The Powers of Maya

The power, the sakti, of maya is binary. One power projects, creates. This is called viksepa sakti.

And the zero counterpart is veiling. This is called avarana sakti. Dayananda calls this duality the maya code.

But in maya, there's a third power: jnanam sakti. Jnanam is opposed to the veiling power of avarana.

Believing one is a person (I am a samsari) is the veiling of knowledge and projection of ignorance.

The ‘I am’ may be there, but ‘I am brahman’ is the mahavakya of jnanam, the true power of knowledge.

Song of Mithya

Vivarta is apparent change, illusory change. Vivarta-vada is the theory of apparent change. See snake and rope. See desert mirage. See maya. See avidya. See seer. See seen. See Vidyaranya.

There are two orders of creation (srsti): parinama and vivarta. Parinama is modification, becoming. In vivarta, there is no becoming. Brahman is immutable, changeless. There may be a golden namarupa, but the gold remains gold.

Satyam is real. Mithya is neither real nor unreal, square circles being unreal. Mithya is satyam but satyam is not mithya. Wave is water but water is not wave. The causal power is maya. Its effect is srsti. Isvara is creator. All of this is mithya. 

Ode to Satcitananda

I is another name for pure existence (sat). Revelation is another name for pure awareness (cit). Beyond is another name for holistic bliss infinity (ananda). Satcitananda is another name for brahman which is another name for the big beyond the bang.

Life is the manifestation of being. Evolution is the manifestation of intelligence. Self-awareness is the manifestation of holistic bliss infinity. With being and existence, presence is sat. With awareness and intelligence, consciousness is cit. With holistic bliss, infinity is ananda.

Satcitananda is brahman, nirguna brahman, the absolute. The manifestation of satcitananda is isvara, saguna brahman, universal consciousness. Isvara minus maya is brahman. Ego minus avidya is atman. Atman is brahman, the end.

The Four Formulas

1. attention minus thought equals awareness.

2. awareness plus thought equals consciousness.

3. nirguna brahman plus maya equals saguna brahman.

4. the witness equals you, minus avidya.

I Know I Am I

The reflection of awareness is consciousness. This consciousness lights your fire, I know!

But the reflection of light in a clear mirror remains light. There are not two lights. Consciousness is awareness.

It's like that formula: attention minus thought equals awareness. Or said another way, awareness plus thought equals consciousness.

They say nirguna brahman plus maya equals saguna brahman. Thus ask not who is the witness. The witness is you, minus avidya.

On Viveka and Nisarga Yoga

Ego (ahamkara) makes three identifications (tadatmyam): with the reflection of consciousness (cicchaya), with the body (deha), and with the witness (saksi). The first is natural, the second is karmic, and the third one is made out of ignorance.

1. Sahajam tadatmyam: the ciccaya (reflection of consciousness) in the suksma sarira (subtle body) gives rise to the ahamkara. It’s only natural this ego identifies with that consciousness and that consciousness identifies with ego. The resultant experience is “I know.”

2. Karmajam tadatmyam: identification with the body-mind is karmic. For countless reasons, there’s a reflection of consciousness in the subtle body contained within this body-mind. These first two identifications are the work of maya and maya is above our pay grade. In maya but not of maya.

3. Bhranti-janyam tadatmyam: ego is finite but the witness is infinite. The mutual superimposition of ego and witness is one of ignorance and the root of all samsaric suffering. The resultant experience of this misidentification is “I am.” Although avidya is beginningless, it’s not endless. That’s what viveka and nisarga yoga are for.

Intelligent Awareness Is Enough

The subtle body (suksma sarira) is that strange mixture of functional compounds and organic chemicals

resulting in our central nervous system—this ethereal and astral embodiment in which consciousness is now reflecting.

After this kiss of consciousness, the subtle body subdivides into ego, intellect, mind, memory, and vital breath.

Intellect reflects intelligence, mind reflects awareness, and ego is Isvara embodied in avidya generating a world-class inferiority complex.

Killing ego is like killing Isvara. Or stalling maya. Don't hold your vital breath. Intelligent awareness is enough.

That I Am

If one were an LED light bulb, the I Am would be the subtle filament of light-emitting diodes

Spreading the fire spirit of consciousness to the inner and outer bodies of the bulb.

Consequently one is not the bulb, but neither is one the filament—

One is the power of universal consciousness (saguna brahman)

Manifesting from the absolute source (nirguna brahman) That I Am.

Upanishadic Revelations

Obviously, whatever changes isn’t real—it’s here today and gone tomorrow.

Thus the first rule of reality is immutability.

Brahman is the immutable substrate of the outer objective world.

Atman is the immutable substrate of the inner subjective self.

The glorious revelation of the upanishads is—atman is brahman.

Or ayam atma brahma, aham brahma asmi, prajnanam brahma, tat tvam asi.

The Way of the Jivanmukta

Deliberately doing is rajas. Deliberately not doing is tamas. This is avidya.

Surrendering to nondoing is sattva. This is maya.

Saguna brahman is brahman with the qualities of sattva, rajas, and tamas.

Nirguna brahman is brahman without qualities.

Seeing through avidya is one thing. Living with maya is another.

This is the way of the jivanmukta. It's in the world but not of the world.