Advaita is not a philosophy. Advaita is the nondual nature of the Soul, the Self.+

Sage Sankara:~ 'like a servant who carries a lamp in front of you to find your way, and you have found it, so becomes the Veda to that person. What is the Veda? -- utterances of those who have known the Truth. Here is one who has known the Truth; why should he or she depend upon the Veda further? Actual realization takes you beyond books. At a certain stage, books become a botheration. The Upanishad itself says that the 'words are only so much of distraction for such minds'

Someone posing as a Gnani, because he is some gurus’ direct disciple,  cannot be a Gnani. Those who pose themselves as Gnanis are not Gnanis.  A Gnani never poses himself as a Guru, a swami,  a sadhu or a  yogi or some guru’s disciple.  

Advaita is not a philosophy. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self.  There is no need to study any philosophy to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth.

All the philosophies and all the teachings on nonduality are based on the dualistic perspective. Such teachings are mere imaginary nonduality on the dualistic perspective.

In Self-awareness the Soul will be in the objectless –awareness in the midst of the duality (objects) and then the sense of duality will cease to exist as a reality.

The mind is nothing but an objective existence.   The seeker has to eliminate such all the objective knowledge through wisdom and then objectless knowledge will alone remain. This is the nature of the Soul, the Self. 

Remember:~

Even though the self is something other than this waking entity (ego), the majority of people still identify themselves with it.  The main reason people identify the Self with the waking entity (ego) is their ignorance of the Real Self.

Whosoever identifies his- self with this bundle of bones and flesh are caught up in the grip of duality. Now the question arises: If self is not this waking entity, then what is that Self? The real Self is not the waking entity but the formless Soul, which witnesses the waking entity and waking world together.

The scriptures declare that the Self is the Soul, the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness or Spirit ~ the three states are mere an illusion created out of the Soul or the consciousness.  That's all.

The three states are is temporary, while the Soul, the Self is immortal, Therefore, this  waking entity and waking experience is  false (impermanent), and the Soul, the Self is real and eternal

The ultimate goal of human existence is to become re-established in reality of his true existence through Self-realization. Self-knowledge of Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana makes one realize the form, time and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul or consciousness.  

Realizing the essence, which the soul or consciousness leads one to nondual self- Awareness.  In Self-awareness, there is only oneness in the midst of duality. :~Santthosh Kumaar