The ‘Self’ is not ‘I’ but ‘I’ is the dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion or Maya is present in the form of the universe in which you exist.
The universe in which you exist appears as the waking experience (duality) and disappears as the Soul, the Self in deep sleep. (nonduality).
Realizing the ‘Self is not you but the ‘Self is the Soul is real freedom from experiencing the dualistic illusion (the world in which we exist) as a reality.
Thoughtless awareness comes only when there is oneness in awareness in the midst of dualistic illusion. The dualistic illusion or Maya exists as a reality until the ignorance is there. Ignorance will vanish only when the non-dualistic or Advaitic wisdom dawns.
The wisdom dawns only when one becomes aware of the fact that the world in which you exist is a dualistic illusion or Maya created out of single stuff that is the consciousness.
Thus, realizing the consciousness alone is real and all the three states are merely an illusion created out of consciousness leads to nondual Self-awareness.
Remember:~
Ashtavakra Gita: ~ “The universe rises from the Soul, the Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus know the ‘Self’ to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."
Sage Sankara said: ~A.A~ 88. When the whole universe, movable and immovable, is known to be Atman (consciousness), and thus the existence of everything else is negated, where is then any room to say that the body is Atman?
That is why SageSankara 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 world in which you exist it is impossible to realize the truth beyond the form, time, and space. By a mere utterance of the word ‘I AM THAT', the truth will not be revealed.
Sage Sankara: ~VC~ if the universe is true, let it then be perceived in the state of deep sleep also. As it is not at all perceived, it must be unreal and false like dreams.
That is why Sage Sankara declaration: ~ “Brahman is the truth The World is Unreal everything is Truly Brahman and nothing else has any value.
Sage Sankara says: ~ ‘What is accepted without a proper inquiry will not lead to the final Goal. (Commentary on Vedanta Sutra)
Sage Sankara says: ~ “The exercise in discrimination between real and unreal and renunciation of the false is real meditation, then why you are indulging in other types of meditation.
Those who tell you that Brahman is unity, that you can get it only by intuition, that you should not reason, you should not question or inquire, are deluding you. Verification must come by thought. : ~ Santthosh Kumaar
