Maya, Mind, World
A very important understanding about Maya is revealed by Sri Mahaprabu. Yet another in-depth discussion when he called me from his workplace! Without missing a single task on his end, despite so many interruptions he devoted over an hour to move his disciple further towards the goal. With this understanding one is better equipped to come out of Maya.
There is only the Uyir (Life Energy). When I say Mind, I mean this: When the Uyir, this life energy starts flowing, then you can call it Mind. It is just a name we give to this state. When the mind stops flowing it is called Uyir. So Uyir is another name for mind and mind is another name for Uyir. It is the same thing but in different states. It is like when the water flows from the mountain it is called a river. At the edge of the mountain, it is called a waterfall. But both are same! Though both are the same, there is a difference in their utility. Like we are able to find differences in the river vs. waterfalls. (Sri Mahaprabu immediately quoted from the Ribhu Gita to support this definition)
Essential verses from the Ribhu Gita
There is a verse in the Ribhu Gita:
Anaga arivana para brahmam thane, aviddhaiyinal asaivurume manadhai thondrum
Ninavum arivana para brahman thane, viddhayinal asaivu arumel paramai thondrum
When you are careless (i.e. without Vizipppu Unarvu, Awareness) IT appears as mind, IT is called as mind. This is the definition of mind. That itself, That alone appears as mind when you are not in Vizippu unarvu. But if you were conscious, aware, without oscillation, IT reveals as Brahman.
When Brahmam oscillates, it is Mind. When it stops it is Brahmam. Such a big Ribhu Gita. Mahaprabu has chosen this one song out of so many verses and has given it the name “Brahma Sutram” the formula to attain Brahman.
In Ribhu Gita there is another verse.
Manadhadhu ve salanamudan irrukkum agil magathana jiva, jagamai thondrum
Mind (defined as that when Brahman flows, i.e. when you don’t have Vizippu unarvu) when it oscillates, it appears as Jiva and Jagat.
Manadhaduve salanamilla irukkum agil, masatra arivana parame avam
When it is not oscillating, it stands as untainted wisdom, that is the Supreme Power.
One day, Mahaprabu was reading these verses from the Ribhu Gita for the very first time. He stopped right there and identified this verse as the one that gives a very clear understanding.
The next one is great too:
Sathiyamai Jagathumudhal irukkum agil, adhu salanmara sushupthiyilum irukkavenum
If there was really a world, if it really had life energy, if it had a connection with you, if you were it also, then you should feel the world in deep sleep.
Ithanaiyum sushupthidhanil ilamayale, ivai yavum kanavenave mithai endrum
Since they are not there in deep sleep, these are all mithya, dream.
The next one is even better.
Manadhinudaya viruthi udippadarku munnum, matrandha viruthhi nasithitta pinnum
Thinai alavum illadha jaga jivadhi…
Before the arising of a thought in you, and after the ending of a thought in you, there is not even a bit of individual, world, etc. Thinai means smaller than a mustard seed. Not even that much of Jiva and Jagat is there. When there are no thoughts in you, before a thought arises or between two thoughts are you able to feel the world? There is not even a trace of the world.
thiyangu mana vrittiyinall madhiyathil
ganamadhuvai iruppadhu pol thondri nalum Kalangamura sodhikkil illai yendre
In that middle state, when you are not thoughtless, when thoughts are there, you feel heavily (ganam) that you and the world exist. Everything appears in that state alone. So Jagam and Jivam are where? They are only as ‘thoughts’ in you. Sincerely, honestly investigate this and you will find that they are not there. If those thoughts were not there, in what state would you be? A state where there is neither Jagat nor Jiva. But something IS there. You can feel it. It is in that state alone that everything exists! But you are thinking the opposite. That the World and Jiva are real. But they aren’t. They are mere products of your fiction.
Maya
Call the thoughtless state as X.
Call Jagat thoughts as Y and
Call Jiva thoughts as Z.
What Ribhu Gita is saying is this. When you are in the thoughtless state X, there is neither Y nor Z. Then what was there? This X that is in you is what is actually there everywhere. X alone is there everywhere. That which you think and refer to as Y and Z is really all X. So, through your thoughts, you are referring to all other X as Y and Z. (SC: Amazed at the use of his words ‘all other X’ because we may think of Y and Z as other than X but really they are nothing but X, so he says ‘all other X’ even though it doesn’t make sense from a language perspective) Actually Y and Z are not.
SC: So even Matter i.e. all the things that we touch and feel materially is X.
Mahaprabu: Yes! It is X touching X. But you call it Sex! (Laughing)
See, Ribhu Gita says ‘honestly if you investigate’ because he doubts your honesty! So Y and Z are merely thoughts. Really they are not there. What is real? X is real. This is Maya. So, see where the correction should be made. In the place where there are no thoughts!
So where is Maya? It is inside everyone as thought. It is not somewhere out there. It is in us. If you realize this correctly, most of the job is done. Then you can be very careful and do something about it. But people teach the wrong thing. Woman is Maya, World is Maya, etc. If it is outside then what can you do about it? Not much.
As long as you are in Bhakti, you leave all responsibilities in the hands of God. Why do you have Bhakti in the first place? To have a darshan of God. When Bhakti matures, where will you start to see God? In yourself. First you keep God as external and you perform Bhakti. With maturity you will see God inside you. Kind of a superimposition of you and God. As you mature even more, both become the same. Only one is left. What is that? God. So in a mature, higher state, X (Godliness) alone remains. In the other two, X and Y (human nature) remain. So when Y leaves, X alone reveals. Y has become X. In Bhakti you (Y) throw the responsibility on God (X). But when Bhakti matures and there is no Y, only X is there, then the whole responsibility is on X, since we have become X. Once we know that Maya is inside us, who has control over it? Us, the Godliness. So as a God, you have to have to be very alert about Maya! Because at this point everything is God. So the responsibility is also on God (which is us). If someone tells you in the beginning that you are God, the responsibility is on you, it won’t work. That’s why Bhakti is important, to build strength and make you responsible.It is like telling a criminal who is really dejected, that he is responsible for all his suffering. First you have to build strength in him, let him mature, and then talk about responsibility. Like that, I’m telling you now that Maya is nowhere but inside you.
What is Maya? Illadhada irruppadaha nenaikiradhu dhan mayai. Thinking and taking for real that which does not exist is Maya. Y (Jagat thoughts) and Z (You: Jiva thoughts) are not there actually. Only X (the thoughtless state) is. X alone is there everywhere. But you are referring to the same X as Y and Z. It is you who is doing it. (Laughing).
SC: I have superimposed the idea of Y and Z on X. Correct?
Mahaprabu: Yes. You are doing that. Remember, you the X are defining that same X as Y and Z. This is the place where Maya comes into play. Since you alone are doing this, the correction can only happen in you. Only if you correct this, you will attain Jnana, Mukti, and attain X. Someone is needed to tell you that it is all in your hands alone. That is the Guru. Bhagavan said, God or Guru can only show you the way to Mukti but will not make you enlightened. Why? Since the Maya is inside you. A Guru is needed to tell you this. When Bhagavan said ‘will not’ it means he cannot. It is not like he has the ability and is holding on to it.
What can be done
The great thing is that you can never lose X. It is always there. You can only lose Y and Z. And staying as X, all the activities can be done. See how much confidence this can give you. X exists throughout, whether Y and Z are not. So every moment is an opportunity to lose Y and Z, and stay in X. So have tremendous confidence. So be happy, know that X is alone is, and that Y and Z are the work of Maya. If you truly realize this, you can use Maya but Maya cannot use you. You will know when to use it and when to lose it. Step by step, step by step you will know. You will know the cause and effect of Maya, the necessity of Maya. Mahaprabu also was in the trap of it. Now that he is free from it, he knows that it is all the play of Maya, yet he is neither against Maya nor is stuck in it. In other words, once you are freed from it you will never again be trapped in it. It is like this: Without knowing that you are a rich man you have been living as a beggar. But so much evidence have been given to you that you really are a king. And once you have realized it, they have placed you on the throne. Now you live like a king, but you still know what begging is. You will not beg, but you are not against it. Even if you are forced to beg, you will never believe that you are a beggar. You will always know that you are the king. But before knowing you are a king, you were totally identified with a beggar. Similarly once you are freed from Maya, you will not go back.
SC: Since Y and Z are not actually there, is it better to not put the effort toward losing Y and Z and instead put effort into retaining X?
Mahaprabu: Both should happen side by side. Sometimes, when you are in Y and Z and stuck in Maya, then you should bring to remembrance that Y and Z are not real. That is all you can do at that point since you have lost touch with X. If you are able to be in X at all times, which is Unarvin Thodarbu – my tharaka mantra! then it is great. But when your wife and children appear, will you retain X? No. So at those points bring to consciousness that Y and Z are not there. Illadhadhu Illa – That which doesn’t exist is not there. Instead of saying only That exists (X) you can say, that which does not exist is not there!! Instead of saying only X is there, you are saying Y and Z are not there.
SC: It sounds very clear in theory, but practically it is difficult.
Mahaprabu: Practically also it is very easy, but it is a matter of interest. That’s why Budhha said, “I said everyone can attain Jnana, it is possible. But whether all are interested? That is the question”. See how deeply he has found this.
SC: So that is where the Guru comes in, to kindle that interest!
Mahaprabu: What do you think I am doing now!!! (Laughing) I am in the college right now. So many works are happening. People come to me for guidance. I give them. Phone calls come. I attend. All this is going on. But the main work is happening! The main course! (Referring to him talking to me)
SC: (thinking to himself) What a detailed, in-depth explanation about Brahman, Maya, World, etc. that Sri Mahaprabu is giving, all while working in the college as the head of the department! I could hear so many interruptions, phone calls that he attends and yet he ALWAYS picks up exactly where he left our conversation, never missing even once and never the slightest frustration. When one has dropped the facade of individuality this must be how the Supreme Power operates, in total perfection.
Mahaprabu: Always see yourself as a skeleton. When the wife appears, when the children appear, see them all as skeletons. That will help. It is like this: You have painted a house in beautiful color finishes. It gets etched in your memory that you are living in such a beautiful home. If you paint all the rooms white you will be less attracted. If you didn’t paint them at all and just left all the bricks exposed along with concrete floor will you consider it a palace? It is the same home. But if you see it as bricks will you be enamored by it?
So try seeing yourself and everyone as skeletons. Try it. Only you can do all this!! Not anyone else. I can give you all the answers but you have to write the exam in your handwriting! In your name. Your share has to be done.
Write this down clearly somewhere:
I should always remember the answer to these 2 questions: Where is Maya? (In me) Who is responsible? (I am).
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