear together and we disappear together. Thus we all exists within the ‘I’ or mind.   The mind appears as waking or dream.  But the witness of the mind is within the three states but it is formless and apart from the three states. It is nothing to do with the individual experiences within the waking or dream.   It remains with or without the waking or dream.  If it remains consciously without the waking or dream then is true nature of the soul, the innermost self.  If it is unconsciously remains without the waking or dream it is deep sleep or yogic Samadhi.    

The states are identified due to ignorance cause by considering the ‘I’ as self.  When one becomes aware of the fact that the ‘I’ is not the self, then one realize all the states are illusory.

The one which understands does not exist as person perceiving the world, but it exists as the formless soul  or consciousness eternally, which is called Brahman, Buddha’s nature, Christ in the past.  

We are unconscious of the consciousness, which is aware of both conscious and unconscious experiences.  The Unconsciousness can only be a consciousness without objects; otherwise it has no meaning. Therefore it is really and somehow consciousness.  Through study of the mind one gradually becomes aware that it is what intellectuals’   calls "The Unconscious" which is at the back of it all, and what is called the formless soul , the innermost self, which is in the form of consciousness. 

Non-Duality means not the non-existence of a second thing, but its nonexistence as other than consciousness.

Non-duality means not the non-existence of a second thing, but its nonexistence as other than consciousness. One must know it is of the same substance as the objects.

Non dual Truth is possible only in duality when there is both a knower and a known. Hence truth is one’s idea of a thing. Reality is the fact, the thing itself. Truth is used for communication about the reality. Ultimate truth is beyond all doubt and contradiction. It is not assumption or idea but the Reality itself. Hence ultimate truth and ultimate reality are one and the same. 

It is impossible to know that God is everywhere. What is God?  God cannot exist without duality. In non-dual reality there is no man, no world, and no belief of god. God has no meaning in realm of truth. It is a mere imagination or assumption. Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the formless substance and witness of the mind, which appears as waking or dream. The dream is parallel waking experience and waking experience is parallel dream. One cannot prove the existence of any God which is everywhere apart from consciousness.  Thus for seeker of truth consciousness, which is ultimate truth itself is God.  In non-dual reality neither the universe is reality nor the man nor the idea of god, because there is no second thing exist other than the consciousness because everything is consciousness.  

Self- Knowledge is only is true knowledge not the absence of duality.  Self -Knowledge cannot destroy the world but it eliminates the ignorance and exposes the unreal nature of the mind or universe.

  Non- dual wisdom requires investigate in to the mind, analyzing the mind, which appears as universe, realizing the fact that, the mind rises and subsides from formless source, which is consciousness.  The consciousness is the true self. Therefore, one has to learn to judge the truth from the standpoint of the source from where the mind rises and subsides, not from the standpoint of the waking entity, which is the false self.  

As one gets convinced, certain, of the truth that the world is nothing but consciousness, and there is no second thing, then he get conviction that, all the three states to be consciousness in the midst of duality.  Realizing the truth in the midst of duality is wisdom.

Seeker has to practice thinking that he is neither the doer nor the enjoyer and his existence as a person is limited to the waking experience.  Thus neither the waking entity nor the dream entity is the self.  The true self is that which witnesses the three states as a whole.  When he realizes the waking entity is not the self then he will gradually realize the fact that, whatever is seen as waking /dream is only mirage created out of consciousness. Therefore when he realizes the waking experience is   the mirage then he realizes the stuff from the mirage is made, which is consciousness to be real. 

b

Adyatimic -Discussions-201

Thank you for your very elaborate story about division and non-duality. Few questions remain.

How can the seeker get rid of doubts of the mind through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning, which happens from the same frame of reference from where these doubts were created in the first place. Why should the seeker think deeply to seek a non-dual destination when what he thinks is illusion? Is there a non-dual destination? If consciousness is one why should we worry with mind, thinking, the separation between the real and unreal, et cetera? Why not choose to look 'from' consciousness and realize that all of the aforementioned is just a play within consciousness? Then if you realize this why reject that which is unreal?

Dear C

Namaste,

Thank you.

As per my conviction derived from deeper self-search:-

There is no need to name and create division and try to understand and assimilate the ultimate truth.  On the ultimate standpoint everything is one. All divisions, which are named, are also consciousness [soul  or Atman]. So, there is no second thing exists other than consciousness [soul  or Atman].  Consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman.  

