Self-knowledge is the knowledge of our true existence. Self-knowledge is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Self-knowledge is the knowledge of God in truth.
The seeker of truth must shed prejudices and get disentangled from all that is not needed to acquire Self-knowledge. You must tread the path to the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.
Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is the knowledge that unfolds the mystery of the universe. The universe is created out of single stuff. And that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.
Sage Sankara clearly says:~ Neither studying philosophy nor by mastering the scriptures liberation comes without realizing the Oneness.
Astavakra: ~ “My child you may speak upon various scriptures or hear the sermons on the scriptures. But you cannot establish in the ‘Self’ unless you forget all. 16-1 – p49
Sages of truth restrained themselves parting the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana to the mass and only a selected few. It was hidden from the people who were not qualified and receptive to it. Self’ - knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana was not written down but was imparted orally to the chosen few. Thus, religion was given to the mass, and knowledge of the Spirit is given only to a selected few. Thus, we find traces of the knowledge of the spirit in the religious books in the form of parables.
Swami Vivekananda: ~ “Advaita encompasses everything. Since Advaita requires heavy-duty intellectualism, it had to be progressively simplified. (From 'The Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda)
Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is not based on any teaching or teacher. The Pursuit of truth is the pursuit of verification not the pursuit of an argument. Intellectual discussion is a great hindrance in the pursuit of truth.
Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul, God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading the book nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul-Consciousness is the real purity.
It takes time to become receptive to receive Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because it is Soulcentric knowledge whereas all accumulated knowledge is egocentric.
All accumulated knowledge is of no use in the path of wisdom. Without realizing “What is the truth it is impossible to realize “What is untruth?” Without realizing what is truth and what is untruth it is impossible to assimilate the Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The seeker must know with full and firm conviction what truth is.
Remember:~
The truth does not belong to any religion. Religious truth is an individual truth. Spiritual truth is universal. Advaita is the universal truth. Advaita is the existence hidden by the dvaita (world). Advaita is the Soul, the Spirit. Advaita is the nature of God. Advaita is God itself.
To acquire Self –knowledge, a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed. Nothing else is a need other than realizing the fact that, the form, time, and space are one in essence and that essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness to get nondualistic Self -awareness.
The Advaitic truth is not found in the scriptures but there are some signposts scattered here and there. All the scriptures are based on a dualistic perspective. So, it is difficult to find the truth of the whole hidden by the illusion in any religious scripture because the religions are based on the matter, not the Spirit, the God.
Self -knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and other scriptures to acquire non-dual wisdom. That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and scriptures.
That is why Sage Sankara VC-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?
VC- v6~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity With the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together
Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness of not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman (God).” Brahman must be realized. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”
There is only one Reality to be known, the same for all seekers, but the ways to it, are hidden by the religion. Self-discovery is the only way, towards the non-dualistic absolute without any religious doctrines, which will help the seekers to unfold the mystery of the illusion in which we all are searching for the truth of our true existence.
Sage Sankara:~VC 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.
To realize the Advaitic Truth a freer and fuller scope the seeker has to realize the form, time and space are one in essence. And that essence is consciousness. And the Soul, the Self is present in the form of consciousness.
To realize the Advaitic truth the seeker has to be free from all superstitions and orthodox contaminations. The seeker has to dedicate himself seriously to acquiring the Self -knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone.’ ~ Santthosh Kumaar
