There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to practice anything. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’, leads to the realization of the truth.+

Sage Sankara: ~ VC-  Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not  even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together (verses-6)

It is clear that liberation cannot be the result of good works, for Sruti itself declares that there is no hope for immortality by means of wealth.  (Verses -7)

Actions help to purify the mind but they do not, by themselves, contribute to the attainment of Reality. The attainment of Reality is brought about only by Self Inquiry and not in the least by even ten million acts. (verses  11)

The fear and sorrow created by the delusory serpent in the rope can be ended only after fully ascertaining the truth of the rope through steady and balanced thinking. (verses 12)

Neither sacred baths nor any amount of charity nor even Hundreds of pranayamas* can give us knowledge about our own 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. (verses 13)

Ultimate success in spiritual endeavors depends chiefly upon the qualifications of the seeker.  Auxiliary conveniences such as time And place all have a place indeed, but they are essentially secondary. (verses 14)

He alone is considered qualified to enquire after the supreme Reality, which has discrimination, detachment, qualities of Calmness, etc., and a burning desire for liberation. The four-fold qualifications ( verses 17)

Great sages have spoken of four qualifications for attainment which, when present, succeeds in the realization of Brahman and In the absence of which the goal is not attained. (verses18)

(While enumerating the qualifications), first, we count the ability to discriminate between the Real and the unreal; next comes a spirit of detachment from the enjoyment of the fruits of actions here and hereafter; after that is the groups of six virtues beginning with  Calmness, and the last is undoubtedly an intense desire for liberation. (verses19)

A firm conviction that Brahman alone is Real and the phenomenal world is unreal is known as discrimination between the real and the unreal. (verses20)

They have crossed the dreadful ocean of (embodied) existence through their own efforts and without any (personal) motives; they help others to cross it. (verses37)

Remember:~

There is no need for a Guru, to know you and your Guru and the world in which you exist is created out of single stuff and that single stuff is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  Knowledge of that single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.  Gnana is given neither from outside nor from another person.

There is no need to follow anyone. There is no need to practice anything. Perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’, leads to the realization of the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.  

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study the Scriptures, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~ then why indulge in studying the scriptures.

 Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to study philosophy to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why indulge in studying philosophy.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge in rituals to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ there is no need to indulge in yoga to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why indulge in yoga.

Sage  Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani)

~ then why you are sticking to a Guru who is not a Gnani.

 

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.

Those who tell you that Brahman is unity, that you can get it only by intuition, that you should not reason, you should not question or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar