Sage Sankara: ~ Neither nudity nor the religious robe has anything to do with a Gnani.+

Religion is regarded as sacred and real by the common people, by the wise as false, and by the politicians as useful. 

In this hi-fi world, many self-declared Spiritual Gurus are born like mushrooms amidst us and they are looked upon as great solace by the mass of gullible people, who are more ‘peace and wisdom hungry.  

Most seekers are looking for something beyond their inherited belief system. Most of these dollar-hungry gurus hankered after titles and honors. These modern-day self-styled Gurus and are connected to one or other controversies and scandals.

People get stuck with these modern self-proclaimed Gurus who claimed to be enlightened. Many of these Gurus have taken many new “avatars” like Corporate Gurus, Universal Gurus, online Gurus, Global Gurus, one name it, he will find them. The honest Gurus and swamis never come to the limelight and they remain to mind their own inherited divine business remains aloof from the publicity.  

Many Gurus have overnight become Global Gurus. They only play with the feelings of people. Most of them are propagating ancient yogic practices as if it is their own great new invention and branding them or getting them patented,   this is the height of the mockery of spirituality. 

As long as innocent and ignorant people are there, these kinds of Gurus can flourish their business to peak height. They cannot only fool the people but also the people at political power.

Religion needs a Guru to propagate its belief system, whereas in the Atmic path there is no need for a Guru. The ultimate truth has to be ascertained by him alone.  Yoga needs a Guru to guide its students to practice Samadhi. 

The one who says he is enlightened is not a Gnani.  The ‘Self’ is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness. How can you and the world in which you exist remain when the ‘Self’ gets enlightenment?   Only the Soul the innermost ‘Self ‘remains in its own awareness in the midst of the dualistic illusion.

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

Manduka Upanishads: ~    Even the Gods cannot find out who is a Gnani because he bears no external mark. Neither nudity nor the religious robe has anything to do with him. 

Thus, one who identifies themselves as a swami,   a Guru, or a yogi is not a Gnani. A Gnani never identifies himself as a swami, Guru, pundit, or yogi.  The Swami, Guru, pundit, or the yogi belongs to the religious or the yogic path not to the path of wisdom.

That is why Sage Sankara's commentary: ~   "The knower of Brahman (Gnani) wears no signs. 

Sage Sankara: ~ "Tell us what you know, show it, and let us examine it under the mental microscope." It means we must bring notions and beliefs out of vagueness into clearness. It also criticizes the mystics who claim superior knowledge but who cannot communicate it for purposes of verification.

Sage Sankara: ~ "The knower of Brahman wears no signs. Gives up the insignia of a monk's life…his signs are not manifest, nor his behavior."  When the knower of Brahman wears no signs ~ it means he does not identify himself as a Guru. 

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

Those who seek should not stop seeking until they find. Know the ‘Self’ not ‘you’, and what is hidden beyond the form, time and space will be disclosed to you.

The feat of a Guru, touching people and thus putting them into mystic states is purely a physical or at best a psychological one; based on the power of suggestions it has nothing to do with epistemology, with the question of truth. The truth is not physical because the ultimate truth is the Soul or the Spirit.

The ultimate truth or Brahman is nothing to with religion.   Religion is based on the illusory ‘I’ as a reality whereas the ultimate truth or Brahman is hidden by the illusory form, time, and space. If you are seeking truth make sure you are not chosen the wrong path.  : ~ Santthosh Kumaar