What is Maya? A Magic Trick Played by God

myNachiketa
Sep 30
3 min read

दैवी ह्येषा गुणमयी मम माया दुरत्यया |

मामेव ये प्रपद्यन्ते मायामेतां तरन्ति ते ||

Daivi hyesha gunamayi mama maya duratyaya

Mameva ye prapadyante mayametam taranti te (Bhagavad Gita 7.14) My divine energy Maya, consisting of the three modes of nature, is very difficult to overcome. But those who surrender unto Me cross over it easily.

Hello, dear friends! Have you ever watched a magician perform tricks that leave you in awe? Just think about it — a person pulls a rabbit out of a hat, and you wonder, ‘How did they do that?’ This illusion, my friends, is quite similar to a concept we explore in Hindu philosophy called Maya. It's like a magic trick played by God to teach us valuable lessons about life and reality.

So, what exactly is Maya? Derived from the ancient Sanskrit word, it often means illusion or magic. In our colourful world, Maya represents the idea that what we see and experience is not the complete truth.

Imagine wearing glasses that distort everything you look at; you would see a different world than what's really there! This is much like Maya, where the true reality hides behind a veil, waiting for us to look closer.

In the Bhagavad Gita, God Krishna explains the nature of Maya like a gracious guide. He tells us that it is through Maya that all of creation is manifesting. It is said:

"Maya is a mysterious energy of God, deludes all beings."

This means that it’s not that God plays tricks on us, but rather, Maya helps us to discover deeper truths about ourselves.

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Imagine walking on a hot summer day. From far away, you see water shimmering on the road. You get excited and think, “Ah! There’s water, I can drink and cool down.” But as you walk closer, the water disappears — it was never really there. It was just a mirage, an illusion created by the heat.

In the same way, Maya makes us believe that what we see or experience is the full truth, but when we look deeper, we discover that reality is much more than appearances.

The Upanishads teach us that by understanding Maya, we can know our true self. This means that by seeing through the illusions of the material world, we can reconnect with the divine essence! Suppose you get a gift wrapped in shiny paper with ribbons. You might get so excited about the wrapping that you forget to open it. The true treasure is inside the box, not the wrapping. Maya is like getting distracted by the wrapping and missing the real gift.

Maya is like getting distracted by the wrapping and missing the real gift.

Because Maya is so powerful, it can feel overwhelming. At times, it may seem like the weight of the world is upon us. However, Krishna encourages us to seek wisdom. Just like a tool that helps you solve a puzzle, knowledge can help break the illusions of Maya, leading us closer to the true essence of our being.

So, how can you engage with Maya in your own life? Here’s a simple activity: try to keep a journal for a week. Write down moments when you feel happy or sad. Then reflect on how each experience connects to the greater truths in your life. This will help you understand how the Maya work.

To wrap it all up, Maya is not merely an illusion; it's a profound lesson from God that invites us to reflect and understand the world deeply. It’s like walking through life’s maze and learning that each turn, even if it feels confusing, leads us closer to our true selves. So, let’s embrace the mysteries of Maya together, and keep searching for the magnificent reality that lies beyond!

Remember, friends, just like a magician, God uses Maya to show us the beauty of the journey we’re on!