Where there is God there is no Gravity.+

Where there is Gravity there is no reality. Gravity is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is the ultimate truth or Brahman or  God in truth.  Where there is God there is no Gravity. 

In reality, there is no gravity.   Gravity is a  reality within the universe but the universe itself is the dualistic illusion or Maya. Gravity is present within the waking experience and gravity is absent in deep sleep. The waking experience itself is an illusion from the standpoint of the Soul, the  Self. Gravity is a reality within the illusion.

The electron, proton, and all scientific investigations are a reality within the dualistic illusion.   

All the contents of the universe in which we exist are created out of a single clay. That single clay is, which is present in the form of consciousness.  The knowledge of that single stuff is Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana.

The sun, the moon, the stars, planets shine because of the Soul or the Spirit or the consciousness. The Soul shines and all things else shine as a result. Everything in the universe reflects but that light of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Merely knowing the truth is not enough to escape from the tangle of the illusion. 

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the only reality in which everything exists, to which everything belongs, and from which everything has emerged, which is the cause of everything, and which is everything.

Thus, there is a need to realize the Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.  The world in which we exist is nothing but consciousness.

When the matter is an illusion created out of the Spirit then Spirit alone is real.

When the object is created out of the subject then the subject alone is real.

When the world in which you exist is created out of consciousness then consciousness alone is real.

Reality and unreality are created out of single stuff because the unreality (the world in which we exist), is experienced as a reality we are unaware of the reality hidden by the unreality.   

There is no second thing that exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The dualistic illusion, which is present in the form of the ‘I’, hides the truth.

Stick to reality by mentally dropping the unrealityScience has begun to admit that the world of the spirit and the world of matter are not two antipodes...  A leading British astronomer, Sir James Jeans, confessed that the scientific conception of the universe in the past was mistaken and that the borderline between the objective world, as it is manifested in nature, and the subjective one, as it expresses itself through the mind, hardly exists. In (a 1934 address at Cornell University), he said: “The Nature we study does not consist so much of something we perceive as of our perceptions, it is not the object ... but the relation itself.  There is, in fact, no clear-cut division between the subject and object.”  Twenty years earlier, such a statement would have been sheer heresy.  Likewise, a search for the Ultimate Reality that we usually call "God," a search along both intellectual and unorthodox lines,  need not be regarded as either heresy or sacrilege. :~Santthosh Kumaar 

Ignorance will not vanish through tantric sex or by observing celibacy.+

Ignorance will not vanish through tantric sex or by observing celibacy. Without getting rid of ignorance Self-realization is an impossibility. The Soul, the Self is nothing to do with Sexual intercourse because it is ever nondual.

What is the use of discussing celibacy and sex in the Atmic path when the Atma is genderless because it is a formless, timeless, and spaceless existence? Sex belongs to the domain of the dualistic illusion or Maya.

Gurus who propagate Samadhi through sexual intercourse are not Gnanis. Sexual intercourse is nothing to do with the Soul, which is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is nothing to do with tantric sex. Having sex or not having sex does not qualify one to get Self-realization.

Sex and the sexual act are not the means to Self-realization because the Self is genderless and ever formless. Sex implies duality.

The tantric sex is a theory based on the false Self (you) within the false experience (waking). When the world in which you exist is an illusion, thus having sex within the illusory world is bound to be an illusion.

Those who indulge in sexual activities in order to get enlightenment will permanently remain in the prison of the dualistic illusion. They are unfit to acquire Self-knowledge.

Sex is nothing to do with the Soul, the Self. Sex is a reality on a physical base. When the body is not the experiencer of the body itself, it is not correct to be judgemental on the ’I’ (physical base).

Until one becomes aware of the formless entity, which is witnessing the body and the world together, he will not be able to know and realize man and his experience of the world is an illusion. Therefore, it is necessary to become aware of the formless witness to know the experience of birth, life, and death, and the world is merely an illusion.

If the experience of birth, life, death, and the world is an illusion, then sex also is part of that illusion. The seeker has to learn to view and judge the worldview on the base of the formless witness, which is the Soul the innermost Self, to understand and assimilate the truth beyond form, time, and space.

The sex-based theories of enlightenment are merely theories based on the false self (ego or the waking entity) and false experience (waking or universe). Sex is nothing to do with Self-realization. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

A perfect understanding and assimilation lead to Self-realization.+

The 'Self’’ is not within you but the 'Self’' is hidden in the world in which you exist. The one which is born lives and dies is not the 'Self' because the 'Self' is the Soul, which is the ever-formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is nothing to do with you the world in which you exist. From the Standpoint of the Soul, the 'Self’, the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.

