Gnana or nondual Wisdom is for those are capable of inquiring into their own existence to know and realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

If one is fully aware of the fact that, the self is not form but self is formless then, all the three states will naturally become unreal. If one makes no discrimination, the thousands things are as they are, of single stuff. To understand the mystery of this single stuff is to be released from all entanglements. When all things are seen equally the timeless Self-stuff is reached. No comparisons or analogies are possible in this causeless, relation less state, which is mirage- less existence.

 The observer (Formless witness(FW) and the observed (three states) are one in essence. Until we are able to view and judge the on standpoint of the observer we will not become aware the observer (FW) and observed (three states) are one in essence. The essence is consciousness.   Thus the consciousness is ultimate truth or Brahman.  

 If the Advaita is bifurcated from all the religious add-on it becomes scientific then  it becomes   very easy to understand and assimilate.   All these scientific –inventions are nearer to truth but they are not truth in themselves.

 Buddha, Sri,Sankara and Sri, Goudpada have declared non-dual truth centuries back but one has to  reach the destination with scientific(rational) investigation not through punditry. Until one mentally reaches the conclusion, the conviction will not arise. Without the firm conviction the wisdom will not dawn.  Therefore, there is a need to know consciousness is real all else is myth, which Sri, Sankara declared as the world is myth Brahman alone is real.

 Sri, Shankara says Atman is Brahman and everything is Brahman is scientific declaration not religious or yogic.  Sri,Sankara and Goudpada are more scientific than anyone else in the world. Since, the real Advaitic essence is hidden it cannot be got without the inner (mental) journey.

 Gaudapada says that:- The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

 Gnana here is knowledge un-contradictable truth or scientific truth.  Thus their scientific truth of the whole not part is declared by Sri,Sankara 1400 years back and thought only to those of higher intellect.   Thus karma and upasana[religion and yoga] ,which is meant for the mass  has to be bifurcated from Advaita to reach the ultimate end.    

 Gnana or non-dual Wisdom is for those are capable of inquiring into their own existence to know and realize the ultimate truth or  Brahman.

When one goes into the annals of the history it looks like the true Advaita expounded by Sri Sankara and his param guru, Goudpada was lost or mutilated by the orthodox cult, because their preaching is based on non-duality and practices are based on duality.

 Sri, Sankara says in Brahma Sutras: that Brahman is the cause of the world, whereas in Mandukya he denies it. This is because he says that at the lower stage of understanding, the former teaching must be given, for people will get frightened as they cannot understand how the world can be without a cause, but to those in a higher stage, the truth of non-causality can be revealed.

 Sri, Sankara himself has warned us not to use ambiguous words, and to practice semantic analysis in his book "Definition of one's own Self. [" Page 199, v.24 of "Sankara's Selected Works]

 Brahman is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (brahmano hi pratisthaham, Bhagavad Gita 14.27)

 Sri, Sankara’s notion of Maya, the cosmic illusion (mind or matter), which must be transcended in order to realize the truth of Brahman, which means ultimate truth.  

 If Brahman is considered the all-pervading consciousness then, it is necessary to realize, the consciousness as self, which pervades all the three states, to realize the fact that, there is no second thing exists other the consciousness. Thus, consciousness (Atman) is ultimate truth (Brahman). 

 The Sruti itself says: "This Atma is NOT to be attained by a study of the Vedas.  [Katha Upanishad I, 2, 23.] 

It means the seeker has to investigate on his own and realize the ultimate truth. 

 Ultimate Truth can be known if the seeker keeps up the pursuit to the very end, whereas some asserts that Ultimate Truth cannot be known. 

When the Vedas and Upanishad declare that Consciousness or Atman is actually nothing but Brahman, then why go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. One has to realize the fact that, the mind is in form of universe.  Trace the source of mind and realize that source is consciousness. The mind rises from consciousness as waking or dream(duality) and subsides as deep sleep(non-duality).  

 All are searching truth within the illusion not being aware of the fact that, the illusion is created out of single stuff which is consciousness because everyone thinks their body and their experience of the universe are not consciousness and consciousness is limited to their body.

 Thus searching the truth in illusion with the illusory self (ego or waking entity), within the illusory experience(waking), has to be illusion.  The illusion is created, and sustained, and finally dissolves as consciousness. Consciousness is material of the illusion.   Since, there is no second thing other than the consciousness; the consciousness itself is God or Brahman or Christ.  This conviction derives only through from deeper self-search.

Many People want to take as less trouble as possible and gain as much as possible. They disdain the hard labour of thinking needed in pursuit of truth and hope to get truth by doing nothing i.e. merely believing or refraining from thought in yoga.

 Conversion can occur only in the sphere of religion, never in pursuit of truth. When one knows non dual truth, he becomes free from sphere of imagination.

 If one’s reason is not sharp enough, then only religion and yoga can satisfy him. The seeker of truth examines both scientific and religious doctrines and discoveries and to evaluate them. 

This witness position cannot be taken in the midst of work or activity, because work and activity are part of the mirage.

Everyone’s inner work leads towards new understanding and realization.   When doubts crops up and when one does not get a reasonable reasoning for his  doubts from the other source, then only he indulges in his  own personal research, and try to investigate, and then only  he  becomes  aware of  the truth. As he goes deeper and deeper into the subject the truth will start reveal. 

At every stage of life, wherever one turns or goes, ignorance meets him. One always worries   what is going to happen in the future to him, or to the world? What will happen to the money if he deposits it, will it be safe? What is happening inside his  body? What is the ultimate condition of this this world? He will not get answers. Because futures have yet come, he is thinking of the past and future fears in the present. The present is always built on past and survives on the hopes of the future.   But when one becomes aware of the fact that time is mere illusion and one which is aware of the time is timeless existence, which is the consciousness.  To overcome the sense of time one has to realize the one which is aware of the form and space also is consciousness.  Thus consciousness alone is real and form, time and space are unreal because they are one in essence. 

Pursuit of truth means an inquiry into the nature of the universe. How it came to be? What is it? What is it for?  Pursuit of truth is not making various theories about the Absolute, nor ornamental words, nor imagining things. It is directed towards life and has the highest value in weighing life properly. 

From practical-outlook people regard pursuit of truth as a waste of time. They will say "world is a reality. Everybody knows it is the world. Why waste time inquiring into it?" This attitude belongs also to the primitive mind-set as well as to children. Therefore reasoning belongs to advanced humanity.

Science is true so far as the world of science is concerned, yoga is true so far as one is in yogic Samadhi: the yogi's experiences are not lies but truly described; all these are however only relative truths, true only from physical point of view, they come and go, they contradict each other; whereas non-dual wisdom, which is higher than all these, which is un-contradictable and does not conflict with anything else. 

The question never enters the mind of the people; why are there so many contradictory religions, opinions, theories, authorities, scriptures and men?  Non-dual wisdom is not theoretical wisdom. Philosophic speculation is not non-dual truth. 

Pursuit of truth does not belongs to any religion, because it inquiries into the value of religion just as it inquiries into the value of the whole physical existence.  Because pursuit of truth is so troublesome, people don't want to be bothered with it, but remain content with mysticism or religion, where the need of thinking is absent.  Non-dual wisdom comes only by transcending them all for it depends on un-contradiction. 

Inquiry will always look thoroughly into all sides of a question, whether it is concerning a material or a spiritual matter, and decide upon it only then.

The fear and suffering is often a cause of bringing people to the pursuit of truth.  Because of contradictory arguments and conflicting conclusions—people mistook Religions for spirituality.  Many People think that ultimate truth cannot be got, but they are mistaken.  Religion will give one the goal of non dualistic truth, i.e. the knowledge of everything. Religion may make one happy, give satisfaction, but that is another matter, but one cannot get rid of his ignorance through religion. Therefore one must make his mind clear as to what object or goal he wants in life, because he cannot travel in opposite directions.  

Therefore, it is necessary to for the seeker of truth to inquire on his own and realize the non-dual truth without any scriptures in this very life time, and make sure of Sri.Sankara‘s declaration world is myth and Brahman alone is real.     

 Thus by quoting one authority from one scripture, and another authority from another scripture, and trying to prove and realize the truth is like, trying to drain the ocean drop by drop. 

As Sri, Ramana Mahaarshi said: scriptural knowledge is conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise.

When Ramana Maharshi indicated the direct path to the truth, is the source from which the false arises. Thus the source is the soul/ Atman, which is the true self. Atman itself is Brahman.  Thus it is necessary to view the worldview on the base of the source, which the true self, and formless substance and witness of the experience of diversity. Thus deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base, one can acquire the self –knowledge in lesser time and effort.  The unity in diversity is possible only through self-knowledge not by mastering the scriptural knowledge.

Orthodox and pundits have “I know” attitude, therefore, they think others know nothing.  They pretend to be listening but they think others are in   a primitive people who could not possibly have anything to share with them.” This type of outlook is great obstacle in pursuit of truth. The orthodoxy is greatest hindrance in realizing the non-dual truth.  

This witness position cannot be taken in the midst of work or activity, because work and activity are part of the mirage. 

Adopting the neutral, impersonal point of view of the Witness also helps us transcend form, time and space.  In fact, memory of the past, knowledge of the present, and projection into the future require the existence of a consciousness which is in itself outside form, time and space.  By learning to view and judge the three states on Witness position can transcend sense of form, time and space, which helps to reduces its grip of duality. 

To reduce all the three states as mind.  The first effect of this practice is a lessening of the impact of individual experience.  In the next stage, one has to train himself to ask where the mind dwell.  The answer one arrives at is: in the Self, the consciousness!  The three states come and go; what remains after they vanish is the consciousness which contains them.  It alone is real. 

Meditation remains necessary only in preliminary stages, but meditation is not the means to acquire Self-Knowledge. The highest state attainable by yoga is no better than deep sleep. Only path of reason can by itself lead to Realization of ultimate truth.

Knowledge,knower and knowable –these three do not exist in reality.

Knowledge,knower and knowable –these three do not exist in reality. Self is that stainless consciousness in which this triad appears through ignorance. 

The knowledge ,  knower and knowable are present only in waking or dream but they disappear in deep sleep.   All  ideas of individual experiences of birth,life and death are present only in waking and they disappears in deep sleep. The knower of the appearance and disappearance of the three states is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity because the waking entity is limited to the waking experience and dream entity is limited to dream.  The waking is parallel dream and dream is parallel waking.  Thus the knower of the three states is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the soul ,which is the witness of the three states ,which appears and disappears.  The  existence of the witness has to be mentally grasped not assumed.  

Consciousness, the One and Undifferentiated, which by the manifold application of its powers produces, the dual and non dual experiences (waking / dream/deep sleep) and, in the end, withdraws the three states into itself, is indeed the self—luminous.

The Maker of all the three states, self—luminous and all—pervading, Consciousness dwells always in the three states as its formless clay and witness. Consciousness is revealed by the negative way, discriminative wisdom and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection. The one who know Consciousness is the true self becomes one with the immortal self.

When there is no ignorance, there is no day or night, neither being nor none—being; the pure Consciousness alone exists. That immutable Reality is the meaning of "Consciousness. From it has proceeded the non dual wisdom.

No one can grasp Consciousness as separate entity apart from duality because it is the formless clay and the witness of the experience of duality thus it cannot be grasped as above, across, or in the middle.

Its form is not an object of vision; no one beholds it with the eyes. They who, through pure intellect and the Knowledge of Unity based upon reflection, realize Consciousness as the true self becomes one with the immortal.

If one says he has experienced the self than he is hallucinating.

Many people think they have experienced the self.  But if anyone says he  has experienced the self than he is hallucinating.  The self cannot be experienced. All the experiences are possible only within the illusion because the duality is present only in illusion. In reality there is only non-dual  self awareness.  There is no second thing exist other than consciousness.  Thus self cannot be realized through physical effort. All the physical based effort will not yield any fruits. Pursuit of truth is purely mental journey thus it is only mental effort of understanding,assimilating and realizing it. 

People are stuck with there accumulated knowledge and they make it a yardstick and try to snub others without verifying  the facts.  They think they gain wisdom through arguments and logical conclusion and intellectual speculation.  They are dependent on the mental spoon feeding of the stale knowledge expounded by others.  They do not have spirit of verifying the fact but they have mastered the art of snubbing others. Such people reach nowhere, they are like stagnant water in dirty pond. 

Serious Seekers have  to avoid  discussing with such group where they discuss all sorts of subject of practical world,  It is waste of time discuss and argue with them. The subject of  ultimate truth is nothing to do with the practical world.  The pursuit of truth is for  to discover and realize the reality of our true existence.    Thus the discussion has to be focused only on realizing the true self.  

The consciousness is true self . Consciousness is ultimate truth. If one thinks: "I know Brahman well," then surely he knows but little of its form; he knows only its form as conditioned by man or by the concept of gods. Therefore Consciousness has to be grasped through inquiry, analysis and reasoning on the true base.

Consciousness is not known by those who know it; it is known by those who do not know it.  That is when one says he knows Consciousness; he is saying it as a person. The Consciousness cannot be applied only to the individuality but to the whole experience [three states]. But in reality the person and world created out of Consciousness, thus nothing exits other then Consciousness. Thus if one says he knows Brahman as a person, he is making a wrong statement. One must know Consciousness as the formless clay of the three states (whole).

Consciousness is known when it is realized in every state of mind; for by such Knowledge one attains Immortality. By Consciousness one obtains strength; by Knowledge, Immortality

If a man knows Consciousness here, he then attains the non dual goal of his mission. If he does not know it here, he remains ignorance experiencing the cycle of birth, life and death as reality. Having realized the Self in every being, the wise relinquish the world and become immortal.

In illusion the self is in burden and bondage

In illusion the self is in burden and bondage. In reality it is free from all burden and bondage. One cannot understand what is truth because of the physical awareness. One when one becomes aware of the fact that the physical existence is mere mirage through wisdom one becomes aware of the fact that there is no second thing exists other than the soul, which is in the form of  consciousness. Thus consciousness alone is real and all else is mere mirage created out of consciousness.

Consciousness the true Self is hidden and pervades in everything and everywhere in the three states as their formless substance and witness; but it is seen by Gnanis through their one—pointed and subtle intellects.

seeker should understand the fact that, all the  experiences of the three states  are created out of Consciousness.

Seeker has to arise! awake and learn to know the fact that, the experience of  duality [waking/dream] is created out of Consciousness, without understanding this fact , there is no unity in diversity. The path of truth is like the sharp edge of a razor, so it is hard to tread and difficult to cross without perfect understanding and without perfect reasoning.  

Having realized Consciousness as self , which is soundless, intangible, formless, undecaying and likewise tasteless, eternal and odourless; having realized that which is without beginning and end, beyond and unchanging—one is freed from experiencing the duality as reality.

It is through Consciousness that one perceives all objects in sleep or in the waking state. Having realized the vast, all—pervading Consciousness, one enters into non dual tranquility.

He who knows the soul as true self, the formless  witness  of  the three states, as Consciousness, free from experiencing the  past ,present and the future as reality.

True self  is undistorted Consciousness. One who meditates on Consciousness alone  is free from experiencing the pain and pleasure as reality, liberated from the bonds of ignorance; he becomes free from experiencing the diversity as reality.

The soul,  which is in the form of consciousness when identifies with the body and  the universe dwelling in it by experiencing the duality as reality. If it is torn away from the body and the universe  , is freed from it, what then remains?  Whatever prevails is the true self,which  non dual Consciousness.

The soul, which remains awake and   witnesses all the three states which comes an goes in succession .   Soul  indeed is the pure awareness without the body and the universe it  alone is called the Immortal. All three states are contained in Consciousness and none can pass beyond.

Studying of scriptures is not necessary in pursuit of truth

All the doubts and confusion will remain until one  bases his self as the  ego, which is false self. Thus self realization is necessary  in order to become soul centric.  When one  becomes soul centric than only it is possible to decide  ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is not truth’.  

Accumulated egocentric knowledge is not yardstick in pursuit of truth because the truth  has to be ascertain by seeker himself by deeper self-search . Until one mentally rectifies his reasoning  base from form(waking entity  or ego) to formless(soul or consciousness) it is difficult for anyone to understand and assimilate the non-dual truth.

 It takes a long time to learn to view the worldview on the base of soul,which is the true self. Only deeper self search will lead one towards the inner reality. FP blogs are mere signpost for advanced fellow  seekers. No seeker of truth will accept anything as truth because it is said in FP blogs but he will verify them  personally and he will accept only  if it is un-contradictable truth. 

Studying of scriptures is not necessary

The Upanishads clearly indicate:-

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]

2

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 Ataman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 MundakaUpanishad (Upanishads by Nikilanada)

Raman Mahrshi explains [in page 111/112- practical guide to know yourself]:-

Q: D: Is it not necessary to study the Vedas or at least Prastnatraya(Bagvadgita.Dasoponishad and Brahma Sutra all with commentaries)to ensure firm realization?

A: Bhagvan: - No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explain doubts and difficulties if others rise them if you yourself encounter them in course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary. You want fresh water to drink, but you do not require all the water of the river Ganges to quench your quest.

Raman Maharshi:- fortunate are the one who do not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Bhagwan says: Take Vedanta, for instance: it speaks of 15 pranas the names and functions of it   which the student is asked to commit memory. Will it not be sufficient if he thought only one prana does the whole work of maintaining the body? Again the antakaran is said to think, to desire, to will, to reason etc. Why all these details? Has anyone seen antakarana, or all these pranas? Do they really exist? They are conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise. (GURU RAMANA .By S.S Cohen -vii Danger of philosophy-Page -58-59)

The above passages further prove that: Self-Knowledge cannot be attained by study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore there is no use of studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire the non-dual wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sri, Sankara indicated that, the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, concept of god and scriptures.  

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way.[Chapter IV — AlatasantiPrakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada]

Therefore, there is no use of taking strain to understand assimilate the conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. There are more and more doubts and confusions, if one tries to understand and assimilate the ultimate truth through scriptures. 

Why to follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy, when one can realize the ultimate truth without them. By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind raises form consciousness and subsides as consciousness. Therefore, there is a need for perfect understanding assimilation of non-dual truth.   Thus it is necessary to drop all the accumulated baggage and indulge in deeper self-search, to know what is said in my blogs is right and wrong. egocentric judgment is of no use in soul-centric discussion because both are of different pole,which leads to pursuit of argument. 

Pursuit of truth is not pursuit of argument but pursuit of verification by the seeker. Thus seeker himself has to verify and decide  whether the self is form or self is formless. If self is form then all the egocentric theories are truth. If self is formless than they have to drop all the accumulated knowledge based on the false self.  Thus the onus is on the seeker to verify and decide ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ for himself.

Only in few the urge of knowing the ultimate truth or Brahman arises

Only in few  the urge of  knowing  the ultimate truth  or Brahman  arises . Most people think that they are not here for fulfill any aim; they are not center of this world, their existence not important more than fauna... Life is meaningless but significant... Life is not for any inquire, only live. How to live? People without the inner urge are not suited for pursuit of truth. Nothing pleases them other than the worldly pleasure. Such people  cling  only to whatever pleases them.  The ultimate truth cannot be imposed on anyone,  since it is a very personal journey and the truth has to be ascertained by seeker himself.  

Everyone’s life circumstances are not the same.  Some  are enjoying life with pleasure of  worldly things   and some are suffering ,some are busy with their work or societal service , some are busy with religion, business  and political venture.  Thus each are busy with their own life.  This game of life is reality within the illusion. People who are stuck with reality of life,  are unaware of the fact that, there practical life within the practical world , is reality within the waking experience.But waking experience itself  is mere illusion from ultimate standpoint. 

The pursuit of truth is not for those who think the practical life within the practical world as reality. It is for those who are in search of their true existence. Rest will follow religion, yoga and whatever that satisfies them. Self-knowledge is only for those have the inner urge to know the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Many people think as human existence what we will do with all these things.  The people who are unaware of the fact that their human existence is reality within the illusion are afraid of losing their physical identity.  

 It is very difficult to talk to people about ultimate truth/Brahman because everyone thinks he knows the ultimate truth/Brahman. This- I know business is dangerous.  And whatever his reached conclusion is second hand stuff.  Therefore, accepting accumulated knowledge without verification will lead the seekers to hallucinated realization based on the ego.  One may have some flashes of truth when someone tries to indicate it through fewer words. But it takes nearer to truth not realization. 

Upanishad's say "He who thinks he knows, does not know." This means that to know anything implies a second, an object of knowledge, hence duality, i.e. no Gnana.

Second-hand knowledge of the self-gathered from books or gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realisation will do that. Realise yourself, turning the mind inward. – Tripura Rahasya, 18: 89

The pursuit of truth is a mental journey. Deeper self-search  makes one aware of what truth is and what is untruth and the subconscious  will be able to reject the untruth after knowing, what is Truth. Whatever prevails after rejecting the untruth is the ultimate truth. 

Sri, Sankara and Maya

VlSHNUVARDHANA, the King of the Hoysalas, was a Vaishnavite and was greatly incensed at the doctrine taught by Sri, Sankara that everything here below is an illusion. He wanted to teach the exponent of this doctrine a lesson. So he invited the then Sri, Sankara to his palace. That holy man went there and stoutly maintained that everything in this world was illusion. The king had arranged to let loose an infuriated elephant against Sri, Sankara. The beast rushed at Sri, Sankara who took to a precipitate flight to save himself.

'Oh, Venerable Sir,' shouted the king, 'why do you run so fast seeing that the elephant is only an illusion?' 

'Oh, king,' said  Sri, Sankara in his course of his flight, 'my running too is an illusion. Everything in this world is an illusion.’ 

