The counter intuitive notion of absolute Advaita is contrary to not only Vedanta, but to tangible perception as well. Both tattvas of duality and oneness are described in the host of Vedic literatures. Fundamentalist advaitist try to deny the statements of variety and duality with a juggled philosophy of illusion superior to Sat, eternal truth.

How is one to understand dvaita and advaita

Drop of ocean water

A drop of ocean water is qualitatively one with the ocean, the same percentage of nitrogen, salts, etc

A drop of ocean water is quantitatively different from the ocean, a drop is a drop and the ocean is the ocean.

The same understanding applies to the Vedic understanding of the soul. Qualitatively one with the supreme, quantitatively different.

For example you do not know when I have to go to the bathroom unless I indicate that to you. Our consciousness is limited to our body.

If we look at the Bhagavad Gita, the first teaching is that the soul is individual and remains so even after liberation. That is also consistent in the Yoga sutras. And the Sankhya philosophy of the ancient sage Kapila the son of Devahuti.

Borrowing on the fame of Kapila Devahutri putra a later writer of the name Kapila founded his own philosophy of samkhya but with out the element of the God, Bhagavan.