After this perfect understanding of assimilation and realization of the Self, nothing is required to do.

Awakening is nothing but a complete, perfect understanding and assimilation of what is what. A clear-cut understanding of a ‘what is what’ is awakening. The reality is not to be achieved; it is there as it is.

After this perfect understanding of assimilation and realization of the Self, nothing is required to do.

And we expect "awakening" to be some great, mysterious happening! "Reality is not to be achieved; it is there” as it is, as unchangeable existence within the changeable illusion.

Kabir views humanity as being caught up in the illusion, searching for Ultimate Reality in all the wrong places, always seeking It outside of ourselves in various rituals, temples, forests, and mountaintops, not realizing That for which we seek is already hidden within us.

The ultimate truth or Brahman dwells within the three states like fragrance in the flower; Musk lies within the Musk-deer yet seeks it afar." Until one traces the truth within the three states the illusion of birth, life, death, and the world is experienced as a reality.

All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, consciousness still remains without form, time, and space.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman (Consciousness) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

Sage Sankara:~ VC~.63: "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world.

After verifying through deeper inquiry if one finds the world is a reality within the illusion then he cannot again say the world is not an illusion.

If one is frightened to accept the world is an illusion (waking) then he is unfit to acquire ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those who are stuck with the reality of the world are stuck with the reality of the individual experiences of birth, life, and death, which take place within the unreal world. Thus the pursuit of truth is for those who have the courage to accept reality as it is, that is the reality without form, time, and space.

When you finally realize the ‘‘Self’ ‘is not you but the ‘‘Self’’ is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47- All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.

Till you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Self-awareness.

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads to Advaitic -awareness. By holding on to theories one remains in the realm of duality. One has to mentally go on dropping what is not the truth through deeper self-search. 

Finally, when one becomes aware of the fact that, his ego, his body, and the world are one in essence then there is Self-awareness in the midst of duality. 

Upanishads clearly declare:~

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23 The Soul cannot be realized through hearing scholarly explanations of the discourses, not even by the intellect.

Katha Upanishad 1:3:6 “Through the knowledge of the Soul, God, one is pure and clean constantly.” Neither by reading books nor by taking a bath at holy places has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul-Consciousness is the real purity.

Kena Upanishad 2:4 When it is known through every state of cognition, it is rightly known, for (by such knowledge) one attains life eternal. Through one's own self one gains power and through wisdom, one gains immortality.

Kena Upanishad 2:5 If here one knows it, then there is truth, and if there one knows it not, there is a great loss. Hence, seeing the Real in all beings, wise men become immortal on departing from this world.

Mundaka Upanishad 1:2:8  “Remaining in the fold of ignorance and thinking “we are extremely wise and learned,” the fools with boastful nature ramble about like the blind led by the blind alone.”

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3  “The weak and timid cannot realize the Self. Self-Realization is not possible through intellect or hearing spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed."

Mundaka Upanishad 3:2:3  The Soul cannot be realized by the weak and timid.  

That is why  Sage  Sankara says in Viveka Chudamani:~  56. Neither by Yoga, nor by Sankhya, nor by work, nor by learning, but by the realization of one's identity with Brahman is Liberation possible, and by no other means. 

58. Loud speech consisting of a shower of words, the skill in expounding the Scriptures, and likewise erudition - these merely bring on 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.

63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the Self, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

64. Without killing one’s enemies, and possessing oneself of the splendor of the entire surrounding region, one cannot claim to be an emperor by merely saying, ‘I am an emperor’.

Until one knows the truth of his true existence, whatever he knows about god is based on blind belief. Gods based on blind belief is in not God in truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the Advaitic truth.+

Blinded with the illusion very few grasp the  Advaitic truth. Only a few escape from the web of illusion, and only a few will be able to acquire nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom.

The non-duality has to be grasped in the midst of the waking experience (duality or mind or universe).  That is, being aware of the truth and untruth, reality and unreality. And able to establish himself in the truth and able to view and judge, the three states, on the base of the Soul, the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

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

Everything (universe or illusion or matter) is the consciousness (Soul or Spirit) realizing the three states are created out of consciousness (Soul or Spirit).

Awareness is the nature of the soul (spirit or consciousness) because there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul (Spirit or consciousness), the Self.   Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

The illusion can be understood only when the mind learns to view and judge the worldview, on the true base.

Paul Brunton was a great seeker of truth. When he went to seek guidance from Sri, Sankaracharya from South India a great religious sage, was so honest, that he said: "the truth you are seeking is not with me, please go to Sage Ramana Maharshi". So sincere and honest advice from such a great religious personality Shankaracharya of South India. It only proves the fact that the orthodox  Advaita has no truth because it is meant for the ignorant or lower mindset. 

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

As one goes deeper into annals of the religious history, even after So many centuries have passed since Sage Sankara appeared, it is very hard to find his true teachings understood anywhere in India today. It is  Because so few could rise to his level. Hence, the dualist Gurus and others came to supply the common demand.

Bhagvad Gita: ~ The permanent is always there, only the transient I comes and goes. (2.18)

As one goes deeper into self-search Sage Sankara's work has got two aspects: the practical aspect and the spiritual. for the practical aspect, he introduced religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the populace but pure philosophy only to the few who could rise to it. Hence, the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd. 

He founded a new belief system religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to suit the populace in the name of Vedas, which is present days Hinduism.  Hinduism is nothing to do with the Vedic religion because  Hinduism indulges in non-Vedic activities barred by Vedas. but still one finds it difficult to accept Sage Sankara founded orthodox Advatic sect because orthodoxy is based on dogmas, but his philosophy is pure truth. 

As per the religious history, Sage Sankara was a great Advaitic Sage in the name of Vedas to uplift the Vedic culture and Sanatan Dharma, which were in ruins in the clutches of Buddhism.

The true essence of Vedanta expounded by Sage Sankara and Sage Goudpada was lost in the labyrinth of orthodox ritualism and dogmatic beliefs.  

It is true that Sage Sankara advocated the necessity of taking Sanyasa, but he did so in order to make the Sanyasins devote their whole lives to the service of mankind, whereas other advocates of sanyasa merely propagate it in order to make selfish ego-centered ascetics who withdraw from society and let it go to the dogs.

The Upanishads say do not teach the wisdom to many, only a few. Hence, the sage of truth in the past taught only a few who are capable of assimilating nondualistic or Advatic wisdom. one should  not regard all gurus, swamis, sadhus, and yogis as Gnanis 

Common people are stuck to religion, yoga, dogmas, and all rituals, not more. They are followers of their inherited beliefs and dogmas. The higher philosophy falls flat on those who lack the capacity to understand and assimilate it. 

It is necessary for the seeker to do his own homework, and verify the validity of all the claims, rather than blindly believe, what others expound as knowledge, till; the un-contradicted truth is obtained.

The seeker must have the courage of Bhagavan  Buddha to accept the truth and reject the untruth. Since Buddha rejected religion, the idea of God, and scriptures, therefore, it is evident that he has gone through every aspect and verified and found them to be inadequate and useless for the pursuit of truth.

Even Buddhism is mixed up with regional culture and traditions of the local religion, wherever it existed. Thus getting the full essence of Buddhism is very difficult.

Truth is a bitter pill. It becomes very difficult for the seeker to accept it at first; because of his inherited conditioning. Gradually he will be able to grasp it as he moves on.

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, and the universe is merely an illusion. If the universe is merely an illusion then the experience of birth, life, and death happen within the universe is merely an illusion. 

If the universe is merely an illusion then the form, time, and space are merely an illusion. 

If form, time, and space are merely an illusion then the mind is merely an illusion. 

If the mind is merely an illusion then the ‘I’ is merely an illusion.  

If the ‘I’ is merely an illusion then the substance and the witness of the ‘I’ which is the formless soul alone is real and eternal. 

The illusion is present only in ignorance where 'I' and you are separate entities. In truth, there is neither 'I' nor you, nor, the illusion. Therefore, there is no teaching, no teacher, and no student in reality.

The word "I” used in the eastern scriptures is not the individual me as one imagines, but the Soul, which is the true Self. Since everyone thinks the ‘I’ is the Self only the body is not the Self and base their theory and understanding on the base of ‘I’ as the Self. It is very difficult for them to accept the fact that the ‘I’ itself is not the Self.  If this is understood the truth pursuit becomes easier.   

Truth pursuit is a very personal journey. It is very much necessary to verify minutely, on your own, what truth is, and what is not the truth, before accepting anything as truth. And move ahead to realize the fact that, the illusion exists as a reality, only on the base of your false identity.

For a Gnani who has realized the ultimate truth or Brahman, there is no illusion, even though; it is in the midst of illusion because it is fully aware of the fact that, the substance and the witness of the illusion, is the formless non-dual Spirit (Soul or consciousness.). 

Thus,  there is no second thing, other than the Soul, the Self. Hence, it is nonduality.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

People say Aham Brahmasmi ~ I am God, I am Brahman.+

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

People say Aham Brahmasmi ~  I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I.

Bhagavad Gita:~Brahmano hi pratisthaham- Brahman is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. ~14.27. 

To say there is God or no God, you must be present. You are present only when the world is present. Without you, the world ceases to exist. Thus,  you and the world appear together and disappear together. A deeper investigation reveals the fact that there is no use of inquiring “WHO AM “I ?  because you are inquiring only about your existence dropping the world in which you exist. Without including the world in your inquiry it is impossible to realize the Advatic Truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space.

That is why Sage Sankara said:~  VC-63- Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the self, how is one to achieve Liberation.

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.

66. Therefore, the wise should, as in the case of disease and the like, personally strive by all the means in their power to be free from the bondage of repeated births and deaths.

Thus,  one has to know what is real by realizing our body and our experience of the world is merely an illusion created out of the Soul,  the Self.  The nature of the Self is emptiness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul (Atman) in the midst of the waking experience leads Advaitic awareness.+

The Self is not within you, but you and the world are within the Soul, the Self.  You will not find the Soul, the  Self within your body. 

Thinking the Self is within the body is an error and it creates a great obstacle in realizing the Self, which is hidden by the illusory universe or Maya.  The illusory universe is present in the form of form, time, and space.

The Soul, the Self is in the sleep of ignorance of its non-dual true nature and experiences the illusory universe as reality.

When it wakes up from the sleep of illusion, then the body and the world will never again prevail as reality because they are just an illusion created out of the Soul, the Self. 

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. A Gnani still remains absolutely unattached to the illusory reality in the midst of the illusory reality.

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the three states as reality. Thus, complete eradication the ignorance is very much necessary. This is possible only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

There is no other road to freedom other than Gnana.  There is no other entrance other than Gnana.  Ignorance will vanish only when the Advaitic wisdom dawns.

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.

Detachment to attachment is impossible without nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom. Only when one realizes the fact that the Self is not you but the Self is Soul, which is ever nondual, then only it is possible to detach the ‘Self’ from the illusory attachment. 

Man and his individual experience of birth life and death are reality within the illusory universe or Maya.  

Until one has a firm conviction he is an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to him, and he is born in it afterward,  he will never be able to acquire nondualistic or Advaitic wisdom. Because of this reason, he will not be able to think beyond the illusory form, time, and space.    

Until this conviction is there all his views, judgments and conclusions are based on the false self (ego) within the false experience(waking). 

There is a need for overcoming this conviction by realizing the fact that,  the form, time, and space are one in essence, and that essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Anyone puts their hand in the fire,  it is the universal experience that,  the nature of the fire is hot, and that even if a man says it is cold, the fact of heat remains.  In the same way, the one who is aware of the three states in the waking experience is aware of the awareness of the three states.  The "three states" is the totality of man's experience, which gives him dual and non-dual experiences. The waking experience is converted into an idea.

People do not want to think deeper.   They do not want to know what an idea is. Where has the deep sleep gone? It disappears as the soul (Atman) when waking takes place. 

The whole experience of diversity(waking experience) disappears as consciousness (Soul or  Atman). That is the point. That the Soul (Atman) is what the seeker of truth has to get at.

v  What is the experience?

 It implies a second thing, i.e. duality. Unless one rises to unity, he has no peace.

v  Why does man have wants, peace?

Because, he has a sense of duality, which is the cause of experiencing the illusory duality as reality.

Absence of experience, then the whole experience of duality is converted into non-duality. When one knows that all the three states have merged into the formless Soul the Self, and then there is nothing to experience because there is no second thing other than the Soul (Atman).
  

The Soul(Atman) creates and in which the creator is dissolved. "Awareness is the nature of the Soul, the Self”. The three states are dissolved as the Soul (Atman). The waking or dream is a mirage; the waking or dream gets merged in the Soul (Atman) in sleep.

The whole waking or dream is merged in the Soul(Atman) in sleep, and then one gets the same position as the Soul, the Self unconsciously in deep sleep.  

Consciously becoming aware of the Soul( Atman) in the midst of the waking experience leads to  Advaitic awareness.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The ultimate goal of the soul is to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

 What is it that attaches you to this world?

It is the ‘I’, which is present in the form of the mind.  Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the mind rather than indulge in godly business in order to overcome the illusory duality. 

The seeker’s search for the ultimate truth of or Brahman is the prime goal. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is a practical solution for seekers all over the globe.

What is the nature of the Soul, the Self?

The nature of the soul is formless, timeless and spaceless existence”.

 “What is the ultimate goal of human life?

On the dualistic perspective: “The ultimate goal of the soul is to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. From the non-dualistic perspective,  there is no goal or any purpose in life.

Equanimity -- treating the whole universe as the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness leads to Advaitic Self-awareness. 

The pursuit of truth has nothing to do with the next world. It wants proof, there is no proof in the next world, but there is proof available in this world. The next world belongs to the realm of faith and religion. 

The religious conditioning in childhood grows stronger becomes firmer and fanatical later. All attempts to unify the religions of the world and all attempts to unite religion and science are bound to fail.  The ordinary mass has to be given religion, a theatrical show in a temple, church, mosque, a God to frighten him, etc. Otherwise, there would be no means of keeping his conduct within the bounds of decency. 

For the uninquiring mindset, anything other than their worldly life matters very little. They are struggling to live on a day-to-day basis. Religion helps them to cast the burden on their inherited belief indulge in worldly life.    If the people believe that they must live a good life,  in order to secure a better fate after death or place in paradise or heaven, it helps to keep them within moral bounds and even to perform works of charity.

In religion, one wants something from God for himself. In Yoga,  one also wants some state for himself. Only in the pursuit of truth one wants the nondual wisdom which frees the man from all illusion. 

There is no proof to say that any authority, interpretation, or yogic experience reveals the Truth. Till this is proven the quoting of authority, interpretations, and so forth are for those who require a mental spoon-feeding, not for those who are capable of thinking, howsoever learned the scholar that deals with them maybe. They are of use for mental children. By this method, men deceive themselves and others too. Seekers of truth do not have recourse to these methods. Till the truth of any authoritative statement or interpretation or yogic experience is proved,  what is said or done is an only intellectual play based on the false self and self-deception. 

Remember:~  

The Seeker has to go to the very root where there is nothing more to doubt, nothing more to question.  Every system may be demolished by another system because all are defective as all are based on imagination. 

Skepticism is good if it means keeping the mind open; raising doubts, but it is bad if it means closing the mind by saying truth is unattainable or refusing to face doubts until they are removed.

 Religion is a matter of passion and emotion. In religion, one can imagine as he pleases. In the pursuit of truth only uncontradictable truth that matters. But in religion, only blind faith in the belief, that matters. 

There is no possible hope of getting these people who are immersed in the religion and accepted the truth from accumulated and inherited dross to understand nonduality.  

It matters very little whether they exist or not, so long as the practical end in view is achieved. Common People believe that they must live a good life in order to secure a better fate after death, it helps to keep them within moral bounds and even to perform works of charity for society.

One need not condemn religion, but only try to purify and lift it, and encourage people to do their religious duties properly, but the whole system depends upon the belief and faith of the devotee and falls to the ground when he loses his faith in the existence of God and in the efficacy of religious rituals.

The common people, who lack reason, get psychological comfort from religious faith and prayers for material benefits because they are thus helped to bear their troubles and endure misfortunes. Hence it is not wise to take this comfort away from them since they are not fit for the pursuit of truth.

Religion is for the masses, it is absolutely necessary for them.  The pursuit of truth is only for the seekers who have an intense urge. Religion is better for the masses than worldliness because it gives the impression that there is something beyond all this material appearance, something higher. 

It is not correct to displace common people's faith in God and give them nothing to replace it, they will lose ethical restraints and descend to steal and murder. Hence their faith should not be prematurely disturbed. It serves a useful social purpose when operative.  The value of religion is that it teaches people that there is something beyond this physical life, beyond death for people.

There is no harm in people worshipping conceptual God if it makes them happy. But this has nothing to do with the question of truth. The latter is on a  quite different plane from that of satisfaction from the religious perspective.

