As long as there is the sense of "I' and "mine' within us, there can be no Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. When one says "’I’ or me' and "mine' he automatically identifies his- Self with his body. This shows that he is ignorant of his real Self, which is Pure Consciousness and which is also the Self of all.
The sign of an ignorant person is in the way he uses the words "I' and "mine'. He says: "I am so and so. I own this much property, and so on. Thus, he always remains ignorant without realizing the ‘I’ itself is ignorance. Therefore without realizing what is this ‘I’ the ignorance will prevail as reality? If ignorance prevails as reality then the form, time, and space will prevail as reality. If form, time and space remain as reality then the birth, life, death and the world will prevail as reality. If birth, life, death and the world prevail as reality then the duality will prevail as reality. If duality prevails as reality then the three states prevails as reality. Thus, the seeker needs a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ in order to come out of the prison of ignorance.
Doubts and Confusions arise when the seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst. A disappointment in the religious path or yogic path or even science implies error or ignorance.
When the serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulated knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him. Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on the right lines?" Thus, the doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in perfect understanding of ‘what is what’. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have a difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible. Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on the proof.
The Seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper inquiry, analysis, and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact that, the Self is not the form but Self is formless. Thus, his analysis and reasoning has to be based on the formless, not on the form. By simply going on believing and accepting whatever said by the punditry will not lead one towards the path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self - Knowledge." The scriptures, yoga are not necessary if one follows the inner (formless) path. Religion and yoga are not the means to the path of wisdom.
The seeker has to test the truth in this world, not in the next world. There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not truth. So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them.
Sage Sri, Goudpada says: ~ The merciful Veda teaches Karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.
So, they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for the higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.
All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in ritualistic oriented lifestyle and follow the path of karma and Upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth. Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant for those orthodox who believe their conduct oriented
