Sage Sankara gave Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it.+

Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual, and dogmatic instruction to the orthodox populace, but Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

The goal of the truth-seeker is to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is inherent in every seeker of truth.   

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana does not come from outside, it is hidden by the illusory world in which we exist.

The path of wisdom is divided into three parts:~

First: hearing the truth--that the consciousness is the only reality and that the universe along with you is merely an illusion or Maya. 

Second: reasoning upon these words of wisdom of Sage Sankara from all points of view. 

Third: giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

All the Advativc Gurus of the East and West have made Self-realization very complicated with their excessive analysis by mixing religion and yoga.

People are being conditioned by religious myths which have made them non-thinkers. The seeker needs to come out of the religious myth by realizing God in truth. 

Realizing everything as Consciousness is God- realization because Rig Veda says Consciousness is God in truth.

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

 

Do not accept any other God other than the Athma. The Athma is God in truth, Nothing is real but the Athma, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

Nothing matters but realize God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

 

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion. 

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth or God in truth. The ultimate truth itself is God in truth. 

Remember:~ 

With the sharp razor of the Advaitic wisdom, the seeker can easily overcome the ignorance of his true existence, which is free from the illusory experience of form, time, and space. 

The pursuit of truth is for the purpose of Self-realization. Perfect understanding of ‘What is what’, leads to realizing the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space. 

Self-knowledge has to be acquired by the direct realization of the ultimate truth. In the realm of the ultimate truth, the intellect which is based on the ego ceases to function. The seeker realizes that the Mind and the Soul are one in essence and that essence is consciousness.  

The Soul is the  Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness itself is the knower, known, and knowledge. 

By realizing consciousness as the ultimate truth or Brahman, the distinction between knowledge, the knower, and the known vanishes.

The inner urge to know the truth, sharpness to grasp, humility, receptiveness, and courage to drop all the egocentric accumulated knowledge, are requisite for the inner (mental) journey. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar