Sage Sankara:~ "Without knowing and inquiring into the external world, one can’t know the Truth, as the idea that the external world exists, won't go.+

A Gnani has realized the Soul is the Self. The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. The consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.

A Gnani has realized the universe is nothing but consciousness. A Gnani is fully aware that consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or verily becomes Brahman because he is fully aware of the fact that he, his body, and the world in which he exists is nothing but an illusion created out of the consciousness.  

The Self is always present but it is hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya. The Maya is present in the form of the universe.  And you will find it if you seek it earnestly. The cause of the universe is ignorance. Without ignorance, the universe ceases to exist.

The limitations of illusory form time and space on the Soul, the ‘Self’ make you struggle to transcend them. All pain and pleasure are a reality within the universe. With the universe comes all your experience of birth, life, death.

Remember:~

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.

Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.  

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ The universe rises from the Soul, the innermost ‘Self’ like bubbles from the sea. Thus know the ‘Self’ to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

Sage Sankara said: ~A.A~ 88- When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman (consciousness), and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?

That is why Sage Sankara Says: ~ VC-63- 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.

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 are stuck with the reality of the world are stuck with the reality of the individual experiences of birth, life, and death, which take place within the unreal world. Thus the pursuit of truth is for those who have the courage to accept 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 merely an illusion created out of the consciousness, the consciousness is the ultimate truth or Brahman or God in truth.:~Santthosh Kumaar