The Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness is hidden by the universe. The Soul is hidden because the universe is an illusion created out of consciousness.
The Soul is the Self. On the standpoint of the Soul, the ‘Self’ the universe is a dualistic illusion or Maya.
Realize the Self is not you but the ‘Self’ is the Soul right now and right here and rest in consciousness.
Sage Sankara says: - VC-47- All the effects of ignorance, root, and branch, are burnt down by the fire of knowledge, which arises from discrimination between these two—the Self and the not-Self.
Sage Sankara says - VC-162- There is no liberation for a person of mere book-knowledge, howsoever well-read in the philosophy of Vedanta, so long as one does not give up the false identification with the body, sense organs, etc., which are unreal.
Without knowing ‘what is this mind?’ people talk of destroying the mind. People are stuck thinking the mind is within their body and theorize and write books speculating and creating their own theory.
A deeper self-search reveals the fact that the ‘I’ is present in the form of mind. And the mind is in the form of the universe. And the universe appears as the waking or the dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality).
Self-realization is necessary to realize the mind, which is present in the form of the universe is merely an illusion. The mind cannot be destroyed because it is merely an illusion.
When Advaitic wisdom dawns the unreal nature of the mind is exposed, the same way the unreal nature of the dream was exposed when the waking takes place.
When the source has reached the mind (I) gets merged into it. The result of Self-knowledge is a cure for getting rid of ignorance. It is the highest of all the results. There is nothing greater than it.
Upanishads: - 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)
That is why Sage Sankara says: ~ VC-63. Without causing the objective universe to vanish and without knowing the truth of the ‘Self’ how is one to achieve Liberation by the mere utterance of the word Brahman? — It would result merely in an effort of speech.
What is the use of saying ‘I AM THAT’ without knowing what the ‘Self’ is in actuality?
Without knowing the truth of the Self, without realizing the truth of the universe it is impossible to realize the 'Self' hidden by the dualistic illusion or Maya.
By mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT', the truth will not be revealed. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar
