There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta.+

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta or Buddhism or indulge in yogic practice.  There is no practice as such only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is very much necessary.

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.

Scriptures mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The ultimate truth is revealed in the clear understanding and realization of ‘what is the truth and ‘what is the untruth. When one realizes the untruth (universe) is created out of single stuff, Self-awareness rises in the midst of duality exposing the unreal nature of the form, time, and space. 

The ultimate truth has to be realized first then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying. I do not require any scriptures.

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

Remember:~

Astavakra: ~ “My child you may speak upon various scriptures or hear the sermons on the scriptures. But you cannot establish in the ‘Self’ unless you forget all. 16-1 – p49 

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.

There is no need to study Vedanta.  The seeker has to find out: - ‘What is the mind or ‘I’?’, ‘What is the substance of the mind (I)?’  And what is the source if the mind?  (I),  in order to realize the nature of the mind (I). 

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the duality (waking experience).  When one is Soul-centric than he will realize ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ and ‘what is a reality’ and what is unreality’  and able establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the Soul, the innermost Self.  The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.

It is unfortunate people are stuck with their accumulated ideas based on the false self, and imagine about nonduality and say nothing exists other than the source. But a Gnani says everything exists (illusion) but everything is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the consciousness.  Everything arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness. Thus, the whole diversity (three states) has no relevance, from the standpoint of the consciousness as the Self.

Everything (illusion) is nothingness (consciousness) realizing the three states are created out nothingness (Consciousness). Nothingness is the nature of the consciousness because there is no second thing exists other than itself.       

Religion, mysticism, and yoga are meant for the mass mindset, which is incapable of investigating and verifying their inherited beliefs.  The path of wisdom is to get the pure essence of non-duality or Advaita.

The ultimate truth is based on the formless Soul, the  Self.  Soul-centric reasoning leads one to non-dual Self-awareness.  Therefore, there is a  need to rectify the reasoning base from ego base to Soul base to understand, assimilate and realize the Non-dualistic or Advaitic truth.
Remember:~

Self –inquiry is not the critical study of the scriptures.  Self-knowledge is a cure for getting rid of ignorance. It is the highest of all the results. There is nothing greater than it.  there is no necessity to study the scriptures to acquire Self-knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

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.

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 the 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. They have no value as authority for those who use reason.

I quote only the verified citation form the scriptures. I need no scriptures, but I quote then to help the seekers to realize the scriptures are saying

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that says it is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

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’.

The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself’ in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper ‘Self’-search and assimilate and realize it.

Upanishads clearly indicate:~

Katha Upanishad:~ This Atman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, nor 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 the 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 Mundaka Upanishad (Upanishads by Nikilanada)

There is no need to study the Vedas or at least Prastnatraya Bhagavad Gita. Dasoponishad and Brahma Sutra all with commentaries to ensure firm realization.  All that is intellectual wealth, useful in explaining doubts and difficulties if others rise them if you yourself encounter them in the course of thinking. But to attain realization, all that is not necessary. 

Fortunate are the seekers who do not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Philosophies are conceptual divisions invented by authors of philosophy by their excessive analysis. 
Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but inquires into the nature of the universe and finds the source from which the universe arises.

The above passages further prove that: Self-Knowledge 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 non-dual wisdom.  

That is why Bhagavan Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even  Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and the scriptures. 

Upanishads:~ They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Ataman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada)

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 arises from consciousness and subsides as consciousness.  Therefore, there is a need for perfect understanding,  assimilation of non-dualistic or 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. 

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

Sage Sankara believed that those of superior intelligence, have no need of this idea of divine causality, and can, therefore, dispense with Sruti and arrive at the truth of Non-Dualism by pure reason. :~Santthosh Kumaar