It is necessary to study the nature of the ‘I’ to unfold the mystery of the universe.+

The Soul is not limited to an individual. The individuals are many but the Soul is one. The individual exists within the universe. 

The Soul is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused. The Soul is not within the human body. The universe is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, whatever universe contains is bound o be the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

In the dream world, the dream people appeared together and disappeared together. Similarly, the waking world and waking people appeared together and disappeared together. 

Thus, the dream is created out of single stuff and that stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. In the same way, the waking experience also created out single stuff. And that single stuff is consciousness. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the cause of the three states and it itself is uncaused. 

The many soul theories are religious and yogic fables based on the false self(ego) and false experience (waking). 

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

Like an ornament made from gold is Gold, which is born out of consciousness is consciousness. Like gold is the permanent thing, in ornaments made of gold, similarly, the mind, which is in the form of the universe is born out of consciousness, is consciousness in its essence.

Deeper Self-search reveals the fact that you are not the Self, the world in which you exist is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, but consciousness is specifically not an entity or identity or a thing within the world in which you exist. But it is the cause of the world in which you exist and it itself is uncaused.

The Soul is hidden within the world in which you exist. The nature of the Soul is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Thus, it is necessary to realize the world in which you exist is created out of single stuff, which is consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. Thus, God alone is real; the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

Remember:~ 

By thinking I am not the body, I am formless, I am Brahman or I am God,  the ignorance will not vanish.

People say Aham Brahmasmi -- I am not the body, I am formless, I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I. But there is no other way to express it.

The Ultimate truth itself is God.  When the Upnishdic quote:  Ahum Brahmasmi is physicalized it gives the wrong interpretation – I AM BRAHMAN.  But the Self is not ‘I AM’. 

The Self is the formless Soul which is in the form of the Spirit.   Ahum Brahmasmi, = the Soul the Self is Brahman – that is Atman is Brahman.  Thus, it is wrong to say ‘I AM’ Brahman because the Self is not ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ but the Self is the witness of the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’.

Yoga Vasistha:~ "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 Self, engendered from contact with Gnanis."

Sage Sankara: ~ ‘Reality can be realized only with the eye of understanding, not just by a scholar. What the moon is like must be seen with one's own eyes. How can others do it for you?"~Vivekachoodamani

When the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ or ‘you’ but the ‘Self is the 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 is 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 or 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 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 discard without mercy such teaching in order to progress in your spiritual quest. 

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

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