A Gnani will not show off nor boast; for he wants to appear a normal man, not an extraordinary one. A Gnani does not consider himself as wise and others are less wise. No one is wise or less wise in pursuit of truth. The inner revolution starts within and ends within. A Gnani is neither a scriptural scholar nor he is a philosopher. A Gnani neither a teacher nor he has any teaching. He silently works and helps the fellow seekers inspiring them guiding them towards inner reality in his own way. The scholar will remain as scholars and philosophers will remain as philosophers and intellectual remains as intellectuals arguing on their point of view. Gnani never propagates any philosophy because philosophy is nothing to do with the pursuit of truth but he points out, the obstacles, which is blocking everyone’s realization.
The ordinary person thinks "this is a world "; "that is a man" etc. whereas the Gnani thinks "this is Brahman, he is Brahman." etc.
It is said in Manduka that even the Gods cannot find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the yellow robe has anything to do with him.
Sri Krishna himself says that he can do nothing to make a man intelligent straight away. The adepts give prasad, blessing, initiations, mantrams, etc. only to confer temporary peace of mind, to help you to get rid of worries, but not to confer Gnana. The capacity to receive it must first be inborn in man by evolutionary degree.
The teachers leave their experience behind in scriptures and books, as a legacy to posterity. They know that books are illusory, but they also know they will be useful as a means of progress from lower to higher ideas of truth.
Sahaja-Samadhi is for the Gnani, yoga-samadhi is for the mystic.
Sage Sri Sankara's commentary:~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Page 500 asks in effect "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification. ~Page 489
On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life,…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." On page 482:
Eradicating the ignorance completely is necessary. And this is possible only through self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Thus, there is no other road to freedom other than Gnana. There is no other entrance other than except Gnana. The ignorance will vanish only when the non-dual wisdom dawns.
That is why 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.
Then it is no use going a roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of mind. By tracing the source of the mind or universe, one will be able to realize the Brahman.
Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth. Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own selves to get the firm conviction.
