There are three kinds of aspirants.+

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.

 There are three kinds of aspirants:  ~ 

1. The ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices follow a religion.

2. Middling intellect who desire peace and well-being follow the yogic path or meditation.

3. The most advanced seeker who seeks to know the ultimate truth follows the Atmic path. The Atmic path with its emphasis on the Advaitic wisdom is meant for those who wish to go beyond the form, time, and space.

Only through deeper self-search beginners and intermediates gradually become aware ‘what is what’. Only after they have realized the fact that the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness,  they are ready for the inner journey towards reality, which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

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

If you are seeking truth you have to realize the  ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion; it includes birth, life, and death, which happens within the world.  Thus, the seeker's main aim is to mentally trace the formless substance of the illusion, which is also the witness of the illusion

Sage Sankara, in Bhaja Govindam, says ~ (Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena) - One without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Thus, it proves that religion is not the means to ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Because Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is universal knowledge meant for humanity. Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not belong to any religion. 

Lecture consisting of a shower of ornamental words, the skill in expounding the accumulated bookish knowledge, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on a little personal enjoyment to the scholar, but it is not Gnana or wisdom.

The accumulated scriptural and bookish knowledge is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known. Hence men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

To get rid of ignorance, the only remedy is the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. There is no need to study the scriptures in order to get rid of ignorance. The scriptures itself declare this valuable truth. 

Without direct realization, one cannot be liberated from experiencing the dualistic illusion as a reality. :~Santthosh Kumaar