Those who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

Sage Gaudapada:~ The non-dual Atman is realized when the individual self (jiva) is awakened from its ignorance. Atman is unborn, dreamless, sleepless, and motionless, and is beyond duality. It is cognition at its purest. It is Brahman- Ayam Atma Brahma, this Atma is Brahma; Thus epitomizing the core of Upanishad teachings.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that ~ ‘The ego, body, and world are made of the same stuff. That stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  The Soul is the innermost Self.  

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, the ego, body, and the world are one in essence.  The ego, body, and the world cease to exist without consciousness.  Thus a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed to realize the truth hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

                                                                            

Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana alone is the direct means to realize the truth, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. Without the Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the ignorance will not vanish the ice will not form without the water.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience. 

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the’ I’. This truth has to be assimilated. 

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion. 

If I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, and death is bound to be an illusion. 

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the duality is bound to be an illusion. 

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes. 

That is why Bhagavad Gita: ~ The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self. 

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal. 

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. 

Remember:~

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take 'I' as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. is no need to convince such mindsets. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. 

That is why Sage Sankara says: - VC-65. As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it, and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, followed by reflection, meditation and so forth, but not through perverted arguments.

As long as there is the sense of "I' and "mine' within us, there can be no Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. When one says 'I’ or me' and "mine' he automatically identifies his- Self with his body. This shows that he is ignorant of his real Self, which is Pure Consciousness and which is also the Self of all. 

 The sign of an ignorant person is in the way he uses the words "I' and "mine'. He says: "I am so and so. I own this much property,  and so on. Thus,  he always remains ignorant without realizing the ‘I’ itself is ignorance.   Therefore, without realizing what is this ‘I’ the ignorance will prevail as reality? If ignorance prevails as reality then the form, time, and space will prevail as reality. If form, time, and space remain as reality then birth, life, death, and the world will prevail as reality.  If birth, life, death, and the world prevail as reality then the duality will prevail as reality. If duality prevails as reality then the three states prevail as reality.   Thus,  the seeker needs a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ in order to come out of the prison of ignorance.  

Doubts and Confusions arise when the seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst.   A disappointment in the religious path or yogic path or even science implies error or ignorance.

When the serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulated knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him.  Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on the right lines?" Thus,  the doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels us to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in perfect understanding of ‘what is what’. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have a difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible.  Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on the proof.

Remember:~ 

The seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper inquiry, analysis,  and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact that, the Self is not the form but the Self is formless. Thus,  his analysis and reasoning have to be based on the formless,  not on the form.  By simply going on believing and accepting whatever is said by the punditry will not lead one towards the path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self - Knowledge."  The scriptures and yoga are not necessary if one follows the inner (nondual) path.  Religion and yoga are not the means to the path of wisdom.  

The seeker has to test the truth in this world,  not in the next world.  There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not the truth.  So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them.

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.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for higher knowledge or wisdom.   The path of wisdom is the only means. 

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immerse themselves in a ritualistic oriented lifestyle and follow the path of karma and Upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.  

Many chose these orthodox scholars as their Gurus. But these Gurus are good to learn the conceptual Advaita meant for those Orthodox who believe their conduct-oriented lifestyle leads to Moksha (liberation).  But religious-based Advaita is not the means to acquire Self –knowledge or nondual wisdom.  Those who are seeking the truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.:~Santthosh Kumaar