Sage Sri, Sankara’s Supreme Brahman is impersonal,
Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without
special characteristics), immutable, eternal and Akarta (non-agent). It is
above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never
become an object as It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual,
one without a second. It has no other beside it. It is destitute of difference,
either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described, because description
implies distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In
Brahman, there is not the distinction of substance and attribute.
Sat-Chit-Ananda constitute the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just
Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sankara is impersonal.
Self –knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inexhaustible
wealth. Other wealth disappears as one spends, but with the Self –knowledge or
Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the more one shares more he gains.
The self is not the ‘I’. ‘I’ is present in the form of mind. The origin of mind is soul. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The soul is present in the form of consciousness. The root of the universe is consciousness.
The origin of mind is the soul. The soul is the innermost Self. The formless soul is present in the form of consciousness.
It is erroneous to hold "Brahman =I" as some of the gurus hold because the ‘I’ itself is an illusion.It is consciousness which being divided into parts, and viewed from the standpoint of the waking entity or ego, which is the false self within the false experience (waking). In reality there is no division in consciousness. Therefore the form, time and space mere illusion created out of consciousness. In reality the form, time and space are one in essence.
Only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana negation of duality is possible. The soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is ultimate truth or Brahman. The consciousness is the cause of the origin, maintenance, and withdrawal of the universe is Advaita (i.e. non-dual), it means that the consciousness transcends all conceptions, positive and negative. Nothing positive can ever be imagined or said about it. The consciousness is existence absolute, awareness absolute. The existence absolute means that consciousness is not unreal or non-existent. And it is not unconsciousness. Nothing positive can be stated about consciousness.
The consciousness can be seen in all the three states because the three states are an illusion created out of consciousness. The waking, the dream (duality) and the deep sleep (non-duality).
The soul, the innermost self is present in the form of – pure consciousness or objectless awareness. Objectless Awareness is the real nature of the soul, the innermost Self.
Consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman. Reality is very clearly defined and it has a specific significance. It means, "That which exists in all the three states of consciousness (waking state, dream state and deep-sleep state) undergoing any change.in the realm of truth the three states are one in essence. That essence is consciousness, therefore the soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is absolute Reality. The soul, the innermost self is birthless, deathless and changeless is ultimate reality or Brahman. It is necessary to realize the fact that ‘I’ itself is an illusion in order to realize the universe is an illusion".
The universe appears "real" only in the "waking experience;" but it is it disappears in the dream and deep-sleep states. The three states are one in essence. Therefore all the three states are mere mirage created out of single essence. That essence is consciousness. Thus on the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the three states are unreal.
Swami Vivekananda:~ The Higher your ideal is, the more miserable you are,' for such a thing as an ideal cannot be attained in the world — or in this life, even. He who wants perfection in the world is a madman — for it cannot be. How can you find the infinite in the finite?
It has not been possible to preach Advaitic Truth entirely free from the settings of dualistic weakness it has not been more operative and useful to mankind at large because only few will be able to grasp and realize it.
To realize the Advaitic Truth a freer and fuller scope the seeker has to realize the form, time and space are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness. And the soul, the innermost self is present in the form of consciousness.
To realize the Advaitic truth the seeker has to be free from all superstitions and orthodox contamination. The seeker has to be dedicated to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone.'
A Gnani will easily appreciate the high flights of Sage Sri, Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is one of the 'most majestic structures and valuable products of the Genius of man in his search for Truth.
