Re:Question On shloka 7-20 of the Gita- mAyA

[Guest guest]

Professor-ji :

 

The beauty of the Srimad Bhagavad Gita is, each and every verse of

each chapter makes more sense when read in conjunction with other

verses in the same chapter ! In this context , i would also like to

bring to the attention of the members verse 25 of the same chapter 7

which reads thus :

 

naham prakasah sarvasya

yoga-maya-samavrtah

mudho 'yam nabhijanati

loko mam ajam avyayam (? verse 25 , chapter 7)

 

 

I am never manifest to the foolish and unintelligent. For them I am

covered by My eternal creative potency [yoga-maya]; and so the

deluded world knows Me not, who am unborn and infallible.

 

Professorji had given a detailed description of 'mAyA' just a few

posts ago !

 

It will be interesting to read Swami Chinmayanandaji's expLnation of

this verse in the context of what constitutes 'mAyA'?

 

" If there be such a glorious Essential Truth, which is the core of

everything, why is it that it is not freely known and experienced by

everyone at all times? In short, " what stands between me and my

Self? " Why is it that we behave as though we are but limited ego-

centric entities, incapacitated as we are, to comprehend that in

essence we are the Infinite, the Immortal? These questions are

unavoidable to an intelligent seeker, when he, in his aspirations,

comes face to face with the staggering revelations contained in

Vedanta.

 

THIS DELUDED WORLD KNOWS ME NOT, THE UNBORN AND THE IMMORTAL because

their own " ILLUSION, BORN OUT OF THE THREE 'GUNAS,' VEILS

ME. " " Maya " is the most difficult theme of all for elementary

students of Vedanta, when they try merely to understand this Science

of Life objectively. The moment a student tries to experiment with

this " Knowledge " upon himself subjectively, the explanations

contained in the theory become evident. Maya is the conditioning

through which, when the Non-dual Truth expresses Itself, the One

Reality seems to fan out as the spectrum of the multiple universe.

 

The principle of Maya functioning in the individual is termed

ignorance (Avidya). This subjective malady, which provides in its

wake, the dreamy hallucinations of a sorrowful world of change and

imperfections, has been very closely observed, and the Rishis of old

have declared that it is caused by three types of " moods " in man's

inner personality. These three temperaments (gunas), called Sattwa,

Rajas and Tamas, provide a prism, viewed through which, the

kaleidoscopic world seems to dance, flashing its infinite patterns.

Rajas creates 'mental-agitations " (Vikshepa), and Tamas creates

the " intellectual-veiling " (Avarana).

 

To him who becomes confused and confounded by the play of these

triple temperaments, the Self is not available for direct

experience. Special instructions from teachers and diligent practice

on the part of students are both necessary in order to make one

realise one's own Real Nature.

 

((((SNIP SNIP)))))

 

Similarly, when through self-control, listening, reflection, and

meditation, the agitations of the mind are quietened, and when the

veiling has been pulled down, the seeker re-discovers " ME THE

UNBORN, THE IMMUTABLE. " As long as the agitations of the mind veil

the intellect from its awareness of the Self, so long the limited

ego (Jeeva) pants to fulfil itself and to gain the Infinite among

the gutters of its sensual cravings!

 

Such frenzied hearts reeking with desires and lacerated with

disappointments, crushed by dissatisfactions and smothered by the

fear of their own annihilation --- can never have the integrated

equipoise to live even a moment of still-awareness to experience the

Pure Consciousness. " THE DELUDED WORLD KNOWS ME NOT " as it is

steeped in " THE ILLUSION BORN OUT OF THE THREE-FOLD gunas. " Screened

off by this universe of names and forms, which is but an apparent

projection of the Self, the sense-organs, mind or intellect fail to

perceive It. The ghost veils the post! The mirage-waters clothe the

desert!! The waves screen off the ocean!!!

 

http://www.journeytothetruth.com/index.htm

 

Hari OM!

 

 

 

 

 

 

advaitin , " V. Krishnamurthy " <profvk

wrote:

>

>> .

> >

>

> Dear Moses Yesupadam

>

> Even though you have not mentioned the chapter number, I guess it

is

> the 7th chapter Shloka #20 you are talking about. On that

> understanding let me submit this note for you.

>

>