Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 1

The word Maya occurs frequently in the Sri Guru Granth Sahib (SGGS). In order to impart the Truth (ਸਚ), all 35 contributors of the SGGS have used terms that were already within the use and within the psyche of people of the time.

However, they have used these terms as examples (ਹਵਾਲਾ), but explicitly with new meanings and understanding to fit the new spiritual paradigms of Sikhi or Gurmat (Teaching of SGGS).

That said, CONTRARY to the Indian Advait Vedanta tradition, Maya in Gurmat does not mean illusion or the unreality of the phenomenal world, including existence and individuality. In fact according to the Unique Sikhi or Gurmat of Baabaa Nanak, world of multiplicity, creation, individuality, and sentient experience are real, significant, not illusory, and the Creator is engaged with Creation:

• ਸਚੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਖੰਡ ਸਚੇ ਬ੍ਰਹਮੰਡ ॥ ਸਚੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਲੋਅ ਸਚੇ ਆਕਾਰ ॥ ਸਚੇ ਤੇਰੇ ਕਰਣੇ ਸਰਬ ਬੀਚਾਰ ॥ ਸਚਾ ਤੇਰਾ ਅਮਰੁ ਸਚਾ ਦੀਬਾਣੁ ॥ : True are Your universes and true their parts. True are Your habitats and true are creatures of different forms and shapes. True are Your actions/works and true are all of your deliberations and decisions. True is Your authority and true Your is justice. (sggs 463).
• ਇਹੁ ਜਗੁ ਸਚੈ ਕੀ ਹੈ ਕੋਠੜੀ ਸਚੇ ਕਾ ਵਿਚਿ ਵਾਸੁ ॥ : This world is the abode of God, who resides in it. (sggs 463).
• ਧਰਤਿ ਉਪਾਇ ਧਰੀ ਧਰਮ ਸਾਲਾ ॥ : The Earth was created to practice Dharma. (sggs 1033).

In other words, the Creator and the Creation are real, not illusory or a deceptive appearance as preached by Advait Vedanta. That said, Advait Vedanta is abstract, impersonal monism that erases creation and individuality in the name of oneness. But Gurmat or Sikhi of Guru Nanak is rooted in relational, experiential metaphysics. The following verse employs analogies of Creation, like gold and bracelet or ocean and wave, to illustrate relatedness or link without demolishing individuality – we are like the mined gold and the bracelet formed from it or the wave that emanates from the ocean.

• ਤੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਮੋਹੀ ਤੋਹੀ ਅੰਤਰੁ ਕੈਸਾ ॥ ਕਨਕ ਕਟਿਕ ਜਲ ਤਰੰਗ ਜੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ : You are me, and I am You—what is the difference between us? We are like gold and the bracelet, or water and the waves ||1|| (sggs 93).
• ਹਭ ਸਮਾਣੀ ਜੋਤਿ ਜਿਉ ਜਲ ਘਟਾਊ ਚੰਦ੍ਰਮਾ ॥ ਪਰਗਟੁ ਥੀਆ ਆਪਿ ਨਾਨਕ ਮਸਤਕਿ ਲਿਖਿਆ ॥੨॥ : The divine Jot of the Creator (Hukam) pervades all just as the moon is reflected in the water contained within a pitcher. Nanak, Creator only reveals (as divine Virtues…) within those who, through their self-effort, inscribe such a glorious fate for themselves. ||2|| (sggs 1099).

The Gurmat Wisdom of the SGGS asserts that we all are in the spell (grip, grasp, hook, net (Jaal), claws, hands, trap or talons) of Maya. Bhagat Kabeer says:

• ਕਹਿ ਕਬੀਰ ਜਿਸੁ ਉਦਰੁ ਤਿਸੁ ਮਾਇਆ ॥ : Says Kabeer, whoever has a belly to fill, is under the spell of Maya. (sggs 1160).

But, what is Maya according to the SGGS?

As explained in the following verses of the Gurbani, anything becomes Maya which makes one (1) forget his/her Mool (‘Hari Visrai’); (2) gives rise to emotional attachment (‘Moh Upjai’); and (3) creates duality (‘Bhaau Doojaa‘).

• ਏਹ ਮਾਇਆ ਜਿਤੁ ਹਰਿ ਵਿਸਰੈ ਮੋਹੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਭਾਉ ਦੂਜਾ ਲਾਇਆ ॥ : This is Maya, by which (1) ‘Hari’ (Mool) is forgotten; (2) (worldly) attachment is born, and (3) the love of duality is set (sggs 921).
• ਮਾਇਆ ਕਿਸ ਨੋ ਆਖੀਐ ਕਿਆ ਮਾਇਆ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਦੁਖਿ ਸੁਖਿ ਏਹੁ ਜੀਉ ਬਧੁ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਇ ॥ ਬਿਨੁ ਸਬਦੈ ਭਰਮੁ ਨ ਚੂਕਈ ਨਾ ਵਿਚਹੁ ਹਉਮੈ ਜਾਇ ॥੬॥ : What is called Maya? What does Maya do (through beings under its spell)? (The answer is that, under its spell) these beings are bound by pleasure and pain (i.e., the dualistic principle of Sukh and Dukh, etc); and they do their deeds in ‘Haumai’ (false ego-sense). Without the (Realization of the) Shabad, neither the doubt is dispelled nor Haumai is eliminated from within. ||6||(sggs 67).

In a nutshell, Maya is Bhav Saagar of worldly temptations and their corrupting influences. In short, it gives the impression of being something it is not. In addition to ‘Supan-ਸੁਪਨ’ (lit. dream), ‘Jhooth-ਝੂਠ’ (lit. false etc.), ‘Koorh-ਕੂੜੁ’ (lit. falsehood etc.), ‘Bharam-ਭਰਮੁ’ (lit. doubt, confusion etc.), ‘Chalanhaar-ਚਲਣਹਾਰੁ’ (lit. fleeting etc.), ‘Mithiya-ਮਿਥਿਆ’ (lit. delusory etc.).

By calling this world ‘Mithiya-ਮਿਥਿਆ’, ‘Supan-ਸੁਪਨ’, ‘Jhooth-ਝੂਠ’. ‘Koorh-ਕੂੜੁ’, ‘Bharam-ਭਰਮੁ’ etc., the Gurbani does NOT mean this world is non-existent. If this world was nonexistent then it would not have been experienced by us. Then is it real? Yes, it is real since we experience it. However it is called ‘Mithiya-ਮਿਥਿਆ’ etc. in a sense that it is subject to change every moment. We think it to be permanent, it is not; we think it to be nonperishable, it is not; we think it to be changeless, it is not; and so on.

It is the imagination of the deluded mind which never ends and never exists! Thus, it continually baffles humanity, and poses the greatest roadblock in the path to Spiritual Enlightenment by making the mirage-like attractions of the enchanting world appear as permanent, everlasting etc.

• ਮਾਈ ਮਾਇਆ ਛਲੁ ॥ : O my intellect (conscience, mind)! Maya is deceitful. (sggs 717).
• ਬਾਬਾ ਮਾਇਆ ਰਚਨਾ ਧੋਹੁ ॥ : O my Mind! Deceitful (fleeting etc.) is the worldly splendor. (sggs 15).
• ਦੇਖੈ ਸੁਣੇ ਨ ਜਾਣਈ ਮਾਇਆ ਮੋਹਿਆ ਅੰਧੁ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਕਾਚੀ ਦੇਹਾ ਵਿਣਸਣੀ ਕੂੜੁ ਕਮਾਵੈ ਧੰਧੁ ਜੀਉ ॥ ਨਾਮੁ ਧਿਆਵਹਿ ਸੇ ਜਿਣਿ ਚਲੇ ਗੁਰ ਪੂਰੇ ਸਨਬੰਧੁ ਜੀਉ ॥੨॥ ਹੁਕਮੇ ਜੁਗ ਮਹਿ ਆਇਆ ਚਲਣੁ ਹੁਕਮਿ ਸੰਜੋਗਿ ਜੀਉ ॥ : Many fail to observe and discern the reality, they are so bewitched by this Mayaic illusory existence. This perishable physicality (human body etc) will eventually succumb to destruction but the fools continue heaping filth (false worldly pursuits). Only those who imbibe the Naam (divine Wisdom / Virtues / Hukam) and are the disciples of the perfect Guru (SGGS) depart from this world triumphantly. We arrive into this world through the divine Hukam, we depart via the same divine Hukam. (sggs 760).

Further, according to Baabaa Nanak, Maya is Haumai (false ego-sense) and its progeny of five drives/instincts: Bikaar (i.e. lust, anger, greed, attachment, and pride and their numerous variations). Haumai and its five faults are responsible for the killing of one’s Original Nature (Jot Saroop), corruption of morals, the development of criminal behavior (‘Apraadh‘), individual suffering, bloody international conflicts etc. Thus it is also called the invisible fire which is constantly fueled by these five elements. This hidden fire has consumed the world.

Haumai (false ego-sense) is innate to human life. It is Haumai and its faults (five drives/instincts) (Kaam, Kroadh, Loabh, Moh, and Ahankar) that influence the psychology of human mind – mental functions and
human behavior or instinctual aspects of our mental lives. These drives/instincts give rise to the erotic and destructive components of mental activities.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਸਭੁ ਸਰੀਰੁ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਓਪਤਿ ਹੋਇ ॥ : Haumai helps the evolution of life as Haumai is innate to all beings. (sggs 560).
• ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਣਿਆ ਮਾਣਸੁ ਭਰਿਆ ਆਇ ॥ : Human is born with Haumai and remains self-centered. (sggs 554).
• ਚਿਰੰਕਾਲ ਇਹ ਦੇਹ ਸੰਜਰੀਆ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ : It took a very long time for the human body to evolve through many evolutionary stages of life. Now is your time to meet the Creator of the universe. ||1||Pause|| (sggs 176).
• ਹਉਮੈ ਏਹਾ ਜਾਤਿ ਹੈ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਰਮ ਕਮਾਹਿ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਏਈ ਬੰਧਨਾ ਫਿਰਿ ਫਿਰਿ ਜੋਨੀ ਪਾਹਿ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਕਿਥਹੁ ਊਪਜੈ ਕਿਤੁ ਸੰਜਮਿ ਇਹ ਜਾਇ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਏਹੋ ਹੁਕਮੁ ਹੈ ਪਇਐ ਕਿਰਤਿ ਫਿਰਾਹਿ ॥ : It is the nature of Haumai that it governs the actions of beings. It is the influence of Haumai that one’s mind is born and dies every moment. Where does Haumai come from and how can it be controlled? Haumai is that Hukam (Cosmic Law, System-Rule-Law of Nature) that controls evolution of life. (sggs 466).

What has been the surest means of life’s survival and progress has now, according to the SGGS, become ‘the great disease-ਵਡਾ ਰੋਗੁ’ of man.

• ਹਉਮੈ ਦੀਰਘ ਰੋਗੁ ਹੈ ਦਾਰੂ ਭੀ ਇਸੁ ਮਾਹਿ ॥ : Ego is a chronic disease, but it contains its own cure as well (sggs 466).

Therefore, what we are asked by the Gurbani is to annihilate the negative aspect or negative impact of the BLOATED egotism or self-centeredness (Haumai), which kills our True Nature. It feels real because we attach our false ego-sense to some perceived parameters in some form, such as power, status, beauty, youth, strength, wealth, education, knowledge, possessions, Jaat Paat (casteism) etc. Prior to the movement of the false ego-sense (Haumai), the Gurbani tells us our mind’s ORIGINAL NATURE is Jot Saroop.

• ਕਿਤੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਬਿਧਿ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਪੁਰਖਾ ਕਿਤੁ ਕਿਤੁ ਦੁਖਿ ਬਿਨਸਿ ਜਾਈ ॥ ਹਉਮੈ ਵਿਚਿ ਜਗੁ ਉਪਜੈ ਪੁਰਖਾ ਨਾਮਿ ਵਿਸਰਿਐ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਈ ॥ : (Yogi asked) O respected one, how is life created and how could its suffering be eliminated? (Baabaa Nanak answers) O respected one, it is Haumai (false ego-sense) which is innate to life that causes alienation from God – the cause of suffering. (sggs 946).

Bhagat Ravidas Ji has devoted a Shabad to explain this phenomena. In this Shabad Bhagat Ji has used some practical examples so that our mind can snap out of ignorance, delusion, fears etc.:

