Swami Sivananda Vani

[Guest guest]

How did Maya arise in Brahman? Sri Swami Sivananda

 

" This is an Ati-prasna or transcendental question. You will find this question

coming up to your mind in various forms: When did Karma begin? When and why was

the world created? Why is there evil in the world? Why did the Unmanifest

manifest itself? And so on. The same question is asked by Rama in Yoga Vasishtha

and Vasishtha says: " You are putting the cart before the horse. You will not be

benefited by an enquiry into this question at all. Meditate and realize Brahman.

 

You will then know the answer to this question. The problem itself will have

dissolved by then. No one can answer this question. When Knowledge dawns, the

question itself vanishes. Therefore there is no answer to the question at all.

The Brahma Sutra says: Lokavat Tu Lila Kaivalyam. It is only to pacify your

doubt. It is really not an answer; for, there can be no answer. Yet, the

question will arise in the case of every seeker after Truth. You cannot help it.

You will have to use your discrimination, pacify the doubt, and then through

intense Sadhana and meditation, realize God. Then the doubt will vanish. A great

Yogi was worried with this doubt for twelve years. Then he told me: " The worry

is over now. It troubled me for twelve years. I could not find an answer. So I

have given up that pursuit and have taken to meditation, Japa and Kirtan. Now I

find peace and progress " . Faith in the Guru, in the Granth Sahib, Kirtan, Japa,

meditation and practice of righteousness- these will enable you to progress in

the spiritual path and will take you to That where there is no questioning

possible. "