Maaya

There was a reader's column in the newspaper yesterday (Hindustan Times). He writes that he doesn't buy the concept of 'Maaya' or illusion. It's hard to believe, he writes that what he sees, feels, touches and experiences is not real..

I like the way he had written it. And yes, the popular theory that everything in this world is an illusion or 'maaya' is not true. It's hard to convince people of this falsehood because they can't experience it.

The truth is 'maaya' is not this world or us. Maaya is the 'parda' that cloaks us in ignorance keeping us away from the true knowledge of who we are. Maaya makes us believe that we are the body and our purpose in life is to make as much money as we can and have a good time as long as we are here on earth with all its attractions.

Maaya makes us forget that we are actually our soul and not the body. We will return to the earth again and again and again in different forms till we learn fully life's lessons. We will be on our path to salvation only when we erase our karma and gain the true knowledge that our purpose in life is to serve the Lord through our actions. To do our prescribed duty and remember our Creator at all times.

Maaya is also a name of Durga Devi, wife of Lord Vishnu.