Ish Upanishads says:- The time you spend there is wasted because if you were not there, you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal.+

Ish Upanishad:~ Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide.

Ish Upanishads says:- Vidya and Avidya both are hindrances to Self-knowledge, but Vidya is even worse than Avidya. The word Vidya is used here in a special sense; here, it means worshipping gods and goddesses. By worshipping gods and goddesses, you will go after death to the world of gods and goddesses. But will that help you? The time you spend there is wasted because if you were not there, you could have spent that time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is your goal. In the world of gods and goddesses, you cannot do that, and thus you go deeper and deeper into darkness.

Avidya is Karma and, therefore, a hindrance. You perform Avidya - i.e., you perform Agnihotra and other sacrifices. This is a roundabout way of purifying the mind, and it is also groping in the dark. But it may not have as heavy a toll on your time and energy as the other.

Therefore, self-realization is necessary in order to realize the ultimate truth or god. Self-realization is real God realization.

People are ignorant, and they are unaware of the reality of their true existence. Man and his experience of the universe are simply a mirage created out of consciousness. Consciousness is the real Self, the real Atman, is the reality.

That is why in Mundaka Upanishad indicates: - The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing The sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning, go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

Scriptural knowledge is conceptual divisions invented by philosophers by their excessive analysis. all these concepts are never-ending. They create more confusion. Fortunate is the one who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from which the universe rises and subsides.

The direct path to the truth is the source from which the 'I' arises. Thus, the source is the Soul, the Self. The Soul or Atman is the real Self.

Ataman itself is Brahman. Thus, it is necessary to view the worldview on the base of the Atman, which is the true Self,

and formless substance and witness of the experience of diversity. Thus, with deeper inquiry, analysis, and reasoning on the true base, one can acquire self–knowledge in lesser time and effort.

The unity in diversity is possible only through Self-knowledge, not by mastering the scriptural knowledge.

One has to bifurcate the physicalized Adavaita [religious add-ons], which is meant for the mass mindset, who are incapable of verifying their inherited beliefs. But for the seekers of truth, to get the pure essence of non-duality, which is based on the invisible Soul.

The path of inquiry, analysis, and reasoning on the true base leads one towards the non-dual destination. There is a need to rectify the seeking base from ego base to soul base to understand, assimilate and realize the nondual truth. This self–inquiry is not the critical study of the scriptures.

Katha Upanishad:~ This Ataman cannot be attained by the study of the Vedas, or by intelligence, or by much hearing of sacred books. It is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one, Ataman reveals its own form. (Katha Upanishad Ch-II -23-P-20)

Mundaka Upanishad:- This Ataman cannot be attained through study of the Vedas, nor through intelligence, nor through much learning. He who chooses Ataman—by him alone is Ataman attained. It is Ataman that reveals to the seeker its true nature. [ 3 –page-70]

The scriptures indicate that Ataman is Brahman, and Brahman is the ultimate truth. Therefore the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is ultimate truth.

Remember:~

Self-Realization is the direct realization of the ultimate truth or real god, in contrast with traditional paths, which are indirect. And the other paths cannot lead to the ultimate destination because they are based on the false self, which they hold as real self and false experience as reality.

Until and unless one overcomes physical shackle it is impossible to understand and assimilate the nondual truth, which is beyond the physical existence or the universe. Consciousness itself is lord of itself though not of the universe. And having nothing it has all.

Sage Gaudapada quotes from the Upanishads: "There's no plurality here"; "The Lord [Atman] through his powers appears to be many"; "those who are attached to creation or production or origination go to utter darkness"; "the unborn is never reborn, for who can produce him [Atman]?”

The one who discriminates between the Real and the unreal, whose focus of attention is turned away from the illusory physical existence, who possesses calmness, and who is longing for freedom from experiencing the illusion as reality, is alone considered qualified to take the path of reason.

Enumerated discrimination between the Real and the unreal yearning for freedom. A firm conviction to the effect that the Soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is real and the mind, which is in the form of the universe, is unreal, is designated as discrimination between the Real and the unreal. :~Santthosh Kumaar