Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Maya



This is Maya (Illusion).
She has been intentionally created.
Without her, the attention would not have developed.
You should not be afraid of Maya
and should recognize Her
so that She will illuminate your path.
A cloud hides the sun and also makes it seen.
In the same way, once the Maya is identified,
she moves aside and the sun is seen.
The sun is always there,
but what is the purpose of the cloud?
Because of the cloud, you have an urge to see the sun,
which shines for a moment and again hides somewhere.

-HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi



From the experience of bliss for a long time, there arose in the Supreme Self a certain state like deep sleep. From that state Maya (the illusive power of the Supreme Self) was born, just as a dream arises in sleep. This Maya is without the characteristics of (or different from) Reality or unreality, without beginning, and dependent on the Reality that is the Supreme Self. She, who is of the form of the Three Gunas (the qualities or energies of Nature), brings forth the Universe with all its animate and inanimate things.
-Shri Shankaracharya (probably 788–820 CE)

Tuesday, February 02, 2010

Self as Reality

Persian Women Gathered Around a Samovar,
19th Century.

Your name, village, country, horoscope, forecasts, many such things get attached to you, or others attach them to you. Once the Brahmarandhra is closed, many types of illusory ideas become part of your mind….
Only that attention which progresses, renouncing all that is unreal, breaks all known and unknown bindings becomes verily the Self. Atma (the Spirit) is never disturbed or destroyed.
- HH Shri Mataji Nirmala Devi