Essence of Astvakara Gita is: - Realizing Ataman as self, the liberation is possible in this very life right here and right now, not in the next life /next world.

The religious and philosophical teachings are like oil and water.  They cannot be mixed together and in future one will have to make his choice between them, if he wishes to progress and not to remain stagnate.

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 liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

One has to   define Truth, which his prime goal in two phases:-

v  It is that which is beyond all contradictions

v  It is universal

Ultimate Truth must be based on reason, not on revelation. People from all over the world have studied and carried yoga and Vedanta  to their people; now it is time to do research  by bifurcating all the add-ons, which are the main obstacles  in realizing the universal truth. 

The religion and its code of conduct are for those who are incapable of inquiring the validity their belief system.   Self-knowledge is not a philosophical dish cooked to suit exclusively the palate of the particular religion.  It is like the air and the water; the common food of all seekers in all over the globe to realize the fact that, the experience of diversity (mind or universe) is mere mirage unity (consciousness) alone is real and eternal.  When one realizes the unity in diversity then there is no conflict whatsoever. 

God men and even by texts, that the universe does not exist or if it does seem too, it is merely an illusion because, universe, which is in the form of mind itself is an illusion. Conceptual God too is an illusion because such god can exist only in illusion.   The formless substance and witness alone is real and eternal.  Thus whatever seen, known, believed and experienced as a person within the world is mere illusion.  Thus there is need for perfect understanding, analyzing, assimilating and realizing the ultimate truth.

Reducing everything to an entirely homogenous, sole Reality—Mind.  The body, ego and the universe, are nothing but a mirage, which is in their turn, reducible to pure Consciousness itself, the only Reality.

 The "direct road" of nondual wisdom, leads to the realization of this truth.  The "cosmological path,” that of religion and yoga, does not lead to Reality, because it considers the birth, life, death and, universe and a personal God as real.

The experience of birth, life and death is an illusion within an illusion! The suffering humanity of a dream does not expect our help, nor does the sage see any service to render to a world within the waking experience which is mere mirage!

When the self is genderless then it is impossible to get enlightenment through sexual intercourse or Tantric sex.  It is impossible to get freedom by taking sanyasa or renouncing the worldly life which is mere body based theories. When the self is not physical then what value is there to take sanyasa or renouncing the worldly life? One has to renounce the ignorance, which is the cause of experiencing the illusion (body+ universe) as reality.

If one thinks nondual truth is the ultimate truth, then one has to drop all theories based on the physical body (ego or waking entity) as self, because nondual truth is based on the consciousness (soul), which is the true self. 

By accepting the karma theory one is  accepting the false self, as real self, and world as reality, therefore there is no need for Self-inquiry “Who am ‘I’ “, because one has  accepted the present physical identity and world as reality.  Self-inquiry makes one realize the fact that the self is not the body. After knowing the fact that the self is not the body, then it is erroneous to think again as the body as self, and holding the body based theories as reality.  Thus the karma theory becomes a biggest obstacle in the path of inquiry and truth, because it does not allow the seeker to cross the threshold of duality.

 The physical body and the world which exist only in waking/dream/duality are impermanent and illusory in nature, because they appear and disappear as mind. The soul which is the formless substance and the witness of the duality is permanent. Therefore, whatever is seen known and believed and experienced as real within the waking also is as real as a dream.

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

Sage Sri Sankara –VC--"All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought

Sage Sri Sankara says in Aparokshanubhuti:- 88. When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

89. O enlightened one; pass your time always contemplating on Atman while you are experiencing all the results of Prarabdha; for it ill becomes you to feel distressed.

90. The theory one hears of from the scripture, that Prarabdha does not lose its hold upon one even after the origination of the knowledge of Atman, is now being refuted.

91. After the origination of the knowledge of Reality, Prarabdha verily ceases to exist, inasmuch as the body and the like become non-existent; just as a dream does not exist on waking.

92. That Karma which is done in a previous life is known as Prarabdha (which produces the present life). But such Karma cannot take the place of Prarabdha (for a man of knowledge), as he has no other birth (being free from ego).

93. Just as the body in a dream is superimposed (and therefore illusory), so is also this body. How could there be any birth of the superimposed (body), and in the absence of birth (of the body) where is the room for that (i.e., Prarabdha) at all?

94. The Vedanta texts declare ignorance to be verily the material (cause) of the phenomenal world just as earth is of a jar. That (ignorance) being destroyed, where can the universe subsist?

 95. Just as a person out of confusion perceives only the snake leaving aside the rope, so does an ignorant person see only the phenomenal world without knowing the reality?

    96. The real nature of the rope being known, the appearance of the snake no longer persists; so the substratum being known, the phenomenal world disappears completely.

97. The body also being within the phenomenal world (and therefore unreal), how could Prarabdha exist? It is, therefore, for the understanding of the ignorant alone that the Shruti speaks of Prarabdha.

98. “And all the actions of a man perish when he realizes that (Atman) which is both the higher and the lower”. Here the clear use of the plural by the Shruti is to negate Prarabdha as well.

99. If the ignorant still arbitrarily maintain this, they will not only involve themselves into two absurdities but will also run the risk of forgoing the Vedantic conclusion. So one should accept those Shrutis alone from which proceeds true knowledge.

The above proves that the karma is reality only on the base of the false self, where one thinks body and the universe as reality. When one becomes aware of the fact that, the true self is formless soul, then the karma becomes part and parcel of illusion.   My point is that, if one accepts the karma theory as reality, he will never be able to come out of the ignorance. And ignorance makes him believe the cycle of birth, life and death as a reality.  Thus the freedom which one is seeking will remain a distant dream. For the one who accepts the birth life and death as a reality, Self-knowledge is impossible.

Thus it is necessary for the seeker of truth to know the fact that, the body which is born, lives and dies is not the self. Since he is taking the body to be the self, he is experiencing the duality as reality.

 As Sage  Sri, Sankara says:  When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman, and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman.

 If the body is not the Ataman/self, then the karma theory has no meaning on the standpoint of the truth. Thus no second thing exists other than Ataman, therefore why to view the worldview on the standpoint of the body as self (I) when the body (I) is the false self, and the soul/Ataman is the true self.

If the body is not the self, then the birth, life, death and the universe are bound to be an illusion.  If birth, life and death are illusion then all conducts action and their fruits are mere illusion. If the body is not the self, then the existence of god, heaven and hell is mere illusion.  If the body is not the self then all religious beliefs of god are mere illusion.  If the body is not the self but the Ataman (soul) which is in the form of consciousness is the true self, then there is no scope for second thing other than consciousness,    therefore consciousness, which is Ataman is Brahman or ultimate truth.  The Brahman alone is real and eternal.  Thus whatever is real eternal has to be identified as God. To identify the real and eternal, one has to overcome the ignorance caused by the illusion. To overcome the ignorance one has to acquire the Self-Knowledge. 

     

 Essence of Astvakara Gita is: - Realizing Ataman as self, the liberation is possible in this very life right here and right now, not in the next life /next world.

Religion, theories scriptures and concept of god are created as a tool for conditioning the mass mind set, to control their individualized mind, to self-judge, what is good and what is evil, with the fear of conceptual god, who will in turn punish them, or reward them with good or bad life, in life after life which is only an illusion.  And this fear helps to maintain peace and harmony in the society to some extent. Both man and the world exist within the mind and the mind is a myth on the standpoint of the soul as the self, thus all the theories based on the falsehood, has no relevance in the realm of the nondual truth.   Therefore, individual actions and conducts are not the means to acquire Self-Knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana.

There cannot be delusion or suffering when oneness is realized.  One cannot know Truth if one has not mastered the analysis of the three states of consciousness.

Upanishds say:- 

Reflection on the nature of the Self as Brahman is the mental world that conforms with the scriptural injunctions. Even this duality in conformity with the scripture is to be renounced after Brahman is realised. This is the direction of the Shruti.

An intelligent person, who has studied the scriptures and has repeatedly practised what they enjoin should renounce them after knowing the supreme Brahman, just as a man throws aside a flaming torch at the end of his journey’. (Amritanada Upanishad)

An intelligent person, who has studied the scriptures and has practised what they enjoin should discard them after experiencing Brahman as his Self, just as a man discards the husk when he has found the grain’. (Amrita-Bindu Upanishad)

A wise man, having experienced Brahman as his Self, should keep his higher intuitive faculty (prajna) united with Brahman. He should not oppress his mind with many words, for they are a mere waste of energy’. (Brihadaranyaka Upanishad)

It has been clearly told in the Shruti: ‘Know that One and give up other talks’ (Mundaka Upanishad) 

‘A wise man should restrain his speech and keep it within the mind’. (Katha Upanishad)

The duality of the mental creation of man, which is not in conformity with the scripture, is of two kinds, violent and dull. That which gives rise to lust, anger and other passions is called violent and that which gives rise to day-dreams is called dull.

Before starting the study into the nature of Brahman it is necessary to give up both; for, mental poise and concentration are the two prerequisites for the study of Brahman, so says the Shruti.

One has to realize the fact that, it is not the waking entity (you) which witnesses the three states.  The formless soul is the witness of the coming and going of the three states. The soul is immutable. The soul is unaffected by the happening within the three states because the three states are mere mirage created out of the formless soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The soul or consciousness is the innermost self.

The self is neither the waking entity nor the self is dream entity but the self is the formless soul. The on the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the three states are non-existent as reality.     

Upanishads:-

Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikhilananda -  Ch II-5 P-14)

The seeker has to overcome all the obstacles in pursuit of truth on his.  They are so many scholars who mastered philosophy.  It is impossible to acquire self-knowledge through theoretical philosophy. Because their preaching is based on spirit and practices is based on ego or waking entity.

Katha Upanishad:-

  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. ( Ch-II -23-P-20)

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. 

Upanishad's say "He who thinks he knows, does not know." This means that to know anything implies a second, an object of knowledge, hence duality, i.e. no Gnana.

Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89:- Second-hand knowledge of the self-gathered from books or gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realisation will do that. Realise yourself, turning the mind inward. 

The pursuit of truth is a mental journey. Deeper self-search  makes one aware of 'what is truth' and 'what is untruth' and the subconscious  will be able to reject the untruth after knowing, what is Truth. Whatever prevails after rejecting the untruth is the ultimate truth or Brahman. . 

Sage Sri, Sankara :-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.

Sage Sri, Sankara :-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.

Sage Sri, Sankara was criticized for his views on Maya [illusion] without understanding him. He said that (1) Brahman [the Self] is real (2) the universe is unreal, and (3) Brahman is the universe. He did not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence Maya or illusion and reality are one and the same.

 

The realists criticise the concept of illusion without understanding it. He said that:- 

(1) Consciousness (the  Atman, the innermost  Self) is real

(2) The universe or mind is unreal,

(3) Consciousness is the mind or universe, because universe or mind is mere illusion created out of consciousness.  

 One need not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the Self (consciousness) and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self (consciousness). Hence illusion and reality are one and the same because both are one in essence. Realizing the essence, which is consciousness as the innermost Self, is Self-Realization or Truth- Realization of GOD- Realization. Thus Sri, Sankara‘s declaration is rational truth, scientific truth and also ultimate truth. 

The universe exists because you exist.  Without your existence universe ceases to exist.  Thus your existence is important for the existence of the universe.  You exist, because the universe exists. Thus the existence of the universe is necessary for your existence because you exist within the universe.  Thus you and the universe co-exist together.  Thus it is necessary to know, how the universe which contains everything exists, not the things bifurcated by form and names within the universe.  

Whatever Plants, animals, people, planets, stars, and ocean mountains everything, which is seen, known and believed and experienced as person are within the universe.  The universe appears when the mind (I) appears and the universe disappears when the mind (I) disappears. Thus, it is necessary to realize the mind is in the form of the universe, which appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.

The mind is a universe, because when the mind (I) is there then only the universe is there.  The ego, body, universe appear together and disappear to gather.  Limiting the mind (I) to the physical entity is the cause of the ignorance.  The body, ego, universe ceases to exist without the mind.  If one of these is absent then the mind is also absent.  Thus mind is the  whole universe, which appears as waking or dream(duality)  and disappears as deep sleep(nonduality)    Thus one which is aware of the appearance and disappearance of dual and nondual experiences is not the form(body or ego) but formless(consciousness).  

The consciousness (soul) is the true self. The true self is the source of the three states. These three states deceive; the people fail to look beyond them to its source, which is real, supreme and imperishable. The three states are mere an illusion. It is difficult to overcome the illusion without the wisdom. But one can cross over this illusion, by realizing and becoming aware of the fact that, the self is not physical but it is consciousness.

People are deluded by illusion, because they have immersed in the illusion experiencing it as reality. They are ignorant because they think the self is physical and birth, life, death and world as reality. Having lost all discrimination, they follow the way of their physical nature. When ignorance vanishes through wisdom then only it is possible to negate the illusion, the mortal becomes immortal. When all the physical shackles that strangle the self are loosened, the mortal becomes immortal, here in this very life.

The ultimate understanding is: Nothing has actually been created. All that appears is mere mirage. Everything is consciousness and nothing can be a part of it. No second thing exists other than consciousness, neither the man nor the world, which contains all the object exits in non-dual reality.

.Sage Sri, Sankara :- 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?

Sage Sri, Sankara :- 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?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utter the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realisation one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.


The path of wisdom is only for those who found the path of religion, the path of yoga and all theoretical philosophy and scriptural studies inadequate and useless in quenching their inner thirst.   

People who are yearning for spiritual truth will not find it through intellectuality. Intellectual truth is individual truth. The urge to know the truth cannot be imposed on others.  It has to sprout within. One need not become holy Shepard because the holy Shepard is within to guide every seeker.

Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana 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 and intellectual 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.

 It is for every seeker who is in the path of truth to prove himself to know “What is truth, “and “What is untruth?” through deeper self-search, to assimilate the Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Ish Upanishad declares: - Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide

10/11/12

Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide, as it were, are doomed to enter those worlds after death.