The scriptures are the diaries of the sages, they have written their views and judgment of truth for others' reference and guidance, but the full truth may be only partly revealed; the rest is a  fable on the standpoint of the Soul as the Self.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

The religious scholars are great parrots who go on quoting scriptures without verifying them deeply.+

Life is too short to waste. There is no use in studying the Veda and Upanishads they are mere interpretations of words. It is far better to devote our time we have, to truth rather than to the master the interpretations of texts. 

The religious scholars are great parrots who go on quoting scriptures without verifying them deeply. However, they served a useful purpose by preserving these texts, handing them down by mouth from generation to generation, which is helpful only to preserve the customs and traditions of the religion.

The difference between nonduality and all the so-called philosophies is that the latter leave one with doubts or questions whereas the former fully clears them. Religion kills doubt by threats of hell while mysticism ignores them.

The populace which is incapable of thinking take the world to be real, miracles to have occurred, and scripture to be the truth; they are content to have judged without inquiry. Hence, they are also deluded.

Why worry about those who refute nonduality? What is nonduality to them? It is only an idea; they imagine nonduality in their own way. They can never grasp the actual nonduality. Therefore, any criticism made about non-dualistic truth is due to their ignorance and non-receptivity.   Numerous books have been written about non-duality, which are mere philological quibbles, but entirely omit to deal with the question of the nondualistic truth in their writing. 

Indian philosophy has been brought into a hopeless muddle because of those who start with dogmas which are imaginings. 

There is also Davita (dualistic) and Vishita Advaita to refute the Advaitic claims.  And spiritual Advaita is nothing to do with religious Advaita which is propagated by religious Advaitic Gurus, which is based on  Brahma Sutras is meant for mediocre. Since all the western seekers are attracted to Advaita and they get involved in studying Vedas and Upanishads in order to gain Advaitic truth and waste their precious lifetime and effort which yields no fruits.  

There is no use of quarreling whatsoever with religionists and dualist philosophers. They claim to have the highest truth trying to prove with Vedas and other scriptures.

When Upanishads says:~

Katha Upanishad:~ This Ataman 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 Ataman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Ataman—by him alone is Atman attained. It is Ataman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 –page-70  Mundaka Upanishad  Upanishads by Nikilanada)

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 citations from scriptures are not proof.  The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures.  The ultimate truth is the universal truth and it does not belong to any religion.  Religion causes diversity in unity, whereas, the ultimate truth brings unity in diversity. 

That is why Sage Sankara himself says: ~ VC-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 which 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?

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures.  There is no need to study first, and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

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 come 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.

He who has not rectified his reasoning base from the ‘I’(form) base to soul (formless) base and one who does not have the intense urge to know the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth,  and who is not tranquil and subdued and whose mind is not receptive, cannot acquire Self-Knowledge or brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Then what is the use of studying the Vedas and scriptures when the knowledge of Atman cannot be attained by studying or hearing them?  Therefore, the seeker of truth has to drop all the scriptures in order to acquire self-knowledge.:~Santthosh Kumaar  

Spirituality or Adyathma is nothing to do with any religion.+

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is not a teaching or philosophy but Advaita is the universal wisdom. Advaitic wisdom is neither a teaching nor a theory but it is merely guidance to those who are seriously seeking the ultimate truth or Brahman. Grasp the ultimate truth at any time, any age, if the seeker has the spiritual maturity and capacity to grasp it. 

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-47   All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.

It really depends on his inborn natural capacity to understand and assimilate Advaitic wisdom.  Sage Sankara’s wisdom is a Self-examiner, to test oneself to discover how near to Gnana he has approached and what progress has already been made on the path, and what still remains to be done.  It sets up a criterion for Self-judgement.   There are millions in search of truth but one in million will be able to grasp it.

Without Sage Sankara, there is no Advaita (nonduality).  Since it was mixed up with orthodoxy there is a lot of confusion. I am highlighting all the obstacles, which are blocking one from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman. There are so many non-dualistic masters of the east and also from the west who expound Advaitic or non-dualistic knowledge but none of them are helpful to reach the ultimate end.  Religions are egocentric whereas Spirituality is soulcentric.  

The garbage of the religious beliefs dogmas superstition is confounded with the human imagination. The great reality of the glory of the religious Gods is hyped and obscured by so much tinsel and commercialism.

Spirituality is not religion.  Advaita is not a philosophy but Advaita is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana or knowledge of the Spirit or God in truth.

The word “Advaita” is one without the second.  Advaita essentially refers to the Atman and the whole existence. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness without the division of form, time, and space.

Religions are nothing to do with spirituality. Advaita is pure spirituality. The religious Advaita is nothing to do with the Advaitic wisdom, which is based on the Spirit the Atman. 

Religious Advaita is conceptual having its own doctrine is nothing to do with the Gnanic Advaita, because, Gnanic Advaita is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Both approaches are not workable together, because, the religious Advaita is based on the birth entity (ego)   Gnanic Advaita is based on the Atman (Soul).

Thus, the theological Advaita has to be discarded without mercy to get Advaitic Gnana.  

“Advaita” is a term used variously to express the unity of reality.  Advaita is unity in diversity.  

The seeker has to begin by defining "What is real?" "What is unreal?,   to establish in Advaitic reality by sheer reasoning alone.   The reasoning is the right way to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. People must first know what is the truth? and what is untruth’.  

Remember:~ 

At no point in time, the world was at peace. History speaks the ware violence and terrorism in the name of religion and God.  The universal brotherhood is an impossibility with diverse beliefs and the idea of God lifestyles and culture.  

Everyone thinks is religion is superior to another religion,  so there is no universality in any religion.  Till religion and the ideas of religious God is there the wars, violence and terrorism will continue.  Till people become more and more rational and try to realize the truth of the universe in which they exist, the belief system will dominate.

It is not possible to bring order in the restless world without realizing the world is an illusion.   To realize the world in which we exist is an illusion, one has to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Spirituality is not a religion. Spirituality is nothing to do with religion and its concept of god and its code of conduct and its holy books.  Monotheism is based on religion, not spirituality. Spirituality is based on the soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit.  And the religion accepts the experience of birth, life, death, and the world as reality, whereas Sage Sri, Sankara declares the world is unreal Brahman alone is real.  

Thus, the experience of birth, life, death happening within the unreal world is bound to be a falsehood. Thus, the religious and religious belief and its ritual based on the birth entity is bound to be a falsehood.  Thus, the seeker has to realize ‘what is that is real and eternal?

In Vedas, God has been described as: ~

Vedas itself declares: May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman? Thus, to know the real God Self-realization is necessary. Self-realization is God-realization. Self-realization itself is real worship.

The Vedas confirm God is Atman (Spirit), the Self.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~  God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

How can you worship God? That implies two ~ the worshiper and the worshiped, whereas God is nondual. One can worship his idea of God only or realize his unity with it when he can’t worship it as apart.

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God) is present in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

When Upanishads and Vedas declare, “God in the form of the Athma and God is indeed Athma itself” then why to accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman.

People, who worship the blind belief-based God, are hallucinating that they become one with such God.

The Soul, the ‘Self itself is the Infinite God. 

The Soul is the Self. God is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. God is the fullness of the consciousness without the illusory division of form, time, and space. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it.

God is Self-evident. God is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny God because God is the very essence of the one who denies it. God is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. God is within the universe in which you exist, God is without the universe in which you exist.

The nature of the Soul, the Self is:~ 

 Sakshi (Witness)

 Chetan (conscious)

 Nirguna (Without form and properties).

 Nitya (eternal)

 Shuddha (pure)

 Buddha (omniscient)

   Mukta (unattached).

All this the above is the nature of the soul, the Self. Thus, the innermost self is God.   That is Atman is Brahman.   Brahman is God. 

In Advaita Vedanta: - Brahman is without attributes and strictly impersonal. It can be best described as infinite Being, infinite Consciousness, and infinite Bliss. It is pure knowledge itself, similar to a source of infinite radiance. Since the Advaitins regard Brahman to be the Ultimate Truth, so in comparison to Brahman, every other thing, including the material world, its distinctness, the individuality of the living creatures, and even Ishvara (the Supreme Lord) itself are all untrue. Brahman is the effulgent cause of everything that exists and can possibly exist. Since it is beyond human comprehension, it is without any attributes, for assigning attributes to it would be distorting the true nature of Brahman. Advaitins believe in the existence of both Saguna Brahman and Nirguna Brahman; however, they consider Nirguna Brahman to be the absolute supreme truth. 

Atman is the innermost self.   The Atman is present in the form of consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.   Brahman is God.   Therefore, self-realization is necessary in order to realize the ultimate truth or God in truth.  Self-realization is real God-realization. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar