Miscellaneous - Religion   

Concept of Maya

CHENNAI: Vedanta describes the concept of Maya or ignorance as a veil that covers our real nature and that of the world around us. That is why one is not aware of the divine self within. Sri Ramakrishna used to discuss this concept of Maya in realistic and practical terms and many of his close disciples (householders and Sanyasis alike) were able to relate to the inner essence he tried to unravel, said Swami Gautamananda in a lecture. According to Sri Ramakrishna, Maya is merely creation. Just as a potter makes objects from the base material mud, God uses the base material of Maya Shakti for creation. While living in this world how can the claim that the world is non-existent stand? That we are all living is very much true. But can it be claimed that all this creation will continue to exist for eternity? This world of creation is thus different from the ultimate truth the nature of which cannot be explained in clear terms as one would describe the tangible objects of the world.

The created world is a mixture of the good and the bad and the intelligent strive to identify that alone which will lead one towards the ultimate destination. One should sift the good from the bad even as an ant takes only the sugar from the sand. It is not wise to suffer indigestion and regret having eaten spicy foods. To lead a peaceful life it is important to develop Viveka (discrimination) and Vairagya (dispassion). We should understand the purpose of life and seek the good while learning to discard the evil. What is the standard for good? What is the testing stone? Should we choose that which is more agreeable and pleasing such as material benefits (Preyas) that give immediate but temporary satisfaction or that which is better and superior because it yields the ultimate good (Sreyas). It is like making the choice between books priced equally but varying in the value content, when one would opt for what is beneficial rather than what is frothy.

In one’s daily living, if one chooses to remain true and loving to God in one’s thought, word and deed, one can easily cross Samsara and not be reborn. One should understand the true divine self within and learn to renounce attachment to worldly objects.

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