Monkhood or sannyasa is the greatest obstacle in the truth- realization, which is beyond form, time, and space.+

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

One need not be a monk, a sanyasi, or a swami to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Religious rituals scriptural mastery, are not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Monkhood or sannyasa is the greatest obstacle in the truth- realization, which is beyond 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 a 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 in 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 are 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 religious robes to earn bread. Sanyasa is not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

As per the scriptures, the three "Ashrams" or stages in life were originally intended for three grades of intelligence thus:~

v Religion:- Low intellects had to do 'karmas' works, ritual actions, chanting of mantras and indulging in bhajans and prayers, etc.

v Middle intellects:- Yoga: taking yellow robes, going to caves, ashrams, etc.

v High intellects:- Wisdom who wanted truth is concerned with no external rites or sannyasa but depend solely on intelligent inquiry for their path.

Sage Sankara page 482: On Gnani:~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."

When the knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs it means he does not identify himself as Guru or a yogi or teacher or Swami.

If someone has acquired Self-knowledge and shares his acquired knowledge with others, they cannot say that there is nothing for them to do. Everyone has to discover afresh for himself by verifying all the facts. Each one has to grasp assimilate and realize it until he gets a firm conviction of the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by taking sannyasa. Those who think by taking says they will be befitted are hallucination. By taking sanyasi or becoming monk blocks one from realizing the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

There is only one Reality to be known, the same for all seekers, but the ways to it, are hidden by religion.

Self-discovery is the only way, towards the non-dual 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.

There is no need to take sannyasa or become and monk or yogi in order to acquire Self-knowledge of Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar