It is correct to say the ‘SELF IS THAT’ not ‘I AM THAT’.+

The ‘I AM’ represents physicality and it is limited to physicality. Physicality is a reality within the domain of the dualistic illusion.

The Soul, the Self is not physical because the Self is the Soul, the Spirit. To indicate the ‘Self’, which is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence that cannot be described by words but it has to be mentally grasped and realized.

Without knowing what ‘Self I in actuality say ‘I AM THAT is an error. ‘I AM’ represents gender whereas the Soul, the Self is genderless because it is the ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

If you hold the Self as ‘I AM you will not be able to transcend the from the dualistic illusion to nondualistic reality.

The existence is free from the ‘I’ and ‘I AM’. It is correct to say the ‘SELF IS THAT’ not ‘I AM THAT’ because the Soul, the Self is not ‘I’ but the Soul, the Self is the witness of the ‘I’.

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.

The ‘I’ is the ignorance. Till one holds the ‘I’ as the Self it is impossible to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Thus, the seeker has to get rid of the ignorance, which is present in the form of ‘I’, to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

By just sitting quietly the mind will not become still. When one realizes: “What is this mind (I)?”, “What is the substance of the mind?”, and ‘What is the source of the mind?”, then he will realize the mind and its substance and its source are one in essence. That essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The mind is present in the form of the form, the time, and space. The mind becomes still only when one realizes that form, time, and space are made out of a single stuff. The knowledge of the single stuff (consciousness) is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

When the mind becomes still the Soul remains in its own awareness in the midst of the diversity (waking).

Humanity has to awaken to the reality of its true existence by realizing the world in which humanity exists is merely an illusion created out of consciousness through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana frees the Soul, the innermost Self from the cage of the dualistic illusion.

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance but thinking of themselves as ise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

The truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to grasp because of the ignorance. You have to only realize the world in which you exist is created out of a single clay. And that single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, you and your body and the world in which you exist are nothing but consciousness because they are merely an illusion created out of the consciousness. A perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

It is necessary to reflect on the same truth again and again till it becomes a reality. One needs to constantly reflect on the subject until he gets a firm conviction of what is what.

Words of wisdom are needed until one gets a firm conviction of ‘what is what’. People need to read and hear the words of wisdom to think reason reflect deeply and reach the ultimate end.

“It takes time for the seeker to gain the perfect understanding of ‘what is truth’ and ‘’what is untruth’. It takes time for the Soul, the innermost Self to wake up from the sleep of ignorance, and it takes time for one to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar