Hindus: help defining "Maya"

Eddi · Oct 23, 2021

Hindus Only Please!

I am doing some writing and in it I have a paragraph on the Hindu concept of Maya

I would like to run this by you guys to ensure that what I say is accurate

Here is what I have written:

In Hinduism, Maya is the reality we experience. But the belief is that this reality is an illusion – that is not to say that it is unreal, it is simply to say that it is not all that it seems to be, that there is an additional layer of reality that gives rise to what we experience.

Is this correct? Have I got it right?

If not, what would be correct?

SalixIncendium · Oct 23, 2021

Actually, the reality we experience is a result of Maya.

I define Maya as culmination of time, space, and causation. It is these three that project the reality we perceive. One's perception of this pragmatic transactional reality is called vyavaharika in Advaita Vedanta, as opposed Paramartika, which is Ultimate Reality.

Swami Sarvapriyanada gives a great lecture on Maya based on Vivekananda's teachings of Jnana Yoga.

Eddi · Oct 23, 2021

SalixIncendium said:
Actually, the reality we experience is a result of Maya.

I define Maya as culmination of time, space, and causation. It is these three that project the reality we perceive. One's perception of this pragmatic transactional reality is called vyavaharika in Advaita Vedanta, as opposed Paramartika, which is Ultimate Reality.

Swami Sarvapriyanada gives a great lecture on Maya based on Vivekananda's teachings of Jnana Yoga.

Thank you for your reply

So, it could be said that "Hindus believe reality is an illusion created by a thing called Maya"?

If so, what then causes Maya?

SalixIncendium · Oct 23, 2021

Eddi said:
Thank you for your reply

So, it could be said that "Hindus believe reality is an illusion created by a thing called Maya"?

Maya causes avidya, which is incorrect knowledge, or simply ignorance. So yes, the reality one perceives in this life is illusory.

Eddi said:
If so, what then causes Maya?

Some say Brahman; some say Brahman and Maya coexist. But if part of Maya is cause, how can cause be a result of cause?

Eddi · Oct 23, 2021

SalixIncendium said:
Maya causes avidya, which is incorrect knowledge, or simply ignorance. So yes, the reality one perceives in this life is illusory.

Part of Maya, as I stated above, is causation. Your question literally asks what causes cause. I'm not sure that can be answered. Perhaps someone else will give it a shot.

So, is this correct?

In Hinduism, Maya is that which produces the reality we experience. But the belief is that this reality is an illusion – that is not to say that it is unreal, it is simply to say that it is not all that it seems to be, that there is an additional layer of reality (Maya) that gives rise to what we experience.

SalixIncendium · Oct 23, 2021

Eddi said:
So, is this correct?

In Hinduism, Maya is that which produces the reality we experience. But the belief is that this reality is an illusion – that is not to say that it is unreal, it is simply to say that it is not all that it seems to be, that there is an additional layer of reality (Maya) that gives rise to what we experience.

This is correct from the perspective of Advaita Vedanta. Other schools of Vedanta and other schools of Hindu philosophy may not agree.

You could likely ask ten Hindus what Maya is and get ten different answers.

stvdv · Oct 23, 2021

Eddi said:
So, it could be said that "Hindus believe reality is an illusion created by a thing called Maya"?

Eddi said:
If so, what then causes Maya?

Sai Baba shed light on this, if you like to know from Sai Baba then I can share a YouTube link; where this is clearly explaining in 2m48s

Hindus: help defining "Maya"

Eddi

Agnostic

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Eddi

Agnostic

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

Eddi

Agnostic

SalixIncendium

अग्निविलोवनन्दः

stvdv

Veteran Member: I Share (not Debate) my POV