The perfect seer sees consciousness in everything and everywhere in the physical existence[illusion].

One  should not  expect spiritual path to be clear of obstacles, without obstacles. One who seeks truth realization  may not be able to grasp the truth, because he has to know the obstacles which is blocking his realization and get rid of them. One has to  attain the truth realization  in the midst of illusion. 

One  should not wish for easy  way to search the truth . In easy way , there is ignorance. The ignorance has been nourished and passed on from one generation to the next.   One has to try to  get rid of the ignorance,  by discovering and  realizing the ultimate truth." One should not hope for realization without obstacles.  An easy way  results in a judgmental and lazy. 


 The truth is easy, but, because of the accumulated knowledge and inherited  conditioning  it becomes very difficult to grasp and assimilate it. Accumulated knowledge and inherited conditioning  are   greatest hindrance in pursuit of truth. When one is conditioned to accept some thing else as truth, it becomes difficult for him to accept anything other then his accepted truth. Since, he is been involved with his inherited conditioning  sentimentally and emotionally  for years together, therefore, he will not be receptive to Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Only when one finds his accumulated knowledge is inadequate and useless ,then only it is possible to drop the accumulated dross.   One has to accept the ups and downs  of life, by understanding they are mere illusion on the ultimate standpoint. 

The   universe or illusion, which  appears and disappears is impermanent and whatever is experienced as reality within the universe or  illusion is bound to be illusion.  The truth has nothing to with the individual experiences with in the universe or  illusion, because it is not an entity or identity within the universe  illusion but it is the formless substance and witness of the illusion. The truth is hidden within the universe or  illusion and it is without the universe or  illusion.  

The Gnani is one who has become aware of  the formless witness, which is with in the three states and it is without the three states.  He is a man of perfection is one who learnt to reason on the the base of the formless witness. He has delved into and has become aware of the the formless soul or consciousness, the innermost  self and he transcended consciously all his identification with the physical existence. He has realized his universal identity is without the physical existence(body+world or mind).  

Such a perfect seer has, when once he has realized  the self is not physical but it is formless soul or consciousness or spirit, no longer is in bondage or burden of the physical existence, because  the physical existence is mere illusion on the standpoint of the soul or consciousness or spirit, which is the true self.  The perfect seer sees consciousness in everything and everywhere in the physical existence(illusion). Hence, the physical existence is mere mirage. There is no second thing exists, other then the consciousness, which is the nature of the soul or consciousness or spirit .

One has to come out of the prison of thoughts and words, and get direct realization of ultimate truth.

One should not  hold on  to any   words or quotes  quotes as truth, the words and quotes pointing towards truth, but  they are  not truth in itself.  One has  to verify the validity of every claim or declaration until they take him towards inner path.  

  One has  to think and think, until the inner dialogue starts, and  then only  he will start reasoning on his  own and realizes the fact that,  the self is not physical but it is the formless spirit. Once this happens the truth becomes easy to assimilate.

  The reasoning faculty ,which use to judge “what is good” and “what is bad” in us ,will starts reasoning “what is reality” and “what is unreality”  on the formless base.  Once one realizes the truth, then he is free from all complications, emotions, thoughts   and words. Through   perfect understanding, one  becomes aware of the fact that, even the body and the world and all its contents are consciousness, nothing but consciousness.  Thus, consciousness alone is real all else is illusion.   

One should  not accept  what anyone  says or what others quote as reality, without verification, if one is seeking truth. Nothing has to be accepted as truth without verification.  If words and quotes makes one  think ,  then his own reasoning faculty  will lead him towards the destination he seeking for.  

When one is  advancing towards the non-dual destination, he  will not rest until he  reaches what he is  seeking, his  reasoning faculty will guide him, until he gets un-contradictable/non-dual truth. The words and quotes are mere  pointers. Through well directed reasoning faculty, anyone one can realize the truth.  But most people have become stagnant with others thoughts/teachings/quotes/words , because, it pleases them and they are emotionally involved with it.

 When the whole diversity is created out of single stuff , then what else is there to know other then that unseen  stuff.   The knowing that unseen stuff  has become more complicated because one has  to come out of the prison of thoughts and words, and get direct realization of ultimate truth.         

