By regulating the thought or by regulating the breath, it is impossible to get Self-realization.+

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I -That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object- That alone known as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Sage  Sankara:~ The vital- air-Sheath cannot be the Self because it is the modification of air (Vayu). Like air, it enters the body and goes out of it never knowing the joy and sorrow like others. It is ever dependent on the Self. ~VC~165-166

Breath, body, and the world are one in essence. That essence is formless consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the Self. 

Breath, body, and the world are part and parcel of the illusion. By holding the breath (vital force) as the Self, one cannot get rid of ignorance. 

Without getting rid of ignorance, Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Advaitic Wisdom dawns only when one realizes the form, time and space are one in essence.

The Soul, the 'Self' does not breathe because it is formless. The Self is not a thinker because it is ever formless, timeless and spaceless. 

By regulating the thought or by regulating the breath, it is impossible to get Self-realization. The Self is not the thinks and the one which breathes.

You are the thinker. You are the breather. The Self is not you, but the Self is the one which witnesses you and the world together. Therefore, it is erroneous to say ‘I AM THIS’ or ‘I AM THAT’ because the ‘I’ itself is an illusion. Thus, it is necessary to know ‘What is ‘I’, to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space.

If you are caught in the grip of the ‘I’ then you will remain permanently in the grip of the ignorance. If you hold the Self as ‘I’ you will never be able to cross the dualistic illusion. If you follow the ‘I’ based teaching it is like the blind leading the blind

If you inquire “Who am ‘I’? the ‘I’ will not disappear. You must know the nature of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.

The Soul is the witness of the ‘I’ which is permeant and eternal. The Soul is the subject and the ‘I’ is an object.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul. Therefore, the seeker has to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self:~

Where is the ‘I’?

Where is the ego?

Where is the body?

Where is the mind?

Where is the world in which you exist?

Where are the form, time, and space?

Where is the waking experience?

Where is the duality?

Where is void?

They are or have become one with the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience.

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. 

The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the I’. This truth has to be assimilated.

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless and spaceless subject.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion.

If 'I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of the birth, life, death is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the duality is bound to be an illusion.

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’ comes and goes to realize the truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

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

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is the cause of the 'I'.  

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that 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’. is no need to convince such mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The existences of the religious Gods are limited to the domain of the dualistic illusion or Maya.+

Religion Gods are based on blind belief or faith.  Religious Gods are not God in truth. The existence of the religious Gods is limited to the domain of the dualistic illusion or Maya. The Maya is present in the form of the ‘I’. 

The ‘I’ hides God in truth. all the Gods with forms and names belong to the dualistic illusion or Maya,  therefore,  they are false Gods,   

Religion is a prison of ignorance. People who follow it are locked up in ignorance.  God in truth is not what people believe and worship.   

Hindus assert their religion is monotheistic, even though they honor a number of Gods, including Brahma the Creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer.  Hindus claim these various Gods are all manifestations of the oneness of the universe.  Hindu religious practices vary from place to place, but they frequently include yoga, physical and mental discipline to harmonize body and Soul, and ritual bathing. 

Blind belief in multiple Gods, the worship of idols, and the worship of images are not God in truth. The worship of sacred images, ancestor worship, pilgrimage, priestcraft, the belief in avatars or incarnations of God, and the hereditary caste system because all these lack Vedic sanction.

Hinduism indulges in non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, and child marriages. All these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not the  Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Realizing the universe is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic Self-awareness. Self-awareness is freedom or Moksha. Moksha is unity in diversity in the midst of duality. 

It is very difficult to talk to people about the ultimate truth or Brahman because everyone thinks he knows the ultimate truth or Brahman. This I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second-hand stuff.  Therefore, accepting accumulated knowledge without verification will lead the seekers to hallucinated realization based on the ego.  One may have some flashes of truth when someone tries to indicate it through fewer words. But it takes nearer to truth, not realization.

Remember: ~

Religious Gods are based on blind belief. Belief is not God.  Religious God cannot be considered as the cause of the universe because the Soul the Self is the cause of the universe. Without the Soul, the Self the universe is dependent on the Soul, the Self for their existence. 

God in truth is only the Soul,  the Self which is present in the form of consciousness. 

Bhagavad Gita: ~ ‘All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20) 

Remember:~

Only the path of wisdom leads the seeker of truth on his journey to the ultimate realization of the true nature of the Universal Essence, which is the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. 

Bhagavad Gita: 7: 19:~ "Such a man who has attained true knowledge, the knowledge of Self, the knowledge of Atman, worships ‘Self’ as~ Atman (God in truth) alone exists~ everything is Atman, there exists nothing except Atman. Such a man is extremely rare." 

