Sage Sankara said:~ Liberation will never come, without realizing the Oneness.+

Sage  Sankara said:~ Liberation will never come, without realizing the Oneness.

There are three kinds of aspirants: ~

1. The ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices follow a religion.

2. Middling intellect who desire peace and well-being follow the yogic path or meditation.

3. The more advanced seeker who seeks to know the ultimate truth follows the Atmaimc path. The Atmic path with its emphasis on the Advaitic wisdom is meant for those who wish to go beyond form, time, and space.

Only through deeper self-search, do beginners, and intermediates gradually become aware of ‘what is what’. 

Only after they have realized the fact that the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, are they ready for the inner journey toward reality, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Upanishad:~ They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. (Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada)

If you are seeking truth you have to realize the ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion, it includes birth, life, and death, which happens within the world. Thus, the seeker's main aim is to mentally trace the formless substance of the illusion, which is also the witness of the illusion or Maya.

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.

Thus, it proves that religion is not the means to ‘Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Because Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is universal knowledge meant for humanity. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not belong to any religion. : ~Santthosh Kumaar