Similarly, we all are searching truth within the illusion not being aware of the fact that, the illusion is created out of single stuff which is:-Consciousness or Spirit or Self or Christ or Brahman or Emptiness.

Thus searching the truth in illusion with the illusory self, within the illusory experience, has to be illusion. The illusion is created, and sustained, and finally dissolves as consciousness, which is Soul/Self.  Since, there is no second thing other than the consciousness; the consciousness itself is ultimate truth or Brahman.  

Katha Upanishad says:-
Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. [Ch II-5 P-14] [Upanishads Nikhilananda]

It indicates that the one who is ignorant [darkness] of the true self (formless witness or soul) searches truth by accumulating knowledge of every path and practice and uncertain about the truth, and thinks every path leads towards reality. The ignorance of the true self leads one towards unreality or hallucination.

 The Upanishad indicates that human goal is to acquire self-knowledge.

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]

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

The above passages further prove that: self-knowledge cannot be attained by study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore there is no use of studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire the non-dual wisdom. That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sri, Sankara indicated that, the truth lies beyond religion, concept of god and scriptures.

Same way all religions of the world and all philosophies of the world are based on the individuality/ego, find no answers for many questions. Truth seekers all over the world are trying to find answers for themselves, and they imagine and write articles and books of their ideas and others will read and blindly accept them as truth.

 There is no need to condemn any ones’ views and ideas or writing, but without being judgmental, seeker has to verify whether the author is speaking on the standpoint of ego, or whether he is speaking on the standpoint of soul/self.  If his views are based on the standpoint of the physical self/ ego, then there is many doubts and confusion. If his views are based on the soul as self then there is no confusion and doubts of any sort.   

Nothing has to be accepted without verifying the validity of any claim in pursuit of truth. Only un-contradictable truth has to be accepted as truth.  There is no need to condemn any religion or any saints or sages, but seeker has to think beyond religion, scriptures and individualized gods.   

The religious, yogic and worldly truths are individual truth based on the ego.  The spiritual truth is universal truth, which is based on the self/soul/spirit. The truth which is based on the soul/self is the ultimate truth/Brahman/Christ/Emptiness.  

The religion is based on the body [form] as self, since it is based on the birth. Spirituality is based on the soul [formless]. Thus there is need to bifurcate the religion from spirituality. Religion views and judges on the standpoint of the physical self/ego, whereas the in pursuit of truth everything is viewed, judged and concluded on the base of the soul, which is the true self.  Whatever is based on the physical entity is not spirituality because the soul has no form, so it has no religion.  Therefore, seeker of truth has to rectify the seeking base, from form to formless, to understand and assimilate the Self-Knowledge.    

Thus, viewing judging the ultimate truth on the base of ego/false self or accumulated knowledge will not unfold the mystery of the mind/diversity.  There is no need of religion, god glorification and scriptures in pursuit of truth, since the Soul/Self/Christ is doer and author of our dual and non-dual experiences.

Experience of diversity [form] becomes oneness in deep sleep and Oneness [formless] becomes diversity in waking or dream. Therefore, that which becomes diversity [form], and that which becomes Oneness [formless] is not our physical entity, because the physical entity is present only in waking and dream. The one, which is aware of all the three states, is formless, apart and eternal which is the soul. The soul, which is spirit itself, is ultimate truth/Christ/Brahman/Buddha.   

 To realize this truth one has to realize first “What is truth? and “What is untruth?” between the dual [waking/dream] and non-dual experiences.  Searching the truth on the base of inherited religious conditioning and accumulated bookish/scriptural knowledge is not the means to self/god /truth realization. 

For the same reason Raman Maharshi said fortunate are the one who do not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Bhagwan says: Take Vedanta, for instance: it speaks of 15 pranas the names and functions of it   which the student is asked to commit memory. Will it not be sufficient if he thought only one prana does the whole work of maintaining the body? Again the antakaran is said to think, to desire, to will, to reason etc. Why all these details? Has anyone seen antakarana, or all these pranas? Do they really exist? They are conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. Where do all these concepts end? Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose him self in the labyrinths of philosophy, but goes straight to the source from which they all arise. (GURU RAMANA .By S.S Cohen -vii Danger of philosophy-Page -58-59)

Seeker has to overcome all the obstacles in pursuit of truth on his own.  They are so many scholars who mastered philosophy.  It is impossible to acquire self-knowledge through theoretical philosophy. Because their preaching is based on spirit and practices is based on ego or waking entity.