Without getting rid of ignorance truth realization or self-realization is impossibility.*****

Even though the self is something other than this waking entity (ego), the majority of people still identify themselves with it.  The main reason people identify the Self with the waking entity (ego) is their ignorance of the Soul, the real Self.

Whosoever identifies his- self with this bundle of bones and flesh are caught up in the grip of duality. Now the question arises: If self is not this waking entity, then what is that self? The real self is not the waking entity but the formless soul, which witnesses the waking entity and waking world together.

The scriptures declare that self is the soul, the innermost self. The soul is present in the form of consciousness or Spirit —the three states are mere a mirage created out of the consciousness.  That's all.

The three states are is temporary, while the soul, the innermost Self is immortal, Therefore, this  waking entity and waking experience is  false (impermanent), and the Soul, the Self is True (permanent).

The ultimate goal of human existence is to become re-established in reality of his true existence through Self-realization.  Self-knowledge of Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana makes one realize the form, time and space are one in essence. That essence is the soul or consciousness.  Realizing the essence, which the soul or consciousness leads one to nondual Self- Awareness.  In Self-awareness, there is only oneness in the midst of duality. 

The essence of scriptures: - Dehum- Nahum-Kohum –Sohum – which indicates the body is not the self – the self is that. Which clearly indicates the self is without the body. Therefore, the self is the formless knower of the body and the world. Without the body and the world, the Self is free from birth life and death. Therefore, karma theory, which is based on the idea of birth, life, death, and rebirth, is a mere religious fable 

Karma is a universal principle only on the base of waking entity. the waking entity is the false self (ego], within the illusion (waking). The cause and effect is a reality, only on the base of the false self. The fact is Atman or the Soul is the Self. soul or Atman is present in the form of consciousness.  Atman or soul is the cause of everything and it itself is uncaused. 

Buddhism says, there is nothing - a nonentity. Advaita says there is some reality, even though things are not what they appear to be.

If one knows the ultimate truth, he will know there is neither cause nor effect. Advaita is to know, what is it, that is Real, and base the reasoning on that real.

When reasoning is done on the true base, one has the yardstick to know what is the truth, and what is the untruth, and he will be able to reject the unreal or untruth mentally. Therefore, one has to make sure whether the true self is waking entity(ego) or Self is the  Soul which is present in the form of consciousness.

If one accepts the self as waking entity, then the karma becomes a universal principle. If one accepts the soul or consciousness as self, then the physical body, ego, world and whatever one has seen,  known and believed and experienced as a person becomes unreal, on the standpoint of the Soul, the Self.

By accepting karma theory, one is accepting the unreal as real and permanently remains in the clutches of duality thinking the cycle of birth, life, and death as a reality. Therefore, to overcome the illusory experience of the cycle of birth, life, and death, one has to know the fact that, the form, time and space are one in essence.  that essence is consciousness. the consciousness is real and all else is merely an illusion(universe).

Thus the self is within the mind (universe) but it is without the mind (universe). Thus the self is within the ‘I’ but it is without the ‘I’.

Thus karma theory is a hindrance in the path of truth because one accepts the false self as real self and false experience as a real experience and he thinks all his action will yield fruits. Thus he will remain permanently in the realm of unreality or ignorance. Without getting rid of ignorance truth realization or self-realization is an impossibility.:~Santthosh Kumaar