When Sage Sankara says A Gnani bears no outward mark of a holy man then how these Holy people can be called Gnanis.+

Seekers of truth should not believe blindly in traditional Orthodox non-duality without verifying all the facts from every angle. 

You exist within the dualistic illusion there is Goal.   You are not the Self; therefore, you are not the Goal. You are the false self within the false experience. 

The ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the cause of the world in which you exist, which the dualistic illusion. And consciousness itself is uncaused.    

Sage  Sankara says in the commentary on Vedanta sutra that what is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead a person to the final goal. On the contrary, such acceptance will result only in evil, in something which is detrimental to our spiritual progress.  

Seeker of truth should not believe blindly in traditional Orthodox non-duality without verifying all the facts from every angle. One has to reflect through reasoning over and over again without getting tired of the process.

The Self- realization arises only when you realize the Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. 

If the Self is not you but the Self is the Soul then from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self you and the world in which you exist is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. This is the truth. The realization of the truth is Self-realization. 

You and the world in which you exist is unreal because the world in which you exist is an illusion and consciousness alone is real because the illusion is created out of consciousness. 

Remember this: If the Soul is the  ‘Self’ then the world in which you exist is merely an illusion. The world is a reality on the base of the ego (you), which is the false self within the false experience. 

The world in which you exist is the product of ignorance. When ignorance vanishes the unreal nature of the world n which you exist is exposed. In the same way, the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when waking takes place. Ignorance vanishes when Advaitic wisdom dawns. 

Perfect understanding of ‘what is ‘what’ helps the seeker to remove all the obstacles, which is blocking our realization. 

That is why Sage Sankara Says: ~ V.63- "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world. 

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

The universe is the product of ignorance. The ignorance is present in the form of the ‘I’. 

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47- All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self. 

Till you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward the ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as reality.

Remember:~

Sage  Sankara says ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation. 

Perfect understanding and realization of ‘what is what’ leads Self-awareness. By holding on to theories one remains in the realm of duality. 

You have to mentally go on dropping what is not the truth through deeper Self-search. Finally when you become aware of the fact that, your ego, your body, and the world are one in essence then there is Self-awareness in the midst of duality. 

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

The Advaita hidden by the dualistic illusion will not be revealed if you are acting with uncertainty, hesitance or lack of confidence. It will be revealed only to the sincere and serious seekers who never feel tired and exhausted, and they never feel hopeless. Ignorance is great, it seems to be almost endless, but their hope is greater than the ignorance. 

Thousands of times they are defeated in their effort in understanding, and nothing happens, but as they go on and on. Their passion for the Advaita (God) is so tremendous. They can accept all kinds of defeats and frustrations, but their quest continues. 

Hope means hoping for that which seems almost impossible. Hope means hoping against all hope. Hope means trying to see that which you have not seen, and you cannot even be certain whether it exists or not.  Hope is needed to unfold the Advaita (God) hidden by the ‘I’ the dualistic illusion. 

It takes time for the subconscious to gain speed; it takes time for the Soul to awake; it takes time for the Soul which has been in the sleep of ignorance to wake up to its own awareness. 

Unwavering, they go on and on till they transcend the world in which they exist as the consciousness, the ocean of Advaita.   

Remember:~

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 illiterate. They strongly stuck to their inherited orthodox baggage meant for the ignorant populace. Even though, their own sage has said that orthodoxy meant for the ignorant populace they ignore and they are like the blind led by another blind follow the inherited blind belief.

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

But remember:

Most Orthodox scriptural scholars Gurus and yogis are ignorant in the guise of Gnanis. When Sage Sankara says the knower of the Atman (A Gnani) "bears no outward mark of a holy man then how these Holy people can be called Gnanis. 

One of Sage Sankara’s missions was to wean people away from ritualistic approach advocated by Mimamsakas and to project wisdom (jnana) as the means of liberation in the light of Upanishad teachings. Sage Sankara criticized severely the ritualistic attitude and those who advocated such practices.

However, the texts that combined rituals with wisdom (jnana_karma_samucchaya) more in favor of the Mimamsaka position came into vogue, projecting Sankara as the rallying force of the doctrine.

Sage Sankara:~ Loud speech, a profusion of words, and possessing skilfulness in expounding scriptures are merely for the enjoyment of the learned. They do not lead to Liberation."

Mundaka Upanishads:~ So-called spiritual pundits and learned are called children because a child takes whatever it thinks as truth. The question never occurs to children “Is what I have seen or thought really the truth?" (P.334 line 9)

The Scriptural mastery, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth or Brahman. The ultimate truth is revealed in the clear understanding and realization of ‘what is the truth and ‘what is the untruth. When one realizes the untruth (universe) is created out of single stuff, Self-awareness rises in the midst of duality exposing the unreal nature of the form, time, and space.

An adherent of the Orthodox philosopher may say his philosophy teaches so and so", another man may object and say “No, his religious philosophy teaches such and such." Thus, they may go on uttering contradictions in the name of philosophy. True philosophy deals only with the appeal to facts, not theories.

Remember:~

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

How is one to know that the scriptures are true? The seeker has to look into the facts, for the proof of what has the worship of these religious God done for the people! When a tsunami occurred in Japan the God did not save the believers of Japan. Thus, God saves one who prays such an argument is of no value in pursuit of truth.

People believe scripture is infallible, but deeper Self-search reveals the fact that they are a mere book of words. The words are a mere expression of thoughts. Then it is impossible to see if the scripture writer's thoughts are founded in fact or not.

The fallacy of Orthodoxy's appeal to scripture lies in the varying and conflicting interpretations of the same scripture that different men feel entitled to give or hold.

The scriptures are for the ignorant masses, who wholly accept the practical life within the practical world as it presents itself. Gnana is for those who have begun to realize that things are not what they seem.

Where scriptures and authorities do not agree with the reason, the seeker of truth must reject them.

Remember:~

Scriptural knowledge is conceptual divisions invented by teachers of philosophy by their excessive analysis. All these concepts are a great obstacle in the pursuit of truth. Why should confusion created and then explained away? Fortunate is the man who does not lose himself in the labyrinths of philosophy but goes straight to the source from which they all arise. 

Sage  Sankara says the orthodoxy meant for ignorance people. The orthodoxy is the path of ignorance.  n

Sage Sankara says: ~ The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.  -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage  Sankara says, the person who performs rituals and aspires for rewards will view himself in terms of the caste into which he is born, his age, the stage of his life, his standing in society, etc. In addition, he is required to perform rituals all through his life. However, the 'Self' has none of those attributes or tags. Hence, the person who superimposes all those attributes on the changeless, eternal Self and identifies Self with the body is confusing one for the other; and is, therefore, an ignorant person. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are therefore addressed to an ignorant person.  -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11.1) This ignorance (mistaking the body for Self) brings in its wake a desire for the well-being of the body,  aversion for its disease or discomfort, fear of its destruction, and thus a host of miseries(anartha).This anartha is caused by projecting karthvya(“doer” sense) and bhokthavya (object) on the Atman. Sage Sankara calls this adhyasa. The scriptures dealing with rituals, rewards, etc. are, therefore, he says, addressed to an ignorant person.-Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, a person who engages in rituals with the notion “I am an agent, doer, thinker”, according to Sage  Sankara, is ignorant, as his behavior implies a distinct, separate doer/agent/knower ; and an object that is to be done/achieved/known. That duality is avidya, an error that can be removed by Vidya. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage  Sankara: ~ (12) Sage Sankara affirming his belief in one eternal unchanging reality (Brahman) and the illusion of plurality, drives home the point that Upanishads deal not with rituals but with the knowledge of the Absolute (Brahma Vidya) and the Upanishads give us an insight into the essential nature of the Self which is identical with the Absolute, the Brahman. -Adhyasa Bhashya

Sage  Sankara: ~ Atman, the Self is verily Brahman (God in truth), being equanimous, quiescent, and by nature absolute Existence, Knowledge, and Bliss. Atman is not the body which is non-existence itself. This is called true Knowledge by the wise. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar