The one who knows formless soul or consciousness is the true self becomes one with the immortal self.

Consciousness, the One and Undifferentiated, which by the manifold application of its powers produces,  the dual and non dual experiences (waking/dream/deep sleep) and, in the end, withdraws the three states into itself, is indeed the self—luminous.

The Maker of all the three states, self—luminous and all—pervading, consciousness ,the innermost self  dwells always in the three states as their formless clay and witness. Consciousness is revealed by the negative way, discriminative wisdom and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection. The one who knows formless soul or   consciousness  is the true self becomes one with the immortal self.

When there is no ignorance, than  there is no day or night, neither being nor none—being; the pure Consciousness alone exists. That immutable Reality is the meaning of "Consciousness. From it has proceeded the non dual wisdom.

No one can grasp Consciousness as separate entity apart from duality because it is the formless clay and the witness of the experience of duality[waking or dream]  thus it cannot be grasped as above, across, or in the middle.

Its form is not an object of vision; no one beholds it with the eyes. They who, through pure intellect and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection, realizes  formless soul or   Consciousness as the true self becomes one with the immortal.

Self-Knowledge cannot be acquired by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  cannot be acquired by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth. But if a serious seeker strives by means of inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base, he will be able to realize it.

By realizing consciousness as innermost self, the one become satisfied with that Knowledge. He establishes in the true self, and he is free from experiencing the duality as reality.  and he is in non dual tranquility. Such seeker ever devoted to the self, are in self-awareness in the midst of illusion or waking experience.

Having well ascertained the Self, the goal of the Self- Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana  and having perfect understanding, the seekers, never relaxing their efforts, enjoy here supreme Immortality and at the time of the great end attain complete freedom in consciousness, which is ultimate truth or Brahman.

When one realizes the fact that,  the causes of all the causes is uncaused; and views and judges the worldview on the base of the uncaused, then  everything of the experience of  duality, becomes one with the highest imperishable consciousness , which is the Self of all.

As flowing rivers disappear in the sea, losing their names and forms, so one is freed from name and form, attains the formless consciousness the innermost self, which is greater than the Great.

He who knows the formless soul or consciousness as innermost self verily becomes aware of the fact that, his body, ego and his experience of the world are mere mirage created out of the formless consciousness. He overcomes the experience of duality; becomes one with the immortal self, which is formless consciousness.

Gnani beholds consciousness, the innermost self , in everything and everywhere in all the three states.

By the knowing of   the formless soul or consciousness as the innermost self the three states becomes known.  Thus the formless knower of the three states is consciousness. Until one becomes aware of the fact that, the soul is the true self, he is bound to believe that the body is the knower and views and judges the worldview on the standpoint of body [ego] as self, thus remain ignorant of the fact that the soul or consciousness is the true self.  

Only through deeper self-search the Knowledge of the Imperishable consciousness, which is the innermost self is attained.  By means of the ‘SELF’  Knowledge the one  beholds in everything and  everywhere consciousness , which otherwise cannot be seen or seized, which has no root or attributes, no eyes or ears, no hands or feet; which is eternal and omnipresent, all—pervading and extremely subtle; which is imperishable and the source of  three states.

Ignorant, dwelling in ignorance, but wise in their own conceit and puffed up with vain scholarship, wander about, being afflicted by many ills, like blind led by the blind.

People, immersed in ignorance in various ways, flatter themselves, saying: We have accomplished life's mission. Because these performers of karma do not know the non dual Truth owing to their attachment, they will never be able to cross the ocean of duality or cycle of birth, life and death.

People regarding religious rituals, god glorification and sacrifices and humanitarian works as the highest, do not know any higher good. By expecting reward for their good deeds they remain in the clutches of duality and fully ignorant about the true self,which is consciousness.

Gnani who is in tranquility of non-dual consciousness, who lives as a householder or commoner  and never poses himself as a Gnani, but helps and guides the serious seeker as a fellow seeker by inspiring them  until they reach their non dual destination. 

Gnani knows all and understands all and fully aware of the fact that, the experiences of the three states belongs to consciousness alone. He assumes as the experiences of the three states [duality and non-duality]. Consciousness dwells in the three states as its formless clay. By the knowledge of that formless clay which shines as the blissful and immortal consciousness, the Gnani beholds consciousness, the innermost  self , in everything and everywhere in all the three states. 

‘Self’ has to be grasped through deeper self-search because self is prior to form, time and space because it is formless, timeless and space-less existence.

If one thinks: "I know ‘SELF well," then surely he knows but little of its form; he knows only its form as conditioned by man or by some philosophy. Therefore ‘Self’ has to be grasped through deeper self-search because self is prior to form, time and space because it is formless, timeless and space-less existence. 

‘SELF’ is not known by those who know it; it is known by those who do not know it.  That is when one says he knows ‘SELF; he is saying it as a person. The ‘SELF’ cannot be applied only to the individuality but to the whole experience [three states]. But in reality the person and world created out of consciousness the innermost self, thus nothing exits other than consciousness. Thus if one says he has realized the ‘SELF’ as a person, he is making a wrong statement. One must know consciousness, which the innermost self, as the formless clay of the three states(whole).

Consciousness the inner most self is known when it is realized in every state of mind; for by such Knowledge one attains Immortality. By consciousness one obtains strength; by self- Knowledge, Immortality

If a man knows the innermost self is consciousness in the midst of duality (waking), he then attains the non dual goal of his mission within the illusion. If he does not know it in the waking experience, than he remains ignorance experiencing the cycle of birth, life and death as reality. Having realized the innermost 'Self' ,which is formless  consciousness  in everything and everywhere in all the three states, the Gnani relinquish the waking experience  and becomes mentally immortal before his physical death within the illusion. 

What are the obstacles in Sri,Sankara’s teaching? Where the scholars are going wrong? How to overcome all the obstacles in the path of truth ? in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Everything in non-duality refers to consciousness, because everything (three states)is created out of single stuff, which is formless soul or consciousness, the innermost self.   On the standpoint of soul or consciousness there is nothing exists other then the soul.  Thus everything, which is formless consciousness, is perfectly perfect.

 People who view and judge on the standpoint of the physical self or waking entity or ego will not understand this because they see diversity as reality. They think ‘I’ is self and body is illusion, whereas, the body and the ‘I’, both are part of the illusion.  

 They think whatever exists within the waking experience that is, man and his experience of the world is perfectly perfect reality.  There are so many obstacles if one tries to reach non-dual destination through Advaita because of   add-ons and adulteration. Therefore, Advaita is roundabout way to reach the non-dual destination. Since, the scholars are sentimentally and emotionally involved with Advaita philosophy which is based on the Vedas they will not be able to grasp the non dual truth, without bifurcating the religion, scriptures and god glorification.  

That is why Sri, Sankara says in VivekaChudamani   :-

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar, but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

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.

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.

If one merely theorizes, tries to understand through his intellect and there contended he cannot become a Gnani but he becomes a scholar or pundit.   Seeker of truth must make what he has understood and assimilated has to be  realized, to get firm conviction of the non- dualistic truth or ultimate truth or Brahman,   than only it is possible for him to transcend all the limitations of the experience of form, time and space.    

The existence beyond limitations of form, time and space is known as Moksha or Nirvana. Spiritual freedom or self-realization is the goal of every seeker of truth. 

Upanishads Nikhilananda

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. [Ch II-5 P-14]

 Only Deeper self-search helps the seeker to remove all the obstacles in pursuit of truth.  They are so many scholars in India who mastered Advaitic philosophy.  It is impossible to acquire self-knowledge in the present form of Advaitic philosophy. Because their preaching is based on non-duality and practices is based on duality. Rational way is the only way.  

Katha Upanishad:

  This Ataman 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 Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

It is very difficult to talk to people about Advaita because everyone thinks he is scholar and authority on Advaita. This- I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second hand stuff.

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. – Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89

The essence of Advitha is:

"DVI" means two. DVI" connotes dual existence and "ADVAITA" the non-dual, which of these two is non existence? People think that there is God and that the jivas--souls-- like them form the second, other then them. There is no such duality at all. "Brahman” is the only reality and there is nothing other then this Absolute Supreme Being. That Brahman through Maya or the multiplying power of illusion appears as many Jivas. But this is just the play of Brahman, even as an actor in a drama remains unchanged throughout although Brahman   plays different roles. The seemingly obvious duality between Brahman and Jiva does not actually exist because both are one and the same Atman. If only one transcend this phenomenal illusion and experience of duality with Brahman, he would then be not the individual souls with all his little failings but one with it--the Absolute, infinite Reality. This is the tenet of Advaith philosophy thought by great master Sri,Sankara.

One has to  think deeply and reason,  than only is it possible to overcome the illusion with all its diversity. Seeker has to find out :-  What are the obstacles in Sri,Sankara’s teaching?   Where the scholars are going wrong? How to overcome all the obstacles in the path of truth ?  in order to realize the ultimate truth  or Brahman.