ILLUSION OF SILVER

ILLUSION OF SILVER  

                      “ The Jagat appears to be true (Satyam) so long as Brahman,  the substratum and the basis

                         Of all creation, is not realized .It is like the illusion of silver in the mother of pearl.”

Sankara speaks of how people are thoroughly deceived by Maya or illusion! Unless they free themselves from the influence of Maya or illusion they cannot understand the reality and recognize the Brahman or the Self. The word jagat is not merely the world we see. It includes the total experience of the individual in the three states of existence   viz the Waking, Dream and Deep-sleep states. These states are experienced through physical, mental and intellectual equipments. In other words, Jagat includes  objects and forms  and smells intended for the enjoyment of individuals. The sensory organs play a major role in providing enjoyment to individuals. The sum total of our experiences gained through our gross, subtle and causal bodies is called Jagat.

Why is it that Man is unable to understand that the world is unreal? It is because of the terrible illusion created by Maya. Its grip is so strong that Man can never come out of it.  He has become the slave of the Arishadvargas or the inner adversaries that create a havoc in his life.  Drowned in the sea of Samsara he is passionately attached to his wife, children, property and kith and kin. Consequently he doesn’t think of any other thing. He is more concerned about his body, actions and other silly things in life He doesn’t think of the Atma or Brahman  that is enshrined in the innermost recess of his heart. He thinks that he is the body and not the indestructible Atma within his body. Illusion has the capacity to present the real as unreal and the unreal as the real. He is thus easily deceived.  How can he decide the world, wife and children and various associations as unreal while living and moving with them? It is something unimaginable for him. Close attachment and association with all these things force him to believe that the  world is real and whatever he experiences is real  happiness!

The “ Katha Upanishad declares: “ That which is without sound, without touch, without form, without decay, and likewise without taste,  without change, without smell,  without beginning, without end,  beyond the great,  and ever abiding--- by realizing it one is freed from the jaws of death.” This Brahman is omnipresent, omnipotent and omniscient. The entire Jagat is its manifestation. It is the indweller of every single creature in the universe. “ Ekah Paratma bahu dehavarthi” It is the substratum of everything in the universe. Until this truth is not realized man thinks that the world and his connections are true and real. During the course of his dream, Man thinks that whatever he sees, and hears is true. During nightmares he shouts and blabbers! But on waking up he feels sorry for his stupidity and foolishness. The dream is real during the dreamy state. But during the waking state it is unreal. Similarly when there is a spiritual awakening, the plurality of this multiple world and all experiences merge into that substratum, the One Supreme Essence!

It is only after we realize the Supreme Truth, the Eternal God principle and Pure Consciousness in us and everywhere we do not mistake the Jagat as real. Sankara gives us an illustration of how Man is deceived by illusion. The suktika or mother of pearl is very attractive. It is silvery white and enticing. Man thinks it is a silver piece because of its misguiding white color!  But it is made of worthless Calcium!  Appearances are deceptive. All that glitters is not gold. We have to be very careful in detecting what is real and what is false. Man invariably is the victim of Maya and doesn’t come to the right conclusion. Very rarely we come across, here and there, a crop of intellectuals, sages, illuminated individuals, realized souls like Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda and others.  The ignorance of man and society is so dense that their teachings and messages have left no imprint on their minds!  Is it ever possible for the common man to come out of the clutches of Maya or illusion and see the Reality and his own Self?  Time alone can decide!!!