• ਜਬ ਹਮ ਹੋਤੇ ਤਬ ਤੂ ਨਾਹੀ ਅਬ ਤੂਹੀ ਮੈ ਨਾਹੀ ॥ ਅਨਲ ਅਗਮ ਜੈਸੇ ਲਹਰਿ ਮਇ ਓਦਧਿ ਜਲ ਕੇਵਲ ਜਲ ਮਾਂਹੀ ॥੧॥ ਮਾਧਵੇ ਕਿਆ ਕਹੀਐ ਭ੍ਰਮੁ ਐਸਾ ॥ ਜੈਸਾ ਮਾਨੀਐ ਹੋਇ ਨ ਤੈਸਾ ॥੧॥ ਰਹਾਉ ॥ ਨਰਪਤਿ ਏਕੁ ਸਿੰਘਾਸਨਿ ਸੋਇਆ ਸੁਪਨੇ ਭਇਆ ਭਿਖਾਰੀ ॥ ਅਛਤ ਰਾਜ ਬਿਛੁਰਤ ਦੁਖੁ ਪਾਇਆ ਸੋ ਗਤਿ ਭਈ ਹਮਾਰੀ ॥੨॥ ਰਾਜ ਭੁਇਅੰਗ ਪ੍ਰਸੰਗ ਜੈਸੇ ਹਹਿ ਅਬ ਕਛੁ ਮਰਮੁ ਜਨਾਇਆ ॥ ਅਨਿਕ ਕਟਕ ਜੈਸੇ ਭੂਲਿ ਪਰੇ ਅਬ ਕਹਤੇ ਕਹਨੁ ਨ ਆਇਆ ॥੩॥ ਸਰਬੇ ਏਕੁ ਅਨੇਕੈ ਸੁਆਮੀ ਸਭ ਘਟ ਭੋੁਗਵੈ ਸੋਈ ॥ ਕਹਿ ਰਵਿਦਾਸ ਹਾਥ ਪੈ ਨੇਰੈ ਸਹਜੇ ਹੋਇ ਸੁ ਹੋਈ ॥੪॥੧॥ : As long as false ego-sense remains inside us beings, then You (the Creator within Creation) do not exist, but when You exist then our ‘I’ (Haumai or egotism) does not exist. (With the disappearance of this ‘I’– Haumai, egotism – it is understood that) as the storm fills the ocean with waves, but in reality those (waves of the ocean) are just water in water (so You pervades in all beings). ||1|| O Creator, what can we say of such elaborate phenomena; on account of our doubt, what we believe does not even exist in reality. ||1||Pause|| It is like a king, who falls asleep upon his throne, and dreams he has become a beggar. (Although) his kingdom is intact but he suffered in sorrow while attached to the illusion of his dream; such is our condition. ||2| As is the story of the rope mistaken for a snake (in darkness), mystery has now been illuminated o me. Like the many bracelets (made of gold), which were mistakenly thought (of separate or of different material); now, (I) do not say that. ||3|| The one Creator pervades all and permeates all over Creation. Ravidas has realized that his Creator is more closer to him than his own hand; whatever is happening is happening in Creator’s Hukam (System-Rule-Law-Order of Nature). ||4||1|| (sggs 657-658).

Here is an another example which may further help us understand our mind’s delusional state:

An old man had three sons and seventeen elephants. According to his will, the first son was to inherit one-half the elephants, the second son one-third, and the third son one-ninth. After the old man passed away, his sons began fighting among themselves as the number seventeen was not divisible by any number itself. As they were arguing, a Wise Man (the Gurmukh) came that way riding on an elephant. He inquired the three sons the cause of their argument. After ascertaining the cause of their argument, the Wise Man told them that he could solve their problem. He added his elephant to the seventeen to make the total of eighteen. According to the provisions of their father’s will, he gave the first son nine elephants (one-half of 18), the second son six elephants (one-third of 18), the third son two elephants (one-ninth of 18). Since the total of 9+6+2=17, his elephant was left over and he rode away on it!

Here we can see that the Wise Man played the role of a Giaanee (the Gurmukh, Enlightened), and his elephant played the role of Maya. Once the Wise Man solved the problem, Maya rode away with him!

The sons were happy that the division was in accordance with their father’s will. However, was the division indeed in accordance with their father’s will?

It was not. It was a mere illusion that they had kept to the provisions of their father’s will. Such is the nature of Maya that we take comfort from what we see as conducive to our liking and get angry, insecure, and restless over what we perceive as contrary (not conducive, unfavorable, etc.) to our liking.

Some related posts:

• What is Maya?
• Haumai Maya
• Bhav Saagar
• World is Consumed by Hidden Fire
• Dance Of The Mind Attached To Maya
• Mind Clinging to Maya can’t be Trusted
• Gur-Shabad is the antidote to poison of Maya-serpent
• How Do We Become Maya’s Slave
• Mind That Gives Up Hunger For Maya Realizes Its Mool
• Rope Mistaken for a Snake!
• Gurbani Says We are in a State of Sleep Paralysis
• Enchanting World-Picture
• Chasing Mirage
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 2
• The Nature of Mayaic Delusion: Part 3