Sage Sankara pointed out those rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less moksha.+

Sage Sankara pointed out those rituals could in no way bring about wisdom, much less moksha.

That is why Sage Sankara gave religious, ritual or dogmatic instruction to the populace, but Advaitic wisdom only to the few who could rise to it.

If you mix Advaitic orthodoxy with Advaitic wisdom create confusion,   because they mix up the two viewpoints. Thus, they may assert that ritual is a means of realizing Brahman, which is absurd.

First Mundaka - Chapter 2 (9) - Children, immersed in ignorance in various ways, flatter themselves, saying: We have accomplished life's purpose. Because these performers of karma do not know the Truth owing to their attachment, they fall from heaven, misery-stricken, when the fruit of their work is exhausted.

First Mundaka - Chapter 2 (10)- Ignorant fools, regarding sacrifices and humanitarian works as the highest, do not know any higher good. Having enjoyed their reward on the heights of heaven, gained by good works, they enter again this world or a lower one.

Remember:~

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 more advanced seeker who seeks to know Brahman (Self).

Rituals, sacrifices are Karma. Karma is meant for the first audience, to help lead its followers along the way. However, Advaitic Gnana nana is meant for those who have an intense urge to realize the ‘Self’ hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya (universe). 

Sage Goudapada says that: - The merciful Veda teaches karma and Upaasana to people of lower and middling intellect, while Jnana is taught to those of higher intellect.

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?

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

Adhyasa Bhashya of Sage Sankara:~ (11) As regards the rituals, Sage Sri, 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

Remember:~

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?

 Everyone’s individual experiences are not the same.  Some are so much immersed in materiality, religion, duty-bound towards their family and society, and they will not be attracted to the path of wisdom or understand and assimilate the Advaitic truth, because they accepted the world (dualistic illusion) as a reality whereas the Sage Sankara says the world is mere an illusion.

Many are good at acrobatics with words, but their knowledge is limited to the domain of form, time, and space.  When the inner work is in progress then the realization will happen as the conviction about the Soul, the innermost Self, becomes firm. :~Santthosh Kumaar