The Bhagavad Gita: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God in truth ) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, 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 which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman 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 Brihadaranyaka Upanishad declares: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from him does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, that the world in which he exists as a reality.  For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara VC~.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?

VC-  v6~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not  even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together

Sage  Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness of not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman (God in truth).” Brahman must be realized. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments.

Sage  Sankara’s Supreme Brahman 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 as 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 description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a 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 Sage  Sankara is impersonal.

Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self. Advaita is the Soul itself. Advaita is the Soul, which is God in truth. Advaita is another word for God, which is second to none.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Know what this mind in actuality. People mistake the ego for the mind.+

The 'I' itself is Maya. The Maya is a dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion or Maya itself is the mind. The mind itself is the universe. the universe itself is waking.

Know what this mind is in actuality. People mistake the ego for the mind. The illusion is not the projection of the mind.

It is high time to realize the mind is not within the body, but the body and the world are within the mind. The mind itself is an illusion.

Without knowing what is in mind it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality). 

The one that becomes dual and nondual is consciousness. Thus, all three states are nothing but consciousness. The consciousness alone is real and all three states are merely an illusion. When the conviction about consciousness becomes firm, then it leads to Advaitic awareness in the midst of the duality.

Thus, it is necessary to have a perfect understanding of ‘what is ‘what’ to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Illusion’s "concealing power" merely means that when one looks at an ice block he thinks only of the ice block. But a Gnani will think of the substance of the ice block too. That is a wise man has the knowledge of the substance plus of the ice block.

Similarly, a Gnani has knowledge of the universe and its formless substance also. The consciousness is concealed because of ignorance. As a man, one is not aware of the fact that his body, ego, and his experience of the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

When one becomes aware of the fact that, the universe is an illusion then there is no body no ego, and no world then there is only the formless, timeless, and spaceless Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Remember:~

First, know ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality’ then only what is hidden by the ‘I’ will be revealed.

If you realize the ‘Self ‘is not the ‘I’ but the Soul then there is nothing hidden that will not be revealed.

Realizing the Soul is not the ‘I’ but the Soul is the Self is Self –realization.

There is no such thing as an individual Soul. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. The three states are the product of ignorance.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’-there is no ignorance; therefore, the three states are nonexistent. Only from the dualistic perspective, one can speak about the individual Soul and the universe. 

From the non-dualistic perspective, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul or consciousness.

What is it that becomes the waking? What is it becomes deep sleep? What is it that becomes the dream?

It is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness that appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep ( non-duality). 

Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

From the ultimate standpoint, the waking experience is the dualistic illusion or Maya.+

Those who assert the universe is a reality are still in the elementary stages of the preliminary analysis. The universe is a reality within the waking experience, but the waking experience is the illusion or Maya. In the same way, the dream world was a reality within the dream experience. 

The dream became unreal when the waking took place. In the same way, the waking becomes unreal when Advaitic wisdom dawns.

The Soul, the Self is nothing to do with the three states, which appear and disappear. The Soul, the Self is the cause of the three states and it itself is uncaused.

The Soul, the 'Self' remains without waking and without the dream in deep sleep. It means the Soul, the Self, remains without you and your experience of the world.

We speak of the deep sleep and dream experience only in the waking experience. The waking experience is a state of ignorance. From the ultimate standpoint, the waking experience is the dualistic illusion or Maya, therefore, whatever we speak of the dream experience is bound to be an illusion. The dream is a parallel waking experience and the waking experience is a parallel dream.

The one that becomes waking and the one that becomes a dream and one that remains without the waking and dream in deep sleep is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the substance and witness and the source of the three states. In reality, the substance, witness, and source are one in essence. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other than consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

When we analyze the dream experience, we find the dream entity, the dream world with all people in it appeared as a whole, and the dream reality lasted until the waking experience appeared.

When one tries to know the truth of his true existence in the waking through deeper self-search, one becomes aware of the fact that the Self is not the ‘I’ but it is a formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the essence of the three states from which the three states are made.  

Thus, the illusions of the three states are made of one single substance, which is consciousness. By realizing the formless substance, which is consciousness as the Self, the ignorance vanishes and one becomes aware of the fact that the three states are merely an illusion from the standpoint of the formless substance, which is also the witness of the three states.

Remember:~

A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignores that in a dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real.

Suppose we are discussing worldly affairs in a dream, the dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking experience becomes unreal when you realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self is the ‘Soul’, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The dream is a parallel waking experience and the waking experience is a parallel dream. The one that witnesses the dream is not you but the Soul. The same witness witnesses the waking as a whole. 

Thus, whatever individual experience happens within the waking is nothing to do with the Soul, the innermost Self, because the Soul is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Non-attachment to the three states is liberation. Attachment to the three states is bondage.  The Self alone exists and all three states are false and unreal.

Remember:~

You are not different from the ego because you are the ego. The ego, body, and the world appear together as waking or dream (duality) and disappear together as deep sleep (non-duality). The dream is a parallel waking experience and the waking experience is a parallel dream.

The seeker should not focus his attention on the ego but he has to find the truth of the whole waking experience (universe).

The seeker has to find out: ~

‘What is it that appears as the waking?’

“What is it that appears as a dream?’

‘What is it that disappears as deep sleep?’

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that whatever appears and disappears is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The witness of the appearance and disappearance of the three states also the Soul.

All three states are created out of single clay. And that single clay is consciousness. in reality, the witness (Soul) and the witnessed (three states) are one in essence.

The knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~

Unless one realizes the Soul as the Self as it really is” it is impossible to realize the nondualistic or Advaitic truth. :

The seeker has doubts or confusion in his quest for truth because he is egocentric. The seeker then needs a mental yardstick to know ‘what is the truth’ to know ‘what is untruth’. With that mental yardstick, the seeker will know in which direction to turn and overcome all the pitfalls. 

If the seeker is Soul centric then he will know all the pitfalls and errors and be ever aware of ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is falsehood’.

Until one thinks body as body and world as the world, it is impossible to grasp the nondualistic or Advaitic truth, because his views and judgments are based on the physical self (ego or the waking entity or you) within the physical existence (waking). 

Individuality is a reality with the waking experience, but the waking experience itself is a falsehood. Thus, holding the view as an individual within the false experience is erroneous from the ultimate point of view. The waking is a parallel dream and the dream is a parallel waking experience.

Perfect understanding removes all sorts of obstacles in the pursuit of truth. Only through constant repetition of words in my posts will make one think differently, but it also creates more doubts and confusion in his subconscious and his inner urge to know the truth even more intense. And it also helps to overcome some of our conditioning, which we have inherited from parental grooming and circumstances. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Meditation is not a mechanical process of forcing your attention upon an idea or object. Meditation is not the means to acquire Advaitic wisdom.+

Meditation is a progressive step and there is no need to condemn them. Religion and yoga were not the ends, for they can never directly lead to Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Until a man is ripe to receive Self-knowledge, it is fatal to ask him to give up meditation. Without knowing 'what is the reality? and what is an illusion? meditating is a useless exercise.

That is why Sage Sankara says ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Meditation is not a mechanical process of forcing your attention upon an idea or object. Meditation is not the means to acquire Advaitic wisdom. Meditation is not a means to find the truth hidden by form, time, and space. Without realizing the ‘Self is not you but the Self is the Soul all the effort used in the meditation leads to hallucination thoughtlessness.

Thoughtlessness is not wisdom. by ending the thoughts you may get peace, not Advaitic wisdom.

Ashtavakra says: ~ “This is your bondage, that you practice Samadhi or meditation.”

All other teachings and practices other than Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana are for beginners only. There are stages in comprehending the truth.

Meditation always means the critical analysis of the Self to get rid of ignorance. Ignorance will not vanish by reaming without thoughts or focusing attention on some object.

The novice seekers must understand that yoga is all right in its place and that it is good at the beginning of the pursuit of truth, but when yoga is made ends in itself and not means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

It is all made so complicated, and books written by different yogis have made it still more complicated. No amount of reading and understanding can lead to Self-realization.

All other teachings and practices other than self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana are for beginners only. There are stages in comprehending the truth.

Advaitic truth is the ultimate truth for the seeker of truth. All religions, Yoga, mysticism, or theology is for the lower and middling intellect.

The seeker's aim is the search for the Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The search to find the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth that in actuality never was lost, only hidden.

Religious truth is not the truth because it always shows a contradiction. A contradiction arises because a different person's interpretation may disagree with others.

Poets are at liberty to imagine whatever they like, but the only thing wrong is that they take their feelings and sentiments for reality, or when they think that whatever seems, must exist.

Remember:~

Meditation is not meditating on the object, but realizing the object is not the Subject.

The Soul is the subject. The world is an object.

The world in which you exist is an object to the Soul, the Self.

Remember, you are part of the objective world.

Chandogya Upanishad:~ One who meditates upon and realizes the Self discovers that everything in the cosmos-- energy and space, fire and water, name and form, birth and death, mind and will, word and deed, mantrams and meditation--all come from the Self.

People dip into meditation, but they do not understand that that is only one half of the truth and that this dipping is also a mental discipline for them to understand the true nature of the external universe, which understanding they must next get if they are to become a Gnani.

For meditation, one needs not sit and chant God's name or concentrate on some object. Anything you do will not be meditation. If there is a doer then it is not meditation. As long as there is doing, there is ignorance. 

As long as the doer is present, the ego is present. If the ego is present the whole world is present. If the world is present the duality is present. If the duality is present then there is an illusion. If the illusion is present birth, life, death, and the world is experienced as reality.

By realizing the world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of single stuff is Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana leads to Self-awareness.

In Self-awareness, the Soul, the innermost self, remains in its own awareness in the midst of form, time, and space.  Self-awareness is real meditation. Mediation is the nature of the Soul, the  Self. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

Know what this mind in actuality. People mistake the ego for the mind. The illusion is not the projection of the mind. The mind itself is an illusion.+

First Mundaka - Chapter 2 (8) ~ Fools, dwelling in darkness, but wise in their own conceit and puffed up with vain scholarship, wander about, being afflicted by many ills, like blind men led by the blind.

Swami Vivekananda:~“The wicked are always looking for defects. Flies come and seek the ulcer, and bees come only for the honey in the flower. Do not follow the way of the fly but that of the bee

Instead of finding fault first realize what the Self is in actuality. Honest introspection will reveal that all fault lies with “you” and “your "own perceptions and attitudes. If there is an error in understanding what 'Self' is in actuality it is in “you". Correcting this and changing to a Soulcentric attitude will change your perception and then the Soul; the 'Self' will reveal its formless, timeless, and spaceless true nature. If you are unable to grasp the truth hidden by the ‘I’ then you will never be able to grasp nonduality or Advaita. 

Know what this mind is in actuality. People mistake the ego for the mind. The illusion is not the projection of the mind. The mind itself is an illusion. 

It is high time to realize the mind is not within the body, but the body and the world are within the mind. The mind itself is an illusion.

Without knowing what is mind it is impossible to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality). The one that becomes dual and nondual is consciousness. 

Thus, all three states are nothing but consciousness. Consciousness alone is real and all three states are merely an illusion. When the conviction about the consciousness becomes firm, then it leads to Advaitic awareness in the midst of the duality.

Thus, it is necessary to have a perfect understanding of ‘what is ‘what’ to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Illusion’s "concealing power" merely means that when one looks at an ice block he thinks only of the ice block. But a Gnani will think of the substance of the ice block too. That is a wise man has the knowledge of the substance plus of the ice block. 

Similarly, a Gnani has knowledge of the universe and its formless substance also. The consciousness is concealed because of ignorance. As a man, one is not aware of the fact that his body, ego, and his experience of the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

When one becomes aware of the fact that, the universe is an illusion then there is the no-physical body no ego, and no world there is only the formless, timeless, and spaceless Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

Sage 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 Maya.

When you finally realize the ‘Self’ ‘is not you but the 'Self’’ is Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says :~VC-47 All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.

Until you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.   Till you realize the whole universe is an illusion you will not be able to realize the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe.

In fact, Sage Sankara states a paradox- the world is and is not. It is neither real nor unreal. It leads us to recognize the existence of Maya (illusion). He thinks that the world is illusory from one perspective and from the second it is nothing but Brahman(God), Itself in manifestation. This apparent world is Maya and has its basis in Brahman, the Eternal. It looks as real. It has names and forms and actually, it is not real In the light of true knowledge, it disappears and Self-alone shines as real. However, Sage  Sankara's Mayavada has not been accepted by many preachers and philosophers.

When Sage Sankara says clearly, the universe is not real. He says that Brahman and Atman are one. The ultimate and Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many in different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Soul, the innermost  Self is Real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances, then it indicates the form (waking or duality or mind) is unreal and the formless soul (consciousness or soul) is real.  Therefore, only Atman is real because there is no second thing that exists other than Atman, which is in the form of consciousness.

Remember: ~

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “The universe rises from the Soul, the innermost Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus know the ‘Self’ to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sankara said: ~A.A~ 88- When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman (consciousness), and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

That is why Sage  Sankara Says: ~ VC-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.

What is the use of saying ‘I AM THAT’- without knowing what the ‘Self’ is in actuality? Without knowing the truth of the Self, without realizing the truth of the world in which you exist it is impossible to realize the truth beyond form, time, and space. By a mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT', the truth will not be revealed.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ If the universe be true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ “Brahman is the truth. The world is unreal everything is Truly Brahman and nothing else has any value.

Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra)

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Those who tell you that Brahman is unity, that you can get it only by intuition, that you should not reason, you should not question or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar