Maya means ignorance, illusion, Lord’s creative power, etc. It is also said to be indescribable. Just like ignorance, it cannot be shown as such and, is, therefore, understood through its expressions. The grossest expression of maya is the strong notion of “you” and “I”, which creates the notion of “yours” and “mine”. All of us are controlled by these divisions whether rich or poor, illiterate or educated, materialistic or spiritual. The whole world is one, yet this division of “I” and “mine”, “you” and “yours” exists at the individual, family, societal, national and international level.
Notion of “I” and “Mine” When a couple is in love they say, “You and I are one. What is mine is yours, what is yours is mine.” When the same couple decides to divorce, they say, “This is mine, I bought it with my money!” Let us think about these notions. There cannot be a “my-notion” without an “I-notion”. In the deep sleep state there is no “I” and, therefore, no “my”, “you” or “yours”. From where does this notion spring? I know that the book I read or the house I live in is not me. This notion begins with the body. I feel I am “tall, dark and handsome” or “short and overweight” only with reference to the body. But am I the body? The body is made up of five elements (space, air, fire, water and earth). Which of these is me? Is the air that I breathe “me”? Is the space that I occupy “me”? If not, can the aggregate of the five senses be “me”?
The body is nothing but a modification of the food eaten. How can the food modified into muscle, bones, blood and marrow be me? However, I consider myself and everything related to the body to be “me”. This is maya. When I travel by plane or train, I am allotted a seat which I say is “my seat”. But I know it does not belong to me and I do not take it with me when I deplane. Similarly, even though I say I am so and so and this is my house and family, I should realise that it is only for transactional purposes, but not actually so.
These notions are acceptable for practical and objective purposes of transacting with the world. But as they become deep-rooted they create divisions which give rise to likes, dislikes and hatred. All conflicts, lawsuits and wars result from the notions of “you” and “I”, “yours” and “mine”. Thus we fail to see the intrinsic oneness.
