Advaitic wisdom cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge.+

Q by N: ~ Santthosh Kumaar you say that the base of the soul is not a religious topic then why r u explaining it by Bhagwat Gita and bible verses. You are carrying lines from religious books and also saying that religions are harmful to u.

Santthosh Kummar: ~ “My blogs and postings are only for the seekers who are seriously seeking the truth. Please do not misinterpret it. I never said religion is harmful but the Sages of truth declared that religion is meant for the ignorant populace.

Sage Sankara means Advaita and Advaita mean Sage Sankara. The Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is not theology. Theological Advaita is not Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom.

According to Advaita Vedanta, the Veda addresses itself to two kinds of audiences:~

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

2, “The advanced seekers who seek to know the ultimate truth or 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 form, time, and space.

Thus, those who are seeking the truth have to discard the Theological Advaita without mercy in order to realize the Advaitic truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

I quote Scriptural citation and also the citation of the Sages of truth only after verification of reality and proved the truth, to point out that the scriptures indicate the truth, which is the Atman, the Brahman, or God. I do not require any scriptures. It is only to help the seekers to drop what is not needed to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Spirituality is not for religious-minded people. Spirituality is not suited for religious people. Religious people must tread their chosen path.

As per the scriptures, the three "Ashrams" or stages in life were originally intended for three grades of intelligence thus:~

Religion:- Low intellects had to do 'karmas' works, ritual actions, chanting of mantras and indulging in bhajans and prayers, etc.

Middle intellects:- Yoga: taking yellow robes, going to caves, ashrams, etc.

High intellects:- Wisdom who wanted the truth is concerned with no external rites no prayers or sanyasa but depend solely on the Soulcentric reasoning for their path.

Thus, the seeker has to choose his path according to his choice. Without an intense urge to know the truth and sharpness to grasp the truth, it is difficult to tread the path of wisdom never mix different paths with each other, and make cocktails because it leads to all sorts of doubts and confusion.

The seeker of truth should be aware of everything that is untrue: stick to the truth and he shall succeed, maybe slowly, but surely.

If one quotes them before having demonstrated the truth, then it is scholasticism.

You have to bifurcate spirituality from religion. There are only a few spiritual insights in the scriptures or books scattered here and there which are signposts that indicate the truth is beyond the realign, which is based on form, time, and space.

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.

Sages of truth restrained themselves from parting the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana to the mass and only a selected few. It was hidden from the people who were not qualified and receptive to it. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana was not written down but was imparted orally to the chosen few. Thus, religion was given to the mass, and knowledge of the spirit is given to only selected a few. 

Thus, we find traces of the knowledge of the spirit in the religious books in the form of parables.

Katha Upanishad says: ~ This Atman is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one Atman reveals Its own form. ( II -23-P-20)

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.

Advaitic wisdom 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 in order to acquire non-dual wisdom.

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 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 in studying the scriptures and other scriptures in order to acquire non-dual wisdom. That is why Bhagavan Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, religious Gods, and scriptures.

Katha Upanishad says ~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Ch~ II-5 P-14)

That is why Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, and none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher, but your own Soul.”

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.

The Soul, the  'Self'' reveals ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal' when the seeker is receptive and ready. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar