Jnana Yoga – Brahman and Maya
Divine Life Society Publication: by Swami Sivananda
Brahman is Sat, the
Absolute, Reality. That which exists in the past, present and future; which has
no beginning, middle and end; which is unchanging and not conditioned by time,
space and causation; which exists during the waking, dream and deep sleep
states; which is of the nature of one homogeneous essence, is Sat. This is
found in Brahman, the Absolute. The scriptures emphatically declare: "Only
Sat was prior to the evolution of this universe."
This phenomenal universe is
unreal. Isvara created this universe out of His own body (Maya), just as a
spider creates a web from its own saliva. It is merely an appearance, like a
snake in a rope or like silver in mother-of-pearl. It has no independent
existence.
It is difficult to conceive
how the Infinite comes out of Itself and becomes the finite. The magician can
bring forth a rabbit out of a hat. We see it happening but we cannot explain
it; so we call it Maya or illusion.
Maya is a strange phenomenon
which cannot be accounted for by any law of Nature. It is incapable of being
described. Its relation to Brahman is like that of heat to fire. The heat of
fire is neither one with it nor different from it.
Does Maya really exist or not
? The Advaitin gives this reply: "This inscrutable Maya cannot be said
either to exist or not to exist".
If we know the nature of
Brahman, then all names, forms and limitations fall away. The world is Maya
because it is not the essential truth of the infinite Reality - Brahman.
Somehow the world exists and its relation to Brahman is indescribable. The
illusion vanishes through the attainment of knowledge of Brahman. Sages, Rishis
and scriptures declare that Maya vanishes entirely as soon as knowledge of the
Supreme Self dawns.
Brahman alone really exists.
The Jiva, the world and this little "I" are false. Rise above names
and forms and kill the false egoism. Go beyond Maya and annihilate ignorance.
Constantly meditate on the Supreme Brahman, your divine nature.
The world is unreal when
compared to Brahman. It is a solid reality to a worldly and passionate man
only. To a realized sage it exists like a burnt cloth. To a Videhamukta
(disembodied sage) it does not exist at all. To a man of discrimination it
loses its charm and attraction.
Do not leave the world to
enter a forest because you now read that the world is unreal. You will be
utterly ruined if you do this without proper qualifications. Be first
established in the conviction that the world is unreal and Brahman alone is
real. This will help you to develop dispassion and a strong yearning for
liberation. Stay in the world but be not worldly; strive for liberation by the
practice of Sadhana Chatushtaya.
Continue
to read:
If you would like to purchase the print edition, visit:
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
http://www.dlshq.org/cgi-bin/store/commerce.cgi?
If you would like
to contribute to the dissemination of spiritual knowledge please contact the
General Secretary at:
No comments:
Post a Comment