Many believe spirituality and religion are considered inter connected but it is not so. Religion is based on the false self-[ego or body] and it is limited to the false experience [universe], while spirituality transcends race, religion, gender, language and nationality and universe.  Spirituality is pursuit of truth.

There are many paths have come into existence in the name of Self-Realization.  Every belief system believes that each human being embodies a spark of the divine, and that fanning into the shining fire spiritual realization is the meaning and purpose of human life. But spirituality is not based on the belief but discovering the truth of the whole universe and man’s existence.   

Religious and Yogic truth and scientific truth are individual truth based on the false self-[ego] within the false experience. Individuality has no value in the realm of ultimate point of view.  Therefore, realization of true self is necessary in order to realize the ultimate truth, which is free from all the diversity, which is present in the form of universe.  The universe ceases to be real from the ultimate point of view. The ignorance is the cause of experiencing the unreality as reality. Therefore truth realization is necessary to unfold the mystery of the universe, which appears to be real from the physical point of view.  

Universe is reality on the base of ego, which is the false self.  It is unreal on the stand point of the consciousness, which is the true self. Universe is mere mirage from the ultimate point of view.  Man perceives the world within the universe; therefore his existence is limited to the universe, which is in the form of mind.  Consciousness is real because it is permanent, but universe, which is in the form of mind, appears as waking or dream [duality] and disappears as deep sleep is impermanent [non-duality].   Thus mind is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself. People stuck with the reality of the world, so they take it as real. Once they take their physical existence to be real then they have accepted the false self as real self and false universe as reality.  Thus their judgement is based in the false self, will keep them within the threshold of duality. Thus the ultimate truth lies beyond duality.      

People take the universe confronting them as real, the experience of birth, life and death, which happens within the universe, which they experienced as reality.  When the self is not physical but self is formless, then whatever seen, known, believed, experienced as person within the universe is falsehood, on the base of the formless self [witness]. 

The gross universe is merged into the mental universe in the sense that when it is analysed, it is found to exist inseparably in and as the mind alone. All "spiritual" planes are really mental: those who regard them as different or higher will remain ignorant.

A Gnani is free from experiencing the illusion [body + universe] as reality, he is fully aware of the fact that, his body and his experience of the world as consciousness, which is ultimate truth. 

People who are incapable to inquire and reason are tending to follow some philosophy without verification. Therefore the more ignorant they are the easier to get them into a religious fold. Religion is so strong and popular because it makes no demand on the intelligent, It simply requires belief in guru and his teachings.

It never strikes believer to doubt whether his inherited belief system is true. They never use their reason because they start and conclude that their belief system   alone is true, because they never question the validity of their inherited belief.  

For religion one can interpret texts as he likes, in whatever way that pleases him, he simply imagine away.  The idea of god injected in the past and inherited by people and they refuse to verify the facts, because they think it blasphemy even to question their inherited belief system. 

In pursuit of truth the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis.

Pundits teach that all is your-self, but none of them can show that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it. Rational proof is needed, so that one arrive at knowing truth i.e. wisdom; punditry is mere dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read in scripture. Scriptures are not yardstick and scriptural truth is not proof.   Pundits take scriptures as authority.   Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

Pundits have to test truth in this world not in the next world.  There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not truth.  So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them.

Doubts and Confusions arise when seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst.   Disappointments in religion or yoga or even science imply error or ignorance.

When serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulate knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him.  Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on right lines?" Thus doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in experience. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible.  Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on proof.

Seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact that, the self is not the form but self is formless. Thus his analysis and reasoning has to be based on the formless not on the form.  By simply go on believing and accepting whatever said by the punditry will not lead one towards path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self - Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  The scriptures, yoga are not necessary if one follows the inner (formless) path.  Religion and yoga are not the means to path of wisdom. 

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Ataman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. [Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada]

This passage indicates the fact that everything is Atman or consciousness. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth  or body will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as Atman or consciousness. Thus Atman or consciousness  alone is, and all else is mirage.

Thus 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  mentally focusing more attention on  formless witness of the three states by talking, writing, discussing only of soul or consciousness , the conviction grows and becomes firmer and the duality will fade away as reality. Soul or consciousness, which is the innermost self 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.  Since, they are not the means to acquire non-dual wisdom. It is only waste of time and effort to indulge in those things.

The individual self is not real, is not accepted by many.  The nondual wisdom is based not on the individual self [ego].  Until people hold the ‘I’ [ego] as witness, they will not reach the ultimate understanding. 

When Upanishad itself declares:-   sarvam khalvidam brahma - all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad). 

Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of mind.  By tracing the source of the mind or universe one will be able to realize the Brahman.

The ultimate truth has nothing to do with Scriptures and it is independent of scriptures.  The point is:  though it is taught by the Vedas, it does not require any belief in the infallibility of Vedas; in other words even if an individual or some other religion were to propose the same thing, a person with an open mind would come to the same conclusion that there is a formless witness (soul or consciousness), that it is Brahman - and that it is the same as the self ,which  is not an individual but  it pervades in everything and everywhere in three states as their formless substance and witness.

When Sri,Sankara says: world is unreal . He never said body is unreal. He would have said only birth and death is   unreal but he did not say that, he said the world is unreal.   He meant   the world including the body, because the body and world appear together and disappear together (waking or dream).  Then we have to think, what remain without the body and the world as reality. How can the birth, life, death, rebirth, and reincarnation, which take place in unreal world (waking or dream), can be true.   The one, which is aware of the birth, life death, rebirth and reincarnation (illusion or unreal), is formless reality, which is the  innermost self  or true identity.  The formless soul, the innermost self ,  is your true identity, which is birthless and deathless but it is the witness of the birth, life and death and rebirth(illusion or unreal).

 On the standpoint of identity the birth, life, death, rebirth and reincarnation theory is part of the illusion/unreal.  The body cannot reincarnate, the body and the world are created out of the same formless stuff. Until one views and judges on the base of flesh, bone and blood [five elements], he will not be able to grasp the non-dual truth.  Thus, one must know on what standpoint we are not born and we do not die thoroughly, just by hearsay views, it will not lead anyone to the non-dual destination.

Seeker has to learn to view and judge on the standpoint of formless witness(soul or consciousness)  . Then he will be never having any confusion.  When one thinks deeply then only the inner revelation starts and start burning the dross (confusion or doubts). A well-directed inquiry and sound reasoning will lead one towards non-dual destination and it will start yielding fruits and start revealing, when he starts thinking very deeply.  This is the inner process every serious seeker experiences.  The inner dialogue will start and one will start getting answers from inner core of his existence, and he becomes aware of the fact of what is real and what is unreal and he will be able to mentally reject the unreal nature of the self in the midst of duality. 

Adyathmic Discussions-202

SM:-

I am very much aware about advaita philoshopy. However, when the question was raised about why this world exists, I was refering to the finit world which come and goes out of existance and our finit perception of it. We cannot really perceive the infinite. We can only merge into the formless and what is left is silence. For me there is no so-called "false self" because that is in itself a dualistic thinking. There is only the Self or consciousness that is reflected everywhere. By the way in grammar there is no plural form of the word "consciousness". There is only one consciousness, there are no two consciousnesses. Therefore, for me there is only a true Self and my existence seems real because of the reality that is behind my limited existence. I am like an actress on a stage who appears real because behind my role is reality that makes me seem real. My existence depends on this Reality. But as long as I am in this existence, acting my unique role, I perceive the reality around me in my own ideosycratic way as if it were real and from that perspective it is real. But whoes reflection is it? Of course the reflection of the Reality behind my existence. So for me my perception is true as I perceive it in life although it may not be true cosmicly. It is the only way to perceive. We need duality to perceive the non-duality. Therefore, from my own temporary perspective it is true. It is true as long as I see it that way. It is of course a play of consciousness which gives me a feeling that my perception is actually real. Well that is the power of the reality governing all existance. I think we can say that the world does not exist from the perspective of the formless Absolute whoes reality is infinite. What does "formless" mean? We cannot estimate where the formless Absolute begins or ends. It is like a priceless diamond. There is no price for a priceless diamond because our limited perception cannot estimate its beginning or end price. Similarly the Absolute is formless because we cannot grasp that far. The moment we think or speak, our mind moves in a limited reality. Language margins every thought. We cannot ever express the formless through our faculties that need the form to grasp anything.

Regardless of our real or unreal nature, I personally like to see the divinity in all, because it helps me to practice ethics in life. I believe we perceive a formed reality in oder to gain awareness of a formless reality. It would not be possible otherwise.

 A:-

The Self of all makes the senses flow outward,
Therefore one seeks outside of oneself.
Only the wise, seeking the immortal amidst mortality,
Turn their gaze away from the world
And look inward – to find the Self.

- Katha Upanishad

Dear SM,

Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I admire your deep understanding  of the philosophy.       I respect your views based on individuality.

 You said :- My existence depends on this Reality. But as long as I am in this existence, acting my unique role, I perceive the reality around me in my own ideosycratic way as if it were real and from that perspective it is real. But whoes reflection is it? Of course the reflection of the Reality behind my existence. So for me my perception is true as I perceive it in life although it may not be true cosmicly.

Suppose you were holding the same view in the dream, all your experiences and views are reality within the dream. The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly the waking becomes unreal when you become aware the fact that, the self is not an individual.  Thus whatever individual experiences experienced within the waking is as unreal as dream.

 Until one thinks body as body and world as world it is impossible to grasp nondual truth, because his views and judgments are bases on physical self with the physical existence.  The individuality is reality with the waking experience but the waking experience itself is false hood. Thus holding the view as an individual within the false experience is erroneous on the ultimate point of view.  The waking is parallel dream and dream is parallel waking experience. 

In waking the universe comes: in deep sleep   the waking goes. In waking is one born; in waking one dies.

In waking one lives, in Waking one suffers. In Waking one earns, in Waking one enjoys. In Waking is one truthful or lies like a liar. In Waking one reflects on Virtue and Sin. In Waking do one lands in Heaven and Hell. In Waking is one happy, in Waking in sorrow. In Waking does one lose the distinctions of caste and creed. In Waking is one wise; in Waking is one unwise.

In Waking one has an urge to know the truth. In Waking one is in the illusion; in Waking is one shadowed by Doubts and confusion, in waking one thinks of reincarnation and rebirth.  In waking one thinks that he is born in this world and world existed prior to him. In waking one is in ignorance of the true self, which is consciousness. If one spots out the true self within the three states, one realizes the way to freedom.

One is in action in Waking. In Waking one is bound by form, time and space. Waking is in the form of mind. Mind appears and disappears as waking or dream.  If there is no mind then there is no waking or dream. Waking or dream is born out of ignorance of the true self. Getting rid of the ignorance through wisdom is   the way to the release. In Waking or dream, one follows the Writ of habit. Waking or dream is a chronic malady; but within it also is its remedy.

The true Self is not perceptible to the senses. It is perceived by Reason. It is not perceptible as a thing with form and attributes. To those whose attention is fixed on the body and the world, it is very difficult to attain Self-knowledge. It is also very difficult for them to see the consciousness as self. The attention towards the universe [mind] should be lessened by realizing the self is not the body. The attention has to be focused on the formless substance and witness of the universe [mind] should be increased. So long as the attention is directed towards the universe, the experience of birth, life and death will prevail as reality. But when the attention is directed towards the formless substance and witness of the mind, the ignorance vanishes and the sense of reality of the duality will disappear. Then there is unity in diversity. 

  
This subject is vast and it has to be grasped only through deeper self-search.

Upanishad say:

  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]

When the Upanishads say:-

It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Ataman reveals its own form.  Then what is the use of indulging through our intelligence or our accumulated knowledge, when one is not chosen by the self, which is the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

There is no need for any philosophy in pursuit of truth because they take the seeker nearer to truth but they create more doubts and confusions.

 

The scriptures and theories and teaching based on the ego are not the yardstick. Using them as yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is mind?” and “what is substance of the mind?” and move forward.  

The ultimate truth is one without the second, the one is not in the sense half or two, but the one that remain forever One, without the second.  The consciousness is all pervading. There is no place where consciousness is not.

Consciousness is in everyone, consciousness is in everything .consciousness is one behind many. Consciousness alone is. It means the universe and its contents are the visible form of consciousness. And consciousness in turn invisible form of the universe, which appears as mind .  

 Since people all are not aware of the fact that, they are an experience within another experience [waking/dream]. The mind is an experience, which contains everyone and everything and the universe. Since one limits the mind to the physical entity, he forgets the fact that, his body and the universe is an experience, within waking or dream experience. It is impossible to unfold the mystery of his true existence without realizing the fact that, the self is not physical but the self is consciousness.   If the self is not physical then it is erroneous to judge and conclude the truth on the base of the physical self or ego. Thus the truth has to be judges on the base of the true self, which is consciousness which is not an individual but it pervades all the three states as their formless substance and witness.

 Until and unless one rectifies the reasoning base from form to formless, the ultimate truth [Brahman] will not be revealed.

On the standpoint of the formless soul/consciousness

"There is nothing to accept,
Nothing to reject,
Nothing to hold on to,
Nothing to let go of,
Nothing to grasp,
Nothing to spurn,
Nothing to embrace,
Nothing to relinquish,
Nothing to dissolve.

This is the truth.

~ From Ashtavakra-Gita