All the philosophies are a mental fabrication. There has never been a single doctrine by which one could enter the true essence of things.+

Nagarjuna:~ All the philosophies are a mental fabrication. There has never been a single doctrine by which one could enter the true essence of things.

Sage Sankara clearly says:~ Neither studying philosophy nor by worship as many gods nor observe ceremonies nor by singing devotional hymns nor by uttering mantra nor by mastering the scriptures liberation comes without realizing the Oneness.

A donkey with a load of holy books is still a donkey. A person who mastered scriptural knowledge is still a scholar, not a Gnani

Scriptures are being added from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

The scriptures are for the ignorant masses, who wholly accept the material world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem. 

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the truth. They have no value as authority for those who use reason.

I quote only the verified citation from the scriptures. I need no scriptures, but I quote them to help the seekers realize the scriptures are saying

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that says: ~

It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

Remember:~

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC 56- Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by good work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

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 that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

Advaita is the nature of the Soul. Advaita is second to none. Advaita is universal wisdom reveals on its own to all the serious and sincere seekers of truth.

The real Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is Soulcentric knowledge. The Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is Soulcentric knowledge that destroys ignorance.:~

Remember:~

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 The Soul reveals its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ This Atman cannot be attained through the study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is the Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70~ Upanishads by Nikilanada)

When the Upanishad says: The human goal is to acquire ‘Self’-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to ‘Self’ –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it.

The religion, concept of individualized God, and scriptures are the greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or ‘Self’-realization because they are based on false ‘Self’.

The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper ‘Self’-search and assimilate and realize it. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar