People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take it as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’.++****

In recent years an increasing number of cosmologists, theoretical physicists, and philosophers of science have argued that consciousness is a basic aspect of the cosmos. Sage Sri Sankara has declared this truth in the 8^th century.

As indicated in the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita all-pervading consciousness is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. 

The consciousness is ‘Self’-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is the true ‘Self’.  The consciousness is within, the consciousness is without; the consciousness is before, the consciousness is behind; the consciousness is on the right, the consciousness is on the left; the consciousness is above and the consciousness’s below.  Until one thinks his body as body, ego as ego the universe as the universe, he remains in ignorance because he is still in ignorance and he is unaware of the fact that they too are the consciousness.

Sage Sri, Sankara says you must first know what is before you. If you cannot know that, what else can you know or understand? If you give up the external world in your inquiry, you cannot get the whole truth.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what” is needed to realize the truth, which is hidden by the form, time, and space. By getting stuck with ‘I-centric’ gurus and their teaching keeps one in the prison of hallucination. 

The ‘I’ is present in the form of the universe hides the consciousness because the universe is created out of the consciousness.

Sage Sri Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman (consciousness) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

The ‘Self ‘is not the ‘I’. The ‘Self’ is not within the body. The ‘Self’ is hidden by the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is ignorance. The ‘I’ is an illusion.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes in order to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Bhagavad Gita: ~ “The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

The ‘I’ hides the consciousness.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ “If you desire liberation, but you still say "I," If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, You are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take it as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. There is no need to convince such a mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth.

That is why Sage Sri, Sankara says: - 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.

People refuse to accept anything other than their Gurus words. For them, their Gurus words are the ultimate truth. They do not accept anything else other than their accepted truth. There is no need to convince such a mindset.

Such a mindset is not fit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The seekers of truth accept only the truth nothing but the uncontradictable truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar