WHAT IS MAYA ?

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

WHAT IS MAYA

That which truly is not, but appears to be, is Maya. That which causes infatuation or Moha is Maya.

Maya is an appearance. It is semblance. It is the illusory power of God.

Maya is the illusory power of God. She is the creatrix of this universe. She projects this world for His Lila (sport). Mind, intellect, body, and senses are her forms. She is the energy or mother-aspect of the Lord.

Just as heat is inseparable from fire, coldness from ice, Maya is inseparable from Brahman (God). It is dependent on Brahman.

Maya has countless potencies. Solidity of stone is a power of Maya. Fluidity of water is another power of Maya. Fire is a third burning power. Air is the moving power of Maya. Ether is the void or space power of Maya.

You know you will die, and yet you think you will live forever. This is Maya. You know that the world is full of miseries, and yet you take delight in the perishable objects and will not leave them. This is Maya. You know that the human body is made up of all sorts of impurities, flesh, bone, urine and faecal matter, and yet you rejoice in embracing it under the sway of lust. This is Maya.

Maya causes false glittering and entraps the deluded Jivas (individual souls). She does a little electroplating work. Man is entrapped. He is caught in the wheel of birth and death.

Maya is neither true nor false. It is truly false and falsely true. It is neither real nor unreal. It is not real like Brahman, because it disappears when one gets Knowledge. It is not unreal like a barren woman's son or the horn of hare, because its presence is felt.

This Maya is a sort of jugglery. You are astonished so long as the juggler is not seen. As soon as the juggler is known, the results are known to be unreal; the wonder ceases at once. When you realize Brahman, the wonder of Maya's working vanishes.

When the mesmerist hypnotises the whole audience, all people believe that the man is ascending the rope in the air. All people see that the mesmerist devours a big sword and cuts the body of a lad in the box. Even so, you are all hypnotised by Maya and Avidya (ignorance) and you take this unreal world as a solid reality. De-hypnotise yourself by getting Knowledge of Brahman. Then alone you will understand the grand jugglery of Maya.

jai sai ram

[OmSaiRamNowOn]

Jai Sai Ram. Kavita Didi has brought up a v interesting topic and this story wil help understand in simplest way what Maya is.

Narada was a sage who lived for thousands of years and wandered freely through all the regions of consciousness from heaven to earth.  Narada was on very intimate terms with the Lord, here in the form of Krishna, so he could ask him all forms of questions.  And while they were walking, he asked the Lord, “Sir, can you please explain to me the secret of this magic called maya?”
Sri Krishna hesitated, because to understand maya is to understand the whole of life. But Narada was utterly devoted to him, so the Lord replied, “Of course.  Let’s lie down here in the shade and I shall tell you everything. But first, Narada, it’s terribly hot; would you get me a cool glass of water?”

“Right away,” Narada promised, and he set out across the fields.  The sun beat down and though he was a good walker, the little line of thatched cottages on the horizon that marked the nearest village seemed no closer as he strode along.  The heat grew unbearable.  Narada’s throat became parched too; he began to think that he would ask for two glasses of water, and drink the second himself.

Finally he reached the village and ran to the nearest house.  The door opened – and there stood the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.  She smiled up at Narada through long, dark lashes and something happened to him that had never happened before.  All he could do was hem and haw.  Finally he blurted out, “Will you marry me?”  That is the Indian way, you know; you cannot just say, “What are you doing on Saturday night?”

The couple settled down to a life of connubial bliss.  After a while, children began to arrive.  Narada’s became a very animated household. Somebody was always being bathed or dressed; there were meals to get and people to be provided for.  And all these things were filling up their lives.  Narada and his wife became engrossed in their private little world, quietly building their dreams.  Years passed.  The children grew up, went to school, got married; in time, grandchildren arrived.  Narada became the patriarch of a great family, respected by the whole village; his lands stretched to the horizon. He and his wife would look at each other fondly and say, “Don’t you think being grandparents is the greatest thing on earth?”

Then a flood came.  The village fields became a raging river, and before Narada’s helpless eyes, everything that he loved and lived for – his lands, his cattle, his house, but especially his beloved wife and all their children and grandchildren – were swept away.  Of all the village, only he remained.  Unable to watch the destruction, Narada fell to his knees and cried for help from the very depths of his heart.  “Krishna!  Krishna!”

At once, the raging floods disappeared and there was Sri Krishna, standing casually on the fields where they had walked what seemed to be so many years before.  “Narada,” the Lord asked gently, “where is my glass of water?”

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

Anju ji, Sai Ram!

Thanks a lot for this story.

An excellent way of teaching a lesson by Lord Vishnu to Maharshi Narada to suppress his Ego of thinking that he  himself (Narada) was the greatest devotee of Mahavishnu and that he is beyond the limitations of Maya.

This story is not only an eye opener to Narada Maharishi but, even for all the human beings, once departed from this world, it looks the same - like a cinema which is over but, here, the Vasanas, Sins and Good deeds chase. That is the main reason it is said that one should develop the feeling of detachment which in itself is a vast subject.

Jai Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

Maya means "that which is not" (i.e. illusion).

It refers to accepting the temporary as having lasting value, and looking for enduring happiness in this world.

Through cultivating the quality of goodness the soul may rise to transcendence and escape the clutches of maya.

Under the influence of the three gunas, the soul is
(1) misled by matter, and
(2) subsequently entangled and entrapped.

This tendency is termed maya (illusion).

Under maya's influence, the atman, (the soul) mistakenly identifies with the body. He accepts such thoughts as "I am white and I am a man," or "This is my house, my country, and my religion."

Thus the illusioned soul identifies with the temporary body and everything connected to it, such as race, gender, family, nation, bank balance, and sectarian religion.

Under this sense of false-ego (false-identity) the soul aspires to control and enjoy matter. However, in so doing he continuously serves lust, greed, and anger.

In frustration he often redoubles his efforts and, compounding mistake upon mistake, only falls deeper into illusion.

In ignorance (tamas), he is fully convinced that right is wrong and wrong is right. In passion he is unsure, hesitant, sometimes enjoying and at others times repenting.

Only in goodness does the soul begin to develop wisdom – to see things in the real light. Thus enlightenment means moving away from tamas towards sattva.

By so doing, the soul gradually escapes the clutches of maya and moves towards liberation.

jai sai ram

[saidasan]

Any Thought, Activity or Guna which seeds the fruitage of one's deeds (knowingly or unknowingly) in 'Samsara' -- the ocean of births and deaths is Maya.

Guna - A mother's heart beats for her child – Maya.

Thought – Feeling happy about one's own good deeds like Dharma – Maya.

Activity – Liking Kavitha ji for her good deeds, character and her gestures – Maya. Admiring Kavitha ji with a notion that She's doing Sai's seva – Not maya

[sureshsarat]

Om Sri Sainatahaya Namaha
maya is:
When I stands for my body and not my soul
Me,mine,I are pleased/displeased with emotions : Love,hate,desire,greed,pride,taste,smell,sight,feel
all that related to The I without soul and The I itself is maya

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

This Maya makes  me

laugh,  cry,
smile, weep,
feel the attachments,
attaches me to all the 'bandhas' - the relations,
invite problems,
tenses me up,
feel cheated,
experience all the dualities that exist.

This cheers me up with the 'mine' and
at the same time makes me feel left alone.

This Maya takes me to such an extent
that, even after death, I would be worried
and would still be wandering around
cautioning them - those of 'mine'
But, they, the 'mine' would be busy
counting their share of 'my' property.

What is this 'Maya'
This Maya in itself is a 'Maya'

Jai Sai Ram

[OmSaiRamNowOn]

Jai Sai Ram. Nice thoughts. May Sai bless all to have awareness and to wake from this DREAM ...MAYA..for what seems real today will be only a memory tomorrow and will not last....!

[SS91]

 

WHO IS MAYA ?

N G Chandorkar: Who is this Maya? Who created her? What is she likes?

You Just now said that the root of the whole world is Chaitanya.

Then where does Maya come in.

Baba: I will describe to you where and how she comes.

Maya is the name given to the Shakti or Power of Chaitanya which makes chaitanya

appear in different forms.

Can you separate Chaitanya from its Shakti?

You cannot – just as you cannot separate jaggery from its sweetness and the sun from its brilliance.

The separation comes only at the end of Maya. Maya ends when Chaitanya is released.

Chaitanya is endless. Both chaitanya and Maya are beginningless.

Maya and chaitanya are also named Prakriti and purusha, which are fully

described in the Jnaneswari from which you must get your Atma Jnana.

Chaitanya is a cave and he who enters into that cave never returns but becomes the cave.

Maya is Karya and has wonderful quality. I am such and such a person,you are such and such etc.,

 - all this is the result of Maya.

All these of unreal differences. You see, it you are under Maya, (and differenced) reality does not

appear.

Maya has two aspects. (1) The Avarna covering up the consciousness of the soul of atman and

(2) Vikshepa, producing illusory appearances over that covering.

Here is an illustration.

A cooly dreamt that he became a king. Thereby he forgot his coolyship.

That coolyship was covered up (avarna) by Maya, and kingship was produced by Maya over that cover.

Similarly Maya covered up Brahman and produces worldly appearances.

In reality, the world does not exists. Only one Real (Sat) exists but these appearances are

taken to be real. That causes the mischief (akalyan).

So kick out Maya and regain Brahman how? regard yourself as pure Chaitanya.

 Water when relieved of impurity is pure water. Similarly remove impurity of Maya from this world of

appearances.

Then that appearance becomes reality. This is the upasana of the Real sadvastu.

Think of this always. This is my advice to all. This constant thought of the sadvastu or Atman is the

Adhyatma. You should release this atman as yourself and become Mukta in this life.

Jaisairam!

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

Subhaji, Sai Ram

That is a very nice post of yours clearly mentioning with the examples that can be easily understood.

Thank you very much

Baba be with all
Baba bless all

Sai Ram

[Kavitaparna]

OM SRI SAI RAM

Once, there lived a Sannyasi in the outskirts of a village.

He would daily go for Bhiksha and be content with whatever he got and spent all his time in devotion in his hut.

One day, he saw a big hole in his saffron - dhoti and found it to be the work of a rat that lived in his hut.

He thought for a while, and brought a cat to GET RID of the rat.

But, the cat wanted milk and was always rushing to the village without doing its assigned job.

Again he thought for a while and brought a cow to feed the cat with its milk to GET RID of the rat.

But, he needed some one for the maintenance of this dairy ...the cow and its calf.

He needed a boy to take care of them and take them for grazing in the fields etc. and got one readily........TO GET RID of the rat.

But, to serve the boy his food etc., he needed someone at home....a house wife.

So, he got married ............TO GET RID OF the rat.

The attachment that he had for his Dhoti is the Maya for him that has chased him from Sannyasa to Grihastha Ashram.

Jai Sai Ram

[sureshsarat]

Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Om Sri Sainathaya Namaha
Akka Sairam
That was a nice one. Yes desire is the root of all MAYA
Suresh

[tana]

om sai ram...

MAYA...

Sikhism does not accept the conventional meaning of Maya-as illusion. The world is not Maya; it is a creation of God and as such, an abode of the Truthful One, or rather a Temple of Divinity. According to Sikhism Maya epitomises the principle duality. It is this duality which makes one forget the Lord and attracts the man to wealth, beauty, power, or scholarship.

The root of Maya is egoism, the assertion of the self. It is this which separates a man from his divine self. By such fetters, man binds himself to his family and to worldly possessions. Maya is a trap for the soul.
Maya may also take on a more subtle form as self-importance or self-complacency. It may form different patterns like intellectual pride, family attachement, pleasure-seeking and money-grabbing. It plays an important part in daily life.
The Guru by his grace gives the antidote for Maya. It is "The Name" of God, which works the spell. With it Maya is brought under control and so no longer haresses the disciple.

The residue of Maya accumulates through many births. It sticks to the individual like glue. It produces an inbuilt sense of isolation which causes man to forget his own divine essence. The individual's soul will realize, sooner or later, that a Supreme soul lives within. This becomes a spiritual awakening which will secure liberation from passion and desire. This liberation comes through self-control and the practice of virtuous living. It is the association with the Guru and the company of holy men that facilitates this realization of man's divine origin.

The evil effects of 'Maya' take longer to eradicate. Along with self-effort, the Guru grace is necessary. Guru Nanak says: "The true Guru has revealed the One to me. I have destroyed duality and can now recognize Him, through the Guru's word". Between man and God is a wall of ignorance, once this is removed, man may realize his kinship with Divinity.

om sai ram...

[Ramesh Ramnani]

जय सांई राम।।।

माया वो है जो नचाती है....बाबा वो है जो विश्राम सिखाते है।  माया युद्ध कराती है बाबा युद्ध विराम सिखाते है। माया कहती है आधा गिलास खाली है बाबा सिखाते है गिलास आधा भरा है। माया के विषय में मुझे बहुत बड़ी बड़ी परिभाषायें नही आती परन्तु जिस तरह कण कण में बाबा व्याप्त है उसी तरह कण कण में माया भी व्याप्त है। जैसे बाबा को पार पाना मुश्किल है वैसे ही माया को पार पाना मुश्किल है। मात्र समझ कर जानने की आवश्यक्ता है। मैने जब से माया को माँ के रुप में जानना शुरू किया वैसे वैसे मैं बाबा के करीब होता गया। माँ का आदर करने वाले बच्चे पिता के भी लाडले बन जाते है। ऐसा करते करते मैने पाया कि मेरा संसार का युद्ध मानो थम सा गया। विश्रांति विश्रांति।
 
अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई
ॐ सांई राम।।।

[SS91]

OM SAI RAM!

size=11pt]जय सांई राम।।।

माया वो है जो नचाती है....बाबा वो है जो विश्राम सिखाते है।  माया युद्ध कराती है बाबा युद्ध विराम सिखाते है। माया कहती है आधा गिलास खाली है बाबा सिखाते है गिलास आधा भरा है। माया के विषय में मुझे बहुत बड़ी बड़ी परिभाषायें नही आती परन्तु जिस तरह कण कण में बाबा व्याप्त है उसी तरह कण कण में माया भी व्याप्त है। जैसे बाबा को पार पाना मुश्किल है वैसे ही माया को पार पाना मुश्किल है। मात्र समझ कर जानने की आवश्यक्ता है। मैने जब से माया को माँ के रुप में जानना शुरू किया वैसे वैसे मैं बाबा के करीब होता गया। माँ का आदर करने वाले बच्चे पिता के भी लाडले बन जाते है। ऐसा करते करते मैने पाया कि मेरा संसार का युद्ध मानो थम सा गया। विश्रांति विश्रांति।
 
अपना सांई प्यारा सांई सबसे न्यारा अपना सांई
ॐ सांई राम।।।