WHO AM ‘I’? - inquiry is inadequate and useless to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’.+

 

The Self-inquiry is finding out the ‘Self’ which is hidden within the world, in which we exist. By inquiring ‘Who am I?’, the ignorance will not vanish. 

By inquiring ‘WHO AM ‘I’? or by saying ‘I AM THAT’, without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’, one will not realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

The ‘I’ exists only when the form, time, and space are present. When the Self is not the ‘I’ but the ‘Self is ‘I –less Soul, then whatever based on the ‘I’, is bound to be an illusion.

Thus, the ‘I-less Soul is permanent and eternal, because the Soul is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Self is not you. You are not eternal, because you are bound by the experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

The Soul, the Self is eternal. The Soul is birthless and deathless because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

It is foolish to say I AM THIS or I AM THAT’ because the ‘Self ‘is not the ‘I’. The ‘Self is the Soul, which witnesses the ‘I’. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The Soul is the ‘Self’’. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. If the Soul is the Self then whatever is based on ‘I’ is bound to be a falsehood.

The ‘I’ is not limited to the physical body because the ‘I’ is the whole world in which you exist. Without the ‘I’, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.

WHO AM ‘I’? - inquiry is inadequate and useless to unfold the mystery of the ‘I’.

It is necessary to know what this ‘I’ is in actuality.

What is this ‘I’?

The ‘I’ is ignorance.

The ‘I’ is duality.

‘I’ is an illusion.

The ‘I’ is the mind.

The ‘I’ is the universe.

The ‘I’ is the waking.

The ‘I’ is the dream.

The ‘I’ is form, time, and space together.

The ‘I’ is the experience of birth, life, death, and the world.

Through deeper self-search, the seeker realizes the Self’ is not the ‘I’ but the Soul.

All the ‘I-centric’ teaching has no value for the seeker who has crossed the boundaries of the ‘I’.  

Remember:~

Without getting rid of ignorance, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Without the Advaitic wisdom, it is not possible to realize the truth, which is hidden within the world in which we exist.

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 the form, time, and space. By a mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT', the truth will not be revealed.

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

This universe is common to all of us, therefore one must include the universe in his investigation in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.   It is only after one has inquired into the nature of the objective universe, that he should inquire into who is the knower. If, however, one inquiry into the knower before the inquiry into the universe, then it is mere mysticism.  One must have the perfect understanding of what is what.

 

v   “What is the universe?”

 

v   “What is this ‘I’?”

 

That is why Sage Sankara:~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.

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.

Yoga Vasishta: ~  "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the heart, engendered from contact with the good."

Eradicating ignorance completely is necessary. And this is possible only through ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   Thus, there is no other road to freedom other than Gnana.  There is no other entrance other than Gnana.  The ignorance will vanish only when the nondual wisdom dawns.

Gnana here is knowledge uncontradictable truth or scientific truth. This scientific truth of the whole, not part is declared by Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada  1400 years back and thought only to those of higher intellect who are receptive.  Thus karma and Upasana, yoga, and orthodoxy have to be bifurcated in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.  

Sage Sankara:~B.G:~ 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 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 or God in truth.

Thus, ‘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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar