Advaitic orthodoxy is introduced to suit the mass mind set by Sri, Sankara to uplift the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma with Indianized Abrahamic framework with non-vedic beliefs and rituals

Many seekers in  the path of inquiry is still struggling even after long years and waiting for something to happen. Even after reading and inquiring deeply enough, still they are unable progress further.  Even they are unable to get any benefit in their spiritual pursuit through self – inquiry. And also they are unable to give up the self-inquiry due to the attraction of Sage Sri, Ramana.  Many seekers end up with using “Who am ‘I’? as mantra and become stagnant without being aware of the purpose of the self-inquiry.

I was surprised to know after reading the interview of Mr. Sivapraksh Pillai  By David Godman who expressed that even after 50 long years he was unable to achieve his goal through inquiry, hats off to his sincere and honest statement. It is very difficult to get masters like Sage Sri Ramana Maharishi, Papaji or Nisrgdutt Maharaja to get guidance in the present world.

In my honest opinion with all the due respect to every soul which was involved in recording and publishing the self inquiry, which is greatest treasure, and which opens the golden gate to  the seeker to enter into spiritual world, from religious world. Still there is lots confusion and doubts which are impossible to get answer the way the inquiry is presented in the books. But one will be able to overcome the same after lots of research. But it is impossible to do research in the present framework of the Self-inquiry. Since everyone is expecting and waiting for some mystic experience to happen and refuse to verify and accept the truth, because of there conservative outlook.

Even the intellectual- class, who have authored many books are viewed and judged  Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi  on mystic point of view were unable to deliver goods due to their inherited religious background. Sage  Sri, Ramana  Maharishi was mystic for the mass, but he was Gnani for the class.

Orthodox  Advaita  is nothing to do with path of wisdom.Sage, Sri, Sankara' gave religious, ritual or dogmatic instruction to the mass but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

That is why Gaudapada says that: - The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

It means the people who follow religion and worship of guru and conceptual god are lower and middling intellect.  But in this modern world people are sharp enough to understand and assimilate ultimate truth or Brahman or god. Thus it is high time to discard the lower knowledge and move ahead to realize the ultimate truth, which is Brahman or God.   

Advaitic orthodoxy  is introduced  to suit the mass mind set by Sri, Sankara to uplift the Vedic religion or Santana Dharma with Indianized Abrahamic framework with non-Vedic beliefs and rituals. The Vedic religion or Santana Dharma was in ruins in the clutches of Buddhism and Jainism and also foreign invaders.  

Sage Sri, Sankara himself says that,  the religion, scriptures and yoga are not the means to self realization. 


In commentary to "Brahma Sutras Sri, Sankara says :-  "The highest beatitude is not to be attained by Yoga." (Sacred Books of East Series page 298 Vol.1.)   And he also says Samadhi is the same as sleep (p.312). ---this indicates that yoga is not the means to self realization.  And yogic Samadhi is not non dual wisdom. 

Without Sage, Sri, Sankara there is no Advaita (non-duality).  Since it was mixed up with Advaitic  orthodoxy there is lot of confusion. I am highlighting all the obstacles, which is blocking one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west   who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge but none of them 

Sri, Sankara founded his Advaita Vedanta either on reason independent of sruti or on sruti confirmed by reason."   Sri, Sankara's commentary on the Mandukya Upanishad, II, 1:  This [the unreality of duality] is borne out by the Srutis ... But it is possible also to show the unreality of the object world even from pure reasoning, and this second chapter is undertaken for that purpose.

 Sri, Sankara himself had often said that his philosophy was based on Sruti, or revealed scripture.  This may be because Sri, Sankara addressed the ordinary man, who finds security in the idea of causality and thus in the idea of God—and Revelation is indispensable to prove the latter.  He believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine causality, and can therefore dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason. 

Sri, Sankara, in debates with Buddhists and others who did not recognize the authority of the Vedas, had been obliged to prove the truth of Advaita by means of reason alone.  Mandukya Upanishad, a scripture which appealed to reason to the exclusion of Revelation. 

Non-duality does not need the support of any Scripture or Revelation like the Veda. For it is based, not upon the varying theological fancies, which are as numerous as the sands of the sea, but upon reason, the common heritage of all mankind, irrespective of colour or creed or clime.

Thus, self-knowledge is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dual truth.   Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own-selves to get the firm conviction. 

 I am not trying to prove my views, but it is for every seeker who is in the path of truth to prove himself to know “What is truth, “and “What is untruth?” to assimilate the self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Sri Sankara, indicated  in Bhaja Govindam says: - [Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena] - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

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. 

Yoga Vasishtha :- "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good."

That is why  Sage Sri, Sankara said:-  63-VC- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation. 

Universe will not remain as reality when wisdom dawns. Universe is mere mirage created out of consciousness and there is conscious awareness of unity in diversity because there is no second thing exist other than consciousness.

Sri,Sankara says:- (V C) :-65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

66. Therefore the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.

Thus one has to know what is real by realizing our body and our experience of the world is mere illusion created out of consciousness, which the inner most self.  The nature of the self is emptiness. And it is identified by different masters with different name, such as God or Brahman or Buddha’s nature or Christ consciousness or Self, Ultimate Truth.

Wisdom  expounded by Sage Sri Sankara must have been  lost in time. But  still  one find traces of it in the scriptures. Path of wisdom  is nothing to do with Advaitic orthodoxy.  The the aim of path of truth or wisdom  is to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The Advaitic orthodoxy  is based  on the ego or  physical self whereas the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  is based on the formless soul, the innermost self. The soul is in the form of consciousness.     

t also becomes evident that different people who have interviewed Sage  Sri,Ramana Maharishi  at different time had different back ground and mind set. Therefore, it is necessary to bifurcate religious views of Sri Ramana Maharishi  from his spiritualistic  views to get the hidden essence of Sage  Sri Ramana Maharishi ’s teaching.

S.S. COHEN, Nisrgdutta Maharaj, Poonjaji and Osho‘s books are more helpful in pursuit of truth.  But any way one has to do his own home work and research. I find not only inquiry, but reasoning is most important in unfolding the mystery.

Nisargadutt Maharaj clears many doubts and hurdles but still one cannot reach the ultimate truth since there are little confusions for which the seeker will not find reasonable reasoning.  

Many seekers have done excellent research on Sri Ramana Maharishi  but still there are many hidden massages which can be unfolded if the inquiry is well directed if reason is used.

Seeker cannot sit expecting some mystic experience to happen and which will unfold the mystery and helps one to experience the bliss.

All the mystic experience is based on yoga and religion. Yoga is necessary for preparatory stages and yoga is not means for self realization. Religion is used in the past as a tool condition the mind, to be, to behave, to believe, to live and create its own pedigree of mindset to  help the society to live in harmony with its own code of conduct. Religion is nothing to with spirituality. Spirituality is the tool to unfold the mystery of the mind. Therefore religion and god or guru glorification, scriptural studies are not necessary in pursuit of truth.

Inquiry with reason on the proper (true) base only will help the seeker to unfold the mystery of the mind or human experience.

Orthodox people sentimentally involved with ritualistic path  the main hurdle and obstacle in realizing the truth. Therefore it is necessary for everyone to know how they are hurdle and create fatter in truth pursuit.

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.

The scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is ultimate truth. Therefore the soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is ultimate truth.  Thus to realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal.   A well-directed inquiry, analysis and reasoning will lead one to his non-dual destination. 

Self-Realization is direct realization of the ultimate truth or real god, in contrast with traditional paths, which are indirect. And the other paths cannot lead to the ultimate destination because they are based on the false self, which they hold as real self and false experience as reality. 

Until and unless one overcomes physical shackle it is impossible to understand and assimilate the nondual truth, which is beyond the physical existence or the universe.  Consciousness itself is lord of itself though not of the universe. And having nothing it has all. 

It is necessary for the seeker of the truth to have the courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth, when the truth is unfolded through inquiry and reasoning and analysis. Ramana‘s and Sri Sankara‘s grace will pour only when the seeker accepts the truth and rejects the untruth.

The main hurdle one has to cross when one inquires “WHO AM ‘I’” and proceeds further as per the instruction in the book, one finds it difficult in the latter stage and finds something is inadequate and wrong somewhere. Therefore it is necessary to find and remove the obstacles to reach the goal.

When one gets the answer I am not the body then the inquiry ends there. If ‘I’ is not the body then one cannot inquire on the physical base. Since the mind, ego senses whatever one experienced as a person of the world, god, religion, scriptures and whatever seen and known loses its meaning because ‘I’ itself cannot exist without the physical body.  Therefore, there is no meaning in carrying out inquiry on the physical identity saying I am not the senses, I am not the mind, and I am not this I am not that etc. because along with body the mind sense and ego and the physical experience of the world is rejected. When the physical body is not ‘I’ there is no entity to practice Self inquiry. Then if you accept there is nothing further, then it becomes Buddha’s emptiness. But it cannot be empty because still something remains to say it is empty as Sage Goudpada declares.  Therefore it becomes difficult to inquire on the physical base.  Self -inquiry prescribed by Sri, Ramana Maharishi is a good tool  in  the beginning of the pursuit of truth. But seeker will find it inadequate to in latter stages. However, it creates lots of doubts and confusion.  The seeker has to find the answers on his own through deeper reasoning, then all his doubts and confusions will be cleared, and he will be able to move ahead in the path of inquiry, and he will be able to reach his non-dual destination.

The doubts and confusion in Self-Inquiry

Seeker has to overcome the doubts and confusion in later stages in self-inquiry, the seeker finds some doubts and confusion, which cannot be overcome if inquiry practiced on the present format prescribed in self-inquiry book. As per my personal research the self-inquiry in the present format will not yield any fruits.

If mind is same as Atman[consciousness], how can it vanish--when the mind appears and disappears as Waking or dream?

How can one be certain when one leave the external world--when the person is within the world?

 Why leave the external world when everything is Brahman---when everything is Brahman why crate division between the world and its perceiver?

How can the world alone cease to exist if one do not look at it—how can the person remain without the world and where he will exist without the world?

Who has the subtle mind projecting through brain and senses? How can one see his subtle mind?--when the brain also piece of the gross matter? ---then how can the brain come into existence after the world is created if the later depends on the brain.


Heart is idea created by mind, how the mind can emerge from it---when the heart disappear along with the mind and reappears along with the mind, how the mind emerge from it.

In deep sleep, swoon and trance, the mind turns inwards and enjoys its natural state--if so why should one inquire if one gets Atman in sleep. With drug one can get sleep and peace or bliss.

If sleep gives Brahman then why trouble with inquiry--better get it through pills. There are many seekers practicing inquiry for many years and waiting for something mystical to happen, why nothing happens and why their inquiry does not yield fruits.

Since Sage Ramana Maharishi  is not present physically to guide us, seeker to overcome these obstacle in the path of inquiry on his own.  

WHO AM 'I'? inquiry reveals  only the false nature of the ego or form. It is inadequate to reveal the truth of the whole.  

Sri, Sankara is rightly  indicated :-

VC-63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

 Sri, Sankara is the only Sage Scientist  expounded the non-dual  truth 1400 years ago but it  is buried under  labyrinths of philosophy. So much of    conceptual divisions invented by pundits,thinkers  and  philosophers  by their excessive analysis.  these concepts  are never ending.  So much of confusion created by mixing orthodoxy  and then trying  to  explain  the  hotch potch wisdom by egocentric  pundits and scholars the real essence of  the great sage Sri, Sankara is lost.

    

The great declaration of Sage Sri ,Sanakra's -  Brahma Sathya Jagan Mithya  is   scientific truth , rational truth  and also ultimate truth. 

The orthodoxy is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman  declared by the great sage Sri,Sankara.   Without Sage, Sri, Sankara there is no Advaita (non-duality).  Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is lot of confusion. 

I am highlighting all the obstacles, which is blocking one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west   who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge but they are mere imagined and leads to hallucination.      

Yoga Vasishtha :- "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good."

Seeker of truth has to know somewhere he is going wrong, and it is for the seeker to go on his own and remove the obstacle.  The greatest hindrance is mixing religion, god, scriptures, and yogic theories. Moreover, attachment to scriptures, personal god and religious code of conduct keeps one permanently in the grip of duality.

Seeker has to have courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth because most people will not be able to subscribe to path of truth because they sentimentally and emotionally involved with their inherited belief system and even if one does he has to overcome all his doubts confusion and despair.  These are problem for the seekers who are from religious back ground because of their conditioning and they are made to accept their blind belief as truth and their interest or insight is not deep.  Thus all my blogs are useful analyse these problems because they highlight the what is not truth according to their own religious scriptures  and make  them to accept the truth and reject all the false conditioning and move ahead in pursuit of truth.