From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, then Consciousness still remains as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.+

This universe is only the veil of ignorance on the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Self is not you but the Soul, which is hidden by the universe. The Soul is hidden by the universe because the universe is merely a dualistic illusion or Maya created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.*

Remember: ~ All is consciousness. The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When the universe disappears, then Consciousness still remains as the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth. 

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

When you finally realize the ‘‘Self’ ‘is not you but the ‘‘Self’’ is the Soul then you will realize the world in which you exist is merely an illusion created out of the Soul. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness.

Sage Sankara says: - VC-47 All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the non-Self.*

Till you think you are an individual separate from the world and the world existed prior to you and you are born in it afterward ignorance will prevail as a reality. Till ignorance is there the universe prevails as a reality.

The universe itself is what God is all about. The totality of the universe is what God is all about. You just study the nature of the universe with all the seriousness and sincerity to unfold the mystery of the universe. That is all you have to do.

Until the mystery of the universe is not solved, the Self hidden by the illusory universe will not be realized.

Consciousness is the one single reality or Brahman. The individual self is a reality within the illusory universe or Maya.

Remember:~ 

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-63 ~ "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go. It can go only by an inquiry into the nature of the external world.

If the inquiry does not include the universe then it is incomplete.

Sage Sankara: ~ Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’ how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.

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, 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 human thought.

It is erroneous to believe the general impression is that the universe disappears to a Gnani, that he sees nothing in Samadhi. Only by deluded persons will have such an impression? Nothing is destroyed. Only ignorance disappears and the unreal nature of the universe is exposed. The universe which appears as the waking experience is the dualistic illusion.

A Gnani has the full and firm conviction that everything is consciousness in the midst of dualistic illusion. The Soul, Self being aware of its true nature in the midst of dualistic illusion is called Self-awareness.

The universe or the waking experience will not disappear. It is there always but the unreal nature of the waking experience is exposed in the midst of dualistic illusion through Advaitic wisdom.

If one thinks its mere disappearance in yogic Samadhi is the ultimate truth or Brahman, then he would get it in deep sleep. Thus, the yogic Samadhi is not the Advaitic wisdom. Thoughtlessness is not Advaitic wisdom.

Thoughtlessness is not wisdom. The thinker & thought and the world are part of the illusion. The thought will not arise without form, time, and space. The form, time, and space will not arise without the mind. The mind ceases to exist without the Soul which is in the form of the Spirit. Therefore, there is a need to know the “Self” is not limited to the physical entity (you), but it pervades in everything and everywhere in the experience of diversity (waking or dream).

Deep sleep is the state of thoughtlessness, silence, wordlessness, silence but it is not considered as a state of oneness because anyone can take a sleeping pill and will be able to get the state of oneness. 

Thus, trying to imitate the state of oneness in duality by observing silence, thoughtlessness, and wordlessness, or by yogic Samadhi or surrendering to the physical Guru, the Advaitic wisdom will not dawn. Without the Advaitic wisdom, ignorance will not vanish. Thus, getting rid of ignorance through wisdom is the only way to realize the ultimate truth or Brahman. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar