One need not be a monk, a sanyasi, or swami to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

People think that by taking sannyasa or becoming monk they get enlightenment or freedom but not so. 

One need not be a monk, a sanyasi, or swami to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Religious rituals and scriptural mastery, are not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Monkhood and sannyasa are the greatest obstacles in truth-realization, which is beyond the  illusory form, time, and space.

There is no need to walk in the mountains in search of the truth. There is no need to meet any Gurus. There is no need to renounce family life. There is no need to study the scriptures. 

There is no need for glorifying the Gurus. There is no need to spend the fortune to please the Gurus. Going to the mountains, searching for a Guru, renouncing the family life, studying the scriptures, and glorifying the personal Gods and Gurus are the greatest obstacle on the path of wisdom. 

Guru, Swami, Yogi, Sadhu, and Avatar belong to religious paths. Religious paths are paths meant for the ignorant who blindly accept their experience the birth, life, death, and the world as a reality because the universe is the product of ignorance.

When wisdom dawns then the unreal nature of the world in which you exist is exposed. Thus, whatever experiences take place within the world in which you exist are bound to be a falsehood.

The Guru, Swami, Yogi, Sadhu, and Avatar have nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman because they are based on the false self (ego), and false experience (waking). 

The Path of wisdom is only for those who are seriously in search of ultimate truth or Brahman. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana is the knowledge of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Sage  Sankara says: ~ “Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Thus it proves that Sage Sankara meant, taking sannyasa and wearing the religious robes to earn bread. Sanyasa is not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Remember:~

No one becomes a Gnani by taking sannyasa or wearing religious robes or by mastering the scriptures or identifying with the religious symbol. Religious robe and religious symbols are not the means to Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Blind faith is an obstacle in the pursuit of truth. The seeker should not waste his time on it, he should primarily reflect on the Soul, the innermost self; not on the ‘I’.

The Soul, which is present in the form of the spirit (consciousness), is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Sruti says: ~ "brahmavit brahmaiva bhavati" - He who knows Brahman becomes Brahman Itself. In the Advaita understanding of this statement, the "becoming" is only metaphorical. It is not as if something that was not Brahman suddenly becomes Brahman. Rather, "realizing Brahman" means a removal of the ignorance about one's own essential nature as Brahman. Thus, to "know Brahman" is to "be Brahman".

The one who has realized the identity with the Soul, the innermost self with the Brahman is a Gnani, one who is liberated even while embodied. Such a realization should not and cannot just be a literal understanding of Upanishadic Mahavakyas.

Remember:~

If you are aiming to be a master, sanyasi, monk, Gurus, or teacher, you will never reach your destination.

Aiming to be a master, sanyasi, monk, Gurus or teacher keeps you in the domain of ignorance.

By becoming a master, sanyasi, monk, Gurus, or teacher the ignorance will not vanish.

Without getting rid of ignorance wisdom will not dawn. Aiming to be a master, sanyasi, monk, Gurus or teacher is religious or propagated ideas, it is for the religious-minded people not for those who are seeking the truth of their true existence.

Advaitic Wisdom will not dawn by becoming some Gurus or yogi’s disciple or by studying some Guru's teaching.

People who are emotionally stuck with some Gurus and their teaching without verifying their validity will never be able to cross the threshold of the dualistic illusion.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is ‘what leads to Self-awareness. A Gnani is neither anyone’s Gurus nor anyone’s disciple. He respects all the Sage of the past and he highlights good points in their teaching he also highlights the obstacles, which block the realization of the ultimate truth.

A Gnani shares his knowledge with the fellow seekers not to make them his followers, but only to direct them if they are interested in traveling beyond form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar