Sai Hari - Yoga Maya

As humans we face so many difficulties in this life time.  We are not sure whether we can overcome these difficulties or we will be helpless in those situations. This is easy to understand but there is another type of hardship which is invisible in nature. We do not even understand that we are suffering. There will be greater damage that we cannot even comprehend.  

This is called Maya. 

This Maya can come in different forms and directions. Main reason for this is the feeling of "Me and Mine". This ego and feeling of "I" will cause so much trouble for us. This might seem reasonable and might appear Satvic but we will be drowning without even realizing that we are in trouble. We might feel that we are doing everything fine and we might feel that we are blessed also. But we are still bound by Maya. Because we are after ritualistic greatness in devotion also. How to realize this? Only way to realize this is our mental state where we are distressed. The energy behind the Consciousness is nothing but Maya. We can not separate these two. We can not separate the sweetness from the sweets.  Similarly we cannot separate the light rays from Sun. The same applies to Brahman and Maya. The ocean waves are no different than the ocean it self. 

Consciousness is infinite. Maya also appears to be infinite but it also has limitation. All this universe manifests only because of Maya. The feeling of Me and Mine is the foundation behind Maya. This Maya will make us believe the unreal as real and real as unreal. Everyone can be a victim of this Maya unless they realize the truth. 

If we realize the goal of life, 

If we can have faith that Sai is our life energy, 

If we can surrender to Sai and he is our heart and soul, 

If that ParamaGuru comes before us and bless us,

Then is there a point in worrying and fearing?

No we do not have to worry about any Maya at that time when we have the blessings of Parama Guru.

Baba gave a discourse about this Maya as follows. 

Baba describes Maya as follows. “Oh! Though I am a fakir and have no home nor household, sitting not involved in one place, leaving aside all mundane matters. Yet, Maya is inevitable. She even harasses me often. I forget her but she does not forget me. She always comes and embraces me. Adi Maya originates from God and bewilders even Brahman and others. Then what could

be said about a poor fakir like me! Only the mercy of God can save you from its clutches. Without continuously reciting God’s name, this attachment will not be destroyed” This is the way Baba described the powers of Maya to his devotees and extolled the recitation of God’s name as the antidote of Maya. ‘Saints are my incarnations’ as Krishna has said in the Bhagvad purana, when talking to Uddhava. Who does not know these clear words?

Therefore, for the sake of the welfare of his devotees, whatever the great Sai, cloud of mercy, said explaining the substance of this statement, listen to it with great humility. “Such pious persons have become my followers whose sins have been destroyed and they have understood me. If you recite “Sai, Sai,” always, I will take you beyond the seven seas. If you believe in these words, you will certainly be at an advantage. I do not need elaborate worship with either sixteen folds or eight fold.

Where there is infinite faith, I reside there”. So spoke Baba to his devotees, from time to time, with tender love. Let us derive solace from the recollection of these loving words.

Here Baba gave his word and a path to get over this so called Maya. This could be the easiest path to overcome the illusions of life.  Baba said “Remain aware and alert to your past and future”. As long as we can stay in the present, we can easily overcome the difficulties of life. We get disturbed as soon as the past or future comes into picture. Our mind and our impressions won’t let us stay in the present. This mind wants to think about either past experiences or worry about future.  Baba said Maya is in control of Sri Hari (Lord Vishnu) so it is inevitable to recite his name if we are bound by the inscrutable Maya. He needs to give us that power. 

We need to learn not to entangle the present with past and future. What do we mean by this? Mind would never like to enjoy whatever is in front of it but worry over other things that happened in the past. It will express a fear that this happiness will be lost.  We need to show resolve in times of difficulty and take care of the issue like an average smart person will take care of the same problem. 

Yoga Maya is that illusory power that creates the visible universe and has control over the goal of yoga, which is unity with the Ultimate Reality, or the universe itself. But Yoga Maya is also the divine energy that allows God to be an object of devotion. The personification of this energy, Yoga Maya is mentioned in Hindu scriptures. Bhagavad Gita describes Yoga Maya as the internal energy that remains forever even after all else is destroyed. It is the the divine power to create the appearance and illusion of the universe. 

Once We practice four fold Sadhana (Sadhana Chatustaya) and immerse ourselves in Guru's devotion, then our ajnana is eradicated by or Guru. If we can develop dispassion and intense quest for knowledge, then only jnana evolves from within. Guru is the greatest in granting us this path and give us the strength to walk the path of self realization. Whoever enters this cave of Self realization there is no coming back. They become that cave. We are in illusion because of Maya. Self (atma) is real  and realizing this truth is the goal of human life. 

Om Sri Sairam!