The 'Self’’ is not within 'you' because the 'Self' is not the body. If the ‘'Self’’ is not you, then why do you think the 'Self’ is within you. 

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that you and the world are within the Soul the 'Self’. A perfect understanding and assimilation lead to  Self-realization.

Till you think he is an individual separate from this world you will remain in the realm of dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion is the product of ignorance.

When the Advaitic wisdom dawns, then the ignorance vanishes. When ignorance vanishes, then duality never remains a reality.

First, the seeker has to know ‘what is the subject’ and ‘what is the object’. Deeper  Self-search reveals the fact that”: the world in which we exist is an object to the formless subject. The formless subject is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Deeper verification reveals the fact that the object and the subject are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Thus, the object is only an illusion created out of the formless subject. The subject alone is real and exists eternal. 

Remember 

By observing nature you will not find the truth you are seeking but by realizing the unreal nature of the universe the truth you are seeking will be revealed on its own.

Chandogya Upanishads: ~ “This universe comes forth from Brahman and will return to Brahman. Verily, all is Brahman. A person is what his deep desire is. It is our deepest desire in this life that shapes the life to come. So let us direct our deepest desires to realize the Self.

Ashtavakra Gita:~ “The universe rises from the Soul, the innermost Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus know the ‘Self’ to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sankara said: ~A.A~ 88. When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman (consciousness), and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

The ‘Self’ is not the mind. The mind is present in the form of not the world in which we exist.  The world appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (non-duality).    

The ‘Self’ is the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness pervades everything and everywhere in all three states. Thus, diversity is created out of single stuff. That stuff is consciousness.

Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman because there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.   From the standpoint of the Soul, form, time and space are one, in essence. 

In spirituality, God means the ultimate truth or Brahman. Self–realization is truth-realization. Truth-realization is God-realization.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.  

That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ “Brahman is the truth The World is Unreal everything is Truly Brahman and nothing else has any value.

If you are seeking truth then do not waste time finding a Guru and becoming his slave.  The Gurudom belongs to the religious and yogic path and it is nothing to do with the Advaitic path.

Upanishads:~  Fools dwelling in darkness, but thinking they wise and erudite, go round and round, by various tortuous paths, like the blind led by the blind. (Upanishads Nikilanada - Ch II-5 P-14)

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 clay and that single clay 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 but perfect understanding and assimilation of ‘what is what’ leads to realizing the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

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

Remember:~ 

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, in order to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman

~then why indulge in studying philosophy.

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

 ~then why indulge in rituals.

Sage Sankara says: ~ There is no need to indulge in yoga, in order 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 stick 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

The seeker of truth must thirst for Sage Sankara’s wisdom that is all that matters.+

Advaita is universal. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the innermost Self. The world in which you exist is created out of single stuff. That single stuff is consciousness. Knowledge of the single stuff is Advaitic wisdom.

Advaitic truth is very simple, but it is very difficult to realize because you have accumulated mental garbage from different sources in the name of Advaita. 

Until you discard all the accumulated knowledge you will never be able to realize the Advaitic truth, which is hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya. 

The Advaita is the nature of the Soul, the Self shines in its own awareness when wisdom dawns. 

The Advaita is the Soul is the cause and the support of all that exists as the world in which we exist. Advaita is the nature of God, the Self. 

The Advaita is present in the form of consciousness. Advaita is the root element of the universe. From the Advaita, the universe comes into existence. In the Advaita, the universe resides. And into the Advaita, the universe is dissolved. The Advaita is the parent of all that is there.

To get rid the ignorance, the only remedy is  Advaitic wisdom or Self-knowledge. Self-knowledge is to realize the ‘Self’ is not you, but the ‘Self is the  Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Why you are struggling to get Self-realization.  There is no need to go from one mountain to another, one Guru to another, one Ashram to another, and read book after book.

Realize the world, in which you exist is nothing but the consciousness. Without consciousness, the world, in which you exist ceases to exist.   Thus, there no second thing exists other than consciousness.  

Thus, everything is consciousness whether it exists as the world, in which you exist or without the world, in which you exist. 

Realizing consciousness as the ultimate truth is truth realization. Truth-realization is Self-realization. Self-realization is God-realization. 

India is the home of mysticism and deification and very few are keen on rational Advaitic truth. 

Remember:~

Sage Sankara gave religion and scholasticism and yoga no less than philosophy, to the world. He was great enough to be able to do so.  His commentary on Manduka Upanishads is pure philosophy, but many of his other books are presented from a religious standpoint to help those who cannot rise up to philosophy.

In Brahma Sutra Sage  Sankara takes the position that there is another entity outside us, i.e. the wall really exists separately from the mind. This was because Sage  Sankara explains in Manduka that those who study the Sutras are religious minds, and intellectual children, hence his popular viewpoint to assist them. These people are afraid to go deeper because it means being heroic enough to refuse to accept Sruti, and God's authority, in case they mean punishment by God.

Sage Sankara says: Keep the scriptures for children but throw them on the fire for wise seekers.

In Brahma Sutras Sage Sankara takes for granted, and assumes that a world was created: He there mixes dogmatic theology with philosophy.

That God created the world is an absolute lie; nevertheless, you will find Sage Sankara (in his commentary on Vedanta Sutras) clearly says this! He has to adapt his teachings to his audience, reserving the highest for philosophical minds.

Remember:~

The text of Brahma Sutras is based on religion and dogmatism, but in the commentary Sankara cleverly introduced some philosophy. If it is objected that a number of Upanishads are equally dogmatic because they also begin by assuming Brahman, but a few Upanishads do not but prove Brahman at the end of a train of proof.

The causality and creation, but are for religious people only.  Religion is only for those who are unable to understand the truth beyond form, time, and space. Religion is not final. It only gives satisfaction to the populace. The Self - knowledge is for the whole of humanity to free them from experiencing birth, life, death, and the world as reality.

People of small intelligence follow religion and believe that the world was created by God. But how do they know that He did so? When a pot is created, one can see both pot and its maker, but not in the case of the world.

Sage Sankara‘s doctrines spread after his lifetime.  Very few were capable of understanding his wisdom.  The orthodox pundit’s followers are not Gnanis or have grasped the Advaitic wisdom.

Sage Sankara varied his practical advice and doctrinal teaching according to the people he was amongst. He never told them to give up their particular religion or beliefs or metaphysics completely; he only told them to give up the worst features of abuse: at the same time he showed just one step forward toward the truth.  The followers of Sage  Sankara have constituted a religious sect. Thus, all movements ultimately degenerate.

According to Sage  Sankara Orthodoxy which is stuck to the ritualistic pursuit is meant for the ignorant populace.   The seeker of truth has to discard the orthodox baggage.  The Secker of truth must thirst for Sage Sankara’s wisdom is all that matters. 

Sage  Sankara says:~ One must first know what is before him. If he cannot know that, what else can he know or understand? If he gives up the external world in his inquiry, he cannot get the whole truth.

Sage Sankara's Truth has got two aspects: the dualistic perspective and the nondualistic perspective.

Sage  Sankara gave religious, ritual, or dogmatic instruction to the populace but the Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it. Hence the interpretation of his writings by commentators is often confusing because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

Sage  Sankara taught that it was only through direct knowledge of Advaita that one could be enlightened.

Sage Sankara’s critics accused him of teaching Buddhism in the garb of Santana Dharma because his non-dualistic ideals were a bit radical to contemporary Vedic philosophy. However, it may be noted that while the Later Buddhists arrived at a changeless, deathless, absolute truth after their insightful understanding of the unreality of samsara, historically Vedantins never liked this idea.

Although Advaita also proposes the theory of Maya, explaining the universe as a "trick of a magician", Sage Sankara and his followers see this as a consequence of their basic premise that Atman is real. Their idea of Maya emerges from their belief in the reality of Atman, rather than the other way around.

Sage Sankara was a peripatetic orthodox monk who traveled the length and breadth of India. The more enthusiastic followers of the Advaita tradition claim that he was chiefly responsible for "driving the Buddhists away". Historically the decline of Buddhism in India is known to have taken place long after Sage Sankara or even Kumarila Bhatta (who according to a legend had "driven the Buddhists away" by defeating them in debates), sometime before the Muslim invasion into Afghanistan (earlier Gandhara).

Although today's followers of Advaita believe Sage Sankara argued against Buddhists in person, a historical source, the Madhaviya Sankara Vijayam, indicates that Sage  Sankara sought debates with Mimamsa, Samkhya, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, and Yoga scholars as keenly as with any Buddhists. In fact, his arguments against the Buddhists are quite mild in the Upanishad Bhashyas, while they border on the acrimonious in the Brahma Sutra Bhashya.

