There is no wisdom whatsoever in this physical existence or universe. Scriptures are just a collection of words. Thus, the wisdom is not found in scriptures. Wisdom is within oneself. The truth is not found in words. Truth is within oneself."
The scriptures are filled just with information. By accumulating information one cannot attain wisdom. No matter how much one knows, wisdom is not attained. One can go on gathering more and more knowledge, learn the scriptures by heart, become parrots, memorize each and every sutra or stanza , let the complete Vedas be imprinted in his memory -- but still the wisdom will not dawn.
People think that mastering scriptural knowledge is wisdom. Pundits and religious gurus call scriptural knowledge as wisdom. Scriptural knowledge binds one instead thus it is not liberation. Wisdom is that which liberates one from experiencing the duality as reality.
Sage Sri, Sankara says:~
59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.
60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.
61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?
62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realisation one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.
63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.
64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendour of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.
65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.
66. Therefore the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.
Thus, Sage Sri Sankara clearly indicated that: - yoga, intellectualism, scriptural mastery is not the means to self-knowledge. But by the realization of one's identity with consciousness, which is ultimate truth or Brahman, freedom from experiencing the illusion as reality is possible, and by no other means.
Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi says:~
The scriptures are filled just with information. By accumulating information one cannot attain wisdom. No matter how much one knows, wisdom is not attained. One can go on gathering more and more knowledge, learn the scriptures by heart, become parrots, memorize each and every sutra or stanza , let the complete Vedas be imprinted in his memory -- but still the wisdom will not dawn.
People think that mastering scriptural knowledge is wisdom. Pundits and religious gurus call scriptural knowledge as wisdom. Scriptural knowledge binds one instead thus it is not liberation. Wisdom is that which liberates one from experiencing the duality as reality.
Sage Sri, Sankara says:~
59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.
60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest which merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.
61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?
62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realisation one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.
63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.
64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendour of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.
65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.
66. Therefore the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.
Thus, Sage Sri Sankara clearly indicated that: - yoga, intellectualism, scriptural mastery is not the means to self-knowledge. But by the realization of one's identity with consciousness, which is ultimate truth or Brahman, freedom from experiencing the illusion as reality is possible, and by no other means.
Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi says:~
Q by D:~ Is not
necessary to study the Vedas or at least the Prasthanatraya [the Bhagavad
Gita,Dasopanishad and Brahma Sutras, all with commentaries]to ensure firm
realization?
Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi:~ No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining doubts and difficulties if others rise them or 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 thirst. (Page 111/112 of Practical guide to know yourself c/e by A.R.N).
Sage Sri, Ramana Maharishi:~ No. Do you need all that to see yourself? All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining doubts and difficulties if others rise them or 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 thirst. (Page 111/112 of Practical guide to know yourself c/e by A.R.N).
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)
Mundaka Upanishad :~
Mundaka Upanishad Upanishads by Nikilanada)
The scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore, the soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth. Thus to realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal. A well-directed inquiry, analysis and reasoning will lead one to his non-dual destination.
Self-Realization is the direct realization of the ultimate truth or real God, in contrast with traditional paths, which are indirect. And the other paths cannot lead to the ultimate destination because they are based on the false self, which they hold as real self and false experience as reality.
