All the Gurus and their Parampara belongs to religion. Religion is nothing to do with Spirituality. Advatic wisdom is pure Spirituality.
Different paths will not converge to the same Ultimate Reality because they are based on the false ‘‘Self’’. They are not different stages in the same path. People fight about the differences and greatness of their chosen paths but only through Advaitic wisdom one can realize the Ultimate Reality. 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 the 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."
So Sage Sankara wore a Guru's robe only for the sake of the ignorant. So he was identified as Guru with parampara by religious people. For the truth seekers, Sage Sankara is a Brahma Gnani.
Sage Sankara himself said: ~ A Gnani "bears no outward mark of a holy man"
Thus, it proves that the religious gurus and yogis are not Gnanis because they identified themselves as holy people.
Tripura Rahasya: ~ Second-hand knowledge of the Self-gathered from books or Gurus can never emancipate a man until its truth is rightly investigated and applied; only direct realization will do that. Realize yourself, turning the mind inward. (18: 89)
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 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 the ignorant populace 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.”
Gnani does not want to think of the ego, therefore he does not do or say anything to make himself appear superior to others, or to pretend to know more than others. If a person spends his time in Samadhi, he is not a Gnani, but he is only a yogi.
A Gnani is as alert and awake to what is happening to him externally as all other people: he is not a yogi in Samadhi.
A yogi does not know the ultimate truth or Brahman because he believes his Samadhi as Brahman.
A Gnani has realized the world in which he exists is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. And consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.
Gnani mixes with the company of people from all walks of life, behaving as they did, not claiming to be different from them. He occasionally is dropping some words, giving some suggestions which created curiosity to know the reality beyond form, time, and space. Thus, he will instill hope into the seeker's hearts that is really possible to acquire ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.
A Gnani will neither talk too volubly like shallow persons nor observe complete silence like some yogis and Gurus. He will talk as much as is necessary but no more. Thus, he follows the inner (mental) path. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar