Upanishada:- 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.

The path of truth is straight. One travels from illusion to reality  by proper understanding of the nature of the mind. That is by analyzing, “What is mind (‘I’)?” and “What is the substance of the mind (‘I’)?” and "What is the source of the mind?" This implies understanding of its source from where the mind rises and subsides. One has to proceed systematically through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning. There was no mind in deep sleep. The mind is there only when there is waking or dream. Thus, the mind must have the source from where it rises and subsides. The source must, inferentially, be said to an energizing source for one wakes up refreshed, and recalls the repose enjoyed during sleep. Nobody likes to miss sleep even for a day. The source is pure consciousness without the objective awareness for this daily rejuvenation.

Surly the source must be from within the mind, which rises and subsides as waking or dream. There is no break in identity between all the three states, since the real identity, which is aware of all the three states, which appear and disappear, is succession. Therefore, the physical entity within the waking or dream is not a true self. Limiting the self to the physical entity within the waking experience, viewing, and judging the truth on the base of the false entity, which is limited to waking experience alone, is the cause of the ignorance. Ignorance is cause of experiencing the duality (illusion) as reality.

As one goes deeper investigation he becomes aware of the fact that,  the source is the formless soul from where the waking or dream rises and subsides and becomes one with the formless soul. the mind and its substence and its source are one in essence. That essence is formless soul,which is present in the form of consciousness.

People are not aware of the fact that there is no God can exist, apart from soul, the innermost self. If there is no soul, then there is no body, the world and their belief of god. They think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks ’I’ as self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks the formless soul as the true Self, then there is nothing exists other than the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things beside himself and postulate a God, the creator. Body, God and world rise and set together from, and into, the formless soul. If God is apart from the soul, the innermost self  then He would be Self-less, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.

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. (Upanishads Nikhilananda-Ch II-5 P-14)

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.

Katha Upanishad: - 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. (Ch-II -23-P-20)

All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them if you yourself encounter them in the 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.

 Upanishada:- 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 — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in  upanishd by Nikilanada)

All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary.

 All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary.

This passage indicates the fact that everything is the soul or consciousness. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth entity  will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as consciousness(soul). This soul(consciousness) alone is, and all else is a mirage.

Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks, the physical body is the self their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality, which makes one feel the duality (waking) as reality.

 By focusing more attention on soul  by constantly reflecting on the  the soul, the conviction grows and becomes firmer and the duality will fade away as non-dualistic  reality. Atman (spirit or consciousness) which is one’s true identity. the soul  will prevail as a birth-less and deathless, eternal identity when the wisdom dawns. the soul,which is present in the form of consciousness is the formless    substance and witness of the mirage called duality (waking or dream).

Therefore, there is no need to study the scriptures, or indulge in God and Guru glorification or performing religious rituals in pursuit of truth. Since, they are not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is only a waste of time and effort to indulge in those things.

There is no need of guru , the self itself is guru if one focuses his attention on the self then the guidance will come on its own then he will be able to reach his non-dual destination.