Sage Sankara:-All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms is nothing else but consciousness.+

In fact, Sage Sankara states a paradox- the world is and is not. It is neither real nor unreal. It leads us to recognize the existence of Maya (illusion). He thinks that the world is illusory from one perspective and from the second it is nothing but Brahman (God in truth), itself in manifestation. This apparent world is Maya and has its basis in Brahman, the Eternal. It looks as real. It has names and forms and actually, it is not real In the light of true knowledge, it disappears and Self-alone shines as real. However, Sage Sankara's Mayavada has not been accepted by many preachers and philosophers.

When Sage Sankara says clearly, that the universe is not real. He says that Brahman and Atman are one. The ultimate and the Absolute Truth is the Self, which is one though appearing as many in different individuals. The individual has no reality. Only the Soul, the Self is Real; the rest, mental and physical are but passing appearances, then it indicates the form (waking) is unreal and the formless soul (consciousness) is real. Therefore, only Atman is real because there is no second thing that exists other than Atman, which is in the form of consciousness.

Advaitic wisdom of Sage Sankara is the means to Self-realization. Self-realization is the realization of the highest truth Self-realization destroys the root of ignorance, the seed of the illusory universe.

Since in the ultimate analysis the problem is one of eradicating the foundational ignorance, Sage Sankara says Self-knowledge alone is the means to the attainment of liberation and brings an end to ignorance.

Sage Sankara says those who possess a clear knowledge of the Self and the not-Self, who renounce the ignorance, who determine the nature of the universe in the light of the Advaitic wisdom are Gnanis and their thought ever dwell on Brahman only.

Remember:~

Rig Veda:~ Prajnanam Brahma: - Consciousness is the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Rig Veda: ~ The Atman is the cause; Atman is the support of all that exists in this universe.

Sage Sankara ~ VC~ "All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman (Soul) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “The universe raises from the Soul, the Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus, know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sankara says the transparent Truth of the Self, which is hidden by the illusion, is to be attained through the instructions of a knower of Brahman, (Gnani).

First, know ‘what is the truth’ and ‘what is untruth’ for sure. Without realizing what untruth truth is, it is difficult to know what truth is.

When the sky, clouds, and the world in which you exist are made of single clay then there is no second thing that exists, other than that clay. That clay is the Soul, which is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The reality is hidden by the unreality. The world in which we exist hides the truth. Whatever belongs to you is unreal. The words and thoughts belong to you, not to the Soul, which is the Self.

Whatever has name and form and attributes and whatever belongs to form, time and space are an illusion. The illusion hides the Spirit, which is God. The illusion and Spirit are one in essence. Spirit, the God alone is real and eternal.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the witness consciousness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things. It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theatre, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.

One knows everything within the waking experience is consciousness because the waking experience itself is merely an illusion created out of consciousness. The physical apparatus is absent in deep sleep, so one cannot know anything by intuition because there is no duality in deep sleep. This proves that the duality is present only in waking or dream. And also, it proves that if there is such a faculty as intuition it must be limited to the physical self (ego) within the physical existence(universe).

You are a body with a name. It is foolish to say I am not the body when the ‘Self' is not you because the ‘Self’ is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul, the Self is nothing to with you and your experience of the birth, life, death, and the world because the Soul, the ‘Self is birthless and deathless. The Soul is birthless and deathless because it is the ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness pervades everywhere and in everything in all three states.

The Soul, the Self is not within the body but the world in which you exists rises from the Soul, the Self. :

To say the universe is an illusion without first examining it and inquiring into its nature thoroughly is to delude oneself. This world is common to every one of us; therefore, the seeker of truth must begin his inquiry with it.

It is only after he has inquired into the nature of the objective world that he realizes the universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness is absolutely free from all the limitations of Maya.

First, the seeker must inquire into the nature of the three states to realize the three states are one in essence. One has to observe everything in the three states because all three states are one in essence and that essence is consciousness (Soul or Atman) Atman is Brahman.

The seeker should not shut his eyes to the nature of the three states because they are merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

Form, time, and space are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman is God. Brahman cannot be described because description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than Soul, the Self.

The three states have no independent existence. The Soul which is present in the form of consciousness alone has real existence. The three states are a mere illusion created out of consciousness.

A Gnani sees only unity in diversity, just like a goldsmith estimating the gold in various items of jewelry sees only gold. When one identifies the Self with the form then only the form, time, and space are present. But when one transcends form, time, and space the duality never remains as reality: ~ Santthosh Kumaar