Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.+

Religion is the home of mysticism and deification, which is why they are not keen on the rational truth. Religion and scholasticism, and yoga are for those to help those who are incapable of grasping the truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

Religion is based on dogmatism, not philosophy. One finds philosophical insights here and there in religious doctrine. All the religious doctrines are dogmatic because they also begin by assuming their belief in God. The belief in God becomes the center of the religion; thus, every religion has its own idea of God, and thus, there is no universality in religious beliefs.

Religion takes the position that God is a separate entity outside us, i.e., God really exists separately from us. Orthodox people are afraid to go deeper and refuse to accept anything other than their religious authority because of punishment by God.

A Gnani says the scriptures for children, but wise seekers will think rationally.

Vedas bars human worship: ~

"They are enveloped in darkness, in other words, are steeped in ignorance and sunk in the greatest depths of misery who worship the uncreated, eternal prakrti -- the material cause of the world -- in place of the All-pervading God, But those who worship visible things born of the prakrti, such as the earth, trees, 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.":~ (Yajur Veda 40:9.)

Then why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis (human form) in place of God when the 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.

No one has ever seen God by practicing religion or yoga or indulging in glorifying the religious God and Goddesses because God exists before 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, Self-realization is the only way to God-realization.

By worshipping religious Gods and Gurus, one will not get Self-realization or God-realization.

There is no scope for a belief-based God because the belief is not God. The religion and its ideas of God are mere imagination based on the false self (ego), within the false experience (waking).

Thus, whatever beliefs are based on the false Self are bound to be a falsehood. Thus, it is erroneous to worship the matter, instead of the All-Pervading Spirit (God) and those who worship things born of matter. The religious-based Gods and Goddesses are of a form and have attributes (matter), and are not real Gods. That is why the Vedas declare that those who sink into the greatest depth of misery and suffer who worship matter.

Ishopanishad says: ~ “They are steeped in ignorance and sunk into the greatest depth of misery who worship matter, instead of the All-Pervading God, and those who worship things born of matter, like trees, animals, man, etc., are sunk deeper in misery."

Rig Veda: ~ May ye never accept another God in place of the Atman, nor worship other than the Atman

Vedas declare: ~ One should never accept another God in place of the Atman or worship other than the Atman. If one worships any other God in place of Atman, they 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."

So, it clearly indicates the so-called Gods worshiped in the temples today are not Vedic Gods. Vedas bar worship of such Gods.

Why worship and glorify the Gurus and Yogis when the Vedas bar human worship? : ~ Santthosh Kumaar