It is erroneous to identify the Self as ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not limited to form but ‘I’ is the whole universe.+

It is erroneous to identify the Self as ‘I’. The ‘I’ is not limited to form but ‘I’  is the whole universe.  

The ‘I’ is not within the body because the ‘I’, is the world in which you exist.  When ‘I’ appears then only you and the world in which you exist appear. When ‘I’ disappears then you and the world in which you exist disappear.   

Without the ‘I’ the world in which you exist ceases to exist.  Thus, it is necessary to realize what ‘I’ is supposed to be in actuality. 

Many gurus glorified the ‘I’ by identifying the Self as 'I'.   They preached the’ I’ is within the body.  And they propagated the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. 

The seeker has to realize that ‘ the Self is not 'I', but the Self is the  Soul, the witness of the ‘I’, which is eternal. 

Use the word ‘Self’ for the Self, which is the Soul, and remember the ‘Self is not ‘I’ but the witness of the ‘I’. 

A perfect understanding of what is this ‘I’ helps you to reach the perfection of Self-knowledge.  

Remember 

People say I AM THAT ~ I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I,  it is erroneous to use the word ‘I’ for the Self, because ‘I’  represents form, time, and space whereas the Soul, the innermost Self is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

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

The ‘I’ disappears as deep sleep, so what is the use of being attached to it? It is impermanent and illusory because ‘I’ is physical awareness. Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. ‘I-less awareness is Self-awareness.

It is erroneous to identify the Soul the Self as 'I' or 'I AM' because the Soul the Self is not 'I' or I AM’. The Soul the Self, is that witness of the 'I'.

To understand the false nature of the ‘I’, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary.

 The Self is not ‘I’, but the Self is the Soul which is the witness of the ‘I’.  Holding the ‘I as the Self leads to hallucination based on the imagination.

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 is 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 the consciousness. The consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

 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 a 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 birth, life, and 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’ which comes and goes to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand 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 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated that 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. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar