Meant To Hide Him All It Can

“This divine energy of Mine, consisting of the three modes of material nature, is difficult to overcome. But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.” (Lord Krishna, Bhagavad-gita, 7.14)

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दैवी ह्य् एषा गुण-मयी
मम माया दुरत्यया
माम् एव ये प्रपद्यन्ते
मायाम् एतां तरन्ति ते

daivī hy eṣā guṇa-mayī
mama māyā duratyayā
mām eva ye prapadyante
māyām etāṁ taranti te

“I refuse to accept this explanation of maya on the surface. I cannot hear the instructions, take the words at face value, and simply move on. I need you to iron out some inconsistencies first. I will acknowledge that this concept of illusion makes total sense. It explains why everyone has gone mad (my opinion). They follow the wrong path in so many different areas of life.

“For instance, the supposedly trustworthy health officials one day say that covering your face does nothing to prevent catching an illness. They refer to volumes of data on the subject, tied to scientific experiments. They go so far as to say that wearing these coverings will make you ‘less’ healthy. In other words, you will be more likely to get a disease.

“A few days later, the very same health officials reverse course. They say that everyone must put on this face covering, to keep everyone safe. You cannot enter a supermarket, board an airplane, or sit at the desk in the office without complying with the new regulation. A few months later, as if to double-down on the farce, the same officials recommend putting on a second covering. I kid you not. At this point, I am convinced that this is merely a prank that has gone wrong, but just see how many people do go along. They follow dutifully. Illusion can be the only explanation. These people are otherwise intelligent.

“You say that this illusion is the entire reason for the existence of the material world. People want to be lied to. They want to continue living a lie, so that they can rise to the height of enjoyment and influence. They think they can somehow escape death, which is nothing more than a manifestation of time, kāla.

“I recently read a book where the author quoted the poet named Robert Browning. The line was appropriate for explaining maya. Browning says something to the effect that this world is meant to hide the nature of God. We live life not to discover or uncover Divinity, but rather to go further and further away. Not only is this what takes place, but it is the intention of the higher being from the very beginning.

“How can this hold true? Why would God do that to us? Why is there maya? Why must we suffer in illusion? I think people are not properly equipped to escape this maya. They are doomed forever, and it is because of the Supreme Lord. He made this illusion, and only He can remove it.”

Indeed, this is the recommendation from the wise. They acknowledge that God created the illusion. Since He created it, only He can remove it. Every facet of that illusion needs to be acknowledged. From the false idea of trying to live forever to the notion that we can one day become God. Even good and bad, as we know them, are mere bookends to this row of illusion.

हरि माया कृत दोष गुन बिनु हरि भजन न जाहिं
भजिअ राम सब काम तजि अस बिचारि मन माहिं

hari māyā kṛta doṣa guna binu hari bhajana na jāhiṃ
bhajia rāma saba kāma taji asa bicāri mana māhiṃ

“Good and bad, which are part of the illusion created by Hari, cannot be removed without worshiping Hari. Keeping this in mind, worship Rama and renounce all desires.” (Dohavali, 127)

We can attempt to pass judgment on God for creating this illusion, but that does not help us. We can blame Him for all of our troubles. We can bemoan our plight, in how we cannot see clearly. We mistake a rope for a snake. We think we love someone, only to be scorned later on. We experience a lifetime of success and its accompanying enjoyment, only to feel empty in the aftermath.

आद्यन्तवन्त एवैषां लोका: कर्मविनिर्मिता:
दु:खोदर्कास्तमोनिष्ठा: क्षुद्रा मन्दा: शुचार्पिता:

ādy-anta-vanta evaiṣāṁ
lokāḥ karma-vinirmitāḥ
duḥkhodarkās tamo-niṣṭhāḥ
kṣudrā mandāḥ śucārpitāḥ

“All the persons I have just mentioned obtain temporary fruits from their material work. Indeed, the meager and miserable situations they achieve bring future unhappiness and are based on ignorance. Even while enjoying the fruits of their work, such persons are filled with lamentation.” (Lord Krishna, Shrimad Bhagavatam, 11.14.11)

This reality is already known to God. Shri Krishna explains this very phenomenon in His instruction to Uddhava found in Shrimad Bhagavatam. We come across so many systems that are goal-oriented. We can call these different versions of dharma, but the specific objective really makes no difference. The systems are often valid in the sense that they work. If I follow this dharma or that, I have a high chance of achieving the desired end.

Except the fulfillment of those desires leaves me unhappy. Only through devotion to the Supreme Lord will I find a way out. That is the truth to uncover. He is the reality. He is the source of both the material and spiritual worlds. He controls the illusion. This material world is like a vast ocean, but with His help we can easily cross beyond it.

In Closing:

Illusion at His command,
With control over to stand.

Whether on failure or success’s side,
Like the truth meaning to hide.

Only from devotion to know,
When towards Him to go.

Otherwise by that energy deceived,
Light only by His favor received.