I've read Wikipedia, so please don't quote me that. Can you interpret it in your own terms?
2006-10-20 00:34:00 · 4 answers · asked by retro 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Maya is Sanskrit word meaning "That which is not" or Illusion. Maya also referes to Material Energy.
In Bhagavad Gita, God says that Maya is one of his own energies.
"This divine energy of Mine(Maya), consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it." (7.14)
Maya energy basically consists of two kinds of Potency. "Covering" and "Pulling Down".
Vedic Literatures states that seeing the master nature of God, some souls desire to become God themselves. Though this is not the nature of Soul, God fulfills even this desire.
This Maya energy then covers the intelligence of the soul and soul thinks that he is the master, the controller and God of every thing under him. This is the nature of souls that are covered by Maya in this world. Though every thing is given by God and taken away in time, Still Soul thinks that the thing actually belongs to him...
This thinking extends from my Body, my Sences, to My Family, My society, My People, My Country , But all this My is actually M-a-y-a or illusion. Every thing belongs to God.
2006-10-20 07:25:43 · answer #1 · answered by Parsu 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maya is the most misunderstood word. ..some are afraid of it... some shun it... others try to save themselves from this
In common words hindu use this word(MAYA) to depict Universe as illusionary creation and to say that the soul is the only entitiy in the universe and rest all is fake and illusionary....well this is the view point taken by most as said by Vedanta Philosophy
Tantra gives more logical and clear description of Maya. It says the supreme soul (god, shiva,krishna) when wishes to manifests.. his will-power (adi shakti) puts a veil of ignorance over his creation, hence each individual soul (which is formed due to this veil of ignorance), treats itslelf as a separate unit. Individual souls thus under the influence of this Avidya (ignorance or Maya), reacts to the outer stimuli...and this life starts !!
The main aim of our life is to pierce through this veil of Maya or ignorance and then we would be able to see our unity with the universe.
all human beings are progressing towards this...but it may take millions of years to reach the enlightened state
Yoga and meditation make this speed faster in geometric progressions...and with serious try, one can reach the Enlightement even in this very life.
Many have reached this stage...and many more will reach there before time
2006-10-20 00:43:44 · answer #2 · answered by ۞Aum۞ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Illusion is the result, though causeless, (having not been created, therefore not existing), of our becoming afraid, and falling into a deep sleep, and dreaming we are a multitude, separate from one another, from our Creator, even from ourselves. But we are one, and illusion has no effect on us. Illusion comes from our perception, and perception is a wish fulfilled.
2006-10-20 11:47:58 · answer #3 · answered by Sky in the Grass 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This may help you better than I can,
http://www.khandro.net/Bud_mother.htm
http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Maya/id/60851
2006-10-20 00:50:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