When I was a kid, my mom used to read spiritual books and say that the entire world is Maya and all our pain are due to our ignorance about Maya. This statement kept on puzzling me. Maya means illusion, and I always wondered when I can see everything around me, feel everything around, and even touch everything around me, how does the world get categorized as Maya or illusion. Since the declaration on Maya was made by spiritually enlightened personalities, I couldn't rule it out as a junk statement.
At one point I understood that the conflict within me on Maya was my current knowledge and the realization toward understanding the in-depth meaning shared by yogis as the knowledge I should seek. Time passed and events started unwinding, life started teaching lessons on materialism, attachment and greed. Slowly the vagueness about Maya was getting cleared. It is a good learning on how to distinguish things and make life more meaningful and happy from the interview video with Sister Shivani of Brahma Kumaris posted by Ramesh Bai.
The main source of completeness for human being off late is from materialistic things that has a monetary value associated with it or from power or from recognition among the genders or different permutations and combinations of three. Perhaps expecting this shift long back, philosophers had stated that people who find their happiness in the aforementioned things will never be peaceful in their life. Let’s imagine an individual’s life and associate the general mindset at each stages and it consequences.
Till the education, life for an individual is totally at a different plateau. The learning and the grooming during initial phase comes handy for the rest of the life. Hence teachers and parents have a key role in molding the right platform of attitude, character and skill set. Now moving to the mainstream, once into professional line individuals will be keen to get a job that pays them handsomely because it is believed that money will "buy" you everything and also there is always a comparison by people on the scale and the status involved in getting a well paid job. What about Job Satisfaction? For some it is a priority but often money overtakes it.
Now the next stage is getting as much as gadgets, well furnished house and vehicle. These are all needs but the problem arises when materials sought extends beyond need. After this it is settling in life, alliance sought after will be again one who is equal in status and better in monetary background. There will be an elaborate wedding function. Reason? All these establish themselves in the society and they feel happy directly and indirectly.
The consequences of this are: First, there is over dependence on the so-called needs that gets elevated to a different level. Second, all the materialistic things are perishable, means the happiness and completeness is going to perish one day or another by default. Third, there will be a lot of financial obligations associated with all the materials and sweating day in day out for the rest of the life span will not be sufficient to settle them.
Ultimately this will lead way to: First, there is no time for yourself. Two, there is no time for the family. Third, a fear factor of insecurity and breaking down always looms large. Fourth, relationships get bitter. Fifth, health goes for a toss. And finally, life becomes mechanical and there is no more wholehearted living happening.
What is the core reason that life transferred to turmoil which was supposed to be traveling in the path of happiness and completeness? In very simple terms, the reason is the over-attachment with materialistic things that was imagined to have an idealistic long shelf life, which is not the truth. This sort of unrealistic attachment is mere illusion, which is Maya.
Let’s overall view few things that exist in world that we generally are eager to possess and try categorizing them.
Now depending on what we give priority to, we can experience bliss or pain, the choice is ours. There can be a question that now doesn't love, affection and care fall into the category of Maya since there is high percentage of chance that it gives pain at one point or another. The pain happens when there is a something expected in return, even if it is permanent existence or attachment, but true love, true affection or true care doesn't expect anything in return, it is like being a true devotee.
Now the next question is, will it be possible to live a normal life staying away from the materialistic things. One should understand that there is a lot of difference between seeking basic necessities and obsession, possessiveness and attachment towards the materials. Imagine you are going in a cart. If the cart is comfortable for the people to travel and the bullocks to ride, plus it is safe that will become the need whereas if it is elaborately decorated and fitted with all the latest technology available is senseless. The technology will become a necessity if you are breaking the barriers of safe zone.
So, just because there are a lot of items available in the market, let’s not fall for it but know the limit of the need and allow life to unwind in a peaceful and pleasant format for everlasting happiness. We often see people becoming restless and insecure. This is mainly because the condition that they put themselves into, either by getting tangled due to overspending and directionless to make either ends meet or over attachment thinking everything is permanent. Both conditions will lead to physical and psychological weakness and eventually lead to the unfortunate.
So rather than seeking happiness outside, try finding it inside in what you are, try seeking it in the knowledge that everyone is same as us, and try enjoying leading a life of the highest value of peace, acceptance and content. Content doesn't mean stopping to explore but it means knowing the limits of one's needs. There is a proverb in Tamil which goes like this "Pothumendra Maname Pon Seiyyum Marunthu" which means the moment one understands the upper limit of ones need and can make thy heart accept and follow it, it is the golden medicine one possess for a life of happiness, peace and prosperity. Wishing Everyone a Wonderful & Peaceful Life Ahead.
SATHISH N
At one point I understood that the conflict within me on Maya was my current knowledge and the realization toward understanding the in-depth meaning shared by yogis as the knowledge I should seek. Time passed and events started unwinding, life started teaching lessons on materialism, attachment and greed. Slowly the vagueness about Maya was getting cleared. It is a good learning on how to distinguish things and make life more meaningful and happy from the interview video with Sister Shivani of Brahma Kumaris posted by Ramesh Bai.
The main source of completeness for human being off late is from materialistic things that has a monetary value associated with it or from power or from recognition among the genders or different permutations and combinations of three. Perhaps expecting this shift long back, philosophers had stated that people who find their happiness in the aforementioned things will never be peaceful in their life. Let’s imagine an individual’s life and associate the general mindset at each stages and it consequences.
Till the education, life for an individual is totally at a different plateau. The learning and the grooming during initial phase comes handy for the rest of the life. Hence teachers and parents have a key role in molding the right platform of attitude, character and skill set. Now moving to the mainstream, once into professional line individuals will be keen to get a job that pays them handsomely because it is believed that money will "buy" you everything and also there is always a comparison by people on the scale and the status involved in getting a well paid job. What about Job Satisfaction? For some it is a priority but often money overtakes it.
Now the next stage is getting as much as gadgets, well furnished house and vehicle. These are all needs but the problem arises when materials sought extends beyond need. After this it is settling in life, alliance sought after will be again one who is equal in status and better in monetary background. There will be an elaborate wedding function. Reason? All these establish themselves in the society and they feel happy directly and indirectly.
The consequences of this are: First, there is over dependence on the so-called needs that gets elevated to a different level. Second, all the materialistic things are perishable, means the happiness and completeness is going to perish one day or another by default. Third, there will be a lot of financial obligations associated with all the materials and sweating day in day out for the rest of the life span will not be sufficient to settle them.
Ultimately this will lead way to: First, there is no time for yourself. Two, there is no time for the family. Third, a fear factor of insecurity and breaking down always looms large. Fourth, relationships get bitter. Fifth, health goes for a toss. And finally, life becomes mechanical and there is no more wholehearted living happening.
What is the core reason that life transferred to turmoil which was supposed to be traveling in the path of happiness and completeness? In very simple terms, the reason is the over-attachment with materialistic things that was imagined to have an idealistic long shelf life, which is not the truth. This sort of unrealistic attachment is mere illusion, which is Maya.
Let’s overall view few things that exist in world that we generally are eager to possess and try categorizing them.
| Type | Category | Definition |
| Gadgets | Material | Maya |
| Properties | Material | Maya |
| Wealth | Material | Maya |
| Power | Exhaustible | Maya |
| True Knowledge | Permanent | Non-Maya |
| True Intellect | Permanent | Non-Maya |
| True Love | Permanent | Non-Maya |
| True Affection & Care | Permanent | Non-Maya |
Now depending on what we give priority to, we can experience bliss or pain, the choice is ours. There can be a question that now doesn't love, affection and care fall into the category of Maya since there is high percentage of chance that it gives pain at one point or another. The pain happens when there is a something expected in return, even if it is permanent existence or attachment, but true love, true affection or true care doesn't expect anything in return, it is like being a true devotee.
Now the next question is, will it be possible to live a normal life staying away from the materialistic things. One should understand that there is a lot of difference between seeking basic necessities and obsession, possessiveness and attachment towards the materials. Imagine you are going in a cart. If the cart is comfortable for the people to travel and the bullocks to ride, plus it is safe that will become the need whereas if it is elaborately decorated and fitted with all the latest technology available is senseless. The technology will become a necessity if you are breaking the barriers of safe zone.
So, just because there are a lot of items available in the market, let’s not fall for it but know the limit of the need and allow life to unwind in a peaceful and pleasant format for everlasting happiness. We often see people becoming restless and insecure. This is mainly because the condition that they put themselves into, either by getting tangled due to overspending and directionless to make either ends meet or over attachment thinking everything is permanent. Both conditions will lead to physical and psychological weakness and eventually lead to the unfortunate.
So rather than seeking happiness outside, try finding it inside in what you are, try seeking it in the knowledge that everyone is same as us, and try enjoying leading a life of the highest value of peace, acceptance and content. Content doesn't mean stopping to explore but it means knowing the limits of one's needs. There is a proverb in Tamil which goes like this "Pothumendra Maname Pon Seiyyum Marunthu" which means the moment one understands the upper limit of ones need and can make thy heart accept and follow it, it is the golden medicine one possess for a life of happiness, peace and prosperity. Wishing Everyone a Wonderful & Peaceful Life Ahead.
SATHISH N
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