When the soul, the innermost self is in its formless true nature than misery, suffering, fear, desire and hatred --none of these would bind it.

 

 

When the Upanishad says:  the human goal is to acquire Self-Knowledge  or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana and also  they indicate the personal gods, scriptures, worship and rituals are not the means to Self –Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, then why anyone should indulge in it. 

 

The religion and its  concept of individualized god and scriptures are greatest obstacle to realize non-dualistic or Advaitic  truth , because they are based on false self(ego or waking entity).  The seeker of truth has to search the ultimate truth without losing himself in the labyrinths of philosophy, through deeper, inquiry, analysis and reasoning and assimilate and realize it.

That is why Sri Sankara, indicated  in Bhaja Govindam says: - [Jnana Viheena Sarva Mathena Bajathi na Muktim janma Shatena] - one without knowledge does not obtain liberation even in a hundred births, no matter which religious faith he follows.

Then it is no use going roundabout way, trace the Brahman which is the formless substance and witness of the universe, which is in the form of mind.  

By tracing the source of the mind or universe one will be able to realize the Brahman. Thus, Self-Knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is meant only for those who have intense urge, and courage to accept the truth with humility and reject the untruth. Since people start comparing with their scriptural knowledge, it becomes impossible to assimilate and realize the non-dual truth.   Therefore, there is no need to convince anyone other than our own-selves to get the firm conviction. 

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.

 

Ish Upanishad declares: - Those people who have neglected the attainment of Self-knowledge and have thus committed suicide (10/11/12).

People who are incapable to inquire and reason are tending to follow some philosophy without verification. Therefore the more ignorant they are the easier to get them into a religious fold. Religion is so strong and popular because it makes no demand on the intelligent; it simply requires belief in guru and his teachings.

It never strikes believer to doubt whether his inherited belief system is true. They never use their reason because they start and conclude that their belief system   alone is true, because they never question the validity of their inherited belief. 

 

"Consciousness” is the only reality and there is no second thing exist other than consciousness. That consciousness through its illusory nature   appears as the whole universe. But this is just the play of consciousness, even as an actor in a drama remains unchanged throughout although consciousness   plays different roles.

 The seemingly obvious duality between consciousness (soul) and universe (mind) does not actually exist because both are one in essence. If only one transcend this phenomenal illusion and experience of duality with consciousness, he would then be not the individual with his experience of the world but one with it--the Absolute, infinite Reality.

When the soul, the innermost self  is in its formless true nature than misery, suffering, fear, desire and hatred --none of these would bind it. If it is in ignorance, then of course he is bound by shackles of experiencing, the illusory “birth, life, death and the world as reality ".But actually there is nothing other than the soul or consciousness, the innermost "SELF'.

So in absence of any such thing as dual, who binds whom and what is this bondage itself? When one is delivered from this bondage he attains self-awareness. In self-awareness is complete freedom from experiencing illusory duality as reality.