The consciousness is beyond all the happenings, which are happening within the waking or dream, because it is not an entity or identity within the waking or dream, but consciousness pervades in everything and everywhere in all the three states as their formless substance.
Prior to the appearance of the waking consciousness was the same. Prior to the dream consciousness was the same. In deep sleep consciousness was the same. It remains unchanging throughout because it is mere formless witness of the three states.
Emptiness means empty of duality or illusion or mind. Consciousness is always there, and the "consciousness” cannot be empty because it is permanent. On the base of the consciousness as self the ignorance vanishes and wisdom takes its place.
