The waking or dream arises from consciousness (soul) , is sustained by consciousness (soul) and merges into consciousness (soul) on the attainment of Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Our ignorance of the true self (formless soul) is the cause of experiencing duality as reality. This ignorance not only makes us ignorant of the true self (soul), but it projects the world as a reality within the waking or dream. The world has no reality apart from formless soul , just as the dream has no reality when waking takes place. When the knowledge of the soul,which is present in the form of consciousness  arises, the waking or dream is seen as a mere appearance of the soul or consciousness. The illusory waking or dream arose from the consciousness (soul), was sustained by the consciousness (soul)  and ultimately merged into the consciousness (soul)on the attainment of Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The waking or dream arises from consciousness (soul) , is sustained by consciousness (soul) and merges into consciousness (soul) on the attainment of Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Another example is also given to explain this. Ornaments of different sizes and shapes are made out of one gold bar. Similarly waking or dream  or visions or astral is like ornaments made out of one single substance that is consciousness (soul) . Hostility arises out of partial vision. When the whole truth is realized, there can be no hostility.

We recognize the truth expounded by religion or yoga or theories in each of them; but they are individual truth, not universal truth.

 Ornaments of different sizes and shapes are made out of one gold bar. Their appearance and the use for which they are meant vary, but the fact that they are all really nothing but gold, in spite of their different appearances and uses, cannot be denied. The appearance may change, a bangle may be converted into rings, but the gold always remains as gold. 

When we begin to look upon the bracelet, rings, etc., as nothing but gold in essence, the differences between bracelet and ring, ring and necklace, etc., cease to count though they continue to retain their different shapes. Similarly, on the dawn of the knowledge of the Self, though the different forms continue to be seen by a Gnani, he sees them all only as appearances of the the  consciousness (soul) . Thus the perception of difference between one person and another, or one thing and another, and the consequences of such perception, such as looking upon some as favorable and others as the opposite, and the consequent efforts to retain or get what is favorable and to get rid of or avoid what is not favorable, come to an end. This is the state of liberation even while living, within the waking (duality) which is known as freedom.

Liberation is not the attainment of some new state in some other world after the end of the present life

Every individual identifies the self with the physical body. When a person describes self as stout or lean or fair-complexioned or dark, he is looking upon self as the physical body to which these characteristics belong.

When he says 'I see', 'I hear', 'I smell’ I taste and so on, he is identifying the self with the organs of sense which perform these functions. When he says 'I am happy' or 'I am unhappy', he is identifying the self with the ego.

All these identifications are wrong and that the self  is in reality not the body or the sense-organs or the mind, but formless soul, which is eternal, changeless and not affected by anything that happens within the waking or dream.

 It is consciousness (soul)  that appears as the whole experience of waking  or dream in which the individual perceiving the world,  because of identification with the body and the world. This sense of individuality, which makes the infinite, all-pervading consciousness (soul)  appear as an individual limited to physical body creates the sense of duality within the waking or dream.

This wrong identification, which is called bondage, is due to our ignorance of the true self. This ignorance is the cause of experiencing the duality as reality. When this ignorance is eradicated, the seeking mind remains established in its essence as the Self the -formless soul or consciousness. This is liberation.

Thus the liberation is not the attainment of some new state in some other world after the end of the present life. It is only the realization, in this life itself, of what one has always been, namely formless soul, by the removal of the wrong notion that the self is the physical body.  


Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana  is the destroyer of ignorance. The self is the inner guru, god, the all-pervading principle and the cause of all three states.

The serious seeker should constantly reflect on the true self constantly through inquiry, analysis and reasoning, which is in the form of consciousness because it is the only means to acquire Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is the only tool   for the acquisition of final freedom from experiencing the illusory duality as reality.

The seeker has to have the indifference mentally to all the three states because the three states are mere mirage created out of consciousness. Holding the three states as reality is the greatest hindrance in pursuit of truth. Thus one has to remove all the obstacles and mental barricade one by one by realizing the self is not the form but the self is formless. 

The  three states are perishable in their nature because they are  a mere mirage created out of consciousness. The consciousness, which is the formless substance and the witness of the mirage, is real and eternal.  Thus the consciousness is the innermost self. And knowing and realizing consciousness as self is the means to the attainment of Self- Realization or Truth Realization.

Consciousness is the true self is the formless substance and the witness of the three states is alone real and permanent. The three states are an object opposed to it, which is transient – such a settled conviction is truly known as discrimination.

Turning attention completely from all the three states and concentrating only on consciousness which is the formless substance and the witness of the three states is the only means to acquire Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Intense urge to become free from the bonds of this birth, life deaths and world, leads one to indulge in the pursuit of truth.

Only serious seekers who have an intense urge to acquire Self- Knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana should have courage to discard the false-knowledge with a view to attaining non-dualistic wisdom. 

It was not God who created man; man created God.

The religious believers do not  doubt about their inherited belief  system. And they think it  is  Blasphemous to doubt about their religious belief.  if  one thinks  that what he knows or believes is true  then he must accept the scriptures blindly and follow his  God without question. the path of truth  or wisdom is  not meant for those who are strongly immersed in their belief system.  

Religious believers  strongly attached to the existence of God. They use different names for Him,Her or It.  In any event whatever name one gives him he is regarded as the creator. God is the creator of all life in the world. If one asks the believers if God is created life, if that is so who created Him. they have no answer. The truth is that the universe is uncreated.  It was not created by any person by whatever name one calls Him/Her. There was no creator . It was not God who created man; man created God. The creator and  creation theory is based on the false self within the false experience. From ultimate standpoint there is neither the creator nor creation. 

There are millions in search of truth but one in million will be able to grasp it.  I am just highlighting the obstacle in the pursuit of truth.  Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is not based on any teaching or teacher. Pursuit of truth is pursuit of verification not pursuit of argument.   Intellectual discussion is great hindrance in pursuit of truth. 

There is nothing more rational, more intelligible and more un-dogmatic insights of Sri, Sankara, is to drop all the theistic non-duality or Advaita which is meant for those who are incapable and not receptive to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Gaudapada says: - the merciful Veda teaches karma and upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

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. 

Upanishad says:

This Atman 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]

Mundaka Upanishad  :-

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 Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 Mundaka Upanishad  Upanishads by Nikilanada)

When the Upanishads say:-

It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals its own form.  Then what is the use of indulging through our intelligence or our accumulated knowledge, when one is not chosen by the self, which is the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

There is no need for any philosophy in pursuit of truth because they take the seeker nearer to truth but they create more doubts and confusions.

 

The scriptures and theories and teaching based on the ego are not the yardstick. Using them as yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is mind?” and “what is substance of the mind?” and move forward.  

Sharing is giving info for the sake of goodness. As with all things, achieving a balance of peaceful communications is established with respect,  humility, understanding and patience. Balancing an achievement is harder.

In practical life, religion and yoga are needed. In the path of truth or wisdom  they are to be regarded only as tool to conditions man to be, to believe, to behave and to live in cultured society with its code of conduct with the fear of God,  but are of no value as proof. 

Intellectuals think that Ultimate truth cannot be Feeling. They do not want to discuss nor accept anything  other than whatever they know and accepted as truth.  Therefore the seeker of truth  must avoid discussing with head strong intellectuals and show respect to them  and remain silent. That is how we Seeker of truth  must behave in the company of those who believe they know. Every man thinks he knows the truth. 

"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 knowledge, therefore. 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 principles and not merely repeat the words of  the scriptures.

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

 

The ultimate truth is one without the second, the one is not in the sense half or two, but the one that remain forever One, without the second.  The consciousness is all pervading. There is no place where consciousness is not.

Consciousness is in everyone, consciousness is in everything .consciousness is one behind many. Consciousness alone is. It means the universe and its contents are the visible form of consciousness. And consciousness in turn is invisible form of the universe, which appears as mind.  

That is why Sri, Sankara says in commentary in Vedanta sutra that what is accepted without proper enquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.   Seeker of truth should not believe blindly in traditional orthodox non-duality without verifying all the facts from every angle. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process.

Everything is made of the same substance, whether it be inside--as in dreams--or outside as in waking. Whatever is seen as object, heard as sound or name is of the same substance. Many have   begun to suspect this truth. This is the great lesson to be learnt. Consciousness is all this."

Liberation is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the three states

The illusory universe  never exist in reality. What existed even when the universe  was seen was only the soul or consciousness. Similarly, the burden   bondage within the universe has no real existence at all. 

Gaudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita: - that whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal.

Formless soul is the innermost self. The soul is in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness dwells within the mind. Mind is present in the form of universe.  Universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).  The one, which appears as duality and disappears as non-duality is consciousness. Non-duality is the true nature of the soul or consciousness the innermost self. 

Consciousness dwells within the mind or universe. , yet is other than the mind or universe.  The universe is present in the form of waking or dream. Waking or dream is the state of ignorance. The universe is reality on the standpoint of the waking entity. Waking entity is the false self within the false experience.

Even when we are ignorant of the soul, the innermost self  and think of ourselves as limited by the body, we are really none other than the infinite soul, the innermost  self. Liberation is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the three states. The attainment of the state of liberation-in-life is the ultimate goal of the truth seeker. 

Only the seeking mind which has become receptive and one-pointed is capable of attaining Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Pursuit of truth consists in hearing, reading, writing, inquiry and reasoning and reflecting on what has been heard in order to remove all doubts, to realize as an actuality  what has been understood intellectually by hearing and reflection. A seeker  who has, by this process, come to grasp and realize  the truth that self  is really the Atman and not the body, mind or sense-organs and remains firmly rooted in that realization  is  a Gnani.

By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.

 

Sri, Sankara says VC 61:-  For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

 Seekers who embarking  on the pursuit of truth have to get rid of all accumulated inherited dross from parental grooming, religion and circumstances by perfect understanding. Seeking mind can attain liberation on becoming endowed with – knowledge of the true self.

Truth pursuit is an inner journey. It is only by going on this inner pilgrimage that the seekers of truth swim across the illusory ocean of the duality. The pursuit of truth is a mental journey.  ‘Right- base, Right knowledge and Right- reasoning’ is necessary to assimilate the self-knowledge.

Right- base, Right knowledge and Right- reasoning’ and sharpness to grasp and receptivity is very much necessary to pave the path towards non-dual destination.

Self (soul or Atman) is the true pilgrimage. Therefore, all seekers of truth should undertake the pilgrimage of the true Self through deeper thinking, inquiring and reasoning in to the nature of the mind, to overcome the cycle of illusory birth, life and death.

The Atman is the source of the waking or dream, for it causes the creation and dissolution of the waking or dream. By creation and dissolution are meant the manifestation and demanifestation of the waking or dream.

 The waking or dream remains potential as impressions in the Ataman and it causes its manifestation waking or dream is like the unrolling of a painted canvas.

 If the painted canvas is rolled up, the picture is no longer visible. In the same way, when the ignorance is removed with sword of knowledge, the Ataman withdraws into itself  and the waking or dream with all that it contains i.e., all remain in a latent form.

The goal is to realize  the self.  the soul is the innermost self . the soul is present in the form of consciousness. Soul or consciousness is  ultimate truth or  Brahman.  And by realizing the soul or consciousness as Brahman or ultimate truth  is truth realization or Self-Realization.

 There is no need to follow religion, study scriptures or glorifying gods and gurus and  follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy, when there is an easier path.  By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind raises form consciousness and subsides as consciousness.

Mind has emanated from and in consciousness.

Gaudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita: - that whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal.

The mind is impermanent.  It appears as waking or dream [duality] and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).  There must be something continuous to register its appearance and disappearance.

Memory is part of the illusion; it has nothing to do with ultimate truth. Memory belongs to individuality, whereas the ultimate truth is universal.The illusion hides the truth, the true   identity pervades everywhere and in everything in illusion.  One has to find out what is at the root of it.

Life seems continuous but it is within the waking and dream. The form, time and space are reality within the mind or duality. Ignorance gives this impression of reality within the duality or mind. 

The memory, recollection that creates the illusion of time passing is based on the false self. When the self is formless the question of memory, birth, life, death and the world does not arise.  The one which knows the mind (universe) which appears and disappears is apart and formless. Thus all the knowledge based on the false self (ego) within the false experience (mind) is mere illusion on the standpoint of the formless witness of the illusion (mind)

Mind becomes one with consciousness in deep sleep. Mind has emanated from and in consciousness.  The individual experiences are reality within the waking or dream. Individuality ceases to exist without the waking or dream.  The one which witnesses the dream is not waking entity and one which witnesses the waking is not dream entity. The one which witness the deep sleep experience is   neither dream entity not the waking entity. Then what is it that is aware of these three states, which come and go in succession.

It is the consciousness (soul) which is aware of all the three states, which comes and goes in succession. Thus it is the witness of the three states. It is also is the substance of the three states because it pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states. Thus consciousness is the common essence in dual and non-dual experiences.  The one, who discovers, understands and assimilates and realizes the essence as ultimate truth becomes free from experiencing the duality as reality.   The consciousness exists with or without the duality. The birth, life, death and the world are within the mind or duality. And the consciousness is the formless substance witness of birth, life, death and the world (mind).   

Consciousness (soul) is apart from the birth, life, death and the world, because it is not an object within the duality, but the duality (waking or dream) is an object to it.  When one becomes aware of the fact that, the formless substance and witness are one in essence, then there is unity in diversity.  

 

Dream become unreal when waking takes place. That means the dream entity, people within the dream and the dream world becomes unreal. Same way the waking entity and people within the waking experience and the waking world becomes unreal when wisdom dawns. 

The experience birth, life, death and the world are within the illusion.  Due to ignorance, the illusion is experienced as reality. The illusion is present in the form of ‘I’ or mind. Mind is present in the form of universe. Universe appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.   The three states are one in essence and that essence is consciousness. The consciousness (soul) is the innermost self. On the standpoint of the innermost self the three states are illusory. 

Thus experiencing the birth, life, death and the world within the illusion (waking or universe) with the illusory self (waking entity or ego), within the illusory experience (waking), has to be illusion. 

The illusion is created, and sustained, and finally dissolves as consciousness, which is the innermost Self.  Since, there is no second thing other than the consciousness (soul); the consciousness itself is ultimate truth or Brahman.   The one who has realized this truth for him this illusion is passing show because he is fully aware of the fact that his body, his ego and his experience of the world to be consciousness. Practical peoples approach is more practical, and they are stuck with the reality of the practical life within the practical world, they take it as real whereas Gnani sees   his body his ego and his experience of the world as consciousness.

A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignore that in dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real. 

The one which believes itself as body is not the body.

Everyone’s individual experiences are not the same.   Some are so much immersed in materiality, religion, duty bound towards their family and society, and they will not be attracted to the non-dual wisdom or understand and assimilate the non-dual truth, because they accepted the practical life within the practical world as reality  thus they have accepted the duality as reality. Therefore they will remain unaware of the fact that the duality is mere illusion from ultimate standpoint.  Thus they remain in the inborn conditioning or samskara or conditioning, which is present as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’. This inborn conditioning is cause of ignorance. And ignorance is cause of experiencing the illusory experience of birth, life, death and world as reality.  Thus basing oneself on birth entity trying for self-realization is to find fishes in desert sand.

The one which believes itself as body is not the body.  Only after this belief all other beliefs will arise. Thus the basic belief “I am the body” has to be there before any belief. After this basic belief, the belief of name is accepted. After the belief of body with the name, the belief of person is born. Thus, the belief of birth becomes belief of ignorance, without realizing the fact that, the believer is formless soul, which is the true self.

 

On the base of ignorance of the true self, the belief of the man and his experience of the world are based. Thus, the truth is hidden within the belief, which is cause by the ignorance. Thus, the whole experience of diversity is caused by the ignorance.

Without the experience of diversity there is no belief, because the belief rises within the experience of diversity. When one knows the source of the experience the ignorance vanishes and one realizes the fact that, there is neither belief nor experience. The diversity is mere mirage. Thus individuality, which is based on the belief is part and parcel of the mirage.   

Thus, it is necessary to realize the fact that, the belief and experience are part of the illusion created out of the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

Many are good at acrobatics with words, but their knowledge is limited to the waking entity, which is ego.  When the inner work is at progress then the realization will happen as conviction of the soul as self, grow than it leads to non-dual self-awareness. Only the chosen one by the soul the innermost self will be able to realize the truth.  

If one has understood 'I’ or ‘I AM ‘is not the self and what really is ‘I’ or ‘I AM’, there is no necessity for pursuit of truth.  When in deeper self-search one becomes aware neither the body nor the ‘I’ is self than one has to base the self on whatever prevails without the body and without the ‘I’. Passing the opinion   and judgment even after knowing the self is not ‘I’, itself is erroneous.  Thus holding the ‘I’ as self and passing judgement and opinion based on the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is only a hallucinated judgment based on the false self. This because they have taken the false self as real self and false experience as real experience.   

To love god as he ought to be loved, we must love for god and die for god, knowing that the goal of life is to know God, and find him as our own self.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, which is a part of Vedas, Declares that:-Brahman is the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the innermost self. Consciousness is the witness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.

What is not consciousness (formless) in the experience of diversity (waking or universe)?  The waking and the dream cease to exist without consciousness.  The seeker, seeking and his destination   all are one in essence.

There is only need to realize the whole universe in which we exist is created out of consciousness (soul or Atman), the innermost self.  On the standpoint innermost self, the universe is mere illusion created out of consciousness.  Thus on the ultimate standpoint no second thing exists other than consciousness. Thus consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman or Go.

 MEHER BABA:- When the reality appears this ignorance  which one thinks as reality becomes unreal.

Meher Baba said: - To love god as he ought to be loved, we must love for god and die for god, knowing that the goal of life is to know God, and find him as our own self.

To realize God is to attain liberation from the bondage of illusion. 

Live only to find and realize your true identity with your beloved God.

The energy which is expended in mere thinking, taking or writing is like steam which escapes through the whistle of railway engine …

That is why the sages have always insisted on practice rather than theory. This applies particularly to those who want to know and realize God.  

----

-----It means one has to one has to know and realize his inner most self is god and identify it has his true identity to find liberation from the bondage of  the illusion of birth, life, death and world[duality].   The goal of our life is to find and realize our identity with our beloved God, which is our innermost self. 

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the non-dualistic or Advaitic  truth. Only few escape from the web of illusion, only few will be  able to acquire non-dual wisdom.

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the waking experience (duality or mind or universe).  That is, being aware of the truth and untruth, reality and unreality. And able establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the soul, which is ultimate truth or Brahman.

It is unfortunate people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, and imagine about non duality and say nothing exist other than the source. But a Gnani says everything exists (illusion) but everything is created out of the soul (spirit or consciousness).  Everything rises from the soul (spirit or consciousness), and subsides as soul (spirit or consciousness). Thus, the whole diversity has no relevance, on the standpoint of the soul as self. 

Everything (illusion or matter) is nothingness (spirit or consciousness) realizing the three states are created out nothingness (soul or spirit or consciousness). Nothingness is the nature of the soul (spirit or consciousness), because there is no second thing exist other than the soul (spirit or consciousness), the innermost self.   Thus consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

Where there is no ignorance there is no burden and bondage of duality/illusion. Most of the people cannot understand this because they are egocentric. 

 

People quote the authorities from the scriptures and famous people to prove their point. The formless soul/self, which is free never, becomes bond. No bondage non liberation from the ultimate point of view. 

Only by analyzing the mind and its substance helps to get of bondage or illusion.  In the nature of the consciousness there is no division as internal and external. 

Seeker has to be steady in the pursuit of truth, and then alone it is possible to understand and assimilate the ultimate truth.  Those who accepted the illusion as reality will not be able to understand assimilate the ultimate truth.

The disentangling of cause and effect is huge problem in mental thinking. Reason functions only where there is duality. 

What is the first thought of the child? The child does not think until it is three years old. It does not think of ‘I’ or me because the ego is not formed yet. When it starts identifying itself with name then the ego is formed.

 

A permanent view of world as unreal can come only after soul centric reasoning; such knowledge cannot change. Were the seeker who is sufficiently sharpness he could grasp the unreal nature of the world by soul-centric reasoning alone.  To know whole truth, one must know the whole universe, otherwise he gets only half-truth. 

Renouncing the worldly life and accepting sanyasa or monk-hood means incapacity to think deeper, an impotency to inquire and reason. 

People speak of getting rid of conditioning or samskara but they themselves are unaware of the fact that, the universe in which they exist is product of the inborn samskara or conditioning.  The ignorance is cause of the inborn samskara or conditioning which present as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’. 

 The real Moksha or freedom is   to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness. Physical awareness is not self-awareness. The self –awareness is  when the formless soul or consciousness remains aware of its own non-dual   true nature.

Universe (mind or form) becomes oneness in deep sleep and Oneness (soul or consciousness, the innermost self) becomes universe in waking or dream.

God is Consciousness that pervades the entire universe of the living and the non-living.

- Ramakrishna

Universe (mind or form) becomes oneness in deep sleep and Oneness (soul or consciousness, the innermost self) becomes universe in waking or dream. The one that appears as mind (universe or waking or dream) and that becomes deep sleep is not our physical entity, because the physical entity is present only within waking and dream.

