All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in ritualistic oriented life style and follow the path of karma and upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.

The karma theory is introduced to control the mass mindset to do good to the society by the ancient sages.  The fear of karma  very often anchor our ego  to irrelevant or even wrong things, the karmas draw our ego  only into good and noble thoughts.  This is number one.  Number two is they draw us away from all bad thoughts. But karma is based on the physical self. The action and conduct are part of the illusion. Thus karma is not a means to acquire the self-knowledge. And karma is the biggest obstacle in the pursuit of truth. The one who believes in the theory of karma will never be able to realize the non-dualistic or Advaitic truth, because his focus of attention is centered on the false self(waking entity or ego). Thus he cannot cross the threshold of duality. It takes long time for the seekers who have accepted the karma theory to overcome the duality.

Gaudapada says: - the merciful Veda teaches karma and upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

So they clearly indicate rituals and theories are not meant for those who are searching for the higher knowledge or wisdom.   The path of wisdom is the only means. 

All the orthodox Advaitins indulge and immersed themselves in ritualistic oriented life style and follow the path of karma and upasana which is meant for lower and middling intellect   and not for realizing the Advaitic truth.  Many chose these orthodox scholars as their gurus. But these gurus are good to learn the conceptual Adavaita meant for those orthodox who believe their conduct oriented life style leads to Moksha [liberation].  But religious based Adavaita is not   the means to acquire Self –knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Those who are seeking truth have to do their own homework in order to acquire self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

Doubts and Confusions arise when seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst.   Disappointments in religion or yoga or even science imply error or ignorance.

When serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulate knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him.  Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on right lines?" Thus 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 experience. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible.  Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on proof.

Seeker of truth has to get rid of his doubts through deeper inquiry, analysis and reasoning on his own, to realize the fact that, the self is not the form but self is formless. Thus his analysis and reasoning has to be based on the formless not on the form.  By simply go on believing and accepting whatever said by the punditry will not lead one towards path of wisdom. All the doubt has to be got rid of "by the sword of Self - Knowledge."  The scriptures, yoga are not necessary if one follows the inner [formless] path.  Religion and yoga are not the means to path of wisdom. 

Upanishads :- They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Ataman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. [Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada]

This passage indicates the fact that everything is Ataman/spirit. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth /body will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as Ataman. Thus Ataman alone is, and all else is mirage.

Thus self-knowledge or  Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks the physical body is the self, their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality, which makes one feel the duality (waking) as reality.

 y, because they have to drop the accumulated dross mentally.