Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion, it includes birth, life and death, which happens within the world.+

Sage Sankara says the world is an illusion, it includes birth, life, and death, which happens within the world.  Thus, the seeker's main aim is to mentally trace the formless substance of the illusion, which is also the witness of the illusion. The formless substance and witness of the illusion (world) is the Atman, and this Atman itself is Brahman.

There is neither creation nor creator from the standpoint of the Soul, the Self. The creator and creation is a theory based on the false self within the false experience.   There is neither creation is the realm of ultimate truth or Brahman, because there is no scope for the duality of any sort. 

 The ultimate conclusion is this there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Everything is consciousness thus diversity has no value in light of wisdom.  Thus,  recognizing the mind or the illusion or universe or duality or three states as consciousness in the midst of diversity brings unity in diversity. 

There is no second thing other than the Spirit (the Soul or the consciousness) because everything is made of the same stuff.   Whatever splits and multiplies are part of the illusion. From the non-dualistic perspective, the illusion has no value.

The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the ultimate truth or Brahman. The universe is not real.  There is no difference between Brahman and the universe because the universe is merely an illusion created out of the consciousness which is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

First, the seeker has to know ‘what is the mind” What is the substance of the mind? And ‘what is the source of the mind? , in order to realize ‘what is what’?  The ego is the physical mind, whereas the mind is present in the form of the universe. The universe appears as a waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep).  Thus, a perfect understanding of ‘what is what’ is necessary to realize that form, time, and space are merely an illusion created out of single stuff. 

The Atman or the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness, is the innermost self. The consciousness is the witness 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.

The waking, the dream, and deep sleep are created out of consciousness. The waking and the dream cease to exist without consciousness.

When the Self is not the form,  then the question of whom does not arise.  A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ itself is an illusion.  If the ‘I’ is an illusion,  then it is no use of inquiring ‘Who Am I?. 

Till one holds the ‘I’ as the Self,  is caught up in the prison of the duality.  

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.

A deeper self-search reveals the fact that by inquiring the Who Am I?  wisdom will not dawn. Who Am I?  inquiry is only for beginners and it is inadequate and useless in the later stages.

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 of not cured by saying the word “medicine.” You must take the medicine. Liberation does not come by merely saying the word “Brahman.” Brahman must be experienced. 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 perverted arguments. 

The Soul is the substance and the witness of the three states. The witness and the three states (witnessed) are one in essence. Thus, The seeker, seeking, and the world are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Thus, there is no second thing that exists other than consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman. Brahman is God. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar