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<<< Dharam Dev Singh <DharamDev wrote:

I think I may be a little confused about how people are perceiving the

advaita philosophy. I'll try to formulate some questions.

1) What is maya if not Brahman? >>>

 

I try to answer:

 

The ancient Samkhya and Vedanta philosophies discuss various aspects of

origin of universe and evolutionary rationality of creation. The whole

argumentative approach of various Indian belief systems, in some way or

the other, is based on these philosophies.

 

Accordingly, it is maintained that Brahman is the Immaterial Existence;

and being non-material and simple It has to be all pervading and the

only One Reality.

 

The problem arises, then, about explaining this 'multifarious existence

including our identity!' The simple and apparently clever answer to this

question is,

 

" When one perceives this universe as real, the explanation based on Maya

theory should suit the person. A time will come when one shall reach the

state of higher consciousness when this multifarious reality will

vanish, and the person will perceive the same universe as no other than

Brahman, (or Atman, or Self, or God). "

 

Before everything there exists Reality as Absolute Consciousness. The

" Will " to become many is the beginning of manifest universe. The Will

evolves as Illusion: the Maya. 'Absolute Consciousness, Brahman, willed

to become many', this is Maya.

 

" Maya is the cosmic illusion that creates ignorance and veils the vision

of the Only Reality. Due to the power of Maya, the Same Oneness is

perceived as manifold universe. Will is the material and compound

manifestation of the same Reality. "

 

But as we are discussing relative truths of this changing world, which

we have taken for granted to be real, we have to elaborate the

hypothetical rationality of reincarnation and related topics of Indian

belief system. Indeed, much the same way we experiment and theorize the

rationality of truths of external nature in other physical sciences.

 

dr c s shah

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