Sage Sankara says: ~ Without knowing and examining the external world, one can’t know truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go.+

Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.

People dwelling in ignorance, but thinking themselves wise and erudite, go round and round by various blind beliefs and tortuous paths and practices, like the blind led by the blind.

Sage Sankara says: ~ V.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.

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 the consciousness is absolutely free from all the limitations of Maya.

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 a dualistic illusion.

Remember:~

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 is 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 everything and everywhere in the experience of diversity (waking or dream). 

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

Thus, trying to imitate the state of oneness in duality by observing silence, thoughtlessness, 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