Advaita is basically a denial; it is literally the negation of the Dvaita.+

Sage Sankara says you need to study philosophy to realize the Self hidden by the dualistic illusion.

Advaitic wisdom exposes the oneness hidden by the dualistic illusion. the Soul the Self pervades in everything and everywhere in the universe, which is the dualistic illusion. there are many creatures but there is only one Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

How can you talk of many Souls when the whole dualistic illusion (universe) is created out of single clay? The single clay is the Soul, the Self of the whole dualistic illusion.

Sage Sankara asks his opponents "How do you know there are separate individual Souls? Have you seen the Soul of a man? You can only say that you have seen different bodies. To say more is to misuse language. Therefore, I call you liars unless you give proof, which is impossible.

The universe is verily consciousness. Without realizing ‘this truth is impossible to get Self- realization. The universe is not different from the Mind because the universe itself is the mind. The mind is not different from the Soul because the mind is the dualistic illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, the universe is nothing but consciousness. The universe is unreal because it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness.

It is impossible for any human being to challenge successfully the Advaitic position, as Sage Sankara says.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ ‘Brahmano hi pratisthaham’- Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material (Gita 14.27)

Bhagavad Gita itself says the all-pervading consciousness is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material.

Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul and the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman (Spirit) is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

The Spirit is the root element of the universe. The Spirit is present in the form of the Soul, the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. From the Spirit, the universe comes into existence. In the Spirit, the universe resides. And into the Spirit, the universe is dissolved. The Spirit is the parent of all that is there is.

To come to a more precise understanding of what non-duality is or might mean, we must return to the original linguistic and philosophic backgrounds from which the word has been translated into English.

If we limit a probe of the meaning of non-duality to Hindu Sanskrit literature, we find that the most frequently used term is “Advaita.

Advaita” is not a religious concept. Advaita is the nature of the existence hidden by the form, time, and space. The seeker has to attempt to rule out from the start a false understanding of reality by perfect understanding of ‘what is what’.

The Advaita is hidden by the Dvaita. Advaita is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Dvaita is the universe.

Advaita is basically a denial; it is literally the negation of the Dvaita. That means whatever remains by negating the Dvaita (universe) by realizing the universe is created out of single clay and that clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness, the hidden truth by Dvaita uncovered. The consciousness is the cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.

Thus, the path of wisdom is the only means. Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and the witness of the universe (mind). By tracing the source of the mind or the universe one will be able to realize the Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Only by getting rid of the ignorance one can get rid of the inborn samskara or conditioning.+

People try to overcome their inherited religious conditioning, but by getting rid of the religious conditioning one will not be able to overcome the physical shackle. One has to get rid of the inborn samskara or conditioning itself by realizing the fact that ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ is not the ‘Self’.

Only by getting rid of ignorance, one can get rid of the inborn samskara or conditioning.

v “What is the use of arguing on the base of the birth entity, which is not the self?

v “What is the use of knowing what happens after death when the self is birthless?

v “What is the use of thinking of heaven and hell when the self is not an individual and it is never born and never dies?

The Man is unaware of the fact that he and his experience of the world are within the waking experience. The waking experience appears and disappears, the same way as the dream.

When there is the dream then there is no waking.

When there is waking then there is no dream.

When there is neither the dream nor the waking it is identified as deep sleep in the waking experience.

One is aware of the dream or deep sleep only in the waking. The one which is aware of the coming and going of the three states is neither the waking entity (you) nor the dream entity but the Soul, the witness of the three states.

All the scriptures indicate that Atman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth, Brahman, or God. Thus, to realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal. A well-directed inquiry, analysis, and reasoning will lead one to his nondual destination. :~ Santthosh Kumaar

It is better to educate the crowd to realize what God suppose to be in actuality according to their own scriptures.+

Religion is meant for the ignorant populace who are incapable of grasping the truth, which is hidden by the form, time, and space. Spirituality is meant for the serious seekers of truth who want to realize the truth hidden by illusory form, time, and space.

Never mix spirituality with religion. Religion is based on the ego whereas spirituality is based on the Soul, the Spirit, or God in truth.

The religious Gurus are meant to inject morals and ethics and guide the ignorant populace in human society to live with love and harmony.

People who rebelled against the religion, are merely intellectual speculators.

They are not serious about realizing the truth. They are more interested in showing their intellectual acrobatics with the information collected from whatever they have read and heard. Such accumulated knowledge is not the means to realize the truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

Condemning religion and its Gurus and Gods will help the seeker to get rid of the ignorance.

It is better to educate the crowd to realize what God suppose to be in actuality according to their own scriptures.

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the politicians as useful.

Religion is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

If one is seeking the truth, then he has to be free from all the religious beliefs and dogmas. Religion is based on the ego (you), whereas, the ultimate truth is based on the Soul, the Self.

Whatever is based on the ego is an illusion and whatever is based on the Soul is the ultimate reality or Brahman. Thus, religion has to be bifurcated from spirituality to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space.

There is no use of condemning religion. But one has to highlight how they cause hindrance and becomes an obstacle in the pursuit of truth.

There is no need to rebel against religion but to realize the religion is based on the false self within the false experience whereas spirituality is based on the Soul, the Self.

Religion makes humanity remain in ignorance of the reality of their true existence with its beliefs, superstitions, and dogmas, the ideas of heaven, hell, sin, karma, and rebirth.

Heaven the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth, and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

For those ignorant who believe their experience of birth, life, death, and the world as a reality, think that the effect of the action was done in previous births, as the Prarabdha in this birth, but for the realized one the present birth, life, death and the world itself is an illusion because they have realized the fact that, waking experience itself is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The heaven, the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth, and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

When Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas of what God is supposed to be then all these Gods and Goddesses which people worship have no value from the ultimate standpoint.

Religious Gods are based on blind faith or belief. Belief is not God. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence. God in truth is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Vedic God is Spirit. The Spirit, God is present in the form of the Atman (Soul). The Spirit, God is present in the form of consciousness.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ “It has been said that God Supreme or Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~"He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from him does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality. For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

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. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

God in truth is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.+

God in truth is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. God means eternal existence hidden by the form, time, and space. God expresses in two ways, dual and nondual. God is the unmanliest source of the dual. The manifested dual existence is merely an illusion.

You cannot call God “he,” you cannot call God “she, because he or she individualizes God whereas God is not an individual because God is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

For centuries the word ‘he’ has been used for God. God is present in the form of the Spirit. The Spirit is present in the form of consciousness.

If you really want to go deep into the phenomenon of God, Then God does not exist at all ~as an individual because God pervades in everything and everywhere. God is only a presence.

In other words, there is no religious God but only consciousness. Consciousness pervades, permeates, in the world in which we all exist.

Once you start thinking of God as consciousness, your whole outlook on life, on religion, on love, will be totally different. The real existence consists not of the dualistic illusion but nondualistic reality.

God is not physical. God is present in the form of the Spirit. The Spirit is the cause of the world and the Spirit itself’ is uncaused.

On the standpoint of the Spirit, the form, time, space, and name are merely an illusion. The Spirit alone is real and all else is an illusion. In reality, the spirit (God) matter (the world in which we exist) are one.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ ‘Brahmano hi pratisthaham’ ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit), which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness (Spirit) which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Lord Krishna Says Ch ~V: ~ “Those who know the Self in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

The dualistic worship of "God” is only for the ignorant populace. The God in truth is only Atman, the ‘Self’. In reality, there is no duality, no differentiation. Only Atman exists.

The Vedas confirms God is Atman (spirit), the ‘Self’.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman (Soul or Spirit) is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the ‘Self’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig Veda:~ 'Prajnanam Brahma': - Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth. 

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why to believe and worship in place of real God.

Brihad Upanishad: ~ “If you think there is another entity, whether man or God there is no truth."

Upanishad itself declares: ~ Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad).

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God) is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal, and Akarta (non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as it is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal.

Sage Sankara: ~"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman (God)."

Thus, truth realization is Self-realization. The Self -realization is God-realization. God-realization itself is real worship. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

All the path and practices available in India are not meant for those who are seriously seeking the truth.+

The orthodox people think that Vedas as a final authority and they strictly follow the Vedas, but they themselves are indulging in worshipping the non-Vedic Gods, non-Vedic rituals, and activities, Vedas bars such activities.

Vedas bars indulging in worshipping the non-Vedic Gods and non-Vedic rituals.

Those who come to India in search of truth must know the truth they are seeking is not available in Himalayas or Ashrams or with any Gurus or yogis, but it is hidden by the world in which they exist. All the paths and practices available in India are not meant for those who are seriously seeking the truth of their true existence.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “Atman is Brahman. The Atman alone is real is not religious truth. Sage Sankara declared this Advaitic truth, which the ultimate truth to the whole world, many centuries back is the rational truth, scientific truth, and ultimate truth.

Thus, the Atman which is present in the form of consciousness is real and eternal, the world in which we exist is merely an illusion.

Sage Sankara already declared ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’.

Atman is Brahman ~ “That is the Soul the innermost ‘Self’ is the ultimate truth”.

The world is unreal ~ “The unreal hides the truth because the world is created out of the real.

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 come 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.

Sage Sankara:~ VC~ 63-Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’ how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

Atman which is present in the form of consciousness is real and eternal, the world in which we exist is merely an illusion.

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani).

Sage Sankara clearly indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

Vedas declares not to accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman but people unaware of their own sacred Vedas and worship non-Vedic Gods as real Gods.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Even The Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Religious Gods are based on blind belief. Religious God cannot be considered as a center because the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, which means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Even Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman the innermost self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad declares: "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from him does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

The Gods worshiped in India today are not God in truth. Believing and worshipping in non-Vedic Gods barred by Vedas.

That is why Swami Vivekananda: ~ “The masses in India cry to sixty million gods, and still die like dogs. Where are these gods?

Be aware of what you are searching for. Be aware of what you are seeking for. The truth will reveal itself to you if you move in the right direction. You are making it complicated by accepting the untruth propagated as truth.

There is nothing but water in the Holy Rivers. Even if you dip million times and by indulging in performing pranayama, your ignorance will not vanish.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas* can give us the knowledge about our own Self. The firm experience of the nature of the Self is seen to proceed from inquiry along the lines of the salutary advice of the wise. (13)

All the Gods sculpted of stone and metal will not be pleased with your devotion and offering. People are praying out to them.

Sage Sankara: ~ VC- 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 (verses-6)

The Sacred Books of the East are nothing but words you will not find the truth in it.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “Keep the scriptures for children but throw them on the fire for wise seekers.

Mundaka Upanishads: ~ “So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

People have lived through indulging in all these priests -crafted beliefs dogmas and superstitions, something, it is not true.

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from the ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings.

Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices.

Mundaka Upanishad says: ~ “The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross The sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

If you are seeking truth and you are trying to get it from yoga and following some teaching and following some Guru and other paths then you are dwelling in ignorance and go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Advaita means another name for the Soul, the Self. The Soul is one without the second.+

Advaita means another name for the Soul, the Self. The Soul is one without the second. The Soul is present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness. The Soul is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is the nature of God, the Self. Advaita is the real God. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.

Remember this: ~

The ‘Self is the whole hidden by the ‘I’.

The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind, therefore; ‘I’ is the mind.

The mind is present in the form of the form, time, and space together; therefore, the form, time, and space together are the mind.

The duality is present only when the form, time, and space are present, therefore, the form, time, and space together is the duality.

The form, time, and space are present in the form of the universe, therefore, the form, time, and space together is the universe.

The universe appears as the waking or dream, therefore, the waking or dream is the universe.

The waking is a parallel dream and the dream is a parallel waking.

That is why Bhagavad Gita: ~ “The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, which is ever nondual.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

Remember this: ~

Without the ‘I’ there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the mind, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the form, time, and space, there is only the Soul, the fullness of consciousness.

Without the universe, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the waking or the dream, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Without the individual experience of birth, life, death, there is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Remember this: ~

From the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘I’ is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the mind is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the form, time, and space are an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the universe is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the waking or dream is an illusion.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the individual experience of birth, life, death is an illusion.

The Soul is the cause of all that exists as an illusion and the Soul itself is uncaused.

Bhagavad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

Realize, ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality’ and what is hidden by the ‘I’ will be revealed.

If you realize the ‘Self ‘not the ‘I’ but the Soul then whatever hidden by the ‘I’ will be revealed.

Realizing the Soul is not the ‘I’ but the Soul is the Self, is self –realization.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist. The consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The dualistic illusion or Maya hides the truth of the Advaita.

The Soul becomes an illusion in waking (duality) and waking becomes the Soul in deep sleep (nonduality).

The one that becomes the duality (waking or dream) and one that remains nonduality in deep sleep, is the Soul, the Self.

Bhagavad Gita says: ~ ‘Brahmano hi pratisthaham’ ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as truth other than consciousness. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

Advaitic wisdom is the end of the illusory dualistic knowledge. Acquiring Advaitic wisdom is the goal of every seeker of truth.+

Advaitic wisdom is the end of the illusory dualistic knowledge. Acquiring Advaitic wisdom is the goal of every seeker of truth.

Sage Sankara says:~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, Let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, Let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated

~ “and without the realization of the Soul as the Self, there shall be no freedom from ignorance.

All the Advaita teaching and teachers of the east and west are based on the dualistic perspective. All the dualistic Advaita propagated today are commercialized by religious, yogic, or intellectual toppings.

All commercial-grade Advaitic teachings are dualistic and lead to hallucinations based on imagination. They buried the real Advaitic wisdom under labyrinths of hotchpotch knowledge from different sources.

They are conceptual and intellectual divisions invented by the Gurus mixing religion; yoga and intellectualism by their excessive analysis and propagated as Advaita.

Fortunate is the seeker who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, but indulges in deeper self-search and realizes the ‘Self’ hidden by the universe, which is the dualistic illusion or Maya.

That is why Sage 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.

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta or any scriptures in order to Self-realization.

Upanishad: ~ “The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, rituals, yogas are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, then why anyone should indulge in it.

The religion, concept of individualized God, belief in physical Gurus; scriptures are a great obstacle to Self-realization because they belong to the dualistic illusion. The seeker needs to mentally transcend the dualistic illusion into a non-dualistic reality.

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.

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the ignorant populace but Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Sage Sankara: ~” Action (karma) cannot destroy ignorance, for it is not in conflict with or opposed to ignorance. Knowledge does verily destroy ignorance as light destroys deep darkness. ~ Atma Bodha

Sage Sankara:~ “VC 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 (verses-6)

VC- It is clear that the liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itSelf declares that there is no hope for immortality through wealth. (Verses -7)

Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the most advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman.

Thus, the purva mimam.sa, with its emphasis on the karma kanda of the Vedas, is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, the Vedanta, with its emphasis on the jnana kanda, is meant for those who wish to go beyond the dualistic illusion.

That is why Sage 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 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-dual truth. Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own selves to get a firm conviction.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom. The path of wisdom is the only means.

Isa Upanishads indicate:~ “By worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use. The time one spends in ritualistic practices is wasted; one can spend the same time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is the main goal.

One cannot reach the non-dual destination by glorifying God and Goddesses and by doing that, one goes deeper and deeper into darkness. It surely indicates the fact that the seeker of truth has to drop the worshiping God and Goddess in order to get Self-knowledge. : ~Santthosh Kumaar