Most of the Gurus and yogis project themselves as Gnanis, and they glorify themselves as Gods, such Gurus and yogis belong to religion, not Spirituality.+

Most of the Gurus and yogis project themselves as Gnanis, and they glorify themselves as Gods,  such  Gurus and yogis belong to religion,  not Spirituality or Adyathma. Spirituality or Adyathma has nothing to do with religion. 

A Guru or yogi 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 in 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 most advanced seekers who seek to realize the ultimate truth of Brahman or God in truth. 

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 for those who wish to realize the truth which is hidden by ignorance. 

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 hidden by the illusory 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  Sankara" also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who wear the sanyasin robes are wearing it for the sake of bread belong to the religion; they have nothing to do with 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 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. Those Gurus and Yogis who make them make the seeker sentimentally get involved in the name of love are playing with the feelings of the seeker.

Emotionally getting stuck with the Gurus or yogis leads to hallucination, emotionally getting involved with the Guru will not yield truth. If you are the seeker of truth then you must know the Gurus and Yogis are not Gnanis. If you want to tread the path of wisdom you must be free from the Gurudom.

That is why Sage Sankara page On Gnani wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."

A Gnani wears no signs which means he does not identify himself as Guru or Yogi or teacher or Swami. Thus, Gurudom is meant for the ignorant populace not meant for the seekers of truth. : ~Santthosh Kumaar

A Gnani never negates the Soul, the Self, only he negates the dualistic illusion or Maya.

A man who describes Sage Sankara’s Advaitic wisdom as negative (because of Neti, Neti) does not know that this is applied only to the dualistic illusion or Maya; the critic ignorantly believes that it is also applied to the Soul, the Self hidden by the dualistic illusion.

A Gnani never negates the Soul, the Self, only he mentally negates the dualistic illusion or  Maya by realizing the dualistic illusion or Maya is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47 All the effects of ignorance, root, and a branch is burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-self.

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

Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.

Like an ornament made from gold is Gold, which is born out of consciousness is consciousness. Like gold is a permanent thing, in ornaments made of gold, similarly, the mind, which is in the form of the universe is born out of consciousness, is consciousness in its essence.

Sage  Goudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita:~  Whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal. 

Thus, whatever you have seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person within the waking experience is bound to be an illusion created out of the consciousness.  Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, is real and eternal.  

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, you and the world, in which you exist cease 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 is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the witness-consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

You are the ego because the ego represents you. You cannot discard the ego because the ego is the basis of the world in which you exist.+

You are the ego because the ego represents you.  You cannot discard the ego because the ego is the basis of the world in which you exist. Without the ego, the world in which you exist ceases to exist.

It is impossible to get rid of the ego alone because it has appeared along with the world in which you exist. The world in which you exist is the product of ignorance. Therefore it is necessary to get rid of ignorance, not the ego. 

It is a foolish venture to try to get rid of the ego. All the egocentric Gurus and their teaching propagate to get rid of the ego because they, themselves are not aware of the fact the truth is hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

The ego, body, and the world appear together and disappear together. All the accumulated egocentric knowledge, individual experiences, and understanding are not of any use to realize the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

You are the false self within the false experience. Thus, whatever is based on you (ego) is bound to be falsehood because your existence is a reality within the waking experience. The waking experience itself is a falsehood.

Whatever belongs to a dualistic illusion is bound to be an illusion. So, your experience of birth, life, death, and the world is bound to be an illusion.

Everyone holds some teaching or teacher or their accepted truth as a yardstick. All the accumulated egocentric knowledge is inadequate and useless in unfolding the mystery of the world in which you exist.

Remember:~

The Advaitic wisdom will dawn only when you start reasoning yourself on the base of the Soul, the Self.

The inner dialogue will start and the subconscious will start judging ‘What is the truth?’ and ‘What is the untruth? and it starts discarding the untruth.

Till you hold your accumulated knowledge as a yardstick and try to interpret it in your own way, it is difficult to tread the Atmic path. All the accumulated knowledge accumulated from different sources becomes an obstacle in the Atmic path.

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

Thus, it is necessary to read again and again till the subconscious starts accepting and judging the truth from the nondualistic perspective.

The seeker must do his homework by deeper thinking and reflecting on the subject umpteen times, then only he will be able to get a firm conviction. The external spoon-feeding is merely a signpost to direct him toward reality, which is within the form, time, and space, but it is beyond the form, time, and space.

When the seeker independently starts thinking and reasoning then the truth will start unfolding. The inner satisfaction comes only when one gets a firm conviction that the truth is hidden by ignorance.

Upanishads All this is full /from fullness, fullness comes when fullness is taken from fullness/ fullness still remains.

Remember:~

From the dualistic perspective, people see the world in which they exist as a reality. They see their body as the body, their ego as the ego, and the world in which they exist as the world whereas a Gnani sees everything from the nondualistic perspective.

A Gnani sees his body as consciousness, his ego as consciousness, and the world in which he exists as consciousness. 

For a Gnani, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced is nothing but consciousness. There is unity in diversity in Gnani understanding whereas the ignorant people see only diversity and separation.

Thus it is necessary to learn to view and judge the worldview from the non-dualistic perspective to realize that form, time and space are one in essence. There is nothing to realize other than realizing that consciousness is everything. Consciousness is second to none.

When everything is nothing but consciousness then what remains is not consciousness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Without realizing the Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, Self-realization is impossible. +

Ability to observe the Soul, the Self as it is in the midst of the illusion through the Advaitic wisdom leads to Self-awareness.

For a Gnani sees the world in which he exists as consciousness, just as the goldsmiths view the ornaments as nothing but the gold.

The whole universe is nothing but the Soul. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The universe is nothing but an illusion created out of consciousness.

Realizing the universe as an illusion leads the seeker to realize, that consciousness hidden by the illusion as real and eternal.

You are not you but the consciousness; your body is not the body but consciousness, the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness.

Everything that is known, seen, believed and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness then what else remains, which is not consciousness. There is nothing else to realize other than to realize the consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

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 Maya.

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

Remember: ~ 

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

Without realizing the Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, Self-realization is impossible.  Without Self-realization, you and the world in which you exist prevail as a reality. 

If you and the world in which you exist prevail as a reality then ignorance hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.  

First, you must realize you and the world in which you exist are part of the dualistic illusion or Maya.   

You and the world in which you exist is nothing to do with the ‘Self’ hidden by the dualistic illusion. It is hidden by the dualistic illusion because it is created out of the ‘Self’, which is the Soul. 

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. 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 is the witness-consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

By sticking up to your religion, caste, religious Gods and Gurus, it is not possible to transcend from the dualistic illusion to nondualistic reality.+

You and the world in which you exist is a dualistic illusion or Maya. Your religion, your religious Gods, and your physical guru also belong to the dualistic illusion or Maya.

The ‘Self is not you but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. The Soul, the Self is hidden by the universe, which is a dualistic illusion.  It is hidden because the dualistic illusion is created out of the Soul, the Self.

By sticking up to your religion, caste, religious Gods, and Gurus, it is not possible to transcend from the dualistic illusion to nondualistic reality.  

Thus, it is necessary to realize all the contents of the dualistic illusion are nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

People are sentimentally and emotionally sticking up to their religion, religious god, religious rituals, and religious code of conduct, and sticking to Gurus will not be able to transcend from dualistic illusion to nondualistic reality. 

Remember: ~ You are not you but consciousness; your body is not the body but the consciousness, the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness. 

Everything is known, seen, believed, and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness then what else remains, which is not consciousness. 

There is nothing else to realize other than realizing that consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

The Advaitic wisdom dawns by realizing everything is consciousness. There is no room for the duality in reality. A perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ lead to Advaitic awareness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

All the ‘I-centric’ or ‘You-centric’ Gurus and their teachings are not Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara.+

All the ‘I-centric’ or ‘You-centric’ Gurus and their teachings are not the Advaitic wisdom of Sage  Sankara.

By keeping quiet the ignorance will not vanish. First, realize you along with the world in which you exist belong to the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

The dualistic illusion hides the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness because the dualistic illusion is created out of the Soul, the Self.  

The dualistic illusion has nothing to do with the Soul, the Self because the Soul, the Self is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-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 perverse arguments.

Remember: ~ You are not you but consciousness; your body is not the body but consciousness, the world in which you exist is not the world but consciousness.

Everything known, seen, believed, and experienced by you is nothing but consciousness then what else remains, which is not consciousness. 

There is nothing else to realize other than to realize that consciousness alone is, everything else is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. 

The Advaitic wisdom dawns by realizing everything is consciousness. There is no room for the duality in reality. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ lead to Advaitic awareness. 

Remember:~

Advaitic wisdom is not found in scriptures or books. There are only hidden parables here and there. There is no clear-cut wisdom whatsoever in this. Mere words ~ are just a collection of words. The wisdom is hidden within the world in which we exist. The truth is not found in the world because the world is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. The ultimate truth is beyond form, time, and space.

Mundaka Upanishad:~ The study of the Vedas, linguistics, Rituals, astronomy, and all the arts Can be called lower knowledge. The higher is that which leads to Self-realization. The eye cannot see it; the mind cannot grasp it. The deathless 'Self' has neither caste nor race, neither eyes nor ears nor hands nor feet. Sages say this Self is infinite in the great and in the small, everlasting and changeless, the source of life.

All these selected quotes from the scriptures are helpful to think deeply nothing more. 

In pursuit of truth, the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis.

Pundits teach that all is yourself, but none of them can show that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it. 

Rational proof is needed so that one arrives at knowing truth i.e. wisdom; punditry is mere dogma, parrotism, and repetition of what they read in scripture. 

Scriptures are not yardstick and the scriptural truth is not proof. Pundits take scripters as an authority. Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved.

Pundits have to test the truth in this world, not in the next world. There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not the truth. 

So, doctrines are not the means to realize the truth. There is no need to follow them to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana.

Doubts and Confusion arise when the seeker finds the scripters and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst. 

Disappointments in religion or yoga or even science imply error or ignorance. Seeker reaches a stage whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on the right lines?" 

Thus, the doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is, therefore, in realization. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have differences of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible. Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on the proof.

The seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper self-search on his own, to realize that, the 'Self' is not the form but the ' Self' is formless. Thus, his analysis and reasoning have to be based on the formless (Soul), not on the form(ego). 

Simply believing and accepting whatever is said by the punditry will not lead one towards the path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self-knowledge. 

According to the scriptures, yoga is not necessary if one follows the inner (formless) path. Religion and yoga are not the means to the path of wisdom.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

A Gnani is not recognized by the people because he does not identify himself with religion nor he wears a religious robe.+

When Jesus came to his village, he was very surprised - the people of the village didn't bother with him at all. Jesus has said a prophet is never respected in his own country. What is the reason? Why won't the village respect its prophet? The village people have seen him as the son of the carpenter Joseph, saw him carrying wood, saw him planning wood, saw him sawing wood, saw him bathed in sweat, saw him playing and fighting in the streets. The people of the village have known him since childhood, and have seen him there as a seed. How is it possible that he suddenly becomes the son of God! No, those who saw the seed cannot accept the flower. They say there must be some fraud, some cheating; this man is a hypocrite.

Remember: ~

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

A Gnani is not recognized by the people because he does not identify himself with religion nor he wears a religious robe.

Manduka Upanishads: ~ It is not possible to recognize who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the yellow robe has anything to do with him.

Sage  Sankara: ~ Gnani 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 or a teacher.

Sage Sankara says: - A Gnani~ “Sometimes he appears to be a fool, sometimes a wise man. Sometimes he seems splendid as a king, sometimes feeble-minded. Sometimes he is calm and silent. Sometimes he draws men to him. Sometimes people honor him greatly, sometimes they insult him. Sometimes they ignore him.

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

People see God only through their religious spectacle. They fail to recognize the truth hidden by their religion.

Remember: ~

Someone posing as a Gnani is not a Gnani. If someone poses himself as a direct disciple of some guru cannot be a Gnani. Those who pose themselves as Gnanis are not Gnanis. A Gnani never poses himself as a Guru, a swami, a Sadhu or a Yogi, or some Guru’s disciple.

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).

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."

So, Sage Sankara wore a Guru's robe only for the sake of the ignorant. So he was identified as a Guru with parampara by religious people. For the truth seekers, Sage Sankara is a Brahma Gnani.

Thus, it proves that the religious gurus and yogis are not Gnanis because they identified themselves as holy people.

Thus, it proves that Sage  Sankara meant, taking sanyasa and wearing religious robes to earn bread. Sanyasa is not a qualification to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

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 to a Guru who is not a Gnani. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar