All the spiritual paths other than the Advaitic path of wisdom are useless unless it causes us to seek God in truth.+

Bhagavan Buddha said: ~ “Believe nothing just because a so-called wise person said it. Believe nothing just because a belief is generally held. Believe nothing just because it is said in ancient books. Believe nothing just because it is said to be of divine origin. Believe nothing just because someone else believes it. Believe only what you yourself test and judge to be true.

Even Buddhism is mixed up with regional culture and traditions of the local religion, wherever it existed. Thus, getting the full essence of Buddhism is very difficult.

Dalai Lama said:~ “Buddhism need not be the best religion though it is most scientific and religion and inquisitive. But Buddhism has no answer to certain questions like the existence of Atama (Soul) and rebirth. Dali lama said that as an individual he believes in rebirth as he had come across a few cases of rebirth. Modern science, Dalai Lama hoped would unearth the mystery behind the rebirth. (In DH –dec-212009-Gulbarga).

Buddhism and its relationship with Science are like that of water and wine, one cannot say there is no water in wine, but when you drink it, it would not be the water but wine... thus Einstein’s view is that water in wine because modern science does not believe in the matter but in this religion, everything is the matter only"

Bhagavan Buddha: ~ “There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting.

Advaita is pure spirituality. All the spiritual paths other than Advaita are inadequate and useless unless it causes us to seek the truth of our true existence. All controversies about creation, the nature of the universe, evolution, the purpose of God, etc., are useless in the Atmic path.

Bhagavan Buddha: ~ There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth: not going all the way... and not starting.

99% of People are more interested in finding out solutions for their problems in their practical life within the practical world. Atmic path is nothing to do with the practical life within the practical world. Thus, they follow the religious path.

In the Atmic path, we have to grow from the inside out. None can teach us, and none can make us spiritual. There is no other Guru but our own Soul.”

Self-knowledge or Atma Gnana or Brahma Gnana cannot be attained by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth. If a serious seeker strives sincerely by means of inquiry, analysis, and Soulcentric reasoning, he will be able to realize it.

It is only through seekers' sincerity and earnestness in their spiritual pursuit, that the knowledge starts revealing on its own. Anyone who has humility and patience and is sincere and ready to drop their accumulated dross and receptive to accept the truth will enter nondual Self-Awareness when his conviction becomes firm.

That is why Bhagavan Buddha: ~ No one saves us but ourselves. No one can and no one may. We ourselves must walk the path. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Advaita is the next step higher than Buddhism.+

Everything is consciousness, which Sage Sankara declared 1200 years back –everything is Atman because Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Goudpada says : - The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

Buddhism has not proved the truth of Non-duality. There is no doubt that Bagavan Buddha pointed out the unreality of the world. He told people they were foolish to cling to it. But he stopped there. He came nearest to Advaita in speech but not to Advaita fully.

The distinction between Sage Sankara’s Advaita and Vijnanavadin Buddhism is that the former is mentalism i.e. mind is the real, whereas the latter is idealism, i.e. ideas are real. Advaitins follow the former.

Buddhism did not graduate its teaching to suit people of varying grades; hence its failure to affect society in Asia.

Bhagavan Buddha as a constructive worker committed an error in failing to give the masses a religion, something tangible they could grasp something materialistic, if symbolic that their limited intellect could take hold of, in addition to his ethics and philosophy. Here Sage Sankara was wiser and gave religion; such as Bhakti, worship etc.--to the ignorant masses, as well as wisdom to those of higher intellect.

The Advaita Sage Sankara gave religious, rituals, and 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.

Bhagavan Buddha's teachings that all life is misery belong to the relative standpoint only. For you cannot form any idea of misery without contrasting it with its opposite, happiness. The two will always go together. Buddha taught the goal of cessation of misery, i.e. peace, but took care not to discuss the ultimate standpoint for then he would have had to go above the heads of the people and tell them that misery itself was only an idea, that peace even was an idea (for it contrasted with peacelessness). That the doctrine he gave out was a limited one, is evident because he inculcated compassion. Why should a Buddhist sage practice pity? There is no reason for it.

Advaita is the next step higher than Buddhism because it gives the missing reason, viz. unity, non-difference from others, and because it explains that it used the concept of removing the sufferings of others, of lifting them up to happiness, only as we use one thorn to pick out another, afterward throw both away. Similarly, Advaita discards both concepts of misery and happiness in the ultimate standpoint of non-duality, which is indescribable.

Buddhists say that a thing exists only for a moment, and if that thing has still got some of the substance from which it was produced, how then can they deny that its cause is continuing in the effect; hence its existence is more than a moment. Advaita is concerned with whether it is one and the same thing which has come into being or has come out of nothing.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to with Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace.+

Those who are seeking truth have to discard the theological Advaita without mercy to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is based on the birth entity. The one which is born, lives, and dies in the world is not the self.

Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion Brahman alone is real and Atman is Brahman.

Thus, it proves the world in which birth and death happen is merely an illusion. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the cause of the world is real. The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Orthodoxy is the path of ignorance. And ignorant worship mechanically performs the prescribed sacrifices without any thought as to why they are doing them.

That is why Ish Upanishads says:~ such people no wonder they grope in the dark. They are doomed unless someday the truth dawns on them that to save themselves they must seek Self-knowledge.

The Advaitic orthodoxy is conduct-oriented and tries to prove the truth on the base of scriptural authorities, whereas the ultimate truth is based on the Soul, the innermost 'Self’.

The religion, concept of God and scriptures are the greatest obstacles to acquiring ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The scriptural knowledge fuels the ego. And ego makes one experience the duality as reality.

Duality makes one blind to the truth and makes one accept, the egocentric theories based on the false ‘Self’ as an authority. The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures.

The Advaitic Orthodoxy holds the caste, religious rites, God and Glorifying the Gurus, scriptural studies, virtues, good deeds, and physical conduct as the means to acquire the ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God in truth) 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 besides 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.

The Advaitic orthodoxy believes in the worship of non-Vedic Gods barred by Vedas.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter:~ All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many Gods. (7- Verse -20)

Bhagavad Gita: ~ 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 other than consciousness a God.

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

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

God in truth is the Atman, the Self. Atman is present in the form of consciousness.

Do not accept any other God other than Atman not worship other than Atman.

Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

Nothing is real but God. Nothing Matters but love for God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is and all else is an illusion.

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 ‘Self’. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

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.

As per the Ish Upanishad: ~ Those who worship Gods and Goddesses go into deeper darkness because they seek rewards for their worship.

That is why Sage Goudpada says that:~ The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

This clearly indicates that religion, which is based on individual conduct, prescribes karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, therefore religion is for the lower intellect. And wisdom is for those who are capable of inquiring into their own existence.

Remember:~

Advaitic orthodoxy is nothing to with Advaitic wisdom. Advaitic orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace. Rituals and karma theory are meant for the ignorant populace.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the 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 more 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 such transient pleasures.

Sage Sankara says in Brahma Sutras: that Brahman is the cause of the world, whereas in Manduka Upanishad he denies it. This is because he says that at the lower stage of understanding, the former teaching must be given, for people will get frightened as they cannot understand how the world can be without a cause, but to those in a higher stage, the truth of non-causality can be revealed.

Those who are frightened to accept the world is merely an illusion should never indulge path of wisdom. Advaitic orthodoxy is the path of ignorance and is meant for ignorant people who believe in the experience of birth, life, death, and rebirth and the world as reality.

Sage Goudpada says that: - The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

The path of wisdom is not for the orthodox populace. It is difficult for the orthodox people to accept the truth because they already accepted something else as truth because of their samskara or conditioning. It is difficult for them to accept anything other than their inherited conditioning.

Sage Sankara gave religious, rituals, and 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.

Even Sage Sankara appears personally and tells them what they have accepted as truth is not truth; they will never be able to accept anything other than their accepted truth.

Orthodox people must follow their chosen path which makes them happy and gives them satisfaction. Without instance urge to acquire Self-knowledge it is impossible to tread the path of wisdom.

How can you worship the Absolute? That implies two ~ the worshipper and the worshipped, whereas the Absolute is nondual.

One can only worship his idea of the Absolute or realize his unity with it when he can’t worship it as apart.

Religious rites and rigid ceremonies were passed down from one generation to the next as a practice or set customs and tradition and performed automatically with blind faith. Such worship based on the belief of God does not reach God.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of ritual are meant for the ignorant populace.

Blind belief in God without knowing God in actuality holds the worshiper more firmly in the grip of ignorance.

All worship and the ceremonies and rituals performed on the base of non-~Vedic Gods will not yield any fruits. A deeper self-search reveals the fact that worshiped, the worship and worshiper, and the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of rituals formal observance has long since set in.

Religious rites and ceremonies, yagnas and homa-havans, or any other forms of ritual are meant for the ignorant populace. In the Atmic path, the seeker has to discard

Sage Sankara says: ~ The scriptures dealing with rituals, and rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, and the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the Self has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. Therefore, the scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are addressed to an ignorant person. - Adhyasa Bhashya

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.

Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Among thousands of men, scarcely one strives for perfection; and of those who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows the ‘Self’ in truth.

The path of wisdom attracts only those who are in search of truth and they appreciate it greatly. The ignorant are not spiritually matured they receive Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. The ignorant indulge in argument and provocation and personal attack, which hinder their own realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman.

Advaitic orthodoxy accepts karma theory. If one accepts the karma theory, he will not reach the non-dual destination. If one accepts karma theory then it is impossible to hold the world as an illusion. All the pundits’ explanation of karma theory holds no water because karma theory is based on the false self, which is bound by the experience of birth, life and death and form, time, and space, whereas the true Self, is formless Atman, which the Self. The Ataman is in the form of consciousness and is birthless and deathless because it is unborn eternal. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

What is the use of saying the death is an illusion, without the realizing the world in which the birth and death takes place itself is an illusion.+

What is the use of saying that death is an illusion, without them realizing the world in which birth and death take place itself is an illusion?

A Gnani will never say we are not born; we are not going to die but he says our experience of birth, life, death, and the world is a reality within the waking experience. The waking experience is a dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion appears as the ‘I’ (waking) and disappears as ‘I-less’ (deep sleep).

The dualistic illusion appears as a whole and disappears as a whole. The witness of the dualistic is not you but the Soul, the Self. The Soul is birthless and deathless because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence whereas the individual birth, life, death, and the world are possible only in the domain of form, time, and space. From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the form, time, and space are merely an illusion.

You are the birth entity and your death is certain whereas the Soul is the unborn reality. Holding the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’ causes ignorance. How can one say ‘I AM THAT’ when ‘I’ itself is an illusion?

Identifying the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’ is identifying the Self with the illusion.

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "I" If you feel the ‘“Self’’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

The Soul is the 'Self’. The nature of the Soul is ‘I-LESS’ existence. The Soul is permanent and is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes.

Thus, it is necessary to know the ‘I’ itself is merely an illusion to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space. The seeker has to realize the truth of the whole, not the part. :

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

It is wrong to say we are not born, and we do not die without knowing the one, which is born, lives, and dies within the world is not the Self.

Without knowing the true Self -mere saying, we are not born, we do not die is not the knowledge, which has come from depth, it is mere bookish knowledge. Unity in diversity in our understanding is not possible from bookish knowledge.

If one limits the Self to the physical entity alone, one gets only a half-truth. The consciousness pervades all the three states, as its formless substance and witness. The formless substance and witness, which is our true Self (true identity). Without knowing the true Self -mere saying, we are not born, we do not die is not the knowledge, which has come from depth, it is mere bookish knowledge. Unity in diversity in our understanding is not possible through bookish knowledge or some gurus''‘ I-centric’ teachings.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The world is unreal. He never said the body is unreal. He would have said only birth and death are unreal, he did not say that he said the world is unreal. He meant the world including the body because the body and world appear together and disappear together (waking/dream). Then we have to conclude, what remains without the body and the world as reality.

How can the birth, karma, death, rebirth, and reincarnation, which take place in the unreal world (waking/dream), can be true. The one, which is aware of birth, life death, rebirth, and reincarnation (illusion/unreal), is the formless reality, which is the Soul, the Self. The formless Self is your true identity, which is birthless and deathless but it is the witness of the birth, life and death, and rebirth (illusion/unreal).

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self the birth, life, death, rebirth, and reincarnation theory is part of the illusion/unreal. The body cannot reincarnate, the body and the world are created out of the same clay.

Until one view and judges on the base of flesh, bone, and blood (five elements), he will not be able to grasp the non-dual truth. Thus, one must know from what standpoint, we are not born and we do not die thoroughly, just by hearsay views, it will not lead anyone to the non-dual destination. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Advaita is the truth hidden by dvaita. The dvaita is ignorance (I) and Advaita is ultimate reality (Atman).+

Advaitic wisdom is not any type of teaching. Advaita is the truth hidden by Dvaita. The Dvaita is ignorance (I) and Advaita is ultimate reality (Atman).

If you are seeking truth then you have to tread the path alone. If you sentimentally get involved in physical Guru with the devotion that will block you from realizing the truth, which is hidden by the form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Sticking to religious Gurus is a religious fable is nothing to do with spirituality. Many have been deluded and fallen prey to a false sense of salvation propagated by the Gurus and yogis and only a few have been able to reach the goal safely by threading the path independently through soul-centric reasoning.

Manduka Upanishads:~a Gnani bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the yellow robe has anything to do with him.

A Gnani cannot have the idea of renouncing the world or giving up something of the practical world because that would connote the idea of duality. Duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint. Knowing no second thing at all there remains nothing to be given up.

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).

A person who realized the ultimate truth or Brahman will throw off his religious robe and all religious identity and live like a commoner. He never identifies himself as Gnani nor does he identify himself as superior to others. He only shares his knowledge with fellow seekers.

A Gnani never identifies himself as a Guru or a Yogi or someone disciple. The one who accepts himself as a Guru or someone’s disciple is not a Gnani.

Ashtavakra Samhita: ~ "The man of knowledge (Gnani), though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

The truth-seeker seeks only truth. The inner Sage will guide you with love. Your sincerity and seriousness lead you to your inner core. Sincere and serious seekers are not excluded.

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Katha Upanishads: ~ This Atman is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. (II -23-P-20)

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality. All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who were the sanyasin robes are wearing them for the sake of bread belong to the religion; they are nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of the ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

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)

~ Then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

That is why Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, and none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but the Soul.”

That is why Sage Goudpada: ~ “To establish the truth of Non-duality by sheer reasoning alone. He begins by defining "What is real?" "What is unreal?" etc, because that is the right way to discuss or teach. People must first know what they are talking about. (Manduka Karika)

A permanent view of the world as an illusion can come only after Soul centric reasoning; such knowledge cannot change. Were the seeker who is sufficiently sharpness he could grasp the unreal nature of the world by Soul-centric reasoning alone. To know the whole truth, one must know the whole universe, otherwise, he gets only a half-truth.

Renouncing the worldly life and accepting sannyasa or monk-hood means the incapacity to think deeper, impotency to inquire, and reason.

People speak of getting rid of conditioning or samskara but they, themselves are unaware of the fact that the universe in which they exist is the product of the inborn samskara or conditioning. The ignorance is the cause of the inborn samskara or conditioning which is present as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’.

The real Moksha or freedom is to realize the fact that ‘I’ consciousness is mere physical awareness. Physical awareness is present in form, time, and space. The form, time, and space are present in the form of the mind.

The mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality) Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. Self–awareness is when the formless Soul or consciousness remains aware of its own non-dual true nature.

The seeker will have enough material stored in his subconscious by reading repeatedly my blogs and posting all will start yielding fruits and start revealing when he starts thinking independently and very deeply.

My blogs and postings are not teaching, they are only signposts for those who are seriously seeking the truth. This is the inner process every serious seeker experiences. The inner dialogue will start and he will start getting answers from the inner core of his existence.

Every teaching has to be thoroughly verified through deeper discrimination. If the teaching is egocentric then drop it as inadequate and useless. If it is purely

Soul-centric then only accept it as the truth. If it is mixed with both then also it has to be dropped. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~Through one's own Self one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality.+

The Upanishads says:~

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8:~ “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3:- “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~ The Soul cannot be realized through hearing the scholarly explanation of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6:~ “Through the knowledge of the Soul or God in truth, 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.

Kena Upanishad 2:4:~ When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own Self one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5:~ If here one knows it, then there is truth and if here one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

The scriptures are being added to from time to time. This process will go on. There is the final authority among them? One contradicts the other: duality reigns supreme.

The Upanishads are Self-contradictory. Every pundit even gives conflicting interpretations of them. The final authority, therefore, is using one’s own reason. One should apply his reason to them.

The scriptures are for ignorant masses, who wholly accept the material world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

The Scriptures are of value only when dealing with persons who are incapable of understanding the truth, which is hidden by ignorance. They have no value as authority for those who use reason. I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures but I quote them to help the seekers realize the scriptures are saying

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that say:-

It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

Katha Upanishad: ~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad: ~ “This Atman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Atman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

That is why Sage Sankara indicated:~` VC -56- Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means.

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar but are no good for Liberation.

59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures consisting of many words are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

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?

62. A disease does not leave off if one simply utters the name of the medicine, without taking it; (similarly) without direct realization one cannot be liberated by the mere utterance of the word Brahman.

All accumulated knowledge is mental garbage. Holding this mental garbage blocks the realization of the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Holding some teacher or teaching as a yardstick and trying to prove that he is right and others are wrong and indulging in the perverse argument will help to unfold the mystery of the universe.

The seeker has to learn to view and judge from the standpoint of a formless witness (Soul or consciousness, the Self), then he will be never having any doubts and confusion. When one thinks deeply then only the inner revelation starts and starts burning the dross (confusion/doubts). : ~ Santthosh Kumaar