Podcast details
God, maya, reality
God is in everything, and the devotee sees this divine presence. Therefore, do not destroy God's work. Do not cut plants or kill animals without need. Respect, love, and feed creatures, but do not eat them. This world is illuminated by God's light, which allows us to perceive reality even within the illusion, or māyā, of existence. This illusion is like seeing silver in a shell or water in a mirage; it appears real but is not. This perception of reality in unreality is saṃsāra, the cycle of worldly existence. Though saṃsāra is unreal and causes suffering, that suffering is also unreal, akin to the pain experienced in a dream. The world is compared to a dream, constantly changing and thus not ultimate reality. Yet, all beings within saṃsāra live through God's source and help.
"Though there is no silver, we see it as silver—that beautiful shining. That is māyā."
"In a dream, someone cuts your head, and you suffer. This suffering can only be removed when you wake up."
Filming location: Vép, Hungary
This text is transcribed and grammar corrected by AI. If in doubt what was actually said in the recording, use the transcript to double click the desired cue. This will position the recording in most cases just before the sentence is uttered.
The text contains hyperlinks in bold to three authoritative books on yoga, written by humans, to clarify the context of the lecture:
- Yoga in Daily Life - The System
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2000. ISBN 978-3-85052-000-3 - The Hidden Power in Humans - Chakras and Kundalini
Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Ibera Verlag, Vienna, 2004. ISBN 978-3-85052-197-0 - Lila Amrit - The Divine Life of Sri Mahaprabhuji
Paramhans Swami Madhavananda. Int. Sri Deep Madhavananda Ashram Fellowship, Vienna, 1998. ISBN 3-85052-104-4
