Why Do We Differ?

Swami!  Why do we differ?  Why does our behaviour vary?  What is the root cause behind these differences?  How are we to cultivate ideal and good ways in life?

Bhagawan: Since you have not studied and understood human nature wholly, you get this doubt.  Man is a combination of three main qualities, demonic, bestial and human.  It is the human quality that helps you to attain divinity.

You take, for example, an orange fruit.  In it there are an outer bitter skin, hard seeds and soft juicy pulp.  So also a human being has a demonic nature like the outer bitter skin of an orange, bestial temperament like the hard seeds and finally the human values like the soft juicy pulp.  Take for example a ripe tamarind fruit.  Its outer skin is the bestial nature, its hard seeds symbolise demonic nature while its soft pulp is the human behaviour.  If the pulp joins the seed, i.e. if human nature is in association with demonic behaviour, it expresses itself like a demon.  If the soft pulp associates itself with the outer skin, i.e. if human nature joins bestial behaviour, it manifests itself as a beast.

So more or less, this depends on the association, be it demonic or bestial.  This is the root cause of all the differences.  But it is a human value that makes you ideal and enables you to experience divinity.  There lies the sweetness and purpose of life.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Remain Unaffected

Q82: Swami!  It is our common experience that some of us are quite good for some time, devoted, disciplined and dutiful especially when we are here in your proximity.  Then why do we change when we are somewhere else?  What happens to all that we learn here?  Why do we lose sacred qualities like sincerity, devotion and steadfastness when we are away?  Kindly pardon our mistakes and let us know the causes of our downfall.

Bhagawan: This is a wrong statement.  Sincerity, devotion, discipline, steadfastness and all the noble qualities that you claim to have possessed while you are here are not true and natural.  They are artificial.  They are like plastic flowers that are not fragrant and cannot attract bees.  It is all your show or trick.  God is never carried away by these artificial, temporary and external features.  God looks into your heart and internal nature.

You say that circumstances change you.  If noble qualities were really present in you, you wouldn't change due to the change of circumstances.  No change in the environment will ever affect you.  

Truly, the mistake lies in you only.  You don't have strong faith and conviction.  In fact, the seeds are there lying underground and are waiting to sprout at an appropriate time.  Environment has no legs and hands and life to move about like you!

You are now in Kodaikanal. You are fully clothed with sweaters and shawls, rugs and blankets and all the woollen stuff to keep you warm in this cold place.  If you don't have warm clothes, whose fault is it?  Whom would you blame then?  

Similarly, you know how challenging  and testing life is in the world today.  It is your own responsibility to carry with you the blanket of duty, the rug of devotion and wear the sweater of discipline whenever you are exposed to the severe cold winds of neglect of duty, disobedience of God's commands and vagaries of ego and disbelief.  Wearing this warm woollen clothing, you will not be affected by the cold climate.  

You have to protect yourself and blaming the environment is of no use.  If your good thoughts and good behaviour are in you, you will remain unaffected, whatever be your surroundings.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Ways of Worship

Q16: Swami, of these two ways of worship, the aspect with form and the other, the formless, which is greater?

Bhagawan: In my opinion, both are equal.  One is not in any way greater than the other.  Now you are in Coimbatore.  Here the land is plain, without any ups and downs.  The level of the land is the same throughout.  Nobody levelled it.  Nobody prepared ground like this.  The form of Coimbatore is like this.  Its design is like this.  But Kodaikanal is located on  the hills.  Nobody assembled hills there.  Its form is of that sort.  Coimbatore and Kodaikanal are different from one another.  Each one is full but in its own way.  So, also, the two methods of worship, one with form and the other formless, are equally beneficial to the seekers of truth and aspirants of spiritual enlightenment.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Two Aspects of God

 

Q16:  Swami!  We pray to you to tell us about the two aspects of God, with form and without it?

Bhagawan: It is here that many are confused.  Without a form, from where do you get the formless?  How is it possible for you to visualise the formless?  Since you have a form, you can only think of God with a form.  For example, if a fish is to think of God, it can visualise God only in the form of a bigger fish.  So also, if at all a buffalo thinks of God, it can think of God only as a bigger buffalo.  In the same way, man can think of God only as existing in human form, the form of an ideal man.

Even the formless aspect of God can be meditated upon basing on the aspect of God with form.  You cannot derive the formless without a form.  Here is a small example.  You are all here seated in this hall in front of Swami today in Kodaikanal.  you are listening to Swami's words.  This is an experience with a form.  Later, you go home and after a few days you begin to reflect on what had happened here.  You recall the entire scenario.  In fact, has Swami come to your place physically?  Would you find this room at your place?  Have all of you gone there?  No.  But this direct experience is pictured mentally, which gives you the indirect experience of being here.  What you see here is the sakara and what you experience there is the nirakara.  So the formless is based on the aspect with form.  One cannot exist without the other.

Another example.  Here is milk.  You want to drink it.  How do you drink?  Don't you need a cup or a glass?  Similarly to worship God (milk), you need a form (cup).

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Men and Women

Q33: Swami!  When we say, "men and women are equal", why then do we find differences and discrimination between the two sexes?

Bhagawan: Physically men and women are different.  But spiritually i.e. from the atmic point of view, both are equal.  In fact, God is the only male while all others are females.  The deham, body, is also called puram, dwelling place.  It is the principle of atma that works form top to bottom.  You know, Colleges for Women celebrate Anniversary Functions during which they present cultural items like a play.  Here, girls play all the different roles like those of a soldier, a minister, a king and so on.  Similarly, all but God are women in this world.  A similar thing happened in the life of Mira, the great devotee of Lord Krishna.  She was stopped at the main entrance of a Krishna mandir at Brindavan and was told that women were not permitted to enter a temple of God.  Then Mira replied, "Oh!  Is that so!  Where are men here?  I find only women.  God is the only male person."

However, form the worldly point of view, for the division of work, men and women are different from each other.  Everything and everyone are Divine.  Even though it is your own body, you don't put slippers or footwear on the head or hands.  Functionally, all the parts of the body are different from each other, though they may belong to the same person.  So also physically and functionally, men and women are separate entities though spiritually they are one and the same.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Brain Drain

Q62: Swami!  What are your comments on brain drain?  Many highly educated professionals like engineers, doctors, computer experts plan to go abroad and settle there for better and higher prospects of income and placement in life.  This is the cause for worry in many circles, both government and private.  What do you feel about this?

Bhagawan: It is most unfortunate that this trend is on the rise.  This is not good at any point of time anywhere in the world.  You are born in this society.  So you grow up, educate yourself, make money, name and fame in this society.  Only through this society you could get your clothing, food and shelter.  Have you come up on your own without the society you are in?  Could you make a career for yourself without its support?  Should you not express your sense of gratitude to it for all it has done for you?

Man should never be an ungrateful creature.  The best way to be grateful is to serve.  You know, our people put in greater effort and work more sincerely abroad.  While they are here, they don't show the same spirit and the same zeal in their work.  They are not so sincere and industrious here as they are in foreign countries.  In fact, the emoluments they get here by doing their best will be the same as they get abroad, a fact they fail to realise.  To some extent, parents also are responsible for this problem of brain drain.   They don't properly inculcate in children the values of work, patriotism, sacrifice, love and gratitude.

So it is your fundamental duty to serve the society in which you are born and brought up.  You see many a foreigner coming here.  They learn lots of things from this sacred land of your birth, whereas our people forget what they know.  Some of our people are even inferior to locals and natives of foreign countries in respect of observing traditions.  What for is our education?  Is it for the decline of human values?  Janani janmabhumi s'ca svargadapi gariyasi.  Rama observed "Mother and motherland are greater than Heaven."

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Faith

 

Q135  Swami!  We meet many persons who say that they can believe only after going through an intimation of divinity, develop faith only after they experience.  But many also feel that only strong faith gives us that experience.  So which of the two precedes the other?  Please tell us, Swami.

Bhagawan: Faith, which comes first, gives you experience.  You must have unwavering faith in order to experience.  Faith is the foundation.  For example, to swim, you should jump into the water  You cannot say that you will jump into water only after learning swimming.  You cannot learn it on tar roads or cement roads.  You can learn it only in water.  Here water is faith and the art of swimming is experience.  So faith precedes experience.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Purification of the Heart - Pt.2

Q101: Swami!  Now it is clear that cittas'uddhi is lacking in us due to our bad thoughts and bad deeds.  We have certain weaknesses, lapses, bad qualities and thoughts.  As you have said unless we get over them, cittas'uddhi cannot be attained.  The mind gets polluted very often.  How is one to control bad qualities?

Bhagawan: It all depends upon your determination and your understanding of the intensity and the gravity of the problem.  It needs an honest and sincere attempt on your part.

A small example: You are moving freely without any hesitation and fear in this room.  There lies a rope in one corner.  But if you come to know that it is not a rope as you have been thinking it to be, but a snake, would you move freely in that room any longer?  You know that it is dangerous to be anywhere near a poisonous snake.  You know that you will die if that snake bites you, and so you keep off from that place.  Similarly, when you are aware of the danger or harm you will be put in, you will definitely stop your misdeeds.

You keep on holding the rope until you come to know that it is not a rope but a snake.  You drop it down immediately because of the fear of death.  So long as you think that these bad thoughts and evil deeds make you happy, you continue to be in the same frame of mind.  But when you know that they are dangerous, you will not hanker after them.  Therefore, first of all, you must identify your own bad qualities and then give them up gradually one after another until you are perfect.

It is also strange to notice that some seekers undergo rigorous discipline for a set period of time during which they lead a perfect life without any trace of a bad quality.  But after that avowed period of discipline, they resume their previous bad habits with redoubled vigour.  This is a big mistake.  That which holds you for some time is artificial.  Here withdrawal from bad habits is not due to the realisation of the evil effects.

Here is an example.  You see the ceiling fan rotating there.  Now, if you switch if off, it will not stop rotating immediately.  It stops slowly.  The three blades slowly stop moving.  The fan does not stop rotating immediately.  Therefore, in full knowledge of the possible harm and the evil effects, you should give up your bad habits slowly.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Purification of The Heart

 

Q100: Swami!  You stress cittas' uddhi, purification of our heart, but how is one to accomplish it?

Bhagawan: You are mistaken here.  Citta, heart, is always pure.  So where is the need for its s'uddhi, purification?  You only pollute it.

Take for example this kerchief.  This is white in colour.  It becomes dirty as I use it.  I give it to a washerman to wash it and bring it back.  When he brings it, it looks white and bright as before.  It was so before and it is so after a wash, but it was dirty in between due to use.  The washerman did not paint the kerchief white.  He only removed the dirt.  So too like a kerchief, your mind is also pure which becomes impure due to your desires and thoughts.  Once you remove the impurities from the mind, it will become pure.  So cittas' uddhi means exercising control over desires.

(To be continued)

(From the book "Satyonpanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

The World or The Divine?

 Q64: Swami!  We have on one side our parents pulling us towards the world and on the other, the divine teachings we have been fortunate enough to receive from you.  We wonder which of the two will dominate and influence us.

Bhagawan: If the ideas of your parents are against God, you should choose God and definitely not your parents.  You must clearly explain and appeal to them and then convince them of the value and importance of the spiritual path.  Among the Bal Vikas children, there are a large number who have brought about a change in their parents.  There are many who have been influenced and transformed by the children of Sri Sathya Sai Primary School, Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School and the students of Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning.  There should be a change in the family of the children first, then in the society.

In fact, you are not from your parents, but you are through your parents.  Truly, you are from God.  If you are convinced of this, your words and actions would be godly.  Take a simple example.  You fill a container with sweet milk pudding, payasam.  If the container has holes, you will expect the same sweet pudding to come out of these holes.  Will you not?  Similarly, when you know that you are from God, your words, thoughts and actions will be divine.

(From the book "Satyonpanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Youth

 

Q58: Swami!  What is the ideal ambience of a classroom?

Bhagawan: You should follow your ancient traditional culture.  A student with vinaya, humility, and vidheyata, obedience will be able to acquire knowledge.  Students should evince keen interest in the subject they study, and even ask questions.  Whenever they have doubts, they should seek clarifications from their teachers.  Therefore a student should be seated at a lower level than a teacher who occupies his seat at a higher level on a chair.  Water always flows downwards, so does knowledge.  Fire travels upwards.  Similarly, the fire of wisdom of a student travels upwards.

Q59: Swami!  Today we find imitation in all spheres of life.  In particular, this imitation is very common among youngsters.  What does Swami say about it?

Bhagawan: Imitation is weakness.  This is a defect in the modern youth.  Imitation is human, creation is divine.  Imitation makes you forget your natural behaviour also.

A crow happened to see a swan and was very much attracted by its graceful and dignified gait.  The crow started imitating.  It started walking slowly for a while, then started jumping and finally was about to fly with the result that it had lost is own way of walking.  It looked so awkward and artificial.  Therefore, one has to be natural.  Imitation is not only unnatural but also ridiculous.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

The Source of Life

Q122: Swami!  in the big human body, where is the source of life located?

Bhagawan: You think it is the heart.  No.  Don't you know that today surgeons can do heart transplants also?  Even while it is done, the patient doesn't die.  Then where is the life principle that keeps you living?  In the spinal column between the 9th and 12th vertebrae, there is the life principle that acts as the main switch.

In the mantrapus pam, it is clearly indicated vidyullekheva bhasvara, a lightning or electric current acts as the life centre.

(From the book "Satyonpanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Maya

Q111: Swami!  It is often said and felt that none escapes maya or illusion.  Everyone falls a victim to the influence of maya.  So man is prone to delusion.  Then Swami, a person who has known what maya is and has been out of maya, how is it that he gets into the trap again?

Bhagawan: Think of this situation.  When it is dark what happens to light?  Where does it go?  Similarly, when there is light, where does the darkness that was present till the light came, go?  Absence of light is darkness.  Darkness does not flow or run away.  Because of the light, it is not noticed.  Once the light is put off, it will be dark as before.  Here light is wisdom, darkness is ignorance or maya or delusion or avidya.  To dispel the darkness, the only thing to do is light a candle.

Your question is, how the darkness of ignorance comes back again having been dispelled once already by the light of wisdom.  A simple example.  Many travel by bus.  As the bus speeds forward along the rugged roads, we find the dust rising behind the bus so long as it is on a continuous run.  But the moment the bus stops, the whole lot of dust collects inside.  All of it just blows into the bus.

Similarly, human life is a bus.  So long as it is on the move of sadhana, the dust of illusion stays behind.  But if the bus of life stops or halts sadhana, the dust of delusion will get into life.  So it is sadhana that keeps you unaffected by delusion.  If you stop sadhana, you will again become a victim of maya.  Therefore, you can never take it for granted that you are rid of maya in your lifetime.  It is your constant sadhana that helps you.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Peace of Mind

 

Q56: Swami!  We go to colleges and universities for studies and acquire knowledge.  We take up some employment thereafter.  We draw our salaries but the pity is whomsoever we meet starts saying, "I don't have peace of mind".  Why is this so?  What is to be done?

Bhagawan: Mere education will not give you peace of mind.  Sage Vyasa compiled all the Vedas, wrote the great epic Mahabharata, the eighteen Puranas and the Brahmasutras.  Yet his mind was restless, without peace.  At this stage of Vyasa's anguish, sage Narada advised him to write the Bhagavata, a work which incorporated the lilas of the Lord and life sketches of some of the most outstanding devotees of the Lord who sang the full glory of His miracles.  It was only then that he enjoyed peace and bliss.  Neither position, nor status, nor scholarship, nor influence, nor wealth, nor fame, no, none of these achievements can ever give you peace of mind.  It can't be received from anyone nor can it be located at a place.  No external objects, articles or possessions can give you peace of mind.

The root cause of loss of peace is the bundle of desires.  So I often tell you "Less luggage, more comfort, make travel a pleasure", the maxim of the Indian Railways.  Therefore, a ceiling on desires is most important.

"Don't feel sad that you don't have koti, one crore of rupees but be happy that you have enough for roti (food)."

"Don't feel unhappy over not having a car but be happy that you have a kalu (leg)".

"Don't cry over a scorpion bite but be happy that you are not bitten by an enormous snake."

"Don't grieve that a snake has bitten you but be grateful to God that you didn't die because of that."

It is in contentment that peace and happiness are present.  Who is the richest man?  The man with contentment is the richest man.  Who is the poorest man?  He who has many desires is the poorest man.  Many come to me and say, "I want peace".  I tell everyone, "The answer is in your request itself.  When you say "I want peace", there are two components "I" and "want".  "I" is mamakara or the ego or attachment, and "want" is kama or desire.  When you give up these two, "I - ego" and "want - desire", "peace" is already there."

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Listening, Remembering and Practising

Q35: Swami!  A change is very much needed in every field of our activity.  Almost all walks of public life are nowadays polluted, disgusting and disappointing.  How is change to be brought about?

Bhagawan: Truly speaking, villagers who are unlettered, innocent and rustic are living in greater peace and cooperation, more intimate relationships and mutual love than the so-called urban, sophisticated, educated and seemingly cultured people.  The latter are full of ego and jealousy.  To bring about a change, they need to work for it.  They must put in enough sincere effort to overcome qualities like egoism, pride, jealousy and hatred.  Butter is no doubt very soft.  But in order to make ghee out of it, you must heat it.  Similarly for any change, you have to work for it.  You should first of all listen to all good things from good people.  This listening, s'rvana is the first step.  It is not enough if you simply listen.  You should remember, recall, recollect and recapitulate the good things you have listened to. This is called manana.

The third thing is to practise what you have listened and learnt.  This is called nidhidhyasa.  Take a small example.  First of all, your food must be cooked in the kitchen.  Then it has to be brought and kept on the dining table and served.  It is then that you eat it.  Further, the food that you eat must be digested, assimilated and the nourishment is to be supplied to different parts of your body.  Is it not so?  Similarly, srvana, listening is like cooking, manana, remembering is the same as food kept on the table, whereas nidhidhyasa, practising what is heard is like eating and digesting.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Devotion

 

Q92: Swami!  In spite of a long period of desiring to be devoted to God, devotion somehow does not grow as intense as it should.  What is essential to develop devotion of the magnitude and intensity expected of a true devotee?

Bhagawan: Here it is not time that matters.  An iron ball in a pond, however long it might stay there, will never change.  It will remain as it is without any change in it.  You should know that it is transformation that is important.  It is the goal you set for yourself that matters most.  Until then, you should pursue your goal not mindful of the time involved.

You know a lamp has a container, a wick and oil.  With a wick kept for long in water, you can never light a lamp even if you use any number of matchsticks.  Impossible!  What you should do is, take the wick out of water, keep it in sunshine for some time and dry it.  Then you will be able to light the wick easily.  

Here the process of drying the wick in sunlight is renunciation.  The procedure of lighting it with a matchstick is sadhana and the light you get thereby is devotion or intense Love for God.  The lamp is the human body.  The same process is applicable to those who are not devoted, as you have said.  The more they are drenched and drowned in worldly life, the farther they are from God, the source of all light; they can never light the lamp of their life.  Dry it in the sunshine of detachment so as to be benefited by the light of devotion.  

Some people in spite of a prolonged period of stay and association are not devoted as much as they should be, for the simple reason they lack detachment from worldly things.  Therefore, intense devotion is not given to everybody.

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

As You Rightly Deserve

Q86: Swami!  How are we to believe all this is happening everyday in Kodaikanal?  Can we estimate our good luck that is responsible for the golden opportunity of sitting at Your lotus feet and listening to five discourses a day?  How are we to retain this privilege?

Bhagawan: As you rightly deserve, you get this opportunity.  But you need to note one important point.  The Bhagavad Gita says ksine punye martyalokam vis'anti, which means that the merit accrued is exhausted with the passage of time.  You will have to return to the earth even from the highest of heavens.

One example.  You know that some of your representatives are elected as legislators and some as members of the parliament.  How long does their term last?  Only five years.  Does it not?  Their term is for five years after which they have to go back to their constituencies.  But as legislators parliamentarians and people's representatives, if they frequently visit their constituencies, meet the electorate and render service to the voters who elected them to those positions, they can contest elections again and return to the assembly or parliament as the case may be for another term.  Similarly, while enjoying the present golden opportunity, you can still work for its continuity by satkarma, doing good deeds, sadalocana, entertaining good thoughts and satsang, joining good company.

~ Sri Sathya Sai Baba

(From the book "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Noble Qualities

 

Q82: Swami!  It is our common experience that some of us are quite good for some time, devoted, disciplined and dutiful especially when we are here in your proximity.  Then, why do we change when we are somewhere else?  What happens to all that we learn here?  Why do we lose sacred qualities like sincerity, devotion and steadfastness when we are away?  Kindly pardon our mistakes and let us know the causes of our downfall.

Bhagawan: This is a wrong statement.  Sincerity, devotion, discipline, steadfastness and all the noble qualities that you claim to have possessed while you are here are not true and natural.  They are artificial.  They are like plastic flowers that are not fragrant and cannot attract bees.  It is all your show or trick.  God is never carried away by these artificial, temporary and external features.  God looks into your heart and internal nature.

You say that circumstances change you.  If noble qualities were really present in you, you wouldn't change due to the change of circumstances.  No change in the environment will ever effect you.  Truly, the mistake lies in you only.  You don't have strong faith and conviction.  In fact, the seeds are there lying underground and are waiting to sprout at an appropriate time.  Environment has no legs and hands and life to move about like you!

You are now here in Kodaikanal.  You are fully clothed with sweaters and shawls, rugs and blankets and all the woollen stuff to keep you warm in this cold place.  If you don't have warm clothes, whose fault is it?  Whom would you blame then?  Similarly, you know how challenging and testing life is in the world today.  It is your own responsibility to carry with you the blanket of duty, the rug of devotion and wear the sweater of discipline whenever you are exposed to the severe cold winds of neglect of duty, disobedience of God's commands, and vagaries of ego and disbelieve.  Wearing this warm woollen clothing, you will not be affected by the cold climate.  You have to protect yourself and blaming the environment is of no use.  If good thoughts and good behaviour are in you, you will remain unaffected, whatever be your surroundings.

(From "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Near and Dear

 

Q81: Swami!  Devotees come from far off places like Argentina, Philippines, Guatemala, Russia and many other countries from all over the world.  Name a country and its representation is there at Prasanthi Nilayam.  They go out of this place with heavy hearts, not able to leave you.  How should they take it and what exactly do you want them to do in the circumstances?

Bhagawan: You should experience the omniscience of God.  God is always with you, around you, below you, above you and in you.  In fact, you are God.  Devotees come to Swami to charge their batteries.  Always remember this.  "Near" is not important to Swami, "dear" is important.  The flame burns brilliantly when the breeze blows.  Two wooden pieces should be kept close together.  This is "nearness".  As you light and burn them, you should also fan them, so that the flame will rise upwards.  This fanning is "dearness".  Mere nearness is not enough.

There is a lotus flower in a lake.  There are a number of fishes and frogs in the same lake that do not know the value of the flower.  But honeybees come from long distances and suck nectar from the flower.  Bees represent dearness while frogs and fishes stand for nearness.

Similarly, you know the lighthouse from which light spreads all around guiding the ship's voyage.  But under the lighthouse, it is dark because of the shadow.  So light around is dearness while the shadow underneath is nearness.  So, devotees who go from here should understand this.  They should strive to be dear to Swami and not merely near to Him.

(From: "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)

Illusion

Q109: Swami!  What is illusion, maya?  Kindly explain.

Bhagawan: There is no illusion whatsoever.  What exists is only brahman, the cosmic soul.  The so-called illusion or maya is only your imagination.  There is only Brahman.  Nothing more!  The body attachment is illusion, maya or bhrama.

A simple example: Here is a huge tree under which you see its shadow, don't you?  The branches and the leaves are the cause of the shade.  As the sunlight falls on the tree, you see the shade beneath the tree.  Here you have to know one important point.  There is nothing like shade above the tree or on the top of the tree.  It means there is no shade in sunlight.  Why is it so?  The branches and the leaves of the tree are responsible for the shade below.  Sunlight is brahman, tree is life and the branches and leaves are attachments and desires.  They are responsible for the shade of maya or illusion.  Shade is out of question when there are no leaves and branches.  So there is no illusion or maya as such.  It is the fallacy of your imagination.

Q110: Swami!  How are we to get over maya or illusion?

Bhagawan: There is no maya.  It is your own creation.  How is it then you want to get over that which does not exist at all?

In the night time, seeing a rope, you mistake it for a serpent and you are very much fear-stricken.  Later on, enquiry reveals that it is only a rope and not a serpent.  What you should know here are two points.  Neither the snake disappears nor does the rope come especially to give you relief.  All along, it has been a rope only.  You are the only one who is mistaken by taking a rope for a serpent.  So also, the reality is brahman or atma and the rest is bhrama, or illusion or imagination.

(From "Satyopanisad" Vol. 1 by Prof. K. Anil Kumar)