Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not depend on reading, or by following the path or teacher, or through scriptural studies or by practising yoga or by leading a religious oriented life, but it comes by perfect understanding,

Sage Sri,Sankara said:- Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many gods as you please, observe ceremonies and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness.

People consider themselves to be knowledgeable because they have read books and well informed about the subject. But all these accumulated knowledge is not wisdom. One can’t get non-dual wisdom from accumulating knowledge.

Whether the knowledge accumulated are scriptures or something from most recently published books are mere pointers to truth but not wisdom.  First, whether we're aware of it or not, as one reads he is imposing his own cultural conditioning, biases, experiences, and prior knowledge onto what he is reading; this is how his brains work. He “makes sense" of new things by associating them with things he already knows.

Most of the time, this is useful.  But if the "new thing" is utterly different from anything one has been exposed to before, he is almost certain to distort it to make it fit into pre-existing conceptual boxes. So much of knowledge   is about changing perspective, but that's hard to do when one is twisting the knowledge around to fit the perspectives he is already having.

Regarding the Vedic scriptures, most of us are reading English translations of texts written in Sanskrit or some other language from long ago and far away. Because these languages are enormously different from English, literal translations into sensible English are not possible. So, what we're reading often is as much the translator's interpretation as it is a translation. Often in English syntax requires that the translator construct phrases that aren't in the original. And to do this, the translator must draw upon his own cultural conditioning, biases, experiences, and prior knowledge.  That becomes apparent if one gets the chance to compare several translations of the same text. Sometimes the differences are significant.

One should not accept the scriptures as proof the way religionists hold as ultimate truth without verification. Scriptures may be useful to validate a path already traveled, but not much good as a roadmap to the final destination.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not depend on reading, or by following the path or teacher, or through  scriptural studies or by  practising yoga or by  leading a religious oriented life, but it comes by perfect  understanding, assimilating  realizing the fact that, the self is not physical but self is consciousness (soul).  

Self is consciousness, by mistaking self to be a physical entity, the ignorance is born. One thinks one is imprisoned within the physical body; but in reality the consciousness is within the three states but it is without the three states.   One has to mentally grasp the existence of the consciousness. One has to realize the Consciousness is the true self, by knowing it without the three states to realize its formless true nature.  

The moment one knows that the mind is consciousness, and then there is no ignorance. When there is no ignorance than there is no duality. When there is no duality then there is no illusion. When there is no illusion then there is only reality, which prevails as non-dual existence.  

Consciousness is of the nature of knowing. Existence of god means one is thinking of god but gods existence is depends on consciousness.  It is a duality which causes the ignorance. Thus one has to inquire into the nature of the mind (duality or universe) first, after understanding the nature of the mind, and then only he has to proceed further to understand the consciousness.  By understanding “what is the mind? And “what is the substance of the mind?” is the only way to acquire Self-Knowledge.  Until and unless one knows the consciousness, he has only the mind, which is the whole physical existence (man+ universe).

If one goes beyond mind, it is nothing but consciousness. Inside and outside the mind everywhere is only consciousness. 

When the mind manifests as universes itself it is the consciousness that shines. Consciousness is the witness and what appears is also consciousness.  Whatever has appeared is   appeared on its own. Man and the world are within that appearance. The one which is aware of the appearance and disappearance of the appearance is not the waking entity, because waking entity is within that appearance.   Therefore, viewing the appearance on the base of the waking entity is the cause of all confusion.   Therefore, one has to mentally trace the formless knower of the appearance, to realize the waking entity is not the knower of the appearance but the formless consciousness (soul) is the knower of the appearance dual and non-dual experiences. 

Meditation and yoga are not the means to acquire the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana but they are helpful tools in the preparatory stages to make one receptive and keep away from all the distractions

As ice and clouds are not different from water, so the mind emanating from the soul is not different from it.  The mind (three states) emanating from the soul (consciousness) means mind being the effect from the soul (consciousness) is not different from it. Analysis shows it. Analysis needs thinking. The ice and clouds have form; but where is the form in the water.  Where did the form come from? All that one can say is that the water is not different from the ice and cloud. The mind is same as the soul, as the water produces the ice and clouds, so the soul (consciousness) produces the experiences of the three states. 

One has to know this through analysis. As cloth when analyzed, is found to be nothing but thread, so this mind, when duly considered, is nothing but consciousness (soul).  

As one start analyzing deeply through inquiry and reasoning he becomes aware of the fact that, the self is not physical but it is consciousness. Thus, judging the truth on the physical base is erroneous because the self is not physical. Thus the reasoning base has to be rectified. Therefore, one has to rectify the reasoning base from form to formless, and then only it is possible to overcome all the obstacles which are blocking the realization of the ultimate reality. 

When one refuses to inquire and reason and wants the truth on his own terms and conditions, on the base of his accepted truth, then it is impossible to cross the threshold of duality.  They will remain satisfied with their preconceived speculated truth. 

Deeper analysis revels that matter is a mere division created within the consciousness.  When the division is identified with name and form it becomes a thought. When consciousness is identified by name and form then there is duality.  The duality creates a sense of reality in fragmented consciousness. 

When one discerns truth on base of waking or dream must also understand the ultimate truth cannot be held onto; it can only be discerned in moment to moment experiences, for the truth of one moment is not the truth of another. Wherein one moves from one moment with a concept of truth into another, the next moment is entered into a prejudice based on the old moment´s truth, and in that prejudice, he is incapable of discerning truth of this new moment because he is still in the shackles of physicality. The physical truth is mere intellectuality based on speculation. Intellectual truth makes one waking or dream-centric and he gets emotionally involved with the teacher or teaching or theories or scriptures    and will remain in pursuit of speculation.    The ultimate truth is beyond form, time and space. To understand and assimilate the ultimate truth one has to first realize the fact that, the self is not physical but self is consciousness, which is formless. 

If one realizes the fact that the self is formless, then seeking truth and trying to understand and assimilate the truth on the base of the form as self, is erroneous.  Therefore the reasoning base has to be rectified from form to formless in order to understand and assimilate the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth. 

If one does not want to fully inquire and verify the facts, he cannot know the fact that he and his experience of the world is mere illusion created out of consciousness.  If one becomes aware of the fact that, the consciousness (soul) is the true self, then he realizes, whatever he has seen, known, believed and experienced as a person is mere illusion.   

Intellectuals argue, if everything is consciousness, how can one give up anything?  Can you give up anything?  These types of question are speculation based on the waking entity (ego).   They are incapable of understanding and assimilating truth because they refuse to verify and they want the truth on their own terms. 

 How a yogi who practices Samadhi will understand the truth, when he thinks the self is limited to individual and universe is apart from him.  Therefore his understanding and realization are limited to the physical self. He is unable to grasp the truth that, the whole universe in which he exists as person and perceives it is consciousness.   The consciousness powers the illusion (universe) and consciousness can exist with or without the illusion (universe).   

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is quite different from meditation, yogic Samadhi and practices which are based on physical self (waking or dream), which is the false self within the false experience. Meditation and yoga are not the means to acquire the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana but they are helpful tools in the preparatory stages to make one receptive and keep away from all the distractions.  

Speaking of ultimate truth and then opining that one need not inquiry to verify the facts is meaningless. Even as a method to get at ultimate truth one has to analyze the mind (universe or waking). Speaking is different from realization. 

Just as sugar generated from sugarcane juice is wholly pervades by that juice, so the mind produced in consciousness permeated by consciousness through and through.   

This can be understood and assimilated only through illustration of waking, dream and deep sleep.  The body, waking or dream and the world exists only in waking or dream. And waking is as false as dream. In waking and dream the consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere through and through.    

The three states appear from the ignorance of consciousness and disappear with the Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  The mind appears from non-cognition of the consciousness and disappears with its recognition. 

The moment one knows that the three states are consciousness, there is no ignorance. One has to know the consciousness is everything and everything is nothing but consciousness.

Begin to see your-self as a consciousness with a body and the world rather than a body with a consciousness.

Upanishada:- They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way.

The path of truth is straight. One travels from illusion to reality  by proper understanding of the nature of the mind. That is by analyzing, “What is mind (‘I’)?” and “What is the substance of the mind (‘I’)?” and "What is the source of the mind?" This implies understanding of its source from where the mind rises and subsides. One has to proceed systematically through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning. There was no mind in deep sleep. The mind is there only when there is waking or dream. Thus, the mind must have the source from where it rises and subsides. The source must, inferentially, be said to an energizing source for one wakes up refreshed, and recalls the repose enjoyed during sleep. Nobody likes to miss sleep even for a day. The source is pure consciousness without the objective awareness for this daily rejuvenation.

Surly the source must be from within the mind, which rises and subsides as waking or dream. There is no break in identity between all the three states, since the real identity, which is aware of all the three states, which appear and disappear, is succession. Therefore, the physical entity within the waking or dream is not a true self. Limiting the self to the physical entity within the waking experience, viewing, and judging the truth on the base of the false entity, which is limited to waking experience alone, is the cause of the ignorance. Ignorance is cause of experiencing the duality (illusion) as reality.

As one goes deeper investigation he becomes aware of the fact that,  the source is the formless soul from where the waking or dream rises and subsides and becomes one with the formless soul. the mind and its substence and its source are one in essence. That essence is formless soul,which is present in the form of consciousness.

People are not aware of the fact that there is no God can exist, apart from soul, the innermost self. If there is no soul, then there is no body, the world and their belief of god. They think that there must be a creator of this universe. If one thinks ’I’ as self, then there is a creator, but if one thinks the formless soul as the true Self, then there is nothing exists other than the soul, which is in the form of consciousness.

If one objectifies and sees a universe, then he is bound to see many things beside himself and postulate a God, the creator. Body, God and world rise and set together from, and into, the formless soul. If God is apart from the soul, the innermost self  then He would be Self-less, that is, outside existence, that is, non-existent.

Katha Upanishad says:- Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikhilananda-Ch II-5 P-14)

It indicates that the one who is ignorant (darkness) of the true self (formless witness or soul) searches truth by accumulating knowledge of every path and practice and uncertain about the truth, and thinks every path leads towards reality. The ignorance of the true self leads one towards unreality or hallucination.

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)

All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them 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 quest.

 Upanishada:- They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in  upanishd by Nikilanada)

All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary.

 All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining the doubts and difficulties if others raise them if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary.

This passage indicates the fact that everything is the soul or consciousness. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth entity  will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as consciousness(soul). This soul(consciousness) alone is, and all else is a mirage.

Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks, the physical body is the self their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality, which makes one feel the duality (waking) as reality.

 By focusing more attention on soul  by constantly reflecting on the  the soul, the conviction grows and becomes firmer and the duality will fade away as non-dualistic  reality. Atman (spirit or consciousness) which is one’s true identity. the soul  will prevail as a birth-less and deathless, eternal identity when the wisdom dawns. the soul,which is present in the form of consciousness is the formless    substance and witness of the mirage called duality (waking or dream).

Therefore, there is no need to study the scriptures, or indulge in God and Guru glorification or performing religious rituals in pursuit of truth. Since, they are not the means to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. It is only a waste of time and effort to indulge in those things.

There is no need of guru , the self itself is guru if one focuses his attention on the self then the guidance will come on its own then he will be able to reach his non-dual destination.