From nondualistic perspective there is no universe: it is only a delusion. From the dualistic perspective, there is a universe.+

From the non-dualistic perspective, there is no universe: it is only a  delusion. From the dualistic perspective, there is a universe. 

Both are real from their own perspective. The universe is an illusion from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self, and the universe is a reality from the standpoint of the ego.

The Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness is the source of the universe from where the universe rises and subsides.

In reality, the Soul alone is real and the universe is merely an illusion. The illusion has no value in reality.

In reality, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness itself is God.  In Self-awareness, the universe loses itself in Soul or Brahman, or God in truth. 

The Soul is Brahman or God in truth. The universe is present in the form of the ‘I’. God in truth is without the ‘I’. God in truth is the witness of the ‘I’, which appears and disappears.  

People say I AM THAT ~ I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I,  it is erroneous to use the word ‘I’ for the Self, because ‘I’  represents the form, time, and space whereas the Soul, the  Self is formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

Bhagvad Gita: ~ “The permanent is always there, only the transient ‘I’ comes and goes. (2.18)

Remember:~

The ‘I’ disappears as deep sleep, so what is the use of being attached to it? It is impermanent and illusory because ‘I’ is physical awareness. Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. ‘I-less awareness is Self-awareness.

It is erroneous to identify the Soul the Self as 'I' or 'I AM' because the Soul the Self is not 'I' or I AM’. The Soul the Self, is that witness of the 'I'.

To understand the false nature of the ‘I’, the Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana is necessary.

The Self is not ‘I’, but the Self is the Soul which is the witness of the ‘I’.  Holding the ‘I as the Self leads to hallucination based on the imagination.

The ‘I’ hides the Soul. Therefore, the seeker has to realize ‘what is this ‘I’ supposed to be in actuality

If the Self is not ‘I’ but the Self is the Soul then on the standpoint of the Soul, the  Self: ~

Where is the ‘I’?

Where is the ego?

Where is the body?

Where is the mind?

Where is the world in which you exist?

Where are the form, time, and space?

Where is the waking experience?

Where is the duality?

Where is void?

They are or have become one with the Soul which is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

The ‘I’ is present only when the mind is present. The mind is present only when the world is present. The world is present only when there is the waking experience.

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that the waking experience is not considered different from the world. The world is not considered different from the mind. The mind is not considered different from the’ I’. This truth has to be assimilated.

The ‘I’ is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. ‘I’ is not the subject. The ‘I’ is an object to the Soul, which is the formless, timeless, and spaceless subject.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the world in which you exist is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then three states, are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the form, time, and space are bound to be an illusion.

If I’ is an illusion then the individual experience of birth, life, death is bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the words and thoughts are bound to be an illusion.

If the ‘I’ is an illusion then the duality is bound to be an illusion.

The seeker has to make sure what is this ‘I’ supposed to be? The seeker has to make sure the unreal nature of the ‘I’ which comes and goes to realize the truth, which is beyond the form, time, and space

The ‘I’ hides the Soul, the Self.

People think the ‘I’ without the body is the Self. The seeker has to understand the fact that ‘I’ is not the Self, but the witness of the ‘I’ is the true Self, which is eternal.

That is why Ashtavakra Gita 16:10:~ If you desire liberation, but you still say "I," if you feel the ‘Self’ is the ‘I’, you are not a wise man or a seeker. You are simply a man who suffers.

People are stuck with the reality of the ‘I’, which they take as real because some Gurus have propagated the Self is the ‘I’. is no need to convince such a mindset. The seeker of truth accepts only the truth nothing but the truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar

Holding I AMNESS or I AM as Self-awareness is a great blunder caused by some scriptures and Gurus of the past misled the seeking world.+

Awareness is the nature of the Soul, the Self, which is present in the form of consciousness because there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul the Self. Thus, the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman. 

I AMNESS or I AM is physical awareness. Physical awareness is not Self-awareness. Holding I AMNESS or I AM as Self-awareness is a great blunder caused by some scriptures and Gurus of the past misled the seeking world

Remember:~ 

By thinking I am not the body, I AM FORMLESS, I AM BRAHMAN or I AM GOD,  the ignorance will not vanish.

People say Aham Brahmasmi -- I am not the body, I am formless, I am God, I am Brahman. But when Brahman is, how can "I" remain? Only Brahman remains, not I.

The Ultimate truth itself is God.  When the Upnishdic quote:  Ahum Brahmasmi is physicalized it gives wrong interpretation – I AM BRAHMAN.  But the Self is not ‘I AM’. 

The Self is the formless Soul which is in the form of the Spirit.   Ahum Brahmasmi, = the Soul the Self is Brahman – that is Atman is Brahman.  Thus, it is wrong to say ‘I AM’ Brahman because the Self is not ‘I’ or ‘I AM’ but the Self is the witness of the ‘I’ or ‘I AM’.

Yoga Vasistha:~ "Teachers, interpretations of sacred texts, the force of religious merit--none of these lead to the realization of that Ultimate Truth which is revealed in the clear reflection of the Self, engendered from contact with Gnanis."

Sage Sankara: ~ ‘Reality can be realized only with the eye of understanding, not just by a scholar. What the moon is like must be seen with one's own eyes. How can others do it for you?"~Vivekachoodamani. 

When the ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ or ‘you’ but the ‘Self is the Soul then what is the use of saying I am not the body, I am not the mind, I am not this or I am not that.  What is the use of saying ‘I AM THAT’ without knowing what the ‘Self’ is in actuality?

Remember:~

Self–Awareness is not physical awareness. Physical awareness is present as the waking or dream experience. And physical awareness disappears as deep sleep, which is also a state of ignorance.

Self-awareness or Brahmic awareness arises when Advaitic wisdom dawns. Advaitic  Wisdom dawns when Soul, the 'Self' becomes aware of itself in the midst of the form, time and space (duality or waking) by realizing the form, time and space are one in essence.

How can you see God without knowing what God is in actuality?  When the ‘Self not you how can you find God within you? God is not within you. Those who say God is within you just propagating half-baked knowledge.

First, know what God suppose to be in actuality. 

Yajurveda – chapter- 32:~ “It has been said that God Supreme or Supreme Spirit has no ‘Pratima’ (idol) or material shape. God cannot be seen directly by anyone. God pervades all beings and all directions.

God with form, name, and attributes does not find any support from the Vedas.

Sage Sankara’s Supreme Brahman is impersonal, Nirguna (without Gunas or attributes), Nirakara (formless), Nirvisesha (without special characteristics), immutable, eternal and Akarta (non-agent). It is above all needs and desires. It is always the Witnessing Subject. It can never become an object as it is beyond the reach of the senses. Brahman is non-dual, one without a second. It has no other beside it. It is destitute of difference, either external or internal. Brahman cannot be described because the description implies a distinction. Brahman cannot be distinguished from any other than It. In Brahman, there is not a distinction between substance and attribute. Sat-Chit-Ananda constituted the very essence or Svarupa of Brahman, and not just Its attributes. The Nirguna Brahman of Sage Sankara is impersonal.

Even Bhagavad Gita says: ~ Brahmano hi pratisthaham ~ Brahman (God in truth) is considered the all-pervading consciousness, which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material. (14.27).

When Bhagavad Gita says, God is considered the all-pervading consciousness which is the basis of all the animate and inanimate entities and material then nothing has to be accepted as God other than consciousness.

Even Brihadaranyaka Upanishad: ~ Brahman (God in truth) is in the form of the Athma, and it is indeed Athma itself. 

First, realize the ‘Self is not within you. You are bound by the experience of birth, life, death, and the world whereas the ‘Self is birthless and deathless because it is ever formless, timeless, and spaceless existence.

The Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. Consciousness is the cause of the world in which you exist and it itself is uncaused.  Consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth. 

From the standpoint of the Soul, the  Self the world in which you exist is merely an illusion.  Thus, the world in which exists hides the Soul, which is the real God. 

Till you think the ‘Soul, the Self’ is within you, you will never be able to realize God in truth. God in truth is not limited to you but it pervades in everything and everywhere in the world in which you exist. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar