Sage Sankara was criticized for his views on Maya (illusion) without understanding him.+

Sage Sankara was criticized for his views on Maya (illusion) without understanding him.

Sage Sankara said: ~

(1) Brahman (Atman) is real

(2) The universe is unreal, and

(3) Brahman is the universe.

He did not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the ‘Self’ and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self. Hence, Maya or illusion and reality are one and the same.

The realists criticize the concept of illusion without understanding it. He said that:~

(1) Consciousness (Atman) is real

(2) The universe or mind is unreal

(3) Consciousness is the universe because the universe is an illusion created out of consciousness.

One need not stop at the second because the third explains the other two. It signifies that the universe is real if perceived as the Self (Atman or consciousness) and unreal if perceived as apart from the Self (consciousness). Hence, illusion and reality are one and the same because both are one in essence. Realizing the essence, which is consciousness as the  Self, is Self-Realization or Truth-Realization of God-Realization. 

Thus, Sage Sankara‘s declaration is the rational truth, scientific truth, and also the ultimate truth.

The world is both real and unreal. It is real because it is a manifestation of consciousness, but it is unreal, in the sense that it is not absolute and eternal like consciousness itself.

People's approach is more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world; they take it as real. That is why all the confusion.

In  Atmic -awareness-- the witness and the witnessed are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. There is no second thing that exists other than consciousness.

Thus, whatever is seen, known, believed, and experienced as a person is a reality within the waking experience (duality), but waking experience (duality) itself is merely an illusion.

The invisible  Soul, the Self, is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the witness that experiences the action, the actor, and the world of separate things.  It is like a light that illuminates everything in a theater, revealing the master of ceremonies, the guests, and the dancers with complete impartiality. Even when they all depart, the light shines to reveal their absence.

All three states are consciousness because the three states are created out of consciousness. The three states cease to exist without consciousness. The seeker, seeking, and his destination are all one in essence.

There is only a need to realize that the whole universe in which we exist is created out of the Soul or consciousness.

From the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the Self, the universe is merely an illusion. Thus, from the standpoint of the invisible Soul, the  Self, no second thing exists other than consciousness. Thus, consciousness is the ultimate truth, or Brahman or  God in truth. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar