A Gnani never identifies himself as a swami, Guru, pundit or yogi.+

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the politicians as useful. 

In this Hi-Fi world, many self-declared Spiritual Gurus are born like mushrooms amidst us and they are looked upon as great solace by the mass of gullible people, who are more ‘peace and wisdom-hungry.  

Most seekers are looking for something beyond their inherited belief system. Most of these dollar-hungry Gurus hankering after titles and honors and enjoying it like this modern-day self-styled Gurus and they are connected to one or other controversies and scandals.

People get stuck with these modern self-proclaimed Gurus who claimed to be enlightened. Many of these Gurus have taken many new “avatars” like Corporate Gurus, Universal Gurus, online Gurus, Global Gurus, one name it, he will find them. The honest Gurus and swamis never come to the limelight and they remain to mind their own inherited divine business remains aloof from the publicity.  

There are so many   Gurus who have overnight become Global Gurus. They only play with the feelings of people. Most of them are propagating ancient yogic practices as if it is their own great new invention and branding them or getting them patented,   this is the height of the mockery of spirituality. As long as innocent and ignorant people are there, these kinds of Gurus can flourish their business to peak height. They cannot only fool the people but also the people at political power.

Religion needs a Guru to propagate its belief system, whereas in the Atmic path there is no need for a Guru. The ultimate truth has to be ascertained by him alone.  Yoga needs a Guru to guide its students to practice Samadhi. 

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 one who says he is enlightened is not a Gnani.  The ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. How can you and the world in which you exist remain when the ‘Self’ gets enlightenment?   Only the Soul the innermost ‘Self ‘remains in its own awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion.

Select Works of Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad: ~ “Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Mandukya 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.

Thus, the one who identifies themselves as a swami,   a Guru, or a yogi is not a Gnani. A Gnani never identifies himself as a swami, Guru, pundit, or yogi.  The Swami, Guru, pundit, or the yogi belong to the religious or the yogic path not to the path of wisdom.

That is why Sage Sankara's commentary: ~   "The knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs. 

Sage Sankara:~ "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

Sage Sankara:~ "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 wears no signs ~ it means he does not identify himself as a Guru. 

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

Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. Know the ‘Self’ not ‘you’, and what is hidden beyond the form, time and space will be disclosed to you.

The feat of a Guru, touching people and thus putting them into mystic states is purely a physical or at best a psychological one; based on the power of suggestions it has nothing to do with epistemology, with the question of truth. The truth is not physical because the ultimate truth is the Soul or the Spirit.

The ultimate truth or Brahman is nothing to with religion.   Religion is based on the illusory ‘I’ as a reality whereas the ultimate truth or Brahman is beyond form, time, and space. If you are seeking truth make sure you are not chosen the wrong path.  

Remember:~

The Guru is useless so long as the ultimate truth is unknown, and Guru is equally useless when the ultimate truth or Brahman has already been known.

A Guru is needed in the religious and the yogic path.  There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Unless you realize the Self as the Soul, you are all blinded by the dualistic illusion.

The Guru who pretends to be Self- realized and plays with the emotions and sentiments of the seeker is a fraud, not a Gnani.

All the Guru Parampara is for religious people.  There is no need for a Guru who wants to tread the path of wisdom.

Even Swami Vivekananda was Ramakrishna Paramahansa's disciple.  Swami Vivekananda himself 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.”

There are two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the more advanced seeker who seeks to know the ultimate truth or Brahman.  The Guru and Guru Paramparas are meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, there is no need to follow any parampara and follow any Guru those who wish to realize the truth which is beyond the form, time, and space. We should not mix religion with spirituality because religion is based on the ego and spirituality is based on the Soul.   Religion is concerned with its paramparas, not truth whereas spirituality is concerned only with the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. Religion is not spirituality.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sri, Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who were the sanyasin robes are wearing it for the sake of bread belongs to the religion; they are nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

Sage Sankara in Viveka Chudamani (2), states that the Knower of the Atman (i.e., a Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

It means the Gurus, Swamis, and Yogis who identify themselves as holy people are not Gnanis.

 Those who are seeking truth need not follow any Guru or any teaching.

