The goal of the true seeker is to acquire the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.+

The goal of the true seeker is to acquire the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara itself is Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is the end of all egocentric knowledge.

People always need some sort of hope when their minds are not yet enlightened. "Self is closer to man than his own veins." "With the Self-Knowledge, one will begin to know the ultimate truth, to finally realize that the Self is not the form and becomes conscious that the ‘Self’ is the ‘Spirit’.

Most people lack the patience and perseverance to investigate and collect all the data before judging: hence they assume Guru or Godmen are great because other people say so, or that he is wise because he, himself says so, or that what he teaches is true because it attracts them. Such an attitude and easy assumptions become an obstacle to unfolding the truth and it requires some trouble to put into effect.

 

'I-centric' gurus and their teaching is not the Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara. Those who want Advaitic Gnana will not hold anything as real of the illusory world because they will not be able to transcend the dualistic illusion.

 

Accept nothing on the authority of a Godman or genius of the past or present but only if it proves true after the examination. Sticking to a physical Guru or yogi sentimentally and emotionally will block Self-realization. No Guru can transmit wisdom to you. You have to do your own homework.

 

Vedas bar human worship: ~

 

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal Prakriti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the Prakriti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.":~ (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

 

Then why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis (human form) in place of God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities to are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

No one has ever seen God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the religious God and Goddesses because God exists prior to the form, time, and space. The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. 

Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is God in truth. Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.:~Santthosh Kumaar