The Soul is hidden within the mind. And the mind is within the Soul.+

Rig Veda: ~ May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

The Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material (Gita 14.27)

The Upanishads say in effect that: ~ If you believe that the Soul is one and God (Brahman) is another you cannot understand Truth.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”. And never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman

It means the ultimate truth is God.  That is Atman is Brahman.  That is the Soul, the innermost Self, is the ultimate truth. Thus, the ‘Soul’ is ‘God’.

The Soul, the Self, is in the form of the Spirit (consciousness) is the ultimate truth and it is God.   

The Soul is hidden within the mind. And the mind is within the Soul.  The mind is present in the form of the universe and the Soul is present in the form of the consciousness. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).  

The one that witnesses the coming and going of the three states is the Soul.   From the standpoint of the Soul, the three states which come and go are merely an illusion.

The mind is within the Soul and Soul is within the mind.

The chicken is in the egg and the egg is in the chicken. The tree is in the seed and the seed is in the tree.

The same thing that was told by the Vedas was repeated by Saint John (10-38)~  Father is in me and I am in Father.

Thus, the father (Spirit or Soul) is our immediate, neighbor- love thy neighbor.  Therefore, one has to love the Spirit or Soul or God, to become one with the formless Spirit or Soul or God. The Spirit is the creator, sustainer, and dissolver of the dualistic illusion. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Sage Sankara:~There are separate individual Souls?+

The Advaita taught by Sage Sankara is a rigorous, absolute one. According to Sage Sankara, whatever is, is Brahman. Brahman itself is absolutely homogeneous. All differences and plurality are illusory.

Sage Sankara gave out what was of most use to the greatest number of people. Therefore, in the commentaries on the Upanishads, such as the famous Mundaka, he gave the highest non-dual message of the identity of Atman and Brahman, revitalizing the philosophy and practice of Advaita, while in the commentaries on the Brahmasutra he gave a lesser teaching, posting both higher and lower Maya and higher and lower Brahman (Ishvara) to explain creation for those of lesser intellects until they were ready for the highest truth.

Sage  Sankara was very careful with his choice of semantic analysis and use of words - taught at different levels of doctrine at different times as the situation warranted. Sage Sankara first came to the attention of Sage Goudpada when his own Guru brought him to the Himalayas to present his Advaita writings to the great Sage, who encouraged his further endeavors.

The Advaitic formula, to be successively realized, is: “The world is unreal; Brahman is real; the world is Brahman.” This is the vision of non-duality. 

Sage Sankara affirmed a progression of points of view depending on the stage of one’s realization of the truth.

“From the standpoint of the waking entity the universe is a reality from the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self, the universe is merely an illusion or Maya created out of consciousness. When wisdom dawns then one realizes the whole universe is consciousness. The dualistic view is possible only in ignorance. At the dawn of Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, there is only the non-dualistic view in the midst of duality because the whole universe is consciousness. Thus,  all the contents of the universe are also consciousness. 

Thus form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. If the form, time, and space are consciousness then the experience of birth, life, and death is also consciousness.  

 The universe is verily consciousness. Without realizing ‘what is this  Mind?'  it impossible to get self- realization.  The universe is not different from the Mind because the universe is the mind itself.  The mind is not different from the Soul because the mind is the dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness. The universe is unreal because it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness.

It is impossible for any human being to challenge successfully the Advaitic position, as Sage  Sankara says.

Sage Sankara asks his opponents "How do you know there are separate individual Souls? Have you seen the Soul of a man? You can only say that you have seen different bodies. To say more is to misuse language. Therefore, I call you liars unless you give proof, which is impossible. 

A man who describes  Sage Sankara's wisdom as negative (because of his Neti, Neti) does not know that this is applied only to the world of the Seen, the critic ignorantly believes that it is also applied to the Seer. Advaita never negates the  Seer, only the Seen.:~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Advaitic wisdom is soulcentric knowledge.+

Advaitic wisdom is soulcentric knowledge. It is difficult for people to understand soulcentric knowledge from a dualistic perspective. Our intelligence is based on the dualistic perspective thus; one has to learn to view and judge the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective. 

As one goes on reading my blogs and posting gradually he will become soulcentric and will be able to view the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective and he will be able to grasp the Advaitic truth.

People’s opinions are based on the dualistic perspective based on the false self (ego or you) within the false experience (waking).  Therefore, people go on arguing holding their accumulated knowledge as a yardstick.    

The pursuit of truth is the pursuit of verification not the pursuit of an argument. Nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification.

The judgment has to be is based on the Soul, the Self to understand, assimilate and realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

The judgment based on the nondualistic perspective leads to Self-awareness. In Self-awareness, the Soul, the Self, will remain in its own awareness in the midst of diversity.

Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. By realizing form, time and space are one in essence.  and that essence is consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic Self-awareness. When we drop all accumulated knowledge and start afresh it becomes easier to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

The seeker has to have an inner urge to know the truth seriousness, patience, and humility in order to reach the ultimate end of understanding. A man of truth will not indulge in the argument he keeps his distance with such a mindset. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Animal sacrifices in the Rig Veda.+

Hindus does not know of the sacrifice of animals in the Vedas.  There are references in the Rig Veda and others about the sacrifice of the animals.

The horse sacrifice is a well-known ritual from the Rig Veda—though this has pretty much ceased to be practiced altogether. There is also mention of the sacrifice of a goat. In the Yajur Veda, there is an entire section devoted to the rituals of animal sacrifices—through the sacrifice of animals in some cases does seem to be optional. 

Animal sacrifice in the Rig Veda

1.162.2-5 The dappled goat goeth before the Courser, covered with trappings and with wealth, the grasped oblation. The dappled goat goes straightforward, bleating, to the place dear to Indra and to Pusan. Dear to all the Gods, this goat, the share of Pusan, is first led forward with the vigorous Courser While Tvastar sends him forward with the Charger, acceptable for sacrifice, to glory.

1.162.6,9-11 (the horse sacrifice) those who prepare the cooking vessel for the Steed…what part of the Steed’s flesh the fly hath eaten, or is left sticking to the post or hatchet, Or to the slayer’s hands and nails adhereth…Food undigested steaming from his belly and any odor of raw flesh remaining This lets the immolators set in order and dress the sacrifice with perfect cooking What from thy body which with fire is roasted when thou art set upon the spit.

1.162.12 They who observing that the Horse is ready to call out and say, the smell is good; remove it; and craving meat, await the distribution, may their approving help promote our labor.

1.162.18 Cut ye with skill so that the parts be flawless, and piece by piece declaring them dissect them.

1.163.12 The strong Steed hath come forward to the slaughter, pondering with a mind directed God-ward. The Goat who is his kin is led before him.

1.172.4 The horse neighs, the steer bellows before being sacrificed.

3.2.7, 3.6.6 Horse sacrifice.

Here are a few references from the Yajur Veda as well.

Yajur 1.8.21.e To the Asvins he sacrifices a dusky, to Sarasvati a ram, to Indra a bull

Yajur 1.3.1.c He who hates us and whom we hate, here do I cut off his neck…
Sacrifices were done as 1) gift offerings to the gods 2) as a way of gaining strength 3) and for accomplishing things that one wants through spiritual power (curses).

The flesh of the victim was offered partly as a burnt offering and partly was eaten by the priests (who were not vegetarians).

Hinduism is not Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.  All this Vedic sacrifice of animals belongs to the Vedic era. Hinduism is not Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.  Hinduism is not a religion. Rather it is a group of religions and caste found within India that share common beliefs while still remaining very different. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Realize what God suppose to be in Truth.+

Whenever one talks about God, he refers to his belief. Hence, any idea of God that he forms is entirely based on his belief. The belief is not God.  

The Soul, the Self,  is God in truth. And God has no reality apart from the Soul, the Self. Hence,  religious believers are unable to give proof of their God and are merely hallucinating based on their inherited beliefs.  The truth is hidden by the universe. 

Thus, one must realize the whole universe is created out of the soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit. And the Spirit is God in truth.

The Upanishads say in effect that: ~ If you believe that you are one and God is another you cannot understand Truth.

No conceptual God can exist, apart from consciousness. People are not aware of the fact that there is no individual God that can exist, apart from the soul, which is in the form of consciousness. Thus, the Soul or consciousness is the true Self.   If there is no consciousness, then there is no physical body, no ego, no universe, no religion, and no conceptual God.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God,  there is no truth."

People think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks physical entity or ego as the Self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks of the Soul as the Self, then there is nothing that exists other than consciousness.

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things besides himself and postulate a God, the creator. The Body, the idea of God and the world arise and set together from, and into, the soul or consciousness, the innermost self. If God is apart from the ‘Self ‘, then He would be Selfless, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahman is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (brahmano hi prat sth ham, ( 14.27)

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~    God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. He cannot be seen directly by anyone. He pervades all beings and all directions. Thus,   Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Bible says: ~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)”,

Mythreyi Upanishad 2:26 says: ~ All those who desire to have salvation without taking several births, should worship God in spirit and truth.  

Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit), which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit) which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness. 

Lord Krishna says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know the Self in truth". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the innermost Self.   In reality,  there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the Self.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of the real God.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

When Upanishad itself declares: ~   Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad). 

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God) 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 It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other besides it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sag Sankara is impersonal.

Sage Sankara: ~"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman  (God)."

Thus, truth realization is Self-realization.  Self-realization is God-realization.  God- realization itself is real worship.  :~Santthosh Kumaar