The one who thinks of himself as a Guru and the one who thinks of himself as a chela (disciple) will not be able to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana because both of them accepted themselves as the body. And all their understanding, practices, knowledge are based on the false Self (ego or you).  Therefore, the Guru –Shisya concept is a great obstacle in the pursuit of truth.  A Gnani never accepts himself as a Guru or accepts anyone as his disciple because he was fully aware of the fact that the Guru and shishya belong to the dualistic illusion. Those who accept themselves as Guru or some gurus disciple will never be able to transcend from the dualistic illusion to Advaitic reality.  :~Santthosh Kumaar  

People think by getting rid of the ego they get Self-realization but it is not so.+

People think by getting rid of the ego they Get Self-realization but it is not so because they fail to realize without the ego, the world in which they exist ceases to exist.

The ego is the basis of physical existence (universe).  The universe in which you exist ceases to exist without the ego. Thus, it is necessary to understand ‘what is what’ in order to realize the form; time and space are one in essence. That essence is the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. 

Consciousness is alone is real and the universe, along with you is unreal. Thus, the Soul or consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

Most of the teaching propagates to get rid of the ego. They prescribe love and compassion to get rid of the ego. They are unaware of the fact that the ego is the basis of their own existence. Love and compassion will not destroy the ego.

The ego, body, and the world appear together and disappear together. Thus, it is impossible to separate the ego from the body and the world. The ego, body, and the world are created out of single clay. That single clay is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.
Remember:~ 

The world in which we exist is the product of ignorance. The ignorance hides the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

People are unaware of the fact that the ‘Self is not the ‘I’. They hold the ‘Self’ as the ‘I’ and start spinning their imagination.

The ‘I’ is not different from the mind because the ‘I’ itself is the mind. The mind is not different from the universe, because, the mind itself is the universe. The universe is not different from the waking experience because the universe itself is the waking experience.

The Soul is not different from the mind because the mind is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If the mind is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness then the universe is bound to be an illusion. 

If the universe is an illusion then the waking experience is bound to be an illusion.

If the waking experience is an illusion then the experience of birth, life, death experienced within the waking is bound to be an illusion.

If the illusion is created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness then the consciousness alone is real and eternal.

Sage Sankara declaration: ~ “Brahman is the truth The world is unreal everything is truly Brahman and nothing else has any value.

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.

Perfect understanding of ‘what is what leads to Self-awareness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

A person who identifies himself as a Guru or disciple will never be able to get Advaitic Gnana.+

The Guru and disciple and the world in which Guru and disciple exist are created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

Identifying as a Guru or some Guru’s disciple keeps one in the cage of ignorance.  A person who identifies himself as a Guru or disciple will never be able to get Advaitic Gnana.

Guru, disciple concept is meant for the religious and yogic path.  In the Atmic path, the Guru and disciple concept have no value.

A person who realized the ultimate truth or Brahman will throw off his religious robe and all religious identity and live like a commoner. He never identifies himself as Gnani nor does he identify himself as superior to others. He only shares his knowledge with fellow seekers. 

A Gnani never identifies himself as a Guru or a Yogi or someone disciple.  The one who accepts himself as a Guru or someone’s disciple is not a Gnani.

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

A Gnani can point at the sky, but the seeing of the star is the seeker's own work.

The truth-seeker seeks only truth. The inner Sage will guide you with love. Your sincerity and seriousness lead you to your inner core.  Sincere and serious seekers are not excluded.

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality.  All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

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

All the chosen ones will get freedom from experiencing the illusion (duality) as a reality.  All the seekers of truth are chosen ones.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who were the sanyasin robes are wearing it for the sake of bread belongs to the religion; they are nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

~ Then why you are sticking a Guru who is not a Gnani.

That is why 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.”

Yogis and Gurus are not Gods: 

This idea of worshiping Guru as God is not a Vedic idea but adopted from Jainism and Buddhism. 

Vedas bars human worship: ~

"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.)

Why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis (human form)   in place of God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities 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.

No one has ever seen God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the religious God and Goddesses because God exists prior to the form, time, and space.  

The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is the real God.  Thus, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

By worshipping the religious Gods and Gurus one will not get Self-realization or God-realization.

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

In Advaita perspective Moksha is synonymous with Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness (Brahman).+

The religiously propagated moksha is based on the false self (ego) whereas the Spiritual moksha is based on the Spirit (Soul).  Spiritual moksha is different from religiously propagated moksha.

Religious orthodox think that through their good karma and performing rituals they get moksha. Religious moksha is based on birth entity whereas spiritual moksha is based on the birthless Soul, the innermost Self.  

There are two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the most advanced seeker who seeks to know the truth beyond the form, time, and space. The Religious orthodoxy is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. The Atmic path, with emphasis on the Advaitic wisdom, is meant for those who wish to go beyond form, time, and space.

In Advaita perspective, moksha is synonymous with Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness (Brahman) 

Sruti says "brahmavit brahmaiva Bhavati" ~ He who knows Brahman (Soul) becomes Brahman (Soul) Itself.

Sage Sankara gave 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.

Arguing with religious believers is fruitless. Belief in tradition and the  scripture as if they were true or factual quite clearly is delusion, but the payoff for holding such delusions is, for those who hold them, extremely compelling ~ the avoidance of the "wrath of God," the hope of heaven or salvation, or the imagined "end of suffering."

"God" exists because “the Self” exists, not vice versa. When awake to true nature then this is known immediately.

That is why 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?

Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the world in which we exist as a reality. When you realize the ‘Self’ is you but the ‘Self ‘is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is an illusion.

Whatever is not to happen is happening within the dualistic illusion.   All your happiness and sorrow are a reality within the illusion. Ignorance is the cause of experiencing the illusion as a reality. Thus, eradicating ignorance is necessary to realize the truth hidden by the illusory world in which you exist. And this is possible only through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   Thus, there is no other road to freedom other than Advaitic Gnana.  There is no other entrance other than Advaitic Gnana.  The ignorance will vanish only when the Advaitic Gnana dawns.

Many are good at acrobatics with words, but their knowledge is limited to the domain of form, time, and space.  When the inner work is in progress then the realization will happen as the conviction about the Soul, the Self, becomes firm.  

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.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is universal it does not belong to any particular religion.

Sage Sankara disagrees with Buddhists who say, there is nothing - a nonentity. Sage  Sankara believes there is some reality, even though things are not what they appear to be. If one knows the truth, he will know what to do to find inspiration for action.  The seeker of truth‘s subject is to know what is it that is Real.

Buddhism says: all things are illusory and nothing exists.  However, Advaita avers that it is not so.  It says that the universe, of course, is illusory, but there is Brahman (consciousness), that exists forming the very substratum of all things (illusion or universe).

We have to grow from the inside out. None can teach us, none can make us spiritual. There is no other Guru but our own Soul.”

Self-knowledge or Atma Gnana or Brahma Gnana cannot be attained by one who is without strength or earnestness or without the receptiveness and courage to accept the truth and reject the untruth. If a serious seeker strives sincerely by means of inquiry, analysis, and Soulcentric reasoning, he will be able to realize it.

It is only the seeker's sincerity and earnestness in his spiritual pursuit, the knowledge started revealing on its own.  Anyone who has humility and patience and is sincere and ready to drop their accumulated dross and receptive to accept the truth will enter Self-Awareness when his conviction becomes firm.  :~Santthosh Kumaar 

I quote scriptures to show that scriptures and Sages of truth are also saying there is no need to study scriptures.+

If you seeking truth nothing but the Advaitic truth you must set yourself free of orthodoxy and Gurus and their teaching. And all accumulated knowledge was gathered from different sources.

Your present pattern of reasoning is egocentric. The truth will reveal when you learn to view and reason the worldview on the base of the Soul, the ‘Self’.  When the ‘Self’ is neither man nor woman nor even human then why you are saying ‘I AM THAT’ for the ‘Self’, which is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Until you rectify this mistake you will never be able to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

You impose limitations on the Soul by saying ‘I AM THAT’-without knowing ‘what this ‘I’ is in actuality.

You are making a vain struggle to transcend form, time, and space without realizing the ‘I’ itself is illusory.

‘I’ is not limited only to the ego. ‘I’ is the whole universe. Without the ‘I’ the universe ceases to exist. The egocentric half-baked teaching. 

Bhagvad Gita: ~ “You must first see the ‘I’ as illusory before you see others as illusory. ~ CH.2 v.16

First, realize what this ‘I’ is supposed to be in actuality.

I quote scriptures to show that scriptures and Sages of truth are also saying there is no need to study scriptures. 

To realize the ultimate truth or Brahman no scriptures are needed. I am highlighting only the rational views of the sages of truth. 

Mundaka Upanishad:~ The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

People think that by studying Vedas one will be able to get self-realization, but it is not so.   Vedic studies lead to nowhere. What is the use of studying scriptures when Upanishads itself declares: ~

Katha Upanishad:~   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 the Atman that reveals to the seeker Its true nature. (3 page-70 - Mundaka Upanishad- Upanishads by Nikilanada)

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.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Swami Vivekananda said:~ "The Vedas teach that the Soul is divine, only held in the bondage of matter; perfection will be reached when this bond will burst, and the word they use for it is, therefore, Mukthi - freedom, freedom from the bonds of imperfection, freedom from death and misery."

When the Upanishad says the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  And they also indicate that personal Gods, scriptures, worship, and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana therefore,   why anyone should indulge in such things

The Upanishads declare: ~

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 the spiritual discourse. One who welcomes God in every activity, through a thorough controlled and disciplined life, to him also the Soul is revealed.

 The Upanishads declare: ~

Katha Upanishad 1:2:23:~  “The Soul cannot be realized through hearing a scholarly explanation 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 the books nor by taking a bath at the holy place has one become pure. Inner purity is possible when one remains in constant touch with the Soul. Constant Soul Consciousness is 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 the truth, and if here 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”.

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 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 an authority for those who use reason.

 I quote only verified citations from the scriptures. I need no scriptures, but I quote them to help the seekers to realize it is possible to acquire Self-knowledge OR Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana without the scriptures.   

The Upanishads are the only scriptures in the world that declare:~  It is impossible to find and realize the truth via religion and scriptural study.

That is why Sage Sankara says:~ VC~  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’.

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 seeker has to overcome all the obstacles in his pursuit of truth with a perfect understanding of what is what.  They are so many scholars who mastered philosophy but It is impossible to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana through theoretical philosophy. Because their preaching is based on Spirit and practices are based on the matter (you or waking entity).

Thus, the seeker of truth has to realize the Advaitic truth without the scriptures and without getting involved with the orthodoxy or any other teaching. :~Santhosh Kumaar 

Check yourself are you worshiping the real God.+

                         Check yourself are worshiping the real God.

Bhagavad Gita Chapter: ~ “All those whose intelligence has been stolen by material desires, they worship many God s. (7- Verse -20)

Humanity has to awaken to the reality of its true existence by realizing the world in which humanity exists is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness through Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana frees the Soul, the innermost Self from the cage of the dualistic illusion.

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.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Religions were coherent because they had a transcendent God as a central doctrine, whereas in the realm of truth religious God cannot be considered as the center because all the religious Gods are based on blind belief. Gods based on blind belief are not God in truth. Every religion has its own idea of God. There is no universality in religious beliefs. From the ultimate standpoint,   religious Gods are a myth.

According to Vedas, the Athma (Soul) is the cause of the universe, therefore, Atma itself is God.  

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

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

Kena Upanishad (6) Chapter I: ~  “That which cannot be apprehended by the mind, but by which, they say, the mind is apprehended-That alone know as Brahman(God), and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (7) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be perceived by the eye, but by which the eye is perceived-That alone know as Brahman (God), and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (8) Chapter I:~  That which cannot be heard by the ear, but by which the hearing is perceived-That alone know as Brahman(God), and not that which people here worship.

Kena Upanishad (9)- Chapter I:~ That which cannot be smelt by the breath, but by which the breath smells an object-That alone know as Brahman(God), and not that which people here worship.

Lord Krishna says Ch. V:~ “Those who know the Self in truth.". The last two words (tattvataha) are usually ignored by pundits, but they make all the difference between the ordinary concept of God and the truth about God.

Bhagavad Gita says: ~ “Brahmano hi pratisthaham Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material (Gita 14.27)

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Vedas, Upanishad, and Bhagvad Gita confirm the Soul, the Self, is  present in the form of the Spirit or consciousness

Bible says: ~ “God is a Spirit, and they that worship God  must worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24)”, 

The Spirit is the root element of the universe. The Spirit is present in the form of the Soul, the innermost Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. 

From the Spirit, the universe comes into existence. In the Spirit, the universe resides. And into the Spirit, the universe is dissolved. The Spirit is the parent of all that is there is. 

Swami Vivekananda: ~ “If superstition enters, the brain is gone. Superstition is our great enemy, but bigotry is worse.

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

The Upanishads say in effect that ~ If you believe that the ‘the Soul, the Self is one and God (Brahman) is another you cannot understand Truth.

The religion preaches that God is one and the ways to God are many. It simply tries to lead them to darkness with its dogma and idea of many Gods, which is apart from the Self. 

Realizing the single stuff of which this universe in which you exist is made, is Truth realization or Self-realization or God-realization.

When the expression itself is illusory, then the evolution within the illusory expression is bound to be an illusion.  Thus, the evolution theory holds no water from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self.

Truth-realization is Self-realization Self-realization is God-realization and God-realization itself is real worship. :~Santthosh Kumaar