The illusion is present in the form of mind

Deeper self-search reveals the fact that 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.

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. 

 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. 

The 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.

The waking experience is common to all. Man and his individual   experiences of the world are present only when there is waking experience. Man is aware of the dream and deep sleep only in waking experience.  Man is unaware of the waking  or dream in deep sleep.   The experience of duality is present only in waking/dream. In deep sleep, it is non-duality.  

The waking is parallel dream and dream is parallel waking experience.  The individual experience within the waking is as real as dream. In addition, the individual experiences within the dream are as real as waking.  The knower of the three states, which appear and disappear in succession, is not the waking entity or ego but it is the soul/spirit.  Therefore, the witness of the three states is not the ego but the soul, which is within the three states but it is apart from the three states.  It is within the three states as its formless substance and it is apart from the three states as its formless witness.

The seeker aware of the true position of the true self will realize the fact that the waking/dream is projection of the soul. Therefore, it is necessary to reflect on the nature of the soul, the innermost self, to abide in it, which is the source of the three states.   The realization of the true self (soul)  is release from experiencing the duality as reality.