The mind or universe cannot be described as both real and unreal, because these two contradictory qualities cannot exist in the same substance.

"It is this Supreme Oneness which alone is real, since there is nothing else but the Self. Verily, there remains no other independent entity in the state of realization of the highest Truth." –FORMLESS PATH

The mind,which is present in the form of  universe cannot be described as both real and unreal, because these two contradictory qualities cannot exist in the same substance. It must therefore be said that the mind is neither real nor unreal because it is mere mirage.

Mind is myth because it is mere mirage created out of the soul ,which is present in the form of conciousness. ‘Universe appears to exist as real because of our ignorance of  the soul,which is the innermost self. Thus the mind, which is in the form of universe, is reality on the base of the physical self (ego or waking entity), which perceives the world as a person, within the mind. 

Man and universe exist as reality  because of ignorance of the soul ( consciousness), which is the real self.  This ignorance not only covers consciousness, but it projects the universe as a reality. The universe has no reality apart from consciousness.  When the Self- knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana  arises, the universe is seen as a mere appearance of consciousness.

Another illustration may be taken to explain this. Ornaments of different sizes and shapes are made out of one metal. Their appearance and the use for which they are meant vary, but the fact that,  they are all really only metal, in spite of the different appearances and uses, cannot be denied. The appearance may change, a bangle may be converted into rings, but the metal always remains as metal. Similarly, on the dawn of the  Self- knowledge or Bramha Gnana or Atma Gnana, though the different forms of  shapes of  beings, creatures,  animals and things, etc. continue to be seen by the Gnani, he sees them all only as appearances of the consciousness.  Thus the perception of difference and the consequences of such perception, such as looking upon some as favourable and others as the  opposite, and the consequent efforts to retain or get what is favourable and to get rid of or avoid what is not favourable, come to an end.

This is the state of freedom even in the midst of waking experience, which is freedom from experiencing duality as reality. Similarly, bondage has no real existence at all. Even when we are ignorant of consciousness and think of ourselves as limited by the body, we are really none but the infinite consciousness. Freedom is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the body, and the world. The attainment of the state of freedom from ignorance is the goal of the  seeker of truth. 

 

Ignorance  is cause of experincing the illusion as reality. The  illusion is what conceals consciousness and projects the universe. It is because of this that everyone identifies himself with physical self or waking or dream and is ignorant of the truth that “self” is none other than consciousness(soul). Illusion may be looked upon from few different standpoints.

For the ordinary worldly individual who looks upon the world as real, illusion which is the cause of the appearance of the universe is real.

For the enlightened person the self is consciousness.  It is possible to discriminate between truth and untruth, if the reasoning base is rectified from waking or dream [form] to soul (formless),   for the easy understanding, assimilation and realization.

Consciousness’ means ultimate truth, and ‘Mind’ stands for the universe or illusion. The purpose of the pursuit of truth is the destruction of primal ignorance, which leads to the attainment of the ultimate truth or Brahman.  

Man and universe exits within the waking or dream. Waking has waking entity and waking universe. Similarly the dream has dream entity and dream universe. And deep in sleep has neither the waking entity nor waking universe nor dream entity nor dream universe. 

The freedom arises even in the midst of waking experience, which is freedom from experiencing duality as reality.

Similarly, bondage has no real existence at all. Even when we are ignorant of consciousness and think of ourselves as limited by the body, we are really none but the infinite consciousness. Freedom is thus only the removal of the wrong identification with the body, and the world. The attainment of the state of freedom from ignorance is the goal of the  seeker of truth. 

One has to realize the fact that, it is not the waking entity (you) which witnesses the three states.  The formless soul is the witness of the coming and going of the three states. The soul is immutable. The soul is unaffected by the happening within the three states because the three states are mere mirage created out of the formless soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The soul or consciousness is the innermost self.

The self is neither the waking entity nor the self is dream entity but the self is the formless soul. The on the standpoint of the soul, the innermost self the three states are non-existent as reality.