The universe is a reality in the state of ignorance because the ‘I’ itself is the universe.+

The ‘I’ is the state of ignorance. The universe is a reality in the state of ignorance because the ‘I’ itself is the universe.

Without the ‘I’ the universe ceases to exist.  Therefore, there is a need to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality.  Without realizing what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality it is impossible to unfold the mystery hidden by the ‘I’.

 Who am ‘I’? or I AM THAT  teaching will not help to unfold the mystery because they limited the ‘I’ to the individual whereas the ‘I’ is the whole universe. Thus, the ‘I-centric Gurus and their teachings have to be discarded to unfold the truth of the whole, not the part.

That is why Sage Sankara VC~.61. For one who has been bitten by the serpent of Ignorance, the only remedy is the knowledge of Brahman. Of what avail are the Vedas and (other) Scriptures, Mantras (sacred formulae) and medicines to such a one?

VC-  v6~ Let erudite scholars quote all the scripture, let Gods be invoked through sacrifices, let elaborate rituals be performed, let personal Gods be propitiated---yet, without the realization of one‘s identity with the Self, there shall be no liberation for the individual, not  even in the lifetimes of a hundred Brahmas put together

Sage Sankara goes on to say: ~A sickness is not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman (God).” Brahman must be realized. Until you allow this apparent universe to dissolve from your consciousness until you have realized Brahman, how can you find liberation just by saying the word Brahman? The result is merely noise. Until a man has destroyed his enemies and taken possession of the splendor and wealth of the kingdom, he cannot become a king by simply saying “I am a king.”

A buried treasure is not uncovered by merely uttering the words: “Come forth.” You must follow the right directions, dig, remove the stones and earth from above it, and then make it your own. In the same way, the pure truth of the Atman, which is buried under Maya and the effects of Maya, can be reached by meditation, contemplation, and other spiritual disciplines but never by subtle arguments.

Sage Sankara’s wisdom reveals: ~ Atman is the only the ultimate reality or Brahman or God in truth.

Advaita means the Soul, the innermost Self, which is second to none. The Soul, which is present in the form of the Spirit or the consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God. Advaita is the nature of God, the innermost Self. Advaita is God. Advaita is the fullness of consciousness.  

Remember:~  

All is consciousness.  The whole universe is consciousness. From consciousness, the universe comes. When universe disappears, the consciousness still remains without form, time and space. 

Sage Goudapada's rational exposition of Advaita: ~ “Whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis is unreal”. 

Thus, whatever seen, known, believed and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality) but waking experience (duality) itself’ is merely an illusion. 

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. 

Those who assert the world is not an illusion because they are unaware of the fact that, the world is the reality within the illusion (waking). And they are frightened to consider the world as an illusion. Without considering the world as an illusion, it is impossible to acquire ‘Self’-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Sage Sankara:~ VC~.63: "Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know the 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. 

After verifying through deeper inquiry if one finds the world is the reality within the illusion then he cannot again say the world is not an illusion 

If one is frightened to accept the world is an illusion (waking) then he is unfit to acquire Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana. 

Those who stuck with the reality of the world are stuck with the reality of the individual experiences of birth, life, and death, which takes place within the unreal world. 

Thus. the pursuit of truth is for those who have the courage to accept the reality as it is, that is the reality without form, time, and space. 

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. 

Thus, you, your experience birth, life, death, and the world are merely an illusion created out of consciousness,  consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but is unreal, in the sense, that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.  

In Self-awareness-- the witness and witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There is no second thing exists other than consciousness. 

Thus, whatever seen, known, believed and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality) but waking experience (duality) itself’ is merely an illusion. 

A person, who stamped his foot on the ground to refute to show the world, is real, ignore that in the dream he would do exactly the same--stamp his dream foot on the ground and assert it to be real. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar