People mostly foreigners are in search of a Guru to get Self-realization or enlightenment. There are many Gurus who sell their diverse spiritual package in the name of Self-realization.+

In this modern world, spirituality is fast a selling commodity. India is a supermarket having all verities of spiritual teaching for sale in the name of spirituality. 

People mostly foreigners are in search of a Guru to get Self-realization or enlightenment. There are many Gurus who sell their diverse spiritual package in the name of Self-realization.

The Guru is not needed to realize the Self. The knowledge arises from within. The real Self is prior to the idea “I” which is the beginning of all of the apparent manifestation. As the levels of mistaken understanding are whittled away, this truth is able to reach out, as it were, and clear away the final barrier of the ego itself.

Yoga Vasishtha says: - Self-knowledge or knowledge of truth is not had by resorting to a Guru (preceptor) nor by the study of scripture, nor by good works: it is attained only by means of enquiry inspired by the company of wise and holy men. One’s inner light alone is the means, naught else. When this inner light is kept alive, it is not affected by the darkness of inertia.

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

If you are trying to become a Guru or Monk then you are unfit to acquire Self-knowledge. Someone posing as a Gnani because he is some Gurus’ direct disciple 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.

Different Gurus and teachers are pointing out the understanding of the Advaitic truth from different standpoints. All such understanding of Advaita is on dualistic perspective accumulated from here and there.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread."

Sage Sankara: ~ A Gnani "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

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

A Gnani never claims himself as a Gnani, he guides the seekers, not posing himself as a Guru, and he does not force his wisdom on others.

Advaita is not a theory or a philosophy. Advaita is the nature of the Soul the innermost Self. There is no need for any theory or philosophy or scriptures to acquire Self-knowledge. Only a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is needed.

Sage Sankara:~ Actual realization takes you beyond books. At a certain stage, books become a botheration.

Bhagavan Buddha: ~ Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders.

You need not become a Guru or a monk to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. You have not to renounce the world or to leave anything ~ your wife, children, job, responsibilities. You do not have to renounce anything! The only thing you have to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space by realizing the form, time and space are the product of ignorance. When the ignorance vanishes, the unreality of the form, time, and space is exposed.

Upanishad's say:~ "He who thinks he knows, does not know." This means that to know anything implies a second, an object of knowledge, hence duality, i.e. no Gnana.

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) 

Remember:~

Your inner work is on. There is no need to neglect practical life within the practical world.

There is no need to indulge 24/7 in spirituality but use your spare time for that.

Do not neglect your family and personal life to realize the truth.

Be happy like any other human being enjoys life with humility and dignity in the practical world.

Internally focus your attention on the formless ‘Self’ or consciousness, which is free from form, time, and space.

You should not neglect your profession and business. Enjoy life as it comes and also face the difficulties as they come.

As your inner conviction about the Soul grows you will be able to realize ‘what is the truth?’ and ‘what is the untruth?’

As we keep thinking and reasoning deeper and deeper, the truth will shines as pure awareness in the midst of the duality (waking).

The Soul, the ‘Self’ is your ultimate teacher. It is only your inner teacher that will walk with you to the goal, for the Soul is the goal.

Millions are searching for truth but one in million will realize it. You are one of those million because you have the intense urge to realize the ultimate truth.

When the seeker is ready, the guidance comes on its own. An earnest desire to grow and a sense of deep commitment are the hallmarks of one who aspires to be a seeker.

When at the core of one’s being a person comes to realize he/she needs to seek a path for coming out of one’s unconscious and conditioned life, mysteriously the guidance appears to guide and shows the way.: ~ Santthosh Kumaar