Maya literally means not that. Ma means not and Ya means that and hence that which Is not! Vedanta is a philosophy that explores the nature of reality (Brahman) and the individual self (Jivatman). In this context of Vedanta, “Maya” therefore refers to the veiling power or the effect it creates to conceal the true nature of Jivatman and then project a false reality. So Maya can be roughly translated in English as Illusion, for want of an exact word.
Maya is that which creates the appearance of multiplicity and diversity in the world. It is considered a power of Brahman (the ultimate reality) and is responsible for veiling the true nature of the self (Atman) and creating a world of names (Nama) and forms (Rupa) that we perceive as real.
Three qualities of Maya:
Maya has three qualities. 1) Power of Concealing the Truth 2) Power of Projection 3) Discriminating between truth & untruth. These powers are called in Sanskrit as Avarana Shakti (Concealing Power), Vikshepa Shakti (Projection power), and Viveka Shakti (Discriminating power). When a human being is attached to 1 & 2 of the above, he is helplessly bound and delusion sets in. Please refer to my blog on 3 Vital Gunas (Sattva, Rajas & Tamas). It is Tamas Guna which is responsible for Avarana Shakti – Concealing or Veiling & Rajas Guna for Vikshepa Shakti – Projection of false reality.
Finally, when Sattva Guna becomes predominant in us, Viveka Shakti springs forth by giving us the power of discrimination and removes this delusion and gives us clarity. It is from these three powers—Avarana (Tamas or inertia), Vikshepa (Rajas or Mobility), and Viveka (Sattva or Harmony/Rhythm), this whole universe comes forth. It has to be said here that the concept of Maya is not easy to understand! The followers of Advaita Vedanta explain the concept of Maya rather uniquely. No other school explains it in this way.
Maya & the 3 states of Consciousness:
Please refer to my blog on 3 states of Consciousness; waking dreaming & deep sleep. What we see in our waking state seems very real. Secondly, when we dream this reality now shifts to the dreaming state. Everything in our dream state seems real. Finally, when we go into deep sleep state there is nothing that is real! There is no awareness! This makes us wonder whether the world is real at all. We know everything around us is fleeting & transitory. It is continuously changing. If something is REAL, it should last endlessly. It is not unreal as well, since that which is unreal does not exist. Thus, the world we experience is neither real nor unreal. This is why it is said that the world is only Maya.
Time, Space & Causation:
Time:
So, when did time begin? Gabriele Veneziano (< click here), a theoretical physicist, formerly at CERN near Geneva says “Science does not have a conclusive answer yet, but at least two potentially testable theories plausibly hold that the universe and therefore time existed well before the big bang. If either scenario is right, the cosmos has always been in existence and, even if it re-collapses one day, will never end”. The Scientific community is still divided on this subject as some cannot accept that Time existed before the Big Bang.
As per Vedanta Time, Space & Causation do not have a beginning or an end. Time plays an important role in the creation, preservation & dissolution of this Universe.
When we say this Universe came into existence at a particular time, we place time before the beginning of time. Because time starts only at the second instance, just like distance which can be measured only between two points. Distance cannot be measured at the first point. Hence, Time has no beginning. Time can be traced backwards & moves forwards infinitely. Hence, Time is considered Maya because it is relative and ever-changing. The eternal reality or Brahman transcends time and it is called “That which is beyond Time”
Space:
Currently, Space is expanding in all directions and is all pervading. Universe is made up of 27% “dark matter” that causes gravitational impact on visible matter and 68% of “dark energy” which causes the acceleration of the Universe. The rest 5% is the visible matter which are stars, planets & galaxies (Please refer Image below). Both dark matter & dark energy are still mysterious to the scientists and research is ongoing. As lot of matter continues to be formed in the Universe, gravity will stop this expansion, it will start collapsing on itself. This phenomena is called the Big Crunch. Therefore Space can expand, shrink and expand again.
Other than this, there is a host of continuous activity occurring in the Universe such as; Solar Flares, Meteor Showers, Asteroid impacts, Stars going Supernovae and causing massive explosions, Stars collapsing on themselves and creating Black Holes, Neutrons causing Gamma Ray bursts & Birth of new stars etc. In Vedanta, Space like Time, is also considered as Maya because it is also relative & ever changing. Brahman transcends space and referred to as “That which is beyond Space”
Content of the Universe
Image Courtesy: NASA
Causality:
Causation in Vedanta is usually discussed in context of the cause-and-effect relationship observed in the empirical world (Empirical means, verifiable by observation or experience, rather than logic). Causation indicates that one event is the result of the occurrence of the other event; i.e. there is a causal relationship between the two events and referred to as cause and effect.
A couple of examples that are usually quoted in Vedanta on cause & effect are given below.
Example 1:
A cotton cloth is the effect of cotton threads, which is the material cause. There will be no cotton cloth without the threads. But without cotton there will be no threads! So cotton is the cause and the cotton cloth is the effect. As per Swami Sivananda: “Despite the non-difference of cause and effect, the effect has its self in the cause but not the cause in the effect. The effect is of the nature of the cause and not the cause the nature of the effect. Therefore the qualities of the effect cannot touch the cause”.
Vedanta distinguishes between material cause (upādāna-kāraṇa) and efficient cause (nimitta-kāraṇa). Material cause is the substance or material from which something is created. For example, clay is the material cause of a pot. Efficient cause is the agent or force that brings about the transformation. For example, the potter shaping the clay is the efficient cause. Vedanta goes beyond these conventional causes to identify Brahman as the ultimate cause (parama-kāraṇa) of the entire universe.
Example 2:
Analogy of the snake & the rope. In low light, a coiled rope lying on the ground is mistaken for a snake. We do not see the rope, we see only a snake. The rope has projected an image of a snake. Therefore, the rope is the cause and the snake is the effect. Then, when a light from a torch is beamed on to the rope, we realize that it is only a rope and not a snake. An illusion of a snake was projected on the rope.
Just like the rope projected an image of a snake, Brahman projects the image of this world on itself. Only Brahman exists, but we see the world! We do not see Brahman or the Supreme Consciousness. Maya causes us to mistake the ever-present reality of Brahman for the changing and diverse world we perceive. The goal of Vedanta is to overcome this illusion and realize the true nature of reality, which is the union of Paramatman (Supreme Consciousness or Brahman) and Jivatman (Atman inside Jiva or human being). Through self-inquiry (Jnana yoga), meditation and ethical living, individuals seek to rise above the effects of Maya and attain self-realization which is the union with Brahman or the Supreme Self.
Thus in Vedanta, the ultimate goal is to transcend the limitations of space, time, and causation through self-realization.
Conclusion:
I conclude this post with a quote on Maya from Bhagavad Gita 7.14 which is as follows:
The world consisting of 3 Gunas or qualities (Sattva, Rajas & Tamas) is projected upon the Supreme Reality or Brahman. Daivi Maya or divine illusion is the disguise the Lord has assumed. Māha Māya is Vishnu who is an expert in creating this illusion. He has hidden His Reality in the garb of nature. This is like the disappearance of the “snake” when the “rope” is perceived. He will disclose himself to those who take refuge in Him (to those who rise above the effects of Maya). Brahman is the substratum of everything and Maya is projected upon it. That is why Maya is called Divine Illusion!
(Translations & Snippets from Bhagavad Gita – Commentary by Swami Chidbhavananda)