There were not many methods of self-realization; in fact right practice of self realization is one and only one. Indulging in Indian spirituality as detailed in Bhagavad Gita when seekers successfully remove dross impurities within, one becomes a pure soul atman forever. The cycle of birth and death for a pure soul atman ceases to exist.
In the west self realization is termed as enlightenment.
The salient features of journey of self-realization are given below:
1. Demolition of ego in totality. Only then we could hear sweet small dictates of Lord Krishna coming from within. Lord Krishna is the soul atman existing in our heart.
2. By reducing our desires and wishes in stages we finally overpower five senses and mind. The moment this happens one reaches state of Nirvikalpa Samadhi (absolute nothingness), when not a single thought entered our brain uninvoked.
To remove darkness of ignorance, overpower five senses and mind jnana wisdom contained in Bhagavad Gita gets necessitated. We can negate karma to zero only by indulgence in jnana yoga.
3. Practicing absolute celibacy for a minimum period of 12 years in continuation seekers finally awakened their kundalini shakti fully, the coiled Serpentine energy lying dormant in base of spine. Full awakening of kundalini announces 100% activation of brain. One immediately reaches state of enlightenment, becomes a bodhi, a Jina… a Mahavira forever.
100% activation of brain leads to opening of Sahasra Pushpa (thousand petalled Lotus) existing in our brain behind forehead. There was nothing beyond this stage to be achieved by human beings.