The Visishtadvaita and Dvaita schools believe in an ultimately attribute Atman. They differ passionately with Advaita and believe that his attributeless Atman is not different from the Buddhist Shunyata (nothingness ness) ~ much to the dismay of the Advaita School. A careful study of the Buddhist Shunyata will show that it is in some ways metaphysically similar as the Atman. Whether Sage Sankara agrees with the Buddhists is not very clear from his commentaries on the Upanishads. His arguments against Buddhism in the Brahma Sutra Bhashya are more a representation of Vedantic traditional debate with Buddhists than a true representation of his own individual belief.

Chandogya Upanishad says: ~   Sarvam khalvidam brahma ~ all this (universe) is verily Brahman. By following back all of the relative appearances in the world, we eventually return to that from which it is all manifest – the non-dual reality.

  

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman (God in truth) is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal, and Akarta (non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object It is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other besides it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constitutes the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal.

Sage  Sankara: ~"That which permeates all, which nothing transcends and which, like the universal space around us, fills everything completely from within and without, that Supreme non-dual Brahman  (God)."

Thus, Truth realization is Self-realization. Self-realization is God-realization.  God- realization itself is real worship. :~Santthosh Kumar 

Prohibition of idol worship in Yajurveda.+

Prohibition of idol worship in Yajurveda: ~

Orthodox claim that idolatry in India does not mean anything horrible. Idolatry in no way helps undeveloped minds to grasp the spiritual truth.

It is the ignorant people who indulge in idolatry and rituals even though they are highly qualified with university degrees.

Yajur Veda – chapter- 32:~ God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. He cannot be seen directly by anyone. He pervades all beings and all directions.

Yajurveda: ~ There is no image of God in truth. God in truth is unborn and eternal. (Chapter 32, Verse 3)

Yajurveda: ~ God in truth is nondual and pure" (Chapter 40, Verse) 

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Yajur Veda indicates that:~

They sink deeper in darkness those who worship sambhuti. (Sambhuti means created things, for example, table, chair, idol, etc (Yajurveda 40:9)

Those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, and bodies (human and the like) in place of God are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time." (Yajurveda 40:9.)

Why worship and glorify the non-Vedic Gods in place of Vedic God when Veda bars such activities and it also warns people who indulge in such activities are enveloped in still greater darkness, in other words, they are extremely foolish, fall into an awful hell of pain and sorrow, and suffer terribly for a long time.

Remember:~

Rig Veda: ~ 'Prajnanam Brahma'- Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Rig-Veda 1-164-46 and Y.V 32-1 clearly mention that God is “One”.

Rig Veda declares God is ‘ONE’ and God is Atman, then why believe and worship in place of the real God.

Rig Veda: ~"Say this, all one God in many names" (Rigveda, book 1, Hymn 164, Verse 46)

Rig Veda: ~ Do not worship anyone besides God in truth alone, praise God in truth alone" (Book 8, Hymn 1, Verse 1)

Rig Veda: ~ Praise God in truth would matchless and alone" (Book 6, Hymn 45, Verse 16)

Do not accept any other God other than the Soul. The Soul is God in truth, Nothing is real but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. Nothing matters but realizing God in truth. God in truth is everywhere and in everything. Let these words be inscribed in your subconscious.

God in truth is hidden by the illusory universe. God in truth alone is real and eternal and all else is an illusion.:

Brahman is merely a word to indicate the ultimate truth of God in truth. The ultimate truth itself is God in truth.

Those whose intelligence has been stolen by ignorance worship demigods":

Remember:~ 

The Vedas talk about Brahman which refers to the ultimate truth or ultimate reality. The consciousness is the ultimate truth, therefore, the consciousness is Brahman and Brahman or God in truth.

Vedas do not permit idol worship. All the idolized Gods are not Vedic God because Vedic God is Atman. The Puranic Gods priests are referring to the Puranic Brahma as God they are ignorant of the God in Vedas even though they speak of Vedas.

Priests do not who understands the meaning of the Brahman, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Vedic Gods, hardly have any significance in the present-day Hindu belief system. The Gods and Goddesses important to the Hindus of today are Ram, Krishna, Kali, Ganesh, Hanuman, Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and the respective consorts of the last three, namely, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Shakti. None of these deities figured prominently in the Vedic pantheon and some of them are clearly non-Vedic.

God exists prior to the form, time, and space. The form, time, and space cease to exist as a reality when wisdom dawns. Thus, the Gods and Gurus have no place in the domain of the Advaitic reality. Advaita is the nature of the Soul, which is the real God. Thus, the Self-realization is the only way to God realization.

