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The Doctrine of Maya (Classic Reprint): In the Philosophy of the Vedanta
Excerpt from The Doctrine of Maya
The Doctrine of Maya is the pivotal principle in the Advaita Philosophy — the final pronouncement of Indian speculation on the conception of Reality and Appearance. During the last thirty years a good deal has been written on the Vedanta, and naturally this doctrine has also been treated of, though only in passing and by the way. That it is richly supported in the later Vedanta is already an established fact, but a number of writers seem to conclude, rather hastily, that it is not the genuine product of the early speculation of the Upanisads, but has been later added to the original Vedanta by Sankara and his followers. Some critics believe that it is imported from Buddhism and receives hardly any countenance from the Upanisads. The point is still debated, and it is only with a view to contribute a little towards a clearer understanding on this problem that I undertook to examine the Upanisads as minutely and as fully as I could, always relying upon the original texts more than the many more or less slipshod translations which are to be found. Hitherto these treatises have.
The Doctrine of Maya is the pivotal principle in the Advaita Philosophy — the final pronouncement of Indian speculation on the conception of Reality and Appearance. During the last thirty years a good deal has been written on the Vedanta, and naturally this doctrine has also been treated of, though only in passing and by the way. That it is richly supported in the later Vedanta is already an established fact, but a number of writers seem to conclude, rather hastily, that it is not the genuine product of the early speculation of the Upanisads, but has been later added to the original Vedanta by Sankara and his followers. Some critics believe that it is imported from Buddhism and receives hardly any countenance from the Upanisads. The point is still debated, and it is only with a view to contribute a little towards a clearer understanding on this problem that I undertook to examine the Upanisads as minutely and as fully as I could, always relying upon the original texts more than the many more or less slipshod translations which are to be found. Hitherto these treatises have.
154 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 2012
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October 31, 2025
a very robust and objective insight into what maya entails on the metaphysical level. it’s difficult to understand maya while avoiding the pitfall of nihilistic thinking of nothing is real = nothing matters, but this book adds a layer of nuance which describes how maya is a transient force that links the changing world with the unchanging world, showing how you can create meaning by dissolving the illusion and looking at the divine world as it truly is.
realizing that maya is unreal allows you to detach from the illusion, showing you that liberation from attachment and fear is possible through seeing through the veil. it’s a difficult concept to embody because the mind wants to cling to all these objects and forms, but surrendering to the true nature of reality is what allows you to be in the world and not just a mere consequence of it.
realizing that maya is unreal allows you to detach from the illusion, showing you that liberation from attachment and fear is possible through seeing through the veil. it’s a difficult concept to embody because the mind wants to cling to all these objects and forms, but surrendering to the true nature of reality is what allows you to be in the world and not just a mere consequence of it.
Displaying 1 of 1 review