The intricate maze of philosophy of different schools of thought claims to clarify matters and reveal the truth, but in fact they create confusion where no confusion need exist.+

Sage Sankara said:~  Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way. (1) VivekaChudamani v 56, pg 25

The intricate maze of the philosophy of different schools of thought claims to clarify matters and reveal the truth, but in fact, they create confusion where no confusion need exist.

To understand anything,  there is a need to understand the formless substance and the witness of the three states.

Why worry, about the physical body, ego, universe, God, religion, scriptures, and yoga when they are unreal on the base of the Soul, the innermost Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

The Scriptures first create confusion and then explain. Why all these details about ego, reason, intellect, creation, and creator? 

The Soul, the Self is God.   The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the Self.

No one has seen the Soul, the Self or God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the l Gods and Gurus because it exists prior to the form, time,  and space.  The form, time,  and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the 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.

Advaita does not need the support of any Scripture or Revelation like the Veda. For it is based, not upon the varying theological fancies, which are as numerous as the sands of the sea, but upon reason, the common heritage of all mankind, irrespective of color or creed or clime.

Thus, Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant only for those who have an intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dual truth.   Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own self to get a firm conviction. 

That is why Sankara says:~  VC 58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring 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.

Even Upanishads declare that: ~

  

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. (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 –page70)

When the Upanishad says:~   The human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge and they indicate the personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge, then why anyone should indulge in it.

The religion, concept of individualized God and scriptures are the greatest obstacle to realize non-dual truth or Self-realization because they are based on false self (ego).  The seeker of truth has to search for the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy.

Fortunate is the one who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy all conceptual divisions invented by Advaitic Gurus of the east and west by their excessive analysis create more and more confusion.   

Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but realizes the Self is the Soul hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

Uttara Mimamsa, also called Vedanta, does not consider the Upanishads and Brahmanas as arthavada subservient to vidhis. Instead, they are seen to be sources of Brahman knowledge, addressed solely to those who seek moksha or freedom. 

The rituals enjoined in the Vedas are applicable to the realm of dharma, but the one who seeks liberation does not merely desire a place in heaven; he is in search of ultimate Reality itself. 

The Upanishads are viewed as those portions of the Sruti that address philosophical questions about Reality, here called Brahman. This tradition of exegesis follows the Brahma sutras of Badarayana. Within Vedanta, there is a considerable difference of opinion on whether the Upanishads enjoin anything at all.

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. 

An essential identity between Atman and Brahman is upheld in Advaita Vedanta. The personality of Sage Sankara and the force of Advaita teaching is so strong that most post-Sankarian schools of Vedanta consciously define their doctrines against Advaita thought.

When Advaita declares Atman and Brahman then a direct realization of truth is possible without the scriptures.  Know the Soul to be the true self. And true self is in the form of consciousness and realize consciousness as the ultimate truth or Brahman.  

Self-Knowledge is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks the physical body is the self their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality (waking) as a reality.

Therefore there is no need to study scriptures, or indulge in glorifying God and Gurus, or perform religious rituals.  Since they are not the means to acquire non-dual wisdom. It is only a waste of time and effort to indulge in those things. 

The individual self is not real and is not accepted by many.  The non-dual wisdom is based not on the ego.  Until people hold the ‘ego’ as the witness, they will not reach the ultimate understanding. 

Mundaka Upanishads:~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

Scriptures are not needed in the pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the sages of truth declare the same.

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity not the dream entity but the Self is formless Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. In the realm of truth the form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth there is no need for the scriptures. 

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

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

I quote Scriptural citation only after verification reality and proved the truth, to point out that the scriptures teach the same thing. If one quotes them before having demonstrated truth, then it is scholasticism.

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore,  there is no use in studying the scriptures and other scriptures to acquire non-dual wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God and scriptures.

There is only one Reality to be known, the same for all seekers, but the ways to it, are hidden by the religion.  Self-discovery is the only way, towards 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 the truth of our true existence.

Final conclusion:~ 

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.  Therefore, there is no use of studying the Vedas and other scriptures in order to acquire the Advaitic wisdom.  That is why Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage  Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and the scriptures.  

Therefore, there is no use of taking the strain to understand assimilate the conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. There are more and more doubts and confusion if one tries to understand and assimilate the ultimate truth through scriptures. 

Why follow the path of doubts and confusion by losing oneself in the labyrinths of philosophy, when one can realize the ultimate truth without them.  By mentally tracing the source of the mind from where it rises and subsides one becomes aware of the fallacy of the mind, which rises as waking or dream and subsides as deep sleep.  The mind raises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness.  Therefore, there is a need for a perfect understanding and assimilation of Advaitic truth.  

There is no need to renounce worldly life to get Self-Realization. Any householder can attain it if he has the inner urge. 

Ashtavakara:~ "The man of knowledge, though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him and only those like him understand his state.:~Santthosh Kumaar