Thus, it clearly indicates the God is without the form and attributes and ever free. The real God is stolen by ignorance and people worship ignorance as God.

When Upanishads and Vedas declare that, “God is the form of the Athma, and God is indeed Athma itself” then why to accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

The religion makes the humanity remain in ignorance of the reality of their true existence with its beliefs, superstitions and dogmas,+

Religion makes humanity remain in ignorance of the reality of their true existence with its beliefs, superstitions, and dogmas, the ideas of heaven, hell, sin, karma, and rebirth.

The heaven the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

When Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas what God supposed to be then all these Gods and Goddesses which people worship have no value form the ultimate standpoint.

For those ignorant who believe their experience of birth, life, death and the world as a reality, think that, the effect of action done in previous births, as the Prarabdha in this birth, but for the realized one the present birth, life, death and the world itself is an illusion because they have realized the fact that, waking experience itself is an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of the consciousness.

Isa Upanishads indicates that: ~ By worshipping Gods and Goddesses and going to the world of Gods after death is of no use.

The time one spends in ritualistic practices is wasted; one can spend the same time moving forward towards Self-knowledge, which is the main goal. One cannot reach the nondual destination by glorifying god and goddesses and by doing that, one goes deeper and deeper into darkness. It surely indicates the fact that the seeker of truth has to drop the worshiping god and goddess in order to get self-knowledge.

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

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 Sri, 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.

Sage Sankara:~ (11.2) In short, 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.

Isa Upanishads: ~ Religious Rituals (Avidya) is Karma (action) and therefore a hindrance. By performing Agnihotra and other sacrifices (Avidya) is a roundabout way of purifying the mind, and it is also groping in the dark.

Remember:~ 

The Vedic karma is limited only to the religious rituals, not on the whole human life. This karma theory based on human conduct must have been adopted from Buddhism and other theories based on human conducts.

When it says: Perform the obligatory karmas without any attachment to the fruits and at the same time worship Gods and Goddesses, again without any desire to go to heaven - then you can get the benefit of both, liberation and bliss. 

For those who are not yet ready to renounce, this path is recommended, it means that the religion and its idea of God and Goddesses and code of conduct, and its rituals are meant for the mass who are incapable of thinking of the beyond.

If the ‘Self’ is not the body, then the karma theory has no meaning. From the standpoint of the Soul, the innermost Self no second thing exists other than the Soul, which present in the form of the consciousness because the world in which we exist is an illusion created out of the consciousness. 

Thus, whatever karma performed by you within the world in which you exist has no value because the world in which you exist is an illusion.

Mundaka Upanishad says ~ “The rituals and the sacrifices described in the Vedas deal with lower knowledge. The sages ignored these rituals and went in search of higher knowledge. ... Such rituals are unsafe rafts for crossing the sea of samsara, of birth and death. Doomed to shipwreck are those who try to cross the sea of samsara on these poor rafts. Ignorant of their own ignorance, yet wise In their own esteem, these deluded men Proud of their vain learning go round and round Like the blind led by the blind.

The heaven the abode of physicalized Gods, where one goes after death, rebirth and karma theories based on the birth entity, which is the false self within the illusory world.

When Vedas and Upanishads give clear-cut ideas what God supposed to be then all these Gods and Goddesses which people worship have no value form the ultimate standpoint.

Religious Gods are  based on blind belief. Belief is not God. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, it means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence. God in truth is only the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~  God is Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions. 

Thus, Idolatry does not find any support from the Vedas.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe. May ye never turn away from the Atman, the Self. May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman nor worship other than the Atman?" (10:48, 5)

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself.

Religious Gods are  based on belief. Religious God cannot be considered as the center because the Soul the  ‘Self’ is the center of all that exists. Without the Soul the world in which you exist ceases to exist, it means the religious God is dependent on the Soul for his existence.

Even the Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than the consciousness.

The Brihadaranyaka Upanishad:~ "He who worships the deities as entities entirely separate from him does not know the truth. For the Gods, he is like a pasu (beast)". (1. 4. 10)

No mantras help to get rid of ignorance. All the mantras and rituals are meant for the ignorant populace, which strongly believes, the world in which he exists as a reality. For one who wants to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana, the mantas will not help to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time and space.

That is why Sage Sankara:~ VC~.61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

VC- v6~ 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. : ~Santthosh Kumaar