Only an intense urge and sharpness to grasp seriousness and humility are the qualifications to acquire Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.+

Only an intense urge and sharpness to grasp seriousness and humility are the qualifications to acquire Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Sage Sri, Sankara says ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

The world in which we all exist was created out of a single stuff. That single stuff is the spirit. Knowledge of the single stuff is Self-knowledge. 

Self-knowledge leads to Self-awareness. Self-awareness leads to unity in diversity (oneness) because everything is created out of a single stuff.

The whole universe in which we exist is nothing but the spirit. The spirit (Soul) alone is real, and the universe in which we are discussing is merely an illusion. 

Thus, our words, thoughts, and intellectuality have no value in the Atmic discussion. The Atmic discussion is not based on the form, time, and space, but it is the knowledge of the beyond the form, time, and space.

There is no scope for argument in the Atmic discussion. The argument is possible only on the dualistic perspective. On the non-dualistic perspective, there is no dualistic illusion, because there is unity in diversity or Oneness.

Remember:~

There is nothing to discuss and there is nothing to argue in the Atmic path but only to realize ‘what is the truth?' and ‘what is untruth?’. By agreeing and disagreeing, the ignorance will not vanish.

Sage Sankara:~ VC Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together (verses-6)

Then why waste time discussing, which yields no fruit? The citations from scriptures are not proofs. The ultimate truth has to be proved without the scriptures. 

The ultimate truth is the universal truth, and it does not belong to any religion. Religion causes diversity in unity, whereas the ultimate truth brings unity in diversity.

I quote quotations in my blogs and posts to show as authoritative only after deeper verification and proving the truth, and point out that the texts teach the same thing. If I quote them before having demonstrated truth, then it is scholasticism.

It is not that one should pore over the ancient scriptures. There is no need to study first and then realize. One has to realize first, then only he will know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’. One has to make discoveries through the process of rational thinking and reasoning.

Self-knowledge cannot be attained by the study of the scriptures and intellectual understanding or by bookish knowledge. Therefore, there is no use in studying the scriptures and other scriptures to acquire non-dual wisdom.

That is why Bhagavan Buddha rejected the scriptures, and even Sage  Sankara indicated that the ultimate truth lies beyond religion, the concept of God, and scriptures.

Sage Sankara himself says: ~ VC 59. The study of the Scriptures is useless so long as the highest Truth is unknown, and it is equally useless when the highest Truth has already been known.

60. The Scriptures, consisting of many words, are a dense forest that merely causes the mind to ramble. Hence, men of wisdom should earnestly set about knowing the true nature of the Self.

61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae), and medicines to such a one?

Sage Sankara said:~ Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works, nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way.

Stick to Sage Sankara’s advice, drop what is not needed to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar