The ignorant thinks that, the self is the body, and perceives the world without being aware of the fact that, his body, ego and universe are mere illusory experience created out of consciousness

If one mentally detaches the self from the three states  by realizing the fact that, the self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity than he became free from experiencing the form, time and space as reality. 

  If one becomes free from experiencing the form, time and space as reality than he becomes free from experiencing the universe as reality. If one becomes free from experiencing the universe as reality than he becomes free from experiencing the birth, life and death as reality. If one becomes free from experiencing the birth, life and death as reality than he becomes free from experiencing the duality as reality. 

 If one becomes aware of the fact that, the duality is mere illusory reality then he sees the self, which is in the form of formless consciousness in everything and everywhere the sameness in the illusory reality. 

Consciousness is the only one, true existence beyond all thoughts, consciousness is the knower, the witness, the truth, the indivisible, and there is no doubt whatsoever that, the universe is within the self, which is consciousness. Because one hold the ‘I’ as self is the reason for the universe, which is in the form of mind to exist as reality. 

Self is in the form of formless consciousness is one and does not have any parts, the body is not the self and the body is divisible in to various organs, by considering the body as self , one  is in  ignorance, by  thinking that these two are one.

The problem arises because everyone identifies themselves with their body with the name as self within the world, which appear as waking experience but they are unaware of the fact that, the waking experience is perishable.  A Gnani is always aware of the fact that the true self is not the form but formless consciousness the body and the world are mere mirage created out of consciousness, thus they are illusory in their nature. By limiting the consciousness to the waking entity alone is the cause of ignorance, because the consciousness pervades all the three states as their formless substance and witness. 

 The very purpose of pursuit of truth is to break this illusion of experience of birth, life and death and form, time and space by constant drawing attention to the formless substance and witness of the three states by providing seekers of truth with the path which would enable them to be free of experiencing the illusory duality as reality.  

For Gnani the “self” shines without the form, name and experience of the universe, because he is fully aware of the fact that, his body, name and his experience of the universe are mere mirage created out of consciousness therefore he treats his body, name and his experience of the universe to be consciousness. Thus for a Gnani consciousness alone is real and any second thing other than consciousness is mere illusion.   

 The consciousness is the formless substance and exists within the universe or mind. The universe or mind is an object to the formless subject. Thus holding the object as reality without being aware of the formless subject, which is consciousness is cause of the ignorance.  

The soul or self is in the form of consciousness and the mind or universe is mere mirage created out of consciousness.   Holding the mirage as reality and judging on the base of the body as self and thinking that these two are one is cause of the ignorance.

Consciousness is sentient, mind, which is in the form of universe, is insentient. Therefore all the contents of the universe are insentient. Thus holding the insentient as sentient is cause of ignorance. 

Consciousness is eternal and ever existent, Mind, which is in the form of universe, is transient and nonexistent, it is due to self - ignorance, the duality is experienced as reality. 

Only through self-awareness, the self becomes aware of its formless non-dual nature.  Thus it is the self that has to become aware of itself by realizing the fact that the mind or universe is mere mirage.  Thus it is the self that has to become aware of the fact that, it is not the waking entity, which perceives the world to realize the waking experience is mere mirage in the midst of waking experience. 

The ignorant thinks that, the self is the body, and perceives the world without being aware of the fact that, his body, ego and universe are mere illusory experience created out of consciousness. Thus trying to judge the truth on the false entity within the false experience is erroneous. Until one makes sure of the true self, it is erroneous to judge and conclude the ultimate truth on mere speculation and assumption.  Thus one has to make sure of the fact that   the true self is neither the waking entity nor the dream entity but the formless knower of the three states, which comes and goes. 

  

A Gnani say that the true knowledge is that, “Self” is definitely neither the waking entity nor the dream entity because the waking and dream both are illusory.  The true self is   consciousness and its nature is formless, non-dual peace, and equanimity. Consciousness is    the existence and knowledge.