Buddha said: - Believe nothing because a wise man said it,

If the reasoning  base is not rectified than  it will lead one towards hallucination. When the mind itself is myth then the man and his experience of the world is bound to be myth. Therefore, perfect understanding of 'What is  mind' and What is substance of the mind' and 'What is the source of the mind'  will help one to unfold the mystery of the mind.

  It is impossible to unfold the truth on the base of false self within the false experience, because the truth is prior to the appearance of the falsehood.  And falsehood creates ignorance.

 Seeker has to burn down the ignorance by rectifying the base of reasoning by realizing the fact that self is not physical but it is the formless consciousness. 



Holding  ‘I’ or  ‘I AM’  is cause of the ignorance. Thus one has to get rid of the ignorance by overcoming the intoxication of ‘I’ or I AM' by realizing  'I' or 'I AM is not the self.  

Holding 'I' or 'I AM as self keeps one in physical prison. Thus deeper self-search is necessary in order to reach the ultimate end.

That is why Buddha said: -
 
Believe nothing because a wise man said it,
Believe nothing because it is generally held.
Believe nothing because it is written.
Believe nothing because it is said to be divine.
Believe nothing because someone else said it.
But believe only what you yourself judge to be true.
-Buddha

Thus accepting anything without deeper verification will not lead one to ultimate end. of understanding  Seeker of truth read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider and discover the truth by using soul-centric reason.  The greatest and noblest pleasure which seeker can have is to discover new truths; and drop old prejudices and accumulated knowledge.

The whole objective  universe is created out of consciousness.  In self-awareness the universe ceases to exist.  Nature of the innermost self is formless and  non-dual.  In self-awareness the ignorance disappears therefore the reality of the illusory universe ceases.  Consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman. Soul or consciousness, the innermost self is the nameless, contentless, effortless and spontaneous existence, beyond form, time and space. 

The self is not ‘I’ but ‘I’ is mind.  Mind is in the form of universe. Universe appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.  The ‘I’, which appears as mind or universe is impermanent. The self is ‘I’-less. ‘I’-less self is that witnesses the coming and going of the ‘I’.    If one holds ‘I’ as self he will never be able to cross the threshold of duality. Without crossing the threshold of duality it is impossible to realize the non-dualistic or Advaitic  truth.  Holding the ‘I’ as self is keeps one in the realm of ignorance.   Therefore, Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary to get rid of the ignorance.  

The formless  witness  is that witnesses the coming and going of the three states. This truth has to be grasped mentally to realize the existence of the formless witness. Once this truth is grasped mentally, then one has to cling to the formless witness. Once one clings to this formless witness mentally than the subconscious has the yardstick to accept the truth and reject the untruth. Thus deeper self-search is necessary to understand, assimilate to have firm conviction of what is what in order to get Self-Awareness. 

We have to grow from the inside out. None can teach us, none can make us spiritual. There is no other guru but our own soul.”

Self-knowledge or Atma Gnana or Brahma Gnana cannot be attained by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth. If a serious seeker strives sincerely by means of inquiry, analysis and soul-centric reasoning, he will be able to realize it.

It is only seekers sincerity and earnestness in his spiritual pursuit, the knowledge started revealing on its own.  Anyone who has humility and patience and is sincere and ready to drop their accumulated dross and receptive to accept the truth will enter non-dual Self-Awareness when his conviction becomes firm.

Individual cannot claim that he has experienced the whole.

Is that the Guru you have heard about. Is he a real Gnani or a fake. But they do not charge money of any sort and all videos and books are free. They do not want devotees and you can keep your religions.

Dear Trevor,

If anyone expounds knowledge free of cost by giving free lectures and distributing books and CD it does not mean that he is  Gnani  who  is expounding Gnana or  wisdom. Thus his noble actions are not yardstick to decide 'what truth' is and 'what is untruth'. Even christen missionaries all over the world distribute free literature, medicine and food but it is only noble deed  to help the humanity in practical world but they are not qualification for acquiring Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.    

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.

Seeker of truth read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider and discover the truth by using soul-centric reason.  The greatest and noblest pleasure which seeker can have is to discover new truths; and drop old prejudices and accumulated knowledge.

To understand and assimilate one needs spiritual language of silence; one must speak from the standpoint of the consciousness which the language of the soul – which is humility, intense urge of inner growth, listening and without arguing on some theoretical or some authority or some famous men‘s point of view. 

Individual truth is not universal truth.  Individual cannot claim that he has experienced the whole.  There is no proof he has seen it, because the whole is not individual experience. The man and the world are within the whole.  Thus such claims of experiencing the self or Atman is mere hallucination.

People think they taken diksh or initiation and they are practiced under some guru or yogi   and they are experiencing the bliss and now they are capable of transforming that bliss to others and they start hallucinating that what they experienced as bliss is reality without realizing the fact that their own existence within the universe is mere illusion because the universe is mere illusion from ultimate standpoint.  It is very difficult for those who are caught up in the understanding based on the false self to realize the fact that, whatever they have experienced as bliss   is mere hallucination because the ultimate truth or Brahman cannot be experienced because the self is not an individual because it is formless and it is not and entity or identity within the waking or dream.

