Hinduism scriptures equate state of self realization with enlightenment. Practically both mean the same. Indulging in spirituality detailed in Bhagavad Gita when human beings succeed negating karma to zero, one reaches the state of self realization forever. Enlightenment also means liberating self from cycle of birth and death forever. In absence of dross impurities within when a soul atman achieves state of total purity, one is stated to have reached state of enlightenment.
Becoming a pure soul atman is what is meant by self-realization, enlightenment, reaching god and which is also the cosmic goal of life on mother earth. Every single human being no matter what our desire shall one day indulge in spirituality to reach state of enlightenment, self-realization becoming a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed in the bargain.
Whether we do it now in present earthly domain or leave it for future manifestations depends on us. Our present life form is limited to only one life, the present earthly domain. If we sincerely wish becoming a pure soul atman in present life time then our indulgence in spirituality contained in Bhagavad Gita is necessitated. There was no other path or remedy to reach state of enlightenment. Indulgence in teachings of Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita and also Upanishads (independent spiritual treatises) was the only way.
We should realize this fact that in Hinduism seekers in hundreds finally succeeded in reaching stage of enlightenment. Comparatively in Buddhism and Christianity only the preceptors themselves succeeded in gaining enlightenment. With advent of Gautama Buddha Buddhism religion came into being and advent of Jesus Christ resulted in Christianity. Other than Gautama Buddha and Jesus Christ none in Buddhism or Christianity ever attempted to gain enlightenment to reach state of Gautama Buddha or Jesus Christ themselves.
This is the biggest fallacy of followers of Buddhism and Christianity that commoners could not follow spirituality to reach state of Gautama Buddha or Jesus Christ.
Hinduism scriptures openly advocate that every single human being on mother earth had spark of divinity within to become a Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ or Prophet Mohammed in our lifetime.
Merely following teachings of preceptors, enlightened ones do not mean anything and so does offering prayers and worship. Essence of spirituality, essence of life laid in becoming an enlightened one ourselves, liberating self from cycle of birth and death forever. We have to become a pure soul atman in the cosmic journey of life one day.
Self realization stems from the word realization of the self which means when human beings indulging in spirituality realized their true inner self existing in their heart and soul atman, the spirit. As per Hinduism scriptures we were primarily a spiritual being manifesting human form. To cleanse self of dross impurities within this spirit needs manifesting form after another. Of its own no spirit could purify itself. Spirituality was all about taking the inner journey towards our soul atman existing in heart.
Negating karma to zero, establishing total control over five senses and mind when human beings reached state of absolute purity, one finally realizes our true inner self and we finally become a pure soul atman in the cosmic journey of life. Reaching state of self realization announces end of cosmic journey for a soul atman. In the last about 150 years amongst 7 billion people existing world over only Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana finally succeeded in reaching state of self realization, god realization.
On the spiritual platform the level of enlightened ones like Mahavira, Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ and Prophet Mohammed and Sri Ramakrishna Paramhansa and Maharshi Ramana was the same. The free spirit of all these enlightened souls could be invoked by normal human beings on mother earth any given moment of life. This becomes possible when we indulged in spirituality not religion (path of rituals).
After liberation from cycle of birth and death all souls’ atmans liberated themselves from bondage of solar system forever. These free souls atmans could travel to any part of cosmos at will. Invoking them on mother earth for their blessings was part of spiritual life. I have done it all my life. The moment we invoked the pure souls of these enlightened ones, an energy form precipitated before us immediately. It remained with us as long as we were 100% pure in our thinking process. The moment a single impure thought entered us, the free soul vanished.
To learn all about self realization, enlightenment we must indulge in spirituality contained in Bhagavad Gita and Upanishads.