The consciousness is the one Truth, and a Gnani is a person who had realized this Soul as the Self, but outwardly he views worldview on dualistic standpoint.
As a seeker one is aware of only the physical (false) aspect of the consciousness and then by a gradual process of reasoning strengthen the foundations of the spiritual (real) aspect of the consciousness.
The 'Self' of all, cannot be a Person. By Identifying the formless self as 'I' or 'I AM' blocks the realization of ultimate truth or Brahman. Thus, one has to stop identifying the 'Self' as 'I' or 'I AM ,which personifies the formless Self.
The waking or dream is an individual and the sum total of all waking or dreams is the consciousness. In the waking or dream, ignorance is predominant, but the consciousness controls illusion composed of ignorance and knowledge and independently projects this mind, which contains the world of moving and immovable things out of itself.
But consciousness transcends the individual and collective aspects, the waking or dream, and the Soul. In the Soul, which is in the form of the consciousness there is no part. It is for the sake of easy comprehension that parts have been imagined in It.
The waking or dream and the universe are merely mirage created out of consciousness. That the mind consists only of name and form. It endures only so long as there are name and form. When through inquiry, analysis and reasoning name and form are dissolved, and then only the transcendent consciousness prevails.
Then the separate reality of the waking experience or the universe (mind) is felt no longer remains as reality. Then it is realized that one is the ultimate truth. The real nature of the mind is consciousness. When the veil of name and form vanishes through wisdom, then that idea is simply realized.
By limiting the consciousness to the physical body one remains ignorant of the fact that, the consciousness is, which is the true 'Self' pervades in everything and everywhere in the physical existence. By limiting the consciousness to the physical he remains in doubts and confusion about his own formless true existence.
Only through inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the formless base he has to understand, assimilate and grasp the non-dual truth. Whatever he thinks on the base of physical self or waking entity must be limited to the physical existence or the mind.
It is the natural tendency of man to argue, from the base of the physical self (waking entity or ego) because man and his experience of the world are product of ignorance. The truth is beyond the physicality, therefore, one has to learn to view and judge the worldview on the base of the formless soul, the innermost Self, in order to overcome the ignorance. It is necessary to analyze the truth on the base of the Soul, in order to assimilate the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana.
Man can only think of his ideal as a human being. When buffeted by sorrow in this world of disease and death he is driven to desperation and helplessness, then he seeks refuge with someone, relying on whom he may feel safe. But where is that refuge to be found? The omnipresent soul, which depends on nothing else to support it, is the only Refuge.
At first, man does not find that. When discrimination and dispassion arise in the course of his quest for truth, he comes to know it. But in whatever way he may progress on the path of truth, he is unconsciously awakening consciousness within him. But there are no other means other than the path of wisdom.
Those who have faith in the Personal God will not be able to grasp the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth because they are holding on to that idea of god imagined on the base of physical self, waking entity or ego. Sincere and serious seekers will be able to the awakening of consciousness within through wisdom. The knowledge of self is the one goal of the truth seeker.
Various ideas are the various paths will not lead to the on-dual destination. Although the real nature of the mind is consciousness, still as he has identification consciousness with physical body, is cause of the suffering from all sorts of doubts and difficulties and experiences the pleasure and pain as a reality.
Everything within the waking or dream is creation of the consciousness. No one can escape the illusory experience of birth, life, death and the world until they realize his identity with the Soul,which is present in the form of consciousness.
When the desire for freedom becomes very strong, and along with it comes the inner grace then man's desire for Self -Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana becomes intensified. Otherwise men given to lust and greed never inclines that way. How should the desire to know ultimate truth arise in one who has the hankering for the pleasures of family life, for wealth and for fame?
He who is prepared to renounce the ignorance will be able to grasp the non-dual truth. Who is immersed in strong current of the duality believing it as reality without verify the facts will never be receptive to assimilate the Self - knowledge Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. He alone by the might of sword of Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana will be able to break the barriers of illusion.
