The concept of Maya has been in the human psyche for thousands of years. Invariably, over such a period of reflection, absorption, blind belief and partially blind belief, there is little surprise to see that in the present day there are a plethora of perceptions on what Maya exactly is.
Maya as 'Measurement'
Dr. Robert Svoboda, who spoke just recently on Tantra and Akasha: Hive-minds & Henotheism and who wrote an article on this 'topic' in latest edition of the most phenomenal publication Namarupa, brought it to my attention that the Sanskrit term 'Maya' comes from the root that means 'to measure'. This measurement can take on many forms - 'measuring' time, commodities, space, money, our intellect, spiritual attainments, our wealth, our health or how physically endowed we are. This is a seemingly innate tendency to 'measure' and attribute a specific 'value' to that measurement.
Maya in Time and Space
I had often thought of the Mayan civilization when I heard the word 'Maya' and it seems like the association goes beyond a wrathful architect mentioned in the ancient epics Mahabharata and Ramayana. For the Mayans were indeed great architects but also experts in measuring time and their predilection for it has even baffled or rather inspired modern day astrologers and astronomers. The fact that their calender abruptly ends at the winter solstice of 2012 have caused many to foreshadow this as an omen of either auspiciousness (the end of time and the sentiment to go beyond time) or dire consequence (the dreaded earth changes and a potential polar shift reversal).
The wisdom of the Mayans has inspired some (like Jose Arguelles) to dig deeper and as a result bring to light the matrix of which their religio-philosophical astrological calculations rest upon. The word 'matrix' itself is very much related to 'maya' for both contain the root 'ma'. Etymologically speaking 'matrix' is seen in Latin as 'womb', 'pregnant animal' and 'source, origin' from mater 'mother'. Matrix seen as sense of "place or medium where something is developed" is first recorded 1555; as a sense of "embedding or enclosing mass" was first recorded 1641. Matrix as a logical sense of "array of possible combinations of truth-values" is attested from 1914 (taken from the Online Etymology Dictionary). Here we see how a term can spiral to encompass and embody a number of manifold concepts - mater is just as much 'mother' as 'matter'. Anyways, language when imbued with a mystical insight whether it be Latin, Mayan, Sanskrit, Hebrew, Arabic or modern-day English can always be considered a matrix in the mathematical sense because the root of language itself is a form of 'measurement' of the universe through a combination of sound and script with intent and meaning. Hence, when one reads the Zohar it need not always be in a linear fashion.
In any case, measurement is a preoccupation that can indeed 'veil' one from the bigger picture. A family so caught up in paying the rent, bills/taxes and acquiring food can hardly muster sympathy for another family in a similar plight or worse - let alone climate change. Hence, the 'illusion' of measurement causes us to forget that that which we are measuring is in fact a temporary exercise in giving 'value' to the sum of the parts and negating the whole from which they arise. In Jainism there are four kashayas ('passions') which obstruct ones path to self-realization; maya - 'deceitfulness', mana - 'ego', lobha - 'greed', krodha - 'anger'. Vedic, Buddhist and Sikh scriptures speak of five obstructions to sadhana as kam - 'lust', krodh - 'anger', lobh - 'greed', moh - 'attachment', ahankar - 'ego'. In most traditions these four or five impediments to awakening are further categorized or elaborated upon to form a more precise description of how one is not living harmoniously. Maya as 'deceitfulness' is definitely the cancerous root that is threatening all forms of life on the planet - it is the placing of one's own 'measurements' above all others. This is having catastrophic consequences the world over because this world can only give fully and unconditionally when there is a harmonious balance between our consumption and the waste-products therefrom.
Maya as Illusion & Maya as Mother Nature
Maya is often spoken of as an 'illusion' or 'veil of delusion'. The negative perception of Maya as something to be feared and something we must be free from is entrenched in various schools of thought (of a predominantly monastic bias) is contrasted with ways of life that view Maya as Maya-Shakti - the All Powerful, Forever Merciful and Compassionate. Here, Maya is not resting upon the Spirit or Truth like oil on water, but rather like a wife in union with her husband - Shiva-Shakti. Maya-Shakti as our Mother shows us and teaches us who our True Father is (Shiva).
Nevertheless, Maya as 'ignorance', 'illusion' or 'delusion' is a state that can be likened to being so overwhelmed consciously or sub-consciously by the currents of Nature through the three aggregates (Gunas) of which Nature manifests: sattva guna, rajo guna, tamo guna. Sattva guna generally denotes that which is inherently pure and is associated with clarity, that which is 'good' or unblemished, 'white'. Rajo guna is generally associated with activity and the seemingly endless desire to act and achieve ones desires, to 'grasp', to take, to conquer and vanquish. Tamo guna generally denotes 'inertia', darkness, ignorance. So, according to the view that Maya is 'ignorance' or 'illusion which keeps us in a 'darkened' lost and aimless state, then from this perspective Maya is or puts one into a predominantly tamo guna state. However, this does not seem the case if we see that guna can mean 'string' or 'thread' just as it is seen as a 'quality'. From the point of view of Tantra, we see that these gunas which in many peoples lives serve as either noose are at the very least nuisance, are actually the 'thread' that is inextricably part of the warp and weft to create the cloth of Creation - the Mandala of the Rishis to express the Divinity of the Lord of Lords. As we have seen, the pearls of enlightened perception are strung upon the pure necklace of the Lord - Pure~Bliss~Consciousness.
Swami Tejomayananda, spiritual head of the Chinmaya Mission, once said during a Bhagavad Saptah in Siddhabari, "Maya-Shakti makes the impossible possible" (the opposite is true, of course, to the one who is not attuned to their Inner Soul. From the perspective of the Masters who are self-realized and remain unfazed by the workings of the world and live according to its natural laws, everything is possible! Now and again, they may exhibit what may deemed 'miraculous' but even these supernatural power are expressions of their mastery over the senses and the perfection of subtle workings of samkalpa ('will' and 'intent') harmonized with the grand-play of Providence. The Masters, Prophets, Rishis...the living Gods and Goddesses always give encouragement to humanity and make it known that no one is totally lost. As the great Mahavatar Babaji has said, "There is no Saint without a past, and there is no Sinner without a future".
Maya as Beyond Attributes, Unknowable and Pure Love
The expression of Absolute Truth through the vehicle of a human body will carry with it the tone of one who is not measured by time or space - the body. When great saints like Sri Anandamoyi Ma say "I shall be the same - though the dance of creation change around me in the hall of eternity" or when a Sufi mystic exclaims "I am Allah!" in a heightened state of God-union induced ecstasy - they are expressing their inherent divinity that is beyond all measurement...beyond all rationalisation and logic...beyond empirical knowing and speculation. There are countless saints in India that have proclaimed this to humanity either in a packed arena or in a quiet forest hermitage. Just as the Divinity in the human body may express its formless, eternal nature so may Gods and Goddesses in a pantheon. It is for this reason that the Vedic religion sees the Absolute God-head through a kaleidoscope of dieties. There are Gods, Goddesses, demi-gods, semi-gods, hemi-gods and a plethora of levels of spiritual attainment that a spiritual aspirant may attain to in a seemingly inconceivable amount of universes.
Vasudeva Sarvam Idam
Getting back to the concept of Maya as 'measurement' we find that all linear investigation breaks down even with scientific analysis. Let us look at the numerical system. When we count 1, 2, 3, 4, etc...We cannot say that 1 is 2. Yet between 1 and 2 there is infinity in the form of decimals or fractions. Between every numeric is infinity. Similarly, sound as any letter or word is the infinite AUM. The idea that we are separate bodies is erroneous for our bodies are composed of the same matter and the light of our consciousness reflects Solar Source of Undifferentiated Consciousness. In this context We are ONE.
Mother-Maya as the Compassionate Witness
When we understand that Maya is Mother and then we realize that we are not 'measured' for what we have attained or amassed...but rather we are 'measured' in our sincerity in dealing with each and every situation as honestly as we can. There is no way to trick Maya-Ma for She is aware of our most subtle thought currents. In this way, the world, itself, shows indications of how we are progressing on the spiritual path. Animals will be joyous in your presence, the plants and trees will dance when you turn the corner, the flame will speak to you and tell you some ancient stories or let you know how your loved ones are doing in this world and beyond.
When the Buddha Sakyamuni 'attained' enlightenment He was tested by the wrathful Mara, the so-called 'Evil One', and Mara demanded the Buddha to show him some kind of sign or proof that the Buddha is indeed Enlightened. Mara sought to make things uncomfortable for the Buddha through the means of wizardry. Eventually, after the Buddha being more or less unresponsive to any type of threat to His tranquil equinimity - the Buddha eventually touched the Earth and said, "The Mother Earth Bears the Witness". And the Earth shook and there were many strange signs in the sky. Here we see Maya as Mother Nature actually being a Supreme Witness and in the case of the Buddha Sakyamuni it is especially noteworthy that His mother's name was also Maya - one who is said to be the self-same Mother for all the Buddhas.
When Marpa, the great Tibetan 'Translator', sought out His Guru, Naropa, He eventually found Naropa reclining in a hammock naked in a dense forest. Marpa in an ecstatic state of devotion gave pranams and offered gold (some say gold dust others say a gold mandala) to His Guru. Naropa declined the offering several times saying that He had no need or desire for gold. Eventually, Naropa accepted the gold offering saying, "Let this be an offering to the Guru and the three Jewels" and threw it over His shoulder into the forest. Marpa although initially in bliss because the Guru had accepted the offering, then began to remember the hardships He went through to obtain the gold, and, moreover, the great devotion behind all those that offered gold. Naropa read Marpa's mind and said, "I can see that you are attached to the gold mandala offering! Here it is again!" The gold offering reappeared in the Guru's hand unspoilt and just as before. Naropa continued, "I don't need anything, for all is provided for me! This forest is my gold!" Naropa put out his leg and lightly touched his lotus feet on the forest floor. Lo and behold! The whole forest turned to gold! The leaves, the trees, the fruit, the insects, everything! It was a transmission teaching of the Wealth of 'Suchness'...the Realization of the Preciousness of Human Birth and taking Birth in the world where Buddhas expound the Dharma.
Maya can, Herself, be an indication of how one has mastered themselves. In much the same fashion as Naropa, Trailanga Swami also expressed His mastery over the senses and the Universe by the spontaneous lilas ('divine plays') that He exhibited for all to see. When one masters themselves - they master Maya. The physical sheaths that cover the soul become transformed into the most precious substances. In such state there is no samsara or nirvana
Jai Ma!
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