    

Ultimate truth is nothing to do with the world and its people and its politics culture and tradition, theories, teachings and philosophy

All the words thoughts, beliefs, experiences,  understanding, world and whatever seen,  known, believed, as a person, is created out of consciousness. When the consciousness limits itself  physical entity, then the duality becomes reality. Consciousness pervades in  everything and everywhere in all the three states as their formless substance  and witness. Thus, the formless substance  and the witness are one in essence.   When the consciousness is in its own formless nature the duality is mere mirage. Therefore, the mirage has no value, because, its reality is mere illusion.  This our worldly life is mere illusion. The one who is unaware of this fact is in ignorance, and he is in the prison of his own ideas and theories.  

The words are powerful only in illusion. In the realm of truth they  do not exist.   When one becomes aware of the fact that, the self is not physical but it is consciousness[soul] then the word, thoughts ,experiences, world, and people  have no value, because everything is created out of consciousness.    Thus, the beyond is within the mind[illusion] and it is without the mind. 

There is no use of getting stuck with the words, because someone  believes   that,   Our culture, our civilization has invented the word `soul' . Every word has been  invented by culture and and civilization. Buddha called it emptiness, Sri ,Sri, Sankara called it Brahman, Parmahansa Yogananda called it Christ consciousness, Sri, Arabindo called it super-consciousness.  Some does not accept the word soul and uses  new words and  he is calling same words in a different name. The old word with the new label.   

The truth is beyond religion, scriptures and concept of god. The pursuit of truth is a very personal journey. Ultimate truth  is nothing to do with the world and its  people and its politics  culture and tradition, theories, teachings  and philosophy , because they are part of the illusion. The illusion will be understood only when one verifies the validity of his own existence and realizes the fact that, the self is not physical but it is formless consciousness[soul].  On the standpoint of formless self ,whatever one has seen ,known ,believed and experienced as person of the world becomes mere illusion.  Therefore, Self-knowledge is very much necessary to realize the what is what.

 No teachings or teacher is necessary in this mental journey.  It is a  journey of verification. The teaching and theories are greatest obstacle in pursuit of truth.  Until all the doubts and confusion vanishes and the words and thoughts and experience mentally  become one with formless substance from which they have arisen,  the unity in diversity is impossible.

 The unity in diversity within the world/illusion is impossibility. Expecting the world beyond religion and politics is an impossibility. A seeker of truth is not concerned with  the individual worldly experience,  which is mere illusion for him in pursuit of truth , he is more interested in knowing the truth, to realize, whatever is going on within the world, is mere illusion. The truth sets one free from the illusion, because he realizes the world and people and whatever it contains,  everything is consciousness, there is no second thing other then consciousness.     

Until one keeps thinking the world  is one and consciousness in another, he will be plying the words ,just like a small baby plying with the toys. Therefore, perfect understanding and assimilation is necessary in order to come out from  the grip of the words and thought.  There is no use of finding fault in  anyone’s teaching , they are great in there own way. everyone has to be thankful to those great personalities  who have contributed their thesis to this world, which made people think in a different way in different understanding. But when  one finds their teachings, theories  or thesis  are  inadequate and useless to quench the thirst of the spiritual seeker  then he has to discard them  mentally and move a head on his own, to realize the fact that,  everything is consciousness, no second thing exists other  then the  consciousness.    

"Who am I” cannot give the full truth.

People are most interested in themselves before they gets interested in the world therefore, the "Who am I?" inquiry leads only to reveal half truth.    The “Who am I? – inquiry is useful as a first stage to show the illusoriness of ego and thus help seeker to get rid of it. It helps the seeker to prepare him to consider the higher question: What is the world, what is mind, what is “Self” the truth about which cannot be learnt by those attached to their ego, with its prejudices against idealism, etc. 

If one has doubts about why there are so many different animals and natural objects in the world he may regard them as teachers, there are lessons to be learnt from them by using reason. Why did Brahman produce all these varied forms? It is so that the ignorant man may study them and get wisdom. One has to study the all the three states and realize the fact that, so many different animals and natural objects and the world exists only in waking and dream.

The people who are on the path of “Self-Inquiry”  "Who am I?" may succeed in finding the common factor in all ‘I’s, the I-ness but they have to come back to the world. Their task is incomplete. They do not know the world is mere mirage created out of the Ataman and Ataman is ultimate truth.  

"What Am l?" revels only illusory nature of the ego/physical self.

“What is mind?” and “What is the substance of the mind?” revels the truth of the whole.  In pursuit of truth deeper understanding and sharpness to grasp the truth is necessary.  

The three states have to be analyzed and examined separately; and realize the fact that the witness of the three states is formless and apart.  The three states are mere mirages is arisen from the soul and witnessed by the soul and finally it dissolves as the sou. So the experience of diversity is mere mirage created out of the soul, which is the true self and it dissolves as the soul. Therefore there is no second thing other then the soul exits, which is in the form of spirit or consciousness.

The deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning revels the truth that the self is not physical and on the standpoint  of formless self the diversity is mere mirage.  Therefore, the mirage cannot be considered as reality but the formless substance and witness of the mirage is real and eternal.   

Meditation on the formless witness is the best meditation: meditation on the parts is only steps towards that.  Man becomes aware of himself and the world only in waking experience. With what one becomes aware of the waking and dream and deep sleep, when the waking entity is limited to waking experience. What witnesses the dream as a whole without the physical eyes because the dream does not arise until the waking entity and waking world disappears. The, one which is aware of the three states, which comes and goes in succession is apart and eternal.

The mystic and religionist disregard this in order to think of self.  Yogis, who jump at once to Atman disregarding to include the world in their inquiry will not be able to get wisdom.  Mystics or religionists are based on their belief not truth.  If one does not see the objects or one gets thoughtlessness, it does not mean he has wisdom.

Whoever looks at objects alone, at the external world, he is wholly ignorant. But he, who looks at both the outside and inside, inquires, analyzes and reasons; he is led towards knowledge. 

One has to analyze both mind and matter to get at truth. Two things are necessary to get the non-dual truth: -

 (1) Knowledge of the mind

(2) Knowledge of the substance of the mind which is the true self or the subject.

 When one starts inquiry he does it to please himself, not for truth; hence he asks "Who am I?" It is an elementary stage of discipline because it is   based on ego/physical self, but aiming at eliminate the ego.  It is impossible to eliminate the ego, because ego is false self within the false experience. Therefore, there is need to understand “What is mind” in order to assimilate the true self-knowledge.

The formula "What is  I?" presupposes the existence of an ‘I’. But this is only an assumption. Before proceeding to act on such a formula one ought first to inquire whether there is such a thing as an ‘I’.

Those who have been baffled by unsuccessful enquiry, reading, intellection, have to find out what are the obstacles on the way what is blocking them from grasping ,understanding and assimilating the non-dual truth.

Yoga is intended to remove the hindrance in pursuit of truth such as sexual desire, worries, anxieties, desire for wealth etc. Also to enable the one  to keep out irrelevant thoughts whilst making inquiry, analysis and reasoning .

 All this has to be done before indulging in pursuit of truth. Therefore yoga has only a negative value and is a preparatory stage. Pursuit of truth  starts from what is  seen, i.e. the three states.  Wisdom  comes from both  knowing the the three states  and the the formless witness of the three states.

To leave out one of these parts is to prevent attainment of wisdom. "Who am I” is useful no doubt, it has certainly a value in its place, and gives some knowledge of self as, the Witness. But what about the witnessed? The three states  are mere object to the witness. It must also be looked at. If the witnessed [ three states] is ignored, then "Who am I” cannot give the full truth.

“Who am ‘I’” is   yogic enquiry; not the spiritualistic ; the latter deals with the whole of life whereas the former deals with a part only.

"Who am I"  inquiry limits only to the physical entity , because there, is no person in truth but only in the illusion of mystics.  ‘It should be "What is  I?"

 

The question "Who am I” is a religious, not a spiritualistic  question. It is a most selfish one. It is on a par with "What shall I be after death?" and "What shall I get  in return for my good karma in next life  ?" It is purely egocentric and it is based on the false self.

Only the people who are serious in knowing the truth  can lift their thoughts above ego and ask "What is the mind .?"  All  the three states  put together make the soul/self, not merely the ego questioning itself ''What is  I.”

Soul or consciousness is one and the same thing.

Hi, , if I said that it was consciousness that prevades everything and is everything; would you say that it is the same thing or is the concept of soul someting different?
Now there are many states of consciousness, such as that in sleep, dream state , waking state and the higher more alert and all compassing states such as 'unity' consciousness, pure consciousness, etc. which can be achieved through meditation.
Because when you say 'soul' the word is often interpreted as per one's conditioning from many a religious texts. For example Christianity and Islam says there is but Budhism does not believe or rather propogates that there is no such thing as an 'individual soul'; though all of them try to say the same thing. So it leaves one rather confused.
So I would prefer the word consciousness which is more understandable. Please clarify this.:)

Thank you,

SK. 

Soul  or consciousness is one and the same thing.  The nature of the soul/spirit is consciousness.  There is no forth state or many more states.  Nothing can be achieved from meditation other then temporary peace. The temporary peace achieved through meditation is not wisdom.  On the ultimate standpoint there are  no states. The waking, dream and deep sleep are mere mirage created out of the consciousness[soul]. The consciousness is the subject and the three states are an object to the the subject. The subject[soul] and object [three states] are one in essence. There is no second thing exists other then the consciousness. Therefore, the dual[waking/dream]and non-dual [deep sleep] experiences, which comes and goes in succession is mere mirage.

  The true  nature  of the consciousness is like deep sleep.  The three states[object] is dependent on the subject for their  existence but the self/soul[subject] is independent and apart.  The subject[self/soul] can exit without the three states but the object[the three states] ceases to exist without the subject.   The great hurdle in understanding the truth is, because the object is considered as subject and the truth is judged on the physical entity within the object. Therefore, one never becomes aware of the formless subject[consciousness] which is within the object[three states] but is apart from the object[three states].   It is apart, because it is not an entity or identity within three state.  As one goes deeper research he becomes aware of the fact that , there is “mind”[object] and there is no “mind”[subject].  Therefore, we have to analyze the object [three states] very deeply  to realize the fact that , the object is mere mirage created out of the subject[consciousness].

 The mirage has no value.  The object[diversity/mind] is mere mirage.  Thus, subject exists with or without object[three states].  There is lot of homework involved in this, seeker has to use his thinking faculty  and verify all the facts, until all his doubts and confusion gets cleared, on his own. And accept it only if it is un-contradictable truth.   Since, it takes a long time and the reasoning faculty has to be rectified from form  base to formless base, to grasp, understand and assimilate the non-dual truth.  

Some modern Masters used new English  words for the Sanskrit  words. And different pundits from different religious schools give different interpretation for the same word. Only few words are needed to grasp , understand and assimilate the non-dual truth. Since most people are trying to assimilate it on their own point of view , it becomes difficult for them to accept anything other then their accepted truth, because they are not ready to verify the   validity of their accepted truth.

The soul is not individual it is universal. Making the soul as an individual is the cause of the ignorance. The soul is the formless clay of the three states.    Until one limits the soul to the physical entity, he will be thinking the birth ,life and death as reality.   As a person every one thinks that he as individual separate from the world  and he is born in this world and world existed prior to him --- until this conviction is there it is impossible to grasp the non-dual truth. One has to go deeper research and realize the fact that, the self is not physical but it is formless spirit[consciousness]. On the base of the formless self, the birth, life ,death  and the world are mere mirage. Therefore, one has to learn to view and judge, the truth on the formless base. This does not happen with mere bookish knowledge, because it is purely mental work.

Until one drops all accumulated dross ,which he is holding as truth, it  becomes impossible to grasp, understand  and assimilate the non-dual truth.  The path of truth is path of verification , nothing should be accepted as truth without verification.

Take care

Love  

Santthosh.