Orthodox people argue that Sage Sankara had a Guru. Sage Sankara himself was Guru. Yes, for orthodox people he was Jagadguru but for the seeker of truth he was a Brahma Gnani.+

Adyatma has nothing to do with religious sects or creeds and religious beliefs. Adyatma is pure spirituality. Knowledge of Atma is Adyatma. Advaita is Adyatma.

Adyatma is the knowledge of the truth hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. Bifurcate religion, yoga, and theoretical philosophy, and base the truth on the Athma, it is Adyathma.

Adyatma is based on the ultimate truth, which is based on the Atman or Spirit, which is the Self.

Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom is pure spirituality or Adyathma. Never mix religion with Spirituality or Adyathma.

The Advaitic wisdom is not suited for the unsettled mind, which sticks to religion, yoga, and all non-Vedic worship and activities. There is no use in convincing such a mindset. Everyone is free to move on their chosen path.

Sage Sankara was a JagadGuru or a Brahma Gnani.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom is nothing to do orthodox belief system. Sage Sankara is the final authority on the Advaitic truth. The Advaitic truth is rational truth and scientific truth without dogma.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom has nothing to do with the orthodox belief system. Some philosophers in the past dissented from this interpretation of Vedanta philosophy, holding that the incarnated Souls were separate from the Divine Essence and only finally merged with it after the cycles of birth.

All these theoretical philosophies are based on the imagination based on the false ‘Self’ (ego or you) within the false experience (waking).

Orthodox people argue that Sage Sankara had a Guru. Sage Sankara himself was a Guru.

Yes, for orthodox people, he was JagadGuru, but for the seeker of truth, he was a Brahma Gnani.

The traditionally religious people are so entangled in orthodox religiosity; it is very difficult for them to free themselves from narrow-minded prejudices and dogmas and superstitions. These educated orthodox people are more ignorant than the illiterate. They strongly stuck to their inherited orthodox baggage meant for the ignorant populace.

Even though their sage has said that orthodoxy is meant for the ignorant populace, they ignore it and are like the blind led by another blind, following the inherited blind belief.

Even Swami Vivekananda was Ramakrishna Paramahansa's disciple. Swami Vivekananda himself said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but the Soul.”

There are two kinds of audiences - the ordinary ones who desire the transitory heaven and other pleasures obtained as a result of ritual sacrifices, and the most advanced seeker who seeks to know the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The Guru and Guru paramparas are meant for the first audience, to help lead their followers along the way. However, there is no need to follow any parampara and follow any Guru, those who wish to realize the truth which is beyond form, time, and space.

The seeker should not mix religion with spirituality because religion is based on the ego, and spirituality is based on the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Religion is concerned with its paramparas, not truth, whereas spirituality is concerned only with the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. Religion is not spirituality.

Sage Sankara: ~ "Though I wear these robes of a Sanyasin, it is only for the sake of bread." (Select Works of Sage Sankara, also his commentary on Brihad)

Thus, the above passage proves that all those who wear the sanyasin robes are wearing them for the sake of bread and belong to the religion; they have nothing to do with the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

There is no need to criticize and condemn the Gurus, yogis, and swamis because they are needed for the welfare of the ignorant masses in the dualistic world.

So he wore a Guru's robe only for the sake of ignorant. So he was identified as Guru with parampara by religious people. For the truth seekers, Sage Sankara is a Brahma Gnani.

Sage Sankara indicates in Viveka Chudamani (2) that the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man" (Stanza 539).

When Sage Sankara says, the Knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man.

Thus, it proves that the religious Gurus and yogis are not Gnanis because they identified themselves as holy people.

A Gnani never identifies himself as a Guru or a Yogi or someone disciple. The one who accepts himself as a Guru or someone’s disciple is not a Gnani.

The seekers of truth need not identify Sage Sankara as a holy man or JagadGuru, but as a Brahma Gnani.

Ashtavakra Samhita: ~ "The man of knowledge (Gnani), though living like an ordinary man, is contrary to him, and only those like him understand his state.

The Guru Parampara is for the religious people. There is no need for a Guru who wants to tread the path of wisdom.

The Guru is useless so long as the ultimate truth is unknown, and the Guru is equally useless when the ultimate truth or Brahman has already been known.

A Guru is needed in the religious and the yogic path. There is no need for a Guru to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

First, know what this unknown truth you are seeking.+

First, know what this unknown truth you are seeking. The seeker is seeking the truth of his true existence, which is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space.

Advaitic Truth means certainty. The dualistic truth is not a certainty because the dualistic truth is based on the ego and is limited to form, time, and space, whereas the non-dualistic truth is based on the invisible Soul, which is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

If there is any uncertainty, it is not the truth. It does not deal with imagination.

People do not have a scientific attitude because they take things as presented to them.

They have rather an emotional and sentimental attitude. The correct attitude is to verify all the facts, to see a problem with them, something to investigate and inquire into them.

Truth must be verifiable; unless it is verifiable, it is of no value. Those who lack the capacity to doubt are not fit for the pursuit of truth.

Analogical, inductive, and deductive reasoning are good only within the domain of form, time, and space; none is absolutely and universally infallible because they are based on the ego or the physical self.

The religious truth is based on blind belief. But in pursuit of truth, doubt is the main ingredient.

Most people have the desire to know the truth but the capacity to understand and grasp the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space is limited.

The result is that people resolve the conflict by jumping to the first and simplest and easiest conclusion as the correct one, and smugly but unjustifiably thinking “I know”: Thus, they commit the fallacy of primitivity.

Gurus or pundits or yogis' statements shouldn’t be accepted blindly as the ultimate truth because they are based on a dualistic perspective is not proof. The truth based on the dualistic belongs to the dualistic illusion; therefore, not the truth.

All the claims have to be verified before accepting them as the truth. Because all the religious and yogic and mystic truth is based on form, time, and space.

From the ultimate standpoint form, time and space are an illusion. Thus, whatever is based on form, time, and space is a dualistic illusion. Whatever is based on the dualistic illusion is bound to be an untruth.

The invisible Soul, the Spirit, is the highest truth. The invisible Soul is the cause of the universe, and it, itself, is uncaused. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

The objective world-the world of names and forms has no independent existence.+

If you want to know what this world is in which you exist in actuality then you must realize its illusory nature.

The objective world is the world of names and forms, which has no independent existence. The invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, has real existence. The world is only phenomenal.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC- 63.~ Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’, how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

The world is subjected to creation and dissolution only from the standpoint of the ego.

The invisible Soul, the Self, cannot be subjected to creation and dissolution because the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the formless, timeless, and spaceless existence. The invisible and unborn Soul is ever nondual.

Let you be clear on one thing. The world in which you exist is mere a dualistic illusion created out of the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. but in the reality the world in which you exist neither exists in the past nor exists now, nor going to exist in the future.

Whatever existed in the past, and whatever exists now, and whatever is going to exist in the future is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.:

Only when you realize the illusory nature of the world in which you exist then only it possible to realize your individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world is nothing but an illusion.

Without realizing the Self is not the ‘I’ but the invisible  Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, Self-realization is an impossibility.

People say I AM THAT ~ I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I, 

It is erroneous to use the word ‘I’ for the Self, because ‘I’ represents the form, time, and space, whereas the invisible Soul, the Self, is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

If you change your ‘I know' attitude and indulge in deeper self-search, you will be able to discover the truth, which is hidden by the world in which you exist.

Katha Upanishad says ~ Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Ch~ II-5 P-14)

Those who indulge in a perverted argument on their own standpoint and opinion are not seeking the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. They just want to exhibit their accumulated knowledge,  accumulated from here and there. They think what they know is the ultimate truth.

They think whatever they propagate is the ultimate truth. The question never occurs to them, “Is what I know really the truth.

You have stuck up some Gurus and their teaching, you are like the stagnant water of the dirty pond. 

Till you are stuck on the idea that you get instant enlightenment from some enlightenment, then you are hallucinating.

That is why Swami Vivekananda said: ~ “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but the Soul.”

Sage Sankara says ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Come out of your prison of emotion. Be independent. Sit, think, reason, and reflect deeply.

You need to read or hear the words of wisdom of Advaita. Remember The Soul is the only reality and the world in which you exist is an illusion.

Reason and reflect upon the words of wisdom of Advaita constantly. Give up all further argumentation and realize the truth. This realization comes from being certain that the invisible  Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness alone, is real, and the world in which you exist is an illusion created out of consciousness. Thus, the invisible  Soul is the ultimate truth, or Brahman or God in truth.

That is why Sankara's declaration: ~ “Brahman is the truth. The world is unreal, everything is truly Brahman, and nothing else has any value.

Sage Sankara said: " Talk as much philosophy as you like, worship as many Gods as you please, observe ceremonies, and sing devotional hymns, but liberation will never come, even after a hundred aeons, without realizing the Oneness. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

The seeker of truth has to unlearn what he has learned from the standpoint of the ego.+

Holding some Guru or some teaching as a yardstick leads to all types of doubts, confusion, and unnecessary arguments. Argument fuels the ego. Argument is possible only when one tries to grasp the Non-dualistic truth from the dualistic perspective.

The seeker of truth has to unlearn what he has learned from the standpoint of the ego. Without mentally burning the accumulated knowledge, accumulated from different sources, it is impossible to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana, or Atma Gnana.

The seeker of truth should not become attached to words as being in perfect conformity with meaning, because Truth is not in the letters. When a man with his fingertips points to something, the fingertips may be mistaken for the thing pointed at; in like manner, the ignorant are unable even to the day of their death to abandon the idea that in the fingertips of words there is the meaning itself. They cannot realize the ultimate reality because of their intent clinging to words that were intended to be no more than a pointing finger.

The words and their discrimination bind one to the duality; meaning stands alone and is a guide to non-dual awareness. Meaning is attained by much learning, and much learning is attained by becoming conversant with meaning and not with words; therefore, seekers of truth have to avoid the sticklers for particular words

The Soul, the Self, reveals ‘what is real’ and ‘what is unreal” when the seeker is receptive and ready.

Sages of truth restrained themselves, parting the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana to the mass and only a selected few. It was hidden from the people who were not qualified and receptive to it.

Self-knowledge, or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, was not written down but was imparted orally to the chosen few.

Thus, religion was given to the ignorant populace, while knowledge of the Spirit was reserved for a select few. Thus, we find traces of the knowledge of the Spirit in the religious books in the form of parables.

Katha Upanishad says: ~ This Atman is attained by him alone whom It chooses. To such a one, Atman reveals its own form. (II -23-P-20)

Remember:~

There is no such thing as ignorance beyond the ‘I’. Beyond the ‘I’ is the invisible Soul, which is the Atmic reality.

The invisible Soul is the fullness of consciousness without the division of form, time, and space. The invisible Soul is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The ‘I’ itself is ignorance, the cause of the bondage of illusory form, time, and space.

When ignorance is eliminated, the unreal nature of form, time, and space is exposed. Only ignorance is the form; time and space prevail as reality. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

The path of wisdom leads to Self-realization.+

The path of wisdom is the inner (mental) journey. Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, and wisdom are one and the same thing.

Without an intense urge, it is difficult to tread this path. The path of wisdom is only for those who are seriously seeking the truth. The path of wisdom leads to Self-realization.

The path of wisdom is not for religious-minded people. Everyone is free to follow their chosen path, which gives them satisfaction and makes them happy.

The path of wisdom is only for those who are seriously seeking the truth.

The path of wisdom or Atmic path is spirituality or Adyathma. Spirituality or Adyathma has nothing to do with religion.

Whatever is written is for the words of wisdom of the sage of truth.

Do not mix religion and yoga with spirituality. Religion is meant for the ignorant populace.

Adyatma has nothing to do with religious sects or creeds, and religious beliefs.

Adyatma is pure spirituality. Knowledge of Atma is Adyatma. Advaita is Adyatma.

Adyatma is the knowledge of the truth hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. Bifurcate religion, yoga, and theoretical philosophy, and base the truth on the Athma, it is Adyathma.

Adyatma is based on the ultimate truth, which is based on the Atman or Spirit, which is the Self.

Sage Sankara's Advaitic wisdom is pure spirituality or Adyathma.

Remember:~

First: hearing the words of wisdom that the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the only reality, and that everything else is an illusion.

Second: realizing the ‘Self’ is you, but the Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Third: giving up all further argumentation and realizing the truth. This realization comes from being certain that Brahman is real and everything else is unreal.

Remember:~

If you are waking, sleeping, eating, and sleeping within the dream, the dream becomes unreal when waking takes place. Similarly, if you are waking, sleeping, eating, and sleeping within the waking state, the waking state becomes unreal when you realize the Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, whatever you are doing within the waking state is merely an illusion. The illusion is created out of a single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness.

Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus, realizing consciousness as the ultimate truth is truth-realization.

Our experience of birth, life, death, and the world is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. It means we all along with the world in which we exist, are created out of a single stuff, which is consciousness.

Humanity is divided into caste, creed, race, color, and religion because we are unaware of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’?’ in actuality it is impossible to unfold the hidden truth, which is hidden by ignorance.+

There is a need to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ is in actuality. Without knowing ‘what is this ‘I’ is in actuality, it is impossible to unfold the hidden truth, which is hidden by ignorance.

Till you hold the Self as the ‘I’, you will never be able to get Self-realization. ‘I’ hides the invisible Soul, which is the Self.

Until you are ripe to receive Self-knowledge, you will not be able to understand what I am saying.

You, your body, and the world in which you exist are within the dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’.

Realize you are not you, your body is not the body, the world in which you exist is not the world, but they are all made of a single clay. That single clay is the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness

Those Gurus who propagated the Self is within the body are in error. This mistake has to be rectified to realize that the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the fullness of consciousness.

By emotionally sticking to these ’ I-centric gurus and their teachings, you will remain permanently in the domain of ignorance.

Because of ignorance, you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world that existed prior to you; you are born in it later on.

The ‘I’ is inborn ignorance is the cause of experiencing the illusory world in which you exist as a reality. The world in which you exist is a dualistic illusion.

Whatever belongs to dualistic illusion is bound to be an illusion. So, your experience of birth, life, death, and the world is bound to be an illusion.

Everyone is holding some teaching or a teacher or their accepted truth as a yardstick. All the accumulated egocentric knowledge is inadequate or useless in unfolding the mystery of the mind or the universe.

Sage Sankara said:~ Neither by the practice of yoga nor philosophy, nor by good works nor by learning, does liberation come, but only through the realization that Atman and Brahman are one in no other way. (1) Vivekachoodamani v 56, pg. 25

Sage Sankara: ~ VC Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas* can give us the knowledge about the real Self. The firm experience of the nature of the Self is seen to proceed from inquiry along the lines of the salutary advice of the wise.

Sage Sankara: ~ “The vital-air Sheath cannot be the Self because it is the modification of air (Vayu). Like air, it enters the body and goes out of it, never knowing the joy and sorrow like others. It is ever dependent on the Self. ~Viveka Chudamani 165-166

Breath, body, and the world are one in essence. That essence is formless consciousness. Consciousness (Soul) is the Self. Breath, body, and the world are part and parcel of the illusion.

By holding the breath (vital force) as Self, one cannot get rid of ignorance. Without getting rid of ignorance, Advaitic wisdom will not dawn.

Advaitic wisdom dawns only when one realizes that form, time, and space are one in essence.

The truth realization is very simple. We make it complicated by mixing diverse theories, different ideologies, religions, and yoga.

All your accumulated knowledge is the greatest hindrance in the pursuit of truth. To realize the truth beyond form, time, and space, one must have the courage of Buddha. Buddha got enlightenment only after dropping the religion, the Vedas, and the concept of God.

To realize the simple truth, there is no need to go from one mountain to another, one Ashram to another, or worship Godmen or a Guru as a God, or convert from one faith to another. The truth is universal. Anyone can realize it if they have an intense urge.

There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. In the world in which we exist, all our thoughts, words, beliefs, and experiences are nothing but consciousness.

Realizing consciousness is everything, is truth realization, or Self-realization, or God-realization.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar 

You are the false self within the dualistic illusion. The ‘Self is not you but the Self is the Soul.+

You are the false self within the dualistic illusion. The ‘Self is not you, but the Self is the invisible Soul.

The Self does not die; only you die, because you are bound by birth, life, death, and the world.

The birth, life, death, and the world take place within the domain of form, time, and space. The form, time, and space belong to the dualistic illusion. So your existence and your individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world belong to the dualistic illusion.

The invisible Soul, the Self, does not die because it is birthless and deathless. After all, it is an ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness.

If form, time, and space are illusions, then the universe is an illusion. If the universe is an illusion, then the individual experience of birth, life, death, and the world is bound to be an illusion.

The invisible Soul, the Self, is the reality hidden by the illusory universe because the invisible Soul is the cause of the illusory universe.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe.

The seeker has to make sure what this ‘universe supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the universe comes and goes to realize the truth, which is hidden by the universe.

The invisible Soul is permanent, is always there; only the transient universe comes and goes.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe, which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman, which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought.

The universe hides the invisible Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness, which is the cause of the universe.

That is why Sage Sankara says: - VC-65- As a treasure hidden underground requires (for its extraction) competent instruction, excavation, the removal of stones and other such things lying above it and (finally) grasping, but never comes out by being (merely) called out by name, so the transparent truth of the Self, which is hidden by Maya and its effects, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman. :~ Santthosh Kumaar