Reality and Illusion

[Guest guest]

Q.

 

" The Supreme Spirit (Brahman) is Real. The world (jagat) is

illusion, " is the stock phrase of Sri Sankaracharya. Yet others

say, " The world is reality " . Which is true?

 

Maharshi:

 

Both statements are true. They refer to different stages of

development and are spoken from different points of view. The

aspirant (abhyasi) starts with the definition, that which is real

exists always; then he eliminates the world as unreal because it is

changing. It cannot be real; " not this, not this! " The seeker

ultimately reaches the Self and there finds unity as the prevailing

note. Then, that which was originally rejected as being unreal is

found to be a part of the unity. Being absorbed in the Reality, the

world also is Real. There is only being in Self-Realization, and

nothing but being. Again Reality is used in a different sense and is

applied loosely by some thinkers to objects. They say that the

reflected (adhyasika) Reality admits of degrees which are named:

 

(1) Vyavaharika satya (everyday life) - this chair is seen by me and

is real.

 

(2) Pratibhasika satya (illusory) - Illusion of serpent in a coiled

rope. The appearance is real to the man who thinks so. This

phenomenon appears at a point of time and under certain circumstances.

 

(3) Paramartika satya (ultimate) - Reality is that which remains the

same always and without change.

 

If Reality be used in the wider sense the world may be said to have

the everyday life and illusory degrees (vyavaharika and pratibhasika

satya). Some, however, deny even the reality of practical life -

vyavaharika satya and consider it to be only projection of the mind.

According to them it is only pratibhasika satya, i.e., an illusion.

 

 

 

(Talks)