The real God is stolen by ignorance, and people worship ignorance as real God.+

Only those seekers who are ready to accept only truth nothing but the truth have to indulge in the pursuit of truth.

Religion and yoga are based on faith not based on truth whereas Advaitic wisdom is based on the truth of the existence hidden by the illusion(Maya).

People who are satisfied with their faith and belief and accepted truth must continue without disturbing their present outfit because the path of wisdom is not suited for religion and a yogic mindset.

The pursuit of truth is not suited for religionists and yogis who believe in conceptual gods. Because, the religious idea of God, world, heaven, hell, sin karma, ceases to exist as real when one becomes aware of the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.

The seeker of truth is one who is ready to verify and has the courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth when he finds out what is truth and what is the untruth. The meek will stick to their inherited conditioning remain experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality.

Remember:~

People are conditioned to view and judge the worldview from the standpoint of the false self or ego. They can only understand what they are thought by their parental grooming, religion societal ethics, accumulated knowledge, and circumstances of life. They cannot think beyond physicality.

The seeker of truth must know the difference between religious Gods and God in spirituality. In spirituality, God means the ultimate truth or Brahman. Self–realization is truth- realization. Truth- realization is God-realization.

Remember:~

The Sanatan Dharam or Vedic religion knows no idols because Vedic God is Atman, not the Gods you believe and worship.

Max Müller says:~ "The religion of the Veda knows no idols; the worship of idols in India is a secondary formation, a degradation of the more primitive worship of ideal gods."

Therefore, there was no individual god or temples and worships in Vedic religion, which existed prior to Buddhism. Thus, the individualized gods and temples must have been built later on, when the worship of idols was introduced. Thus, the Vedic religion which existed in the past was free from idol and nature worship and idol worshiping rituals.

Thus, the present day’s worship of individual gods created things, nature, and humans are against Vedic teachings, and it looks like it has been fabricated and introduced by priestcraft. Since it, has passed on from one generation to the next it is hard for the people to believe the truth of their own religion, because they have sentimentally and emotionally involved in it and they refuse to accept anything else other than their inherited beliefs.

Remember:~

The Vedas talk about Brahman which refers to the ultimate truth or ultimate reality. The consciousness is the ultimate truth, therefore, the consciousness is Brahman and Brahman is God in truth.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ God S is upreme 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.

Vedas do not permit idol worship. All the idols are of the Puranic Gods priests are referring to the Puranic Brahma as God they are ignorant of the God in Vedas even though they speak of Vedas.

Priests do not understand the meaning of the Brahman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Vedic Gods, hardly have any significance in the present-day Hindu belief system. The Gods and Goddesses important to the Hindus of today are Ram, Krishna, Kali, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and the respective consorts of the last three, namely, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. None of these deities figured prominently in the Vedic pantheon and some of them are clearly non-Vedic.

Yajur Veda indicates that: ~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc. (Yajurveda 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the Prakrthi, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time." (Yajurveda 40:9.)

Why worship and glorify the non-~Vedic Gods in place of Vedic God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

God exists prior to form, time, and space. The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is real God. Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

Bhagavad Gita itself says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) 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.

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 Self. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

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

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

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 innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

How can you worship God? That implies two ~ the worshiper and the worshiped, whereas the God is nondual. One can worship his idea of God only or realize his unity with it when he can’t worship it as apart.

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I: ~ “That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman, and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I: ~ That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I: ~ That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone know as Brahman and not that which people here worship.

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

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

Thus, it clearly indicates that God is without the form and attributes and ever free.

The real God is stolen by ignorance, and people worship ignorance as the real God.

When Upanishads and Vedas declare that, “God is the form of the Athma, and God is indeed Athma itself” then why accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is the Science of the Spirit.+

Isa Upanishads indicates ~ By worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use. The time one spends in ritualistic practices is wasted; one can spend the same time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is the main goal. One cannot reach the non-dual destination by glorifying God and Goddesses and by doing that, one goes deeper and deeper into darkness. It surely indicates the fact that the seeker of truth has to drop the worshiping God and Goddess in order to get Self-knowledge.

Sage Sankara as a rationalist philosopher. The orthodoxy projected him as a theologian.

Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom is not even a philosopher dish cooked to suit exclusively the palate of one particular religion. Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is like the air and the water, the common food for the whole humanity.

The Advaitic wisdom of Sage  Sankara is the Science of the Spirit.

If rightly interpreted Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom as spiritual food for the whole humanity. The Advaitic wisdom is the universal wisdom par excellence. Advaitic wisdom is not just a not a philosophy, but not a science, but the Science of Truth.

Sage Sankara gave religious, rituals, and dogmatic instruction to the mass but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Upanishads say:~

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8:~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:- “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ The Soul cannot be realized through hearing a scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the books nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul Consciousness is the real purity.

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~ When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through  Soul, the Self, one gains power, and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5:~ If here one knows it, then there is the truth, and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

The scriptures are being added to from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

The scriptures are for ignorant masses, who wholly accept the material world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the Advaitic truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason. I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures but I quote them to help the seekers realize what the scriptures are saying.

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that says:~

It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

Katha Upanishad: ~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

Upanishad says: ~ “The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it. 

The religion, concept of individualized God, belief in physical Guru, scriptures are great obstacles to Self-realization because they are based on false Self. The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper Self-search and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sage Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: - (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Then it is no use going a roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance, and witness of the universe, which is in the form of mind. By tracing the source of the mind or universe, one will be able to realize the Brahman.

Self-knowledge is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dual truth. Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own selves to get the firm conviction.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.

The knowledge of both matter and spirit is the True knowledge. The true knowledge is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

Advaitic truth is the supreme truth and the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.+

Advaitic truth is the supreme truth and the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. All the Gurus of the East and the West are based on a dualistic perspective. The dualistic knowledge is egocentric.

All egocentric Advaita or nonduality is based on the imagination. All imagined Advaita will not help to cross the domain of form, time, and space. The egocentric knowledge keeps the Soul in the intoxication of the ‘I’. The ‘I’ hides the whole truth.

The Gurus of the east and west who propagate the Advaita are stuck up with their own accepted truth gathered from here and there, and their egoic attitude blocks this form of the ‘I’.

All dualistic systems hold the false self ( you or ego) as the real ‘Self’ and the false experience (universe or waking) as a reality.

Advaitic wisdom is the culmination of all systems, including theistic Advaitic orthodoxy.

A Gnani will not quarrel and argue with any theoretical philosophy because he is fully aware of the fact that these orthodox theistic non-dualistic scholars or pundits, like Dualist sages, could not distinguish between ‘I’ and ‘formless witness.’

The dualists hold the 'I' as the witness. Their highest was the Jiva. The dualists are so attached to the 'I' that they do not want to think that 'I' does not exist. Again, they are unable to detach the ‘I’ from the Real witness. The real witness is not the ‘I’ but the Soul, the witness of the ‘I’

The falsehood is present in the form of ‘I’ (mind or universe); the ‘I’ is the cause of the ignorance.

If one crosses the ‘I’ (mind or universe), then the ‘Self’ in the kingdom of non-dual heaven, without the body and without the experience of the world (waking). : ~ Santthosh Kumaa

The form, time, and space are the product of ignorance.+

The invisible Soul, the Self is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. The form, time, and space are the product of ignorance.

The form, time, and space are present in the form of the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as the waking or dream. Until one holds the Self as the ‘I’, he is in the grip of ignorance.

If ignorance is present then the duality is present.

If duality is present then the illusion is experienced as a reality.

If the illusion is experienced as reality then one is stuck with the reality of the practical life within the practical world.

For a Gnani, who is aware of the fact that the self is not the ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul, the witness of the ‘I’ there is no illusion, even though; he is in the midst of the dualistic illusion because he is fully aware that the dualistic illusion (universe) is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness.

When the universe itself is nothing but consciousness then there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

This vast cosmos with all its contents (atom, molecule, sun, moon, planets, and stars) all are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

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.

Remember:~

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 argue or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought.

Upanishad says: ~ The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate that belief in the personal Gods, yoga scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self–Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are the greatest obstacles to realizing the non-dual truth or Advaitic truth because they are based on false self. 

The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper self-search and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sage Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: - (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) ~ one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Thus, the path of wisdom is the only means. Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and the witness of the universe (mind). By tracing the source of the mind or the universe, one will be able to realize the Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Ramana Maharishi: The sadguru (the true Guru) is within.+

A Guru is needed in the religious and the yogic path. There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sage Ramana Maharishi: The sad Guru is within.

Questioner: I am always at your feet. Will Bhagavan give us some upadesa (teaching) to follow? Otherwise, how can I get help living 600 miles away?

Sage Ramana Maharishi: The sadguru (the true Guru) is within.

Questioner: Sadguru is necessary to guide me to understand it.

Sage Ramana Maharishi: The sadguru is within.

Questioner: I want a visible Guru.

Sage Ramana Maharishi: That visible Guru says that he is within.

If one is seeking truth then one has to study deeply

Sage, Ramana Maharishi said the Guru is within he referred to the Self or Atman, not this physical apparatus. This seeker has to focus his attention on the Self or Atman, which is in the form of consciousness.

Thus glorifying Gurus’ form is erroneous because the body and the universe are myths from the ultimate standpoint. Thus indulging in glorifying and worshiping myth becomes the greatest obstacle in the pursuit of truth.

The seeker of truth has to identify the Soul the Self as a Guru and proceed in his spiritual endeavor. The inner grace of the inner Guru (Self) will guide until the ignorance disappears and one realizes the body and the universe is a merely an illusion created out of the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness

Religious or yogic Gurus propagate that, once a seeker identifies a Guru, he must totally surrender to the Guru, and then from there onwards, the spiritual journey is fully the Guru's responsibility, not his. Hence, the importance of choosing the right Guru is necessary, but in the pursuit of truth, the Guru is not necessary, because the truth is not theoretical. Truth has to be ascertained by the seeker on his own through Soulcentric reasoning.

The one who identifies himself as a swami, a Guru, or a yogi is not a Gnani.

A Gnani never identifies himself as a swami, Guru, pundit, or yogi. Swami, Guru, pundit, or yogi belong to the religious or the yogic path not to the path of wisdom.

Sage Sankara's commentary:- Page 489: "The knower of Brahman (Self-realized or Gnani) wears no signs.

Page 500 asks in effect "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

On page 482: On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." When the knower of Brahman wears no signs -- it means he does not identify himself as a Guru or a teacher. : Santthosh Kumaar

Ishopanishad:~"They are steeped in ignorance and sunk into the greatest depth of misery who worships the matter, instead of the All-Pervading Spirit (God).+

Ishopanishad:~"They are steeped in ignorance and sunk into the greatest depth of misery who worship matter, instead of the All-Pervading Spirit (God in truth), and those who worship things born of matter like trees, animals, man, etc., are sunk deeper in misery."

ISH Upanishads: - By worshipping gods and goddesses, you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend is wasted because if you were not there, you could have spent that time moving forward toward Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses, you cannot do that, and thus, you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

Ish Upanishad:~ Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide> ~10/11/12

It indicates that if the human goal is to acquire Self, then why indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual gods, goddesses, and gurus to go into deeper darkness? Instead, spend that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is one’s prime goal.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the universe, which is a dualistic illusion or Maya as reality. The seeker has to get rid of ignorance to acquire Self-knowledge or Knowledge of God in truth. 

Religious Samaskara or conditioning and believing, and worshipping Gods and Goddesses based on blind belief, hinder God-realization.

By worshipping gods and goddesses, you will permanently remain in ignorance, believing the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya, as a reality.

Worshipping Gods and Goddesses will help you to realize the Self hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya. The time you spend there is wasted. You could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal.

Worshipping Gods and Goddesses, you will permanently remain in ignorance. deeper and deeper into darkness.

That is why Sage  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.

66. Therefore, the wise should personally strive by using their power of reason to be free from the bondage of ignorance.

Getting rid of ignorance is necessary to know and realize what the truth is and what is an untruth.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Accumulating knowledge from 'I-centric' Gurus and their teaching is accumulating ignorance. +

Accumulating knowledge from 'I-centric' Gurus and their teaching is accumulating ignorance. 

The invisible Soul, the Self, is the non-dualistic awareness without the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is the dualistic awareness. 

When the seeker inquires into the nature of the ‘I’, then he will realize the invisible Soul, the Self hidden by the illusory ‘I’. The ‘I’ itself is the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

When the Self is not ‘I’ or ‘you’ but the Self is the invisible Soul, then what is the use of saying I am not the body, I am not the mind, I am not this or I am not that? 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 hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. By a mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT'- the truth will not be revealed.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana has nothing to do with the ‘I-centric' or You-centric’ Gurus and their teachings. 

Remember, the ‘I’ is not an individual because the ‘I’ is the whole universe. Limiting the ‘I’ to individuality is the cause of experiencing the dualistic illusion as reality? 

The nature of the ‘I’ is the nature of the mind. 

The nature of the mind is the nature of the universe. 

The nature of the universe is the nature of the waking. 

The nature of the waking is the nature of the illusion.

Thus, it is necessary to study the nature of the ‘I’ to unfold the mystery of the universe. 

All the teachings limit the ‘I’ to an individual and glorify the ‘I’ without knowing what this ‘I’ is supposed to be in actuality. All ‘I’ based teachings are inadequate and useless for the serious seeker of truth. 

If you are seeking truth, nothing but the truth must be discarded without mercy, such teaching to progress in your spiritual quest. 

The seeker must know that the ‘I’ is not limited to individuality. The seeker has to see the ‘I’ as the universe, to overcome ignorance. When the Advaitic wisdom dawns, then the ignorance vanishes. 

When ignorance vanishes and the dualistic illusion (world) you used to think of as reality becomes unreal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar