Sage Sankara says:~ The scriptures dealing with rituals addressed to an ignorant person.+

Sage Sankara:~  VC~.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?

VC-  v6~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together.

The belief of God is not God. Holding blind belief-based Gods is holding an illusion as a  reality because the belief is possible only within the realm of duality. Duality is merely an illusion from the ultimate standpoint.  

Without the blind belief-based God, the belief system holds no water.  Belief is not God. Belief needs a believer.  The believer needs to be born in this world. If the believer is born then he is part of the illusion.   Without the believer, there is no belief.  The believer and his world and his blind belief-based God are part of the illusion because the self is birth-less because the Self is non-dual. 

The one, which is born, lives, and dies, is not the self.    The innermost self is a formless substance and witness of the falsehood (universe or waking or illusion), which is the Soul or consciousness, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

Belief makes the Soul permanently remain in ignorance.  Ignorance makes the Soul experience the duality as reality. Belief implies duality. The duality is not reality.  Thus, the path of bhakti,  the path of karma, and the path of yoga are based on the dualistic perspective, therefore, they are the path of ignorance. Therefore, the seekers who are searching for ultimate truth or Brahman have to discard all the egocentric paths in order to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  

Dogmas and beliefs, rituals, and ceremonies are the essences of the religion,  not of the spirituality. When religion has become merely a matter of external rituals and ceremonies. 

Religion hides the truth beyond form, time, and space.  Until the form, time and space are present the duality is present. The duality creates the illusory prison to the Soul, the Self.

Remember:~

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.

The religious Gods are man-made.  Every religion has its own idea of God.   He who thinks God is one and the Soul, the Self is another can never be able to understand, assimilate realize the Advaitic truth.   

Sage Sankara says:~ The scriptures dealing with rituals, and rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.  

Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, and the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the 'Self' has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.  -Adhyasa Bhashya 

Sage Sankara:~ (11.1) This ignorance (mistaking the body for Self) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body, aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction, and thus a host of miseries(anartha). This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya (object) on the Atman. Sage Sankara calls this adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person. -Adhyasa Bhashya 

Sage  Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is avidya, an error that can be removed by vidya. -Adhyasa Bhashya 

Sage Sankara: ~ (12) Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the Self which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman. -Adhyasa Bhashya 

Sage Sri Sankara: ~ Atman, the innermost self is verily Brahman (God), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Atman is not the body that is non-existence itself. This is called true Knowledge by the wise. 

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-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.

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.

The belief system was coherent because they had a transcendent God as a central doctrine, whereas in pursuit of truth God cannot be considered as the center.

First, one should not hold a God as the center of existence without verification. Both the theist and atheist are theories with nothing to do with ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Remember:~

Hinduism indulges non-Vedic beliefs such as idolatry, ancestor worship, pilgrimages, priestcraft, offerings made in temples, the caste system, untouchability, and child marriages. All of these lack Vedic sanctions, therefore, Hinduism is not Ancient Vedic religion or Santana Dharma.

Realizing the universe is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness leads to non-dualistic or Advaitic self-awareness. Self-awareness is freedom or Moksha. Moksha is unity in diversity in the midst of duality. 

Changing one religion to another; is like going from one prison to another. If religion does not help the populace to emancipate the Soul from the illusory bondage and realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space, it has no useful purpose to serve. It is time that the populace must become aware of the truth beyond form, time, and space.   The ultimate truth is Brahman or God.

Self-realization is truth realization. And Truth realization is God-realization. There is no room for duality in reality. Wherever there is individuality there is duality.   Truth -realization is the final goal.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

Ashtavakra Gita :~ If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, then you are not a wise man or a seeker.+

Ashtavakra:~ The first incident happened before Ashtavakra was born. Nothing is known of what came afterward, but this is an incident while he was still in the womb. His father, who was a great scholar, would recite the Vedas every day while Ashtavakra listened from the womb. One day a voice came from the womb saying, "Stop it! This is all nonsense. There is no wisdom whatsoever in this. Mere words -- just a collection of words. Is wisdom found in scriptures? Wisdom is within oneself. Is the truth found in words? The Truth is within oneself." 

Osho: ~ Man has many scriptures, but none comparable to the Gita of Ashtavakra. Before it the Vedas pale, the Upanishads speak with a weak voice. Even the Bhagavad Gita does not have the majesty found in the Ashtavakra Samhita -- it is simply unparalleled.

The most important thing is that neither society nor politics nor any other institution of human life have had any influence on the sayings of Ashtavakra. They are such a pure expression ~ transcending emotion, transcending time and death ~ there is nothing comparable.

Perhaps this is why Ashtavakra's Gita, the Ashtavakara Samhita, has not had much impact. Krishna's Bhagavad Gita has been very influential. The first reason is that Krishna's Gita is a synthesis. He is more concerned with synthesis than with truth. The desire for synthesis is so strong that if necessary Krishna doesn't mind sacrificing the truth a little.

Krishna's Gita is a hodgepodge containing everything; hence it suits everyone because there is something in it for everyone. It is difficult to find any tradition whose voice is not found in the Gita. It is difficult to find anyone who does not take solace from the Gita. But for such people, Ashtavakra's Gita will prove very difficult.

Ashtavakra is not for synthesis -- he is a man of truth. He speaks the truth just as it is, without any artifice or coloring. He is not concerned about the listener, he does not care whether his listener will understand or not. Such a pure expression of truth has never happened anywhere before, nor has it ever happened again. - (MAHA GITA)

The seeker has to realize: ~

The Self is not the ‘I’. The ‘I’ is present in the form of the mind. By limiting the mind or the ‘I’ to the waking entity (you) is the main hurdle in the pursuit of truth.  Therefore, the seeker of truth must investigate ‘what is the mind?’   in order to realize the mind ('I')  is not limited to ego or waking entity but ‘I’ is the mind. The mind is present in the form of the universe. And the universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).   

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

Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "mine," If you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, You are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

Manduka Upanishads: ~    Even the Gods cannot find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the religious robe has anything to do with him.

Sage Sankara clearly indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).  

Sage Sankara page 482: On Gnani: ~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." 

Sage Sankara: ~ The Knower of the Atman or the knower of Brahman or Brahma Gnani.

When the knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs it means he does not identify himself as Guru or yogi or teacher or Swami because a Gnani sees the form, the time and space are one in essence. Thus, there is unity in diversity in his realization.

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

The scriptures are not needed in the pursuit of truth. Even the Upanishads and the sages of truth declare the same.

Katha Upanishads:~ This Atman 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. (Katha Upanishad 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 Upanishads by Nikilanada)

The ultimate truth has to be ascertained without the scriptures by realizing the Self is neither the waking entity not the dream entity, but the Self is the formless Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

In the realm of truth the form, time, and space are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Realizing the single stuff as ultimate truth is Self-realization or truth realization. To realize this truth,  there is no need for scriptures. 

The ultimate truth has to be realized first, then only it is possible to know what the scriptures are saying.

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.

I quote Scriptural citation only after verification reality and has proved the truth, to point out that the scriptures teach the same thing. If one quotes them before having demonstrated truth, then it is scholasticism. 

All the happiness and suffering are part of the duality.  From the non-dualistic perspective, the duality is merely an illusion. 

Thus, our happiness and suffering are based on the birth entity. The Self is no birth entity because the ‘Self’ is birthless and deathless. The Soul, the Self is not an individual.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Sage Sankara:~ "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the Truth.+

Chandogya Upanishad~ sarvam khalvidam Brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality (Chandogya Upanishad).  

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion. 

Sage Sankara:~  VC~.63 says: "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.

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta or Buddhism to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  All accumulated knowledge is of no use to realize the Advaitic truth beyond the form, time, and space.

Sage  Sankara says in the commentary in Vedanta, sutra that what is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress

There is no need to study Advaita Vedanta to realize the Advaitic truth beyond form, time, and space. Advaita is not a theory or a philosophy. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the innermost Self.  There is no need for any theory or philosophy or scriptures to acquire Self-knowledge. Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

There is no need to buy books of Sage Sankara in order to acquire Self-knowledge. A perfect understanding of 'what is what' is needed. Nothing else is a need other than 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 in order to get the  Advaitic  Self-awareness.

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

Fortunate is the one who does not lose themselves in the labyrinths of philosophy. Fortunato is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from the universe arise.

There is only one Reality to be known, the same for all seekers, but the ways to it, are hidden by the religion.  Self-discovery is the only way, towards the non-dualistic absolute without any religious doctrines, which will help the seekers to unfold the mystery of the illusion in which we all are searching for the truth of our true existence.

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 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?

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 the truth?’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make his discoveries through the process of rational thinking.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ V C:~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. 

When we realize the form, time and space are one, in essence, then it leads to Advaitic  Self-awareness.  In Self-awareness,   even though there is diversity,  there is unity in diversity, because everything is created of the same stuff. That stuff is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.  

Remember: ~

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

 That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-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.

Ignorance will never vanish without Advaitic wisdom.  The ignorance will not vanish without inquiring into the nature of the universe. 

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.

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, is burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.

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

Kena Upanishad 2-5 . If you do not realize Brahman (God in truth) in one life, you are a great loser.+

Kena Upanishad 2-5 mentions that  Brahman (God)  can be realized in one life. If you do not realize in one life, you are a great loser.

Bhagavad Gita says:~  Among thousands of men, scarcely one strives for perfection, and of those who strive and succeed, scarcely one knows the Self in truth.

In ignorance there is duality. In wisdom, there is the only nonduality. The Soul the innermost self is one without the second. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness (spirit).  

It is the same consciousness (Soul) manifests as the whole universe. Consciousness itself is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.  Consciousness is the ultimate cause of the universe and it itself is uncaused.  The seeker of truth must convince himself of this truth by Soulcentric reasoning.

A Gnani wears no signs it means he does not identify himself as Guru or teacher or Swami. 

Sage Sankara: On Gnani: "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior." 

When the knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs it means he does not identify himself as Guru or yogi or teacher or Swami. 

If someone has acquired Self-knowledge and shares his acquired knowledge with others, they cannot say that there is nothing for them to do. Everyone has to discover a fresh for himself by verifying all the facts. Each one has to grasp assimilate and realize it until he gets a firm conviction of the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The mind appears due to ignorance. Without ignorance, the mind (I) ceases to exist.  Thus, the mind is in the form of the universe and appears as a waking or dream.  The waking or dream is the state of duality. Thus, the seeker has to hold wherever there is duality there is ignorance.  

If the duality is considered as reality then the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is considered as a reality.  If the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is considered as reality then the form, time, and space become a reality. 

If form, time, and space become a reality as reality then there is diversity in unity.  To bring back the unity in diversity, one has to put the ego in reverse gear until it reaches the ultimate end or source from where the mind rises and subsides.      

Remember:~

The Seeker has to grow from the inside out by Soulcentric reasoning. None can teach him none can make him reach the ultimate end of understanding. There is no other guru, but the formless Soul or the consciousness, which is the Self.

If anyone is sharing Self- knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana they are doing a great help to humanity. I respect everyone who is sharing self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

There is no need to tell anyone.   The pursuit of truth is the pursuit of verification not the pursuit of an argument.  Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not belong to any Guru or yogi because it is the universal property. 

Only those who have directly known truly realized the ultimate Truth and can have the perseverance and passion to share it.

From the  Nondualistic perspective, there is neither illusion nor delusion. The form, time, and space are part of the duality, which is merely an illusion. 

There is no such delusion in the realm of the  Nondualistic reality because form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.:~Santthosh Kumaar    

The mind ceases to exist without the matter.+

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

The Soul, the Self is the fullness of consciousness. Therefore, there is nothing apart from it. Thus, any division (body, ego, and the world) within the consciousness is merely an illusion.   Thus, whatever experienced as a person within the illusion is bound to be an illusion.

Without knowing what the truth is, how can one know what is untruth? Mere bookish knowledge or speculation and assumption are merely playing with the words, not Advaitic wisdom. Intellectuality is based on the false self thus it will not yield any fruits.  