The one, which witnesses   coming and going of all the three states, is consciousness, which is formless, apart and eternal.  Consciousness is the inner most self.   All the three states are created out of single stuff, which is consciousness.  Thus the witness and witnessed are one in essence.  Thus there is no second thing exists other than consciousness. Thus the consciousness alone is real all else is mere illusion. Thus consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman or Christ or Buddha’s nature.    On the standpoint of consciousness as self the three states are falsehood. 

The Soul (consciousness), the innermost self is neither the body, nor the mind, nor the intellect, nor the world. The Soul (consciousness), the innermost self is neither the breath, nor the heart. 

The experience of duality is mere mirage created out of the consciousness.  Thus there is no second thing other than the consciousness the innermost self. Therefore, holding anything else other than the soul (consciousness) as god is ignorance caused by illusion.   The one which powers the illusion is the soul (consciousness). Thus consciousness   is real and eternal.  Thus whatever prevails eternally is God. 

We are talking of truth or god in illusion. We argue discuss about the ultimate truth or Christ or Brahman within the illusion. In reality there is nothing to argue, nothing to judge, because there is nothing exists other than Christ or Brahman or Buddha’s nature. 

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the non-dual truth. Only few escape from the web of illusion, only few seekers are able to acquire non-dual wisdom.

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman.

Non-dualistic orthodoxy is based on the form. Thus it is conduct oriented and trying to prove the truth on the base of scriptural authorities, whereas the ultimate truth is based on the soul, the innermost self.  Ultimate truth has to be proved on the base of soul-centric reasoning without the scriptures.

Orthodoxy holds the caste, religious rites, god and guru glorification, scriptural studies, virtues, good deeds and physical conducts as the means to acquire the self-knowledge, whereas in pursuit of truth, only intense urge to know the truth, receptive mind, sharpness to grasp, courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth are necessary.

The guru is needed in only in religion and yoga.  In pursuit of truth there is no need for the guru. Gnani will never accept himself as guru nor does he claim himself as a Gnani.   One who accepts himself as guru does not know the truth. When one inquires in to the nature of the mind or universe    than the truth will start revealing on its own.

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.”

 

There is nothing more rational, more intelligible and more un-dogmatic insights of Sri, Sankara, is to drop all the theistic non-duality or Advaita which is meant for those who are incapable and not receptive to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

Gaudapada says: - the merciful Veda teaches karma and upaasana to people of lowerand middling intellect, while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

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. 

Sri, Sankara says in Brahma Sutras: that Brahman is the cause of the world, whereas in Mandukya he denies it. This is because he says that at the lower stage of understanding, the former teaching must be given, for people will get frightened as they cannot understand how the world can be without a cause, but to those in a higher stage, the truth of non-causality can be revealed. 

Sage Sri, Sankara himself has warned us not to use ambiguous words, and to practice semantic analysis in his book "Definition of one's own Self. [" Page 199, v.24 of "Sankara's Selected Works]

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.

Upanishad says:

  This Atman 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]

Mundaka Upanishad  :-

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 Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. [3 –page-70 Mundaka Upanishad  Upanishads by Nikilanada]

When the Upanishads say:-

It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals its own form.  Then what is the use of indulging through our intelligence or our accumulated knowledge, when one is not chosen by the self, which is the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

There is no need for any philosophy in pursuit of truth because they take the seeker nearer to truth but they create more doubts and confusions.

 

The scriptures and theories and teaching based on the ego are not the yardstick. Using them as yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is mind?” and “what is substance of the mind?” and move forward.  

The ultimate truth is one without the second, the one is not in the sense half or two, but the one that remain forever One, without the second.  The consciousness is all pervading. There is no place where consciousness is not.

Consciousness is in everyone, consciousness is in everything .consciousness is one behind many. Consciousness alone is. It means the universe and its contents are the visible form of consciousness. And consciousness in turn is invisible form of the universe, which appears as mind.   

 

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada)

Therefore, if one is seeking truth he has to know his true self is not physical but is the consciousness, which is in the form of consciousness.  

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana 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 ultimate truth lies beyond religion, concept of god and scriptures. 

Thus it is necessary to follow the formless path dropping all the accumulated baggage and move forward to reach the destination in lesser time and effort.