Question: "Brahman (the Self) is real, and the world is illusion" Yet others say,
"The world is reality." Which is true?

Sri Ramana Maharshi:

Both statements are true. They refer to different stages of development and are spoken from different points of view.

The aspirant starts with the definition: that which is real exists always. (does not change) Then he eliminates the world as unreal because it is changing.

The seeker ultimately reaches the Self and there finds unity as the prevailing note. Then, that which was originally rejected as being unreal is found to be a part of the unity.

Being absorbed in the reality, the world also is real. There is only being in
Self-realization, and nothing but being.

You either believe what you think or you question it. There's no other choice.

 Byron Katie

Nirvana is, when you stop thinking

Papaji

life is a drama, don't take it like reality.

Only the screen is real. Once the drama is over, the screen is all that remains.

Papaji

Desire is the memory of pleasure and fear is the memory of

pain.

Both make the mind restless.

Moments of pleasure are merely gaps in the stream of pain.

How can the mind be happy?

I Am That, -Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Consent to Silence.

ONE ONE ONE

The lamps are different.
But the Light is the same.
So many garish lamps in the dying brain's lamp shop, Forget about them.
 
Concentrate on essence, concentrate on Light.
In lucid bliss, calmly smoking off its own hold fire, The Light streams
toward you from all things, All people, all possible permutations of good,
 
evil, thought, passion.
The lamps are different,
But the Light is the same.
 
One matter, one energy, one Light, one Light-mind, Endlessly emanating all things.
One turning and burning diamond,
One, one, one.
 
Ground yourself, strip yourself down,
To blind loving silence.
Stay there, until you see
You are gazing at the Light
With its own ageless eyes.

Rumi