The Soul or consciousness is real and permanent. The universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.+

Sage Sankara ~ VC~ "All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms is nothing else but Brahman (Soul) which is absolutely free from all the limitations of human thought

The universe in which we exist is nothing but an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The whole universe is nothing but the Soul. Therefore, there is no second thing exists other than the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

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

The look of an object will depend upon the medium through which the observer views it. In fact, our mental and intellectual conditions determine the universe, which confronts us, observed, and experienced. The commoner viewing the world will see differently from a Gnani viewing the same world. Each one interprets the world that they see in terms of their existing knowledge. The commoner sees everything based on the ego, therefore, experiences the birth, life, death, and the universe  as a reality, whereas a Gnani sees everything as consciousness and he is fully aware of the fact that, there is no second thing that exists other than the Soul or consciousness . 

Thus, all the egocentric knowledge has to be bifurcated to realize the ultimate truth, which is beyond form, time, and space.

The Gnani observes consciousness hidden by the universe as it is without the form, time, and space. To a Gnani the universe is illusory, because, his views and judgment of the worldview are based on the Soul, the Self.  

 

The universe appears as waking or dream (duality) and disappears as deep sleep (nonduality. The Soul, the Self is free of the duality in the state of deep sleep but still unconscious of its own nature.

The Soul is in the cage of ignorance in the state of waking or dream because it is still unaware of its true nature.  

Remember:~

The nature of the mind, which is present in the form of the universe, is in constant flux.

The universe appears as the waking or dream. Without being aware of the existence of the formless witness the three states people think everything is in flux in the universe.

The permanent thing is the substance of the mind or the universe. The formless substance is the witness of the mind (I) or the universe. The formless substance and witness are one in essence. That essence is the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness.

The Soul or consciousness is real and permanent. The universe is merely an illusion created out of consciousness.

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

Intellectuals views and judgment of the worldview is based on the dualistic perspective whereas a Gnani's views and judgment of the worldview is based on the non-dualistic perspective

Intellectuals' approach was more practical, and they stuck with the reality of the world, they take it as real.

From the standpoint, the Soul, the Self the universe in which we exist is merely an illusion. The Soul is the permanent all else mere illusion. Man and exist in the unreal universe and discussing from the standpoint of the ego (waking entity) which is the false self within the false experience will lead to perversity.

In Self-awareness the body is not considered as a body, the ego is not considered as ego and the world is not considered as the world because the body, ego, and the world too are nothing but consciousness.

In Self-awareness, there is no flux. There is unity in diversity. Only in ignorance, the illusion is experienced as reality. The nature of the illusion is impermanent and constant flux whereas the nature of the Soul or consciousness is permanent and still.:~ Santthosh Kumaar