Article – The Mayaverse

In comparison to the infinite and complex reality we face, the cognitive ability with which we are endowed is limited. What we believe as the absolute truth is merely built on a database of societal conditioning, personal biases (such as confirmation bias), limited information and knowledge, as well as our individual genetic predisposition.

Western monotheistic religions claim we are perceiving an entirely illusory version of the world until we reach the kingdom of heaven. However, earthly life is not meaningless nor without consequence. What we do within the bounds of our illusory state still matters.

Ancient teachers like Plato, Confucius, and Lao Tzu stressed the importance of self-inquiry and unlearning common assumptions about reality that contribute to life’s illusions.

Hindu philosophy believes that due to the powerful cosmic force of maya which literally means illusion, the soul identifies with the temporary body and starts clinging to attachments and worldly pleasures which are transient. The greatest illusion is not recognising that we all are droplets of the same divine ocean which resides in each and everyone of us.

Across religions, statements about the illusory nature of the world are misinterpreted and taken to mean that the universe itself is entirely unreal and does not exist. The world is an illusion not because it does not exist but because it constantly changes from moment to moment. Due to the limited perception of our senses, we are unaware of constant transformations all around us including the daily changes in our own body since our birth. We consider our world as permanent and even though we see death and decay as inevitable parts of reality, we live as if we are immortal.

As children we may have believed in Santa Claus or in ghosts, but as we grow older, different realities take over. Thus, reality is highly malleable. The problem lies when we persist under our individual illusions and delusions.