Are we trying to cleanse ourselves with drain water instead of Ganges water?

Material sense speculation leads to the

conclusion that the Supreme is formless. It is because of such mental

speculation that the conditioned soul remains in ignorance under the

spell of illusory energy. The Supreme Person has to be understood by the

transcendental sound vibrated by Him in Bhagavad-gita, wherein He says

that there is nothing superior to Himself; the impersonal Brahman

effulgence is resting on His personality. The purified, absolute vision

of Bhagavad-gita is compared to the River Ganges. Ganges water is so pure

that it can purify even the asses and cows. But anyone who, disregarding

the pure Ganges, wishes to be purified instead by the filthy water

flowing in a drain, cannot be successful. Similarly, one can successfully

attain pure knowledge of the Absolute only by hearing from the pure

Absolute Himself.

Srimad Bhagavatam 3.32.28 purport