This is a condemnation of people who do not try to attain Self-knowledge. They are, in a real sense, committing suicide, for what can be worse than being a slave to sense enjoyment, completely oblivious of the real purpose of life, which is to be one’s  own master?

In order to be one’s own master he has to realize that the mind is identical with the soul is present in the form of Pure Consciousness, ever free, without name and form, and unconditioned.

The soul the innermost self is not subject to any modification, without beginning and end, beyond thought and speech. The soul is Existence Absolute, Knowledge Absolute, and Bliss Absolute. When the soul knows this it is free from ignorance. It is no longer experiences the birth, life, death and the world as reality.

 If one does not try to know the truth of his true existence, he has indeed experienced the illusory birth, life, death and the world as reality. The soul or consciousness the innermost self, is one without a second, complete in itself.

 The soul never moves. Soul is always still, always the same. All the moments are within the illusion. Within the illusion one feels moves everything and it makes the whole world go the way it does. It gives those who mechanically perform rituals go into darkness that is like being blind. But those who worship gods and goddesses remain permanently in ignorance experiencing the illusory experience of birth, life, death and the world (waking) as reality.

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.

For those who are incapable of inquiring and not yet ready for Self-knowledge or  Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana, the worship and glorifying of god and gurus is recommended.

Even, 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.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for the higher knowledge or wisdom.   The path of wisdom is the only means. 

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in the ritualistic oriented lifestyle and follow the path of karma and upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect   and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.  Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Adavaita meant for those orthodox who believe their conduct oriented life style leads to Moksha (liberation).  But religious based Advaita is not   the means to acquire Self –knowledge or  Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

For a Gnani: - his body is not body, even though he has the body, his ego is not ego, even though he has the ego and his experience of the world is not the world, even though he is in the midst of the world, because he is fully aware of the fact that, his body, his ego and his experience of the world are mere mirage created out of consciousness. Thus his body, his ego and his experience of the world are reality within the waking experience, but waking experience itself is mere illusion. The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly the waking becomes unreal when wisdom dawns. The wisdom dawns when waking entity becomes aware of the fact that it itself is not the self, but the self is that, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states without the physical apparatus. The formless soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the innermost self. The innermost self is the formless substance and the witness of the three states. The formless substance and the witness of the three states are one in essence. That essence is formless consciousness. Thus there is no second thing exists other than the consciousness.

The soul, the innermost self has to be free from experiencing the duality as reality.  To overcome the duality, the waking entity has to know it itself is not the self but the self is the soul, which witnesses coming and going of the three states.  Thus self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary to realize ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ to reject the untruth by accepting the truth.  

Lust, anger, greed are part of the duality. From the ultimate standpoint the duality is mere illusion. If duality is mere illusion than the form, time and space are mere illusion. If form, time and space are mere illusion than the universe is mere illusion. If the universe is mere illusion, than the three states are mere illusion. If the three states are mere illusion than   the experience of birth, life, death and the world are mere illusion.  If birth, life, death and the world are mere illusion than the individualized god, heaven, hell, sin, and karma are part of the illusion.   Therefore it is necessary to realize ‘what is illusion’ and ‘what is reality’ in order to get freedom from falsehood.  

By inquiring WHO AM I?  It unfolds the fallacy of the forum thus only half the truth is revealed. The ignorant who fail to apprehend the ‘self’ are caught in the web of illusion experience, the birth, life, death and world as reality.  The people who think the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ as self are caught up in the web of duality experiences the pain and pleasure as reality. 

   

As the waking entity or ego becomes more and more inward turned, it becomes gradually free from experiencing the duality as reality.  When the soul, the innermost self becomes freed from all the obstruction by fully eliminating the ignorance it remains in its own awareness.  When the soul, remains in its own awareness in the midst of duality then the duality is mere illusion created out of the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

When the soul, the innermost self gives up identification with the waking entity than and recognizes its true nature is as undifferentiated awareness, unaffected by form, time and space and enter into its own awareness of its formless nondual  true nature. 

The seeker directs his attention resolutely towards the source of the three states and looking for the three states as a matter of indifference seeker has to release the mind, which is present in the form of the universe and the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness are one in essence.

The seeker should become aware of the fact that, the self is neither the waking entity nor the self is dream entity but the self is the formless soul. On the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the three states are non-existent as reality.    

The seeker has to realize the fact that, it is not the waking entity (you) which witnesses the three states.  The formless soul is the witness of the coming and going of the three states. The soul is immutable. The soul is unaffected by the happening within the three states because the three states are mere mirage created out of the formless soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The soul or consciousness is the innermost self.

When the Upanishad says:  the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and they indicate the personal gods, scriptures, worship and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana,  then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are the greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or self-realization, because they are based on false self.  

The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sage 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 the 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.