How can one look at the conscious level when his body, ego, and the universe are an object to the true Self, which is in the form of consciousness.  Until one traces the formless substance and the witness of the mind (universe), the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn.

The longer explanation in depth is very much needed in the pursuit of truth and it helps the seeker think and helps the seeker to divert his attention from the form (universe)  to the formless (Soul).

The scriptures,  theories, and teaching based on the ego are not a  yardstick. Using them as a yardstick to understand and assimilate the truth will lead one towards the pursuit of arguments. Seeker of truth has to discover on his own, the truth of his true existence by inquiring “what is the mind?” and “what is the substance of the mind?” and move forward.  

The wisdom consists in knowing the truth, that everything (mind or physical existence) is consciousness. Freedom (truth) is always there yet one does not know it.  But to those whose reason is turned away from physicality and who have attained the serenity of the Soul/Self (consciousness) are quite near to the ultimate truth. 

It is difficult to accept once own body and his experience of the world is an illusion. Until one realizes the Self is not physical, but it is the formless Soul,  it is difficult to have a glimpse of truth.

When one realizes the fact that, the Self is not physical, but the formless Soul, then naturally the body and the universe become an illusion.

The body, the ego, and the world together, are the mind. If the mind is there then only the body, the ego and the world are present. The body, the ego, and the world appear together and disappear together.  That is the mind that is present in the form of the ‘I’ appears and disappears. The one which witnesses the coming and going of the ‘I’ (mind) is the Soul, the Self.  

From the standpoint of the Soul, the Self the mind (the universe in which we exist) is non-existent as a reality. 

The mind cannot be purified because the mind itself is an illusion. Till one thinks the mind is within the body, he will not be able to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, because the body and the world are within the mind.   And the mind is within the Soul.

Deeper self-search reveals: ~ The mind (universe) is emanating from the Soul (consciousness) means the mind is being the effect of the consciousness is not different from it.  Deeper thinking and reasoning are necessary to understand the truth beyond form, time, and space.  

The mind is present in the form of the universe(form). But where is the form of consciousness (Soul) because consciousness is like an ocean and the mind is like a wave?  The universe is the same consciousness, as the ocean produces the wave, so the consciousness produces the mind (universe).

The moment one realizes the fact that the mind (universe) is nothing but an illusion created out of the consciousness the ignorance ceases. If one knows consciousness as the Self then everything is consciousness.  

Consciousness is second to none.  The mind is consciousness.  Due to ignorance one mistakes it for something else. One thinks the Self is within the body, but the Self is without the body, and the world

The mind ceases to exist without the matter. The mind itself is the matter.  Without the matter, the mind ceases to exist as the mind,  but it exists as a matter- less awareness or consciousness. Without the mind, the world in which we exist ceases to exist. 

Without the matter, there is no duality. Without duality, there is no experience. Without experience, it is a non-dual reality. Therefore, whatever prevails without the mind is the ultimate reality. 

The true nature of the Soul (consciousness) is camouflaged by the illusion(duality).  To know the truth one has to discover and realize the formless substance of the mind ( illusion). One has to learn to view and judge the worldview from the standpoint of the formless Soul as the Self.    

Self-knowledge is the prime goal of the truth seeker. This goal is hidden within the mind as its formless substance and the witness. Therefore, it is a necessary inquiry, analyze and reason into the nature of the mind (duality/illusion) in order to unfold the mystery of the mind ( duality or illusion).:~Santthosh Kumaar 

God is not within you, but the universe in which you exist is within the God.+

It is only one in millions who realize that consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman.  A Gnani is fully aware of the fact that the consciousness alone is Real all else is merely an illusion.  No amount of studying Vedanta can give Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

On the spiritual path, the seeker must have an intense urge to realize the truth. All accumulated knowledge, accumulated from here and there leads the seeker away from realizing the ultimate truth or Brahman or God.  The seeker has to have a rational outlook to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Soul, the innermost self is God. The soul is present in the form of consciousness. Thus, consciousness itself is God.  God is not within you, but the universe in which you exist is within God. The universe in which you exist is created out of God, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Thus, all those Gods people believe and all those Gods you worship are manmade because in reality God alone is real and the universe in which we exist is merely an illusion.   

Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:~ The Self is indeed Brahman (God), but through ignorance, people identify it with intellect, mind, senses, passions, and the elements of earth, water, air, space, and fire. This is why the Self is said to consist of this and that and appears to be everything. 

Yajurveda says: - If one worships what is not God: ~ 

Translation 1.

They enter darkness, those who worship natural things (for example air, water, sun, moon, animals, fire, stone, etc.).

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc.) ~ (Yajurveda  40:9)

Translation 2.

"Deep into the shade of blinding gloom fall asambhuti's worshippers. They sink to darkness deeper yet who on sambhuti is intent.~("Yajurveda Samhita by Ralph T. H. Giffith pg 538)

Translation 3.

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."~(Yajur Veda 40:9.)

So, Yajur Veda indicates that: ~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc ~(Yajurved 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time."~ (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

The Hindus believed in polytheism, believing all of their Gods to be separate individuals, which were introduced much later by the founders of Hinduism which contains diverse beliefs caste, and creed. 

When the religion of the Veda knows no idols, then why so many Gods and Goddesses with different forms and names are being propagated as Vedic Gods. Why these conceptual Gods are introduced when the Vedic concept of God is free from form and attributes.

Someone has introduced the concept of God with attributes and attributeless Gods when Yajur Veda says: ~ those who worship visible things, born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, bodies (human and the like), in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness. Therefore, all these add-ons prove that the form and attribute-based concepts are introduced by some sages of the past with a new belief system and code of conduct in the name of Vedas. 

It clearly indicates that: -If the human goal is to acquire Self -Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then why one has to indulge in rituals and glorify the conceptual Gods and Goddesses to go into deeper darkness. Instead, spend that time moving forward towards Self -knowledge, which is one’s prime goal.  

Since it is eternal and infinite, it comprises the only truth. The goal of Vedic religion, through the various yogas, is to realize that consciousness (Atman) is actually nothing but Brahman.

The Vedic pantheon of Gods is said, in the Vedas and Upanishads, to be the only higher manifestations of Brahman. For this reason,- "ekam sat" (all is one), and all is Brahman.:~Santthosh Kumaar 

AUM represents manifest and un-manifest aspects of Brahman.+

Sage Goudpada:~ 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.
 

Sage Sri, Gaudapada expands further on these states of consciousness. The Self is AUM. It represents the manifest and unmanifest aspects of Brahman. It is the single syllable that symbolizes and embodies Brahman, the Absolute Reality. It is the Pranava that pervades all existence and is our very life breath.

Vaisvanara in waking the state is A the first part of AUM, One, who realizes this, attains his desires.

Teijasa in the dream state is U the second part of AUM. One, who realizes this, attains knowledge.

Prajna in deep sleep is M the third part of AUM, concluding the sounds of the earlier two parts. One, who realizes this, attains a compressive understanding of all.

The Syllable AUM in its entirety stands for the fourth state, Turiya the one beyond the phenomenal existence, supremely blissful and non-dual.

AUM in its integral whole stands for the fourth state which is transcendental, devoid of phenomenal existence, and is the source of all existence. AUM represents Ultimate Reality. AUM is thus verily the Self itself. One who realizes this merges into that Self. Meditate on AUM as the Self.

Ignorance is the cause of duality.   The duality is the cause of the illusion. The illusion is the cause of experiencing birth, life, death, and the world as a reality.

Self-knowledge leads to Self-awareness.  The quest for truth is not the quest for acquiring the dualistic truth within the world.    The seeker must have an intense urge to realize the truth which is beyond form, time, and space.

 The dualistic knowledge hides the truth beyond form, time, and space.  The practical life within the practical world is nothing to do with the ultimate truth or Brahman.   

The dualistic knowledge within the dualistic illusion is not Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

This vast cosmos with all its contents (atom, molecule, sun, moon, planet, and star) all are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar