Maya, Illusion, Mirage?

Nothing is as it appears

In India the concept of maya is well known and has been elucidated in the teachings of many mystics throughout millennia. In the west we may understand this as a mirage or illusion or animal magnetism, particularly when we are not sure if it is or not?

Things just aren’t what they seem! The Sanskrit word lila also conveys this idea, that our perception of reality can easily be tricked as a divine play is enacted.

The problem is – the physical reality we are in is so visceral, so real.

But what if the mystics were right? their teachings reveal that mastering this world of illusion leads to enlightenment. The spiritual aspirant comes to the realisation that spiritual reality is in fact the real reality. To understand and even embody this concept is a mighty achievement for anyone on the rebirthing journey.

It is believed that Jesus spent time in India during his lost years and it is reasonable to speculate that he mastered maya. Understanding the physical world of illusion (animal magnetism) is one of the central tenets of the Christian Science movement. The Founder Mary Baker Eddy had an instaneous healing after having an accident, which her physician told her she would die from. She set about discovering how her healing happened. Mrs. Eddy then went on to give instantaneous healings to many thousands of people.

The following is an excerpt of a thought provoking article written by Christian Science teacher Daniel Jensen, giving an example of overcoming the power of animal magnetism/mesmerism, (analogous to maya).

During Mrs. Eddy’s time one of her students (anxious to know more about the handling of animal magnetism) booked passage to India, to go and learn more about the defenses against mesmerism. He took his things aboard the ship, put them away in his room, and then went up on deck.

He was standing there, watching the stevedores load great stacks of boxes which were sitting on the docks in orderly piles. Everyone was happily going about their business. There, among the passengers, he met a Hindu and they got to talking. Pretty soon he asked the Hindu, “Do you believe in mesmerism?” Well, it was a beautiful, sunshiny day.

But all of a sudden the most terrible storm came in from the Atlantic. Great waves smashed into the boat and threw it about like a toy, slamming it against the dock.

The wind knocked those big piles of crates around, like match boxes, and threw some of the stevedores into the water. Great waves piled up under the piers and tore the roof off of some of the buildings. He had to hold onto the rail for dear life, to keep from being thrown overboard. It was a frightening experience! This went on for some time. Then, just as quickly, it stopped! Absolutely stopped.

The Christian Scientist looked down at the dock and there were the stevedores going about their business as happily as before, and all the crates standing just as orderly as ever. No roofs were torn off, and the water was just as calm as a lake. The Hindu turned to him, smiled, and said, “I’ve just answered your question.”

He went on with his trip, and on arriving in India he met with the man who was to be his teacher. He was shown to his quarters (which were simply furnished, with just a table and a chair) and then was left alone.

Presently the door opened, and a man entered carrying a magnificent big Indian vase. He had never seen such a beautiful vase. The man walked around in front of him, suddenly lifted the vase over his head, and slammed in onto the hard tile floor, breaking it into a thousand pieces.

Well, it was kind of a startling experience; however the Scientist was somewhat prepared because of his previous experience on the boat. He remembered what the Hindu had said: “The only defense against mesmerism is to hold to a fact; no matter how simple it is, hold to a fact.” He remembered this and so he did it. The only fact that came to him at the moment was 2 x 2 = 4. And so he held to that. To his amazement the vase and all its pieces quickly disappeared from view, absolutely disappeared.

He was left alone in the room. Well, he sat back feeling pretty proud of what he’d been able to accomplish and he allowed his thought to drift; and when he did almost instantly it was back, the whole mess all over the floor. He stopped and went back to that fact. Again, the vase disappeared.

He relaxed again and when he let his thought wander, back it came–in and out, in and out. Finally he saw that he had to maintain that fact, to be consistent. When he did the vase disappeared permanently. Presently the door opened and the mesmerist came in and said, “You need never fear mesmerism again. You now know the secret of dealing with it.”

Practical Wisdom by Daniel Jensen.

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