The world is both real and unreal. It 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.+

For a Gnani, the world is both real and unreal. It 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.

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

A Gnani is fully aware of the fact that 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.

Remember:~

The dualist thinkers declare the world is real. According to dualists thinkers, the reality is very much that we live in this world. In context to Sage Sankara calling this materialistic world a dream, the dualist gurus says that we are not yet awakened from the dream to say that this is a dream. Hence what is happening at this moment is to be considered. And the world is for real.

People refuse to accept the universe is an illusion it is because they are part and parcel of that illusion. The reality of the illusory universe often confuses people.

Only when one acquires Self-knowledge or Brahma Gnana or Atma Gnana then he realizes the world in which he exists is merely an illusion created out of the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. The Soul is the Self.

Sage Sankara: ~ “VC~ All this universe which through ignorance appears as of diverse forms, is nothing else but Brahman which is absolutely free from all the limitations of Maya. 

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. 

This universe is nothing but the Soul, which is present in the form of consciousness. From the Soul, the universe appears and when the universe disappears from the consciousness, the consciousness still remains without any division of the form, time, and space.

Ashtavakra Gita: ~ The universe rises from the Soul, the innermost Self like bubbles from the sea. Thus, know the Self to be One and in this way enter into the state of dissolution."

To enable the seeker to steer clear of any possible doubt, the seeker should take the Atmic path. The ‘I’ is the clue. 'I' is present in the form of the universe and study the nature of the universe and discover its source. 

The universe is a reality on the base of ‘you (ego). You are the false Self within the false experience (waking). The universe is an illusion from the standpoint of the Soul, which is the Self.

The Soul is present in the form of consciousness. This is because of some logical reasons. First, you have to analyze the definition of truth and hence why the universe is not considered as a reality.:~Santthosh Kumaar