The Upanishad says: ~ The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana***

Those who tell you that Brahman is unity, that you can get it only by intuition, that you should not reason, you should not question or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought.

The Upanishad says: ~ The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate that, belief in the personal Gods, yoga scriptures, worship and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it. The religion, concept of individualized god and scriptures are greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or Self-realization, because they are based on false Self.  The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper Self-search and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sage Sri Sankara, indicated in Bhaja Govindam says: ~(Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) ~ one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Thus, the path of the wisdom is the only means. Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and the witness of the universe (mind).  By tracing the source of the mind or the universe, one will be able to realize the Brahman.

Yoga Vasistha says: ~ Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only by means of enquiry inspired by the company of wise (Gnani). One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia. 

The experience and the experiencer are one, in essence.  In reality, there is neither the experience nor the experiencer exist.  Only the essence shines in its fullness. 

All these thought based teachings will not yield Advaitic wisdom because they are only knowledge based on the form, time and space. The Advaitic truth is beyond the form, time and space. 

The thoughts arise only in the domain of the form, time and space. The thoughts come to you because you exist within the domain of the form, time and space. You are the thinker. You are the false self within the false experience. Without you the thoughts will not arise.

In the dream, the thoughts come to the dream entity. The dream entity is a thinker within the dream. The dream becomes unreal when the waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when wisdom dawns. The wisdom dawns when you realize the ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

If the ‘Self’ is not you then what is the use of asking yourself Some Gurus say simply ask yourself, To whom do these thoughts come? Find out the source of your thoughts?.
The thoughts come to you not to the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ because the Soul is the ever formless, timeless and spaceless existence.

On the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self, the form, time and space are mere an illusion.

If the form, time and space are mere an illusion then you, your thoughts and the world in which you exist is mere an illusion. 

Thus, what is the use of finding out about the thoughts which come to you, not to the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’?

Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.