Nature of Maya
[2nd President and Spiritual Head: the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa]
DAILY READINGS
From Mother Radha's recordings of Swamiji
782
Devotee: Swamiji, what is Maya? [the so-called illusory, 'deluding' power of God]
Swamiji: [laughs] You see, what you call 'Maya' – people say it is illusion. What kind of illusion? It's a mystical power of God. A mysterious power of God. But let me tell you, if it's a mysterious power, then it must exist, isn't it? Then it can't be an illusion? So then it is a mysterious power of God that belongs to God. But we – because we can't make out [understand] what it is, how it is… we call it illusion. Take it this way; a magician when he shows you something, you call it illusion. What is illusion? Not that thing in itself, which you see. But the sweetness of it – and working with reality – he's not making something appear when it's not there. So to the magician, it magic but to you it's a reality. To you it's a… reality. For him, it is magic. What makes it magic? Misunderstanding. What makes it magic to me, is misunderstanding. So I misunderstand this world, therefore I call it illusion. The day I understand it is reality.
Devotee: Swamiji, when do you reach that stage when you can understand it?
Swamiji: That's good – that's a very good question. You'll reach that stage when you have your mind and senses under control, which Jesus said very openly, 'Blessed are the pure at heart – not in mind, huh? – at heart. That means you will not be thinking of bad – you can't think of bad – forget it. Heart means you can't think of bad. Blessed are the pure at heart, for they shall see God.
Our scriptures say 'Ahimsa' – non violence in thought, word and deed. Now tell me, how many of us have reached that stage? Come on? [silence from the devotees] So then you blame God for not revealing himself to you? You may kill him, like they did with Jesus – or the latest one [assassination] that they did with [Mohandas] Gandhi. From that point of view this is a joke [coming up] and shouldn't be taken as reality. I say God is scared of us. [Swamiji chuckling].
1) Care should be taken by the reader to understand and take Swamiji's words in these postings, in context. Every teaching or instruction that he gave was specific to the people who were with Swamiji at the time.
2) Mouse-over the words highlighted in red in the posting for further explanation or links.
There are currently available, over 100 different CDs or DVDs with mp3 files, of Swamiji speaking. Please email timhoare@webmail.co.za to order.
Click HERE for the second website on Swamiji's life and teachings.
For more about the Holy Trinity, and also the founding Swamis of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, please mouse over their names below:
Sri Ramakrishna Sri Sarada Devi Swami Vivekananda
Swami Nischalananda Swami Shivapadananda
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna - read online
Reference websites – please mouse over the name and click to connect:
Ramakrishna Math and Mission Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa Ramakrishna Dham