Maya by Sipra Roy.
I feel great joy to work with volunteering team for food packaging in different occasions; sometimes for festivals , sometimes for victims of natural calamities Once I saw a lady volunteer with her name tag "Maya" while Was working in a food-packaging team .Then I asked her "Excuse me, are you Indian? The lady nodded her head and reply "I'm Spanish." I said ,"sorry! I thought you to be Indian by your name; Do you know what is the meaning of Maya in Spanish?"
-"No, Maya is my given name by my 'guru'!"
I was sure this Guru must be some Indian!"
Guru-business with the product of 'yoga', 'power yoga' 'kundalini yoga' dipped in the solution of spirituality is flourishing everywhere, specially in America. I went "Sivananda religious retreat" in Nyaardam of south India which may be named as novel spiritual entrepreneurship . There I met some young. engineers , lawyer ,priests, musicians (Tabolchi which means artist playing with Tabla, an instrument for rhythm). They joined the Ashrama as volunteers ; through conversation I came to know that their dream is somehow to come USA. If they give free service in this institute for six months they might be sent to Sivanando Institute situated in Bahama, US. The easiest way to fulfill the dream to get entry in US for the ordinary ambitious young, is to be enlisted somehow in some reputed spiritual institution of India; so I mentioned these retreats as spiritual entrepreneurship .
After one hour at the recess period the Spanish lady came to me. and asked smilingly, I 'll love to know the meaning of my name which is given to me by Guru .
Though I know very well about the theory of Maya as a student of Philosophy , but I am pathetically poor to reproduce my knowledge in simple language to be understandable to some foreigner .
Any way, I briefly answered, ' literally Maya means illusion : that which is not true.But from the standpoint of Non-dualistic Hindu Religion the term "Maya"is of great importance with subtle meaning and multiple views ( of confusions!).
Maya is the powerful force that creates cosmic illusions that the phenomenal world is real ; it conceals the true character of spiritual Reality.. ..It is the projection or appearance of the phenomenal world .
...it is neither real nor unreal :
for me it is so enigmatic! personally I think the ancient spiritual scientists faced a deadlock to prove Non-dualistic theory; then they couldn't manage how to meet the two ends tie up. So to solve it by introducing a more dubious term 'Maya', which is similar to swallow a stinky rodent by a snake who neither can vomit nor can swallow ! So to me, Maya still keep us trapped in the mystery of maya.
It is easier for me to tell some story on Maya, heard from my mother. They are funny as well as easy to realize the magic wand of Maya; as "example is more powerful than precept" and to grasp the concept.
#Story of Maya:
......Once lord Brahma was curious to experience temporarily for 2/3 months about the much dubious mystery of Maya . He himself incarnated as a husband in a pig's family. But 3months was over ,Brahma didn't return.When he didn't return throughout the year ,the dieties in heaven became worried . They all went to Lord Shiva who was absorbed in meditation. The deities began to pray and wait patiently .Nobody dared to interrupt Him.After 3 months Lord Shiva opened his eyes and saw the anxious deities. He heard the story calmly and remained silent .Lord Indra. said,"If you permit me I can rescue and bring back him in heaven which is in great chaos for this long absence."Indra exhibit his own weapon to prove his immense power!
Shiva took some ashes from his earthen pot of 'ganja'. and handed it to Narayana.
"If Brahma refuses your prayer to come back, then just throw this ash to him. He will get back his senses and responsibility!"
Then Narayana accompanied by Narada and others came down to
earth in search of Brahma, the creator of this universe. The dieties found Brahma wallowing in a muddy pond with his pig family. He seemed to be in his pinnacle of bliss.
He exclaimed joyfully to see all the devatas standing around the pond
'what a pleasant surprise to see you all here !"
Devatas with folded hands prayed : We have to come here to take you back with us .It is more than one year you left heaven which is in state of utter chaos . Please be ready to go back with us ."
Brahma looked sad.All his joys evaporated.With broken voice He appealed,
"How can I do that ? How can I leave my beloved wife and these cute babies?"
Brahma with full of muds in dirty body and so his wife and piglets began to grunt cheerfully around Bramha.
All the devatas were so shocked and ashamed that they remained down headed and tongue tied.
Narada whispered Narayana to remind of Shiva's . As Narayana threw the devine ashes to Brahma , Brahhma immediately became aware of his own real self. The illusion of" Maya" dispersed away .
#Another fun story about Maya :
Once Narada asked Lord Krishna ," O Krishna can you explain me what is Maya. Why earthly people love to stick and spin around it in spite of lots of sufferings?!"
Krishna," Sure ! it is most surprising and intriguing story of life.
But before I start, please bring a glass of water. I am thirsty."
Narada went briskly near a pond where he met a beautiful young lady. who was carrying two big pitchers full of water .Narada felt pity for the girl. It was hot summer.
Narada: " May I help you? So Narada carried the big pitchers to her cottage;The girl lived with her father. Father was so happy with this
kind young man that he proposed him to marry her daughter.
Both were enchanted with each other. Narada accepted the proposal.
After marrying they. began to live happily. They birthed three children in 12 years .Then one day a catastrophic storm accompanied by heavy rain was sweeping over the village. Narada tried hard to save his children and wife. Due to torrential flood Narada lost his house along with loving family in the raging flood and storm. All were swept away but somehow he was saved unconscious.
Out of traumatic grief and loss he became conscious and remembered that he left lord Krishna waiting with thirst . He came to the same place where Krishna was still standing under the tree . Narada handed over the glass of water. with much apology,
" Sorry, I am little late for ....
Interrupting him Krishna said ,"Is it little late ?... It is twelve years that I am waiting !"
Narada noticed a naughty and mysterious smile playing on the face of Krishna who commented humorously, "hope, it is clear to you now what is meant by "Maya!"
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