This universe is but a state of ignorance.

Many People adopt the attitude that what   they know is truth. And what others say is false. This attitude makes them not to verify anything other then what they know as truth.   One needs to be rational, not merely logical. Logic is has its value only in physical plane.

As one advances towards spiritual plane he sees the logic underlying experience and becomes more rational. His reasoning is two-fold--implicit and explicit.

There is a need of facts of physical proof in scientific invention, whereas in pursuit of truth the proof has to be grasped mentally and realized.  Therefore, the truth is realized only by few who take this mental pursuit.  “Whatever facts revealed, which is un-contradictable has to be accepted as truth.

The truth based on the formless soul/self is worthwhile; without it, one has something else, not truth.  Most people refuse to venture into pursuit of truth; because they do not want to go into the root of things.

Until one gets firm conviction of the ultimate truth he has to constantly reflect on the nature of the  innermost  self, till he achieves the equilibrium.  Thus renouncing the worldly life is not necessary in order to acquire non-dual wisdom.  

This universe is but a state of ignorance.  In reality universe is nothing but illusion created out of consciousness. The existent and non-existent of forms, name and things do not lose their inherent nature. The consciousness self-existing, which knows both existence and non-existence, never ceases to be because it is cause of the illusion and it itself is uncaused. 

The nature of the consciousness, which is the true self, is free from mental contents (three states), effortless, immutable, and spotless is neither far way nor near but ever present in all the three states as their formless substance and witness. When the formless substance and witness are one in essence the three states are mere mirage created out of that formless essence. 

The universe exists because of consciousness. The moment the ignorance vanishes the universe with all its contents becomes unreal. Thus realizing the unreal nature of the universe or waking experience in the midst waking experience leads to self-awareness. Self-awareness frees one from experiencing the waking experience as reality. 

Non-dual Peace is the true nature of the innermost  self, which is soul or  consciousness. Peace is lost when one admits the second thing, which is the cause of ignorance. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the duality (waking) as reality. 

Consciousness, that which know or is.  There can be no ignorance in its true nature. Taking things for what it is not, leads to Self –Awareness. Just as a dream reality lasts only a short time so with Gnana or non-dual wisdom the delusion of the waking reality disappears. i.e. the universe is seen as no reality but as an illusory appearance.  

 

Consciousness is always present everywhere. It is within the form, time and space but it is beyond form, time and space, with not before or after. It is undeniable and obvious. Nothing can be said about it because it exists prior to the appearance of form, time and space and also it prevails after disappearance of the form, time and space.  

As soon as one realizes that self is not the form but self is formless   then he becomes free from experiencing the illusory birth, life, death and the universe as reality.   True Self is free from the bondage of Karma, from the fetters of desires, from the mirage of this mundane life and its concomitant evils and miseries.

One sees the clouds. The clouds move continuously but their moment is within the waking or dream. If one takes a photograph, he sees the Clouds in the picture, but there is no motion of clouds in the picture. Motion is mental creation within the waking or dream.

Motion means duality.  Motion is mind. The object appears to move only. Motion is illusion. Behind the objects that move there is the absolutely motionless consciousness which witnesses the motion. Consciousness is still, it is all-pervading, and Infinite.  Consciousness is everywhere, because it is all-pervading and infinite.

The true self is the soul. Soul is in the form of consciousness, which is hidden within the three states, and its nature is formless and non-dual. It can be known only through discrimination between the dual and non-dual experiences.  And it is beyond the reach of speech and words and thoughts and form, time and space.

Discriminating between the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness and mind, which is in the form of universe one realizes what is real and what is unreal. by identifying  consciousness as true self  one becomes aware the mind which is in the form of universe is mere mirage created out of consciousness  and consciousness alone is real and ultimate truth or Brahman.

All worldly enjoyment depends on the waking experience, which is a second thing; whereas the everlasting happiness is only in non-dual reality.   

If one gets abundant enjoyment by acquiring all kinds of worldly objects than surely he cannot be happy without renouncing all.   But one need not renounce them for the sake of getting wisdom being in the midst of illusion one must know and realize the unreal nature of the waking experience by mentally renouncing the waking experience in the midst of waking experience leads to self-awareness.

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is not for those who has faith in their inherited belief system*****

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is not for those who has faith in their inherited belief system. If one has the firm conviction about religion and yoga and theories as the only means to highest truth and what he knows or believes is the ultimate truth,  then he must accept scriptures blindly and follow his inherited belief system or yogic path without question. 

Religion and yoga are not the means for Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. religion is used as tool of  conditioning  with its own  frame work  to be, to believe, to behave and to live in the society with its code of conduct with the fear of  God.  but are of no value as proof for those who are searching for ultimate truth because they are based on blind belief.

That is why 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.

Most of the saints and sages of the past are mostly social reformers, thus they are more concerned to the humanism rather than the truth. Their contribution is very valuable to live in the practical world.  But their contribution is not the means for acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   Thus humanism is part and parcel of the universe, which is mere illusion.

That is why Swami Vivekananda said:~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own Soul.”

Mundaka Upanishad:- Ignorant fools, regarding sacrifices and humanitarian works as the highest, do not know any higher good. Having enjoyed their reward on the heights of heaven, gained by good works, they enter again this world or a lower one. (First Mundaka -10-   Chapter I [Source: "the upanishads - a new translation" by swami nikhilananda in four volumes)

The humanism is limited to practical life within the practical world.    The path of love is path for humanity therefore, it is individualized path. Thus path of love is limited to the physical structure, it cannot transport one to ultimate end.  Thus seeker has to understand the fact that the practical life and practical world are part of the mirage from the ultimate standpoint. 

The simple reason is that the average person may have desire for knowledge but when the whole society is immersed in belief system and feeling himself   out of place because of societal fear and surroundings circumstances and he thinks it unfits him to pursue the path of truth. 

That is why Buddha said:~

Do not believe a spiritual teaching just because:-

1. it is repeatedly recited,
2. it is written in a scripture,
3. it was handed from guru to disciple,
4. everyone around you believes it,
5. it has supernatural qualities,
6. it fits my beliefs anyway,
7. it sounds rational to me,
8. it is taught by a respectable person,
9. it was said to be the truth by the teacher,
10. one must defend it or fight for it.

However, only when it agrees with your experience and reason, and when it is conducive to the good and gain of oneself and all others, then one should accept the teachings, and live up to them."
....Buddha.

The seeker of truth is one who is ready verify and has courage to accept and reject the truth when he finds out what is truth and what is untruth. The meek will stick to their inherited conditioning remain experiencing duality as reality.

Intellectuals think that Ultimate truth   cannot be known. They do not want o discuss nor accept anything whatever they know and accepted as truth.  There is no use of discussing with intellectuals  because the intellectuality  is based on individuality and individuality is based on form,t ime and space.  whatever is based on form,t ime and space is bound to be illusion because self is not an individual because it is formless, timeless and spaceless existence.   and show respect and remain silent in their company. 

Everyone  thinks they knows the truth but they never verified what they know is ultimate truth or not. "What I know is right, what another man knows is wrong. This unfortunate vanity is common to all men and prevents realization. A man must begin by doubting his own  accumulated knowledge in order to know what he has accumulated as truth whether it is  ultimate truth or not . Only when doubts begin to arise does a man start in quest of Truth. And such doubts usually first take the shape of asking why God sends or permits epidemics, calamities and wars and unrest. 

Quotation from others should come only after one have shown one’s arguments, convinced by use of reason based on facts, and then only may one introduce quotations in order to show that others have reached the same conclusion. But when a man quotes very extensively it is because of his inferiority complex.

One must go to the very fundamentals, to the root of thinking, to "grasp the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

How does one know what he says is true? This question must come to one’s mind whenever a doctrine is presented to him whether by intellectuals or philosophers.

When that all the doubts are cleared, that means the doubts on every question. However, this natural state could not have been reached without having doubts and asking questions and demanding proofs.

To overcome doubt by the sword of wisdom, it does not mean that seeker should give up his doubt and believe, as the religionists interpret it, but that he should keep on thinking about his doubts until they are solved; that he should not stop until this point is reached.

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  is the enemy of yogis, mystics and religious Gurus  because it pries into the reality, the source and the validity of the knowledge they claim. Therefore it is the most difficult part of the study of  non-duality .

The ‘ego’ is supreme among men, and lies at the bottom of all their ignorance, mistakes and misunderstanding. Every man thinks "He knows". He does not stop to ask first "What is the meaning of what he  believe he  knows?

most people  say “They know everything and the whole truth. “None stops to doubt or to understand, or to inquire as to what is a fact, or what is the definition of experience. The ignorant takes the simplest path, that of the un-inquiring mind, because the other way, the search for truth, is hard and difficult and laborious. Such questions do not worry the religious believers , the mystic or the ordinary men.

 Many have got the childish and sheepish mentality, and accept statements as merely because they are uttered by famous men. They lack the scientific method of inquiry.

in ancient time people were simply curious sought some knowledge of the sun and stars; but in modern days have brains, they are ready to inquire and reason and acquire Self-  Knowledge  or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana .” they begin with a doubt and finally clear all the doubt and realize the reality.

In the confusing multiplicity of doctrines, everyone  has his own interpretation,  they do not have time to think and inquire if it be true. Yet doubt is the fist step to knowledge for the thoughtful. On the other hand, seeker of truth must never be satisfied with mere skepticism, have the hope that one’s doubt will be solved and  move  forward.  Reason tells one what is good and what is bad, what should be followed and what let alone.

Seeker should pursue this quest until all his questions will be answered, until his doubts and confusions will disappear and solved. If God is to be Almighty he must be free to change his mind. If he is changeable, He cannot be Truth, as per  ultimate definition.

v 

 How does one know that he is related to God? 

         Has he seen God?

That He created the world, that he has manifested himself is merely supposed. It may be, but how does he know? 

v      How does he know that scriptures are true?

The Sages might have been mistaken. To accept these scriptures without reasoning is to possess the sheepish  mentality.

 Seeker of truth should not start with idea of God because he  does  not know whether there is God or not. There is no proof. If any one mentions of  God's existence than  he must prove his existence.

One need not doubt that mystics saw God. That they saw visions may he an undeniable fact. However, the question is “Was what they saw the Truth?" They no doubt had such vision but they never stopped to inquire if their visions be true.

 Seeker of truth must  take all the facts, science, religion, art etc. and then investigate them, in order to find out which is the truth? One collects as much evidence as possible, even contradictory, and then proceeds to examine all of it.  seeker of truth has to inquire, analyze and reason  in order to find out  how far is it true?” 

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. 

 

Until one gets firm conviction of the ultimate truth he has to constantly reflect on the nature of the true self, till he achieves the equilibrium.  Thus renouncing the worldly life is not necessary in order to acquire non-dual wisdom.