The basic reason of pursuit of truth is to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman.

The basic reason of pursuit of truth is to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. Seeker has to realize fact that the source of the physical existence, which appears and disappears as mind or  ’I’.   Finding the facts about the mind or ’I’ is the goal. 

When the seeker of truth inquires, analyzes and reasons deeply enough into the nature of the mind, which appears and disappears as waking and dream, he becomes aware of the fact that, the ‘I’ is not the true self, but the formless substance and witness of the ‘I’, which is the soul  or consciousness or spirit is the true self.

Since man identifies himself as ‘I’ and ‘I’ as self and  views, and judges the three states on the base of the physical entity or ego, which is limited to the waking experience alone, he becomes ignorant of the true self.

As seeker inquires, analyzes and reasons deeply on the base of the soul as self then he becomes aware of the fact that, the three states are mere illusion created, sustained and finally dissolves as soul or consciousness or spirit. 

Limiting the ‘I’ to the physical entity alone is the cause of the ignorance. When one limits the ‘I’  or mind to the physical entity, it is called ego.  The ego is present only in waking  or dream.   The waking and dream appears and disappears as a whole.   Thus, the waking  or dream are impermanent. The ego is the false self within the false experience.  Therefore, seeking truth of the existence on the standpoint of the false self will not help the seeker to discover the truth, which is beyond the experience of duality (waking or dream).

When the reasoning  base is rectified from form to formless  the truth will start unfolding itself.   

People speak of getting rid of conditioning or samskara but they themselves are unaware of the fact that, the universe in which they exist is product of the inborn samskara or conditioning.  The ignorance is cause of the inborn samskara or conditioning which present as ‘I’ or ‘I AM’. I or ‘I AM’ itself is cause of ginormous.

Eradicating the ignorance completely is necessary. And this is possible only through self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.   Thus, there is no other road to freedom other than Gnana.  There is no other entrance other than except Gnana.  The ignorance will vanish only when the nondual wisdom dawns.

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.