People make God and their master or Guru as the center of their existence. They are hallucinating about their idea of God***

People make God and their master or Guru as the center of their existence.  They are hallucinating about their idea of God and Master or Guru. Such people will never be able to overcome the ignorance. The path wisdom is not suitable for those who believe in their religion their idea of God   and faith in the physical Guru or Master. Such people must tread their own chosen path, which gives them satisfaction. By mixing up religion and religious idea of God and trying to impose their religious idea of God will make them permanent prisoners of ignorance.

One should not hold a god as the center of the existence without knowing ‘what God really is.

Lord Krishna Says: ~ “Those who know me in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God. (Ch~V) .

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit) which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material (Gita 14.27)

The religious Gods exist within the domain of the dualistic illusion (waking). The religious Gods exist separately from the world in which man exists. Separation implies duality.   The duality always implies contradiction.  From the nondualistic perspective the duality is mere an illusion.  Thus, the world in which man exist is within the domain of the duality. Thus the world in which man exists is mere a dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is created out of a single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit. Thus, the Spirit (consciousness) alone is real and eternal. The ‘Spirit’ is the ultimate truth. The ultimate truth is God.

 On the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self, the religious Gods cease to exist because the Soul, which is the form of the ‘Spirit’ itself is God. All the religious Gods are imaginary Gods.

Religious Gods are an object, therefore the Soul, the innermost self, contradict such imaginary Gods who depend upon the Spirit’ for their existence. Every religion has its own idea of God or Gods. When there are two, then there is contradiction one cannot find non-contradiction in this dualistic world.

A Gnani boldly declares that the religious God does not exist, because Such Gods existence implies that the Soul, the innermost Self   different from God.

Bible says:~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)”.

In Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~,   It has been said that God Supreme or Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus,   Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

The Vedas exclaim from time immemorial: ~     Ekam Sat Vipra Bahudha Vadanti, Existence is One Rig Veda, 1-164-146.

RIG VEDA: ~ The Atman (Soul) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

The Upanishads say in effect that: ~ if you believe that the Soul is one and God (Brahman) is another you cannot understand Truth.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

The God is one and universal.  God is the Spirit.  The Spirit is the Soul, the innermost Self.  The God is the Soul, the innermost Self.  The Soul is the Supreme Being the One eternal homogeneous essence, indivisible consciousness   and intelligence, which is beyond the form, time and space.   To which the Sages describe in a variety of ways through diverse words.

Any kind of difference means contradiction. Nothing exist other than the Soul, which is present in the form of the ‘Spirit’. Advaita means the negation of the second thing. "Neti, Neti," not this, not this means ~ Negation of second thing other than the ‘Spirit’, which is God.   Every word we utter we are uttering within the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is not permanent.

The way of negating "It is not this, not that" is also a way of defining, of conveying the meaning of Reality as much as any positive definition.  One has to mentally distinguish the real from the unreal.

The seeker has to go on negating the unreal world in which we exist by the realizing the Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit (consciousness), which is real and eternal. The ‘Spirit’ is the cause of the universe in which we exist and it itself is uncaused.

 To find the Advaitic truth, which is beyond the form, time and space is to eliminate  the form, time and space mentally by  realizing the form, time and space are mere an illusion created out of the  ‘Spirit’.  The form, time and space are ‘Spirit’ in their essence.  Thus, ‘Spirit’ alone is real and eternal.   The ‘Spirit’ is ultimate truth and ultimate truth is God. 

Hinduism, is not a religion. Rather it is a group of religions found within India that share common beliefs while still remaining very different.***

Hindus assert their religion is monotheistic, even though they honour a number of Gods, including Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer.  Hindus claim these various Gods are all manifestations of the oneness of the universe.  Hindu religious practices vary from place to place, but they frequently include yoga, physical and mental discipline to harmonize body and Soul, and ritual bathing.

Belief in multiple Gods, The worship of idols; the worship of images that are not God, The worship of sacred images, , ancestor worship, pilgrimage, priest craft, the belief in avatars or incarnations of God, the hereditary caste system on the grounds that all these lack Vedic sanction.

Hinduism indulges  non-Vedic beliefs  such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priest craft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability and child marriages. All these lack Vedic sanction therefore Hinduism is not Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Realizing the universe is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness leads non-dualistic or Advaitic ‘‘Self’’-awareness. ‘‘Self’’-awareness is freedom or Moksha. Moksha is unity in diversity in the midst of duality.

*

It is very difficult to talk to people about ultimate truth or Brahman because everyone thinks he knows the ultimate truth or Brahman. This I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second hand stuff.  Therefore, accepting accumulated knowledge without verification will lead the seekers to hallucinated realization based on the ego.  One may have some flashes of truth when someone tries to indicate it through fewer words. But it takes nearer to truth not realization. 

The Santana Dharma was pure Vedic religion prior to the existence of the present day Hinduism. Hinduism is not pure Vedic religion; it is hotch potch mixture of many ideologies adopted by other ideologies, cultures and traditions.

Most people from the west think that Hinduism is a religion but it is not so. The Indus (Sindhu) valley culture is named as Hinduism by the Muslim invaders in the past. Muslim invaders   who were not able to pronounce Sindhu they called Sindhu culture as Hindu culture. Thus name Hindu came into existence. Hinduism is mere culture not religion. This Hindu culture consists of different caste, creeds, ideologies, beliefs and way of life in different regions of India.

Hinduism, is not a religion. Rather it is a group of religions found within India that share common beliefs while still remaining very different. Many may even argue that it is not a religion but more a way of life. The term "Hinduism" was not developed by the practitioners, but by groups outside of the religions as a means for labeling the entire Indian people. thus Hindu means Indian. 

There are many groups within Hinduism that claim a sort of "going back to the Vedas". While these groups are attempting to create a bond with the Vedas, they will never be followers of Vedic relgion while they still hold their core ideals.

These core beliefs are at odds with those of the Vedas. Many followers of Hinduism do translate the Vedas to fit into Hindu thought by changing the translation to reflect the beliefs of monism, reincarnation, the caste system and absence of animal and human sacrifice. 

As one goes deeper in annals of the history he becomes aware of the fact that, the so called present Hinduism has adopted many things from Buddhism, religion of Abraham, Jainism and Islam. If one goes deeper enough he will become aware everything is mixed up and messed up in time.

No one is taken pains to rectify it because; because people have been inherited them, from their ancestors and they think it is blasphemy even to hear anything against their inherited religion and belief. Once one gets involved with the religious class it is the end of the pursuit of truth.

J.K and Osho went deep in to it and exposed their fallacies to some extent, but it is only in surface level. Maharishi, Dayananda in his book Satyarth Prakash clearly mentions what is Vedic and what is non-Vedic. But the orthodox class still wants to maintain the inherited falls legacy as supreme truth. Thus, there is no use of arguing or convincing the people who accepted their false legacy and propagate them as truth. Since, the pursuit of truth is a very personal journey; and it is not the pursuit of argument, there is no need for to indulge in convincing others, seeker of truth has to get convinced for him-self to drop all conditioning, which he has inherited from his belief system.

Prior to Sage  Sri, Sankara in 8th century there was no Advaita in Santana Dharma or Vedic religion has no founders whereas Advaita and qualified Advaita and Dwaita  and all other sect and caste  identified as Hinduism   are identified with their founders. All of them have non-Vedic rituals barred by the Vedas. The dualism came only in 12 th century. The orthodox Advaita and Dwaita area based on Abrahamic frame work. Both Advaita and Dwith schools based on Vedas and they condemn each other with Upanishads and Puranic citations and try to prove they are right and others are wrong. The orthodox Advaita is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman because they worship idols, human worship, and symbol worship and indulge in non-Vedic ritual barred by Vedas.

Sage Sri, Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never advised them to give up their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time he showed just one step forward towards the truth.   Sage Sri, Sankara was extremely precise and careful in his choice of words. 

That is what Yajurveda says: not to worship the things which are part of the falsehood.

Translation 1.

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol etc.)- [Yajurved 40:9]

Translation 2.

"Deep into shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti are intent." -[Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538]

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 indicates that:~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example table, chair, idol etc [Yajurved 40:9]

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.]

The religion of the Veda knows no idols:

Max Müller says:~ "The religion of the Veda knows no idols; the worship of idols in India is a secondary formation, a degradation of the more primitive worship of ideal gods."

Therefore, there was no individual god or temples and worships in Vedic religion, which existed prior to Buddhism. Thus the individualized gods and temples must have been built later on, when the worships of idol were introduced. Thus the Vedic religion which existed in the past was free from idol and nature worship and idol worshiping rituals.

Thus, the present day’s worship of individual gods, created things, nature and human are against Vedic teachings, and it looks like it has been fabricated and introduced by priest craft. Since it, has passed on from one generation to the next it is hard for the people to believe the truth of their own religion, because they have sentimentally and emotionally involved in it and they refuse to accept anything else other than their inherited beliefs.

Sage Sri, Sankara’s wisdom is complete and perfect.***

The Advaita taught by Sage Sri Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one. According to Sage Sri Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman, itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory.

Sage Sri, Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Mundaka, he gave the highest nondual message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practice of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasūtra he gave a lesser teaching, positing both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Isvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

Sage Sri, Sankara's  Advaitic wisdom ~ Without a Parallel.  Sage Sri Sankara's wisdom is lofty, sublime and unique. It is highly interesting, inspiring and elevating. No other wisdom can stand before it in boldness, depth and subtle thinking.  Sage Sri, Sankara’s wisdom is complete and perfect.

Sage Sri Sankara was a mighty, marvellous genius. He was a profound thinker of the first rank. He was a sage of the highest realization. His wisdom has brought solace, peace and illumination to countless persons in the world. The Western thinkers bow their heads at the lotus-feet of  Sage Sri Sankara. His wisdom has soothed the sorrows and afflictions of the most forlorn persons and brought hope, joy, wisdom, perfection, freedom and calmness to many. His wisdom commands the admiration of the whole world.

Biographical anecdotes about his childhood about the crocodile story and the story in Sage Sri,   Sankara's life of going to Benares and occupying the body of another man and then having sex intercourse with his wife, is a myth created by orthodoxy hiding the real fact the reason best-known to the orthodoxy. Sage, Sri, Sankara had the scientific spirit and when told by Saraswathi the woman that he was talking emptily about sex, being a Sanyasi, he at once went to learn the truth by having actual intercourse himself and thus learning by experiment and observation.

Thus,  all the myth about Sage Sri, Sankara is nothing to do with the seeker of truth because the seeker is concerned only with the wisdom of the Sage Sri, Sankara.  

Sage Sri, Sankara:~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sri, Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Sage Sri, Sankara:~  The Gnani "should pass through life", not run away from life and should take a middle course between seeking worldly honor and worldly abasement. (Chap.3.4.50; Sankara's commentary to Brahma Sutras)

Sage Sri, Sankara's work has got two aspects: the practical and the spiritual. He gave religious, ritual or dogmatic instruction to the populace but pure wisdom 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.

Sage Sri, Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never told them to give their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time he showed just one step forward towards the truth.

Sage Sri, Sankara was extremely precise and careful in his choice of words. He was no fool in writing.  Sage Sri, Sankara did more than write books or initiate Sanyasin: He brought India into a unity as a nation. He told people to worship what they wish, remain in their particular religion, caste and creed, but remember also you are part of a larger whole.

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions will determine the phenomenal world observed and experienced.  The orthodox pundit   seeing Sage Sri, Sankara will see differently from the A Gnani seeing the same Sage Sri, Sankara.  Each one of them interprets the world that they see in terms of their existing knowledge.  The orthodox sees Sage Sri, Sankara as the founder of their religion and also as a guru of Advaitic orthodox sect.  A man of truth sees Sage Sri, Sankara not as a guru but as a Gnani. The orthodoxy believes their experience of the birth, life, death and rebirth and the world as reality. Whereas a Gnani sees the world is a mere illusion created out of consciousness.  Thus,  Gnani sees no second thing other than consciousness. The one who treads the path of wisdom gains the knowledge of the reality beyond form, time and space. A  Gnani has delved into and he transcended consciously all identification with the experience form, time and space.

Similarly, orthodoxy has to be bifurcated from philosophy. To know the Non-dualistic wisdom of Sage Sri, Sankara, one has to be free from all superstitions and dogmas and orthodoxy and scriptural knowledge.  The seeker has to be more rational and scientific in his attitude.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the more advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman. Thus, the purva mimam.sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the Jnana Kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond such transient pleasures. 

Sage Sri, Sankara said: ~ Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but the liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

Philosophy does not begin with the ultimate truth. Ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Hence, so-called philosophers who take Brahman for granted are not philosophers at all.

Most  of Advaitin scholars will teach that all is you, but none of them can show that this is so, none has analysed it scientifically, and none can prove it. The rational proof is required so that one arrive at knowing the ultimate truth or Brahman i.e. Gnana.  Theirs is a mere dogma, parrotism, a repetition of what they read in scripture.  Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

Sage Sri Sankara’s whole teaching can be summed up into one sentence, ‘There is nothing else but Brahman. He says that the Absolute Existence, Absolute Knowledge and Absolute Bliss are real. The universe is not real. He says that Brahma and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Self is real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances. 

Sage Sri Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman, Brahman, itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory***.

The Advaita taught by Sage Sri Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one. According to Sage Sri Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman,  itself is absolutely homogeneous. All difference and plurality are illusory.

Sage Sri, Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Mundaka, he gave the highest nondual message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practice of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasūtra he gave a lesser teaching, positing both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Isvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

Genuine philosophy must be independent of religion, that in Sage Sri, Sankara himself the Saguna Brahman or a personal God is only a part of the phenomenal (if not illusory) world, and the Nirguna Brahman is the only reality and has nothing to do with religion.  

Sage Sri Sankara pokes fun at ascetics and points out that all their austerities do not cause desires to go (Altar Flowers" Page 205, v.2 P.207 v.4)

The Brahma Sutras together with  Sage Sri Sankara's commentary thereon do not contain the higher wisdom. They are intended for those who are incapable of thinking rationally.

Sage Sri, Sankara's commentary on the Brahma Sutras is not on a philosophical basis, but on an orthodox and mystic basis, with an  appeal to the Vedas as  a final authority.

In Brahma Sutra Sage Sri, Sankara takes the position that there is another entity outside us, i.e. the wall really exists separately from the mind. This was because Sage Sri, Sankara explains in Manduka that those who study the Sutras are orthodox minds, intellectual children, hence his popular viewpoint to assist them. These people are afraid to go deeper because it means being heroic enough to refuse to accept Sruti, and God's authority, in case they mean punishment by God.  A Gnani says the scriptures for children, but wise seekers will think rationally.

In Brahma Sutras Sage Sri, Sankara takes for granted, assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy.

That God created the world is an absolute lie, nevertheless one will find Sage Sri, Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds.

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion, dogmatism, but in the commentary Sage Sri, Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that a number of Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, only a few Upanishads do not, but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof.

Scholars translation of Brahma Sutras in Sacred Books of East must be read cautiously as he has not understood its highest sense, e.g. for Advaita they wrongly put "Unity" instead of “Non-duality."

Sage Sri Sankara gave religion and scholasticism and yoga no less than philosophy, to the seeking world. He was great enough to be able to do so. His commentary on Mandukya is pure philosophy, but many of his other books are presented from a religious standpoint to help those who cannot rise up to philosophy.

Orthodoxy is the home of mysticism and deification that is why they are not keen rational truth. Thus, Sage Sankara is the Guru to the religious followers and he is a great Gnani to the seeking world.  

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study the Scriptures, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~ then why you indulge in studying the scriptures.

 Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study philosophy, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in studying the philosophy.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge rituals, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge yoga, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why you indulge in yoga.

Sage Sri, Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

~ then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

Sage Sri, Sankara says ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then  why yo are indulging in other types of meditation.