It is the Self that is in illusion and it is the self that gets free from the bondage of the illusion.

Chandogya Upanishads:- This universe comes forth from Brahman and will return to Brahman. Verily, all is Brahman. A person is what his deep desire is. It is our deepest desire in this life that shapes the life to come. So let us direct our deepest desires to realize the Self. 

Gaudapada’s rational exposition of Advaita:- That whatever is seen, whether external or internal, whether by the ordinary persons or yogis, is unreal. 

It is the Self that is in illusion and it is the self that gets free from the bondage of the illusion. The illusion is present in the form of mind. Mind is in the form of universe. Universe appears as waking or dream and disappears as deep sleep.  The individual experiences of birth, life, death and the world are within the waking experience.  The dream is parallel waking experience and waking is parallel dream.

Illusion is seen, the soul, the innermost self cannot be seen. Illusion is perceptible, the soul, the innermost self cannot be perceived. Illusion gets destroyed, the soul, the innermost self is indestructible, even at the final dissolution of all creation.

 Illusion is created, the soul, the innermost self cannot be created. Illusion can deteriorate, the soul, the innermost self cannot. Illusion can be accumulated by the ignorant, the soul, the innermost self cannot.

Illusion is born, the soul, the innermost self is not born. Illusion dies, the soul, the innermost self does not die. Illusion can be conceived, the soul, the innermost self cannot be comprehended by the intellect.

Illusion breaks, the soul, the innermost self cannot break. Illusion can be cut off, the soul; the innermost self cannot be cut off. Illusion gets old and tattered, the soul, the innermost self does not get old and tattered, as it is indestructible.

Illusion is subject to modification, the soul, the innermost self is changeless. Illusion does everything, the soul, the innermost self does nothing. Illusion assumes many forms, the soul, the innermost self is formless.

Illusion is of the nature of the temporary five elements and is many, The soul, the innermost self is eternal and is one. The difference between Illusion and The soul, the innermost self is understood by those who utilize the power of discrimination.

 Illusion is inferior, the soul, the innermost self is superior. Illusion is the non-essential, the soul, the innermost self is the essence. Illusion is on the side of the world, the soul; the innermost self does not have sides.

Illusion is spread out covering the soul, the innermost self. A Gnani   is fully aware of the fact that the illusion and the soul are one in essence and that essence is consciousness(soul). 

The self is neither the waking entity nor the self is the dream entity but the self is formless soul, which witnesses the coming and going of the three states in succession without the physical apparatus.  This has to be mentally grasped and assimilated to realize the formless soul, the innermost   self is nothing to do with the three states. On the standpoint of the three states, the three states are mere illusion.

The practical life within the practical world, which is present as waking experience, is mere illusion. If waking experience is mere illusion than the individual experience of birth, life, death and world are mere illusion.   If the experience birth, life death and the world are mere illusion, it means the form; time and space are mere illusion. 

If form, time and space are mere illusion, it means the past, present and future is mere illusion. Thus it is necessary for the seeker to realize the fact that,   form, time and space are one in essence, in order to realize the three states are one in essence. That essence is consciousness. Thus all the diversity is created out of   formless consciousness. Thus no second thing exist other than consciousness, the innermost self. Seeker of truth has to constantly reflect on the subject in order to get firm conviction of the truth.  Seeker has to reflect on the same truth again and again until it becomes reality. One needs to constant reflect on the subject until he gets firm conviction of what is what.