Maya ~ Two Aspects

Maya, is often described as having two aspects: Avarana and Vikshepa.

Avarana refers to the concealing or hiding aspect of Maya. It represents the veil of illusion that shrouds the true nature of reality, preventing individuals from perceiving the eternal spiritual truth. It creates a sense of ignorance or forgetfulness about the ultimate reality, leading individuals to identify with the temporary material world and its fleeting pleasures. Avarana deludes the soul into believing that the material world is the ultimate truth, thus perpetuating the cycle of birth and death.

Vikshepa, on the other hand, refers to the aspect of Maya that involves faking or projecting something else. It represents the deceptive and misleading nature of the material world, which lures individuals into pursuing false hopes, desires, and ambitions. Vikshepa creates an illusion of satisfaction and fulfillment in material pursuits, leading individuals astray from their true spiritual nature. It perpetuates the cycle of attachment, cravings, and disappointments, further reinforcing the illusion of the material world.

Together, Avarana and Vikshepa work in tandem, creating a complex web of illusion that keeps individuals bound to the material world and ignorant of their true spiritual nature. Understanding and transcending these aspects of Maya is considered essential for spiritual seekers to attain enlightenment and break free from the cycle of birth and death.

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