Self-realization is a direct realization of the ultimate truth or real God

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

Consciousness is the real Self, the real Atman. Ataman is the ultimate reality or Brahman.

The rituals are meant for those who believe the particle life within the practical world as reality, who are stuck believing the experience of birth, life death and the world as reality. Thus they cannot cross the sea of the  samsara (birth, life and death) because they are stuck with their belief system.    

All the scriptures indicate that Ataman is Brahman, and Brahman is ultimate truth. Therefore the soul, which is in the form of consciousness, is ultimate truth.  Thus to realize the ultimate truth is the prime goal.   A well-directed inquiry, analysis and reasoning will lead one to his non-dual self-awareness

Self-realization is a 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 non-dual 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. 

Mundaka Upanishad:- 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.

Seeker of truth has to take the direct path and avoid losing precious time and effort loosing himself in philosophical studies.