For a Gnani the universe ceases to exist as reality

For unrealized persons, the experience of practical life within the practical world is reality until he gets self - realization. One cannot dismiss it as the illusory nature of the universe when he becomes aware of the fact the fact that self is neither the waking entity not self is dream entity but self is formless substance and witness of the three states.

For a Gnani the universe ceases to exist as reality. Until one gets Gnana, one has to look upon the universe as reality. 

The waking entity or ego knows that if one turns inward, the three states will be found to be a myth.

Therefore, the ego keeps one’s attention focused on the waking life within waking world thus it remains in ignorance of the reality, which is beyond the three states. .

The consciousness which is witnessing its own formless non-dual nature,   it turns its attention away from the universe, which is in the form of waking or dream, and towards consciousness witnessing itself. 

A Gnani is one who attains the non-dual tranquility in the midst of duality. A Gnani is in self –awareness and he is fully aware of the fact that the form, time and space are mere mirage created out of consciousness. 

They alone in this world are endowed with the highest wisdom who are firm in their conviction of the sameness and birthlessness of Atman. The ordinary man does not understand their way. [Chapter IV — Alatasanti Prakarana 95-P-188 in Upanishads by Nikilanada]

This passage indicates the fact that everything is Ataman/spirit. The one who views and judges the worldview on the base of his birth /body will not realize the fact that, the man including the world is created sustained and finally dissolves as Atman. Thus Atman alone is, and all else is mirage. 

Thus self-knowledge is the aim of every human being. Since everyone thinks the physical body is the self, their aim is misdirected and they focus their attention on materiality which makes one feel the duality [waking] as reality.

In pursuit of truth the ultimate truth has to be proved, not assumed. Pundits who take scriptures for granted are not Gnanis. 

Pundits teach that all is your-self, but none of them can show that this is so, none has analyzed it scientifically, and none can prove it. Rational proof is needed, so that one arrive at knowing truth i.e. wisdom; punditry is mere dogma, parrotism, repetition of what they read in scripture. 

Scriptures are not yardstick and scriptural truth is not proof.   Pundits take scripters as authority.   Authoritarianism merely assumes as true what another says, but what has yet to be proved. 

Pundits have to test truth in this world not in the next world.  There is no proof other than blind belief based on the scriptures, belief is not truth.  So, doctrines are not the means to realize the ultimate truth. There is no need to follow them. 

Doubts and Confusions arise when seeker finds the scriptures and yoga are inadequate or useless to quench his spiritual thirst.   Disappointments in religion or yoga or even science imply error or ignorance. 

When serious seeker reaches a stage with all his baggage of accumulate knowledge, then uncertainty haunts him.  Whether he is right?" Where is the certainty that he is proceeding on right lines?" Thus doubts arise and the inquiring spirit comes and impels to search elsewhere for truth where it will not be possible even to have doubt. The test is therefore in experience. And only in non-duality, where there are no two to argue about views or to have difference of opinion can such doubtlessness be possible.  Belief depends upon unstable bases whereas certainty depends on proof.

In Self-Awareness the waking experience is mere mirage created out of consciousness. Therefore, the individual experience of the birth, life and death also is part of the mirage. Since the universe appears as waking experience, the universe is bound to be mirage. When the self, consciously remains in its formless nondual true nature it is self-awareness. 

In self-awareness the self is fully aware of the fact that, the body, ego and the experience of the universe as consciousness, which is its true nature.  Thus it does not see a second thing other its true nature even though the things of the waking experience prevail as they are.
Only their unreal nature is exposed through wisdom.   

In self-awareness the waking becomes unreal same way the dream became unreal when waking takes place.  The self –awareness is not yogic bliss. The yogic bliss comes from individual effort, But Brahmic-Awareness or self-awareness comes on its own from wisdom.