The religious thinker cannot think beyond their belief system.

Questioner P: The problem of duality and its ending cannot be understood unless we go into the nature of the thinker and thought. Can we discuss this?


Krishnamurti: How do the Hindu thinkers, the Advaita philosophers deal with this problem?
--K, New Delhi, December 25, 1970

E: I don't know, let's ask Santtosh.

SK:--Dear E,

The thinker and the thought are present only in duality. There is neither thinker, nor the thought in reality.  Thus the nature of the thinker and thought is formless and non dual, because both are created out of the same stuff, which is formless and non dual. 

The duality [waking/dream] becomes non-duality [deep sleep]. We are unconscious about it, because we view and judge on the base of physical entity which present only in duality.   The dream entity is not the waking entity, because we call the whole dream as false hood when the waking takes place.  

The dream and waking experience has to be considered as duality, because the duality is present only in waking or dream and  duality is absent in deep sleep.   Since we limit the mind/’I’ to the physical entity, we become ignorant of the true self and we experience duality as reality. 

 The mind/’I’ is not limited to the physical entity alone but to the whole experience of waking or dream. If mind/’I’ is present then the waking or dream [duality] is present. Absent of mind /’I’ absent of duality.  Thus mind/’I’, which appears as waking and dream is unreal. And the formless knower of the appearance and disappearance of the mind is real, permanent and eternal.  This has to be grasped mentally. 

The religious thinker cannot think beyond their belief system. Therefore, the Hindu or any other religious thinkers cannot cross the threshold of duality. Advaita[non-duality] and Davaita[duality] is the nature of the self/soul. When the soul/ self is in waking/dream it is Davaita[duality] and when the soul/self is in its formless non-dual nature it is Advaita[non-duality]

. 

The Advaith philosophy is based on the scriptures and religion and god is not the means to self knowledge. Because the scriptures it self declare that:

 Katha Upanishad:

  This Ataman 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 Ataman reveals Its own form. [Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20]

This Ataman 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 Ataman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. [    3 –page-70 Mundaka Upanishad  Upanishads by Nikilanada]

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

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.  

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)

Raman Maharishi further explains [in page 111/112- practical guide to know your self]:-

Q: D: Is it not necessary to study the Vedas or at least Prastnatraya[Bagvad gita.Dasoponishad and Brahma Sutra all with commentaries] to ensure firm reazation?

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.

Therefore, the seekers of truth need not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy, but go straight to the source from which they all arise. Truth pursuit is an inner journey without the physical baggage.