Religion has nothing to do with the pursuit of truth because the ultimate truth is not based on blind belief, and religion is based on blind belief. +

The religion was introduced in the past for the benefit of the populace who are incapable of grasping the ultimate truth. 

Religion has nothing to do with the pursuit of truth because the ultimate truth is not based on blind belief, and religion is based on blind belief. 

The seeker has to ignore the religion and its rituals and search for the ultimate truth. Religion and religious rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the ocean of ignorance.

Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the ocean of ignorance on these poor rafts or rituals. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise in their own esteem, these deluded people, proud of their vain learning, go round and round like the blind led by the blind.

The essence of the Mundaka Upanishad is: Do not be satisfied with rituals, yoga, etc., which are good in their own way, but inquire. Into what? Brahman and Atman are things you can never see. So do not inquire into them. Inquire into the world around you, which you can see. Science tells you it is passing away every second. Everything is dying repeatedly. Where is it going? Thus, you follow up your inquiry into what you can lay your hands on. How can you inquire into Atma, which you cannot see? So first, we deal with the known and seen; this inquiry leads up to the unknown in the end.

Remember:~

The dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, the waking becomes unreal when Advaitic wisdom dawns.

The Advaitic wisdom dawns when you realize the ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. Thus, all the happenings within the illusion are bound to be an illusion. 

Until ignorance is there, the world in which you exist prevails as a reality.

When ignorance vanishes through Advaitic wisdom, then the world in which you exist which you think as realit,y becomes an illusion.

Remember: ~

You, your body, and the universe in which you are born and going to die are created out of single clay and that single clay is the Soul or consciousness.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is unborn, eternal. The Soul has neither birth nor death because it is ever ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

It is foolish to discuss birth and death, which is the part and parcel of the illusory universe, or Maya in Atmic discussion, which is based on the invisible Soul, the Self, which is unborn, eternal.

Prior to birth (illusory universe), there was only consciousness. After death (illusory universe), only consciousness will prevail as eternal existence.

Sage Goudapada quotes from the Upanishads: ~  There's no plurality here. The invisible Soul, through its powers, appears to be many. Those who are attached to the creation or production, or origination, go to utter darkness. The unborn is never reborn, for what can produce it?”

Sage Goudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita:~ Whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal.

Thus, whatever you have seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person within the waking experience is bound to be an illusion created out of consciousness. 

Thus, the invisible  Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, is real and eternal.

Consciousness is ever-present. Without consciousness, the world in which you exist ceases to exist. Consciousness is Self-evident. It is not established by extraneous proofs. It is not possible to deny consciousness, because it is the very essence of the one who denies it. 

Consciousness is the basis of all kinds of knowledge, presuppositions, and proofs. Consciousness is everything. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. :~ Santthosh Kumaar