Many souls theory is based on the false self and false experience

The consciousness is the one Self.  Consciousness alone exists.   Many souls theory is based on the false self and false experience. When the whole universe is created out of a single stuff,which is consciousness than whatever the universe contains is also consciousness. Thus, the soul is one and  in ignorance the diversity appears as reality. 

 When ignorance vanishes the  consciousness  alone exists eternally. It is ever existent and never nonexistent. It neither begins nor ends, neither expands nor reduces, has no phase or condition, and ever is just as it is. It alone is present always.  The self is like deep sleep. When wisdom dawns  ignorance vanishes in the midst of duality and one becomes aware of the real nature of the three states. 

The Knowledge of the Self is having a firm conviction that the self is neither waking entity nor the dream entity but the formless witness of the three states ,which comes and goes in succession.  Deeper self-search reveals the identity of the Self and the ultimate truth. Therefore, it is imperative for the seeker of the Realization of the ultimate truth, to realize the Self as it truly is. Self is in the form of Consciousness it is natural, effortless, innate  it is real and eternal. Everything else other than consciousness  is an illusion and the product of delusion. The ultimate nature of illusion is nonexistence.

When this  truth is constantly reflected , meditated upon, and realized , results in the destruction of all ignorance, all delusion, and all illusion and in the Realization of the Self. It is what unfailingly puts to an end all of the illusory bondage.

 It is intended for those who know the value of the importance of Self-Knowledge  and who are endowed with an intense urge. One has to  apply  one's own effort to awaken from the illusion of duality and thus gain clarity in Knowledge. To be so absorbed in consciousness  one has to know the consciousness is the true self. Self-  Knowledge and  Self –Realization are one and the same,  that is being aware of the ultimate truth.  That there is no second thing exist other than consciousness and the diversity is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. Thus, consciousness alone is real and all else is merely an  illusion created out of consciousness. 

Self-Knowledge means knowledge of true existence.   The consciousness is ultimate reality  one without a second, and apart from which there is nothing else.

Consciousness is the true self and  knower of the illusion,which comes and goes as waking and dream. there is no other knower because the waking entity and the dream entity are part of the illusion. When the consciousness,which is the true 'Self' becomes naked without the illusion the consciousness alone will prevail as eternal non-dual existence. Same way as  it remained 
without the waking or dream in deep sleep.  Consciously becoming aware of  consciousness in the midst of duality is self-awareness.

When the Self is unknown than the universe arises as reality

When the Self is unknown  than the universe  arises as reality , not when it is known. But one  mistakes The unreal  for the real. When one knows the truth, the ignorance  vanishes and reality prevails.

It is Consciousness, alone that appears to be born or to move or to take the form of matter. But Consciousness is really ever unborn, immovable and free from the traits of materiality; it is all peace and non-dual.

Thus the true self is never subject to birth. All beings, too, are free from birth. Those who know this do not fall into false knowledge.

A substance may be the cause of another substance and a non- substance, the cause of another non-substance. But the true self cannot possibly be anything like a substance or a non-substance.

Thus three states are not caused by the mind, nor is the mind caused by them. As long as a person clings to the belief in causality, he will find cause producing effect. But when this attachment to causality wears away, cause and effect become non-existent.

Knowledge, knower and knowable –these three do not exist in reality.

Knowledge, knower and knowable –these three do not exist in reality. Self is that stainless consciousness in which this triad appears through ignorance.  there is only nondual self awareness in reality.

The knowledge ,  knower and knowable are present only in waking or dream but they disappear in deep sleep.   All  ideas of individual experiences of birth,life and death are present only in waking and they disappears in deep sleep. The knower of the appearance and disappearance of the three states is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity because the waking entity is limited to the waking experience and dream entity is limited to dream.  The waking is parallel dream and dream is parallel waking.  Thus the knower of the three states is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the soul ,which is the witness of the three states ,which appears and disappears.  The  existence of the witness has to be mentally grasped not assumed.  

Consciousness, the One and Undifferentiated, which by the manifold application of its powers produces, the dual and non dual experiences [waking/dream/deep sleep] and, in the end, withdraws the three states into itself, is indeed the self—luminous.

The maker of all the three states, self—luminous and all—pervading, Consciousness dwells always in the three states as its formless clay and witness. Consciousness is revealed by the negative way, discriminative wisdom and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection. The one who know Consciousness is the true self becomes one with the immortal self.

When there is no ignorance, there is no day or night, neither being nor none—being; the pure Consciousness alone exists. That immutable Reality is the meaning of "Consciousness. From it has proceeded the non dual wisdom.

No one can grasp Consciousness as separate entity apart from duality because it is the formless clay and the witness of the experience of duality thus it cannot be grasped as above, across, or in the middle.

Its form is not an object of vision; no one beholds it with the eyes. They who, through pure intellect and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection, realize Consciousness as the true self becomes one with the immortal.

Without knowing what is universe, no one can attain self-realization.

Witness is not to be imagined but proved and realized. One should not assume witness as traditional non-dualists hold. If one gives up the three states then he will not be able to understand, assimilate non-dual truth. If  one analyzes the three states he will get the non-dual  truth.   Thus study of the three states are necessary in pursuit of truth.  Knowing and having conviction  that,  the witness ,which is the soul is in the form of formless, non-dual consciousness as true self  brings unity in diversity.     

Consciousness cannot be attained by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth. But if a serious seeker strives by means of inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base, he will be able to realize it.

By realizing Consciousness, the one become satisfied with that Knowledge. He establishes in the true self, and he is free from experiencing the duality as reality and he is in non dual tranquility. Such seeker ever devoted to the Self, behold everywhere the Consciousness.

Having well ascertained the Self, the goal of the Self- knowledge and having perfect understudying, the seekers, never relaxing their efforts, enjoy here supreme Immortality and at the time of the great end attain complete freedom in Consciousness.

When one realizes the fact that, the causes of all the causes is uncaused; and views and judges the worldview on the base of the uncaused, then  everything of the experience of  duality, becomes one with the highest imperishable Consciousness, which is the Self of all.

As flowing rivers disappear in the sea, losing their names and forms, so one is freed from name and form, attains the Consciousness, which is greater than the Great.

He who knows the Consciousness as self verily becomes Consciousness. He overcomes the experience of duality; becomes one with the immortal soul/self/Consciousness.

Who am 'I'? inquiry is not enough. it yields only half truth.  The inner journey is incomplete with Who Am I? inquiry.  to complete  the spiritual  quest,  one has to know what is universe.  

  One has to know what is  universe  and then the formless knower of the universe. Without knowing what is universe, no one can attain self-realization.  Thus, perfect understanding of 'what is what' is necessary. 

Simply assuming and arguing from his own point of view is waste of time. All accumulated knowledge is no use in pursuit of truth.  Instead of arguing one has to find answers for all his doubts and confusions and reflect constantly until he finds un-contraditable truth is the only way to understand,assimilate and realize the non-dual truth.  

 Getting sentimentally involved with guru or teacher and glorifying  guru and surrendering to guru is not the means to acquire self-knowledge. surrendering the guru is religious and yogic concept. in path of wisdom such surrender has no value.   By holding  Gurus teaching as final authority without going into  deeper verification and self search, blindly accepting  with  his own interpretation as truth, is a  greatest hurdle in pursuit of truth.  Nothing has to be accepted without verification even if a greatest thinker says some thing as truth .  The truth has to be ascertained  and verified  and only if it is un-contradictable truth than only accept it as truth.  Blindly accepting  some belief as truth is unacceptable in pursuit of truth, because belief is not truth.

The path of love and path of service humanism are path of emotions.  They are good in worldly life in practical world . there is no need to give up or renounce worldly life or loving the humanity and serving the people. But they are not qualification for self-realization.

What is God?

Soul is in the form of consciousness  is  the supreme Reality. It is the substance  what was, what is, and what shall be. Consciousness  lies beyond past, present, and future. Consciousness is ultimate truth because no second thing exists other than consciousness when one realizes the fact that,  the self is  neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the formless witness of the three states. The three states are mere mirage created out of consciousness.  Thus consciousness alone is real ,eternal and  the  ultimate truth  or  God. 

People are not aware of the fact that there is no God can exist, apart from self/Consciousness. If there is no self/Consciousness, 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 worshiping gods and goddesses. By worshiping 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 karma 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.

Katha Upanishad says:

[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]

It indicates that the one who is ignorant [darkness] of the true self [formless witness/Consciousness] searches truth by accumulating knowledge of every path and practice and uncertain about the truth, and thinks every path leads towards reality. The ignorance of the true self leads one towards unreality or hallucination.

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

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

The above passages further proves that: self-knowledge cannot be attained by study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore there is no use of studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire the non-dual wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sri, Sankara indicated that, the truth lies beyond religion, concept of god and scriptures.  

For the same reason Raman Maharshi said fortunate are the one who do not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Bhagwan says: Take Vedanta, for instance: it speaks of 15 pranas the names and functions of it   which the student is asked to commit memory. Will it not be sufficient if he thought only one prana does the whole work of maintaining the body? Again the antakaran is said to think, to desire, to will, to reason etc. Why all these details? Has anyone seen antakarana, or all these pranas? Do they really exist? They are conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose him self in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise. (GURU RAMANA .By S.S Cohen -vii Danger of philosophy-Page -58-59)

Raman Mahrshi further explains [in 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.

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Consciousness. 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 Consciousness/spirit. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth /body will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as Consciousness. Thus 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 focusing more attention on Consciousness by talking, writing, discussing only of Consciousness, the conviction grows and becomes firmer and the duality will fade away as reality. Consciousness, which is one’s   true identity will prevail as birth-less and deathless, eternal substance and witness of the mirage called duality or universe.

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. thus Self-Realization itself is God realization.

Only through Self- Knowledge the Imperishable Self-Awareness is attained.

The consciousness is the true self . Consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states. Therefore, the self is neither  limited  to the waking entity nor the dream entity but it pervades in all the three states as their formless substance.  Thus limiting the self to the waking entity and waking world and judging the truth on the base of the waking entity is erroneous. Because from the ultimate standpoint  the waking entity is false entity within the false experience.  Thus the judgment has to be based on the soul,which is the true self in order to unfold the mystery of the mind.

By the knowing of Consciousness the three states becomes known.  Thus the formless knower of the three states is Consciousness. Until one becomes aware of the fact that the soul is the true self, he is bound to believe that the body is the knower and views and judges the worldview on the standpoint of body [I] as self, thus remain ignorant of the fact that, the soul, which is in the form of  Consciousness is the true self.  

Only through Self- Knowledge the Imperishable Self-Awareness is attained.  By means of the Self-Knowledge one  beholds in everything and  everywhere Consciousness, which otherwise cannot be seen or seized, which has no root or attributes, no eyes or ears, no hands or feet; which is eternal and omnipresent, all—pervading and extremely subtle; which is imperishable and the source of  three states.

Ignorant, dwelling in ignorance, but wise in their own conceit and puffed up with vain scholarship, wander about, being afflicted by many ills, like blind led by the blind.

People, immersed in ignorance in various ways, flatter themselves, saying: We have accomplished life's mission. Because these performers of karma do not know the non dual Truth owing to their attachment, they will never be able to cross the ocean of duality or cycle of birth, life and death.

People regarding religious rituals, god glorification and sacrifices and humanitarian works as the highest, do not know any higher good. By expecting reward for their good deeds they remain in the clutches of duality and fully ignorant about the true self or Consciousness.

Gnani who is in tranquility of non dual Consciousness, who lives as a householder/commoner  and never poses himself as man of knowledge, but helps and guides the serious seeker as a fellow seeker by inspiring them  until they reach their non dual destination. 

Gnani knows all and understands all and full y aware of the fact that, the experiences of the three states belongs to Consciousness alone. He assumes as the experiences of the three states [duality and non-duality]. Consciousness dwells in the three states as its formless clay. By the knowledge of that formless clay which shines as the blissful and immortal Consciousness, the Gnani behold Consciousness  fully in all things.