Spiritual Instruction - Practice [ Abhyasa ] - 2

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4. Is the state of 'being still' a state

involving effort or effortless?

 

It is not an effortless state of indolence. All mundane activities

which are ordinarily called effort are performed with the aid

of a portion of the mind and with frequent breaks. But the act

of communion with the Self (atma vyavahara) or remaining still

inwardly is intense activity which is performed with the entire

mind and without break.

 

Maya (delusion or ignorance) which cannot be destroyed

by any other act is completely destroyed by this intense

activity which is called 'silence' (mouna).

 

5. What is the nature of maya?

 

Maya is that which makes us regard as non-existent the Self,

the Reality, which is always and everywhere present, all-pervasive

and self-luminous, and as existent the individual soul (jiva), the

world (jagat), and God (para) which have been conclusively proved

to be non-existent at all times and places.