How do the people who expound their knowledge know they have experienced the whole? Where is the proof they have seen it? When they say “I know from experience” they merely mean “I think so.” If they experience bliss, they cannot be egoless, for who is having the joy? And if they retain the ego they cannot know the Universal Brahman, the whole. Thus their individual experience is not derived from Gnana or Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  

Without knowing the nature of the mind or universe world, it is impossible to know the ultimate truth. What is the use of trying to find one’s inner self before he understands the mind or universe?  Thus it is necessary to investigate the truth about the world, which confronts him to realize this world which confronts him as being consciousness.

That is why Sri, Sankara says in VivekaChudamani   

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.

65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

 

Whatever have appeared (birth, life, death and world) has appeared on its own and it disappears on its own.  Whether a person takes it as reality or illusion it all depends on his mental and intellectual conditions will determine the phenomenal world observed and experienced. The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. A Gnani viewing the universe (practical life within the practical world) different from the ignorant is viewing the same universe (practical life within the practical world). Each one of them interprets the universe he sees in term of his existing knowledge.   The Gnani sees his body, his ego and his experience of the world as mere mirage created out of consciousness whereas the ignorant sees his body as body, his ego as ego and his experience of the world as world.  

Thus experiencing the pain and pleasure within the illusion with the illusory self, within the illusory experience, 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 for Gnani has the firm conviction that:- 

Formless soul or 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 (universe or waking)?  The waking and the dream cease to exist without consciousness.  The seeker, seeking and his destination   all are one in essence.

By becoming more and more intellectual one becomes more and more intoxicated to individuality. The intellectuality is limited to duality.  In realm of truth the intellectuality is replaced by non-dual wisdom.  There is nothing exist other than formless non dual existence. Therefore, there is   no individual to become sane or insane. There is no second thing exists, other than consciousness.  Everything is one, that is, unity in diversity. The curiosity, urge cannot be imposed on others.  It has to sprout within. One need not become a guru because the guru is within guides every seeker.

 If one is aiming to be a master, a Guru or a  teacher, he will never reach his non-dulistic  destination. One has to share his knowledge with the fellow seeker not to make them his followers but only direct them if they are interested to travel beyond form, time and space.

 It is foolish to impose our idea on others because everyone is not in same level of understanding.  Every one's inner work is on. When they are ripe enough they will understand, assimilate and realize on their own.  If they are ready and sharp enough they will grasp it instantly and they will reach their destination with lesser time and effort. Thus preaching, teaching is not wisdom, but by very careful reasoning, seeker has to determine the nature of reality. Thinking in right direction alone helps seeker determining the nature of reality.

Formless Path is neither a teaching nor a theory but it is mere guidance to those who are seriously seeking truth.

 Trevor Light Bown:-

Can you tell me what you think. ?

They all agree with your Formless Path teachings.

Dear Trevor,  

Formless Path is neither a teaching nor a theory but it is mere guidance to those who are seriously seeking truth. The ultimate truth can be grasped  any time, any age, if seeker has spiritual maturity and capacity to grasp to grasp it.   It really depends on his inborn natural capacity to understand and assimilate it.

  FORMLESS PATH   is a self-examiner, to test oneself to discover how near to Gnana he has approached and what progress has already been made on the path and what still remains to be done.  It sets up criterion for self-judgement.  

There are millions in search of truth but one in million will be able to grasp it.  I am just posting what revels from the inner core. I just share to help the serious and sincere seekers.   I am highlighting the obstacle in the pursuit of truth, which blocks one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman.  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.

All the FP and IP blogs are verified truth. If one goes on reading all his doubts and confusion will start clearing. It takes time to receptive to Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because it is soul-centric knowledge whereas all accumulated knowledge are egocentric.

Formless path highlights all the obstacles in the inner journey and how to overcome these obstacles.    All accumulated knowledge is of no use in path of wisdom. 

  I am not trying to prove my views, but it is for every seeker,  who is in the path of truth to realize  himself  “What is truth, “and “What is untruth?” to assimilate the Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana in lesser time and effort. 

When one is unable to quench his spiritual thirst from his guru or teaching he has to look elsewhere to clear the cobwebs of his understanding and to move forward in his spiritual quest.

It is no use of arguing with someone who has faith in his belief system because for him there can be no possible refutation of what he believes, so rational argument is entirely useless. He clings to his belief so strongly that he makes no distinction between the truth and his belief. One has to know the fact that,  god cannot exist without his existence. The truth does not depend on gods’ existence but it entirely depends on man’s existence.   Thus it is foolish to venture in knowing the truth of gods existence without verifying the facts about his own existence. 

It is difficult for tradition-bound people to accept anything as truth other than what they inherited from then in born and inherited conditioning and parental grooming and their accumulated knowledge. Only intense urge to know the truth and courage to accept the truth after verification with better understanding one will be able to drop all his accumulated dross, which is the main obstacle in Self-Realization.

As one moves deeper and deeper in his inner (mental) journey than he realizes what is written FORMLESS PATH blogs are true and he will become more receptive to Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sages of truth have always insisted on practice rather than theory. This applies particularly to those who want to know and realize ultimate truth or Brahman.  

 One has to  know and realize his inner most self is Soul and identify it as his true identity to find liberation from the bondage of  the illusory experience of  birth, life, death and world(duality).   The goal of our life is to find and realize our identity with our soul, which is our innermost self. 

 L&L

Santthosh 

From consciousness, universe comes. When universe disappears, the consciousness still remains without form, time and space.

All is consciousness.  The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, universe comes. When universe disappears, the consciousness still remains without form, time and space.

All biblical insights lead to non-dual Self-awareness. Self-Awareness is Christ consciousness.  Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana in biblical sense is Truth or Christ.  The truth was not written down but was imparted orally to the chosen few. 

John 8:32

You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

Jesus said:-  "Know what is in front of your face, and what is hidden from you will be disclosed to you. (THE GOSPEL OF THOMAS- Saying 5) 

It means one has to know the world which confronts him confronts to realize his body and world are made of the same essence and that essence is Spirit [father].  

Sri, Sankara said : one must first know what is before him. If he cannot know that, what else can he know or understand? If he gives up the external world in his inquiry, he cannot get the whole truth.

 [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.

 Sri, Sankara said in (VC)   65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

"Jesus said:-"Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. When they find, they will be disturbed. When they are disturbed, they will marvel, and will reign over all." (Gospel of Thomas 2)

"The Kingdom of God is inside you and all around you, Not in a mansion of wood and stone.  Split a piece of wood and God is there, Lift a stone and you will find God." (Gospel of Thomas)

 

1.According to the New Testament, Jesus said to his disciples: ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand’ (Luke, 8:10). While speaking to the multitude in a veiled manner, ‘privately to his own disciples he explained everything’ (Mark, 4:34), and advised them not to ‘throw your pearls before swine’ (Matthew, 7:6).

2. According to Clement of Alexandria (150-215 CE), ‘Mark’ preached three different gospels. The New Testament version was intended for ‘beginners’, but there was also a Secret Gospel of Mark for those who were ‘perfected’, i.e. initiated. Clement advised one of his students that the existence of this secret gospel should be denied ‘even under oath’, for ‘the light of the truth should be hidden from those who are mentally blind’. The third gospel was so mystical that it was not written down but was imparted orally to the chosen few (JM 120-1).

When the seeker indulges in deeper self-search than he realizes the fact that, the experience of birth, life, death and the world are mere illusion created out of spirit or Brahman or Christ, the innermost self.     

Intense urge, sincerity, seriousness, silence, receptivity and humility are often the best ways to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

All doubts and confusion are based on the physical self (waking entity or ego) . The physical self (waking entity or ego) is the false self within the false experience(waking). it is not possible to understand and assimilate through scientific invention in present form, which is based on physicality, because the truth lies prior to physicality.  

The one which is aware of the physical existence is not physical, therefore investigating on the physical base and trying to discover, assimilate and realize the truth on laboratory condition is impossibility.  The brain and Nero science is part of the physical existence, and the ultimate truth lies beyond form,time and space.  Science demands physical proof based on for,time and space.Thus there is a need to know what exists prior to physical existence to unfold the mystery of the mind,which i present in the form of universe.

Deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning revels the fact that, the self is not physical.  The modern scientific inventions are based on physicality. 

The fallacy of religionists appeal to scripture lies in the varying and conflicting interpretations of the same scripture which different men feel entitled to give or hold.

When one does not know the ultimate  truth, then he can only guess, imagine, hence doubts and questions and discussions arise.

One has to know the fact.  One cannot get rid of the doubts by blindly accepting something as truth without proper reasoning.

People think ‘I’ as self or something else lies within the brain is the doer. They are unaware of the fact that, there is something else lies beyond the brain and the world. 

"Know the true self". Knowing the true self means by inquiring, analyzing and reasoning in to the nature of the mind, which is in the form of universe.  one has to grasp and assimilate the fact that, the self is not physical but it is the formless soul or consciousness or  spirit. It is not possible to know the self by reading books or scriptures or hearing the sermons of great speakers or by glorifying the god men or guru.

If the self is not physical, then it is erroneous to view and judge the truth on the physical standpoint.  Therefore, whatever seen, known, believed and experienced as a person of the world is based on the  physical standpoint.  The truth lies beyond physicality. Deeper inquiry analysis and reasoning revels the fact that, the self is not physical but the spirit.  Therefore, it is necessary to learn to view and judge the physical existence(universe), on the standpoint of the soul or consciousness ,  the innermost self, to unfold the mystery of the mind or universe or ’I’.

Intense urge, sincerity, seriousness,  silence, receptivity and humility are often the best ways to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Not because they offer solutions for the complexity of our lives but because they bring us in touch with our sacred center, where truth dwells. That sacred center may not be analyzed. It is the source from where the mind(universe) rises and subsides.  The source is formless soul; therefore the mind is mere mirage on the standpoint of the source, which is the formless  soul or consciousness or spirit. 

The source itself is the true self.  The true Self is neither bound nor free. An end to illusion! It is all groundless. For the whole of creation, though it rests in the Self, is without foundation.